IUI 2022

[unCliche]

Anyone looking to pursue IUI treatment in the new year?

I'm currently on cycle 18 with unexplained infertility and waiting for my NHS IVF referral appointment in January. In the meantime DH and I are looking to do some IUI cycles privately while we wait.

I have my baseline scan and consultation with Create Fertility next week.

For the sake of continuity...

I had my consultation today. The doctor believes that a non-medicated IUI isn't very different to DTD naturally, so I'll be having a medicated cycle with Letrozole and an Ovitrelle trigger then during my LP, I'll be on Utrogestan pessaries.

Annoyingly, if I develop 3+ follicles, the cycle will be cancelled and DH is refusing to DTD with me in that case!

AF due first week of Jan so not long to wait before starting Letrozole!

Hi @unCliche looks like we could be cycle buddies due to start my second round of IUI in January. Just waiting now for AF to show its ugly head after stopping utrogestan pessaries today due to BFN after our first round. Let’s hope 2022 is our year xx

Sorry to hear the first round didn't work @EmzieMurf1987. What medications were you on? Will you be changing anything this cycle? What was the experience like?

I wish we could be cycle buddies but I'm on CD21 (and at most 6DPO) today and it looks like my period may have come early?????? I'm spotting bright red and I haven't even received my meds yet. Of course the cycle where I'm meant to start actual treatment is the one that goes completely wrong! Just my luck 😅 If the flow gets heavier, it looks like my next cycle will start around the end of Jan... So frustrating 😪

Fingers crossed for 2022 🤞🤞

Hey @unCliche oh no that’s just typical! But you never know the spotting could be a good sign! Fingers crossed for you.

For my IUI I’m on gonal f for follicle stimulation but I’m just waiting a call from my consultant to see if they want to increase it this month as last month I wasn’t ready till CD18! Then gonasi 10,000 UI to trigger ovulation and then uteogestan 200mg 3 times a day till test day.

I’ve previously been on clomid which I ended up with ovarian cysts and after that letrozole but that didn’t stimulate my ovaries. So it’s been a bit of a journey so far but I’m hoping the meds I am on now will give me more of a chance. Crossing everything lol xx

Been trying for 4 years so I feel like I am used to the disappointment at this stage.

Keep me posted on how you get on xx

@EmzieMurf1987 Nothing says Happy New Year like an unexpected AF! Lucky me 😂

How are you finding doing the injectables? Looks like they seem to be doing the trick for you so hopefully a bigger dose is all you need!

If you don't mind me asking, do you know the reason behind your infertility? We're unexplained but I'm starting to think that it's mostly an hormonal imbalance for me due to my short LP, borderline low progesterone and very slow rising BBT. I'm hoping the letrozole strengthens my ovulation.

Bless you 💕 It must have been such a journey for you over the years. Do you think you'll consider IVF if the IUIs don't work out? I hope this is your last IUI cycle and 2022 brings you the miracle you've been waiting for! Happy New year 🎊

@unCliche absolutely! My AF came today too! Happy new year to us lol

Well I give and make up injectables all the time at work being a nurse but to give them to yourself was really daunting the first time! I was shaking lol but now I’m used to it it’s ok - keep telling myself it’s all for a reason.

So I’ve always had 28 day cycles which appear super normal and I was as regular as clockwork but once I started using OPKs I found I wasn’t ovulating till days 19-21 so my LP was only 7-9 days. After our initial investigations and first few cycles on clomid with regular scans it appeared that I don’t always ovulate and when I do my ovulation is poor which then leads to to low progesterone and a short LP. On top of that I also have a fibroid between my uterus and bladder - however my consultant thinks this won’t affect the IUI but if we need IVF I will have to have it removed first so really hoping the IUI works!!!

The trigger should strengthen your ovulation - when I started using a trigger my 7DPO progesterone when from 7-12 to 37-52! Really hope this works for u too!

We are planning 3-4 IUI before we consider surgery for my fibroid and then IVF so we will see what the year holds xx

I was also initially unexplained and my consultant still calls me a puzzle 😂😂😂 it can be so frustrating not knowing the reasons behind why it’s not happening but I do agree with you in regards to your low progesterone potentially being the reason so really hope the meds work for you and we both end up with 2022 miracles 🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

@EmzieMurf1987 Haha yay to AF! Will you be starting your meds in the next few days? I can't believe I have to sit this cycle out! It would have been great if we could go through it together. Silly body ruining everything for me... literally 😂

I think I'd be super nervous injecting myself too. Did you consider having your other half do it? I like the idea of my DH helping out but there's no way I'd trust him to do it properly 🤣🤣

Ah looks like we're suffering from almost the same thing! I'm actually really curious to see how you get on this cycle as maybe it'll give me some hope too! And that little bit of info about the trigger is really helpful - I just hope my body can hold off from ovulating on it's own so that I can use the trigger and have that super strong ovulation. Did you feel any different in your TWW when you used the trigger? Were you also able to extend your LP?

I too had a small fibroid but it has since disappeared so there may be a chance that yours goes away on its own too, or at least gets smaller.

I think 3-4 IUIs is a good number to try. Will you be pursuing IVF on the NHS or privately? I was close to starting a round of IVF with abc IVF but DH and I thought we'd try naturally a little longer and then nothing happened. Obviously 😆

Unexplained is such a terrible diagnosis, I half wish I had PCOS or something so I at least knew what needed to be done. I just feel like I've tried everything and nothing has worked and when everything comes back physiologically "perfect", I just feel more hopeless. I just want something to be wrong! 😩 But whatever is wrong, let's hope it's something IUI can sort out for both of us!

@unCliche AF party 😂😂. Honestly if I don’t make a joke out of it I’d never get out of bed!

Ah that must be so frustrating! Feels like such a waste of a cycle! I know how u feel though, I had to have a cycle on the pill to completely suppress everything so they could work out what was a follicle and what wasn’t 🙈🙈 for future cycles. We used that month to try our hardest just being together and enjoying each other again as everything was becoming a bit of a chore if you know what I mean! Try to stay positive 😘😘

I started my gonal f injections yesterday at CD2 and this time they changed it to daily as last cycle I was on alternate days and it took so long for me to be ready so hoping this does the trick. Should have my first scan and bloods early next week so we shall see what’s cooking I guess 😂

Oh my gosh my other half runs away when I have to inject 😂😂 he passed out when he had to have his bloods taken to prepare for our IUI 😂😂 but he is super supportive in every other way - making me hot water bottles and stuff when I have cramps etc bless him.

So we had all our initial bloods and semen samples done on the NHS but were told the waiting list for NHS treatment was super long and we didn’t want to wait so made the decision to go private from then on - by the time it came through I’d already had my hycosy and had 4 cycles on clomid so didn’t want to start over again and we didn’t want to take away treatment from other couples who may not be in a position as fortunate as us and can’t afford the private route. So we will continue privately as my consultant knows my body and what it needs to hopefully get a result! 🤞🏼🤞🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

After my last IUI I was told to wait 3 weeks to test which I found super strange as everywhere says 2 weeks and it was an absolute killer but the uteogesten held off my period until I stopped taking it - 2 days exactly. When I was at 7-12DPO I felt so sick and nauseous but I assume this was from the high progesterone levels from my trigger and the uteogesten combined then felt normal again just mild cramps here and there. So the meds increased my LP from 9-10 days to 24 days!

I really hope IUI works especially as IVF is so invasive and the fact that I may need surgery to remove the fibroid if it doesn’t work 🙈🙈🙈 on my last scans was approx. 6cm - so it’s grown 2cm in the last 9 months 🙈 but because it’s not affecting my uterine lining I was told it should not affect my chances at conceiving with IUI 🤞🏼🤞🏼

I know it’s such a shame we are not cycle buddies but super happy to share this cycle with you 🥰🥰

@unCliche do you think you will try anyway this month? Xx

@EmzieMurf1987 Infertility definitely is one of those things that can drive you to insanity if you let it. I've found myself feeling more and more detached from the reality of my situation because I'd cry all day everyday otherwise.

Oh gosh, being on the pill must have felt so counter-intuitive to you! After trying for so long, you want to move forward, not step backward! But glad you found a way to make the experience positive. Last cycle, DH was due an SA around when I ovulated so we couldn't DTD when we wanted so we just had fun for ourselves and it was nice.

How are you finding the daily injections? Are your symptoms worse?

Haha oh my goodness!! 😂 good thing men aren't the ones who have to go through daily injections, transvaginal ultrasounds and invasive procedures because I know they wouldn't even a survive one cycle of IUI or IVF! But at least he's there for you when it counts, so that's the important thing!

That's a kind thing to do being in a fortunate financial position. I have my IVF referral appointment on the 19th but I am under no illusion that the wait for IVF itself would probably take a long time. That's why we're doing IUIs in the meantime, so it feels like we're doing something proactive while waiting. Hopefully by the time we've done a few cycles, we won't be needing to wait too long for IVF. If my issues are mostly hormonal, then I'm hoping that medication is all I need.

I've had some weird instructions from my clinic, like, we can't DTD prior to the insemination procedure in case they interfere with a pregnancy (????) Not sure how that one makes sense. And also, they'll cancel the cycle if I have 3+ eggs. I thought 3 eggs was ok but clearly not. DH initially said he wouldn't DTD with me if I had 3 eggs but now he's changing his mind 😁

Crazy that your LP was 24 days!! Your poor body probably didn't know what to do with itself!! Waiting 3 weeks is ridiculous and you being on the progesterone for so long doesn't sound healthy. Will they change your LP protocol this cycle so you stop after 2 weeks?

Ah your fibroid is pretty big. That's annoying. But I suppose having it removed is always better than leaving it in. But people have fallen pregnant with worse so I'm sure you'll be fine either way!

Yes, this cycle, DH and I will try. I even bought a ferti-lily so at least I'm trying something different. Not holding my breath for any success but at least I can say I tried.

I'm guessing as you're a nurse you've been working through the holiday period? Are you doing the IUI at the same hospital where you work?

@unCliche yes I agree it will drive you insane if you let it!

It was annoying being on the pill for a month but so glad I did it as they found a 20mm follicle which was not a follicle just a cyst and they had been using that to trigger me thinking it was one 🙈🙈 so now we ignore that one on scan days. Hopefully it will go away on its own at some point.

Yes let’s hope the meds sort you out and you end up not needing the IVF 🤞🏼🤞🏼 Only now I finally feel I am on the meds I need to maximise my chances. There is so much trial and error as everyone is different.

Yes been told we cannot DTD 48hrs prior to the IUI so they can get the best sample from DH as possible - that could be why? But told we can continue post IUI. I guess they don’t want to risk a pregnancy with multiples as higher risk with the more follicles you produce?

It least I know the progesterone worked to allow plenty of time for implantation to occur as that has always been my worry having an average LP of 9-11 days even with the trigger shot that I still need extra progesterone. Not sure what to expect this time but il deffo be asking why the 3WW instead of 2 when I have my scan on Monday lol.

My daily injections are going fine not really noticing any specific symptoms other than being a bit more sensitive and crying at ridiculous things 😂😂 but it was way worse when I was in the clomid - I remember bursting into tears on the treadmill at the gym for no reason 😂😂 must have looked like some weirdo! Now it’s just confined to tv adverts in the privacy of my own home 😂😂

Yes my consultant said the same thing in regards to my fibroid so let’s hope that’s the case and it does start growing again 🤞🏼🤞🏼 So glad to hear yours disappeared bet that’s was a weight off your shoulders!

What’s a ferti-lily? Intrigued lol you should absolutely not waste this cycle just remember to have fun with it too 😘😘

I work for the NHS and we r under care fertility a private clinic so thankfully completely different. We worked all the Christmas period but I’m off this week so re-coop and it’s just typical I start my scans the week I’m back but I am super lucky that I can change any shifts for my treatment - work have been very understanding. Do u work? Do u have their support for treatments, scans etc? Xx

• let’s hope the fibroid doesn’t grow 🤞🏼🤞🏼😂😂

Will they not be doing anything to shrink the cyst? I've heard about IUI cycles being cancelled because of cysts. Hopefully the meds don't aggravate it further.

How are things going so far? I definitely agree about maximising your chances whilst on the meds. I'll be starting acupuncture next week and hope that helps boost my chances too. Are you doing anything extra?

I feel like 2022 is the year of proactiveness. I spent the whole of 2021 taking vitamins and TTC naturally but nothing more aggressive than that. Now I'm ready to take the next step. DH and I are even starting a very low calorie keto diet tomorrow. I want to get to BMI 18 although that's borderline underweight so I'll initially aim for BMI 20 as I managed that in 2020 (currently BMI 24).

Their reasoning for not DTD prior to the IUI was so that they wouldn't interfere with an ongoing pregnancy, which sounds silly. We'll abstain anyway and DTD after the IUI. I hope my ovaries don't over stimulate. I'd hate to have to cancel a cycle!

Haha omg 🤣🤣 I've read horror stories about clomid! I'm quite glad they're starting me off with letrozole. I hope my symptoms are mild. I think if crying is the worst of it, I'll be happy with that 😂

Even though it didn't stimulate your ovaries much, what were your symptoms like on letrozole?

A ferti-lily is like a menstrual cup but much more shallow. It was designed to hold sperm as close to the cervix as possible. It probably won't work but at this point, I'm willing to try anything! Have you done anything random over the years to try and conceive?

Glad to hear you're getting some rest. Working over Christmas must have been hectic! I haven't told work I'm doing any treatment, I just go to appointments and check emails on the go. I had my virology blood tests yesterday and didn't tell anyone at work. I guess working from home has its perks.

I've also decided to take some investigations into my own hands so asked my GP for some blood tests and he's arranged a full blood panel, including iron, TSH (again), prolactin, LH & FSH (again), and basically anything you can get from a blood test! I'm hoping I have high prolactin or something, which would explain low progesterone and short LP.

Well in fairness my consultant never actually used the term cyst - I just assumed lol. He doesn’t seem concerned about it as it’s been there the last 3 cycles and hasn’t changed in size at all. But it didn’t affect my last IUI.

Yea everything is going fine at the moment will know more after tomorrow 🤞🏼🤞🏼 For good news and some functioning follicles.

I did look at acupuncture but I honestly don’t think I could fit it into my schedule along with all the scans and work but I’m gonna start doing yoga for fertility from home as I should hopefully be able to fit this in easier and it’s free 😂😂

That’s so odd surely they would know u r not pregnant prior to the IUI as u will be having regular scans to check follicle growth etc and they would see something while scanning 🤷🏼‍♀️🤷🏼‍♀️ When are you starting on the letrozole?

I’m just continuing with my pre-pregnancy vitamins and aiming to eat a healthy balanced diet. I’ve read Keto diets are the worst for trying to conceive and for pregnancy. Have you read something different? Sounds like your already at a healthy weight as it is 🤗

Ah ok it’s worth giving anything a try isn’t it! We did try using essential oils 2 years ago but obvs never made a difference for us and the old wives tale of lying on your back after DTD with your legs up the wall for 20mins - we still do that one sometimes 😂😂 I guess the science of encouraging the sperm towards the cervix appeals to me - much like the ferti-lily cup it seems 🤞🏼🤞🏼 It works for you.

You are being so pro-active! I think it helps to know your doing something at least! Let me know how your bloods go. Hope it sheds some light on your situation xx

How was your scan today???

Yeah, it's a lot having to juggle everyday life with TTC. Then add fertility treatment AND extra-curricular fertility activities on top and it just becomes too much! Yoga is a good shout 🧘‍♀️ I think anything that calms the mind and the body can only be a good thing - especially when dealing with the stress of IUI and IVF.

I have my first acupuncture session tomorrow but I had the consultation today over zoom. The acupuncturists initial diagnosis is a cold uterus but I also apparently need to work on my digestive system 🥦

It's looking likely that I'll be starting letrozole in about two weeks, so not long to go! I still haven't gotten a call about ordering my meds though! How long do you think I should I leave it before chasing them about the meds?

I've seen some ladies mention finding success doing keto so I might as well give that a go. It's mild keto so I still get some carbs in but not as much as my body is used to. I've lost some weight since I started but I'm hoping it's not all water weight! Which vitamins do you take?

I tried the ferti-lily after DTD with DH and it seemed to work pretty well. I'm pleasantly surprised! I've never heard about using essential oils for TTC. Which oils did you use and how did you use them? I love lavender and I made some hair oils for myself and added lavender for fragrance so maybe I've been getting some benefits from that - just not fertility benefits 😂

Thanks love, I hope so too! I'm pretty fed up being unexplained! Hopefully by the end of this month you won't have a reason to be on this thread anymore!

Hi @unCliche!

I went into my scan yesterday with not much hope to be honest and have been feeling pretty down since the last one failed but I actually got some good news for once!

I have a 18.5 follicle in my left ovary and my uterine lining is looking good too. My bloods showed raised oestrogen levels - a good sign of a working follicle and my LH level was even a bit raised - which I never had before! So it’s given me some hope and feeling a bit excited too 🥰 so I had my trigger shot this morning and IUI scheduled for tomorrow! 🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼

Oh my gosh TTC sometimes feels like it’s taking over my life, although I try not to let it but it’s so hard with all the appointments and scans etc.

Oh wow let me know how you get on with the acupuncture plz! Sounds interesting - so what does that mean a ‘cold’ uterus?

Also did my first yoga session yesterday after the scan and actually felt really positive afterwards so will deffo be continuing with it and really good mantra to use - I’m healthy and fertile and excited for new possibilities - keep repeating this to myself 😂😂

They usually send you a prescription in the post and letrozole is quite common so should be able to pick it up in any pharmacy - I never had to order it in or anything always got it there and then. But it’s deffo worth making sure they send it to you with plenty of time or it’s just extra stress and worry! Which is soooo not needed so just give them a call and see what’s going on with it.

I’ve been taking pregnacare pre conception for the last 3 or so years lol as previously heard ppl getting pregnant after taking it what about you?

I guess you just have to do what feels right for your own body in regards to diet as long as you don’t lose too much weight too quickly as heard that’s deffo not good for fertility. I went gluten free 6 months ago as have an intolerance and really noticed a big difference in my overall health so as long as your being healthy it can’t be a bad thing!

Aw glad you got on with the ferti-lily - does sound like it could be a bit messy though 😂😂 but hey if it does the trick it’s worth trying anything isn’t it!

I did do some research into essential oils for fertility and hormone regulation, I can’t remember all the ones I used but remember using progessence for progesterone and afew others but gave up after 6 months with no success and it was quite expensive. But do still use lavender for sleeping sometimes it does have a great calming effect which can only be a good thing!

Hopefully with all the blood tests you might get some more clarity on what your problem is 🤞🏼🤞🏼 It can be sorted with medication and you have some success. Heard a lot ppl getting good results with progesterone supplements due to low levels let’s hope this is all that’s holding you back.

Do you mind me asking how old you are? I’m 34yr will be 35 this year - apparently that’s still relatively young when trying to conceive according to my consultant but it does feel like time is slipping away.

Xx

Omg amazing news! That's such good progress! Looks like your meds worked perfectly. I'm so pleased for you 💃 I hope the IUI today goes swimmingly well and all your stars align and sperm meets that big juicy egg! Will your wait before testing still be 3 weeks? Either way, all the best during this 2/3WW!

Not only has TTC taken over my life, it's also taken over my thoughts and I feel like my whole existence revolves around trying to make a baby! It's annoying! I can't believe we had a life before TTC - it seems like it's all I know 🤪

The acupuncturist is so lovely. She kept me talking throughout the whole procedure so it didn't feel weird or uncomfortable. The needles being inserted felt like a slight pinch but sometimes I felt nothing. I liked it! I feel maybe my uterus responded as I felt slight cramping afterwards and I overall felt slightly different but can't really described how I felt! I have another session next week when hopefully I'll be in my 2WW. She felt my pelvic area and said it wasn't too cold so I'm guessing my uterus wasn't so cold after all, but it basically means that the body isn't responding well to the warming effects of progesterone. It might be different if she checked during my LP though 🤷‍♀️ She thinks that my digestive system needs work as things are moving quite sluggishly in there. I probably have a whole host of intolerances that I'm mostly ignoring 😂

Ah I guess the medication process is different for you. They charge a £50 private prescription fee at CREATE 😱 so I'll have to order my meds through them and have it sent directly to my house from their chosen drug company. I received an email this morning saying I should have already been contacted about ordering meds! So I guess I should already have them by now!

I started with pregnacare at the beginning of my TTC journey but that messed up my cycle so I stopped. Then I took B vitamins, Vit C & D, magnesium with zinc (and many others, I'm sure) all to help increase my LP. They didn't do a very good job so I tried Vitex and didn't see much change so quit all vitamins. Then I decided to take Vit C & D, folic acid, ubiquinol and fish oils. But then I got fed up with constantly seeing AF so I quit all vitamins and I'm currently not taking anything. I will go back on the folic acid and Vit D soon though.

How did you find out you have a gluten intolerance? Did you test for it? My acupuncturist suggested I quit gluten too to see if it makes much difference to my digestive system and how I feel. What differences have you noticed since quitting gluten?

I had one cycle where I was prescribed progesterone by a private doctor. Although my BBT chart looked great (see attached) I ended up spotting and my LP only managed 12 days! But that was the only cycle I got an evap on an FRER so I'm wondering if something actually happened 🤔 Although I'm doubtful! But I'm keen to try meds again. I'm excited for us!

I just turned 29 at the end of November. I was hoping to be a mother at 28 but life clearly had other plans 😆 How far into your fertility journey did you start fertility testing?

Hey @unCliche now in my 3 week wait 🙈 - I did ask the consultant about this and he said because my trigger contains HCG it can take up to 18 days for it to disappear hence the 3WW so as not to get a false positive. It’s gonna be a long wait 🙈🙈

Oh wow sounds like you had a really positive experience with the acupuncturist and it had a positive effect on your body!

You have tried to many vitamins! That’s crazy but I suppose we will try anything to TTC! I’ve never have the pregnacare mess with my cycles though! I’m still taking it for the folic acid which was advised by my clinic.

I’ve always had stomach problems for as long as I can remember (bloating, discomfort, diarrhoea, constipation, and generalised pain) then I went on diet 4 years ago where I cut out bread pasta etc and my symptoms vanished. As I slowly started re-introducing those foods again the symptoms came back. So I went GF last year and now minimal bloating, bowel motions all normal and no pains 🤗 so I’ve self diagnosed by listening to my body and feel way better for it. Why don’t you try it for a month and see how you feel?

How long are your LP normally? Sounds like the progesterone deffo helped to lengthen it! What progesterone supplement were you given? It does look like a good chart though! Did u only use the progesterone for that one cycle?

We had an early MC back in 2017 which was not planned at all. But in 2018 we started TTC thinking it happened once it will again and that’s what everyone kept saying too and with DH working away we thought that we were missing my fertile period sometimes. But after 3 year of nothing and noticing that my LP was so short 7-9 days decided to contact the doctors and we had all our bloods and SA done which showed my low progesterone. We were referred to the NHS fertility center but when I rang up was told it could be months before we even get a consult - that was Jan 21. So decided to seek help privately and by the time I actually got the referral I’d already had my hy-cosy and 3 clomid cycles! And was told I’d have to start from scratch! So continued private ever since and here we are now 😂😂 TBH I’m glad I’m private I feel like I get so many more scans, seen threads on here where they r just given meds and that’s it! I had up to 6-7 scans per cycle! A lot of appointments but helped pin point when I was ready for a trigger shot then afterwards to confirm ovulation occurred which really helped me mentally knowing I had actually ovulated.

What has your TTC journey been like? Xx

Hey girl! Congrats on entering your 3WW! I guess to combat having to wait for so long, you can test out the trigger shot to see when it's no longer picked up by a HPT and then you'll know any line after then will be the real thing. I have some ICs that I intend to use for that purpose. How's it going anyway. Any symptoms different to last time?

Yeaaah! I feel like the acupuncture has really made changes! Today my temp jumped and I've never, like ever, experienced that! And I've been temping since October 2020. My temps, 10 out of 10 times, will rise very slowly, peak around 9/10DPO and then drop - then AF will start. I'm so shocked, I can't believe it! I also didn't have the excruciating ovulation pain I usually get so I've struggled pinpointing ovulation this cycle but I'm thinking CD15.

Glad you found something that worked for your body! Yes, I definitely think listening to the body is something that I need to start doing! I've decided to cut out all carbs completely including gluten. For lunch today, I had a kale, cheddar, tomato frittata and omg I'm still so full up! So much better than the very low calorie diet I started off with.

My LP is usually about 10 days. 11 days if I'm lucky. I was on cyclogest 400mg once per day. I actually did a 7DPO progesterone blood test on it and my levels were so high! So it definitely worked well. Yes, I only used it for that cycle. I still have about 7 pessaries left but I'm weary about using it, getting pregnant and not being able to sustain the pregnancy when it runs out!

Sorry to hear about the MC. I guess somewhere in the back of your mind you know you can get pregnant so it must be so frustrating when nothing happens. Did your cycle length change after the MC? I guess you wouldn't know if your LP was impacted as you probably weren't tracking back then. I'm a bit surprised the NHS said you had to start from scratch, they were happy to accept my private test results without having to redo it all on the NHS - I guess it saves them money too. I'm happy you've been able to find some peace of mind by going private - it definitely helps when you're not just constantly waiting around.

For me, my journey started in 2020. I excepted to fall pregnant around cycle 3 (ha!) because that's how long it took my neighbour. When nothing happened, on month 4, we went to a private fertility clinic and had all our bloods, scans and SA done. Everything was normal with me. AMH was high, AFC was high, everything looked great. DH SA showed low sperm count so he worked on getting that up with vitamins and cutting alcohol and caffeine (and he's done a good job because his count is way about average now!). The consultant said despite the sperm count we'd get pregnant within the next few months - nothing happened. So we started looking into IVF. We had a consultation at ABC IVF, we met the criteria and we were one cycle away from starting. DH did another SA and numbers were great so we backed out to give things a go naturally. Still didn't get pregnant so we decided, instead of paying privately, we could get it done on the NHS. So we started the NHS process, had bloods, scans, tubes flushed, everything normal! So whilst we're waiting for IVF referral we've decided to do IUI in the meantime and that's where we currently are! It's been a journey! Sometimes I forget it's been so long!

Let's hope this is it for us!! It has to be!

Hey @unCliche aw thanks ☺️ but it’s gonna be a long wait, just trying to stay busy and do things to pass the time 😂😂. I did do a HTP yesterday 7 days post trigger and completely negative - which freaked me out and started panicking 😂😂 after doing some research found out it can be out your system in 5-14 days usually, depending on how you metabolise it - so feeling a bit better about that! Panic over 😂😂 honestly I don’t think il do another one till my test date now as I feel there is still hope if I don’t test and the fact I have to take the progesterone till 21DPO - which would feel completely pointless if I don’t see 2 lovely lines.

Not too many symptoms so far just the usual sore breasts, some nausea occasionally which I think is progesterone related and the odd cramp here and there - sometimes I do feel like I’m imagining it though as feeling hyper sensitive to any ache/pain 😂😂

Wow that temp spike is impressive! Let’s hope the acupuncture works it’s magic! Will be interesting to see your chart this month for sure! Looks like you deffo ovulated though with that spike 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼

It’s a shame you only had it for the one cycle especially if your bloods showed it worked a treat. But yea I agree I’d probably not use them as 7 probably won’t make much of a difference unless you can get more?

It’s so strange how different areas do things differently! A complete postcode lottery and also depends on who treats you I guess! But yea I am happy with my consultant and the clinic I am with at the moment so we will just see how things go 🤞🏼🤞🏼

Isn’t it so frustrating when everyone around you gets pregnant so easy! I had a colleague who got pregnant first try then smoked throughout her whole pregnancy - I was sooooo secretly angry! It just feels like life isn’t fair sometimes.

That’s great your DH managed to increase his sperm count just by tweaking his lifestyle! Well done him! My DH was basically told he has super sperm - everything above average and on our last IUI told he had 100% motility which apparently is not seen that often! I think they were trying to give us some hope it will work - but if it doesn’t makes me feel more of a failure like it’s my fault.

It’s such a long process isn’t it! Do you know how long you have to wait for your IVF referral? Sounds like you have been a bit of a journey too! I hope we both get there in the end 🤞🏼🤞🏼

You're a braver woman than me! I don't think I could wait until 21DPO to test! But at least if you decide that you can't wait anymore, you'll know that any line you see will be a real BFP!

Did you have any of those symptoms during your last IUI cycle? I currently have some cramps but surprisingly no tender breasts, which I usually get around this time in my LP.

I've collected my letrozole tablets and I'm really excited to start! I'm currently 5/6DPO so AF due in about 5 days! I got a dip today which I think is a secondary estrogen surge. I'm kind of excited about that because it means my hormones must be doing something right!

I had another acupuncture session on Tuesday. I feel like it's really making a difference. Obviously my chart is evidence of that but I also feel different. The results for my blood test came in today and as predicted and hoped for, I have high prolactin! Haha!! It's kind of borderline high but I'm wondering if it was much higher before and the acupuncture brought my levels down. High prolactin usually causes low progesterone so if my levels are no longer hypothetically higher then that could be the reason for my really high temps!

I tried to get more but they said the was a progesterone shortage or something. So I've just left it. I guess with the IUI, I'll be given all the drugs I need to get pregnant.

Getting pregnant seems to be the easiest thing in the world! It's like people make the bare minimum amount of effort and end up pregnant! I have stayed healthy throughout this journey and I have nothing to show for it. It is pretty annoying.

Wooow 100% motility! It's definitely hard to be optimistic when all you know and have experienced is failure. I don't think you should blame yourself. Of course, that's easier said than done because I blame myself too, but when it comes down to it, you and your DH are in it together, sharing the burden of infertility together, so it's no ones fault. Stay strong! You've got this!

I had the call for my IVF referral yesterday. The doctor said that it would take about 3 months to start the IVF after we've submitted our forms. So I guess we'll be doing IUIs up until we can start the IVF! I'm so surprised at how quick everything has moved! I'm so ready to make this baby!

How are you doing generally?

Trying to put testing out of my mind but that’s easier said than done! Figured il wait till Sunday so il by 18DPO as otherwise il be in the middle of a set of night shifts 😩😩 and really don’t fancy getting bad news then having to go to work and DH will be away with work. So at least if I test Sunday we will be together.

I had the same symptoms as last time so you never know if it’s because something is happening or it’s just the medication which makes it so frustrating 😂😂. Maybe your body is working differently this cycle which could be a good thing 🤞🏼🤞🏼 How’s your chart coming along? I’m interested to see how it turns out for you this cycle with the acupuncture and if it makes a difference for you really hoping it helps you! Sounds like good news with your prolactin result then! At least maybe now you might be closer to actually getting a diagnosis and no longer be the dreaded ‘unexplained’ 😂😂

That how I feel about the IUI too about getting everything my body needs medication wise to actually see a BFP! Even then it’s still like rolling a dice with only a 1 in 4 chance of it working - same a ‘normal’ couple, and I’ve read it can be up to 80% effective in couples with unexplained infertility over 3-4 cycles so I quite like those odds 😂😂

🤞🏼🤞🏼 It works for both of us and we won’t need IVF! That’s amazing news about your referral! 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼 Yay!! You must be so excited that it feels like things are finally happening for you both and that the wait isn’t too longer either!

I’m doing ok we just had a weekend away with friends which was lovely and very much needed! And just trying to keep myself busy so I’m not dwelling on things too much - but work helps with that 😂😂. How are you doing? Xx

I'm sure you're counting down the days until testing. It'll definitely be more special and/or comforting having your DH with you. I've never tested with my DH before, but then my tests are always -ve so I don't actually test anymore, I just wait for AF to show up - which it does 😅

But actually, I did test last night and it was a BFN! So nothing new there. I was spurred on by my high temps and highest ever resting heart rate, but alas, I am without child. AF due today so I was fully expecting my temps to come crashing down but it went up so I'm at least expecting a longer LP. I haven't had any sore breasts at all this cycle, so that's new! Thanks acupuncture!

Ah yeah, taking progesterone makes symptom spotting really hard. I'm not looking forward to that bit of the IUI cycle. I'm really keen for AF to start so things can kick off! I have my letrozole here, waiting. My IUI doctor wasn't concerned about my prolactin levels because they're just borderline 🙄 but I've booked a consultation with my GP to discuss it anyway.

Those are good odds. I'm hoping we get our miracle within 3 cycles! I don't think I want to have to mentally prepare for IVF. DH and I will be signing our IVF referral papers on the 18th Feb and I guess 3 months after that, we'd be looking to start 😬 it kind of feels bitter sweet because I would never have thought I'd be making a baby like this, but then at the same time, I was kind of expecting it. If you had to move onto IVF, would you stay at your current clinic?

That sounds lovely. Did you go anywhere nice? I'm good as well thanks! Been a bit tired these past few days because of rubbish sleep. But my weight loss is going really well! As of this morning, I've lost 4kg total and my BMI is now 22.9 so I've made it into the 22s! Next stop the 20s!

Hey how are you getting on? I started spotting with lots of cramps and period pain caved yesterday and did a test As the pain was so bad it was making me nauseous BFN so looks like I’m break through bleeding on the progesterone and this cycle hasn’t worked for us this time 😓😓😓.

How are things looking with your chart did AF arrive yet? Wow it’s crazy how the acupuncture has affected your cycle so quick so I’m seriously considering it now!

It’s so hard isn’t it knowing you can’t make things happen naturally and frustrating!! At least we both still have plenty of options to actually make this happen 🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼 That’s keeping me going at the moment lol

Oh that’s exciting! 18th feb isnt far off!! I’m so excitied for you! I think we will do one more round of IUI then go back for a consult in regards to next steps as my consultant said previously i might need surgery to remove my fibroid prior to IVF 🙈🙈 so that will put me out the game for a while so not looking forward to that conversation! I think if that happens I will have time to see if I can get our first IVF round on the NHS through the same clinic as they also take NHS patients, but we will cross that bridge if it comes - never know lucky number 3 with IUI 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼.

We went to London for the weekend for an engagement party was lovely getting away but London is soooooo expensive 😂😂 bless you hope yr getting more sleep but congrats on yr weight loss that’s fab are you feeling any better having cut gluten from your diet yet?

How have things progressed with the cramping and spotting? If AF hasn't started it could have just been too early to test. I hope you're holding up ok?

AF arrived for me and I am currently CD4. Started taking Letrozole on CD2 and so far so good. I've already started feeling twinges in my ovaries so my follicles must be growing. In my last cycle, my temps crashed when AF started but it stayed pretty high up for a long while so I definitely recommend acupuncture, I'm sure it wouldn't hurt.

If you can afford to, maybe look at having a hysteroscopy done. They can remove fibroids during the procedure. And then that way, you wouldn't have to wait too long to have it done. Have you applied for your NHS funding?

I think we'll do IUI every cycle up until we start IVF, so that could mean about 3-4 cycles of IUI for us.

Yeaah London is pricy! I'm from London but I met DH in Berkshire and we decided to settle down here, but we do visit London regularly. I'll actually be staying with my parents in London while having my scans and insemination as my clinic is in London too. Diet is going well thanks! I'm definitely less gassy although the spinach, kale and broccolis don't help much either 😅