Infertility

December IUI

Hey ladies! I didn't see this posted yet. Feel free to share as much (or as little) information as you'd like. Wishing everyone the best of luck this cycle!
*TW*
Me:35 DH:35
Dx: PCOS
DS1 born 11/2014
DS2 born 11/2018
3 previous losses
Rainbow baby due 12/2021 - Team Green

«13

Re: December IUI

  • I'm scheduled for my first IUI this morning. So nervous! 
  • Hello! This is my second round, first time was a bust, I didn't even ovulate. I had 6 small follicles on Friday, going back tomorrow to see if any are getting bigger. Is 6 good?? I don't even know! Also trying acupuncture tomorrow. Fx for all that this is our month! What a great Christmas it would be :) 

    FX for you @smittyswifey! Exciting!!!
  • Loading the player...
  • Thanks for starting this board @dmo1371!  FX for you today @smittyswifey, and you too @jenrn1216!  Let us know how acupuncture goes.  I'm so curious about that as I have never tried it for anything.  I have read some staggeringly positive reviews of acupuncture for fertility, as well as other health issues/maintenance. 

    DW and I are set to try our first round of IUI at the end of this month.  Currently waiting for AF to arrive (should be tomorrow) so I can schedule my Day 3 bloodwork.  Then the process begins with submitting for approval with my health insurance.  They won't cover natural/unmedicated IUI, only clomid/med-assisted IUI. ::eyeroll:: So now I have to hope that my levels indicate I need meds? Seems so backwards. :(  Luckily we planned for this financially, but it'd be nice to have some $ assistance.  Although our deductible is insanely high so we'd likely be OOP for a lot before we got any assistance even if we do qualify. 

    I'd been pretty confident in my health and fertility cycle as I've always had 28-29 day cycles, and for the last 3 months I tracked ovulation with a Clear Blue Digital OPK which gave me "peak fertility" around day 18-20 vs 14-16 like "normal" cycles.  Except my November tracking only indicated "high fertility" and never "peak fertility."  So of course my brain is going haywire with that new development.  But as I've only tracked ovulation for 3 months I don't know if it really is new or not.  My progesterone is low so we'll be using a supplement after each IUI cycle to help things along.  And we'll be monitoring my cycle with bloodwork at the dr's office this month. Hopefully we can pinpoint my ovulation window and get a bebe growing in there for the New Year!

    My wife and I have conceived a babe with my body and frozen donor sperm through IUI, with medication support (clomid, ovidrel, and injections of progesterone)

    IUI #1, #2, and #3: Dec 2017, Jan 2018, and Feb 2018 - all BFN
    HSG Test: April 2018 - all clear!
    IUI #4: April 15/16, 2018 - BFP!! EDD: Jan 7, 2019 




  • Thanks for starting this board @dmo1371!

    FX for you @smittyswifey! How did it go? Are you doing a natural or medicated cycle? 

    @lazyornghousecat It’s nice that you have some insurance coverage! My insurance will pay for testing to determine an infertility diagnosis but then won’t pay for anything. That’s super unhelpful for me since the cause of my infertility is pretty obvious (no matter how hard we try, 2 women just can’t make a baby!!) So we are all OOP. Have you met you deductible for this year yet so a December cycle might get covered? 

    AFM: This is cycle number 2. TW** Last month our cycle ended in CP. *** end TW I almost had to skip this month because my RE wanted to meet with us after my hcg returned to negative, but I was already on cycle day 2 when my blood test was 0 and he was unable to meet with me that day. After many desperate phone calls, he agreed to let me repeat the same protocol without seeing him. So I just completed letrozole day 3-7 and have my ultrasound on 12/7. 
  • @do114 Solidarity, sistah! My insurance paid for the diagnostic testing, etc too. It's pretty sick that I have to hope my #s indicate something so they'd treat me for infertility instead of the fact that I married a woman and she doesn't produce sperm. These systems claim to be blind to sexual orientation and willing to help families no matter the couple, but it's systematically designed to hinder LGBT couples!    Healthcare systems need to support us on the front end too!  

    Our deductible is 11,000 combined, and 6500 for me individually (yeah it sucks). We haven't met that for 2017 (and I had a bunch of other health issues taken care of this year too) so I'm figuring this is all OOP no matter what, and we're just going through the motions to work toward it.  Heav forbid we need to go for further testing, etc due to fertility issues, at least we'd be on our way $ wise.  But I also sincerely hope this doesn't cost $6500. I wish health insurance would count sperm toward our deductible since it is medically necessary for the IUI (whatelse are we supposed to squirt up there!) because we dropped a meager $5800 on our first 6 vials earlier this month.  ARGH!

    FX for you this cycle.  Kudos to you for advocating for yourself to your RE for this month's cycle.  As hard I'm sure that was for you, there's nothing like continuing on with the next step to give us a sense of purpose when working toward an end goal. 

    My wife and I have conceived a babe with my body and frozen donor sperm through IUI, with medication support (clomid, ovidrel, and injections of progesterone)

    IUI #1, #2, and #3: Dec 2017, Jan 2018, and Feb 2018 - all BFN
    HSG Test: April 2018 - all clear!
    IUI #4: April 15/16, 2018 - BFP!! EDD: Jan 7, 2019 




  • @smittyswifey - I hope your IUI went well! 
    @jenrn1216 - I replied to you in the november IUI thread before I saw this. I don't know how big your 6 were so I can't really say if it's good. Ideally you wouldn't have that many when you do your IUI because you'd be at high risk for high order multiples. Hopefully you'll have a couple good sized ones and ovulate this time! 
    @lazyornghousecat - FX this is your cycle! I know a lot of REs will medicate you even if you have "normal" cycles to increase your odds. Would your insurance cover that if you were interested? Holy crap, that's a high deductible!
    @do114 - I'm glad you didn't have to wait a cycle to try again! I'm sorry again for your loss. 

    AFM, this will be our 5th IUI. I have my CD 12 u/s tomorrow to see how I'm responding. I have been feeling lots of twinges which is great (last cycle I didn't feel anything and didn't respond to my first dose). I usually don't ovulate until CD 18-22 with meds, but maybe I'll ovulate a little sooner this time. I'm trying to stay busy and not think too much about how frustrated I am with this process. 
    *TW*
    Me:35 DH:35
    Dx: PCOS
    DS1 born 11/2014
    DS2 born 11/2018
    3 previous losses
    Rainbow baby due 12/2021 - Team Green

  • @dmo1371 Yay for twinges! Do you do home OPKs to track ovulation for your IUI or frequent blood draws? Have you tried using a trigger shot to time your IUI? I’m pretty sure I was ovulating on my own (though I do have PCOS and funky cycles) but either way my RE has me trigger with Ovedril so that everything is controlled and timed. 
  • dmo1371 said:
    @smittyswifey - I hope your IUI went well! 
    @jenrn1216 - I replied to you in the november IUI thread before I saw this. I don't know how big your 6 were so I can't really say if it's good. Ideally you wouldn't have that many when you do your IUI because you'd be at high risk for high order multiples. Hopefully you'll have a couple good sized ones and ovulate this time! 
    @lazyornghousecat - FX this is your cycle! I know a lot of REs will medicate you even if you have "normal" cycles to increase your odds. Would your insurance cover that if you were interested? Holy crap, that's a high deductible!
    @do114 - I'm glad you didn't have to wait a cycle to try again! I'm sorry again for your loss. 

    AFM, this will be our 5th IUI. I have my CD 12 u/s tomorrow to see how I'm responding. I have been feeling lots of twinges which is great (last cycle I didn't feel anything and didn't respond to my first dose). I usually don't ovulate until CD 18-22 with meds, but maybe I'll ovulate a little sooner this time. I'm trying to stay busy and not think too much about how frustrated I am with this process. 
    Thank you! Aside from the unfathomable awkwardness, my first IUI yesterday went as well as could be expected. We did a medicated cycle, I took 5 days of clomid and then triggered on CD12 with ovidrel. FX for you that 5 time's a charm!
  • @do114 and @lazyornghousecat Yikes that is a high deductible! I feel you on the health insurance issues. Even though I know I'm extremely lucky to have coverage, our insurance can't seem to figure out how to process any claims because the fact that we have coverage is so unusual. I had to call them every week for 5 months to get them to process the claims.  So frustrating - we just end up paying upfront to give us time to fight with the insurance company later for reimbursement.

    I also use meds even though we have no other diagnosis besides severe MFI. As each cycle costs so much money with donor sperm, ultrasounds etc. It seemed more cost effective to do medicated with a trigger to ensure the correct timing as we only get one shot at it each month.

    AFM - I had my 5th IUI yesterday with 5 mg Letrozole and trigger. Fifth times the charm?! Seemed like everything went well, I had 2-3 mature follies, and this was my first cycle with more than one. Lets hope this is the one!
  • @do114 - I have PCOS so OPKs are useless for me. Without ovulation inducing medication I have multiple surges without ever actually ovulating. With all our IUIs we've done ultrasounds to monitor and a trigger shot once I have big enough follicles. 

    @kerryann124 - FX this is your cycle! We are the opposite here (DH is fine, but I have PCOS and don't ovulate on my own) but it make sense to increase our chances with IUI since we are paying for monitoring and such anyway. 

    My u/s this morning showed one follicle at 15 and one at 17 so I have a repeat u/s Wednesday with likely IUI Thursday. 
    *TW*
    Me:35 DH:35
    Dx: PCOS
    DS1 born 11/2014
    DS2 born 11/2018
    3 previous losses
    Rainbow baby due 12/2021 - Team Green

  • @dmo1371 thank you for the response. I have unexplained infertility. Also low AMH. 

    Good luck to everyone this cycle.

    Unfortunately, I'm out for a little while. They found too many cysts on u/s today and want me to take 2 cycles off until they resolve, then have a complete pelvic u/s and follow up with the Dr to decide next step. Waiting 2 cycles at the age of 36 feels like a lifetime, but I did try acupuncture today and am actually very optimistic! I went in there feeling so defeated, wanting to cry my eyes out, and I left a brand new woman!! I am going to take this time to focus on myself, reduce some stress, hopefully regulate my cycles, and enjoy the holidays. The acupuncturist made me feel better when she told me that she knows without a doubt this is going to work. See you all in a few cycles!!! 
  • @jenrn1216 - I'm sorry about all the cysts. I hope acupuncture works well for you and the two month break goes by quickly! 
    *TW*
    Me:35 DH:35
    Dx: PCOS
    DS1 born 11/2014
    DS2 born 11/2018
    3 previous losses
    Rainbow baby due 12/2021 - Team Green

  • @jenrn1216 I'm sorry about the cysts and hope they resolve quickly for you. I had a large cyst back in July and had to sit out a month before starting treatment. I also took BC that month in hopes it would shrink the cyst quicker. It ended up really only taking a month, but it was devastating to walk out of my fertility specialist's office with BC instead of fertility drugs and a plan. I'll keep hoping that they resolve and the time passes quickly for you!
  • @kerryann124 ugh don't I know it!  Would you mind me asking what your monthly IUI costs were out of pocket?  I know it's different based on insurance and what the RE office will charge, but my health insurance and the doc won't give me a straight answer until they speak with each other and I'd just like to know what I'm getting into...since we'll be paying OOP until we meet our deductible at the very least.  I have heard from many others with not so textbook cases that one really has to advocate with health insurance as they will do whatever they can to avoid paying.  Grrrrr!

    My wife and I have conceived a babe with my body and frozen donor sperm through IUI, with medication support (clomid, ovidrel, and injections of progesterone)

    IUI #1, #2, and #3: Dec 2017, Jan 2018, and Feb 2018 - all BFN
    HSG Test: April 2018 - all clear!
    IUI #4: April 15/16, 2018 - BFP!! EDD: Jan 7, 2019 




  • Hi ladies! I didn't do an IUI (just TI) this month due to producing 5 mature follicles, but can I still jump in here?  I am 5dpo and with this being our last treatment cycle, I feel really really nervous, but am praying it works!  Thinking of each of you today.  Going through this journey during the holidays isn't easy!
    Me: PCOS   DH: No issues

    August '16-January '17: Clomid + HCG + IUI/TI = BFN
    February/March '17: Menopur + HCG + IUI = BFN
    April '17: Menopur + HCG + TI (due to too many mature follicles) = BFN
    May '17: Took off due to cysts
    June' 17: Menopur + HCG + IUI = Cancelled due to 8+ mature follicles
    November '17: Clomid + HCG + IUI= BFN
    December '17: Menopur + HCG + TI= BFP!!!! Due August 2018


  • Hi @Funnygirl34 of course you can join us! Welcome and I hope this is your cycle!
    @lazyornghousecat Surely, I think the more info you have the better. FYI I live in Oregon, so cost may be less than somewhere like NYC etc. My clinic billed $405 for the ultrasound, $233 for the IUI itself (although the bill says surgery?), and then $40 to process the donor sperm (I think its pre-washed and just needs to be thawed?). I feel like these rates seem lower than what other people have paid out of pocket, so they might be charging me the insurance negotiated rates, which tend to be much lower. Hope that helps...
  • edited December 2017
    @kerryann124 Thanks for the info. I just got off the phone with the finance/med billing person at my RE office.  She says the whole cycle for IUI plus bloodwork and sonograms costs $1900 each month.  I think if we get authorized by insurance we will wait until January to begin IUI.  No point in paying OOP for December toward a deductible that will just reset at the end of the month.  Better to start fresh in the new year.  Ugh that makes me sad though.  

    If it's not going to get covered by insurance then we'll just go for it in December since we'll be OOP anyway.  $ takes all the fun out of conception.  Feeling bummed :(

    Edited to Update: We've decided to do self-pay this month anyhow and then will hope to get authorized for insurance next month. 

    My wife and I have conceived a babe with my body and frozen donor sperm through IUI, with medication support (clomid, ovidrel, and injections of progesterone)

    IUI #1, #2, and #3: Dec 2017, Jan 2018, and Feb 2018 - all BFN
    HSG Test: April 2018 - all clear!
    IUI #4: April 15/16, 2018 - BFP!! EDD: Jan 7, 2019 




  • Had my 6th iui on Saturday 2 possibly 3 mature follies DH sample was 60 million and 95 mobility. I go Friday for progestone check. Now the dreaded wait. Been doing metitation and positive affirmation everyday hoping it will help.
  • @Labluver2 self care and mindfulness are SO important in this process, as with so many stressful (and non-stressful) things.  I really love the Expectful app for meditations. FX for you this month!

    AFM today is Day 1 of my cycle, and our first round of medicated IUI begins this month!  We have decided to self pay for this month to get things going, and will see if our insurance will cover our medicated IUI cycles starting for 2018, and pay into our super high deductible at that point.  Going for my bloodwork/sono (day 2 vs 3) to get a baseline and so the billing has time to send everything off for insurance approval. 

    I will start clomid this Friday.  I've never been on it before. I know what Web MD says the side effects are, but what are your true feelings/experiences with clomid? I don't always trust the internet with its basic assessment of side effects.  Will go back next Friday for more blood and sono to check how I'm doing and continue to monitor from there.  I tend to ovulate or reach peak fertility (according to my OPK) around day 19, so we'll see! 

    We also had our sperm shipped to the RE office! It'll arrive sometime tomorrow.  Like a cousin flying in from out of town! It's weird to think of the other piece to our baby making puzzle moving closer to us! My wife keeps teasing me because it's been almost 10 years since sperm has gotten anywhere near my body  :D  

    Going away for work to do a high school student leadership training this weekend.  Hoping clomid doesn't make me too crazy. FX!

    My wife and I have conceived a babe with my body and frozen donor sperm through IUI, with medication support (clomid, ovidrel, and injections of progesterone)

    IUI #1, #2, and #3: Dec 2017, Jan 2018, and Feb 2018 - all BFN
    HSG Test: April 2018 - all clear!
    IUI #4: April 15/16, 2018 - BFP!! EDD: Jan 7, 2019 




  • @Labluver2 - Everything crossed this is your cycle! 
    @lazyornghousecat - I have never been on clomid, but I hope you are spared the side effects! 
    @Funnygirl34 - I hope this cycle works for you! Is this your last cycle trying with IUI? Will you do IVF next or just try on your own? 

    I had another u/s today and as always they had trouble seeing my L ovary. There was one follicle at 19mm so I triggered and will have my IUI tomorrow. I asked the tech about there being one at 15mm and one at 17mm two days ago, and she said there may have been another but it may have been hidden by my bowel that was there so who knows. Hopefully there is another mature one there. This will be my 5th IUI and I've only had a good experience with one nurse (who did 2 of them). That nurse is off tomorrow, so I called and told my RE I've had bad experiences with other nurses and before I could even ask him he said he'd do it. I am so relieved. Hopefully this will be our cycle.
    *TW*
    Me:35 DH:35
    Dx: PCOS
    DS1 born 11/2014
    DS2 born 11/2018
    3 previous losses
    Rainbow baby due 12/2021 - Team Green

  • @lazyornghousecat I'm on my third round of clomid and the first time I took it I did have one day where I just felt awful, so nauseous and headaches but the last two times have been much better with only some hot flashes. Fun! Hope you do get spared side effects, I had none with letrozle but also didn't respond as well.

    AFM, last months IUI didn't work so we are trying another round. Went in today for US and have two nice big follicles and got positive OPK today so we will IUI tomorrow. Hoping it goes well. Also thinking we may take a break from meds and IUI after this one as I'm not sure how many more rounds our RE will recommend. Went ahead with it this month due to insurance coverage and everything starting over deductible wise in January.
    Good luck to everyone this month and wishing for Christmas miracles for all!
  • I had my first IUI on Monday, and I took clomid and the lovely HCG shot. I couldn't give myself the shot, it was kind of embarrassing.  Insurance sadly doesn't cover anything for me. DH is looking for a new job, so I'm hoping his new job has better insurance than mine!

    Good luck to everyone this month!
  • @Suzzy2380 How did your IUI go today? FX this is your month!

    @lazyornghousecat Glad you will be cycling with us! Maybe this will be your month and you wont need to worry about your January deductible?! Let’s dream big
  • @do114 My IUI went as well as could be expected though not without drama. Since I got a positive OPK and didn't trigger it was moved up which meant I would have to take in my hubby's sample. No big deal except the location I had to go to is about 40 min on a good day and today rain and traffic were the worst! So I had to wait till that got lighter and hence I was late getting things started but we did it! Sperm count was great as well so yay! Now I just wait....... How was your U/S today, good news I hope!

    Who's all in the TWW, any others yet?
  • Funnygirl34Funnygirl34 member
    edited December 2017
    dmo1371 We've decided not to pursue IVF, so this will be our last fertility treatment cycle.  It's really weird and I feel nervous, but we feel at peace about our decision.  If this cycle is unsuccessful we will look into adoption in 2018.
    Me: PCOS   DH: No issues

    August '16-January '17: Clomid + HCG + IUI/TI = BFN
    February/March '17: Menopur + HCG + IUI = BFN
    April '17: Menopur + HCG + TI (due to too many mature follicles) = BFN
    May '17: Took off due to cysts
    June' 17: Menopur + HCG + IUI = Cancelled due to 8+ mature follicles
    November '17: Clomid + HCG + IUI= BFN
    December '17: Menopur + HCG + TI= BFP!!!! Due August 2018


  • @Suzzy2380 Glad to hear it went well! I feel like I'm always rushing on the way to the doctors office, but they are usually running late so it works out. I'm in the TWW too, 4 DPO and I feel like time is crawling! Doesn't really help that work is slow right now too. Hoping the weekend will make it speed up a bit, lots of holiday shopping to be done!

    @Funnygirl34 I think we are in the same boat. We had to do IVF first because we had MFI, but then tried some IUI with donor sperm. But I feel like if its not happening with IUI with donor sperm either, we are just moving onto adoption. I'm nervous as I don't know where to start.
  • @Funnygirl34 @kerryann124 I am really hoping for you both that this cycle brings good news, but I’m also a huge fan of adoption. *TW* We started our family in the reverse order and adopted our son as a newborn before ever trying fertility treatments. We had an amazing experience with adoption and now have a beautiful 2 year old who feels like he is 100% our child. If either of you end up going down the adoption road, feel free to reach out. It’s one of my favorite topics! 
  • @do114 my husband and I just discussed adoption if we are not preg in the next few months. I rather spend the ivf money on adoption and have a baby rather than not a guarantee.  
  • @Funnygirl34 - I hope this is your cycle, but if it isn't I am glad you guys are at peace with your decision moving forward. 
    *TW*
    Me:35 DH:35
    Dx: PCOS
    DS1 born 11/2014
    DS2 born 11/2018
    3 previous losses
    Rainbow baby due 12/2021 - Team Green

  • I'm trying soooo hard not to symptom spot, but my gosh... I'm 8 dpo today and I had a drastic temp dip yesterday and really sharp cramps (on and off for 5 minutea) last night.  I'm praying it's a baby burrowing in, but in my head I know it was probably gas. lol . Who else is in the tww??
    Me: PCOS   DH: No issues

    August '16-January '17: Clomid + HCG + IUI/TI = BFN
    February/March '17: Menopur + HCG + IUI = BFN
    April '17: Menopur + HCG + TI (due to too many mature follicles) = BFN
    May '17: Took off due to cysts
    June' 17: Menopur + HCG + IUI = Cancelled due to 8+ mature follicles
    November '17: Clomid + HCG + IUI= BFN
    December '17: Menopur + HCG + TI= BFP!!!! Due August 2018


  • @Funnygirl34 I'm 7DPIUI I'm trying not to symptom spot either but it's hard I've had cramping on and off. Today I feel like my period is comin bloated crampy sore boobs. I have alot of CM like I do during fertil week. I'm hoping something is going on down there but it's prob my hormones. My progestrone yesterday was 22. When do you go for beta I go Friday the 15th
  • "*lurking from ivf thread**
    @Labluver2  hoping this is your month!   
  • Well ladies, I got my BFP this morning at 9dpo.  It was very faint, but there.  I'll have my first beta draw Monday!  I still can't believe it!!
    Me: PCOS   DH: No issues

    August '16-January '17: Clomid + HCG + IUI/TI = BFN
    February/March '17: Menopur + HCG + IUI = BFN
    April '17: Menopur + HCG + TI (due to too many mature follicles) = BFN
    May '17: Took off due to cysts
    June' 17: Menopur + HCG + IUI = Cancelled due to 8+ mature follicles
    November '17: Clomid + HCG + IUI= BFN
    December '17: Menopur + HCG + TI= BFP!!!! Due August 2018


  • Congragulations @Funnygirl34 I hope I get a BFP on Friday I don't test I know crazy but u don't bc I just get so bummed seeing that negitive 
  • Congrats @Funnygirl34!!!! So happy for you!!!!!
  • Congratulations @Funnygirl34!!! Hoping for a great beta on Monday! 
    *TW*
    Me:35 DH:35
    Dx: PCOS
    DS1 born 11/2014
    DS2 born 11/2018
    3 previous losses
    Rainbow baby due 12/2021 - Team Green

  • Hey ladies. I was away for work all weekend without internet service. Now I’m l laying awake in bed at 3:30 am and super nauseous. Idk if it’s the food I ate for dinner, a stomach virus I caught from one of my colleagues who got sick on Friday/Saturday, or the 3rd day of clomid!  I’ve been taking It before bed as many have previously suggested and this is the first (maybe) side effect I’ve had. Blahhhhh!  :s 

    What does everyone’s week look like? Anything fun planned? 

    My wife and I have conceived a babe with my body and frozen donor sperm through IUI, with medication support (clomid, ovidrel, and injections of progesterone)

    IUI #1, #2, and #3: Dec 2017, Jan 2018, and Feb 2018 - all BFN
    HSG Test: April 2018 - all clear!
    IUI #4: April 15/16, 2018 - BFP!! EDD: Jan 7, 2019 




  • @Funnygirl34 Ahh that is so exciting! Hoping for great betas today!

    @labluver2 I haven't really had any symptoms either, but my boobs are getting sore which tells me my period is coming soon... Trying to remain hopeful as I'm 8 dpo, but its hard.
  • FX for a great beta today @Funnygirl34

    @ml2017 How are you doing? You are half way through the TWW! 

    @kerryann124 My last TWW I found 8-9dpo the longest part of the two weeks! It seemed to drag on forever! Are you doing anything fun this week to stay busy? 

    I had my IUI on Saturday. It was actually a bit painful. She said I had a lot of CM but my cervix was closed and it look her a while to get the catheter through and then I had some bleeding all day.  I thought with ovulation your cervix was supposed to open. The nurse said it was fine, but I think she was just trying to make me relax. So I’m not feeling very optimistic this cycle. Has anyone ever had their cervix be closed at their IUI, 36 hours after hcg trigger? 
Sign In or Register to comment.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards
"
"