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 ✨

@ProfessorplumBilliardroomCandlestick ah I completely missed that you tested this morning, fingers crossed also that those lines keep getting darker!

@Twomumfamily thank goodness you can keep taking ibuprofen. I find that works so much better for deeper pain than paracetamol. I’ll keep everything crossed you can go ahead

@strawberrylaces12 glad the cramps are okay! Do you have anything special planned this week or is that just normal sort of busyness?

Some news from me... positive test this morning on a clear blue digital, and a much better line on a paper strip. Have messaged my clinic to see if they need me to test again at the weekend or not (my official requested testing day). Very surreal.

@ProfessorplumBilliardroomCandlestick oh my gosh how exciting!! Congratulations 🥰 how are you feeling??

And yeah just normal busy work week really!

@ProfessorplumBilliardroomCandlestick Ah congratulations to you both! What dpo are you? Hope you are feeling okay! xx

@strawberrylaces12 thank you! Mostly I'm in denial. Clinic wants me to test again on Sunday to confirm before they book me in for a super early viability scan, so I'm trying to hold off on major excitement before then! I'm 12dpo this morning.

@Twomumfamily Thanks also! Feeling pretty good at the moment. DPO can get confusing, so my cycle timeline is this:

Peak fertility Clear Blue Digital CD11 (Wed 1930)
IUI procedure CD13/1dpo (Fri 1200) - confirmed ruptured follicle
Negative Boots cheapie CD21/9dpo (Sat 0500)
Extremely faint line Boots cheapie CD23/11dpo (Mon 0500)
Positive Clear Blue Digital and faint but visible line Boots cheapie CD24/12dpo (Tues 0730)
Official testing date CD29/17dpo (Sun AM)

I've been having 24/25 day cycles since late November, since I've been taking Proceive, so I think that's why I've had a positive test today, fairly early - I'd be due my period on Wed/Thurs this week so I've only tested two/three days before missed period.

Please send "sticky vibes", as they say!

@ProfessorplumBilliardroomCandlestick Amazing! Keeping everything crossed for you and sending you those sticky vibes haha :) x

Update from me: we are repeating some bloods today as my partner's amh seems to have decreased massively in less than 1 year, so getting a second round of testing just to be sure. Then have our NHS appt (hopefully) Thursday and then will decide what route to take on IVF. Feeling a little depleted today with all this waiting, but I guess this is a process you cannot rush :')

@ProfessorplumBilliardroomCandlestick Fingers crossed for Sunday testing and it sticking 🤞🥰

@solanks ah sorry to hear about the levels declining, although I assume there's still a decent chance? Hopefully the retesting goes well. Exciting about your appointment on Thursday, how are you feeling about it?😊completely emphasise with the depleted feeling but yes as you say we can't rush anything. Doesn't make it any easier though does it?? 😂

@strawberrylaces12 Yeah! Thankfully the levels aren’t anything of concern and are still classed as ‘normal’ for her age. It was just scary how much it dropped! Though we did read and get told that this may be due to timing of the test. We shall see!

Think the thing that upset us most about the news is that it meant we did not fit the criteria for another clinic we stumbled across recently (it was nice have another 1-2 options for clinics should we not get far with the nhs funded route).

Really looking forward to formulating a plan this week and getting things moving!

How are you feeling during this tww and in general? Hope those pessaries are behaving themselves and not giving you too much gyp! :-P x

Aww well that sounds positive then. Although I appreciate not ideal/very relaxing to see them drop.

I hope that you will meet the criteria or that the retesting helps if not!

Definitely feel more impatient so far than last month 😅 the progesterone is definitely causing bloating and cramping, and making me more tired. But all manageable things thankfully, the impatience on the other hand not so much!

@strawberrylaces12 That’s good that they are manageable and not causing too much discomfort 😊 My partner had to stop taking hers after the first/second day as she was suffering bad!

Ah, yep, the wait is so difficult and a real tester of patience. Hope the rest of the wait flies by for you 💫

Funnily enough, March has actually come around quite quick for us… roll on Thursday 3pm! Praying that the appt goes well and that the wait isn’t too long for treatment if we are eligible🤞🏽We also have a consult tomorrow at a private clinic so that we can review all options at the end of the day.

Congratulations @ProfessorplumBilliardroomCandlestick !! Hopefully next steps all go smoothly for you.

hoping for a good appointment for you on Thursday @solanks i know what you mean re the waiting!

Hope your doing ok @strawberrylaces12 and first stage of FET is going ok @Twomumfamily !

@solanks oh gosh that's horrible. The cramps seem to be a bit better today thankfully. I went for my progesterone blood test today, it was such a faff trying to fit it around my work day as I had to go to the hospital to have it taken. Feel like I've been rushing around so much for work recently, so although time has been passing a bit faster, I'm just hoping that stress/being busy doesn't have negative effects on fertility stuff.

You'll have had your appointments now, I hope they went well? 😊

@Quickdraw23 Thank you! 😊

@ProfessorplumBilliardroomCandlestick hoping things are good with you and sending lots of positive vines!

@solanks how did the appointment go?

@strawberrylaces12 how goes the TWW? Cramps still acting up?

Thanks for the well wishes @Quickdraw23 ! So far my immune system seems to have taken a nosedive so I have my first cold since forever. Currently using the totally blocked nose to my advantage against my sensitivity to smell/nausea 🤣

I wanted to ask you all something directly... I'm conscious that this thread is in the Infertility board and I'm wondering whether it is appropriate for me to post updates, if this embryo sticks around for an actual pregnancy. I don't want anyone to feel like I'm "showing off" if this continues to go well. Please do reply here (or PM me) if you'd rather I stepped out the thread and I promise I won't take it personally ❤️

Hi, hope everyone is having a lovely Saturday! ✨

As you know, my partner and I had two appts last week (one private and one nhs). The nhs one was unfortunately a total waste of time - it quite literally was a tick boxing exercise and they quickly ruled out referral for us as we did not meet the criteria. We sorta knew that we may potentially not be eligible in terms of the amount of IUIs required to get referred, but what annoyed and upset me the most was the lack of care and advice as we are confident we met other areas of criteria, but the consultant was so unhelpful and very dismissive. I don't plan on investing lots of my time and energy doing this, but after that experience, I have decided to continue my open complaint with our ICB for further clarity. Even if it doesn't help us right now, it may hopefully help others in the future.

Anywho, in contrast, our private consult went really well and we plan to move forward with IVF in the next month or so (all being well). This is where I plan to devote all of my energy and I pray for a good outcome for us! We are fortunate to have some savings to be able to fund this, but my goodness is it so expensive!

Hope everyone on here is getting on ok!

@strawberrylaces12 Thinking of you during your tww! Hopefully not much longer now x

@Twomumfamily Hope your back is better and the stims are going well! x

@Quickdraw23 Hope you are well. I wanted to ask if you would mind sharing how much your amh levels dropped as my partner had hers done last year in April, and again last week, and they dropped from 14.8 to 6.7. Both doctors have been a little perplexed by this and understandably, she's worrying a little! Hence why she's super keen to move onto IVF.

@ProfessorplumBilliardroomCandlestick Keeping everything crossed for you and your test tomorrow! I know this thread falls under 'infertility' but that's only because I couldn't find any others relevant for us SSC TTC! I would love for you to stay here and keep us all updated on your journey and share ongoing experiences and advice! Though I am sure (after time) you will also want to find a pregnancy-related thread too! :)

@ProfessorplumBilliardroomCandlestick cramps are still persistent as they have been since ovulation (slightly different feeling than ovulation pain, it's milder) I think from the progesterone. I had a bit of a down day yesterday almost preempting a negative outcome bit just got to wait and see at the end of next week!

100% would love for you to stay and update us. I definitely need good news too to keep me going 😂

@solanks so sorry to hear that the NHS consultation wasn't useful. But really hoping that going down the private route goes smoothly, do you know when things might start?

Thank you! The last few days have gone by quire quickly but I imagine mid week next week will drag. I guess at least if it's a negative outcome we hopefully have a plan in place for a medicated cycle so I would be going to scans earlier on in the cycle so it makes the first half of the cycle less of just waiting around and actively sort of doing something, idk!

@strawberrylaces12 I agree too! I want to hear these success stories and the ongoing journeys towards parenthood ✨Gives me hope and strength too!

Sorry to hear you had a bit of a down day yesterday - I hope you're feeling a little better today? How are you dealing with the cramps? Are you riding them out or taking any pain relief? Hope they ease up soon. Sending you lots of positive vibes for the rest of your tww!

We are hoping to start on her next cycle but there are some bits to sort ahead of time (bloods, consults, etc) and most importantly... need to figure out what the best way of paying for this is. I know there are some fertility finance options out there, so going through them all atm 🕵

@solanks yeah I'm still feeling quite anxious but less so and less down thankfully. Probably helps that it's the weekend and I managed to have a bit of a lie in this morning and have nice plans😊the cramps I've had since ovulation are a bit like mild period pain so I'm just putting up with them and on and off forget about them. Tbh I don't tend to take painkillers unless I'm in quite a bit of pain/discomfort, like most periods I don't take painkillers unless it's bad. Thank you!

Ooh that's exciting then! Yeah the finance side of things is hard. It's so unfair that we have to pay. I think if we do end up having 6 unsuccessful IUI attempts then we would get one IVF funded but if we needed more then blimey it's expensive isn't it! I know we're very privileged to be able to afford it but even then it feels like a lot. I really hope the Government actually do make things fairer but I don't hold out much hope!

@solanks and @strawberrylaces12 thanks for your thoughts on my being here. All points noted ☺️

@solanks sorry about your box ticking meeting. Sounds disappointing. That's exciting news about IVF maybe super soon! Did the clinic give a good indication of how long all the admin will take?

@strawberrylaces12 The postcode lottery hit us really hard tbh! According to the consultant we saw we need 12 IUIs to be referred, but some parts of our ICB's website it says 6, so it's not very clear. My partner and I really didn't want to have to do IVF, but financially it makes the most sense now. Just hoping she gets on alright with the stims!

Ah that's good that you are able to power through the cramps. I have to take pain relief every period as my pains are awful lol.

Hope you have another nice lay-in planned tomorrow and have a lovely Sunday whatever you're up to :) x