Beginning IUI with donor

[SingleTTC31]

Hi all,

I have just began the journey to become a single mum using donor sperm and IUI. I have my first consultation at the start of Feb.

Just wondering if anyone else is starting themselves or any advise on the process, any do or don't tips to try and nudge the odds in my favour.

I am 31, and as far as I am aware atm I have no fertility issues and regular af.

TIA

@TTCSOLO on ESB website it currently says 1 week I think. I sent them a message to check though. They give 30 days free storage at their location and then I get 1 year free from my clinic. I have no idea how many, I thought it was just one tbh? I will be checking with my clinic that I order with ESB rather than through them before I do it just to make sure 😂 I get on really well with my supervisor and we chat about almost everything so it's super weird not saying about appointments. It was the same with our manager a couple of weeks ago, I had an appointment at the weekend, was asked what I was up to and it felt awkward not telling them 🤣

@TTCSOLO how did you get on this week? I got my online Consents submitted today, and nurses appointment is on 27th April which is great.

Has your sperm been delivered yet?

@SingleTTC31 I had my scheduling appointment over the phone, the nurse was lovely, she talked me through the whole process and discussed which medications I'll be taking. I'm now waiting on the lab to say that the sperm has been delivered, it hopefully will have been ordered end of March, so I'd say it'll be my cycle in May. I have my consent forms and need to bring them to my first scan in the cycle. I'm booked in for European bloods on Monday 12th April and will pick up the prescription then. I'm about 2 hours from the clinic and want to use the pharmacy that they recommend so much easier to collect everything on the 12th! Apart from that it's back to waiting, but starting to feel real now. Your HyCoSy is next week now? Not long to wait then until the nurse appointment either 🙂 thank goodness

@TTCSOLO yeah on Wednesday for the HyCoSy. Nurse said that things will move quickly after the appointment at the end of April so fingers crossed for may cycle for me too. My clinics portal was down for a few days so just got access today to it, and saw the letter they sent re the consent appointment, apparently they recommend having the sperm ordered ahead of the appointment, so I plan to get that ordered this week, still waiting on some coming into stock though

12th April is just a week on Monday? That's good. My bloods are done at the nurse appointment I think 🤔 to do the hiv hep screening.

Fingers crossed for your sperm coming in in time for your May cycle

@SingleTTC31 that's great news, it's feeling like it's actually making progress now! You probably said already but how long does it take for sperm to be delivered to your clinic? Hopefully it'll be back in stock quickly that you can get it ordered ASAP.
Yea screening bloods just a week on Mon and then it's literally just waiting for sperm delivery and the start of my cycle.

Do you know yet if you'll do a medicated or unmedicated cycle? Or maybe you'll find that out at the nurse appointment?

@TTCSOLO think sperm takes 3-5 days shipping, but they tend to send in batches I think. Because of my AMH it will probably be unmedicated, but I think there will still be a trigger shot so we can get the timing right? I will confirm at the nurses appointment though.

Hey guys,
I'm also starting the process of becoming a solo mum. I've had my initial consultation as well as the HyCoSy and scans. I'm 42 so obviously 'geriatric' but everything has come back positive so am going to be trying IUI in a couple of months. Pretty sure I'll be using some Clomid though. I'm likely to be using the California Cryobank as there seems to be more availability and am having genetic screening for myself at the moment so I can find a good match. Would be great to connect with people going through the same experience. Hope you're all well

Hi @JH01!
Are you in the UK also? Have you still to have your consents appointment? I'm using ESB, not sure if my clinic use the california cryobank, but it seems like there is a shortage of options for donors atm 🤷
Good luck with everything and keep us posted on here. Also if you haven't had it done, may be worth getting your thyroid and TSH checked. Even "normal" levels can be too high and lead to miscarriage. GP can do it so doesn't have to be done privately. ☺️

Hi @SingleTTC31,
Yep I'm UK based too. My clinic have recommended I get this genetic screening done and then I have a follow up consultation in 2 weeks to discuss the results. I have my HIV/Hep screening on the same day. They haven't even mentioned a consents appointment at this stage but they're aiming for my May cycle. I had full blood work done a few months ago on the NHS and the clinic seemed satisfied with that but I may ask again about my thyroid and TSH as I want to make sure everything is in tip top condition.
My clinic uses 5 different banks, including the London Sperm Bank and the European one. I'd wanted to use either of these as they're more affordable but got very frustrated with the lack of availability and stock. I'm aiming to pre-order the donor sperm in the next week. I'm still not sure how many vials I should buy though. The clinic just said I should have a back up vial but who knows how many I'll need! It's all a bit of a whirlwind at the moment but I'm sure that May will be here before we know it!

@JH01 you need to have signed consent forms and be offered counselling before you can start treatment. My clinic are doing half the consents online and the last bit in person. It's part of the regulation, some clinics might call it something different. I was told at least 2 vials. But to try and get 4-6 as it often takes more than 1 try.
Re thyroid, I would ask what the number was. Of you Google it will tell you what it should be pre-pregnancy, I'm sure it is less than 2. Normal can be up to 4.

@JH01 hi, it looks like we're all hoping for May cycles for IUI! So nice to hear other people are at the same stage, it's a lot of new info to take in, isn't it? I'm using cryos bank, they seem to have good availability in comparison to ESB.

Hey! I'm at the stage of waiting for my next day 1 to start stimulated iui. Scary! Good luck to all of you & happy to help with anything you need to know in your lead up to get to this stage

@hopefulitsmyyear hi! That's really exciting, is it your first IUI cycle? I'll be doing a medicated cycle too, hoping it'll be May

My HyCoSy should have been on Wednesday, but AF hasn't made an appearance 😡 so having to reschedule the appointment. My clinic are trying to squeeze me in next week, otherwise I will have to wait until May for it 🙁 Not sure yet how that will affect the timing for the IUI 🤷

@SingleTTC31 ah no.... that's absolutely rubbish. I hate the variability with everything involved with this whole process. Everything is a waiting game, dependent on AF arriving. Fingers and everything else crossed for it being done next week 🤞

@TTCSOLO yeah it's always so unpredictable isn't it? Clinic were very nice about it and didn't seem surprised, makes me think this probably happens a lot 🤣

Yes @TTCSOLO this is my first try at iui. Scary stuff! So desperately want it to work first time. It's so awkward trying to fit in the scans around work - think it'll be a bit stressful. Are you booking time off or arranging it around work?

Oh no @SingleTTC31 how annoying. Typically always the way though. Could you ask to be put on a cancellation waiting list if they can't fit you in?

@SingleTTC31 it really is, I have been having a 25/26 day cycle, until last month when it went to 29 days, I just thought of it was the IUI cycle month I'd have been stressed. But as you say I bet the clinic are so used to having to adjust to people's cycle, hopefully they'll squeeze you in next week!
@hopefulitsmyyear I know, it's all so unknown and new! I'll be trying to work around work, my boss is also my friend so I'll tell her before I start my cycle as I'm hoping it'll make life easier! I will book the day off IUI off though definitely. Will you book time off for scans?

@SingleTTC31 Hopefully you'll manage to get it done sooner rather than later - I'll keep my fingers crossed for you. I'm feeling like there are so many things to try and coordinate to make sure things are able to move forward smoothly, and that's without even factoring what my body chooses to do into the equation! Definitely a huge amount of new info to take in @TTCSOLO but great to know others are going through a similar experience. Best of luck with the IUI @hopefulitsmyyear - scary but super exciting!

@TTCSOLO no, I won't be able to book time off so will have to wing it. Really hoping the scans fall on my days off but will be Sod's law they won't! Do you have your medication ready to start?

@JH01 it's a very mixed emotion kind of time! I hope the excitement overtakes the nerves! I'm already feeling bit anxious and have weeks to go yet!

@hopefulitsmyyear I pick everything up next Monday when I go to clinic for my screening bloods. I'm using their recommended pharmacy as I figure they know exactly what its all about, rather than a local pharmacy not so familiar with the various medications. I'll be a bit the same, just trying to with around my work so fingers crossed that will work out!

So good news for me today! Still didn't have AF but clinic agreed to go ahead with the HyCoSy! Which was great! Was pretty uncomfortable at time but feeling fine now 😊so I should be all back on track for a May cycle. Really need to get my donor booked now lol

@JH01 yeah it's a bit like spinning plates trying to get it all organized isn't it 😂 just hoping I haven't left it too late for the sperm to arrive