Lise: please add DW and I to waiting to O
Sorry everyone about the bold print I am having difficulty fixing this ......I don't meant to be so loud and expressive with my words.
Krista:
1. Does she do a baseline ultrasound at CD3 to get an idea of your antracal follie count (resting follie count)? That way you know whether Clomid really worked or not when she checks you after you've been taking it and closer to ovulation. She also would need to double check that you have no cysts because Clomid can increase the chance of that and cause problems if you do have one.
2. Does she do other monitoring between CD3-7 when you're taking Clomid? I ask because some docs will adjust dosage of Clomid dependent on response. If you're not responding, they're going to up the dosage to see if they can still get you to respond. This does require extra ultrasounds though and many practices are hesitant to offer it because of cost.
3. BTW, why are you doing Clomid? I'm forgetting (sorry!) what your previous attempts were. I was on another lesbo chat board today about Clomid and there was a lot of talk (and research) about how Clomid can actually be detrimental if you ovulate normally. It can cause hostile mucous which is part of the concern. There's an increase usage just to "make it easier to get pregnant" and it's not recommended. I didn't go on it until after I had tried a number of cycles and wasn't getting pregnant. I'm not saying it's not right for you, I'm just surprised if she offered it up as the first thing. Especially when she says things like she can "typically have success within three cycles." At your age, she has a better chance that you will have success on that alone and giving you Clomid could increase that. Of course, YOU want that so I know it sounds good! There is a 10% risk of multiples using Clomid (typically twins, rarely triplets).
4. Make sure she will give you estrogen if the Clomid thins your lining. It's seriously a waste of money to inseminate if you're lining isn't good enough and Clomid can do that for some people. But if there's a plan in place, you could plump it before it's needed for implantation. I just think having a plan in place ahead of time will be good. They would check your lining when they do the ultrasound around CD12.
She is probably correct in recommending there only be one insemination per cycle. Studies have yet to prove that back-to-back inseminations with frozen sperm increase the chances of getting pregnant and in those they did find that to be true, it was extremely small.
BTW, studies have also shown (can you see I'm big on studies??) that insemination 36 hours after trigger has proven to have a higher success rate than 24 hours after trigger.
1. Does she do a baseline ultrasound at CD3 to get an idea of your antracal follie count (resting follie count)? That way you know whether Clomid really worked or not when she checks you after you've been taking it and closer to ovulation. She also would need to double check that you have no cysts because Clomid can increase the chance of that and cause problems if you do have one.
2. Does she do other monitoring between CD3-7 when you're taking Clomid? I ask because some docs will adjust dosage of Clomid dependent on response. If you're not responding, they're going to up the dosage to see if they can still get you to respond. This does require extra ultrasounds though and many practices are hesitant to offer it because of cost.
3. BTW, why are you doing Clomid? I'm forgetting (sorry!) what your previous attempts were. I was on another lesbo chat board today about Clomid and there was a lot of talk (and research) about how Clomid can actually be detrimental if you ovulate normally. It can cause hostile mucous which is part of the concern. There's an increase usage just to "make it easier to get pregnant" and it's not recommended. I didn't go on it until after I had tried a number of cycles and wasn't getting pregnant. I'm not saying it's not right for you, I'm just surprised if she offered it up as the first thing. Especially when she says things like she can "typically have success within three cycles." At your age, she has a better chance that you will have success on that alone and giving you Clomid could increase that. Of course, YOU want that so I know it sounds good! There is a 10% risk of multiples using Clomid (typically twins, rarely triplets).
4. Make sure she will give you estrogen if the Clomid thins your lining. It's seriously a waste of money to inseminate if you're lining isn't good enough and Clomid can do that for some people. But if there's a plan in place, you could plump it before it's needed for implantation. I just think having a plan in place ahead of time will be good. They would check your lining when they do the ultrasound around CD12.
She is probably correct in recommending there only be one insemination per cycle. Studies have yet to prove that back-to-back inseminations with frozen sperm increase the chances of getting pregnant and in those they did find that to be true, it was extremely small.
BTW, studies have also shown (can you see I'm big on studies??) that insemination 36 hours after trigger has proven to have a higher success rate than 24 hours after trigger.
Wow krista you are so knowledgable!! You had asked me in the October thread about how I track my ovulation. Here is my process: usually about CD 10 I start using OPK digital predictor kits religiously every 4 hrs and all the while I pay attn to the how the test line is getting darker. I typically get OPK smiley face usually on CD 16 or 17 and I cont to test for a while to see how the test line change in color. I've been told that once the digital test is still showing a positive reading and the test line is beginning to shift in color slightly than we do a ICI at home with frozen sperm. We typically insem about 36 hrs after initial OPK smiley face. Interesting, we started doing at home ICI since the start of the summer due to the costs and since then I think that I had implantation cramping once, prior to this I could swear that every time I did an IUI in the doctor's office I had implantation cramping. Who knows what the special secret is to all this baby making magic. I would love your thoughts about the idea of doing 2 IUIs in the same cycle at home. DW is researching the process as we speak.
Other thoughts, Krista. I have to tell you that I relate to you so well about the frustrations with being on board with your sigificant other. My DW just revealed to me today that after alittle over a year of trying she thinks that she is just getting into this process. But from my perspective, on the days when the crap hits the fan (I get AF, or some other disappointment occurs) she sometimes seems to retreat into her own world where she plays video games for hours and will give me one liner supportive statements like "You ok, it will get better." She rarely shared any outward struggles with the process which makes me feels somewhat alone. Look at that, I just made this all about me. Sorry forgive me, I am trying to say that it is so hard to hear information DP which can be so devastating for you to hear bc now you not only have to be concerned with all your worries and thoughts with ttc and now you have to try to figure out what is going on in your relationship. Sometimes perhaps it be helpful to get clarified whether your DP's thoughts are just ideas she is brainstorming or if this is something she is coming to resolution about. I say this because sometimes my DW will just speak before she thinks and has really thought out what is bothering her, this typically is trying for me.
Lise: congrats on your great Progestrone levels. Awesome.
Dandylez: I'm so sorry to hear about the discovery of that infection. If you don't mind me asking, how did doctors actually suspect that you may have had an infection. Forgive me if did identify this in earlier thread.
NOS: Wow I'm so interested in all your fun tools: so you take red raspberry tear, acupunture, fertility yoga poses (I will have to look this up, interesting.) What does "EPO for cm" mean, if that is ok to ask? These are the things that I have tried that others have recommended to me: evening primrose oil for fertile cm, and pineapple core for a few days after O. I am very interested in anything that would help with implantation and to lengthen my LH phase. I'm going to cont to take Prometrium.
Desert: I'm so sorry for the transition your little family unit will be experiencing here soon when your foster kids return to their bio parents. I think your thoughts were poignant and honest about what it is going to feel like for you and DP to be w/o the kids and be in a position of readjusting to a different way of living. I'm sure there are so many mixed emotions wrapped up in the process and I hope that both you and DP are being able to be gentle with yourself. You guys sound like caring devoted parents, who currently happen to be foster parents.
AFM: First and fore most, I can't not thank everyone enough for sweet kind words when I was struggling with my AF last week. So update: DW and I have decided to do two IUIs at home this month. I think this is possible and my uterus can handle this?!?. I'm going to cont to take progestrone as well since it appeared to help last month. Oh yes, I've committed to myself I'm going to work on relaxing more. Darn it, by the end of the week I hope to have scheduled acupuncture appt. I need all this: tonight my one good friend who has been my warrior sister going along with me in this process of ttc told me and my DW that she was pregnant. I so know it already. We strangely were on the same cycle this month and she wasn't sharing much when I told her AF came. She think she found out two days ago with multiple BFPs. I was in shock a little bit. But to be honest I have to say that it was truly her time. This woman is in her late 30s she has been trying for many years and has had two failed IVFs and this past cycle she said she didn't think as much about it, as much as a lesbian who takes tons of supplements and adheres to a pretty strict ttc regiment can. I am truly happy for her- and it was so kind of her to be so guarded and worried about offending me. I appreciated her sensitivity and I think this what makes her actually a great friend. A shoutout to all the kind and sensitive pregnant folks out there. You don't know how much easier you make this process. thank you.
* MujerMamaMismo 
* KSDoulaMama 
* Ad Astra 
Follow Mothering