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Secondary IF
Going for day 3 b/w tomorrow and more confused than ever
If you remember about a week ago, when I still had hope the first iui would work, I was freaking out some about twins and thinking that even 2 follicles are too much of a risk for me. I was going to talk to the doctor to see if he thought reducing my clomid dose from 100 to 50 would help limit me to just 1 follicle, but now that reality hit I'm not sure if I want to reduce my chances of it working. The main reason we are doing IUI is b/c of low sperm count, although I do think that my variable cycles mean that my body is making it difficult too, but nothing has been diagnosed with me.
I'm torn b/c if I'm going to take these drugs, I want a reasonable chance of getting pregnant but I don't know if with DH's issues if we have a reasonable chance with just 1. I have back tracked so many times during this whole process it's ridiculous.
Any stories/insights/philosophies you would like to share? All are welcome!
Brenna
Married 4.30.05
Mom to Teagan 4.11.07 and Cora 9.30.11
D&E @ 22w 9.30.09 CMV infection BFP 10.15.10 C/P 4w4d
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Going for day 3 b/w tomorrow and more confused than ever
So sorry, I was really hoping for this to be it for you!!! I think having at least 2 or 3 good follies brings your chances up, and yes there's always that risk of multiples, but it's a risk you take! It's a scary thing to swallow, but the chances getting just 1 is greater too, and that's what you've got to focus on, right?!!! As you know I had 5 this cycle, and of course we were playing though all the freaky scenarios of having 5 at once or more and laughing because that's all we can do right now!! My philosophy is to take what I can get when it comes to IF... I'll be extremely lucky to have one, and if I get 2 (or more!) then it was meant to happen and we'll prepare as much as we can! This is of course before knowing anything, so I'm sure IF that were to happen, I would FREAK out and change my tune, but I can't get that far ahead right now...
You should def. share your concerns with your RE because they'll be able to tell you from their experiences what is most likely to happen. If you drop your dose of Clomid you might not get any follies, and like you said you don't want to keep back tracking.
I hope you figure this out and get that baby #2 soon!!!
Sheesh, I'm not sure what to say. I guess I think that I would rather take my chances of having 2 than 0, since it's so hard to just get 1, getting more just doesn't seem as likely. But then, I don't think I'm emotionally equipped for 2+, so I think if I were in your shoes I'd be just as stumped. And then I go back to thinking that everything works out the way it's supposed to in some sort of grand world order.
I'm sorry this isn't just easy, you know? Juju headed your way for peace with decisions, and of course for a sibling for your adorable daughter.
I read some more of people's experiences on the multiples board and saif board so I think from seeing what kinds of results real people were getting that we are going to stick with what we are doing. I will still talk to my RE, but I'm pretty sure I know what he's going to say regards stats, etc. since I saw him 4 yrs ago as well and I have friends who are patients of his too. He's not a pushy kind of doctor and really does what you as the patient are comfortable with.
At this point the risk of having twins isn't as scary as the risk of losing twins. There is no way to prepare for that so I'm just not a take what I can get sort of person when it comes to IF, but I think we've come to a conclusion as to what is reasonable for us. That's all you can do right?
I did not remember that you had 5! Eeek. What a long 2ww this must be for you!
Mom to Teagan 4.11.07 and Cora 9.30.11
D&E @ 22w 9.30.09 CMV infection BFP 10.15.10 C/P 4w4d
I agree a loss of any kind would have a HUGE toll on all your decision making...and would for me as well. That is one of my biggest fears as well...to go thru all the fertility treatments, get that BFP and then suffer a loss.
This whole IF thing is so difficult and the way everyone looks at it is different based on where we are all coming from! I wish you the best in the upcoming cycle and whatever you and your family chose is best!
"Just keep swimming, just keep swimming..."
Hmmm. I never thought about injectibles having more control over how many follies you produce. My friend did them b/c she wasn't responding to clomid, so my first assumption would be that my insurance would cause a problem as long as I am responding well to clomid, but it couldn't hurt to ask.
I talked to DH more and now he says well going for #2 and getting 2&3 isn't as bad as going for baby #3 and getting 3&4. Where in the hell did this come from? We NEVER talked about having 3 kids! Ever, and we've been living together for 11 years, started dating 4 years before that. OMG he just kills me sometimes, LOL. Suddenly he's mr. hopeful!
Mom to Teagan 4.11.07 and Cora 9.30.11
D&E @ 22w 9.30.09 CMV infection BFP 10.15.10 C/P 4w4d
2-3 would be perfect. My brain doesn't even comprehend 4....its getting harder to comprehend 2
Hey, anything can happen, right?
"Just keep swimming, just keep swimming..."
I am sorry this cycle didn't work out for you! I completely understand where you are coming from. I have been deadset on just having 1 follicle to reduce the risk of multiples, and if this IUI was a bust then we are moving on to IVF. However, I keep thinking that if my chances with just 1 are low, what if it never happens? It is such a roller coaster going through this process and it is like we have no control!
Have you thought about trying Femara? There is a much better chance of getting only the one follicle. I know the previous poster mentioned injectables, but you actually have a much higher chance of producing more follicles than Clomid, that is why the multiples rate for injectables is so much higher, like over 25%. However, with my son, that is what I got pregnant with. I was on the lowest dose and had two follices, ended up with one beautiful baby!
Good luck with making your decision, keep us updated!
While this is DEFINITELY true that there is a much higher chance of multiples, my RE will adjust the dosage accordingly to make sure I don't have more than 2 dominant folicles. For instance, if I had too much activity, she would dial back the dosage or too much activity, she increases it. My RE is conservative, which is why I trust her, but I think a lot of them really only care about their success rates.
I don't know anything about Femera though. Is that a pill too? What does it do?
"Just keep swimming, just keep swimming..."
Wow, that is interesting. I didn't know that they could do that. I feel like with every cycle I have had it has been a total crapshoot and I pretty much either over-respond or under-respond! When you say they can adjust the dosage, do you mean they adjust it on a trial by error basis month to month, or they literally adjust it per cycle? I would just be nervous about doing injectables or oral meds again because of the uncertainty of how many follicles I produce. With that being said, I did only produce two follicles on injectables the cycle I got pregnant with DS.
Femara is pretty much used the same way as clomid. However, it is actually a chemotherapy drug for breast cancer patients that is used off label for fertility. The side effects for me anyhow were MUCH less than Clomid, and it has the same purpose behind it. With Clomid I over-responded and they cancelled. With Femara, I initially under-responded, but they then double my dose and it looks like I have one good mature follicle (which was my goal).
Thanks for the Femera 411. I hear about all of these different drugs used, but I have no clue what many of them are used for
Clomid made me an abslute crazy person and I was in so much pain during ovulation that I would never use it again. Good to know that there is an alternative.
When I am in a stimulated dosage, I go in for b/w and ultrasound every other day and my RE has me increase, decrease or maintain the injection dosage based on how I respond. If it looks like I have too many follies, we dial back the dosage and if I am slow to respond, we bump it up. For me, the constant monitoring is a HUGE comfort because I truly know what is happening.
"Just keep swimming, just keep swimming..."