Introducing Myself - TTC 16 months

cvandy1515 · November 2016

Hi!
I am so grateful for this community and forum! DH and I have been TTC since July 2015. DH is 39, I am 32. We TTC for 6 months when I first made an appt with an RE because my gut was telling me something wasn't right. Our RE tested me and DH. My results came back normal (HSG showing clear tubes, ovulate naturally every month, regular periods, have adequate egg reserve and all hormone levels normal) but DH's analysis came back with below average motility and morphology. Our RE told us to keep TTC naturally because we would likely get pregnant within the year. Well... we didn't despite temping, using preseed, acupuncture, opk's, essential oils, diet modifications, you name it.

I felt that our first RE was very "woman shaming" despite DH's abnormal analysis so I found another RE that both DH and I love! Our first natural IUI cycle (1 mature follie with DH producing great numbers post wash) was in Sept 2016. BFN. Our 2nd IUI cycle on Clomid was Oct 2016. Unfortunately, Clomid thinned my lining and caused midcycle light bleeding (plus DH numbers weren't as good). BFN. Our 3rd IUI on Letrozole was Nov 2016. Just had a follow up ultrasound today due to mid cycle bleeding (again) after I stopped Letrozole. Ultrasound showed that my follie stopped growing and my lining was now thin (so confused as I thought this wouldn't happen on Letrozole). IUI #3 cancelled. DH and I are beyond disappointed and I feel angry that I went to an RE hoping to get clarity and help and yet all they have done is make my fertility situation worse off. Wondering if anyone else has had a similar experience on Letrozole? I look forward to being a part of this group and learning and supporting you all through your individual journeys!

OGreat · November 2016

@The9MonthProject Welcome!!
That sounds so frustrating! I hate when things that are supposed to help make it worse! Your situation sounds similar to mine, in that my levels are "normal" and DH has low motility and morphology. I have never been on letrozole though. They have me using follistim. Are they going to switch you to something different? When do you get to do another IUI cycle?

ameliabedelia-2 · November 2016

Hi! I am new here as well and also started trying in July 2015. I have had a crappy experience so far with my RE and have been super disappointed. I feel like they want to keep trying the same things over and over again when it's clear they aren't working. It's incredibly frustrating and now that I know exactly how my body is working, I feel like it will never happen for us. I know exactly how you are feeling. Good luck and hope your stay here is short.

cvandy1515 · November 2016

@AmeliaBedelia & @OGreat thank you so much for your responses. This journey has been so lonely thus far and it is very comforting to connect with others going through the struggle as well. My RE wants me to start on Gonal-F for our next IUI cycle, but I'm not sure how I feel about it. I'm concerned that my body is getting messed up from all of these medications and thinking maybe I need a month or two without medications to let my body return to its normal healthy function. I also don't know when my next cycle will start or when to even expect AF as my lining already started thinning and I'm only CD 14. DH and I have discussed maybe taking the month of December off, but we aren't sure yet. @OGreat, how has your experience been on injectables? Would you recommend them? Hope both of your stays here are short as well

Warm Regards

ameliabedelia-2 · November 2016

I didn't respond to Clomid last cycle and started Gonal-F on day 14. Things changed very rapidly and I had no thinning of my lining. This cycle we are going to start injections on day 3 to hopefully get things moving more quickly. They aren't painful and I had minimal side effects (mostly just more emotional). We took last month off and have been on birth control to "even things out". Ask your doctor about whether that is an option if you do decide to take a month off.

cvandy1515 · November 2016

Thank you for the suggestion. I will be sure to ask my RE.

mrsdaddario · November 2016

@cvandy1515 Hi, welcome. I'm sorry for the frustrating journey with your RE. As far as the Letrozole, you're correct in that it shouldn't thin your lining. However it's not impossible for that to happen. Any time my lining needed thickening, I was put on estrogen and baby aspiring. Both times that did the trick and we were able to continue on with IUI. Unfortunately Letrozole did not work for us, and we are now on our second round of injectables. Gonal f really isn't that bad. The needle is extremely tiny, I barely ever felt it going in. No side affects. But with injectables because things do move so fast I had to be monitored every other day. It's a lot of time away from work, a lot of personal time. My words of wisdom, be 100% on board with them. They are time consuming and a lot to mentally wrap your head around. If you are even slightly considering taking time off before starting them, then I recommend doing so. It would be a shame if you started them and then realized half way through that it was all too much emotionally and mentally for you.

cvandy1515 · November 2016

@mrsdaddario thank you for your insight on the journey of injectibles and I wish you so much luck on your second round!!!!
At the moment, I'm really struggling with what to do for our next cycle.... do we do natural iui again, injectibles w/ iui or take the cycle off and move to IVF. Honestly, I'm not 100% on board with fertility medications in general because they haven't found anything wrong with my ovulation or natural cycles. My body has not responded well to medications thus far so I'm definitely scared about what will happen with injectible meds. I'll do what is necessary for us to have a baby, but I want to do right by my body as well. Thank you for sharing your experience with me and again best of luck on your second round!

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