I finally booked in :)

After 2 years, 6 months of clomid and a M/C, I have finally booked in to see a Fertility Specialist. I had faith in my body that it would work itself out, but I have realised that isn't the case :(

But I am happy to have taken the next step and I really hope they can help me. I have a few questions though......
1. If I have already tried clomid and ovulated, but didn't conceive, what is the next before IUI?
2. If It is decide that IUI is the best option for me, does it hurt?

I'm a little nervous!

IUI doesn't hurt at all, usually. I felt NOTHING but shame that I didn't shave my legs first. :D. Some people do have pain if they have to use a tenaculum (sp?) but otherwise it's fine.

As for what is next, maybe some blood tests, and I wouldn't be surprised if they send you for a lap either.

Hope it goes well :hug:.

It's a huge step realising that your body won't do what you want it to. Big hugs hun, I know the feeling all too well.

I think they'll send you for BTs and a lap, as M has said.

When I started seeing my FS, he did a lap to check how dodgy my tubes were (one was completely blocked from a Hydrosalpinx) and ended up removing the right one completely. We had to go straight to IVF, but he said that had my tubes been ok, IUI would've been the next step.

Good luck!! :fingerscrossed:

Thanks ladies, what exactly is involved in a lap?

Basically a cut in your belly button, and one at your pubic line... they inflate you with a bit of gas and have a look to see if there is any endo or cysts etc. They will likely also do a hysteroscope at the same time, sticking a camera through your cervix to look inside your uterus. There are heaps of articles online about laps. I honestly didn't find mind too bad pain wise, and they didn't find anything at all.

Sounds awful! But if it helps me to become a mum then so be it :) I'm not too squeamish, I can take a bit of pain. I have not had any injections though yet (trigger etc) so hoping something else will work first. Thanks again Maruschke!

They will want your DH to do a sperm analysis too.

N2L, DH had one end of last year, will they want another one? I also have had HEAPS of blood tests and also had scans. So far everything looks normal, apart from having lots of follicles (about 19 or so on one ovary) which the u/s lady said looked borderline PCOS (I asked her)
Should I bring them to my appointment?

It's annoying, but most clinics redo all the BT's when you get there. And SA's as well.

I do not know what else you can do without a lap and before IUI. Have you had a HSG?

:hug:

They will want to do them again most likely, but take them anyway. Did you have your FSH and AMH done. They are two of the most important.

Yep, DH will probably have to give another sample. Sperm quality can change quickly.

No, I have only had scans and then clomid. What is HSG?

I am pretty sure the OB/GYN who prescribed clomid for me requested FSH. But AMH I'm not sure, can't remember.

Definitely bring your previous scans to your appointment, and blood test results if you have them. Bring your husbands report as well, they may want another one depending on what his results were. My husbands were very low, so they wanted another one done a few months later as lots of things can affect sperm count.

Good luck!

Dye flushed through your tubes to check for blockages.

FSH and AMH are blood tests.

I had 4 holes with my lap - guess it depends on how much they do and how many instruments they need to put in...they usually do a d&c at the same time as a lap - I was supposed to have the dye, while they were at it, but they ran out of time due to lots of endo.
I hope this is just the beginning of a very short journey to a bub for you!

I'm no expert, but I don't feel there is a tube problem. I know it's definitely an ovulation and a CM problem. Gosh I hope they get to the bottom of it!
I will bring all my stuff with me to the appointment, thank you everyone :)

If you think it's a CM problem, I'd skip straight to IUI. But don't be surprised if they ask for either a lap or a hsg to demonstrate your tubes are open before they offer the IUI.

Sometimes it can be a range of problems, some of which you may not have even contemplated (eg. Egg quality, lining issues, chromosomal issues, autoimmune issues). You would not necessarily have any symptoms.

A good FS will be really thorough. Are you going through a clinic?

Yes, I have been recommended a clinic on my side of town. I have heard the FS name on here once or twice. Whatever they need me to do, I will comply.

Good on you for taking the next step Tasha. It's brave to make that first appointment, and great that you got someone recommended to you. When are you going to see him/her?

I can't offer any advice on IUI but I can on the exploratory surgery. I had the works - lap, hysteroscopy, HyCoSy and d&c - before my FS would consider IUI or IVF. It was over quickly, uncomfortable and bled a bit for a few days but not really painful. The most unpleasant side effect was the gas they pump you up with escaping up through my diaphragm. So bizarre. I won't lie, that was ouchie. But I'm really glad I had it all done - for my peace of mind, I needed to know that the baby factory was shipshape. I truly believe that in my case, it had a big impact on my fertility as I conceived the next cycle (and like you, was already ovulating on Clomid).

As others have mentioned you may have to repeat blood tests and sperm analysis, they usually like to do that. The FS may even do a 'trial wash' with your man's sperm to see what the quality would be like for IUI.

Best of luck, am sure your FS will give you some good options and a plan of attack. Sending good vibes into the universe on your behalf!

All the best hun!!!!

I hope you fall preggers naturally before the appointment =)

If not, lets hope you get some answers as to why clomid didnt work

Keep us up to date you know ive been stalking you =P

I was sure I posted back the other day????
Thanks ladies, It's so nice to have support :) My appointment is Tuesday next week.

good luck Tascha. I chose not to have the lap as I believe my tubes are ok, having fallen pregnant twice naturally and my FS was ok with that, also becasue of my age he thought we should go staright to ivf. I'm sure the FS will give you options x

Thanks Saffy, I would rather not have a lap, hopefully we can try something else. Although I am 29 so I don't want to waste too much time on other things!

When I went to the FS it was because I had tried clomid for 6 months and it had not got me to ovulate. The next step for us was to move to injectables (puregon and pregnyl) with timed intercourse. This worked well in the fact that I finally ovulated (yay) but unfortunately after another 6 months of trying we were still not pregnant. So we then did IVF/ICSI and after a BFN on our fresh cycle we fell pregnant on our first FET.

The injectables are basically what you use for IVF but at lower doses. There is constant monitoring via scans to ensure that there are only one or two dominate follicles and to identify when ready to trigger ovulation.

Good luck with your appointment.

Janie xxx

I'll be thinking of you tuesday :) write all your questions down so that you are sure they get answered :).