**This is a thread that welcomes all regardless of where they are at
in their TTC journeys. Please be mindful of topics that are discussed
that could be hurtful to those going through tough times. Mention of
children or pregnancies of others should have a TW (trigger warning) and
be in a spoiler if possible, and only be mentioned if it is extremely
pertinent to the conversation. Thanks for keeping this a safe place for
us all to engage!**
Month/Cycle:
CD:
WAYDTGKU:
R/R:
CS/Q:
History
I am doing this on my own. Left ovary and fallopian tube removed due to cyst/necrosis just after birth. Right ovary and tube still purport to function.
Began TTC in Aug '18 @ age 35
5 or 6 (or 7?!) cycles using frozen donor sperm, ICI. All BFN
Mar-Jun '19 IUIs, all BFN
Began process of referral for RE in spring of '19, blood tests confirm low AMH (.54) but all else is good.
May '19 HSG shows open tube, but ultrasound suggests fibroids
MRI in June '19 confirms two large fibroids, one growing through wall of uterus
In June '19 I move from California to Oregon, disrupting my insurance, referrals, etc. 5 months spent piecing it all back together.
Nov. '19 attempted myomectomy (vaginal approach) failed. 2nd surgery using laparoscopic method in Jan '20 is successful.
April '20 --> June '20, natural IUIs, all BFN.
July? saline ultrasound and bubble test demonstrate open tube
July '20 clomid cycle cancelled for thin lining
Aug-Oct, 3 femara cycles, all BFN
RE referral. While waiting to set up an appointment Nov-Jan,I continue with natural cycles and ICI, using a known donor, BFN...
Jan '21 more bloodwork, AMH is worse (.30), FSH high albeit not catastrophic at 13.2. hysteroscopy all good. "looks cozy!" says the RE.
Feb '21, injectables (menopur, novarel), iui, BFN (doc said the frozen donor sperm sample had the "best numbers she'd ever seen!")
Mar '21, injectables, iui cancelled due to lack of follicles, converted to at home-insem. BFN
May '21, first IVF round cancelled due to cyst.
July '21 IVF: standard antagonist. 225menupur/225gonal-f/cetrotide/5000u trigger, AFC 7; 6 days of stims. 8 eggs retrieved, 7 mature, 5 fertilize, 4 made it to blast. 3 are 4AB, 1 is 4BB. PGT-A results all abnormal. Oct '21 somewhat improved AMH (.51) and significantly improved FSH (8.9). Maybe it's all the pills I swallow. Dec -21, standard antagonist. 225menupur/225gonal-f/cetrotide/5000u trigger, AFC 5; 11 days of stims. retrieval yields 5, 4M, 2 reach day-6 blast (4AB & 4BB). 1 low-level mosaic (chr. 3 deletion), 1 complex abnormal. Feb '22 FET (low-level mosaic): CP. May '22 egg retrieval, lupron flare protocol. HGH priming for 1 month before stims; md lupron 20/20u daily; menopur 225, follistim 225, 10k trigger after 8 days of stims; AFC 10; 13 retrieved; 10 mature; 8 fertilized. All frozen at 2PN for later thaw, grow, and biopsy. July '22 egg retrieval same protocol: 9 days of stims; AFC 8; 10 retrieved, 8 mature, 4 fertilized and frozen. Sept '22 ER same protocol: AFC 10; 12 retrieved, 11 mature, 11 fertilized. From the 3 retrievals, 7 survived to day 5-6 blastocyst, from which I have 2 normal embryos! Jan 20, Fully medicated FET, baby aspirin, dexamethasone, acupuncture, and as much woo as I can stand (which isn't very much). BFN. July 23, Natural FET + baby aspirin. BFN.
WAYDTGKU: bbt, cm, opks, cinnamon, metformin, letrozole for me, supplements for him, maybe IUI
R/R: ugh I feel worse today than yesterday. Rapid test was negative, waiting on PCR results. Either way I feel like crap. Very glad we didn't go to the inlaws' yesterday. Very annoyed that this is happening right in time to potentially mess with IUI plans.
@elle-0409 LOL @ watching Colin Firth movies. I hope they help!
@fantasyflyte I'm sorry you're feeling so awful; I hope the PCR test in negative and that you start feeling better soon!
Month/Cycle: 23/18/1AL
CD: 8
WAYDTGKU: lots of supplements & vitamins; adding TCM stuff to the list this cycle (ginseng & deer antler), OPK, CM, bbt lite, DTD EOD
R/R: Yesterday was a very vulnerable day for me, posting so openly about infertility on Facebook & IG; I felt exposed; I ended up having too much to drink, and had a really good cry at the end of the night. My husband had to confiscate my phone so that I couldn't do any more Facebooking / IGing. Feeling a bit better today; glad I shared what I did and when I did it. Lots of ppl messaged me both privately and publicly saying "yep, I get it; this was us too."
Today I'm heading to a spa with my sister in law, so I'm really looking forward to that. Woo!
@acleverusername I mean, watching them can’t hurt, right? 😉 By the way, I caught up with your story about the deer antler. Good luck! It’s pretty fascinating all of these alternative practices. Have fun at the spa, it sounds heavenly! You deserve it after the vulnerable time you spent on social media. ❤️
TTC History
Me: 38 DH: 52
Started trying June 2018
BFP Jan 2019 DD born October 2019
TTC July 2021 BFP, ended in MMC August 2021
TTC October 2021
BFP January 2022
MMC March 2022
Beginning May 2022 under the supervision of an RE - Benched while undergoing testing
Too late to bother checking in myself (and nothing exciting), so just here to say hi!
@fantasyflyte I'm sorry you're feeling worse! Did you test for other things (like RSV, flu)?
@elle-0409 Haha, love the Colin Firth comment! I hate when I gets pushed, hopefully it shows up for you soon.
@acleverusername You are so brave! The world needs more of that honesty. I'm not sharing on social media (yet), but I'm trying to get better about sharing my struggles with people in person. It's hard, so major props to you. Hope you enjoyed the spa!
Re: WTO Monday 12/27
Month/Cycle: 14/13
CD: 13
WAYDTGKU: bbt, cm, opks, cinnamon, metformin, letrozole for me, supplements for him, maybe IUI
R/R: ugh I feel worse today than yesterday. Rapid test was negative, waiting on PCR results. Either way I feel like crap. Very glad we didn't go to the inlaws' yesterday. Very annoyed that this is happening right in time to potentially mess with IUI plans.
Month/Cycle: 3 AL
CD: 12
WAYDTGKU: OPK, BBT, PNV, HIO EOD, Progesterone, Watching Colin Firth movies
R/R: Nothing terribly exciting over here. It's going to be in the 80s this week because Florida, so I might hit up a theme park at some point.
CS/Q: I got my Pfizer booster about a week ago, and I think it's pushing my O date. Hopefully, I'll get some darker lines soon.@fantasyflyte I'm sorry you're feeling so awful; I hope the PCR test in negative and that you start feeling better soon!
Month/Cycle: 23/18/1AL
CD: 8
WAYDTGKU: lots of supplements & vitamins; adding TCM stuff to the list this cycle (ginseng & deer antler), OPK, CM, bbt lite, DTD EOD
R/R: Yesterday was a very vulnerable day for me, posting so openly about infertility on Facebook & IG; I felt exposed; I ended up having too much to drink, and had a really good cry at the end of the night. My husband had to confiscate my phone so that I couldn't do any more Facebooking / IGing. Feeling a bit better today; glad I shared what I did and when I did it. Lots of ppl messaged me both privately and publicly saying "yep, I get it; this was us too."
Today I'm heading to a spa with my sister in law, so I'm really looking forward to that. Woo!
CS/Q: nope
TTC#2
TTC #2 ... preparing as of March 2024
TTC #1
TTC #1 02/2020 - 07/2022
2009 | Dx PCOS; likely a misdiagnosis
07/14/20 | Dx Hashimoto's Thyroditis
07/21/20 | 1st RE appointment
07/2120 - 08/20/20 | so much testing; no signs of PCOS
08/20/20 | Dx Unexplained; AMA
09/08/20 | IUI #1 Clomid + Trigger + Prometrium | BFN
09/30/20 | Urology consult; more testing required
10/2020 | Clomid + OPK + TI + Prometrium | BFN
10/26/2020 | Starting 2nd IUI cycle, with Letrazole and with a new RE / different clinic
11/03/2020 | New Dx "poor egg quality"; IUI cancelled in favor of Trigger + TI + Prometrium | BFN
11/26/2020 | Combo IUI (Clomid + Menopur) + Trigger + Prometrium | BFN
12/20/2020 | Combo IUI (Clomid + Gonal-F) + Trigger | IUI Cancelled due to thin lining; TI only | BFN
01/14/2021 | Combo IUI (Letrazole + Menopur) + Trigger | BFN
02/06/2021 | Switched to a new RE (TEW) ; trying naturally until we complete additional testing
03/14/2021 | Hybrid Double IUI, with Zymot (Letrazole, Gonal-F) + Trigger + Endometrin | Ovulated 4 mature eggs but still a BFN ☹️
04/07/2021 | Natural cycle while we regroup | BFN
04/09/2021 | Employer announces fertility benefits starting 05/01/2021! | Search for a new doctor who accepts insurance
05/10/2021 | New RE consult & plan for IVF
05/13/2021 | Mid-luteal IVF cycle #1 interrupted; had to get cancer genetic screening done to make sure I didn't have the same SDHA gene mutation as MH.
06/10/2021 | Aygestin priming IVF cycle #1; opted to Cx after 9 days of stims since only 5-6/12 follicles responded
07/26/2021 | Attempt #2 at IVF cycle #1 (mid-luteal start): 8 retrieved, 8 MII, 6 fert (1 PN3), 3 Day 5 & 6 blasts: 3AA, 3AA, 6AB; 3 euploid
08/09/2021 | Rest cycle / unmedicated TTC | Shockingly, a BFP! EDD: 5/25/202 | CP at 4w4d
09/23/2021 | IVF cycle #2 (mid-luteal start): 14 retrieved, 13 MII, 11 fert, 5 Day 5 & 6 blasts: 2 x 3AA, 2 x 3AB, 3BB; 2 euploid
11/12/2021 | IVF cycle #3 (mid-luteal start): cancelled due to ovaries being on vacation
12/20/2021 | Rest cycle / unmedicated TTC + Pregmune Immunology Testing; BFN
01/22/2022 | Rest cycle / unmedicated TTC + understanding uncovered immunological issues; BFN
02/18/2022 | Mock transfer cycle! ERA, ReceptivaDx, EMMA/ALICE; start Prednisone to address NK activity
03/16/2022 | Final, "Hail Mary" super-ovulation + TI cycle before FET; BFP! EDD: 12/21/2022 | MMC 05/08/2022
05/20/2022 | D&C; recovering...
06/21/2022 | Trying naturally until October 2022
07/21/2022 | BFP! EDD 04/02/2023; 👦🏼 born on 4/5/2023
@fantasyflyte I'm sorry you're feeling worse! Did you test for other things (like RSV, flu)?
@elle-0409 Haha, love the Colin Firth comment! I hate when I gets pushed, hopefully it shows up for you soon.
@acleverusername You are so brave! The world needs more of that honesty. I'm not sharing on social media (yet), but I'm trying to get better about sharing my struggles with people in person. It's hard, so major props to you. Hope you enjoyed the spa!