iui stories?

[mabel9]

Please tell me your iui stories and journeys? Currently in 2ww.

@LifeIsBusy hey! It's today actually. The morning sickness has had a massive decline! Which obviously I'm glad about. And I'm feeling really good. Hoping to hear the heart beat today!

How are you doing? Bump treating you ok?

@Tasha1607 I don't think that is until much later maybe 16weeks plus? Is this the first appointment? I remember being asked 1001 questions at my first appointment. How did it go?

I would have said a few days ago that the morning sickness had taken a decline but its ramped up in the last couple of days and im back to struggling with the headaches, tiredness and sickness but overall I am still surviving. I got confirmation I have the same midwife as last time so i'm quite chuffed. Are yours going to be online or in person?

@LifeIsBusy it went well. Yes they don't do the heart beat till 16 weeks. It was in the surgery. I met 2 of the 3 potential midwives I could have. They haven't been posted yet. But yes very intrusive and loads of questions. All is good. Just hope bloods come back ok.

Ah no! I asked the midwife about it and they said it's normal to be so up and down with morning sickness. Have you had your scan yet?

@Tasha1607, you met 2 people today? Thats insane, only because we're literally not allowed to meet anyone right now. Silly Scotland rules!

My first appointment is going to be via phone, which I thought was a little strange as I remember providing urine, getting my blood pressure taken and giving bloods at most appointments... My first appointment is next Monday then a scan the following week.

I think they're just looking at iron levels mainly in that set of bloods, no? And if they're off then you may get yourself a tablet. Have you got a bump yet? I've noticed that my stomach got bigger. With my first I had a bump early on say 16weeks plus but I thought this was a little early.

@Maddie020 we're private, but not through choice! The NHS don't offer treatment for same-sex couples in our area so we have to go private. I'm worried about spending so much on IUI (and wasting more expensive sperm) so think we'll move to IVF if this doesn't work. Are you private??

@BananaHammock23 Thats insane! I've heard that same sex couples aren't offered fertility treatment on the NHS but i've honestly found it insane. I have however heard that if you have 6 failed IUI's paid for privately then you are covered under the NHS?

We're lucky that the rules changed in Scotland and it was offered but I don't think its something thats been in place for too long as each time I have spoken to a Dr about it they were unsure.

@LifeIsBusy yep it's awful! The eligibility criteria varies by area, so it's a postcode lottery really. 6 private IUIs with donor sperm would cost approx £12k, and that's without medication, so it's some amount of money to come up with to prove you're serious! We've also had friends who've been referred after having many private IUIs only to be told that the NHS don't fund IVF using donor sperm... it's very sad and frustrating!

@BananaHammock23 Thats insane! I suggest moving to Scotland.

@LifeIsBusy what are the rules in Scotland then? What do they offer on NHS?

We live in Scotland but are going private purely for simplicity/time saving although depending on what happens with our journey we may need to go via NHS at some point if that's an option.

@LifeIsBusy are you in a SS relationship? Sorry I can't remember reading it back on the thread! We're settled on the Kent coast and have just bought our first house etc, I love it here but I can't say it's not tempting! My dad's Glaswegian and still works up there so perhaps I can wangle something!

@ally99101, @BananaHammock23 I am in same sex relationship. The NHS is open in Scotland and being in a same sex relationship qualifies you for 6 rounds of funded IUI and if that fails 3 rounds of funded IVF (providing you are under 40). There are additional conditions on BMI, non smoker, stable relationship for something like 2 years. There is a years waiting list or there was when we applied for DS 1 so if its something you want to consider then it's best speaking to your Dr now for a referral.

Blimey I can't believe that @LifeIsBusy - that's amazing. So assume only cost is donor sperm? That's expensive in itself! We got 4 vials from the European Sperm Bank and it was about £4500 with shipping and receiving fees with London Womens Clinic! That's another reason I'm reactant to keep pushing with IUI... although the IUI itself is only £1200, we use a whole vial of sperm at £800+ a pop and it only gives us one go. My thinking is if I go straight to IVF, we'll hopefully get more than one embryo out of each vial giving us a better chance for less ££ long term. It's sad that we have to think so much about money. Our friends reckon their two children cost them £20k each!

@BananaHammock23 There was no cost for the donor sperm as the NHS has a small sperm bank. We could (if we pushed it) moved our private sperm to the NHS and use it but we decided not to. This pregnancy is through a private clinic with our left over sperm from ESB. We purchased it a few years ago but I think it cost £3500 for 6 with shipping.

We were originally going to try and use the NHS again for DC2 and got the referral in place back in Feb as they sometimes allow you access to the same donor providing its a full sibling match. We would have needed to pay but the fees were much smaller than the private costs. In the end covid hit and everything shut down. We then had to pay for storage fees for the private sperm and the private clinic opened so we just went back to them and still haven't heard back from the NHS so I think we've done the right thing.

20K... Thats insane!!! We actually received a bill from the private clinic last year asking for our storage fees and it had a summary of all the payments. We had spent £10K (not including ESB) which we laughed about as DS was free on the NHS in the end.

@LifeIsBusy I know I've seen the changes Nicola is doing. It is madness the difference really. I did bloods and urine and yep they are looking at my iron levels. I've got my next appt on 4th back at the docs with midwife and the same week both me and my wife are allowed in the hospital for the 12 week scan.

The only thing at the moment is she isn't allowed to be there for the heart beat for the first time. But my auntie has a sonogram and I think we may try to see if we can hear it before the appt so she doesn't miss hearing for the first time.

Yep I would say I have a bump already. My belly is bigger. But I've lost weight. Only 2kg since I got pregnant but the midwife said that's fine with the morning sickness. I haven't lost a lot so I just have to monitor it from now on.

I can't believe how quickly it is all going now. 10 + 5 today! What about you? The same?

tested yesterday BFN and partner came on today 😭 that was our 4th attempt at iui. completely lost faith in our clinic - as mentioned they used to do the scan and trigger shot which we felt much more comfortable with and now we have to do home ovulation kits. it was discussed in our initial appointment almost 2 years ago that if we hadn’t conceived by the 3rd attempt then they would recommend moving onto medicated cycles. when we asked about that after the negative test time they have said they aren’t doing it anymore and don’t know if they ever will go back to medicated as they don’t think it makes that much difference in the long run! I think that’s a load of rubbish because then why would they have offered in the first place? I feel like they can’t be bothered with the extra stress and give us no support what so ever :(

also they’ve only took £100 off the price even though they aren’t doing scans etc.

Sorry for the rant just fed up x

@Raleighx what clinic are you with? Is this private?
I can't believe they would say and that and then take it away. I went medicated as my clinic said it would boost Chances with increase in hormones etc. I don't understand why your clinic would say that. Do you have another clinic you can go to? Have they offered IVF.

At the clinic I went to they stated we would have 3 trials if medicated IUI with a possible 4th dependant on the circumstances of the other 3. And then move onto IVF it that didn't work. Mine worked on the second go.

I am sorry to hear your going though so much stress with this. You shouldn't have to deal with this sort of stress during a time when you're trying to conceive. Is there any other choices you have to help you get there?

@Raleighx so sorry to hear that and the difficulties with your treatment.

Not sure where you're based buy I would suggest a change in clinic if at all possible.

My clinic (GCRM) said during initial consultation (July this year) that we decide how many goes IUI we do before moving to IVF and also whether we do medicated or unmedicated (although they recommended 1st try as unmedicated due to regular periods/ovulation etc). I remember the consultant saying if you try 1 IUI and want to move to IVF straight away that's completely our choice to make. That's private right enough, not sure if you're private or NHS?

Interestingly though I remember during that consult she also said about using at home ovulation kits as I remember her saying when you see a smiley face you'd call the clinic. However when I spoke to the nurse last week to arrange our consents appt she said 'so you'd call us on day 1 of your cycle and come in day 10 for bloods' and then the forms we've received in the last couple of days for signing also talk about coming in for bloods/scans to review follicle growth etc and timing of IUI so really not sure why the mention of different approaches. I would prefer bloods and scans even if it means driving to the clinic every day/other day Vs the home ovulation kits. I also wasn't sure if we'd get the trigger shot as we're doing it unmedicated but again the nurse mentioned the trigger shot on the call so assume we are. If not I'm going to push for it as I'd rather control as much as I can.

@ally99101, @mabel9 used the home kits at GCRM due to distance from the clinic (6-8 hours I think she is away). I went in for the bloods and done a unmedicated cycle and had the trigger shot at home ready to use but they told me I didn't need it as I'd ovulated naturally but I used it for the booster.

@Tasha1607 first midwife appointment is on Monday :). Its strange as I feel like I'm already reaching for my maternity clothing but I think it's got something to do with loose muscles from previous pregnancy as I look pregnant which is insane. Thank god we're all at home and can't see anyone 😂. Has the sickness totally eased off now? Mine is mostly ish OK at the minute but the headaches have not disappeared.

@Raleighx I'm sorry abou the BFN, I know how stressful it can be. I would suggest speaking to your consultant if youre unhappy or like others have suggested perhaps think about moving clinics if you don't think it will get better. The NHS only offered unmedicated IUI and when I approached the private clinic they suggested unmedicated due to my age and previous history of successful unmedicated IUI.

Well I had my scan today and after all the talk of follicle growth, IUI on Monday etc I am yet again left feeling disheartened. It took over an hour to find my left ovary which was so uncomfortable, and when they did they could only find one follicle and it's not as big as expected. The nurse seems to think that there's not much chance we'll go ahead with the IUI (this will be our third abandoned cycle) and I just feel so upset. She said it's 50/50, but with past experience I just don't feel that positive at all. I really thought we'd get to the actual IUI this time but now it's not looking likely. To move on to IVF I need to find about £5k and lose another stone, so it feels really sad to think that this could be the end of us TTC for a while. I'm not ready to stop, I just want to keep going.

@Raleighx so sorry to hear about your BFN and that you're having a hard time with your clinic. This process is stressful enough without worrying that your clinic aren't doing right by you. We're with the London Women's Clinic (in Canterbury) and they've been great with us so far.

Hi All,

Sorry I wasn't active lately as felt broken down with 1st failed IUI, didn't know it will affect me this much as I thought I was ready with whatever result might be 

@BananaHammock23: I am so sorry it didn't work out 

@LifeIsBusy: how r u?

@Tasha1607 : I wanted to ask how old r u and what was your amh? U don't need to answer if you don't want to

I have also booked acupuncture on this Monday and Wednesday is my Day10 scan
Ladies, can acupuncture increase number of follicles? I don't want more than 2 as otherwise clinic will refuse to go ahead xx

@BananaHammock23: are you going to take a chance? It might work even though they say 50/50

@LifeIsBusy I know I just want to go shopping but I'm stopping myself! Yeah pretty much the sickness has eased. This week only been sick once. Which is good. I'm starting to enjoy food more and I'm hoping I can back to eating more healthier.

@BananaHammock23 I'm so sorry to hear that: is there any other options for you to take other than the IVF?

@Maddie020 I have been thinking about you. Bless you. It is hard but you've just got to try and think positive. Don't put so much pressure on yourself.

I am just turned 27 and I can't remember my amh. I know it was good. They did those tests such a long ago now.

I heard acupuncture Is really good but I didn't do any of it. I didn't change too much to my lifestyle apart from gaming Folic acid and staying off the caffeine. I just tried live normally and relaxed.

@Tasha1607, regardless I would start shopping now. I found finding clothes really restrictive last time and left it way too late. I assumed I wouldn't start showing and needing maternity wear until way after 20 weeks but I arrived back from a holiday in France at 16 weeks and was huge and tried to go emergency shopping and literally couldn't find anything as shops don't carry a lot of maternity range in store and you need to do it online. Safe to say I turned up to meet my niece in jeans that didn't button and a top that didn't fit but thankfully my sister was finished with her maternity clothes and gave me a top 😂.