infertility & IUI

[therara]

HI!! I have been ttc for 2 years now. I am currently in my first cycle with IUI. I am on cycle day 17, with 2 follicles measuring 13 and 16. The doctor thinks we will do the insemination on cycle day 22. Isn't that a little late in the cycle to be doing the insemination? I was hoping someone has had a similar situation and would be able to give me some info. Thanks!

I also used clomid, but didn't know if it should delay ovulation. I thought that clomid was suppossed to make ovulation occur sooner.

Bump, therara, I know a few people have had IVI, maybe they are now all on the pregnancy boards! I think this may be my next option, I have been ttc for 2 years with one mc and so far no explanation for not conceiving. Finally have an appt for a laparoscopy to rule out endo and then proceed from there. If they don't find anything wrong then maybe we will proceed with IVI. Can I ask you what's involved? How did you decide where to go? Anything you generally want to share would be much appreciated. Thanks and good luck with day 22!

therara,

Do you actually have a diagnosis of the underlying problem?. I was wondering why IUI was suggested.

Clomid actually makes the ovaries work harder to produce eggs. An ideal size of a follicle is 20mms so I can see why they're going to do the insemination on day 22. I would say though that the first attempt at IUI is often unsuccessful and that several attempts may be needed.

My RE has diagnosed me with unexplained infertility. My cycles are normally 30 days, with 4 days of spotting prior to the start of my period. I used to have normal 28 day cycles until I started trying to get pregnant. I have had 2 normal pregnancies (conceived naturally, with no medications/interventions). I am concerned that he will be doing to IUI to late in my cycle for anything to take.

I would ask the doctor to explain in detail the procedure and ask as many questions as you need to feel comfortable with the procedure/process.
I would have exactly the same query, perhaps you have a short LP as not all peeps have a standard LP of 14 days. For example my LP is normally 12 days and cycle is normally 30 to 32 days. So that means I would ovulate on day 18-20, so I suppose I would be inseminated around those dates. So perhaps from the size of your follicles they can determine at what stage of your cycle you are at.
Wishing you the best of luck and fingers crossed it works first time! XX

Hi therara,

"Unexplained infertility" is actually no diagnosis at all; all this means is that they have so far been unable to find out what is wrong. Sometimes it is a "diagnosis" given to patients when not enough investigation beforehand has been done. What tests have you had done to date on both of you?.

Spotting between periods should be investigated anyway to ascertain the underlying cause; has the RE said anything about this?. You use the word "RE" - are you UK based or are you overseas?.

I hope that IUI works for you but I would also be looking for a diagnosis of the underlying problem.

It is probably about right, in my limited knowledge. Are you being scanned again before the IUI? Follicles grow between 1mm and 2mm per day. I know when I was having my cycle tracked that I didn't actually ovulate until the follicles were between 23mm - 25mm. I was told this was fairly standard.

Are they also doing any blood tests to check for LH surge prior to ovulation? My understanding is that some clinics do this to make sure they get the timing optimum.

therara ...is this IUI cycle using clomid?
I am currently on cycle 3 (4 free on NHS) but I am injecting so maybe a little different.

I was told that they would inseminate when the follicles are ready regardless of CDs. Usually (although there seem too be many exceptions to the TTC rules!!) your LP stays the same for most cycles so it shouldn't matter when you have the insemination done IYSWIM.

Are you have hcg jabs to release the eggs?