March 2018 IUI

rmartin_ttc · March 2018

@tinjp78 and @FutureMrsMerati Sorry to hear that your husbands had issues giving samples. I feel bad I think it would definitely be difficult to perform right then and there in a really sterile and clical environment. I honestly never thought about it, being a same sex couple. Is it possible for your husbands to give multiple samples closer together, like one every other day for a couple of days and then freeze them so they are ready to go the day of? It might be a stupid question, I just figured it might take some of the pressure off the day of.

@Chartleib Good luck on your test on this Monday! I'm keeping you in my prayers.

@suzycupcake we just did our 5th iui and we will be doing iui #6 this month if AF shows up. My wife and I read them together

She has an instagram account that she documents her journey and it's a forum that she really likes, but we both share stuff with each other from both.

@suzycupcake and @wishiwaspreggo Our protocol this time was 5mg letrazol days 3-7. We do a baseline scan on CD 1, 2, or 3 (depending on scheduling availability). We do a follicle check on CD 11 and 14 and then usually an iui on 15. We take pregnyl 24 hours before iui. This is our first cycle with letrazol, the other four were with clomid. This is the first cycle with more than one egg, we had 2. We only ever got one egg with clomid. However our lining was only 6.9 this cycle and it's normally an 8. Out doctor didn't seem concerned when I asked about it, but he honestly never seems concerned about anything. We don't know if we should go back to clomid since that's what we got our cp with, our only positive, or if we should keep going with letrazol. Not sure if the poor lining was a carry over from four round of clomid or if we just didn't respond as well to the letrazol. Would appreciate any thoughts on this. Also my wife takes PCOS and takes metformin daily.

To to anyone else I don't adress regularly, I'm sorry, I do try to keep up with everyone but it's a lot of people lol, but I do my best

wishing-and-hoping · March 2018

After the CP last week, I kinda checked out... but want to jump back in here. Want to say thanks to @FutureMrsMerati and @suzycupcake and @rmartin_ttc and @Chartleib for sharing your insights and experiences with your CPs on this board. It was helpful for me to read what you had written as I went through this as well. I had never experienced a swing of emotions so large and it took a few days for me to even cry, I think I was just so overwhelmed. Our RE told us we could try again right away, so we are back on the train again, I'm on my final day of letrozole today and will go in Thursday for mid cycle u/s. Definitely still processing this but didn't want to miss a month since I don't think waiting would help me process.

linz36 · March 2018

Sorry if I’m missing posts or not responding to people. I’m still on mobile and it’s not the best.

suzycupcake · March 2018

@FutureMrsMerati and @tinjp78 Hugs to both of you this morning

Sorry things were less than idea. It will all be okay.

@Chartleib I agree that patience and communication is important. MH and I have certainly had less than ideal situations too during this journey. He gets performance anxiety as well. I would also like to add for anyone reading this, throwing a bunch of humor in the mix is really important too.

We make "that's what she said" jokes all of the time. One example yesterday; I had severe cramps from the cp, had to take pain medication, and things finally calmed down. He was out back painting the skate ramp he just built. I was writhing in pain and called him on his phone twice to help me. He didn't realize at first that it was that bad. By the second call, he ran inside to help me. After everything calmed down, I looked at him and said, "Thank God you came inside. I couldn't have done it without you." He replied, "That's what she said!" We both died laughing and I said that it had to be the best 'that's what she said' ever and that he deserves the 'that's what she said' award.

We also have nicknames for the collection room, etc. We even make it a point to go out to breakfast during IUI morning while they are washing the sperm. Also, P.S., I had af like cramps while on estrace.

@wishiwaspreggo I just got back from my RE appointment. She says she doesn't want to add injectables and doesn't think that I need them. So she increased the femara dosage instead. Yes, I will start today for cd2 (said her Nurse), which is weird because last cycle, my RE had me start on cd4. Does it make a difference? Oh wait, I know why now. I think she wanted to start a bit earlier this time so that we can see how the follicles do by the time we get to the next monitoring u/s. If it doesn't look like more than one is maturing, she will add a very small dose of an injectable at that time to push the other one up where it should be, or something like that. Eta: Idk if that's why for sure. Just sent her an email. Eta2: She said yes, start today. Okay then!

Are you on cd3, doing femara??

@rmartin_ttc What kind of monitoring do they do after the iui? The reason I ask is because it's always a great idea to have a P test done 7dpiui to make sure ovulation happened. I know they say the trigger shots are really effective, but it's 91% so I asked for it last cycle to make sure I did and to make sure I had enough P. I did O but didn't have enough P where they like it to be so I supplemented.

Also, I'm curious as to which dosage they have her on with the femara. If you only got one follicle, I would think they should increase the dose or something to get at least two good follicles. Might be worth having that discussion before doing the next iui. Wait so was her lining 6.9 when they checked on cd14? If so, I'd ask for a lining measurement maybe a couple of days after iui because if it's not thickening, they should be giving her something to thicken the lining. It needs to be thicker than that for implantation.

Funny story, Clomid thinned mine out a bit so by the time I started femara, a Nurse told me to start taking estrace that cycle too. I didn't take it because I wanted to see what my body would do on my own. By the time I did u/s a couple of days before iui, she told me my lining was great. Well, obvs I didn't take the stuff. People need to stop one size fits alling and just monitor. It's not that hard. So it may just be that your wife's lining needed to adjust after taking Clomid. That stuff is notorious for doing that.

@wishing-and-hoping My heart goes out to you dear

I am so sorry! It's not easy and I'm so so glad that us sharing our experiences gave you the boost that you needed to get back up on the horse again!

I know for me, it was certainly everyone else opening up and sharing with me that helped me to do the same

tinjp78 · March 2018

Chartleib said:

@tinjp78 My husband had a similar "meltdown" during our first two IUIs. He's a very private person and when they wanted the sample at the clinic, it took HOURS. He was so frustrated and no matter what, he just couldn't give a sample. He started talking out of anger, about how the process was "stupid" and what not and I got so mad because I took it as he thought us trying to have a baby was stupid. Once the IUI was done (they let us go home and he was able to give a better sample) I told him how I felt and he apologized and said what he meant was that it was stupid he couldn't just give the sample. He was frustrated with himself. We talked about it and ever since he's been much better (emotionally) about giving the sample. It's definitely hard to deal with a man's ego sometimes, but I know for my husband personally that success at everything (and I mean everything lol) is kind of important to him. So for him to struggle with basically jerking off into a cup, it's a low blow for him. As hard as it is, patience and communication is key in this crazy journey.

Thanks for your encouragements and for sharing your experience here with me, although. I'm not sure about talking about this with him. Last year all I did was to help him get through his depression to the point of me suppressing lots of my feelings (so hard esp with all the IVF hormones/drugs) and prayed every minute for him to be better. Now that things are calmer, I'm not sure how to talk to him about these things (e.g. my true emotions, anxiety). I'm afraid he'll be affected and be depressed more. Sigh.... I'm getting some counseling on this matter and still learning.

Now, off to the fun stuff, I'm at the clinic now again for the 2nd part of my back to back IUI#2/3. I just got my us and dr said I O'd. DH now is getting our champion swimmers.

@FutureMrsMerati I'm sorry that you are on the same boat as I am. It's funny though that our timeline and situations seem to be on the same path. DH too had a high fever last December and on Jan (during IUI#1) his count was good, but dr informed us that bec of that fever, his numbers would turn bad 3 months after, and lo and behold here we are with this result. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you on your 2nd try and hoping that YH won't get that performance anxiety.

Just a quick update, just a minute ago, the nurse came and informed us that DH doesn't need to give a second sample. The first one we gave this morning was enough. Soon after she left, I gave him a high five for a good job. He tells me that what he did differently this time was he drank a small amount of alcohol last night. Now, we wait for my IUI #3.

@linz36 thanks for the support. I hope those sticks would give you good news very soon! Fx

tinjp78 · March 2018

@wishing-and-hoping I'm sorry again for what had happened during the last cycle but glad you're back on track. We can do this

@suzycupcake Your fun moment with our DH is so precious

rooonilwaazlib · March 2018

Sooooo our pregnancy test came back negative

That's our 3rd negative in a row. We're going to take a break for the month of March, because in April we are getting new (and super awesome) health insurance. Hopefully that will ease the financial burden for us, and we can focus all our energy on getting prego! My RE wants to do the HSG test when we start back up, to make sure everything is ok too. #Nervous!

I'm upset about the 3rd negative, but am excited to have better health coverage. FX for all you ladies this month! I hope to not see any of you in the April thread! But I'll still poke in and out of here if that's ok!

tinjp78 · March 2018

@rooonilwaazlib Oh no! That's not the news I'm waiting to hear from you, but I'm thrilled to hear that you got a new health insurance. This really helps ease up the already heavy weight burden that we have on our shoulders. We are OOP on all our IUI cycles and on some bad days DH would just find a way to make me feel that he is throwing HIS money on a luxury. Anyway, I really hope that you'd have a great preparation for your next and hopefully final cycle

Afm, we just got back from the clinic and today's procedure went well. DH's SA was 20x better than yesterday's. Dr asked DH how this was so, and of course he didn't know how to answer it. We were glad for today's result.

linz36 · March 2018

@tinjp78 I'm glad to hear that your IUI today went well...maybe the alcohol before bed did the trick (you never know lol). My husband has had weird variances in his count as well and I attributed it to a couple things. First, he sometimes wears compression leggings to work out, second he rides his bike a lot and third he has terrible aim. So for our IUIs this month he stopped wearing the leggings/riding his bike and I was in the collection room with him to 'catch' that sample. We had a good laugh about it and it was super awkward when people saw us go in there together, but his count went from 3 million to 10 million (in 2 weeks) so it was totally worth it! When we got the count results I did give him a high five and the nurse laughed lol.

@wishing-and-hoping I'm so sorry you had to go through the CP last week. ***TW I had a CP in 7/2017 and it was my first ever positive pregnancy test...only lasted 2 days and I didn't even have time to tell my husband (still haven't). When it went away I was heartbroken (cried in the bathroom at work when AF started) and for the next 5 months I sort of fell into a funk and thought about giving up completely. But I'm glad I didn't*** I'm glad that you have the courage to start the process again. FX this is the cycle for you!!!

@rooonilwaazlib I'm really sorry about the BFN. That's great about your new insurance though...I'm sure it will help ease the stress a bit.

AFM I have so many lower abdominal cramps, sore breasts and according to my sister and husband crazy mood swings. I don't know if I should blame the clomid, gonal-F or ovidrel lol. I had my progesterone level checked today and should find out the results tomorrow. I'm super curious as I have always had short LP (10-11 days). However, my RE said that all of the medications I took this cycle would lengthen the LP.

tinjp78 · March 2018

@linz36 Your story on catch collection was so funny! I'm glad that you guys have something fun to do amidst this oh so stressful journey. Fx on good results tomorrow!

Chartleib · March 2018

@tinjp78 I'm glad your IUI went well! FX for you!

@rooonilwaazlib I'm so sorry this month didn't work out for you. But I'm so happy that your new insurance will be much better! It's such a relief to not have that additional burden!

ginny_203 · March 2018

@tinjp78 so glad to hear today went better. Ours was better today too. Instead of 1M swimmers, he had 5.5M. Still his worst month yet, but I'll take 5 over 1 any day. I guess there's still a tiny bit of hope alive that one of my 3-4 follicles will receive them... if not, on to IVF next month.

@rooonilwaazlib sorry to hear of your BFN. Congrats on taking a month off - hopefully it will be less stressful! And also congrats on your insurance win. Even though you had some bad news, I think things are looking up

wishiwaspreggo · March 2018

@rooonilwaazlib - sorry about the BFN

@rmartin_ttc - Does YW use progesterone support after IUI? I think that's supposed to help with lining. That or maybe try adding estrace? Isn't estrogen the hormone that builds the lining? Hell, I don't know - I'm not an RE, I'm just basing this off what I overhear at my doctor's office when my doctor and nurse are chatting about what to do next with me. Can you get a second opinion or maybe see a new doctor? I don't like it when any doctor waves away my concerns without explaining to me why they're not worried, least of all an RE where I'm paying 100% out-of-pocket. I want answers.

Anyway, sorry to hear about your frustrations.

TW pregnancy mentioned:

FWIW I got pregnant on my 6th IUI cycle! I did 1 natural round, 3 Clomid cycles, 1 Femara + Follistim cycle, and 1 Follistim cycle. The cycle with all Follistim is the one that worked for me. I'm doing the exact same protocol this time around and my RE thinks if it worked once maybe it will work again. But who knows, I'm an old bat now so my eggs may not be prime (though God knows I'm doing my best to improve their quality with what resources I have). I'm investing my emotional and mental energy into thinking positive about this cycle but in the back of my mind I understand that the chances of it working are small and I may need to move on to IVF. In any case, 6th time was a charm for me

maybe it will be for you, too. And FYI, I have PCOS and injectable meds worked fine for me, in case that's a concern for her trying an FSH cycle.

rmartin_ttc · March 2018

@wishiwaspreggo All of what you mentioned we have asked him about repetitively and he just brushes it off and tells us to be positive and be hopeful about what we are currently doing. I could literally punch him in the face. I think we are going to do one more iui with him and push for FSH, which he has refused before bc he says one egg is fine, and if it doesn't work we are going to try somewhere else. The only thing that holds us back is distance. This place is an hour from us and the next closest is 2 hours. I think shady grove is a little closer but I don't think there is any way we could ever afford them.

wishiwaspreggo · March 2018

@rmartin_ttc - If positive thinking got us pregnant none of us would be on these boards looking for support. What a chump! My RE is super conservative about risking multiples and even she lets me cycle when I have 2 or 3 follicles! That's just crazy. I know it sucks having to change doctors and pay for a new consult but if this RE isn't listening to you and you're getting frustrated I think you would feel better switching to someone else, especially if he won't let you try FSH. I have to drive 1.5 hours each way to get to my doctor's office. It's a rough commute but I figure I only have to go a few times a month. There's an OB in my town who will do IUI but he doesn't do cryo storage or anything so it's just not worth it. I saw him once and I regret wasting a cycle with him.

ginny_203 · March 2018

@rmartin_ttc your doctor's remarks are spoken like someone who doesn't want people to question them because they aren't confident/don't know what they're talking about. I do think you have to be your own advocate as a patient, although I understand your concerns about finances and commute to doctors. We recently switched REs after our first told me he thought I had an ovulatory issue because I only produced 1-2 mature follicles with Clomid. Our new RE called B/S and said he thought I just needed to add a little Follistim (FSH) instead of just Clomid/Fermara and voila... 3-4 mature follicles this cycle. Go figure.

kiwi2628 · March 2018

**lurking**

@FutureMrsMerati do you happen to go to RMACT? If so, I think I met you today and I wanted to say I have everything crossed for you! (And TBH I have everything crossed for you even if you aren't the person I met today).

ginny_203 · March 2018

@kiwi2628 Yes, it's me! You're the sweetest! Things were not what I'd consider great today, but definitely better than yesterday so I've still got a little hope for this cycle. How did your ultrasound go?

kiwi2628 · March 2018

@FutureMrsMerati YGPM

tinjp78 · March 2018

@FutureMrsMerati Glad to hear that your IUI today was better than yesterday. Welcome to our TWW!

nurserin07 · March 2018

Found out yesterday I have a 1.5 follicle but no surge so going to trigger shot tonight then IUI Friday AM. This is our first try with IUI after trying for a baby for almost 2 years without success. Any advice appreciated. Good luck to you all, I hope for healthy pregnancies and babies for each one of you!

linz36 · March 2018

@rmartin_ttc sorry to hear that your RE just brushes off your comments and tells you to be positive. That would be super frustrating. You might have to put your foot down honestly...I’m like a nice, respectful, firm way! And I hate it when people to relax and be positive...like it’s something we’ve never heard before.

@FutureMrsMerati glad to hear that your second IUI went better, fingers crossed for you

AFM...got my progesterone level back today at it was 14.92 at 7dpiui so I’m happy with that. I’m still testing out my trigger shot (9 days now) and the stupid tests are still positive (squinters but still there). Does anyone else test out the trigger? How long did it take for it to be negative? I calculated how long it would theoretically take given the dose and half life if the medication and it said it should have been 6 days...but bodies are weird so who knows.

linz36 · March 2018

@nurserin07 welcome...hopefully you have a short stay :-)

tinjp78 · March 2018

@nurserin07 Hello! Welcome and sorry that you have to be here. But GL on your upcoming IUI

rmartin_ttc · March 2018

@nurserin07 Welcome!

@linz36 Maybe the faint lines you're seeing aren't the trigger anymore and it's the beginning of your BFP! I'm praying for you and sending baby dust your way!

@FutureMrsMerati and @tinjp78 Good luck on your TWW! Prayers and baby dust!

@rooonilwaazlib Sorry for your BFN

I'm glad to hear about the better insurance, and hopefully April will be your month.

AF showed up yesterday and MW goes in tomorrow for the baseline scan. We are going to ask about estrace to help with the lining and a progesterone test 7dpiui. Hopefully the doctor will work with us on those things. If this cycle doesn't work for us we will probably be moving to a new clinic. Not sure if we should make some consultation appt this month and just cancel if we get pregnant or just wait. My wife is also meeting with an acupuncturist this month and is going to be trying that this cycle. Fingers crossed.

tinjp78 · March 2018

@rmartin_ttc I'm sorry AF showed up. But I'm happy that you and YW are proceeding to a new cycle soon. I'm hoping that your dr would be more accommodating to your inquiries this time but if there isn't any improvement with his treatment to you, that plan to move to a new clinic seems like the best thing to do. But my real wish for you and YW is to have your bfp on this cycle and wouldn't have to go to that new step.

linz36 · March 2018

@rmartin_ttc thanks for the optimism but I finally tested negative today (10 days post trigger)...so now when I test in a few days I can actual trust my results. Hopefully your RE will work better with you guys this cycle. If not, I think moving to a new clinic is a good idea. There’s no harm in scheduling an appointment now and cancelling later if you guys get pregnant this cycle. Some clinics have a long waiting period to get in anyways.

wishiwaspreggo · March 2018

@rmartin_ttc - Sorry about AF but at least you can start a new cycle now and hopefully have better results. If I were you I'd definitely schedule a consult elsewhere later this month so you can jump back in the game right away if this cycle doesn't result in a pregnancy. I sincerely hope it doesn't come to that but it might make you feel better to have a new plan in place! Glad you're pushing for Estrace and progesterone checks - that's very important. I hope your RE alters your protocol, too, to include more aggressive treatment. YW may need a little kick of FSH along with the Femara, you know? I've heard that's successful for women who respond well to Femara. I never did.

Good luck! Keep us posted!

Chartleib · March 2018

@rmartin_ttc I'm so sorry about AF showing up, but hopefully this next cycle will be the one!

I'm having some brownish blood when I wipe and I'm trying not to freak out, but ugh. It's still too early for AF I think, but this is my first IUI with meds, so I have no idea if that can mess with your flow. Beta is Monday, and I'm trying not to test early, but the slight bleeding has me freaked. Ugh.

manders85-2 · March 2018

@chartlieb, could that be implantation bleeding? I haven't had it myself but I've read it can be brown or pink and just not bright red. Are you deciding not to POAS before the blood test? You have some good discipline to wait!

*TW*
So i'm 12 dpiui today and i broke down and tested this AM. I've been waking up every morning (tmi) for the last 5 days with diarrhea. Something is going on. I said to my husband I wanted to test because if it was totally negative I would be preparing myself for saturday. At first I saw the test and was like, nope, stark white, no line. But then I looked closer and saw the faintest faint line. It's not even dark enough to show in a photo but I showed my husband and he said he saw it too. It could be CP and we're not getting excited yet... we're going to wait until 14 dpiui to test again and my fingers are crossed that it'll be darker. My last BFP turned into a non-viable pregnancy with MC so I'm very cautious at this point but am glad we're not out of this cycle yet. Fingers crossed

Chartleib · March 2018

@manders85-2 I think it's possible to be implantation bleeding, but I just worry. I don't want to build up hope, ya know? Also, FX for you!!!!!!

linz36 · March 2018

@Chartleib fx that it’s implantation bleeding! My RE told me that with the meds my LP would be extended so it shouldn’t shorten your cycle.

@manders85-2 that’s so exciting!!!! FX

suzycupcake · March 2018

Ladies, I have a question for you, today is cd5 for me. I started opks this afternoon and received a positive. I have one more day of femara left and then will go in for a follicle ultrasound next Thursday which that appointment date doesn't even make sense to me. I read that lh surges can happen as residuals after an early loss but aren't actual impending ovulation. However, I didn't get af until 20dpiui when normally, my lp was 14 and 16 the previous two IUIs. Does that mean I'm really at cd9 or 10? Last IUIs, trigger took place on cd11s and cd13.

I'm a little nervous because I don't want them to miss my window for the next IUI. Should I just not be concerned because it goes by what my follicles are doing and not so much the opk tests? Ugh.

wishiwaspreggo · March 2018

@Chartleib - You are strong for holding off on testing! I'm going to be peeing on all the sticks. I have them stashed in my drawer at work. FX for you!!!
@manders85-2 - That sounds promising! I hope the line gets darker!!
@suzycupcake - Femara may be giving you a false positive, too. We're not supposed to test LH when we're on fertility meds, typically. Can you ask your RE for an earlier ultrasound if you're concerned? I'm CD 6 today and my first ultrasound is on Sunday, but I'm also using Gonal-F which requires closer monitoring than Femara.

suzycupcake · March 2018

okay never mind. My doctor emailed me back. She says it's too early for a true lh surge and that the femara increases lh. Dang all this ttgp crap! Then why in the hell do they want me to use opk anyway? I want to trigger no matter what. Positive opk does not guarantee ovulation. And besides, even if it did, only one follicle would ovulate. I want more than one chance to get pregnant for an IUI cycle. They best be making sure I'm gonna trigger still!

tinjp78 · March 2018

@linz36 I'm sorry for a negative HPT, I'm hoping that the next test would give us a different result.

@Chartleib That spotting does seem promising. I hope you get lots of fun distractions during this TWW!

@manders85-2 A line!!! Squeee! I'm so excited for you. I pray that it would get darker and darker on your next test.

@suzycupcake It's really frustrating to get these confusing instructions. I've almost given up on thinking that there is just one answer to a question regarding IF or even with just regular TTC. Well, I'm glad your dr replied to your inquiry quickly so you could get your answer.

Chartleib · March 2018

Welp, I'm out. AF showed up big a few hours ago. It's early, but oh well. Here's to hoping this next cycle goes better!

wishiwaspreggo · March 2018

Sorry about AF, @Chartleib

Were all your previous IUI cycles natural (no medications)? What meds did you use this time around? In any case, hopefully next cycle's better!

ginny_203 · March 2018

@rmartin_ttc & @Chartleib so sorry to hear about your BFNs

I was holding out hopes for both of you.

@tinjp78 how are you holding up during your TWW? Is your beta 3/20?

@manders85-2 FX for you! Please keep us posted.

AFM, I'm not on any progesterone supplements yet this cycle but noticed some slight cramping last night and this morning. I think it's too early for implantation cramping so probably just my body playing tricks. We got hit hard with the Nor'easter but my husband wouldn't even let me lift a shovel because, as he would say "I'm incubating"

. It's refreshing to see that he's still hopeful for us this cycle yet despite the low SC, since I'm usually the optimistic one and he leans more realist/pessimist. Our power has been out since Wednesday evening so we crashed at a hotel last night and possibly for the next few nights until it comes back on. I ordered a custom sofa on Jan 1 that's finally being delivered tomorrow, so lots of things to keep me occupied during the TWW so far!

linz36 · March 2018

@Chartleib I'm so sorry that AF showed her ugly face

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