Anyone starting IUI soon?

[aaLaa]

I have a clinic appointment tomorrow, I think to start injections, feeling a bit nervous about the whole thing, looking for others experiences and general chat/support.

This is the first cycle, anyone else in a similar position??

...so I may have run away with myself slightly there... Thanks to my darling gift of PCOS, my ovaries basically grew ALL the follicles and there was no leading one. Boo. So this cycle has been 'cancelled' - doc has given me progesterone tablets to take for 5 days to induce AF. Better luck next time, eh?!

WOW - CHANDLERS THAT IS CHEAP!

good luck this cycle hun x

Hi folks. I'm new to all this. I was looking for some "real life" info on IUI and have been totally hooked reading through all the posts of everyone's highs and lows.
We've not been TTC long (compared to a lot of people), but due to a physical problem we've been referred to speak to someone about maybe having IUI. We've not even got an appointment through to discuss things yet, so nowhere near actually starting any treatment. I was glad to find a group with lots of success stories, even though there were a lot of tears in between.
I hope you don't mind me writing and "watching" how things go for you. Hopefully I'll have some more news and know what the plans are soon.
Good luck to you all going through it at the moment. x

Hey pinky! Of course you're very welcome sorry to hear you've had some bad news on the TTC front - what is your situation, if you don't mind me asking?

I found this thread super encouraging too when I discovered it, so cool that so many women that were feeling like it would never happen for them got their BFPs through IUI. Of course anyone that arrives at this point will have been through some heartache, but I'm actually really excited to be having my first go at it on my next cycle!

My husband was born with hypospadias- his urethra was in the wrong place. He had several surgeries as a child to build him a new urethra that came out the end of his penis, but about 6 years ago he had kidney stones, causing it to collapse, so had to have it reconstructed again. He can "do the business", as it were, but he has problems ejaculating. Basically it doesn't "squirt" out, he has to milk it out. It is something which we knew about, so at least it was no surprise, we're just glad we have been referred pretty early on (been trying 7 months). I googled IUI and all the official info makes it sound like you pee on a stick to make sure you're in the right part of your cycle, go get the sperm put in, then cross your legs and hope for the best. But having read all the posts there seems a lot to contend with, what with meds, injections, scans, peeing on sticks, blood tests... I guess I need to see the Drs and find out if they are actually going to do IUI for us before I start stressing over it all really. But glad to know I'm not alone if they do decide to offer it to us.
And of course I shall keep my fingers crossed for you on your first go (smile)

even! I'm such a newbie! I'm also not totally up with all the acronyms. I'll get there!

Pinky sorry for the delay!! Sorry to hear about your DH's issues but at least you knew they would be an issue and could plan for it.

If you have no issues ovulating and a regular cycle then you might not need any drugs at all for your IUI! Most of us taking drugs are taking them to help us ovulate or to supplement hormones that are lacking that cause our bodies to be less fertile.

So after this cycle was cancelled due to me having no lead follicle, I am hoping to have my first IUI towards the end of this month!! However I'm leaving the country for work/hol about 3 days after I might ovulate which is absolutely terrible timing... If I'm not ready to ovulate on time, then I might miss my chance this cycle again. Which would be so bloody annoying! We decided a while ago that there would be no point putting our lives on hold for TTC so have lots of travel and trips in the calendar - I guess this is the downside of that approach!!

I've always had very random cycles- anything from 3-6weeks. So not sure how that'll work with all this. Absolute nightmare when TTC as I think this time could be it, then just turns out I'm on a "long" cycle. I've now started a "diary" and ordered some ovulation tests. I reckon it'll be another few months before any treatments (I'm practically biting the postman's hand off waiting for the referral letter to come through!), so at least if I try and get a picture of what's going on that will help.

I know what you mean about not wanting to let TTC take over your life. It's good you have got lots planned. I wish I knew how to stop thinking about it! I do stupid things like look at furniture on ebay I've seen a lovely nursery set. I think, wow it's such a good bargain, I don't want to miss out, but then I don't want to temp fate.

Fingers crossed for the end of the month for you and let's hope you ovulate in time for your trip. It would be so annoying to have to miss out another month. But at least if you are away you'll hopefully have your mind taken off the dreaded 2WW. Fingers crossed!

Thank you pinky!! I really hope I get my chance this month too.

So how long does one have to wait for a referral? I was so naive about all this stuff - it's lucky i'm in Thailand where I just pay for it, but when we get home I'll have to go into the NHS system. It seems it's a bit of a lottery what you'll get depending on where you live (which i'd heard about re: general treatment for stuff in the press, but I have to admit I've been lucky that it has never been an issue for me previously!).

How odd about your 3-6 week cycles!! Have you ever been tested for anything? Or do u have any other symptoms of anything that could help explain it? Or much stress in your life that could be affecting things? The human body really is quite fascinating. If I was more intelligent, younger and more motivated I'd go into medicine!!

I think my cycles are just one of those things. I had scans and things about 8 years ago (before meeting the DH or TTC) as I get very heavy, painful periods. They thought I maybe had PCOS of endometriosis, but all came back normal. I have an underactive thyroid and am quite overweight, so they put it down to that really.

As for how long to wait for the referral I'm not really sure. Because my DH has a physical problem we got referred pretty quick. We've been referred by my DH's urology consultant, rather than GP, so not sure if that makes a difference. A lot of couples, who have unexplained problems have to wait 2 years I think. I don't know how long from being referred to first appointments and treatment we have to wait. I think, like you say, it is just a bit of a lottery.

Well I'm wishing you lots of luck Pinky, it's good that you've been referred via DH's doctor. I wonder if that will indeed make things easier for you!

Is it just me or does it seem like nobody else on MN is looking at IUI?! This thread's so quiet, but there's no other threads on the subject that are busier!!

I'm on CD4 here after AF arrived exactly the day my Dr planned when she induced it with progesterone tablets. Fresh cycle, new slate! Have upped my Femara to 5mg CD3-7 so really really hoping I have some big follicles to show off at my scan on CD12, eep!

good luck chandlers im still here, counting down til friday when we pick our drugs up - eeeeeeeeeeeekkk! and have our injection training / counselling.

ps: i know what you mean with feeling like nobody else is doing iui. theres another thread a lady posted about iui. but only odd 1 or 2 peeps replied. its same on babycentre - the iui page is soooooooooooo quiet. people just randomly post their bfps to threads but nothing inbetween (but i guess thats the main thing isnt it,right?)

good luck all xxxx

Eeee it's the big day tomorrow Bessie. I hope it all goes ok.

We've still not had any letters from the hospital with regards to our referral/ first appointment. I'm getting so inpatient!!

I've also been doing the home ovulation tests. Day 14 since first day of AF and still no "surge". I'm sure it'll come but again getting very inpatient!

I hope it's all going to plan for you Chandlers and good luck for tomorrow Bessie.

Hello ladies!!

Argh Fx for one of your shorter cycles this time Pinky! Keep at the OPKs, you should see a very gradual increase in lines as the LH surge approaches pre-ov (unless your surge happens all very suddenly).

Bess all the very best of luck for your appointment tomorrow!! Let us know how you get on, won't you? You'll do fine with the injections!!

Talking of which, I'm back on them tomorrow! Have just taken the 5th day of my Femara (CD3-7, today is CD7), then it's injections from tomorrow through til my scan on Tuesday. Have been having a few twangs in the ovarian regions, lol, so really hope I have a couple of decent follies by then!!

I have also started taking EPO (evening primrose oil) this cycle, 2000mg per day, as I've read lots of PCOS ladies take it alongside similar medical treatment to improve their CM - I never get any EWCM, so will see if it has any impact this cycle...

I really dunno where all the other IUI ladies are then. I've seen quite a few on the Verity message board which is for women with PCOS, I guess a lot of people having that treatment will have the condition. But still! Anyway very glad the three of us are knocking around on here keeping the dream alive. Can't wait til we all vanish with BFPs too though!

my appointment got cancelled til NEXT MONTH. i could cry. another month of waiting. cos the fertiltiy nurse is on sick. great. but thank you though.

good luck this cycle girls

Oh how frustrating for you- I actually would cry! I know the nurse can't help being ill, but surely there's someone who can talk you through it?? I bet there's a leaflet in the box that you could read.

Bessie that's so bloody annoying! Where are you at in your current cycle? X x

Hi ladies!

I don't know yet if I will be having IUI but I've been looking fir a thread just in case! I too can't find a lot of people talking about it anywhere!

A bit about me.... Age 34 -and a half--, ttc#1 month 23. First NhS fertility referral apppoinment Sept 2nd. Follow up appointment Oct 8th after a HSg this Thursday coming. They did mention IUI if my tubes were ok.

I just thought it was squirting sperm up there during a natural ovulation and I'm baffled by the talk of meds and injections and who does what when and why! Guess I'll find out in due course if I will have it and with meds or not! We would get 3 rounds funded in our area.

bumping up post. hope everyones doing ok x

im cd 40 and still waiting for the cancellled injection training appt to be rescheduled. pffftt.. x

welcome victoria x

Hey everyone. How are things??

Chandlers did you grow any good follies? Are you in the dreaded 2ww now??

Bessie any news on a new date for getting your meds?

And hi Victoria. I too am still a bit baffled by all the meds etc and don't
know for sure if we'll actually be having IUI yet. So good luck for you appointment tomorrow.

My DH has finally had a letter from the hospital and we (he) is seeing the andrologist on 27th November. I'm not sure why we are seeing the andrologist as we know what the issue is, and have been told by the urologist there is nothing can be done- I thought we were going to see the fertility people. From doing a bit of research the androligist may perform some fertility treatments like IVF. But I guess we'll have to wait until then to find out. It seems forever away, but hopefully the next couple of months will pass quickly.....

Good luck to you all and keep us updated

pinkylovescake good luck with your appt - i have to say, i think the whole waiting is the worst part in the ttc world. everyday lasts forever!!! keep us update.

no new date for me yet - FFS - getting fed up now. on another note, had a really dodgy cycle anyway. im on cycle day 49 or something, which isnt like me at all. started on some anxiety tablets which my gp has had to tell fertility doc about, so im sure he'll have something to say about the fact. eeeehhh xxx

Hello! I'm still here! Have had my injections refresher and have my scheduling appointment next week where they run through what to do on which cycle days and sign any outstanding consent forms. I've also got my prescription to send off for my drugs too (am paying for my IUI as we already have one child -result of third IUI).

Pinky are you on any thyroid meds? The new recommendations are to get your TSH around 2 or under to conceive so it may be that you need a fresh thyroid blood test and tweaking your meds which may help your wonky cycles. I had to really push my dr to give me any thyroid medication at all, but now I feel like a different person. Worth doing while you are waiting for referrals and so on.

Bessie how upsetting and frustrating. I had to reschedule a missed appointment and it was equally annoying, it's worth ringing them and pestering to be seen, otherwise you may keep getting pushed to the bottom of the pile.

Victoria hello! It depend on what your other issues are as to meds and so on. I was "unexplained" but had poor ovarian response and low AMH so had meds to up my number and quality of follicles. You would normally have scans (via the lovely dildocam) so that the IUI is done on the correct day and might have a HCG injection at the least, to ensure any ripe follicles release the eggs at the right time.

Good luck, we are hoping to start next cycle.

Well hello strangers! Good to see this thread has come back to life.

Victoria - hi and welcome! Good luck

Bessie - how annoying you were being kept waiting still!! Any news yet..?

Pinky - hope the slightly odd sideways referral translates into some actual getting upduffed action soon!! What's the latest?

AFM, my last cycle didn't work out - the increased Femara didn't do anything sadly, no follies grew. The good news though is that at my own insistence I have had my metformin dosage increased (for my PCOS) to 1500mg per day which led to a totally natural AF surprising me after that failed cycle! I had gone back to the UK for a holiday after the scan showed nothing had grown, but declined the provera to induce AF as I wanted to see if anything would grow naturally whilst away. Anyway was fab that the metformin dose is now the right one and my body is doing things alone at last! This bodes well for my current cycle, although because I was in the UK when AF struck, I wasn't able to take any stimulant drugs at the start of this new cycle. So, ever the googler, I looked into soy isoflavones and decided that I'd buy some of those and try them out for size - nothing to lose! Have just got back to Bangkok today and took the last dose yesterday (took them CD3-7). Hoping that the combo of the metformin and the soy will result in some follies at my scan on Monday!! Wish me luck anyway... this has all been down to my inventiveness with upping my own met dose and trying the soy, so if anything has worked I will start calling myself Dr Chandlers... ((equally if I've ruined my insides, I'll gladly pipe down and hand myself over to the hospital!!)

Well hello strangers! Good to see this thread has come back to life.

Victoria - hi and welcome! Good luck

Bessie - how annoying you were being kept waiting still!! Any news yet..?

Pinky - hope the slightly odd sideways referral translates into some actual getting upduffed action soon!! What's the latest?

AFM, my last cycle didn't work out - the increased Femara didn't do anything sadly, no follies grew. The good news though is that at my own insistence I have had my metformin dosage increased (for my PCOS) to 1500mg per day which led to a totally natural AF surprising me after that failed cycle! I had gone back to the UK for a holiday after the scan showed nothing had grown, but declined the provera to induce AF as I wanted to see if anything would grow naturally whilst away. Anyway was fab that the metformin dose is now the right one and my body is doing things alone at last! This bodes well for my current cycle, although because I was in the UK when AF struck, I wasn't able to take any stimulant drugs at the start of this new cycle. So, ever the googler, I looked into soy isoflavones and decided that I'd buy some of those and try them out for size - nothing to lose! Have just got back to Bangkok today and took the last dose yesterday (took them CD3-7). Hoping that the combo of the metformin and the soy will result in some follies at my scan on Monday!! Wish me luck anyway... this has all been down to my inventiveness with upping my own met dose and trying the soy, so if anything has worked I will start calling myself Dr Chandlers... ((equally if I've ruined my insides, I'll gladly pipe down and hand myself over to the hospital!!)

Hi everyone,

I left this thread a while ago as was planning an ivf cycle however on talking to consultant on Friday she said to try a medicated IUI. So will try on November cycle which is four weeks away. A bit nervous but excited to have another try and hope this is the one after two negative natural IUIs earleir this year.