Anyone starting IUI soon? Looking for some support

[findingmyfeet12]

I've been offered three rounds of stimulated IUI after ttc for 8 years.

We have undiagnosed infertility but I'm 36 and can feel the clock ticking.

I'm expecting af to arrive around the 1st of December and I'll start my injections for the first cycle soon after.

Is anyone else in a similar boat?

[closephine85]

Hi Rifa

Sorry to hear your husbands results were poor. Do you mind me asking how low they were? My DH also has very low (2 million this round) and I'd be interested to know your results as I do wonder why we are being put through IUI when everything I read says you need at least 10 million for IUI.

[findingmyfeet12]

Rifa I'm sorry to hear that. It's hard to be happy for other people when you're going through infertility.

In a way I wish we'd been given IVF direct as IUI feels so hit and miss. Closephine, are you able to consult your specialist about this? I will have to persevere with IUI before I'll be considered for IVF.

[Salimali15]

Hi all. I did one final test and it was a BFN - the clinic said that 2 BFNs are enough for them to say it's all over. So looking ahead to March when I have the time to do another cycle. I do often get period pains but generally not this bad. Still no AF, but the clinic said today that I should have stopped taking the progesterone and that it will come after that.

The 2WW is a killer. I have 3 weeks off in March, with the first week probably coinciding with IUI, so if that continues to be the case, I'll try to persuade DP to book a holiday to keep our minds off things.

[closephine85]

FMF any Ivf we have will be private so perhaps they are letting us have IUI as a last free attempt, however, I dont think I'm going to put myself through it again. Going to wait for the laparoscopy and the results of DHs ultrasound (he's having it on the 29th) and then we'll make a decision about moving straight to Ivf or just trying by ourselves for a bit longer. Pretty sure IUI is the wrong course of treatment for us.

Sorry to hear that Sali, is there any chance your positive could have been from the trigger shot? Or definitely a chemical pregnancy? If it was a chemical pregnancy then at least you know IUI has done its job it getting the sperm to the egg so definitely worth another shot!

My boobs are really tender and with still a week to go I'm pretty sure it would be too early to be a pregnancy symptom and therefore is more likely a sign of AF arriving next week. When I was pregnant with ds my boobs didn't hurt very much at all - I used to prod them really hard to make sure they were still a bit sore!

[findingmyfeet12]

I gave in and tested - bfn.

I had my IUI 10 days ago but I've not had any symptoms.

The whole process is a lot more mentally and emotionally draining than I expected. I was initially excited to have been offered 3 cycles of IUI but it feels like a bit of a poisoned chalice now.

[closephine85]

All a bfn will tell you today is that the trigger is no longer in your system :) 10 days could still be too early for a positive so you never know. Will you be offered Ivf on the nhs?

I have seen a few success stories for IUI so you never know... Just not with as low a count as my DHs unfortunately lol.

[findingmyfeet12]

I live abroad Closephine and the health service here has offered me three attempts before I'm reviewed for either more IUIs or IVF. I'm lucky to be registered with a really good hospital and the funding is very generous.

I know it's early but the waiting is a nightmare.

I'll be picking up some more crochet yarn today to kill time!

[Salimali15]

So sorry to hear that news Rifa. On a positive, at least IVF is an option (we have to keep looking for the positives). x

I agree that 10 days is very early. Try again on the date the clinic told you to test. As I've discovered, things can change by the minute.

[closephine85]

How are you getting on ladies? Hope you all had lovely Christmases

FMF have you tested yet? I think you're a couple of days ahead of me. I almost tested this morning then changed my mind as I decided a positive at this stage could still be the trigger and a negative wouldn't definitely be negative so decided I had nothing to gain by testing. I'm on day 10 post IUI day 12 post trigger and (I think) ovulation.

[closephine85]

Just re read - that doesn't make sense. Must be 11 days post Trigger and ovulation. Bugger :)

[Salimali15]

Definitely try to hold out as long as you can girls. I still regret testing early.

Had a lovely Christmas, thanks. DP told his mother about our treatment and she's going to pump me full of Chinese medicine, bless her!

[closephine85]

Thanks Sali

I tested last night and it was negative, however I'm now in the cycle of 'could have been too early' 'shouldn't have tested in the evening' 'tests are cheap Internet ones' thoughts. Going to do one Wednesday am and will stop taking the progesterone then if (when) negative.

No harm in trying the Chinese medicine! I tried acupuncture for a while, couldn't afford to keep it up though.

[closephine85]

Negative again this morning :( day 13 post IUI. Think that's pretty definitive but going to get a first response test for tomorrow am just to make sure before stopping the progesterone.

[Salimali15]

When is AF due? When did your clinic say to test?

[closephine85]

AF is due today/tomorrow but I don't think will start without stopping progesterone, is that right? Clinic didn't say anything about testing and they are closed until 4th Jan. My progesterone would take me up to Friday if I dothebwhole course

[Salimali15]

Yes, AF comes when you stop progesterone. Maybe test tomorrow and then call it a day.

[closephine85]

Yes that's the plan. Pretty certain it's going to be negative. DH has an ultrasound this afternoon so perhaps we'll get some answers there.

How long after stopping the progesterone did your AF take to arrive?

[Rifa12]

Hi guys! Have been bz...
my husband's count was 8 million I think and the movement and structure really bad numbers.... doctor said to start ivf! But first my husband needs to go to a urologist to see if something is causing this. So we have to wait for that first which we only got an appointment in February. But I do hope to start ivf right after!! Good luck all!

[closephine85]

Good luck with your Ivf Rifa - we are going the same route. Negative for us today and I'm not wasting our time with IUI any longer. Clearly it's not right for us with DHs numbers either. He had an ultrasound yesterday which showed nothing. A bit gutted about that as we were hoping for a fixable problem!

[Rifa12]

So when are u starting ivf closephine? How old are u btw if I may ask?

[closephine85]

Hi Rifa, no I don't mind :) I'm 30 and already have a 4 year old ds who was conceived naturally so we are at a bit of a loss as to what has gone wrong this time. How old are you?

I am on my hospitals waiting list for a laparoscopy early next year (hopefully by the end of feb) and then hoping to start Ivf around March. There is no Ivf where I live so going to have to travel to the uk for it. I've just posted another thread today as I'm interested in natural Ivf at create fertility. When will you start?

[Rifa12]

I'm young! Only 22. Feb 1st my dh will see an urologist and hoping we can start soon after. We've been together for 2.5 yrs and I've never was on any birth control or anything. So at this point we realized that there must be something wrong as were not pregnant when we're technically trying for 2.5 years. I'm glad we got to the bottom of this and know the problem. The unknown is the worst. And they say the younger you are the more chances!

[Kwick709]

Hello all! I hope this thread is still going and you are all ok for me to join!
I have done 4 natural iui cycles and am now doing my first medicated iui cycle. I had a day 7 scan yesterday and I had 3 follicles - 11mm, 9mm and 8mm. I am injecting Menopur every 2 days... Got really yucky headache and nausea after last injection so have had a duvet day as am on holiday.
findingmyfeet12 how are you doing? I have not felt feverish or achy just out of sorts after my iuis... The first one was the worst where I had thrush (sorry TMI) and it was agony... Now I console myself by playing One Direction before, during and after
Is your 2ww over? I really hope you have good news!
Salimali15 how are you? The follicle reduction sounds none too pleasant... I guess I may be facing that too due to medication but for now it looks like I have a dominant follicle.
I recall you were having discussion about DTD afterwards - well I am single so that is not an option for me but I have heard that having orgasms can help....
As I am now getting quite despondent I am trying all sorts of things including self hypnosis, positive affirmations, cinnamon, pineapple core, no hot baths...anything else I should add on?
closephine85 I hate to say this but your clinic sounds pants - how can they shut? Mine is open EVERY day - including all through the festive period.
Anyway please message updates... i want to knwo how you are all are & best of luck!

[Salimali15]

Welcome Kwick! Sorry to hear you're having injection side effects :-( Duvet days always help so much. Fingers crossed you shouldn't need a reduction like I had as your follicles are varying sizes - 3 of mine were monsters apparently! I've heard the same thing about orgasms. Have you tried acupuncture? Like Closephine, I did it for a while but it became too expensive to sustain.

You've definitely got age on your side, Rifa. I wish DP and I had met much earlier as being older definitely adds to the stress of it all.

[Kwick709]

I still feel yucky... Not sure how much is self-inflicted and what are side effects plus emotional turmoil..
I had a milk binge last night and then got very bad stomach pains during the night. I also found a sore lump on boobage which is like a blackhead/puss thing... And now have just had a blow out with my mum... And all this before noon!
My scan was ok - 15mm, 13mm and 7mm. Lining 8mm. They have taken bloods to see if lh surge is happening (apparently opks do not work when taking Menopur). If I am surging IUI will be tomorrow, if not have scan on 2nd. Bit of bad timing as we (mum, nephew and his parents) were going away tomorrow for a few days - so that is now postponed... Hope my family understand.
Salimali how are you feeling? I have been thinking about acupuncture - I used to do all the times for back/hip/knee probs but stopped about the time I started treatment in part to cut cost down but maybe if I do IVF I should try again. Very hard to fit in though... Hard enough to make it to the clinic for scans etc - My job takes me away 2-3 days each week...