#makeithappen TTC through Donor IUI or Donor IVF or just undecided – all welcome! Thread #6

[kwick]

This thread is for anyone trying to conceive... or thinking about doing so through donor IUI or donor IVF. Nothing TMI - feel free to join, we are a lovely group here to support and help keep the cray-cray away!

Here is the link to the previous thread: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/conception/2832207--makeithappen-TTC-through-Donor-IUI-or-Donor-IVF-or-just-undecided-all-welcome
Here is the link to the one before that one: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/conception/2769549-TTC-through-Donor-IUI-or-Donor-IVF-or-just-undecided-all-welcome-makeithappen-loadsofBFPs
Here is the link to the thread before that: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/conception/2688511-TTC-through-Donor-IUI-or-Donor-IVF-or-just-undecided-all-welcome-makeithappen
Here is the link to the one before that one: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/conception/2587046-TTC-through-Donor-IUI-or-Donor-IVF-or-just-undecided-all-welcome
And the one before that!: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/conception/1877198-Donor-IUI

Tygr, I tried so many... but I think a mix of cheap strips and one digital is a good start. Although last month I found out the strips are more sensitive (20 or 25 miu as opposed to 40 for digital)...
I also discovered that I got my first positive on a Boots strip (which cost £5 for a box of 5 so not as cheap as the babymad or one-step ones you can get from Amazon)

This month I am doing:
One step until they start darkening, and then Boots strips and if I get a + or near + I'll throw in a CB digital (pink one not the purple dual hormone one which I thought was a waste of money...)

tygr I mostly use internet Cheapies like onestep or babymad but also use clear blue digital (not the dual hormone one tho) as I like the smiley face of the digital

Hope all goes to plan pez

Karen, you have enough to create a new thread in Etiquette here
Is it definitely coming from an animal? (And not a burglar alarm whose battery needs changing )

I used the asda ovulation tests in the build up as they're cheaper and you can see the line get darker but I like to see the smile on the clearblue to be sure.
Snork, I am 5dpo! Feels like an age already.
I practised from October-January so sort of knew what was going on but I know some people write down all their symptoms during the month including CM which I now wish I'd done.
Thanks Karen, I am holding out until next Sunday to test (12dpo). AF is due the day after that. Good luck for your blood test. It is very late though. Mine is Tuesday 7th.

Haha pez trying to picture diagram karen will have to do - I think you have set the standard!

karen fingers crossed for blood tests - not too much longer to wait.

snork defo start practicing I honed my technique for starting pee , stopping, getting pot in place, pee, guessing when I have enough before runs over on my hand , stop pee, get pot on to sink, start pee again and relax! It also helped me get to know what cycle day (CD) I should expect my surge. I've been cd14 every month bar last month ( cd16, I blame pregnacare) and cd 14 today so it was good as I ramp up amount of times I pee during day from CD12. I use cheapie sticks off Amazon and the. Cb digital on the day xx

cherry when is our official test date ? X

cherry sorry our posts crossed x

That's excellent pelvic floor control Hoping Good practice for when you're pregnant!

Pez perhaps I should do a google earth diagram. May help me locate the source! Lol.

We expect a recording of the suspicious sound too Karen

We def have a positive now-bloody clear blue one failed (as in didn't register which of course I'd disposed of wee by then so couldn't retry) but I'm not in any doubt about that positive 😂

Good luck today hoping-!

Yay for surge pickle!

Yay 😊 (splashed a bit of water on and seemed to work!) as you can see from the super dark positives that pee pee was very concentrated-wasn't far off original lucosade colour 😳....must drink more at work!!!!!!!

Ooh yes good luck hoping xx

Huzzah for a surge!

My AF is angry, livid, and annoying , this post endo scratch period is horrible, and heavier than the one after my failed ivf! Ive gone through 4 pads (the nighttime extra long ones.) in 4 hours. Eugh.

And my friend with twins, had them this morning! Both 4lbs, but at 32 weeks and 2 days, so early, but both doing well. And I'm seeing this as a positive sign as I start my ivf round today!

Just had a fertility smoothie. Yummers.

stork I guess the only positive thing is that you are shedding all the old lining and will start with a blank slate. An angry af is not fun though. Good luck with the meds. I'm glad your friends babies are doing ok.

I had another scan this morning (CD9) and follies are growing, 15,11 and a couple of 10s. IUI should be on fri/sat.

I have also just had a follow up consultation and taking everything into consideration I think I'm going to do IVF next month if this cycle doesn't work. I'm too scared of being in the situation in 6 month time of looking back at the money I've spent and moving onto IVF then, properly penniless. I'm also finding the whole timing aspect of IUI really stressful and I worry too much which surely can't be good in the long term...
The doctor says I have a very good ovarian reserve and produce lots of follies so he's confident they would be able to freeze lots of embryos... it also means I could keep the same donor as the quality is good (if I were to carry on with IUI I would probably change donor but with IVF I have no reason to change). It also means I could freeze future brothers and sisters so that's a big bonus.

Sorry for bringing the whole IUI vs IVF debate to the table again but it helps me see it clearly... and maybe I'll be extremely lucky and IUI#3 will work!!

Hoping, have you had it done yet?

stork your af doesn't sound much fun. Hope it eases soon.

Yay for surge pickle I never thought of splashing a bit of water on.

pez am I right in thinking you are doing unmediated like me or are you doing medicated iui. Fingers crossed for this iui for you but I've wondered about expense versus better odds with iui and when is right to switch over.

Had my iui this afternoon. I mentioned that last time it didn't hurt as much as smear and she said it was because they can use gel to help it slide in ( you can't for smears). This one was pretty painless and very quick too so now I'm officially back in twot and joining cherry

(I've not bought any pineapple...)

kwick how are you doing? Are you still at your mum's? How is going with the application for other job - have they come back to you? Hope you got the other bits of work sorted you needed to and have been able to relax xxxx

Good to hear it went well hoping and good luck with this new TWOT.
Yes you're right, I'm doing an unmedicated (100% natural) protocol. I was thinking of doing more IUIs with mild stimulation if #3 fails but I thought I might as well move straight to mild IVF. It would be a very quick protocol, working with my natural cycle, so I could go straight into it next month (I'm going for blood work on Wednesday so they can tweak the meds in readiness - it will be Gonal F injections). This decision has given me a new momentum and a back up plan that will release some of the pressure this month.
I think 3 tries at IUI is a good place to start but I don't have an endless reserve of money to keep on trying and stress is taking its toll too, so I believe it is the right decision for me.
I've worked out the cost equals about 3 IUIs but the odds are much higher so I'm going to bet on it...

pez your decision making process sounds very similar to mine! And don't apologise, that is what these boards are for!
It's a very personal thing, but for me, it was an age v time v cost v success rates analysis, and when I looked at everything, ivf was the way to go. If you have any questions, ask away.

I'm super excited about starting meds tonight, I'm booked in for my cd6 scan on Friday, another on Monday, and hopefully egg collection end of next week! Much better time wise than the long protocol, and hopefully each hurdle will be passed successfully!

stork good luck xx let me know how you find doing the injections - are you doing it yourself . I think I would have to do it myself but not sure I will be able to!

pez before I started I was tossing between 3 natural iui and then either move to medicated iui or ivf ( injections are my issue!)

Also for those who have to go for regular scans/appointments what time of the day do you go and how often in a month ? I just about find a way to sneak in one appointment a month! Xx

Eek pez& stork u must be very excited about the next week ahead!
stork sorry about the nasty AF, I'm quite excited about starting my meds, just to know the process is all starting
pez glad you've come up with plan B, hopefully it won't be needed but think it takes the pressure off a bit :)

hoping glad wasn't too uncomfy-sending lots of positive pregnancy vibes ur way

Hoping that's the bit I'll find so hard especially as my clinic isn't just round the corner,def gonna add a lot of stress to it hence why I've booked so much annual leave for my 1st attempt

Hoping, stimulated IUI is likely to be with injections too so IVF is only a step way from medicated IUI I guess. I would have to do the injections myself. I think it would be hard, especially the first time, but I just think that with so many women being able to do them, it should me within my capabiltities too

I go for 3 scans prior to IUI and I book them over lunch time so colleagues just think I've gone out for lunch. The excuse of 'I'm meeting a friend for lunch' should work quite well if you need!

I have been lurking on this thread for a while cos I am not quite sure if I am in the right place so to speak!! Brief intro and you can tell me to bugger off if not

Came off pill Feb 2010, PFB conceived Sept 2010 and born June 2011. Came off pill again Sept 2013 to try for no 2. Didn't happen. Had tests and my AMH is less than 1 (I have just turned 40). Possibly early menopause. Failed IVF attempt Oct 2016 which resulted in follicles collapsing before collection. Now going on waiting list at Care UK for egg donation. Clinic is over 60 miles away (being deliberately vague about those details as don't want to be too identifiable given egg donation )

Bricking it