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 ✨

@solanks yeah I've got such a range of sizes: 18mm, 16mm, 14mm, 13mm and 12mm (I think they were) and my lining is 8.2 so they're happy. So they said as some of the follicles are smaller that's okay if they had all been bigger they'd have cancelled. They'll be doing the trigger shot tomorrow to give the larger two a bit more time to grow as the sperm can live a few days anyway. I'll do one more injection of gonal tonight to help those bigger two they recommended.

I think ideally IUI would have been on Sunday (they're closed on Sundays) but they said waiting until Monday is probably too late. I've had ewcm this morning so pretty sure I'll peak tonight or tomorrow if previous cycles are anything to go by. Had flashing smileys on my clear blue tests the last few days and the line on the one at the clinic shows I'm pretty close to peak. It's all such educated guess work isn't it 😅

@strawberrylaces12 I'm so pleased for you! Going ahead soon with a follicle already at 18mm sounds like such good odds. Keeping my fingers crossed for you going well tomorrow. How exciting ☺️

Great updates everyone! Got everything crossed for you all!

my update is that my cmv test came back negative, which meant a whole lot of thinking about our donor. Based on everything I’ve read I don’t think there is a real risk of catching cmv from donor sperm via ivf, but it did prompt us to look again at the donor and what we wanted to be able to give to a potential child information wise when the time comes. We found a cmv negative donor who we felt was a slightly better match for us personality wise, based on his later and interview, so we decided to swap. So that’s what I’ve be doing over the last week. Once we’ve sorted our finances I’m hoping to get going.

@Quickdraw23 that's a lovely update! I can't remember if you're ordering from your clinic's bank or from a external one - do you have to wait for it to arrive etc? I watched our "sperm plane" on flight radar the night it travelled from Denmark 🤣

Thanks @ProfessorplumBilliardroomCandlestick 😊

we’re ordering from an external one, I have stored it for now as we’re still getting organised around a start date and payment.

I’m feeling a weird mix of anxiety, nervous and excitement. I’m so worried about it failing again. I’m doing another round of ivf with my own eggs, because reciprocal is so much more expensive and an administrative nuisance, but I am scared that my eggs aren’t very good (thought the doctor thinks it’s probably been bad luck as I’m only 34). I keep worrying that it’s selfish of me to try again 😞 but my partner and family were all hoping I would so it’s not coming from them.

i think I just have to go into it ready to accept the outcome, whatever it may be.

Thank you! I had my static smiley this morning and had my IUI, now home and relaxing 😊they often struggle to find my cervix as it 'likes to hide' so it's painful for a bit but then completely fine afterwards, even though I know it's short term pain I always feel so nervous before haha. But all done and now the waiting begins again! They've also upped my progesterone pessaries to twice a day due to some new ish guidance that's been out. So I'll be setting the alarm early some days and probably will have more cramping, but all worth it if we have a positive outcome.

Got a nice relaxed weekend with only a couple of chilled plans in thankfully!

@strawberrylaces12 glad to hear you had your static smiley the same day, that's great timing. I know what you mean about pain then fine after - I had a similar situation. Fingers crossed your cramps stay manageable and the pessaries help everything stick!

@Quickdraw23 ah that makes sense. Shipping is quite quick anyway so that's very sensible. Are you taking any conception supplements? I know they can take a couple of months to improve egg health if needed 🤔

@ProfessorplumBilliardroomCandlestick thank you! As I'm on double the amount of progesterone now (I was only on 200mg once a day before) I've noticed more cramping and sore boobs since Sunday/yesterday so I guess that'll just be how things are for a bit. But even if it increases the chances by a tiny amount then it's worth it. I'm only a few days into the tww and already feeling so impatient 😅

How are things with you? 😊

@ProfessorplumBilliardroomCandlestick yes I’m taking pregnacare preconception ones, I can’t remember when I started them, maybe about 6 weeks ago. Before that I took an ordinary multivitamin each day, and I do eat pretty healthy most of the time. In the (near total) absence caffeine and alcohol I am finding it harder to resist cake and chocolate but have been trying to be very moderate about it. I read something about sugar being really unhelpful and it sent me into a bit of a spiral 🤦🏼

how are you feeling?

Hope you are doing ok @strawberrylaces12 ☺️

@Quickdraw23 ooh interesting about the sugar what did you find out about that? I don't have loads but do love my chocolate so have a bit each day. By not restricting it I find I don't then go overboard.

I'm doing okay thanks, side effects from the higher dose of progesterone are continuing: quite crampy on and off, sore boobs, constipation (sorry tmi). But I'm on leave today and of course it's the bank holiday coming up so a 5 day weekend, very appreciated!😍got some lovely plans in but all nice and relaxed plans with friends and family thankfully.

How are you? 😊

@strawberrylaces12 my sympathies for the cramping, and the constipation! I hope the long BH weekend helps the second week of TWW seem a bit faster too.

@Quickdraw23 interesting about sugar! I'm assuming it's to do with generally regulating your whole system so there's no big peaks and troughs?

I'm in full-on morning sickness territory now. We have our first scan coming up on Tuesday so I'm just holding out to see what I'm doing all this for. Hoping it's all okay in there. Slightly suspicious it might be twins.

@ProfessorplumBilliardroomCandlestick ah of course because you'll have high progesterone levels naturally due to pregnancy, right?

Thank you! Can't believe it's only been a week on Saturday, it's definitely dragging. I think this long weekend will help. Then it'll be getting through the working week next week that I think will be tough. I think I mentioned before but a couple of/few days after we find out the outcome we'll be off on a nice trip to London for our wedding anniversary so I guess whatever the outcome that will be nice to have!

Ooh so exciting that it's not long until the scan!! I hope it goes well. If it's twins I assume they'd be identical, was it the one follicle that you had? Any twins in the family? 😊

@strawberrylaces12 yes I think it's the progesterone. I was doing so well and i thought the change in supplement was doing me good, but I've had some trouble recently 😬so here we go again!

There are some twins in my family but none very close (grandfather's brothers, and two sets of cousin's kids). Yes just the one big follicle so it's a low chance... but still. We shall see!

@ProfessorplumBilliardroomCandlestick and I guess the hcg too!

In terms of vitamins? I hope that settles soon and they're okay.

Ooh okay so definitely in the family then so it's possible. Would you like twins? Assuming everything was healthy I think I would, we've always wanted at least 2 children if we can so yeah. Obviously it would be extra work but still 😂

@strawberrylaces12 twins would take away any decision making needed for future children/pregnancy attempts (I don't want more than 2, ideally... And I'm not loving pregnancy so I'm leaning towards 1!) so there'd be an advantage there... but careful what you wish for and all that. Going from 0 to 2 babies would be baptism by fire, that's for sure. Talk about "buy one get one free" though 🤣 I wouldn't mind having an explanation for my intense and early symptoms but I think it's unlikely. Can't shake it! We'll find out soon!

I’ve had a bit more of a read around and it looks like the sugar thing is based on some evidence that excess sugar can interfere with hormone levels in women, the effects of high sugar diet (ie diabetes) can affect fertility and some research that men who drink sugary fizzy drinks can have lower quality sperm. So it’s all a bit patchy.

i think moderation is very much the way to go. You can get obsessed with all things you should/shouldn’t do, I’m trying not to go down that route.

Hope the scan goes well @ProfessorplumBilliardroomCandlestick ! Twins would be very intense 😂

No twins for us, just the one healthy little baby 🥳 We saw a heartbeat and everything, which was very exciting. So now the clinic has discharged me to normal GP care and the next step is my midwife appointment next week. Still very surreal

@ProfessorplumBilliardroomCandlestick Can't imagine how amazing seeing that would have been! Wishing you all the best with the transfer to your GP and your upcoming midwife appt :) xx

@ProfessorplumBilliardroomCandlestick Just read through the rest of the comments... imagine twins lol! They do say the risk is higher in some cases and I think twins runs in our donor family (though we have only ordered one baby for now haha).

Hope everyone else is getting on ok. Thinking of you all ✨We're officially on our next journey now and will do my best to keep in touch on here. Why do I feel that this month is going to go oh so very slow aha :')

@ProfessorplumBilliardroomCandlestick oh my gosh how exciting!! Congratulations! 😍

@solanks ooh exciting! How are you feeling?

I'm still very much in the tww, about 10dpo now I think. I had some awful cramping yesterday evening (like quite painful for a bit) so may be pms, at least the pain has eased off. But equally I've had cramping on and off since starting the progesterone. It's just kept feeling like my period is due for a while. My boobs continue to be bigger than normal since being on the double dose of progesterone too... oh the joys of all of this 😂

My sympathies for your symptoms. It's so hard that PMS and early pregnancy can be so similar! I still have cramps! I'm keeping everything crossed for you that these are positive signs for you. Are you testing at the weekend?

This is very exciting news. I hope everything goes well for you and I'll look out for updates! Wishing you all good things 🍀

Hello. User name change (originally IVFFirsttimer7) as I managed to log myself out previously and cannot get my old name back! Just a little update, we are now 33 weeks pregnant, due 18th May. Just awaiting a date for the C section which is likely to be a week before. It’s been a whirlwind of being anxious then relieved, then anxious for the next scan etc but all is well so far. Still feels crazy to think a baby will be here in 6 weeks

Congratulations to those who are pregnant, wonderful news and I wish the rest of you all the luck for any upcoming IVF/IUI.

Wishing you all the best @Mumplus01 🥰 You and your partner must both be so very excited!!