BFP 1st attempt at IUI

[bumbletree]

Hi all,

I wanted to share my experience of IUI, simply because I've been 'lurking' on so many threads over the last few months, always so desperate to hear positive stories regarding IUI. Every post always seemed so well established that I felt awkward joining in!

My DH and I have been TTC DC2 for 18 months with no luck. We have a DD who was naturally conceived almost 4 years ago. After 12 months of TTC this time around, we both had a series of tests and all came back fine - the consultant told us to carry on as we were, but to come back in 6 months should we still not have conceived.

6 months on and we found ourselves at CRGH discussing IUI. Our consultant recommended an 'almost natural' cycle, using Clomid (even though I do ovulate naturally each month), as well as an HCG trigger shot the day before the IUI procedure is due to be carried out.

We did self-refer ourselves to CRGH, we'd been saving up for a long time and wanted the hospital/clinic to be close to our work locations - CRGH was perfect for that.

After being monitored via scans very closely, the IUI day was chosen and the procedure was carried out. I really was expecting it to be pain free - I'll be totally honest and say it was slightly uncomfortable for me but I do have a tilted uterus and I think that was the main cause of the discomfort.

Anyway - 16 days later and we were back at CRGH with a BFP! Obviously this is very early days, as I am only just over 4 weeks pregnant - but I wanted to share that IUI does work, and sometimes on the 1st attempt.

The past 18 months have been so tough at times, I have often felt like a failure in not being able to provide our DD with the sibling she desperately craves, as well as having to respond time and time again to 'well-wishers' who tell me to not leave it too late to have another DC. From the different forums I've spectated on, I know this is very common and I would love to chat to anyone going through IUI at the moment, or soon to be starting - it would be great to be on this journey together whatever the outcome.

Hi bumble - congratulations on your pregnancy and thank you SO much for sharing your story of your IUI journey; this is the boost that I needed!

I'm a single lady (I'm asexual) and have been thinking about doing treatment on my own since January 2015... This January, I decided to take the plunge and do it, but this year has basically just been saving. I had an appointment with the donor coordinator at my local CARE Fertility clinic in July, and plan to have my first consultation before Christmas with the intent of starting treatment in the new year.

It's so nice to hear your story, and as I said, it's given me the boost I needed. I sometimes feel like so much is left up to chance - will it work, won't it work, what happens if it don't go to plan, etc, and it's so expensive. In my eyes, there's no price on having a baby but it can get expensive!

I'm so excited to start my own journey. My clinic has a weight BMI limit of 35, and mine is currently 36, so I am working hard to bring this down, but as soon as I have I'm hoping to jump in with both feet.

Thank you again. X

Huge congratulations :)

caution it is so lovely that you have posted on here. I have read the full thread of the forum you are on with kwick, shoes and others regarding donor IUI and I really wanted to join in! I feel like I know you all but I didn't want to join that thread as I know it specifically relates to using a donor and we didn't fall into that category.

I've heard many good things about CARE Fertility and I think with the right clinic and the right advice you stand a very good chance. CRGH were fantastic at monitoring me during the lead up to ovulation, and yes it can be a bit like a conveyer belt in terms of 'one in, one out' but once I was actually with a nurse/consultant they were all lovely.

I feel your pain on the BMI front as I have always struggled with my weight and I did wonder if this was a factor in why I wasn't conceiving. I think my BMI is under 35 but I'm not small, 5ft 6 and around 11st 11lbs. It was always a battle for me over 'Oh I should be really good and eat healthy food' but then when AF arrived every month I'd be so down I'd want to treat myself to nice things - nice meaning unhealthy! Weight is something else I could talk about for days on end! I gained 5 stone when pregnant with my DD, of which 4 of it stayed with me for 2 years. It was only when we booked our wedding that I really focussed on losing it and thankfully I did over a year, but I've put a stone back on since May 2015.

I went into the IUI journey totally prepared for it to at least take a few attempts and still cannot believe it worked first time for us (although still preparing myself for something to go wrong - I think it's human nature!). It is expensive I agree, but I was very pleased that we paid pretty much exactly what we expected to pay - I was half expecting some nasty surprises! Plus we could have got a lot of the blood tests via our GP if I hadn't been in such a rush to just get on with it which would have saved at least £300. The actual IUI itself including at least 6 scans, an HCG trigger shot (self-administered) and some progesterone tablets was £1,085.

I am so interested in your story and would definitely be going down the route you are if I was in a similar situation, it is so exciting and I have nothing but hope for all of the ladies on the other thread.

I would love to keep chatting to you but appreciate you probably don't have time to keep posting updates - I will continue to read stalk the other thread to keep up to date!

We have a scan on 4th November to see how things are progressing and I'll post another update on that - just got to think positive until then! If there are any questions or anything at all I can help you with please don't hesitate to give me a shout - I am no expert but really passionate about all things TTC related

lovemylittlebear thank you so much for your kind congrats message

Congratulations. Can I ask if you had the treatment on the NHS or if it was a private IUI session?

Oh bless you bumble. You should have joined in - and you still can!! Pop over and introduce yourself and say hello - we're all very kind and don't bite

I'm so glad you had a lovely nurse/consultant. I think that's really the key in this whole journey - finding someone who understands you and your needs, along with your struggles. It makes a difference, doesn't it? I think I'm doing my treatment at CRGW now in Wales - they're a lovely clinic and I've exchanged emails with them a few times and the few times I have, they've been really helpful and lovely. I'm still undecided to do it local or there though - the only difference between them really is the price - if I go to CRGW, for donor sperm & IUI it's around £1000 and for donor sperm and IUI here it's around £1500. That's without medication, the scans, and the bloods...

Oh I totally get the whole weight thing... It's so frustrating, right?! I can totally understand why you'd want to treat yourself to nice things once AF arrived too... And so you should've! Medication for a health issue put weight on me, I put on 3 stone in 3 months and have been unable to get it off - so frustrating! I need to lose about 8lb before my BMI is under 35, so not too much but still feels so far away.
Well done on losing all that weight! May I ask how you done it? :) you must be so determined! A stone isn't too much to put back on though, don't beat yourself up!

That's what I've done - I've saved up for a few attempts at least, plus all the extras. I'm so glad to hear that you've said you got no nasty surprises... Hopefully that means I won't either!
I'm planning on getting most of my blood tests done by my GP... What ones I can, anyway, because I think some are specialised tests and have to be done through the clinic. That's not a bad price actually. Thank you for sharing that with me you didn't have to! I have to pay around £7-800 more because of the donor sperm, but I don't mind

Thank you lovely. You're so kind. I honestly don't mind continuing to talk to you/post you updates - you seem lovely! But definitely come over to the other thread if you want too... You are more than welcome!

You're like me - I'm also passionate! I'm reading a book at the moment that was suggested by kwick called It Starts With The Egg and it's all about TTC and it's fascinating albeit a little scary! But I love to broaden my knowledge on things I'm interested in...
Good luck for your scan, and keep positive! Everything will be fine!! Be sure to keep me updated 😘

Sorry cross post.

Just wanted to say good luck for the 4th bumble.
How're you getting on?

Hi all. Just wanted to add my experience to make sure this is balanced post. TTC number 3, first with my DH, for nearly 12 months. We are currently awating the outcome of our 3rd unmedicated IUI. The previosu two were unsuccessful despite all tests being normal, fantastic looking follicle, lining, sperm sample etc. You can "get lucky" with unmedicated IUI but I think, and the stats show, that your chances are not much higher than trying naturally. Just to bear in mind before wasting 1k a pop as we have done.

Just realised you did clomid Bumble and so this was a medicated IUI. Has given me hope! Lots of people seem to be successful with clomid and success rates are much higher. We'll be moving onto that next month.

Bumble, we are also at CRGC. It's a bit chaotic at times but they definitely know the process and pinpoint ovulation pretty exactly. I felt that if it was ever going to happen, it would happen with them. My only complaint is that they don't go mild IVF which I would consider if medicated IUI fails. We've pretty much ruled out standard IVF.

@bumbletree we have just had our first iui with CRGH too, they have been absolutely amazing. I am day 4 post iui, been getting cramps back pains and melatic taste in my mouth, trying not to get my hopes up and the 2ww is the hardest. So glad to hear your success story and it being with CRGH too xx

Hi @Krystal2021, how are you? It’s been a long time since I’ve posted on here! My CRGH- assisted DD is now 4 and starting school in September . Everything went really well with the pregnancy and she was delivered via c-section a couple of weeks early due to her size (11lbs 9oz, not related to IUI process so don’t worry!). I really hope everything works out for you - keeping everything crossed!

@bumbletree thanks for your reply! I'm ok thanks, on a bit of a downer today, I done a test last night and got BFN :( I have a blood test tomorrow at crgh to confirm so I'm hoping 🤞I tested yesterday which was 10 days post iui I shouldn't of done it but couldn't resist! I've had so many symptoms but I suppose it may just be in my head or be the cyclogest I'm taking.

So glad to hear it went well for you and you have a beautiful girl. Hope everything goes well for her starts school soon :). 11lbs 9oz, wow! I'm sure she was worth every minute of it all :)

Thank you so much xxxx

Hi Mommies,

I had my first IUI done..I am currently 12 days after the procedure..Last two days getting menstrual cramps that comes and goes..Sore boobs .mild headache etc I have.what should I expect..Do share you thoughts..