What do you wish you knew before IUI - RP from IF

Bucks1975

Hi Ladies -

I lurk here and feel so encouraged by all of your stories.  There was a post today on IF on what you wish you had known before your first IUI.  I will be starting IUI's in January and would love to hear what SAIF's wish they knew before starting their IUI's. 

Thanks!

ougrad1

For me, I would have skipped the clomid stuff with the IUI.  I would have gone strait into the injectables.  I just got my bfp from my third IUI but, first cycle with the injectables.  GL to you!

howleyshell

This is one of my all time favorite IF websites:

 

IUI FAQ's

 

In addition to that I wish I'd known:

1.  That having a retroverted uterus and a jacked up cervix meant IUI would require a clamp (that would feel less than plesant) so they could pull my cervix down in the right position to thread it.

 - don't sweat that though....  I'm a freak in the uterus and cervix department

 

2.  That if your sperm wash isn't super thorough you can get MAJOR uterine cramping from any prostaglandins that end up in the uterus.  Totally normal.  Won't impact anything.  (I was afraid my uterus wasn't "calm" enough for eveything to go right)

 

GL to you!  Please post questions here any time!!!

 

 

 

choco_lab

I was really afraid when they told me I needed to go to injectables due to the needles and all the monitoring appointments.  I put it off for months hoping that something would happen on its own.. which it never did.  I finally went for it.  My first IUI was a BFN but the second was a BFP.  I should have done it sooner and not been afraid.  The needles were no big deal and the appts were easy to deal with.

Also, that "it only takes one".  My first IUI DH's numbers were 25 and 18 million post wash.  The second IUI his numbers were 9 and 5 for my b2b IUIs.  I thought for sure there was no way it would work.. but it did!

Good luck!

 

Smudges*Mom

I don't mean to be a downer, but I wish that I'd considered that my first IUI might not get me my BFP.  I was absolutely CRUSHED when it was a BFN.  Poor DH. . . I was certain that it meant that we weren't meant to be parents, that we were horrible people. . . all at four in the morning. (Fortunately, DH was already up for work, he's an early riser, but still. . . not a good way to start the day, with your wife going stark, raving mad!)

From my experience, be postive, but realistic.  I hope that you are one of the "lucky" infertiles for whom IUI works!  )

Temp159135562506975

I can't think of anything that i wish i knew... we were very fortunate that i responded well to clomid - got pg on our first cycle with Griffin.  With the twins it took 2 cycles of the same (100mg clomid, metformin, trigger and BTB IUIs).  I also took wheat grass pills the cycle i got pg with the twins--- which was the only cycle out of 3 that I had 2 mature follies- so who knows, maybe it helped?

i think knowing that it might not work is good- but having a positive outlook, too... positive thinking certainly can't hurt --- for me, lots of prayers helped me get through the days.

My RE will only do 3 cycles of clomid/IUI and then move to injectable/IUI for 3 cycles... and then to IVF.  He says that if you aren't pg after 3 cycles of each the chances are slim and best to move on to more aggressive.  I think that might be good to know- since i've seen some women do like 7-10 IUIs that failed before moving to IVF- which to me would just be too much to deal with.  I think moving to a more aggressive treatment after 3 failed cycles is wise - and healthy for your brain and emotions, too.

Best of luck to you! prayers that you are one of the lucky ones that it doesn't take much time!

lckytabby3

Smudges*Mom:

I don't mean to be a downer, but I wish that I'd considered that my first IUI might not get me my BFP.  I was absolutely CRUSHED when it was a BFN.  From my experience, be postive, but realistic.  I hope that you are one of the "lucky" infertiles for whom IUI works!  )

This and I would have asked more questions and knew what was going to happen at each step.  I had no clue and it was a suprise at each visit what I was supposed to do next.

I wish you the best of luck. 

Bucks1975

Thank you so much ladies!  I was really nervous to post on this board (only because I'm not a SAIF yet) and you have all been so kind in your responses that it brought tears to my eyes (not that I'm all that surprised - like I said, I lurk here, I think I've just been really emotional over the holidays). 

I appreciate all of the comments.  I am really nervous to start treatment, only because if I start it - it can fail.  Right now, I can think that we still have injects + IUI.  Probably doesn't make a lot of sense, but the closer it gets, the more nervous I get about it.  I've bookmarked the website and will probably read over these responses several more times. 

Thanks again and I hope to join you all really soon!

Cajunladybug22

Just wanted to say good luck!  I researched the crap out of IUI before I went in, and was ready.  Luckily, Femara with the IUI was the formula that worked for us.  I do wish I had known to not be crushed if the first round doesn't work.  I hope it does work for you, but if it doesn't, keep your head up and keep trying.  With my 2nd cycle, I had this positive feeling from the beginning.