IUI & Fertility in SSC

[solanks]

Hi everyone,

I've struggled to find any groups that are focussed specifically on same sex couples trying to conceive (that do not have any fertility issues).

My partner and I are currently on round three of IUI using donor sperm. The first two tries we did we attempted the natural route (so no medication and no ovulation trigger injection). We decided to go down the medicated route on our third try and are currently in the two week wait, waiting for our results today!

This whole process has been emotionally, physically and financially challenging, so much more than we ever expected, and we would love to hear from other same sex couples on this topic who are in a similar situation to ours. We want to exchange stories, offer each other support, give advice and also recommendations (as there is so much conflicting information out there and each clinic's protocols vary too, which we found bizarre).

Looking forward to hearing your stories; be they successful, unsuccessful, or even if you are completely new to this journey ✨

My clinic have never actually said to test at home. They do the ovulation test when I go in which are usually morning appointments. But I bought the clear blue ovulation digital ones and some cheaper test ones more just for my own knowledge and to get to know my cycles more. But I'll test this evening. Hopefully if it's peak this evening it'll still show up tomorrow morning, otherwise I guess it could get missed! Thankfully I've not missed any peaks in previous cycles.

@ProfessorplumBilliardroomCandlestick started getting some possible ovulation pain this evening so just did a clear blue digital test and of course I've peaked. Haha good advice to check! On a cheap strip test (with the same sample) it's justtt lighter than the test line so I assume I'm peaking between now and tomorrow morning. So I'm assuming IUI tomorrow then but we'll see what they say tomorrow!

@strawberrylaces12 amazing! Yes it should show tomorrow morning. I guess if it doesn't you can confess to taking the clear blue tests and tell them you peaked but also they might see it preparing to rupture on a scan. Exciting!

Yeah I've told them that I've been testing at home and that I've had a flashing smiley face for like 5 days now! They use the clear blue ones (pink in colour) where you either have an empty circle or static, no flashing. So if for any reason it's not peaked on that test I'll let them know about this evening. Definitely feeling the ovulation pain this evening so I would imagine it's preparing to rupture (sounds horrible doesn't it haha). It's so cool that they can see that sort of thing on the scan 😂

Follicle was 20mm on the scan this morning and got a peak on the ovulation test at the clinic (like I had at home last night) so had the IUI later this morning. And so the tww begins!

I mentioned if this doesn't work about medicated cycles and they seem to think it would be a good idea to try that, so spoke through some info about it. I think I do want to try that if we're not successful and I'll just have to figure out work commitments like I've had to this week. But fingers crossed it won't be needed, I just like to feel prepared with the information just in case!

I hope everyone is doing okay 😊

Fantastic news @strawberrylaces12. What a well-behaved follicle getting to 20mm on IUI day! How many unmedicated cycles is this now? Fingers crossed this one sticks and you don't need to go through the medicated route at all!

Today's symptom update from Boob Central is I have had mild period-like cramps for a couple of hours. I'm on CD19 today so I'm assuming and really hoping this is implantation cramps - would be right on schedule if so! Some of the fatigue is gone, thank goodness - I'm tired but not "I desperately need a nap and cannot fathom doing any more work today" tired. Some extra sensitivity to smell but that might just be the house (super garlicky kitchen).

I know I was convinced it would be 18mm again but what consistent growth of 2mm each day for the last 4 scans 😂

So this is our 4th, had 3 with one donor and now this one with a new one. Initially the idea of a medicated cycle sort of scared me/made me anxious (especially fitting it around work) but I do think if we have 4 not work then I'd be really wanting to try medicated.

Sounds good in terms of symptoms, fingers crossed for you! Remind me how many dpo are you? And how are you finding the tww emotionally? Sending lots of good vibes and baby dust 💕

Good luck @strawberrylaces12 !

well done on the tww so far @ProfessorplumBilliardroomCandlestick !

@strawberrylaces12 7dpo today. I'm due AF on Wed/Thurs next week so I'll know soon enough... I honestly thought I'd be far more patient than this, so it's surprising to me how difficult I'm finding this. I'm generally a "positive until you know otherwise" sort of person, so I think I'm going to put off testing until I know there's a good chance. I think it's likely any implantation would be today or tomorrow, so this weekend would be the earliest any hcg would show up on a test.

@Quickdraw23 Thank you! How are things with you? 😊

@ProfessorplumBilliardroomCandlestick Ooh okay so half way through now! I also never realised how hard the tww would be. I swap so much between positive and negative. One minute I'm like omg it's never going to happen and then I'm really optimistic 😂do you also have to wait the full 14 days to test due to the trigger injection?

@strawberrylaces12 nope, I didn't have a trigger shot so any positive is a true one. I'm wondering about sacrificing an ovulation test instead of the more expensive pregnancy test but that might give me more questions than answers!

Ooh that's good so no false positives. You can get cheap pregnancy strip tests, that look like ovulation ones, which may be an idea if you want to test earlier but not spend as much?

Just because I think we can have low amounts of hormones like lh throughout the cycle so if you saw a faint line it could be that. I'm not 100% sure on that though!

True but I think the paper pregnancy tests aren't as sensitive? Unsure... I'll update in full next time I pee on something 😂

Possibly not but I've seen quite a few people on mumsnet post their positives with the cheap stripe on like 9dpo before. But honestly do whatever is best for you, don't think there's right or wrong 😊

im ok thanks @strawberrylaces12, my recent AmH test came back and the level is lower than this time last year, but still well within normal, so I'm not sure if I should be worried about that or not.

I’ve a consultation on Friday to get scanned and discuss all the bloods and options going forward, and I’ve just realised that my period is due, and if it doesn’t come on time it will probably be happening on the day of my appointment 🤦🏼 so if it doesn’t show up tomorrow I’m going to have to email them and see if I need to change the date, which is a total pain. I don’t know why I didn’t think of that when I booked the appointment, I just booked it for a day when i wasn’t at work!

That's great that it's within the normal range. I guess as we get older the number will go down but as long as we have a normal level then it's okay? I've not had mine checked, I'm 27 (28 in April) so I'd hope my number was okay but I guess it's something that may be tested further down the road if needed.

What's the scan for and is it a transvaginal ultrasound? If so I've those whilst on my period and they've been okay. Fingers crossed it times out for you though 😊

Morning,

Hope everyone in the TTW is doing okay?

@Quickdraw23 Good luck with your appointment on Friday, I am sure it won't be a problem if you are on your period, working appointments around work is a skill of its own!

I started the oestrogen tablets for our FET cycle this month which is exciting, on cycle day 3 today with a scan to measure my lining on 14 Mar. Annoyingly I have had a flare-up of a bulged disk in my back so really hoping that it calms down by transfer day.

@Twomumfamily exciting about starting your tablets. Have you felt okay with them? I hope that your flare up calms down! 🤞

Only 4dpo and already feeling more impatient at this point than I did last month. Seem to been having cramps already from the progesterone pessaries I think. It's going to be a long tww 😅

I cracked and bought some Boots own brand cheapie paper strips (less sensitive than the clear blue digital, but still decent enough: 25miu/ml). A potential very faint line this morning but so faint I can’t get a good photo of it. So I’ll test again in a couple of days and see where we’re at then.

How’s your own TWW going? Cramps – are they okay, manageable? My sympathies with the impatience

Hurrah @Quickdraw23 for normal AMH range! My understanding is that AMH does fluctuate, so the fact you’re lower than last time doesn’t particularly mean anything and I guess if it was worrying they’d have said? Best of luck for the scan Friday

@Twomumfamily Exciting news about the tablets! Fingers crossed your disc sorts itself out soon. If it doesn't does that mean you can't go ahead, or just that it would excruciating for you?

Thank you @ProfessorplumBilliardroomCandlestick and @strawberrylaces12 - I have checked with the nurses and I can continue, I can take ibuprofen until transfer day which helps, and I am hoping it will have resolved by then. So just have to hope that in two weeks the pain has gone - I think I just have to go ahead otherwise it counts as a cycle even if I don't do a transfer, which is fair enough.

Fingers crossed that it develops into something! Was the line with the read time? Keeping my fingers crossed for you!! 🥰

Yeah the cramps are definitely manageable I think the tww is just making me more aware of any sensations! I'm just feeling impatient but I'm hoping that my busy week is going to keep me occupied.

Fingers crossed that with some ibuprofen it calms down and you'll be okay, or at least it reduces down a bit so it's tolerable around the transfer. There's always something isn't there 😅