[J*e*n*_78]

Hello!
I am new here as well! My husband and I have been TTC for almost 3 years. We found out he had "0" sperm count summer of 2006, which was devastating. We were finally referred to an RE in March 2007. We were told IVF with either possible sperm from him via TESE or with donor/frozen sperm was pretty much our only chance. We knew it would be physically and mentally draining and I needed to finish nursing school first. Now I am finally a registered nurse (SOMEthing good this year!) and am settling into my job and now have the time to devote to IVF treatments. Bare with me- I am still learning all the fertility lingo/treatments/procedures!! I am so thankful I finally found a place to get support through this trying road ahead!! Best wishes to you all!!!(AHA! Finally figured out where you all get your smilies!!)

[AmyK]

J*E*N* !!

Congrats on becoming a RN ! You have found a wonderful group here. Good Luck on starting your journey.


Amy

[Deej]

I am a 37 year old single female. I have never been pregnant and I have not tried to become pregnant until recently. I had my first appt with a fertility specialist in July, got some information about artificial insemination. I read up on single mothers, donor sperm, insemination methods. My doctor told me all of the options available. Not knowing if I will have problems conceiving or not, I chose the least aggressive options. I had several internal sonograms to measure follicle size, and took a trigger shot 36 hours prior to insemination. I am now 4 days past the iui. Any and all advice would be much appreciated! I do not know what to expect, and send emails to my doctor and his fertility coach each time something happens. I have little to no cramping, and think I feel similar to how I would feel before, but am not sure! I wish I had paid more attention to my body before.
8/29/07 iui #1
8/27/07 trigger shot

[AmyK]

Deej !!!

I am new here too and I am 10piui. I've had cramping the whole time...I think everyone is different. The 2ww is really hard. Try and not to worry about every cramp and twinge (easier to say than actually do). You have found a great group here!


Amy

[Deej]

thank you for the , Amy K! I am very grateful to have found this site. I am having two concerns right now: I know my insurance would not cover any of this, but the 1K blood work bill not being covered at all? NOT all of the tests had to do with infertility, in fact, many were the same ones a gyno/ob would recommend pre-pregnancy! concern #2 please share what i can expect to happen during 2ww.

[sarah16]

Welcome to both of you!!! You should have b/w during your 2WW around day 21 or so. It will check for progesterone.

[Deej]

I have an appointment with fertility doc on sept. 14 for pregnancy test. Is that what b/w is?

[sarah16]

Usually you have your progesterone checked about a week before your pregnancy test, which is called a beta.

[jencat215]

Originally Posted by Deej

I am a 37 year old single female. I have never been pregnant and I have not tried to become pregnant until recently. I had my first appt with a fertility specialist in July, got some information about artificial insemination. I read up on single mothers, donor sperm, insemination methods. My doctor told me all of the options available. Not knowing if I will have problems conceiving or not, I chose the least aggressive options. I had several internal sonograms to measure follicle size, and took a trigger shot 36 hours prior to insemination. I am now 4 days past the iui. Any and all advice would be much appreciated! I do not know what to expect, and send emails to my doctor and his fertility coach each time something happens. I have little to no cramping, and think I feel similar to how I would feel before, but am not sure! I wish I had paid more attention to my body before.
8/29/07 iui #1
8/27/07 trigger shot

Deej!!! First, I wanted to tell you that you are not alone. Look out for Hannah01...she is in a similar situation as you are. As for your 2ww, expect a lot of anticipation and impatients. It is very hard not knowing one way or another. I think the first 2 weeks of a cycle are the best cause there is the dream of hope. The next 2 weeks are worry about every little symptom!
I didn't pay attention to my body until I started TTC. Let me tell you I know it pretty well now, but determining pregnancy is almost impossible. Many of the symptoms for pregnancy are the same as the symptoms for AF-with pregnancy, you can spot, have cramps, sore boobs, nausea, but you can have all these with AF. So the best advice is to keep yourself busy during this time. Try not to get your heart rate over 140 (this is what my RE told me when I did my IUI cycle), relax as much as you can (good for keeping stress down), and eat and do stuff as you were pregnant. Your appt on Sept 14 will be for your beta test. That is a blood test to give a quantative number for your HCG hormone (sorry if you know this already). I think Sarah was referring to a progesterone test, which some doctors do after a week from your IUI or around there. Don't worry, not all Drs do this and mine didn't. And it is not an indicator of pregnancy. But when you get your beta generally they do a progesterone test at the same time...your progesterone levels need to be over a certain level to sustain a pregnancy.

Best of luck to you for this cycle!!!

[Deej]

thank you for the great info! i will look for the other lady you mentioned as well...

[chickycran]

My DH and I have been married for 7 years and TCC for 5 & 1/2 years. We found out a few years ago that it was most likely male IF but I still needed to go through testing. We previously lived in NJ where all our testing, drugs, and procedures (IUI & IVF) would have been covered by insurance (to an extent). Not to mention that my old company would had infertility reimbursment. In order for a lifestyle change (we were both working high pressured jobs in NYC), we decided to give it all up and move to Florida in hopes of starting a family. We thought that the reduction in stress would help.

After about 6 months of trying with no luck, we adopted our 3rd furry child (Mudge) and we sought help with the ONLY RE in the Florida panhandle. Here we were coming from NYC where there were a million great doctors at our fingertips to NW Florida were there is only ONE! In addition we found out that the great state of Florida has NO provision for infertility and we have ZERO coverage (they did cover some testing). Needless to say, we make significantly less money now and have no coverage. We started on the journey anyway hoping God would provide.

I went through all the normal tests, including HSG, which I passes with flying colors except it was noted that I had a cyst on my right ovary (this cyst is here for the long haul and hasn't changed size since it was discovered in March). RE didn't think the cyst was an issue & monitors is. RE had us do our first round of IUI without drugs. BFN. We looked at it like our trial run. IUI #2 was with letrozole 2.5 mg and I only produced 1 mature follicle on my left side. Again, BFN. We requested an appt with RE to discuss a more aggressive Rx Tx. He Rx letrozole 5 mg & follistim 75 units. I went for my first ultrasound after the letrozole and before the follistim (4 follicles on left side only). I am praying that at least 2 mature for this IUI.

My DH and I both struggle with why this is happening to us. and it has been a tremendous strain on us. My husband is suffering from depression and is now seeing a therapist. I have suffered in the past with depression but I feel much stronger now through lots of prayer. It seems like we take turns being the strong one in our marriage. We feel blessed in so many ways and we try to remember that there are many people out there that are so much worse off than us. We pray and pray for God to bless us with a baby.

I joined this forum for support and to learn about the struggles and sucesses that others have had. Thank you for listening and being there.

[2blessed]

i've read many of your posts and find them very inspirational which is wonderful. i just started menopur this is my first attempt at IUI, the menopur seems good, expensive. I had a blighted ovum at 9 wks didn't know I was pregnant. I met with a new RE today and i loved her, very optoistic and personable she wants to double my menopur and go straight to IVF if this cycle doesn't work. But I know it will....have to have faith!

[Jrene]

We've been taking a long break. Its been about 8-9 months of no forums, no reading books.

Im glad to be back. Our next step is going to be IUI. Before we've done clomid and trigger shots with no success.

Any advice on IUI's I'd be really greatful!


- Jessica

[Deej]

I do not have all that much information, as this is my first month of trying. It may be a different process because I used donor sperm, I do not have a partner... There are many women who have great answers to all the questions I have had. So post your concerns and somebody will give you some input.
8/29 IUI #1
9/8 i have lower back pain similar to menstrual cramps
9/14 dr. appt for b/w

[bigkeri]

Hello I am new, and never thought I would ever register, but after watching this forum for the last week I am so moved by how you all support each other and it's really uplifting to know that there are people who really do care!! I have so many friends (all have children) that have no clue how I feel... and I get so sick of hearing "forget about it and it will happen" or " just relax" UGH! I'm sure some of you have heard the same.
My name is Keri, they call me bigk.... b/c I was a nanny for years to a little girl named Kari and in order to not mix us up they called me bigk....
I am married for almost 4 years now... been ttc for 2 years... I have a mucus problem.. but just found that out on Aug 31st... after many months of clomid.. then finally seeing an RE.... I'm currently on the 2ww, actually 5 more days to go till AF. I'm almost certain it did not work. I have no signs of anything. I did last weekend but it all stopped, now just reg. pms signs as usual! hang in there all of you!! I'm already planning my next IUI.... Have a great WEDNESDAY!!