IUI with Clomid

[Lynsy]

Hi

I am just after some advice really had our first consultation at the UCH hospital in London on Thursday and the doctor suggested we try IUI with clomid for 3 cycles, although he was very helpful and informative still came away having forgot to ask him some questions so thought I would see if anyone here can help me
Firstly I have had a day 21 test that shows I am ovualting so why do they use clomid it along with IUI, I thought this was given to people that are not ovualting?! does it hopefully improve our chances of success?
Secondly our reason for having assited conception is due to dp's poor sperm, he has morphology of 1%, and although I know they wash the sperm and put back the best ones, with dp's being so deformed I wasn't sure that IUI would work?

Any advice would be great.x

[Lynsy]

bump

[QOD]

Hi, the clomid is to give you best chance, make sure you deffo ovulate and perhaps to see if you can produce 2 eggs, give you a better chance.
SUrely they just put back in the good ones?
IUI is basically a very very low cost version of IVF that works for lots of people - they do it to give you a extra chance.
I had it, 2 friends had it, both got pregnant 1st time! I had 4 failed cycles (never even got so far as them actually putting sperm back in)
Best of luck!

[Lynsy]

Thanks very much for you reply, was hoping that the clomid would increase our chances of success.
If anyone else has any other advice or success stories then it would be lovely to hear them.
xxx

[RealityGap]

Lynsy,

Using clomid seems to improve the chances of IUI working. By doing IUI your husbands sperm is put right where it needs to go giving it the best chance to get to your eggs.

I got pregnant on our 3rd IUI - but sadly M/Cd so hang on in there it can work

Hoping you get a BFP soon

[Lynsy]

Morning Gillydaffodil,

Thankyou so much for your detailed reply, and explaining the process to me, I am sure like most people I never thought we would be going down this route, so there is so much to learn and understand.

I am due to start at the end of Ocotber as I am having a laparoscopy under the NHS next Tuessay, so the dr suggested to go ahead with that, make sure that I am all fine, give my body a month to recover and start after that- very excited that at last we have a date and that something is happening but also very nervous and trying not to set myself up for a fall - going to try and just go with it, and if it doesn't work, then move on to IVF, easier said than done I imagine!

You say they don't do IVF at the UCH, but all the information they have sent me doesn't say they don't - am I missing something

I really hope that the IUI works out for you and you get your BFP soon.

I would be so lost without the lovely ladies on mumsnet - Thankyou.
xxxx

[hobnobs]

Big wave to Gilly .

Lynsey - I had my IUI with clomid at the ACU at UCH (the private one in the New Wing of the Eastment Dental hospital) at the end of July. As Gilly said, I was successful - to my utter amazement (I am 39) - on my first attempt and am now just over 10 weeks. I had my second scan there last week and have now been discharged back to my GP / midwife.

In our case, we had unexplained fertility - I knew there was no problem ovulating or with DH but maybe the extra egg just increased our chances. The procedure there was very similar to what Gilly outlined at the NHS hospital just round the corner though they didn't need to trigger ovulation with me, but that might have been because I had a positive on an Ovulation Predictor Kit which not everyone gets and I don't think my follicles got as large as hers.

When we had our initial consultation, the doctor said that they had a policy of trying the least invasive treatment first which suited me, though I'm aware that the success rates are less than for IVF. From a financial point of view, it's also a lot cheaper!

Good luck

[Lynsy]

ah thanks girls for your replies and congratulations Hobnobs, such lovely news to hear from someone that has been through exactly the same thing - I hope you have a happy and healthy pregnancy.

Your so right Gilly when you say about focusing your thoughts, feel so much more relaxed about it all now and has taken the pressure of ttc, has made it more how it should be - enjoyable , although I know there is still a rollercoaster ahead of us.

Didn't realise there were 2 UCH's we are under the ACU at UCH.

Bamboostalks when are you due to start your first cycle? I feel exactly the same way as you, so many worries and thoughts going through my mind, but I am sure we will both be fine and will keep my fingers crossed that it all goes well for you and you get your BFP.
xxx

[hobnobs]

Bamboostalks - I didn't have any side effects from the Clomid either (or not that I noticed!) Like Gilly, it lengthened my usual 26 day cycle by 1-2 days. I'd also been taking my temperature and not sure if it was related, but for the first time, I didn't get a clear shift after ovulation so Fertility Friend didn't think I'd ovulated!

Lynsey - thanks for the good wishes. Still a bit nervous (and DH even more so) though hopefully I'll be able to relax a bit once I have the dating scan in the next few weeks and finish the first trimester.

Wishing you both all the best.

[bamboostalks]

Hi Lynsy, will start clomid on Monday. When are you about to start? Did you see Mr Serhal? Shall we keep each other company? Am desperate for this to work...obviously!! I also had a lap and dye on the NHS, have had actually.It was fine, though had terrible shoulder pain afterwards, tummy was nothing in comparison. Good Luck with it.

[Lynsy]

Hi Bamboostalks,

I am hoping to start my first cycle as soon as my period arives after the laparoscopy so should be about the 20th Ocotber.
We saw Dr Massimo Ranieri, very nice Italian Man.

Would be lovely to keep each other company and share how it is all going, obviousley you are starting before me so would nice to keep in touch and hear how it is going for you, and how you are finding it all.

I heard that shoulder pain was a common after effect of a laparoscopy - Did you just take strong pain killers? How long did the pain last? - I am starting to get nervous about it now!

Good luck for Monday I Imagine you are excited and nervous all rolled in to one - heres hoping it's first time lucky for both of us.
xxxx

[bamboostalks]

Didn't mean for you to get nervous! Apparently it is the anathestic gas escaping, the pain killers didn't help with that tbh. A minority actually suffer that though so do not worry. I was actually on clomid before (long story) through the NHS but I developed really bad cysts on it so treatment was discontinued but it has been recommended again so we will see. That is why I am apprehensive.

[Lynsy]

No don't worry you didn't get me nervous at all, been feeling that way for the last few days, just want it over and done with .

No wonder your apprehensive about taking clomid again, and what with it being along side IUI which is a whole new thing for you it's only natural to feel that way. I am sure they will keep a close eye on you especially given your past experience, xx

[JenJen79]

Hi, I had my first IUI done with Clomid and Ovitrelle on saturday 20th. Will find out if im preggie this saturday. I can't wait! it has been the longest wait ever! This is my first attempt and am hoping all goes well. Like you it was quite overwhelming. Im with the Lister Fertility, they are great also. I had very irregular periods, so they started me on provera to induce my period, then clomid to produce the follicles. When the folliclles got to 18mm, I was then told to take ovitrelle, this induced ovulation and then 36 hours later IUI! so fingers cross! My husband and I dont have any major problems, just me and my irregular periods! However, im not feeling any preggie symptons, is there anyone thats gone through the IUI and are on the 2WW with any symptoms ??

[Lynsy]

Bamboostalks, just checking in to see how you are getting on with the clomid - I hope it's all going well.
jenjen, good luck with testing tomorrow,I have no advice to give about 2ww symptoms as I haven't started yet, but fingers crossed for you.
xxx

[krumbockmummy]

hi

been taking clomid 50mg for 5mths now, fell preg 1st cycle but m/c early on. tried for over a year but nothing happened, have early pcos, have no one to talk to about this. as i am only 23 and have a 3 year old it was a hugh shock for me and my husband. hate doing preg tests nearly every mth.

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

krumbockmummy,

I have PCOS as well.

Are you under the care of a gynae at a subfertility unit at present, if not you should be. This is a condition that should not be messed around with by GPs.

www.verity-pcos.org.uk is a website that you may find helpful as it is specifically for women with PCOS.

HTH, any other questions just ask

Attila

[KoiMaloy]

Hi,

Does anyone know if it's possible to do IUI without clomid? I'm paranoid about multiple birth risk surely this is increased if i produce 3 eggs! Our problem appears to be with d's reduced motility. I'm ovulating normally hoping this enough for IUI.

Due to start our first cycle in 2 weeks so this is all v.new to me.

So pleased to have found mumsnet!

Thanks

Koimaloy

[Issy42]

Koi - I had 5 cycles of IUI without clomid and only had the ovitrelle when there was a risk of ov on a Sunday (when my clinic doesn't treat). My first cycle worked but mc'd at just under 5 weeks. Like you I was concerned about multiples, but I've finally given in and am now on my second clomid cycle. Really wish I'd taken it earlier now - feel like I wasted so much money in not doing so. Mind you I've got to the point where I think twins is better than none! Good luck!