Trouble TTC
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Introduction

*waves*
Hi all,

I feel like I have to start with a thank you... Thank you to all of you. I have been a board hoverer for over a year now, here and many others, too. Whenever I had a weird symptom, or twinge, or question, Google usually lead me here! In my dark days and my excited days, I usually found some solace by knowing I was not the first to go through something or feel crazy for being so consumed by a little symptom. I never got the courage to post though, it felt like if I focused too much on this stuff then I would be admitting and acknowledging there was something wrong...

Well here I am, staring down the barrel (at least for me), facing our first medicated IUI cycle after 21 failed cycles.

We saw a fertility specialist in December 2018 for the first time. I originally just wanted to go to check tubal patancy as I had previously (few years back) had my structure/etc checked and all was normal and I have been ovulating regularly without fail and mostly average cycles. I was seeing an acupuncturist and naturopath to ensure I was functioning at my best and there were few concerns. Well the fertility clinic was having none of that. They wanted a full investigative cycle and DH to do an analysis and survival test. He had done one in the summer time which showed lower motility and hyper viscosity but numbers were good. He didn't follow up for a result with the clinic he obtained the result from though as work was too busy and he saw the naturopath instead. By the time that had happened we were booked to see the fertility clinic, so we were slow on taking any steps to investigate his side of the picture.

The results of our investigative cycle were that my cycle was fairly norm but my FSH was a little high and my AMH was ahead of the curve for being a little low. DH had similar results to the summertime though the specialist was not really concerned with hyperviscosity only focused on lower motility. His survival test also came back with 4% survival after 24hrs. While his summer test was high 80s.... (I still think driving a sample to the clinic on a -40C day would make anything shrivel and die so why not sperm?)

The suggestion was to jump right into a medicated iui cycle. I was still hesitant. What could be done for DH? Why would I want to be medicated if my cycles were mostly normal? I felt a bit cornered to say the least. I am not a fan of needles (I used to kick and scream going for a blood draw)... I stomached my way through the investigative cycle but I was not thrilled about going another round of blood tests with the added thrill of injectable meds! 

DH was put on 2 fertility supplements for 2 months (we elected 3 months) and then a retest which we just did this past month. Results were marginally better, survival back to where it was last summer (I think that bad test was a fluke and weather related), but still not great on motility and still hyperviscous. So IUI was the route. Medicated because of my AMH level and to get a better chance at success....

So here I am Day 1 and knowing I'm going to need some extra support and feel like it's time to offer some to others where I can also! Off to call the clinic and let them know I'm headed to pick up my first prescription of Letrozole! 
Me: 36 DH: 37 // Married: 2015 // TTC#1 Since: 2017 // PAWrents to 2 dogs: 6 yo female shepherd-malamute & 1 yo male weim/heeler mix // Dx: Unexplained endometriosis & adenomyosis 12/2020 // Rx: 2019: IUIx6 & IVF Retrieval Result: Abnormal/High Mosaic Laparoscopy/Excision - Surgery Sep 2021, Round #2 IVF Retrieval with new clinic - 2022

Re: Introduction

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    Hi @hithertorue! Welcome! Hope your stay here is short. If you have any questions about IUIs, I've been through 3 (failed) IUIs, but the process isn't bad at all. 
    *TW* History:
    Me: 34 DH: 36 | Together since 2007 | Married July 2016

    TTC #1 since 7.2017
    Dx: low morph (1%), ANA positive, low decidualization score, high TSH and testosterone, histone antibodies

    IUI #1-3 all BFN
    IVF #1 | 6.11.19 | 24R, 17M, 15F, 6B, PGT-A tested - 5 normal, 3 girls & 2 boys
    FET #1 | 9.10.19 | BFN "I know you, but we've never met. I'm with you, but I don't know your name"
    RPL, Receptiva, & ERA testing | all normal/negative, recommended going on gluten and dairy free diet for next FET
    FET #2 | 3.31.20 | Opted to cancelled due to pandemic, continued diet and tried naturally over the summer
    2nd Opinion with another RE | 8.20.20 | Not immune to measles (received 1 dose); SA results similar to 2 years ago; decided to move forward with FET #2 redo at start of next cycle
    Surprise natural BFP! | 9.22.20 | MC 10.23.20 at 8 weeks
    TTCAL naturally | starting 11.22.20

    Initial consultation with Reproductive Immunologist | 9.14.21
    Decidualization score biopsy | 10.1.21 | abnormal - low score of 1; endometrial scratch recommended and progesterone supplementation
    Saline sono | 10.15.21 | normal
    Bloodwork | 10.21.21 high TSH, high testosterone, positive for anti-nuclear antibodies and histone antibodies, high protein S, multiple genetic mutations
    BFP! | 11.3.21 | EDD 7.14.22 B) | biopsy provided same effect as endometrial scratch; added supplemental progesterone and estrogen, prednisone, levothyroxine, and MTX Support to maintain pregnancy
    DS born 7.19.22 after induction


    TTC #2 begins 6.2023
    Consultation with RI | 6.6.23
    Saline sono, endometritis biopsy, skin & eye check | all normal
    Labs | high TSH, Factor XIII mutation, high %CD56
    Follow up | 8.8.23 | prescribed metformin, prednisone, plaquenil, and levothyroxine
    Repeat labs after 3 weeks on meds
    Follow up | 11.9.23 | Green light!, increase in prednisone, added lovenox
    Repeat labs in 8 weeks
    Follow up | 1.16.24 | Green light continues
    TTC put on pause
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    Hi @inthewoods23 - thanks for your welcome and encouragement! :smile: I think it's just the fear of the unknown for me right now.... what will the drugs be like, will they make me crazy, how will it impact my work... the appointment burnout from the investigative cycle is still fresh in my mind. I was exhausted after that just from the sheer number of appointments and constantly being "in it" and not feeling like you could not think about it for a day.
    Me: 36 DH: 37 // Married: 2015 // TTC#1 Since: 2017 // PAWrents to 2 dogs: 6 yo female shepherd-malamute & 1 yo male weim/heeler mix // Dx: Unexplained endometriosis & adenomyosis 12/2020 // Rx: 2019: IUIx6 & IVF Retrieval Result: Abnormal/High Mosaic Laparoscopy/Excision - Surgery Sep 2021, Round #2 IVF Retrieval with new clinic - 2022
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    Hi @hithertorue

    It is a lot more intense than trying on your own because of the monitoring ultrasounds and bloodwork. But the medications had very little affect on me (I had clomid and ovidrel for 2 IUI cycles). The benefit is there’s no chance of missing an ovulation. For example this month I thought I was ovulating today but it came early on Friday (I always feel a pain on my right side or left side, lasting a few hours) and my husband was away so I was pissed to say the least! We are taking a break from fertility treatment and starting again in June. Best of luck to you and hope IUI works!!
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