IUI, Clomid, HSG and Provera

[ladylaura]

Hi all,

Didn't we used to have an IUI thread? I haven't seen it in awhile...

Anyway, I STILL haven't gotten the chance to do my first IUI with donor sperm, even though we bought the sperm back in May. I was trying to do natural IUIs but haven't had a good enough cycle in 3 cycles, so I've decided to move on to Clomid.

I called up my doctor and told her I was ready to do a Clomid cycle and that I wanted to get the HSG, because I don't see the point in putting all of that expensive sperm up there if my tubes are blocked. Her treatment plan (relayed to me by a nurse, not the doctor herself), is to have me get the HSG in the upcoming cycle (I'm on CD 22 now) and then a blood test to determine if I need Provera to induce a period. We'd start Clomid the following cycle.

I'm frustrated. I know that one CAN get an HSG and start Clomid in the same cycle - another doctor in the field has told me this, and searching online has confirmed it. I also am so confused as to why Provera is coming up. I do regularly get my period, and I regularly ovulate (though my issue has been that I haven't been ovulating ideallyenough for a natural IUI).

Have any of you been able to get an HSG and take Clomid in the same cycle?

I've even heard it can boost your chances of getting pregnant!

Why do you think my doctor is mentioning Provera when I get regular periods and do release an egg every month? I want to be as prepared as possible with my questions when I talk to her (whenever that is... it's hard to get a phone appointment!).

[nyteacher]

I was also told you could do an HSG and clomid ttc in the saem cycle. A woman at my RE actually concieved that same cycle, so it doesn't matter. It does help you a concieve a bit because it cleans everything out even if your not blocked.

I take provera to get a period but it is a way to get your period and have a cycle when YOU want it. In other words i have had a period and 2 weeks later took the provera to have it again. then clomid makes your follicles which hold an egg develiop and then I got a shot to make me ovulate. Then, was told to do it the next 2 days ot get an iui.

Good luck, I go get a blood test Monday to see if my clomid cycle worked--I hope so much!!

[Sasha299]

Are you sure that she said Prov or she said Progesterone? After fertilization has occured and the embryo implants in the lining of the uterus SOMETIMES the reason we don't get pg is because our body does not have enough progesterone to support a pregnancy. Prov is usually given to induce a period by withdrawal - you take prov to get your blood progesterone content high and when you stop usually 2/3 days after you get a withdrawal bleed (period). So usually with anytype of fertility assistance they will suggest using progesterone after Ovulation/IUI/Egg Retreival. You don't stop is until USUALLY at the end of the 1st trimester.

PS just because you see your period regularly does not mean that you actually ovulate. The only ways to know that you ovulate for sure is to do blood work and ultrasound to look at your ovaries. I had freqent periods but they were not all ovulatory.

Also doing Clomid and HSG the same cycle depends on the cycle day that you had the HSG done. The earlier in the cycle the better.

[ladylaura]

Originally Posted by Sasha299

Are you sure that she said Prov or she said Progesterone? After fertilization has occured and the embryo implants in the lining of the uterus SOMETIMES the reason we don't get pg is because our body does not have enough progesterone to support a pregnancy. Prov is usually given to induce a period by withdrawal - you take prov to get your blood progesterone content high and when you stop usually 2/3 days after you get a withdrawal bleed (period). So usually with anytype of fertility assistance they will suggest using progesterone after Ovulation/IUI/Egg Retreival. You don't stop is until USUALLY at the end of the 1st trimester.

PS just because you see your period regularly does not mean that you actually ovulate. The only ways to know that you ovulate for sure is to do blood work and ultrasound to look at your ovaries. I had freqent periods but they were not all ovulatory.

Also doing Clomid and HSG the same cycle depends on the cycle day that you had the HSG done. The earlier in the cycle the better.

Yup, it was definitely Provera! They explained it later by saying they were concerned that if I had gone 35 days past a period that perhaps I wasn't going to get one for awhile, so they'd do a blood test to check for ovulation. It was just strange that they'd suggest this because I have never had a long, long cycle with no ovulation. I chart and take BBT so I see the spike every month. Even my friend's mother, a good friend of mine who is an OBGYN that specializes in fertility, was really confused as to why they said Provera since she's seen my charts and knows I ovulate regularly...

Also, since we've been trying to do unmedicated IUIs, we've been doing blood work and ultrasounds each month. I have been ovulating, but just haven't had any follicles that look good enough for a natural IUI.

Ugh, not looking forward to the progesterone again... I had to do that after our 1 failed IVF. Those were not the most fun shots...

[shellnurse]

My doc tried provera on me as she was confused about my charting. I think docs are constantly thinking while they are asking the questions and so the info they can receive is muddled.

Starting with provera seems convenient for the doc because s/he can control the whole process from start to finish.

My doc did think HSG along with clomid and IUI was a good idea, but I didn't want to take doxycyline for the HSG and mix it with clomid so I'm waiting til next cycle. (Nothing medically contraindicating it, I just want to be as gentle as I can with my system) Good Luck!!!

[ladylaura]

Originally Posted by shellnurse

My doc tried provera on me as she was confused about my charting. I think docs are constantly thinking while they are asking the questions and so the info they can receive is muddled.

Starting with provera seems convenient for the doc because s/he can control the whole process from start to finish.

My doc did think HSG along with clomid and IUI was a good idea, but I didn't want to take doxycyline for the HSG and mix it with clomid so I'm waiting til next cycle. (Nothing medically contraindicating it, I just want to be as gentle as I can with my system) Good Luck!!!

Thanks! I definitely think that bringing up provera was protocol-based and not at all logic-based. My doctor hasn't even SEEN my charts. I only started charting again because my acupuncturist told me to, and I never understood why my doctor didn't want to have more diagnostic stuff to look at. She's so impossible to get ahold of... they offered an in-person appointment to us on Wednesday and we were told that the earliest they could see us was the 24th... yeah, no thanks, too late by then!!

[sunflower.mama]

I am new to all this - just had my hsg and was told that since my right tube is totally blocked we can start clomid next cycle - perhaps the idea is that you do the hsg first and then if you don't have blockages you don't need the clomid? Maybe you need a different treatment? My hsg was relatively early in the cycle (CD6) but she said you need to start clomid CD2 or 3. Perhaps that is why?

[Mama2Bean]

One of the things that aggravates me about IF tx is that a drug is always the answer to everything. I was told same thing. I've never not had a period in a reasonable time. I took the RX but didn't get it filled b/c I don't think that is good for my body. If I had this as a chronic problem, fine. But we actually have MF as primary tx, and I still get that as info. Grrr.

[ladylaura]

Yeah, our primary issue is MF, too, which is why I was so confused about the Provera. There's nothing at all to indicate that there's any underlying issues on my end....