Trying to Conceive with IUI #3

Hi Everyone, :hello:

This is my first post so I apologise in advance if I seem clueless......

Husband and I had our 2nd IUI Saturday 30th August. We are now in the 2WW which really does not phase me...... until the dreaded blood test! :(I almost had a nervous breakdown the day I was waiting for the results of my first IUI. I am saying my prayers that this time is the charm:pray: and trying not to think about "D" day.

I don't know anyone else who has had an IUI so I guess I wanted to talk to some people who can relate to me. I also wanted to know if anyone else was advised to undergo IUI's even if Endo had not been eliminated. I have had every test under the sun EXCEPT a laparoscopy and I am confused...... I just don't understand why the doc would advise IUI's if Endo has not been ruled out. I have been told I have some symptoms which indicate Endo. I have also been told by my FS that if I do have endo, the IUI's are basically a waste of time. :dunno:

I would really appreciate hearing from anyone else who has also had IUIs without eliminating Endo first. Also, has anyone had a successful IUI with Endo??

No you're not the only one - I'm also in here and also doing IUI. We're in the two weeks waiting period of our third round. I can't see how it's worked though. There are absolutely no symptoms of any kind, including swollen boobs being totally absent.

But as with every cycle, we learned something new this month: I've always know I have an iron deficiency (something to do with a whacky form of arthritis I have). So I got back onto an iron supplement this month, and added a B6 supplement into my vitamin regime too. Instead of registering a crappy 6.9 endometrium on ovulation day, I had a lovely 8.1. And instead of a 24 progestoerone reading on day 21, I had 32!

I can only attribute these changes to the extra iron, folate and B6 I've taken in the past month. I recommend both these vitamins highly to anyone who'd like to try. But as with anything - do your own research first. You need all the facts to decide what's best for you.
:-)
P.

Hello!
This is my first time on this site, and reading through some of the stories I'd thought I could share mine.
At this present moment in time, my husband and I are waiting to take a pregnancy test next week. We have been ttc for approx 4yrs now, and only in the last 18mths have looked into why it wasn't happening. I have suffered from irregular periods since I was 16, and never looked into it. Until about a year ago when I was diagnosed with PCOS. And also not to help things, my husband's sperm count was quite low and of those that were there, they were a mixture of good, slow and abnormal... talk about a good match up!!! Anyway, I was put on Metformin to try and assist things, but the FS I was seeing then, had me straight on the maximum dose. I ended up 'overdosing' on it and ended up with a severe side effect known as Lactic Acidosis. I knew something was wrong, but the FS didn't believe me, so along with a wonderful invention called "Google" and with help from my GP, we worked out that I had Lactic Acidosis. So forward to December last year we saw a new FS and she is absolutely wonderful. Very caring and understanding. She didn't want to put me on Metformin so I went to Clomid. 5 rounds of this and no increase or result anywhere - except in June this year I ended up in hospital with a Left Ovary torsion - or 'twisted ovary' - 7 times twisted. I was extremely lucky to not loose the left ovary and fallopian tube - thanks to some quick thinking from my husband and an awesome team at the hospital. After a 3mth break to let my body recover, my FS directed us to her Fertility Clinic, where we were to start an IUI round. This required me to do daily FSH injections - Purgeon. The first 2 days I couldn't inject' myself, so I had hubby do this, but quickly learnt to do myself as the 2nd day he moved the needle on the way out and it hurt like hell!!! I was monitered with a couple of scan to check how many folicles I was producing and in the end I had 1 rather large folicle. I was given a 'trigger' to make sure I ovulated and I was inseminated. That was 9 days ago now. I had a progesterone level blood test done yesterday and it came back at 52? Our nurse said that with this type of treatment they like to see over 20.... But I'm now thinking....waiting....thinking more..... Does this mean with such a high level I may be pregnant? Or is it just a good result to the treatment and I'm not pregnant.... oh I don't know. I have to have a preg test next week but the waiting is killing me!!!!! But like my hubby keeps kindly reminding me... 'good things always come to those who wait!".
I hope this may have helped someone else going through the same thing! To everyone out there ttc - I wish you all the very best - keeping everything crossed for you!!!! :D

Hi sunnycoastgirl,

I have followed this thread for a bit but did not post cause it looked like no one was in the IUI boat anymore. But Im glad you are here - and have given me the strength to join.

Hubby and I have been ttc for 2.5 years now, and also on our first IUI cycle. Went through the daily injections also, hubbys job though I couldnt do it myself. Developed 2 identical follicals, and had the trigger shot after so much abdominal pain. Had the IUI, about 11 days ago now, followed up with the hcg injections every 3 days. And now, due for pregnancy test tomorrow....! I am soo nervous - I cant think of anything else!! I dont feel overly positive about it, and the hcg injections have supposed to be making me feel pregnant so any sympton I get I have to right it off.

In regards to your progesterone question - I had the same thought myself as the nurse told me 'my results were very high'. I hope it does mean we are in with a better chance - we can only be positive though as your husband is - it is very good advice.

Good luck for next week, make sure you keep me posted. Are you also on the hcg injections? Do you have any symptons?

We've had our fourth IUI today. We have our fingers and toes crossed for this one. We had two fabulous fat folicles - one either side, so we're hoping at least one of them takes off. Back to the Pregnyl shots. Snore!

:-)
OP.

Yay - good luck originalP. I hope this one is it for you!!!

I have just started my second IUI cycle, on my 3rd day of the FSH shots. I am finding things a bit harded 2nd time round. I feel like the first cycle I have years to prepare for (2.5 yrs of trying!!) and this cycle only a couple of days. I feel really run down, pysichally and emotionally tired - did you experience this with the FSH shots? Do you have any tips on how to cope a little better.

I have my fingers crossed for you that this IUI is the one for you

I think the whole process is very draining. My naturopath put it very succinctly : it's a frightening and lonely process. Especially if you're going through treatments back to back. We do one month on and one month off with the Fertility Dept of RHW - they will work with us for a year, so if we have to use the whole year I suspect I will need a whopper of a holiday at the end of it.

I found the month with no FSH injections was AWFUL. I was very depressed and very flat. It was really hard to find joy in anything - and I pretty much didn't. We still did the Pregnyl injections, and I asked to come off them early when it was clear there'd been no fertilisation. I just needed a chance to straighten up. I'm glad I did that because I was back on track in no time.

That being said, I also take a supplement called Neuro Calm by Metagenics. It helps with seratonin production, which is the chemical that makes you feel good. If you can get your hands on some, I recommend it as a good support.

Other than that - be extra kind to yourself. Eat well, take your vitamins, and get at least 9hrs sleep a night. You don't need life to run you down while you go through this.

Take good care.
:-)
OriginalP.

Thanks originalP - it helps to know that someone understands...

Draining is the best way to describe it - i feel totally run down to the ground and also very alone. I am thinking one month on then one month off is the better way to do this, but I keep hoping that every month is my last.... And after trying for so long, I feel one month off is wasting time (patience is not my virtue).

Thanks for your tips - I will look into Neuro Calm as suggested. This will not affect any other medications such as the fsh or the pregnl? Is it herbal like St Johns Wart?? You mentioned that you stop the pregnl when you are sure implanation has not occured - how can you be sure? Does you clinic have a way of testing this before your pregnancy test is due?

How are you going sunnycoastgirl? Im sorry if you have updated in another section and am making you repeat yourself....Im finding it hard to keep up with the other ttc thread with so much activity!!

It takes five days to establish a pregnancy, so if you're fretting from days 14 to 21, just let yourself off the hook. Nothing detectable will be happening before then. On day 21 you do a progesterone test, and this is when you start to get an idea of what's happening. Under 40 - you can assume there's been no fertilisation.

There's two hormones you need an abundance of to confirm a pregnancy: one is progesterone and the other is HCG. The gestational range for pregesterone is 37-205 (or thereabouts). At the same time you need an HCG level of about 400. If you don't have either of those, there is no pregancy. I view the progesterone reading as the key: an egg needs loads of progesterone to feed itself and to thicken the endometrium. A good egg will do all this for itself, and that's when you're more likely to get across the line.

With both progesterone and HCG, they need to increase exponentially on a daily basis during the first trimester. They both go up to the 1000s! So reading like P-32 and HCG-52 are pretty much a no-go.

Hope that helps - and BTW - when I said one month on/one month off, I meant with the FSH injections. Our clinic gives us a break from FSH every second month, as they don't think it's good for you. Me neither - two lead folicles and six minor ones were very sore after trigger!

:-)
OP.

thanks OP - you are certainly a wealth of knowledge!! I have learnt so much.

When do you go for day 21 blood test? I am off for 1st scan of the this cycle tomorrow to see how the fsh shots are helping things along.

We check progesterone on Saturday. We'll have an idea then.

Good luck tomorrow - here's hoping for 2-3 nice fat follicles.

:-)
P.

good luck for your progesterone test on sat - i hope you get some great results.

I went for bloods and ultrasound to see how the follicles are growing. They are coming along, but a couple more days now. The nurse suggested after this cycle, if it fails, to go straight to an IVF cycle. That way i would have a better chance, hopefully only have to do it once, and will reap the most benefits out of the safety net. I am a bit thrown back but this - mentally I did not want to consider the IVF channel until the new year.

How do you sit with this OP? How many iuis are you planning before you consider ivf?

Hi There,

We have a total of 11 donor IUI attempts available to us. We understand it take 4-6 attempts to get pregnant via this method and we're only on our fourther try, so we're not too worried yet.

We have already done IVF ICSI. It was heart breaking. We had four blastocycsts, two of which did not survive the thawing process. The two we did have transferred also died. It is awful to look at an embryo on a screen (they show it to you before they draw it up the catheter), see that it's alive and even hatching, have it transferred to your body, only to find, eight days later, it is dead. The emotional impact of that is severe.

If IUI doesn't work out for us, we'll go back to IVF. I think we are better equipped now. But the process, including the finanical management really brought us to our knees. We nearly lost our marriage over it. And when you consider the success rate for IVF is 3/10, it's a pretty poor success rate. The only way around it is by increasing the numbers. With each round costing $8,000, you have to take your hat off to people who give it multiple goes.

You have to make your own choices, but I would suggest having at least four IUIs is giving the process a fair chance to work.

:-)
P.

Op,

That sounds awful - like it really put you through the ringer. This is exactly what I am scared of - going through the whole process, which admittedly sounds harder to handle that iui, and then having to deal with a bfn at the end. The bfn at the end of iui was crushing enough - I have barely pulled myself up from that one. But you know what they say, nothing ventured nothing gained. We have to do what we have to do hey....

Are you feeling any symptons? Good luck for your prog tomorrow. I am still on daily fsh, daily bloods and ultrasounds. They think it will be sunday or monday for the procedure. Thanks goodness, the fsh shots are making me very loopy and dopey!!!

Progesterone 56. We're in the game.

How'd your scan go, Diamond Girl?

What does BFN mean?

:-)
P.

thats great Op .... you are one step closer now.

Scan went ok - Im coming along but slowly. It feels like I have had these daily blood tests forever now!!

Just as i was typing this, the clinic called and advised my insemination is tomorrow. Just had the trigger shot (ouch!!!). Thank goodness, i am so over these hormorne shots and the daily running to the clinic.

So when is your blood test OP? Oh a BFN = Big Fat Negative, as opposed to the Big fat positive we are working towards.

When is my blood test!!?? Diamondgirl, you of all people should get the humour in that! For girls like us, when do the blood tests stop is a better question. :p

Oddly, I thought BFN meant big fat no, so I wasn't far off!!

We shall see what happens at the clinic tomorrow. I suspect they will want to monitor. We have a Pregnyl shot every second day this week, so no doubt they'll collapse my veins again taking bloods at the same time. We've been here once before and didn't get across the line. So we're just focusing on keeping the feeling daily.

How are your veins holding up? Daily bloods have got to suck. Luckily for me I ovulate so reliably they don't make me do that.

Re the injections - try to tune out to the sensation. Remember - if you think this is bad, child birth will be worse! :-)

P.

Diamond girl!

Forgot to say good luck, good luck, good luck! For your treatment today.

:-)
P.

PS - apparently having a full bladder helps. :-)

he he - im a bimbo!! I didnt mean blood test, I meant preganancy test. God knows I am so over the blood tests. yes they have stopped now, after like 9 days straight. I had the insemination yesterday, all went well this time. Thanks for thinking of me. It was over really quickly - had a small amount of blood afterwards though (not sure what this means). Count down now on for the progesterone test, and then of course the pregnancy test...
I tell myself the same thing, when going through pain, that childbirth will be a whole lot worse.

So you are on the pregnal every 2nd day? Me, every 3rd. Which clinic are you through again - is it SIVF? I am with IVFA, and am wondering the differences as SIVF is more expensive. How are you holding up with the drugs? Do they knock you around a bit? My veins are breathing a sigh of relief right now and thankfully on the mend - I was starting to look like a junkie and getting embarrassed everytime my arms were exposed.
How did it go at the clinic yesterday?

Hi Diamond!

Congrats on another IUI. Interesting that you're at an IVF clinic - of course they're going to push you to IVF quickly. It's a commercial decision for them. We were with IVFA last year - we felt we only had to sneeze and they had their hand out. :-(

Don't worry about that little bleed. It just means they scratched the cervix. NO BIGGIE!

Our clinic vist did not include bloods yesterday - although I think they should have done another prog check. I will ask for one tomorrow as I think this is a no go and if that's the case I want to stop the Pregnyl ASAP so as to end the cycle as close to 28 days as poss. I find the more Pregnyl, the later the period, even if the PG test is negative.

Our clinic is the Fertility Dept at RHW. We are treated by midwives and they are so brilliant. We feel really lucky to be working with them.

For the next few days try to visualise cells dividing. Otherwise put it out of your mind until Friday!

:-)
P.

PS - Totally understand the embarssment of punctured arms. I've got the same problem. People I work with don't know what I'm doing, and I don't want them asking. So far so good.

Thanks OP for your thoughts. I didnt consider that the ivf option for the clinic is a better move for them - it helps to have another point of view. Hubby and I spoke again about it last night and he is not very keen, prefers to stay with the iui for a bit longer. But hopefully we wont need to make that choice.

You sound like you are not feeling very positive at this point - try to stay positive ok and remember its not over till its over. Remember that preg symptons can be really hard to detect, especially with that awful pregnl. Request to prog test, and hopefully this will ease you mind with a very positive result today. Let me know how you go.

As for me, not much going on. Just waiting for my first shot which is tomorrow, and then prog test at the end of the week. Waiting waiting waiting....

Hi Diamond!

If you are considering IVF in the future, corrale your finances now. You need $5,500 just to get in the door. And then you need $1,100 for every transfer after that. You do get up to 80% back from Medicare but it takes time. For example, if your treatment started on Oct 1, you pay $3,800 immediately (inc ICSI). You'd then do your surgery - another $1,500, much of which ISN'T refunded by Medicare, then if all goes well, your first transfer is included (although you pay $100 for day surgery which is a total crock if you ask me). IVFA will only give you the final invoice at the END of your cycle (ie approx Oct 28) and then you can go to Medicare. Oh - and surprise blastocyst development will cost a further $600. We had this too.

If, like us, you couldn't do your transfer straight away, you may end up waiting an additional two weeks, plus the two weeks wait - so it would be 8wks before you got a cent back. By then, if you need another round, you need $1,100 to get in the door. Plus, you'll pay $90 to have the specialist tell you the treatment didn't work, and another $32 if your husband sits in the chair next to you!

Sheesh! They make a packet. But we know for certain IVFA is less than IVFS. And they are extremely good (albeit lacking in bedside manner).

Not sure what your costs are for IUI with IVFA. But the above gives you an idea. And of course that monthly $1,100 cost (plus the $122 specialist fee) depends on how many viable embryos you produced. My friends had 5, so they paid an additional $5,500 on top of the original $5,500.

Sigh!

P.

BTW - prog is 46.2 today. It's still in the gestational range, but it should be increasing, not reducing. Scientist says keep going. I kind of wanted to come off the pregnyl. BUT : lots of symptoms - headaches, bad taste in my mouth, sore boobs, low grade cramping, and nausea. So who knows.

:-D
P.

Hi OP,

keep staying positive, all your symptons are an excellant sign. i know you wanted to get off the drugs, but not long left now.... Your prog level hasnt decreased too much - dont read into it, it could mean nothing at all.. If the scientest says to keep going, then they must still believe you are in with a shot. I am hoping you will get your big fat positive (BFP ;)) this cycle...

The ivf cycle sounds like an incredible financial burden. And to ask this of us right before xmas is awful. Hubby is not keen - but I am soooo impatient to be pregnant I am willing to do anything if thats what it takes (Im sure you know how I feel). IUI with ivfa is $1250 (was like $900 but has gone up). Same deal, pay upfront, wait for procedure to be done before I get the invoice to take to medicare with the 80% rebate (still waiting for this cycles invoice). How much is iui with RWH? Oh, and what is this about charging for your hubby to sit beside you? Sounds like a major rip to me???

So what next for you OP? Another prog test soon?

Hi Diamond!

We seem to be having daily updates this week, don't we? Did you see this article today:

Freezing Eggs | Fertility | IVF | Essential Baby Conception Australia

I feel stupified to think that career women are so ignorant as to believe they should put off pregnancy to further their careers. What I have learned is that the older you get, the less you can control your fertility. Women spend most of their lives avoiding pregnancy, and they commonly believe once they decide to embrace it, it will just happen.

In my case, I never expected male infertility to thwart my intentions. I started looking for my husband when I was 31. I found him when I was just about to turn 37. Now we are 40. We only conceded this year that he is sterile. We lost so much time in the name of preserving his delicate male ego, my eggs are now ragged with age, and we have only a 5% chance of attaining a pregnancy with the help of a donor.

I do think the media is convinced women CHOOSE to put off starting a family. In my case, I dated over 250 men to find one good one. There simply aren't enough good men to meet the needs of all the good women who want to procreate. Instead of harping on about women putting off motherhood, maybe the media should start a concerted campaign to train men how to be good marriage prospects and good father potential?

:-)
P.

My husband and I were talking about that $32 rip off last night. We had to meet with our specialist at the beginning of each cycle. It's essentially a strategy meeting, but for us there was nothing to strategise about. I ovulate with no difficulty, so all he could say to us was: "The last cycle didn't work. We'll do another cycle." He charged me $90 for this wisdom, and $32 for my husband to sit next to me and listen. We got $62.50 back from Medicare for me and $32 for my husband. But that specialist basically got $32 for letting my husband in the room. And yet by that stage, my husband's contribution was history .

In any case, another Pregnyl shot for me tomorrow. I'm going to ask for a pregnancy test on Monday when the next Pregnyl shot is due. If there's no pregnancy the period won't come while I'm on Pregnyl, so there has to be a point when they decide to knock it off.

The thing that makes me believe there is no pregnancy is that progesterone really has to double daily to prove a pregnancy. Same with Hcg. This isn't happening. That being said, I know people who have had negative pregnancy tests right up until their 5th month! So who knows...

:-)
P.

Hi OP,

Yes we are on daily messages. And to be honest, i am enjoying having someone to share my experience with. For so long now I have felt totally alone with my fears, thoughts and obsessions that this ttc business brings. And i don't feel like I fit in with the other LTTTC thread, as i do not understand the IVf lingo or even procedure yet. It really helps to have someone who is going through the same process. And I have learnt so much from you :)

Yes - I too read this article a few days ago. I think it almost unbelievable to think women are put their careers first. Surely a career will always be available right through to our 60's. Unfortunately not the same can be said about our fertility. I really feel for woman such as yourself, who hav always dreamed of being a mum, but life has taken them on a different path. And now the pressure of the ticking clock... A 5% chance is still a positive, that is still a great deal of hope for you.

I also read this article on a yahoo page:
Crim checks for IVF couples 'abhorrent' - Yahoo!7 News
This absolutely infuriated me....
How are IVF parents more inclined to criminal activity as compared to non IVF parents? I completely agree with Prof Illingwirth's comment - ' this will only stigmatise IVF couples even further'. And check out the comment from srcourtney. This really had me going, my blood boiled for some time. Then i realised this person is obviously a total moron, and further comment will only upset me more. But what a terrible opinion the wider world has on IVF and IVF couples. And i agree this is due to the medias portrayal. i am 27, young in terms of IVF patients, but I am on the program for other issues, not age related. And I am not an exception, there are many others out there on IVF for endo, PCOS, unexplained, and many many other medical conditions where infertility is a part of the problem. i resent the sentiment 'that ivf is for those who have put their career first, and therefore deserve infertility' - how completely ignorant. Phew - better get off my soap box I am getting all revved up.

Thats incredible to charge for hubby to be there. incredibly insensitive. Im sorry your prog levels havent increased as you planned, but it is far too early days. Try not to talk yourself into a negative - as I have done many times. Hang in there until monday and hopefully you will have you bfp then. I am having my 1st pregnl shot for the month tonight - not looking forward to it. The things we have to do hey...

I tell you what, Diamond, I sure would like these whacky symptoms to add up to a BFP. Today the water from the cooler at work tastes like hospital disinfectant! Nobody else shares my opinion. :-D I would love THAT to mean something.

LTTTC people grasp at anything tho - I try so hard not to, but I can't help it. This month we had our IUI with the third midwife in our clinic. We kept saying to her "Maybe you've got the magic touch!"... We grasp at straws at times.

I don't really remember your back story. Could you remind me? Ours is simple: TTC 3yrs, male factor infertility, 1 IVF ICSI cycle, 2 failed xfers, and now our fourth IUI.

A couple of suggestions for you: include B6 and iron supplements in your vitamin regime. They have helped raise my prog levels in the past two months. I get Thompson's B6 from Go Vita, and the iron supplement in a little bottle with an orange cap from Priceline.

Good luck with your injection tonight! Tell them to plunge it slowly.

:-)
P.

Well that sounds promising indeed. I know we clutch at straws, but we have to hope for something hey. Every twitch, every pain, and i think ' is this my baby?' But I am hoping and praying that this is it for you Op.

My story? Well, ttc since april 06 now, just over 2.5 years. Diagnosed with mild endo, 2 lap surgerys to remove, last surgery that could not remove it because of the position. But only mild endo, tubes are not blocked, cycle VERY regular but extremelly painful.Huddys count is very good. Not one positive test the whole time, except for the one last month. So, Dr Lahood at IVFA says that whilst it could be unexplained infertility, it could also be the endo. Hence the IUI path...

Thanks for your suggestion. I started taking the Natures Own pregnancy multivitamin when we got a positive at the end of the last cycle (which didnt stick around). It has everything in it, inc B group and iron. They have really helped pick me up especially when on the fsh injections.

Here's what I take and why:

1 x Nourishing flora probiotic - promote colonic health
2 x Bioceuticals InNatal - Pregnancy formula inc 500iul folate
3 x EPA DHA Fish Oil 1000iul strength - cell formation
1 x Thorntons Kelp - thyroid function which is key to hormone production
1 x Bioceauticals Zinc Sustain - cell formation
1 x Iron & Folate - blood vitality
1 x Thompsons B6 - luteal support
1 x Go Vita in house CoQ10 - cardiac health
1 x 1000mg Cenovis Vitamin C - immune system booster
1 x Bioceuticals Lipoic Acid - liver cleanser to help hormone production

All of this was prescribed by my naturopath, plus tonics but I stopped getting stuff from her early this year because it was sending me broke. The extra iron and folate plus the lipoic acid are the keys. Not sure if you've looked at how hormones are produced, but basically the pituitary talks to the thyroid which talks to the ovaries and together they get the job done. So anything that supports correct function is a good idea.

On the endo front - my girlfriend from high school produced two healthy children with it. While conception is not easy, I really believe any challenge can be over come - just reading the stories on this site proves it. Remember - in nature it would take the average couple 6-12 months to conceive. So I believe at least 6mths IUI is the bare minimum before moving to another treatment.

The problem for LTTTC people is the psychological impact. 12mths of natural approach destroyed our intimate relationship and has left my husband with performance anxiety (not permanent I hope). Even if we were biologically capable, psychologically the game was up some time ago. And to keep going that way would have cost us our marriage.

In any case, the metallic taste in my mouth is growing stronger as the day wear's on. It's an encouraging symptom.

:-)
P.

Hiya Diamond! How'd you go with your shot last night?

Mine was a real stinger this morning. That's it for me til Monday - PG test on Monday and probably one more Pregnyl. Then we'll know what's happening.

Cheers,
P.

Hi There OP,

Well, the shot was awful!! They are a bit worse than the fsh ones hey? I was feeling great before it, and then immediately after huge cramping, itchy and sore at injection site (still is a little), gassy, then couldnt sleep cause of the cramps!! And I only just started feeling better after the fsh shots - and straight back into it. Well, as you say, it cant be worse than childbirth so I just have to put it up.

Yay - only one more left for you and then your preg test. I am so positive for you, your symptons sound very positive. Last month I got all the preg symptons except the metallic taste, and the clinic told me all the cramps etc were from the hcg shots. So, the fact that the metallic taste is strong is a great sign as the hcg can not replicate this.

Wow - that list must have sent you broke! Is that a daily list? Why do you take 2 x preg multi daily? And why do you add iron & folate on top? Is it possible to take too much?

yes i do feel that LTTTC has affected us. We ofter find ourselves refering to our 'romance time' as pre-ttc and then post ttc. The whole pressure of timing really took the romance out. IUI has actually helped that though - Im not sure why, maybe just knowing that we have some help. I find I am constantly trying to make sure that infertility does not drive a wedge between us - not easy. Everytime we fight, even about something unrelated, the first thing he says is 'no more ttc', which has now progressed to 'no more ivf'. But having said that, I do believe that it has actually helped us grow stronger. We have learnt more about each other, and faced this battle together. When we come out at the other side, with our baby in our arms, I hope this will translate into parenthood. That we will appreciate our miracle that much more...

Well keep in touch. I hope this weekend flys for you and you get your preg result in no time. Remember I am here if you need a chat to help pass the time :)

Pregnyl shots suck. My midwife put it in a very whacky spot today. I've had them hit my sciatic nerve a couple of times which causes shooting pains right down to the back of my knee.

The metallic taste has gone today. And if I get up the wrong way I get shocking cramps through my abdomen. I reserve judgement, but I've had this before and it wasn't good.

We do an FSH free cycle next month. I'm going to ask them to give the Pregnyl a break too. I'm sick to death of the needles. The Early Pregnancy Clinic is opposite the Fertility Clinic - they treat people who are bleeding or have miscarried. We find ourselves telling them what time the staff are in, turning the telly on for them and consoling them. Sheesh! We might as well get a job their as the receptionists!

I asked today if I could take the Pregnyl with me if I went on a holiday and they said yes - flight attendants do it all the time. So might get a weekend away in the next month. Man I need it!

:-)
P.

PG test this morning. Counting down til the results. We honestly don't know which way it's going to go. Won't be surprised by a negative. Will be floored by a postive. Stay tuned. ;-) P.

Hi Op,

Good luck today - i have been thinking of you. Do you know when they will give you the results?

Had my prog test today, results just came back at 64. So all good there... counting down now to my preg test. Absolutely no symptons. Have been very run down though and am getting some sort of flu or head cold.

Well I am thinking of you - cant wait to hear your results. Hopefully they will contact you soon and give you a BFP!!!

Hi Diamond!

64 is an excellent progesterone result! You are in the game!!!! Now lets see that keep going up!

The results for me are total BS. HCG 48, Prog 13 which is officially a positive, but to me this is a clear negative. You can't have an embryo if the progesterone is below 40. But the stupid scientist wants me to get another pregnyl shot and have another PG test on Wednesday. If HCG is double, then it's a postive. The chances of this happening are zip so I am totally against this course of action. I think it's a waste of resources and time, and will mean I end up with a 35 day cycle. I've had that before and it's utterly depressing.

Sigh.
P.

OP,

Dont despair! You have a positive. The Dr says it is a positive - so you can not deny that.

I was in the same shoes as you at the end of my 1st IUI cycle, however, my hcg was only 18 (dont know my prog results). The clinic told me, cause it was so low, that it probably would not progress and unfortunately they were right. But there are many others out there, here on BB, who have had a low hcg readings and then progressed onto healthy pregnancies. Stranger things have happened OP, and it could still happen for you.

I understand your despair though - I too felt this way after my 18 hcg reading and kind of just knew it wasnt to be. I understand what your going through (and I hope Im helping).

I spoke a bit with the nurse this morning about prog readings and what they mean etc. My mind is so muddled right now from this cold I am trying to remember the conversation. She said the hcg shot helps the body to produce prog, so clearly the reading will be higher than normal. Once your body comes off the hcg, the prog level will dip as you body naturally produces it. This may explain the drop in your levels. I hope this helps. Hang in there ok....

Here is some very good information about the role of hCG in confirming a pregnancy:

"hCG is produced by the trophoblast cells of the placenta. hCG production starts at an early stage of development, just a few days after conception, before implantation in the uterus. hCG enters the maternal circulation almost immediately after implantation of the embryo (blastocyst) on about day 21 of the menstrual cycle. hCG is approximately eighty times more potent than its sister hormone produced by the pituitary gland, lutenizing hormone (LH). The tiny amount of hCG that enters the maternal circulation on day 21 (<5 mIU/ml in serum or plasma, while too small to be detected by pregnancy tests, is sufficient to stimulate the corpus luteum of the ovary to produce progesterone. The concentration of hCG in the circulation then rises in an exponential manner, doubling approximately every two days. By day 28 (first day of missed menses) the median hCG level in serum, plasma or urine is about 100 mIU/ml. This should be detectable by all pregnancy tests. At this time, the extremes of normal levels are approximately 5 to 450 mIU/ml in serum or plasma samples. For this reason we suggest waiting 3 days, until day 31 (31 days since start of last period, or 3 days after missing a period) before having an hCG test. This way one can tell if one has a true pregnancy (clinical pregnancy). Circulating hCG concentration continues to increase exponentially (doubling about every 2 days). It reaches a peak at about 10 week of gestation (since last menstrual period). At which time the median hCG concentration in serum or plasma samples is around 60,000 mIU/ml. "

This site show the ranges of hCG for each week of pregnancy. Obviously the higher on the scale the more likely the pregnancy will proceed, the lower, it will drop out.

What is beta hCG?

Hi OP,

how are you feeling today? I hope a bit better.

The notes you have mentioned are consistent with your results right now. Unfortunately you are in a crappy limbo stage as not much more can be found out till your next test tomorrow. You just need to hang in there right now and try to be positive (easier said than done I know!)

The notes below do not mention much about prog readings though - and to be honest, the first I heard of this hormone being a significant indictaion of a pregnancy is from yourself. I was always advised that day 21 test just meant that I ovulated. The reason I am saying this is because your prog levels cause you believe there is no success this month. I hope for your case that you are wrong. Did you find any additional info on this topic?

As for me... I am also in limbo. My pregnancy test is not until Nov 5, over a week away. I am totally wiped out with some head cold or flu, and no symptons whatsoever! I am going to go insane over the next week waiting!!!!

You know, I've had multiple head colds right on ovulation or transfer time over the past year. What's with that?? Im sorry you're feeling poorly! Do you work? Or do you get to lie in bed and just be ill?

I went looking last night for the website I found two months back showing the gestational ranges for both progesterone and hCG. Our naturopath frequently had us do day 21 prog tests and because we're in possession of the results, we have the lab notes to refer to. The gestational range for progesterone is 37-203. The hCG stimulates the luteus corpum (the egg) to create progesterone. It's purpose is to thicken the endometrium and to feed the embryo (hCG also thickens the endometrium). A good embryo produces loads of progesterone. In your case, it looks like you've got a good one!

We were lucky to see the head of our program this morning - she agreed my results were not positive, and she also felt the pregnyl shot today was a waste of time. But she gave it to me anyway and told me not to come back until Thursday for a PG test. I told her I wouldn't accept any more pregnyl unless the test result showed hCG had doubled. We are looking for a 95 on that test. I do not expect it.

She gave me the "age" lecture again this morning. I blocked my ears. All my school friends are having first and second babies, thanks to their fertile husbands. I am healthy. I have never smoked. I rarely drink. So age is bunkem if you ask me.

She also told us at a fertility conference last week the IVF doctors were saying they are going for less drugs to catch three good eggs instead of loads of not so good ones. My husband cleverly pointed out this means you have to do IVF ocyte collection (the expensive cycle) more often, which means more money for them. When we did IVF, I produced 16 eggs, 14 of which were mature ie good. 12 actually fertilised. 4 grew into blastocysts (25% of the harvest) to freeze, 50% of which never survived thawing. Imagine if there had only been three eggs in the first place? 25% of 3 isn't even one egg.

ANYWAY! Take good care of yourself. I'll let you know how things go on Thursday.

Cheers,
P.