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

Thanks both of you. That is me just sat down after a busy afternoon. Had to do the food shop then out for dinner. Just sat down and in my jammies now, thank goodness!

The procedure was fine, just the speculum was very stingy this time. I've to do a smaller HCG shot on 7th then Beta on 16th. AF is due on 15th if this was a normal cycle. Feels like such a long wait, those extra 2 days are going to be a nightmare

@hopefulitsmyyear are you taking anything for egg quality like CoQ10? That might help your chances next time round, whether it is IVF or IUI?

@SingleTTC31 Ah, all done now. How exciting! I found the first week flew by but, the second dragged. Will you poas or get a blood test?

Yes, I've been taking coq10 & pre conception pills for well over a year. I did notice either you or @TTCSOLO mentioned taking Vit D pills - is that on top of pre conception pills? I'd be worried I'd overdose on Vit D

@hopefulitsmyyear I'm taking vitamin D, B complex and 5mg of folic acid, but stopped the preconception vitamins to change to them, I'm on a higher dose folic acid and vitamin D, it's prescribed by the clinic! Up to then I was taking the preconception ones for about 5 months.

@hopefulitsmyyear I started taking vit d in January 400iu. Then march time went to 800iu then April went to 1600iu and now I take 1000iu. Low vit D can be connected to issues in getting and staying pregnant, as can your thyroid level. I had a meeting with a Dr a couple of months ago and he actually said he takes 15000iu two or three times per week to get his vit d. So I wouldn't worry about adding a 400iu of vit D3 on top of your prenatal vitamin.

Thanks @TTCSOLO & @SingleTTC31 That's helpful. I'll definitely up my Vit D then. I do have a Vit D deficiency but thought the Preconception pills would help with that.

My appointment is later this evening so I'll let you know how it goes - may not be immediately as I'm heading down south for a few days away in the sun (hopefully)

I am finding time dragging this week but think having the three days off work for a course and the procedure has made it go in even slower than normal. Fingers crossed tomorrow and next week goes quicker when I am back at work. Did the both of you @hopefulitsmyyear and @TTCSOLO find you had quite a lot of very mild cramps/twinges after? I sometimes get some post Ovulation but don't think they go on for days.

@SingleTTC31 yes definitely for maybe 3-4 days I think! Hopefully time speeds up a bit for you now! 🤞

Hi all, I've just had my scan, so am booked back in for 1pm tomorrow for the IUI procedure! Delighted it's happening so quickly.

@SingleTTC31 how is your TWW going? Almost 1 week down now? I hope its not going too slowly for you.

@hopefulitsmyyear I hope you've had a nice break and got on well with your clinic meeting

@TTCSOLO that's great news! Feels very quick. I am 6DPIUI today. Had my second Ovitrelle this morning. It feels like it is creeping in, got my beta at 15DPIUI so still 9 days to go. I bought some IC that came today. Don't know if I will use them or not, they were only £2 something for 15 so I'm not really expecting much from them if I do decide to use them 😂 still feeling very bloated. I normally am at this time of the month but I think the Ovitrelle has made it worse this time.

@TTCSOLO Wow! That's come around really quickly! Good luck for tomorrow!
I'm good thank you & had a well needed few days away. The chat with the clinic on Wednesday went well & I'm going to go straight for IVF. Am now awaiting my medications!

@SingleTTC31 Yes, I also had some twinges & pain, mostly to one side. It lasted for about a week & I kept thinking this must be it. Hope you're keeping yourself busy & good luck with test day!

@SingleTTC31 that will hopefully fly around now, you're over halfway now! Fingers, toes and everything I'm between crossed for you
@hopefulitsmyyear that's progress, I'm not familiar with the time scales in IVF, is it quite a long process for egg retrieval? The success rate with IVF is really good thank goodness, hopefully it'll all go smoothly for you.

I had the IUI yesterday, it was quite painful this time, but over in a few minutes. Back to waiting again! I'll be up for the Beta HCG test on 22nd, and like you @SingleTTC31 not sure whether to POAS before then or not 🤔

Hey, been a really busy week at work. That has kept me busy during the day. The IC I bought came on Monday so 2 days earlier than expected. I used one on Monday because I wanted to see the trigger and how dark a line was 🤣 for a point of reference. Did another this morning to see if it is fading lol. Going to test every 2-4 days I think. If for nothing else than to give me some mini targets to get to and hopefully make it feel like things are moving.

@hopefulitsmyyear do you have a date for starting IVF?

@TTCSOLO maybe your bladder wasn't as full? I wondered if it was the angle or my bladder not being as full which made it more uncomfortable for the speculum than it was during the HYCOSY 🤷 fingers crossed for you and I hope the time flies in 🤞

@TTCSOLO it's roughly a 6 week cycle. I think egg retrieval is done in week 5. Sorry to hear it was painful this time. Hope you're doing ok now.

@SingleTTC31 I start meds this week. Exciting! When's test day for you? How're you feeling?

@hopefulitsmyyeardelighted to hear that your getting started with the cycle! That's great news. Hope you'll be feeling good with the medications
@SingleTTC31I hope the time is flying for you now? You're in the 2nd week of TWW? Are you 13DPIUI now? Hope your testing is going well, keeping everything crossed 🤞

@TTCSOLO Thank you. I was ok on the last lot of meds so fingers crossed for these!

@TTCSOLO test day is Wednesday. AF came today, or a weird sort of one has came today. It's a day early, if anything I thought it would be late with the HCG shots. Also it's a bit of a weird one tbh lighter than normal for full flow CD1 but heavier than my pre AF spotting I sometimes get 🤷. Will ask the clinic about it when I am in on Wednesday for my bloods, but looks like I am out now. So on to the next cycle for me too.
How are you getting on with the TWW?

@hopefulitsmyyear how are the meds going?

@SingleTTC31 Nawww. Sorry to hear that. It's hitting isn't it. Could it be implantation bleeding? I've not ever been pregnant so don't know how much it would be. Hopefully your clinic can help.
I'm doing fine on them so far, thank you. I'm on down regs at the moment, so, taking tablets to stop my natural cycle. I start injecting soon as part of the down regs.

@hopefulitsmyyear don't think it is implantation. AF seems to have come with vengeance last night and today.

@SingleTTC31 so sorry to hear that, hope you're OK? It's so disappointing, even though you've tried to not get too excited, will you try again this cycle do you think?

@hopefulitsmyyear hope you're getting on well? At least you're started now on the process, I found the waiting to start the hardest part.

I'm doing well, I've had a metallic taste in my mouth on sat and a bit yesterday but no other major symptoms. I'm undecided still about testing or waiting for the blood test. I'm 7DPIUI today, so far too early to test yet, but maybe at the weekend.

@SingleTTC31 So sorry to hear it wasn't successful. Are you going straight for another round of iui?

@TTCSOLO It's going well Thankyou. Be glad to get the egg collection & embryo transfer over with.
Have you decided if you're testing early yet?

@hopefulitsmyyear how are you getting on? Hope everything is going well?
@SingleTTC31 hope you're doing ok?
I couldn't wait any longer! I did an IC this morning, but don't know if I'm imagining a v faint line? I'll attach a pic if I can!

@TTCSOLO All going well thanks. Still on down regs. Feeling bloated but no mood swings yet
I think I can see a faint line too. Do you have to do those tests daily & hope for darker lines?

@hopefulitsmyyear the bloating with medication isn't fun, hope you're doing ok with it. You're getting closer to egg retrieval each week too, thank goodness.

No, I just had some cheap tests so said I'd try one, rather than use a clear blue! But I might do that in the morning. I've been looking on other threads on here, and honestly I'm struggling to see anyone's lines! So that's why I thought that might be a positive test! Hopefully tomorrow's one might be a bit clearer 🤞

Going straight to another IUI. Bloods start on Friday.

@TTCSOLO looks like a faint line to me 🤞😃

@TTCSOLO it's not! Waiting for the mood swings they mentioned.

Oh, I see. Did you do another one today?

@SingleTTC31 Good luck with your next round 🤞🏻