Trying to Conceive with IUI #3

Good Morning Ladies

Janeo - I hope AF arrives promptly for you,

Re the finance's - perhaps ring the accounts dept of your clinic, mivf charged $900.00 for an IUI cycle, and once you have hit safety net, you are only out of pocket $180.00

Diamond: I am glad your feeling better, and I hope you get a bfp before christmas :pray:

Shades: How did your first FS appt go for this cycle ?

WBAM: Sorry about your cycle cancellation - and your cyst - will you enjoy a champa's over the silly season ?

AFM: Warning a bit of a rant !!! sorry :-(

Made my way to FS 2nd scan appt this morning, after turning back home b/c I forgot my Puregon Injection AGAIN !!!! :wall: Continued on to FS - Scan showed 2 follies on the right side size 14 & 15 - which is the side that may or may not be blocked - FS says dont worry , HSG report is inconsisitent .. :o Grrr I thought I would have abundant follies .... Upped my Puregon to 100, and I am using Urine O/Test Seratec over next few days, if I get a surge Sat, we will have to cancel, but if not we are booked for Tuesday, I wonder why mivf doesnt do blood tests like syd ?? Nurse suggested we prob shouldnt BD in case of a Multipal Preg, HA !! As if they could stop me, I will be BD as much as physicaly possible

Diamond,

The pain you experience after ovulation is actually a good sign! Ovulation is actually a nice way of saying "rupture". The follicles are like little cycsts - they grow and grow and grow and they have to burst to release the egg. Normally, you'd just have one do this, but with a stimulated cycle, you get more than one. So it's no wonder you feel sore! And for you, it sounds like you've done back to back stimulated cycles for three months. So your ovaries are probably bloody tired from multiples ruptures every month. It's like constantly scratching the top off a sore and never letting it heal.

Our update: we've just done IUI #5 on a natural cycle. We're not even having any Pregnyl! Whoo-hoo. We had a strong follicle on the right and a not so strong one on the left. Day 21 bloods are on Tuesday.

I'm not going to be checking in a whole lot - I need to really play it low key. My DH and I have had an awful month with upset, breakdown, visits to the counsellor etc. The less airtime I give this round the better.

Will let you know at the end of the cycle how things turn out. Good luck to you!

:-)
P.

Hi OP,

Glad to hear from you, I have been wondering if you are ok...

Im glad your 5th IUI is going well with one nice big follie - good luck for your bloods on tuesday.

Thanks for your advice on the painful ovaries. If we are not successful this month we will have a break until the new year - sounds like my ovaries need it!!

Im sorry to hear you and hubby are having a rough time at the moment and you need some time away. Just remember if you need a chat please let me know, either here or private message. This ttc business is hard and puts a massive strain on our lives, and I think I understand where you are coming from. Good luck for this cycle...

*takes deep breath*

Hello, can I join?:dance:

I've very much been a lurker the past while. I'm due to start IUI after I've had 2 cycles. I was due to start in October but found out I was acutally pregnant (which had been 6 years of nothing) but unfortunately miscarried a few days after I found out.

Anyway, as I said, I'm due to start IUI and I am very excited.:p

Look forward to getting to know you all over the next few months.

Love sue x

Welcome Sue. Might I suggest, while you recover from your recent MC that you work on your vitamins? We recently went back to our naturopath to discuss why we're getting fertilisation but not implantation.

She has asked us to increase iodine production via kelp supplements as this can be a deciding factor.

She also asked me to double iron, folate, B6 and zinc supplements. We've done this, and we've ended up with an 8.61mm endometrium 7 days prior to ovulation - double what we used to get when we were doing IVF. I'll let you know if this is the magic bullet.

Happy resting and good luck for Jan!

:-)
P.

Hi Original P,

Thanks for that advice. I have been seeing a naturopath for the past 3 years and she has me on a pretty gruelling regime of multi-vits, conception friendly fish oils and a nice (NOT) vitamin drink which I take each day.

I'm anxious to get AF again and am willing my body to just get back to normal. Pre miscarriage, i was a regular 32 day girl. I'm now 36 day post miscarriage and still no sign of AF.

I'm kind of annoyed at the whole situation as we would have started IUI by now and be well on the way!! GGRR!!

Anyway, thanks again for your thoughts.
Love Sue x

Yeah i agree keeping busy helps i do sewing on the side to keep me buys plus work is MAD!!!! Yeah there have been months this yr that i havn't ovulated maybe more in the past who knows i didn't temp every month last yr cos we were planning the wedding not TTC... To do the IUI im taking clomid which i HATE but oh well if it works so be it.... It has made me ovulate on either day 16 or 17 so thats good for me........

Hi everyone,

WBM - Which naturopath do you see - she sounds very qualified?
Diamond - rest up i hope the tww goes really quickly for you and ends with a BFP!

Hi to everyone else.....

AFM - sooooooo bloated and really sore BB???????? Just waiting for my repeat BT on Monday still sniffing:lol::lol:

Going away Sat night with DH which will be nice....Will catch up Sun

xxBella

Hi everyone, this is new for me have been in another thread but feel it is time to join you. We are looking at starting IUI after 4 BFN with OI. We have been having a break for a while as I was working to much for the last 6 months to fit treatment in. Looking to start again after christmas. Can anyone answer this question for me. Is the success rate of IUI higher then OI? I ovulated on all four cycles with no joy and I am a little frightened about IUI as it is more invasive. What is the point of moving on if there is no higher chance of falling pregnant. Still dont really know alot about IUI. Guess we need to find out more about it. Well hope everyone is having a good weekend.

Hi guys,

Re the cyst thing - originally the nurse thought it looked like a corpus luteum (body of follicle left after ovulation) which it still might be and shrivel (technical term!) on its own. If it's a full on cyst and doesn't go away I have no idea what happens! I've heard that ovarian cysts can be really painful when they burst if that's what's going to happen - to the point people wind up in hospital thinking they have appendicitis... I'll let you know if that happens, I'm just hoping for the shrivelling. And yep, I'll be having a champers for all of us ;)

I found the naturopath in the yellow pages, she works in Ashburton (SE suburbs, Melbourne). I'll let you know what she thinks after my appointment in the morning.

Diamond, O is normally 36 hours after trigger so that sounds just perfect! Good luck and I hope you get a BFP for christmas.
OP, I hope you have a really good cycle that will release some pressure on you and your hubby, it's not an easy ride is it - stress reduction is hard to find.
WLAB, I'm with you on the BD anyway! If you know the risks and are willing to take on a multiple pregnancy BD away! I would. I'd certainly rather have twins than none, although triplets scare me a bit.
Welcome Sue - I hope AF comes quickly for you so you can start the new adventure. I'm so sorry for your mc.

Wishing you all good wishes and BFPs for Christmas!

Don't quote me exactly but from memory when my Dr and I talked about it it uped our chances by up to 20% but im not 100% sure thats right as that was 3 mths ago.... It definately ups it though.. I also have had 4 failed OI cycles 3 of which i ovulated.... Basically IUI gets the spermies right up there past any mucus etc plus they are all the best sperm so better chance... Im also starting IUI in the new yr...

Just a qiuck update from me - been up since 5:30am then was at Dreamworld all day so I'm knackered - my FS appointment this morning was fine, I'm on FSH starting today, and if this cycle doesn't take he'll probably do a HSG test... Just to make sure there're no blocked tubes or anything that are getting in my way. Off to bed now!

Oh and welcome to the new peeps!

Just a quickie from me to say I went to the naturopath and she was lovely. I've commenced on a few herbal things (all safe with ac and pregnancy) including vitex (chastetree). Basically they will try to normalise my cycles and deal with the insulin resistance that goes with the PCOS. She also gave me a few dietary changes (although she's sensible and only doing a few at a time). Although my diet is healthy there are a few better things I can be doing for PCOS.

Wannabemum, Can you share with us what she suggested for your diet. I too have PCOS and have tried everything under the sun to lose weight. BC (sorry DH and I have a code BC means before Campbell) I trained 6 times a week at the gym and ate very well and lost a grand total of 0kgs the onbly thing that helped me lose weight was major liver surgery (they took a third of my liver) and being pregnant ( throwing up for five months will do that to you). I hope you have lots of success with IUI. We are just about to start that journey.

Hi Everyone,

Well i had another BT today and my levels have "gone flat" :clap: so i can start the puregon injections tom and halve my nasal spray :dance:.
Then BT mon and U/S Wed i'm relly looking forward to starting another cycle i feel more proactive!!! I am also going to eat really healthy, keep exercising and NO alcohol (except tonight as wedding anniversary!)

Hope everyone is doing well................Was someone having the IUI today??? sorry i forget by the time i start to reply.

xxBella

Well, we have a few interesting symptoms showing up today. Metallic taste in the mouth, vaaaaaaague feeling of pelvic cramps every now and then, very feint feeling of nausea, and muddled headedness! It's only day 5 so we'd only have a blastocyst at most at this point. But in the past, symptoms have kicked in round about now. Day 21 bloods tomorrow - here's hoping we get a good prog result.

Working on our Louise Hay affirmations to try and change dubiousness and doubt to positive belief.

:-)
P.

Bella 55 - Happy Anniversary and enjoy a chardie

Shades - How r u going ? You havent posted in a while

Diamond - I have the same painfull ovaries symptoms as you a few days ago, I am three days behind you ... so here is hoping we get our BFP's in the same week

Original P - Metallic Taste is a good sign - what day was your IUI ?

I know I have missed a few lovely ladies - I cant scroll back as I am in an advanced message ..

AFM: IUI today and a lovely 7 million little swimmers transfered - I have pain in my ovaries, which I hope is a good sign, and a BT on the 12th Dec - no other BT before then apart from Pregnal day 4 and 8 - feel a bit excited today - I didnt need the trigger as my lh urine tests that the FS gave me showed two lovely lines - so off we went a day earlier ....

What tests do you ladies have after your IUI ? I am very interested in hearing your experiences


:stickyvibesboy::stickyvibesgirl: to all us lovely ladies

wouldloveabubba - I'm here - just waiting and waiting and waiting as always.. Off to have my CD12 bt and U/S this morning - cross fingers my ovaries are working again this month and hopefully I'll be IUIing on Thurs! I do HPTs like a fool at home - no bt from my FS unless the cow's late.

Hi Everyone,

It has been a few days since I popped my head in...

Firstly, OP sounds like some positive vibes coming from your end. Being day 5 is that dpo 5, which i am also today... Good luck for Day 21 test today.

Shades - also good luck for bloods and u/s. Hopefully there is a nice big fat follie there, let us know how it goes.

WLAB - yay for IUI yesterday. I hope it all went well. Did you experience any discomfort afterwards in addition to O pain? I always seem to. Good luck and hoping the TWW goes real quick!

WBAM - I am thinking of you and hoping you cyst goes away on its own. Was the Natropath able to help you with this problem also?

Bella - Im glad your levels have gone flat and you are ready to start this cycle. Good luck!

Welcome Saph, Im sorry I can not offer any advice on OI stats compared to IUI stats. I have tried to research this sort of thing but not much luck.

I hope I havent missed anyone...

AFM - I am on dpo 5 today, and off for b/t tomorrow to check prog levels. Had 1st hcg injection on sunday and have been feeling bloated and a bit out of sorts ever since. Getting some mild twinges/pains in my abdomin but Im pretty sure it is from the hcg. So Im just coasting along...

Diamond: I felt a very slight crampy feeling for a few minutes after IUI - I am going to go to local gp and ask for a prog level test, like you, a few days after my Pregnyl inj - glad all is going well

Shades - Good luck for today's us and b/t

One question : Did your sample run out after the IUI ?? - my FS said I should get minimal spillage, but I am sure it came out, I asked should I lay down at the clinic and she said no - I am a little worried it didnt even stay in !

Hi All,

THe naturopath said that the main problem I seem to have with the PCOS (aside from the silly acne and hair...) is the insulin resistance. Even though my bloods have always been normal she thinks that the ups and downs aren't helping things. So more regular protein with having something every 3 hours during the day. So this morning was small muesli along with an egg (not together!), I'll have nuts mid morning and afternoon and a normal lunch/dinner. She goes with small changes first, I'm sure there will be more to come. But I'm determined to lose the weight I've gained in the last 12 months. I've previously lost 26kg on WeightWatchers which was great, but have gained 6 this year without changing much. Just since coming off the pill.

OP sounds like some really positive signs your way - fingers crossed! In fact it sounds pretty positive all round on here atm. I'm running off this morning so still can't respond to everyone but just sending all the good vibes around!

I can just quickly say that my FS says about 20% for both OI and IUI, just that the mechanism is different so some things work better for different people. And obviously IUI's more invasive. IVF is also about a 20% chance. So he starts with the least invasive (OI) and moves along from there. Interestingly for the lucky ones who can do this naturally, odds are more like 25%. All the drugs change the mucous consistency in the uterus making it harder for implantation. Wow, the things you pick up!

I hope to hear some good news about Os and BFPs soon! Good BT to you all...

Sorry just read WLAB's post. My nurse says they will leave me lying on the bed for half an hour post IUI and it's a good idea. It's weird that different clinics say different things - I hope everything was ok and that my clinic is just over doing things.

And the naturopath seemed to think the cyst would go away on its own too, so here's to waiting!

WLAB - I've been told that there should be no spillage with an IUI - the cervix closes when the tube/needle is removed so it's supposed to all stay 'up there'... in terms of 'feeling' spillage - it could just be CM that's been loosened by the procedure maybe?

Just quick from me - only a 12mm folly this morning - not looking too good for Thurs, which is my next appointment now, but the FS did say I seem to be a small popper - that is, my follies pop at around 18mm instead of the usual 20-22mm.. So maybe Fri or Sat. Last two IUIs have been on a Sat, will be funny if this one is too!

WLAB - I would not be too concerned. Just a shades said, there should be no spillage of the sample, as the cervix closes after the procedure and holds it in there. If you feel wetness, it is most likely due to where you are in your cycle (EWCM), which if anything, concludes that timing is spot on! On my 1st IUI, I got up straight after the procedure, went shopping etc, and that month we got a chem preg. This IUI however she left me to relax for 5-10 mins due to the cramping and general uncomfortableness that I was in.

I am wondering why your clinic has not ordered a prog test or day 21 test....can you request from them? The point of this test, checking progesterone, is to confirm that you have in fact ovulated, and that your prog levels are high. OP has some detailed notes on this topic in this thread if you would like to look back a few pages.

Shades- a 12mm follie is great. Better one big than than lots of little ones. 2mm growth a day means you are looking at fri/sat so not too far away now.

Shades - I agree with D - one fat follie is better than a heap of small ones, does your FS increase your Puregon if she wants to speed things up, in other cycles ? Do you have inj of Pregnyl, and if so, how can you poas in the tww - wont that show a fake +ive ?

Diamond - I dont know either, but I feel uncumfy ringing and asking for the BT forms, that's why I thought I might go to GP to ask, I tried looking back in threads - I couldnt see the post from op - I had two days of postitive LH Urine Test - maybe thats why ??

I also had a slight tinge of blood in the afternoon of IUI , like implantation spotting, I have had before in my past pg, but it couldnt be implantation b/c its too early, I hadnt even released an egg, if My AF arrived on the 9/11 - am I cycle day 17 - so I get the BT on cd 21- which is this sat the 29th ?

Sorry about the "me" post

WLAB - the bleeding is normal, it is from the procedure. I think it is from the spectulam (spelling/phrase not sure - the big needle thing) grazing the cervix on its way in. I had a small amount of this on my 2nd IUI. No need to worry unless there is more blood OK.

OP's notes are in this thread, a few pages back. I will try to find them now for you. I would suggest going through your clinic- they should be looking after your entire treatment as a whole! Calling them to ask the question cant hurt - all you can do is ask why is it not ordered or required? Can I ask which clinic are you going through?

Girls,

It takes five days to establish a pregnancy. Doing any kind of testing in the five days after your IUI is a waste of time and money because the pregnancy doesn't technically exist.

Here's how it goes:

Ovulation - lets call it day 1 (because we all ovulate on different days): the guys go in and hopefully fertilise the egg. At that point it is a single cell.
Day 2: Eggs divides into 2-4 cells within the nucleus
Day 3: Divides into 4-8 cells
Day 4: Divides into 8-16 cells
Day 5: has divided into more than 100 cells - it's now called a blastocyst
Day 6: hatching and looking to implant

During all this cell division the embryo has travelled down the fallopian tube to the uterus and is looking to burrow into the endometrium on day 5 to 6. You may get some spotting between days 21-28 of your cycle but not always.

So any bleeding you see on the day of IUI is usually caused by the cateter passing through the opening of the cervix. If you get anything from the speculum its more likely to be bruising.

Cheers,
OP.

Dear All,

We've logged a prog result of 27 today. I commented that this was low and my FS said it is appropriate for a cycle where there was only one follicle.

Interesting, because last cycle we had two follicles and logged 48 on Day 21. The cycle where we had three follicles we logged a 77.

So the progesterone levels are connected to the number of follicles that produced a viable egg. Nice to know, eh?

We won't be doing any more monitoring for this cycle. And we're not having Pregnyl. So now we really wait and see.

:-)
OP.

:

---

Shades - I agree with D - one fat follie is better than a heap of small ones, does your FS increase your Puregon if she wants to speed things up, in other cycles ? Do you have inj of Pregnyl, and if so, how can you poas in the tww - wont that show a fake +ive ?

---

Just another quick one from me - I'm off to karate in a minute - no my FS doesn't increase the Puregon... I'm only on 50iu anyway because my ovaries are just shy, not broken! They work when they're not being watched. And he only gave me a trigger for the first time last time - not the time before, not sure why. I POAS'd after at 11DPO I think and it was totally negative, so any HCG is metabolised by 10DPO for me. No HPTing before 10DPO though!

Shades - Hope Karate was good - a good way to de-stress

OP - Thanks for your info - and I found the Pg levels intersting as well, why no pregnyl for you this cycle ? day 22 for you today - getting closer

Diamond - Hope your feeling well - what day are you today

AFM : Just BD'ing to help things along - I feel very heavy in my uterus - and twingy little spasm's every now and then - that are quite noticible - so things are happening down there - dont know what though ....

Hi Everyone!!

OP - your prog results are certainly consistant with number of follies. As always you teach me new info - I have no idea the levels are dependant of no of follies. Good luck for remainder of TWW.

Shades - how are you going? Did you have b/t and scan today? I hope allwent well and you follie hasnt gone shy..

WLAB - when was your IUI again? Only a couple of days ago? The twinges etc might be hormornes left over from ovulation. You still might be in a fertile window so BDing is very good :D

AFM - Feeling very positive. Had my weekly acup and I feel very relaxed and balanced. Also had my Day 21 blood test and my prog levels are 102, which the nurse said is very good. Last month is was 64 so this is a big increase. I also found a new pair of jeans at Esprit, $99 marked down to $55!! Bargain!! The ttc stuff weighs me down sometimes, but today Im feeling positive...

Diamond - Im happy everything is going well, and you are feeling positive, good for you - and I love a bargain !!

My IUI was 3pm Monday - and after reading your post, I am having a day 21 - I have made up my mind ..

OP - is a wealth of knowledge - r u a nurse op ?

Dearest Diamond!!!

Take those jeans back to the shop. I'm convinced you won't be able to wear them in a very short while. 102!!!!! :dance: I am totally excited for you!!!

Are they going to do a BT again in two days? If it's around 204 you are looking VERY good. You want it to double every day after that.

AFM: The clinic has written this cycle off. I have too. The symptoms I was feeling have turned out to be a virus that's been going round my office. It's clear I really need the FSH if I have any hope of getting across the line.

WLB - where are you based? Are you the country girl on here? I'm floored your clinic DOESN't do Day 21 bloods. How can they monitor what's going on without those results? At my clinic, a low Day 21 BT result is usually cause for a pregnyl shot, unless you're already on pregnyl for luteal support. Unless you're Diamond and you got a rockin' Prog result by yourself!!!

And no, I'm not a nurse - I am well studied and LTTTC. Our bookshelves are covered with books on fertility. Plus we ride the process every step of the way. My husband saw a new GP this week (can you believe our GP disappeared?) and he said he'd also been thru IVF and supported the Drive Your Own Treatment approach. He said if you don't, you just get processed.

Remember tho - don't use the information to beat yourself up. Use it to empower yourself.

Diamond, I think you just became the poster girl for Fertility supporting Accupuncture!

:-)
P.

Original - You have given me the courage I need to call my FS from Melb IVF and ask why they are not doing a day 21 test - :wall:

I have the Pregnyl injections here at home ready to go on day 4 and 8 post IUI - maybe that is why FS hasn't requested the test, b/c I have the Pregnyl at home ???

Does that make a difference ?

Diamond - you gave me courage too

WLB - Pregnyl is human chorionic gonadatrophin (sp) - hCG. Otherwise known as pregnancy hormone. We use it for two reasons:

1. As an ovulation trigger to ripen an egg and of course trigger its release. (usually Ovidrel)
2. As luteal support (usually Pregnyl)

For luteal support, Pregnyl stimulates the ovaries to produce more progesterone. Progesterone will thicken the endometrium to support implantation. It also feeds the fertilised egg.

At what point you use Pregnyl is irrelevant in terms of the Day 21 bloods. Diamond is right in sayong a good Day 21 result proves you did actually ovulate. But it can also indicate that an egg was fertilised and is feeding itself and seeking implantation.

All our clinics are administering the Pregnyl differently. Mine gives me the 1st shot on the day of IUI, then continues with three shots a week until we're sure we've got nothing. Diamond's clinic seems to give her about three shots in the TWW. Yours is giving you two. No doubt this is because our needs are all different.

In my opinion, no Day 21 BT is professional negligence. Even if your clinic doesn't offer it, you can ask your GP to order it. For us, Day 21 is the 7th day after your trigger injection (as opposed the real Day 21 on your natural cycle).

One last thing - it could be that your "program" with Melbourne IVF doesn't include a Day 21 BT as a cost cutting measure. However, this blood test is fully covered by Medicare. At IVF Australia, you sign about 4 medicare slips up front and they use these throughout the cycle to claim for the BTs they do. You definitely are well within your rights to ask for this test.

Good luck! Let us know what your result is.

:-)
OP.

Good Morning Ladies,

OP - again a wealth of knowledge. Thank you for your lovely post - it certainly made me smile!! I hope you are right and that I will have no need for the jeans, but I do not want to get my hopes up very much. As you know the higher the hopes the harder the fall...

I am sorry this cycle has been written off :-( how frustrating for you. I was hoping you could be a poster call for natural IUI cycles and that this would be a success for you. I hope you are coping ok with this, but remember it is not over till its over ok.

Also, re: my high prog levels. I am on the hcg injects, 3 of on every 3rd day i.e day 3/6/9. Do you think this is why my level is so high? No, no more tests for me until the preg test on 5th Dec. Perhaps this is a good idea though... I will give it some thought...

WLAB - I agree with OP that the day 21 is very important, and highly unusual that it is not ordered. I think you have made the right decision to ask your clinic about it - at least get their version of why it has not been booked. You are a former IVFer right? Did they not order this test for you then?

Morning all

OP - sorry for not sending a message regarding your cycle being a no go this cycle, I was so annoyed last night with my fs - I couldnt see straight - here is my belated hug and :comfort:


I have rang FS and just waiting on a call back - will keep you posted as to the outcome ..

I didnt get to have the trigger as I showed a + LH Urine Test Surge - so If IUI was Monday - should I book for BT for Sat ?

Hi Diamond and Shades - hope your both well

wlab - are you getting blood tests to confirm your LH surge? Any ultrasounds to see size/number of follies? Why are you using urine tests?

If your IUI is Monday, have a chat to them then about the day 21 test. Tell them you would prefer it to be done. As Op said, it is 7 days after IUI procudure. If you have IUI Mon than I would expect the test on the Sunday.

Diamond,

When I had a fabbo prog result like yours, my clinic said it was all my doing. So I'm thinking the same can be said for you here.

How many follicles did you have? You know the hormone levels can detect multiples at this point. :shhh: How brilliant would that be!?

:-)
P.