The November Infertility ONE Thread

[LibbyLou]

November

The Infertility ONE Thread

A monthly thread to talk about all of our various journeys through the difficult, trying, and often heartbreaking world of infertility. This thread is a place to chat, vent, get support, cheer each other on, and hopefully occasionally laugh!

Trying to Conceive

blueyezz4 - TTC #1 since July 2006; Have done 3 rounds of clomid (1 - 100mg and 2 - 50mg), 2 failed IUIs and now moving onto injectibles/IUI if this "somewhat natural" cycle (used a trigger shot) doesn't work.

christophersmom - TTC#2 since November 2005. Multiple rounds of Clomid, two HSG's, 1 IVF in November 2007 (twins miscarried in January 2008), miscarriage in September 2008. Trying IVF again.

Crystal-mommy - TTC #2 w/ PCOS on and off for 3 yrs. 2 clomid cycles-BFN, 1st cycle w/ femara

Curly Sue - age 27, dh is 30. TTC for 15 months with slight endometriosis, low count, poor morphology and motility. Starting IVF with ICSI.

DaisyMae08 - TTC for 15 months. Trying Clomid + Ovidrel trigger.

FayeO - Tired mama to DD (1/03). TTC #2 since November 2005. Recently diagnosed with MFI (antisperm antibodies). Currently TTC with unmedicated IUIs. Had 3 failed IUIs prior to diagnosis and 2 failed IUIs since diagnosis (2 medicated, 3 unmedicated). On hold with IUI in August and September due to being out of town at prime time (what luck!).

future_mom2b - 24 and ttc for 2 years. Diagnosed with PCOS in January 2007. Trying with Clomid and Metformin.

gumby74 - ttc #2 with just the use of folic acid and baby aspirin. If not successful, we will do the hormone IUI route starting next cycle.

hapi2help - I am a 33 yo mom to one DS conceived naturally after 11 months of TTC. We have been trying for 19 months this time around. I have recently been diagnosed with blocked fallopian tubes and am now contemplating surgery and IUI or going straight to IVF.

Happily Blessed - I am 39. We dealt with IF for 7.5 years before conceiving via IVF/ICSI/AH for my little man who is 22 months. We are now TTC #2 with IUI. This is the second IUI we have done with Femara, the first was with Follistem, and this one was with straight Femara. When we did the IUI on Monday, the 27th, it was with 1 #20mm follie. I am praying this one works. I also have PCOS, APA, and MTHFR factors. Dh is just fine but we still put him on Fertility Blend for Men for this cycle.

hope4light - TTC since March 2006 with MFI and slightly low progesterone. Currently TTC with IVF with ICSI, cycle 1 round 1 and 2 canceled. Round 3 left me with a BFN.

jasminewb - TTC #1 since Oct 2005, IUI's 1-4, BFN! IVF #1, BFP-Chemical. IVF #2 Nov-Dec 08!

kparker - TTC with MFI after testicular cancer and radiation. The remaining testical has varicocele. Trying naturally for a few months before seeking treatment.

LibbyLou - TTC #1 since Sept 2007 with PCOS. Cystic fibrosis carrier. Currently trying Metformin + Clomid.

MeadowMom - TTC#2 with PCOS and fibroids. Using Letrozole and HCG trigger.

natrualmom - TTC#3, new MF issues. IUI #4 with letrazole/injectibles/trigger/IUI

Needle In the Hay - Experiencing unexplained secondary infertility for 5+ years. Starting IUI's this cycle. Also dealing with hypothyroidism; started treament for that about a year ago.

nummies - 25, TTC #2. Conceived 17 month old son from IVF/ ICSI. MFI with 0-1% normal sperm morphology. Doing our first IUI in January

poetgirl - TTC for 25 cycles. Low progesterone, possible premature ovarian problems, LPD and hypothalamus dysfunction. Removed polyp 3/08. 4 failed Clomid/IUI cycles, doing Follistim/IUI this month and then IVF.

wtg4miracle - MFI and older, I am 38 and he is 43. We just failed our 6month of ttc and waiting to see an RE.

Taking a Break

EastbayK Taking a break while still hoping and dreaming

Held - 39 years old, TTC #1 since 2005 (although no prevention since late 2002). Dealing with mild MFI (low motility) and unexplained. Currently taking a break. :

Julia'sMom TTC#2 with PCOS. DD1 conceived with met, clomid & hcg. No response to clomid this time. Recovering from miscarrying twins after IVF. Trying naturally until IVF in January.

kristenok18. TTC#2 since 2004, taking a break.

lola88 - 37 years old (38 in December). TTC since October 2005. Finally got BFP in March '08 only to m/c at 9 weeks. Started first round of clomid 3 days ago, and starting first IUI in September.

lovebug - TTC#1 for over 3 years, but on a break while DH is in Iraq.

oregonduck - age 34 and DH, 31. TTC #1 since June 2007. Have done one Clomid cycle so far. Taking a break after m/c.

::: MIA :::
(These people did not post in October and will be removed if they don't post in November)

biomama TTC since November 2007. Waiting for a fall IVF.

Katie34 - 35 yrs old, IF due to toxins from periodontal surgeries. Trying chinese herbs and sweats and other natural ways to make the body healthier.

organitarian - 29 y/o, been trying to concieve for 3 years. Metformin didnt work and tracking didnt work. Do not ovulate, overweight, currently using diet and exercise.

::: Graduates :::
(May everyone who passes through this thread find their way to this section)

Aly22681 TTC #1 since January 2007, 3 MCs. --> July 2008

Kiki99 TTC #1 since Apr 2007 (unexplained infertility) with DH. 1 unmedicated IUI - failed, 2 Clomid IUI's - failed and had my 4th IUI with injectables. --> July 2008

mischievium :TTC since February 2007 with MFI (antisperm antibodies) and possible mild congenital adrenal hyperplasia. Currently TTC with Clomid and IUI. --> July 2008

Jelly Bean TTC #2 since April 07. one unmedicated IUI, one month of just clomid, one month of clomid and 2 IUI's and this month we did injectibles and 2 IUI's. --> July 2008

Corikodjo 39, TTC since August of 2007,1 Chemical Pregnancy 11/07, on 2nd IUI --> August 2008

blueRhino TTC #1 since June 2007. TTC with Chinese herbs and acupuncture. --> September 2008

Voltige - TTC #2 since 7/07; Recently diagnosed with endometriosis and PCOS but trying to conceive naturally for a few cycles post surgical laparoscopy --> October 2008

songbird45 - TTC #1 with PCOS since January 2007. Pregnant after 22 months and 4 medicated IUI cycles! --> October 2008

PLEASE let the threadkeeper know if there is anything you would like to add/ delete/ change from your synopsis above (including silly things like not liking the color your username is in) either by bolding the information you want changed/ updated in your post or by sending the threadkeeper a PM. And PLEASE check to make sure that the correct chart is linked to the chart icon in front of your username.

[wtg4miracle]

Thanks Libbylou for starting a new thread! A fresh start for a new month. Wow its November already.

Yesterday we had our first RE visit. Nothing huge went on. No tests were performed, just questions. It wasn't so horrible as I thought it would be. The RE just asked basic general questions. I mentioned to him about dh severe morphology and he wasn't putting to much emphasis on it. He said the lab we used was probably using old machines. He thinks the SA was not based on krueger or WHO. He thinks they were using there own standards. So dh will be doing another SA at the RE office. I pushed the Re for another SA, he wasn't to concerned to much about dh. He was more looking at me. Hes little concerned of my age and he wants to do more tests.

So he wants me to test call when cd1 comes and I come in and they will do tonsof bloodwork on cd3 and ultrasounds. Then somewhere around cd5 and cd7 he will do the HSG and some other procedure where they do saline. Then he will start a plan for us. He thinks after our "interview" he wants to do clomid/ IUI for 3-6 cycles, then injectables/IUI for 3-6 cycles and then onto IVF. But he said we can do whatever we want do.

He only gave me 3-6% chance of pregnancy for clomid/IUI. 15-20% chance with injectables/IUI. 30% chance with IVF (kind of lower cause of my age).

Now, my debate why do clomid with only at best for 6%, I am thinking of jumping into injectables first. I ovulate on my own with no problems so using clomid will be mute.

I would like to know what others did with these options. What would you do if you had a choice?

[Happily Blessed]

wtg4miracle - I would definitely do the HSG and sonohysterogram to make sure tubes are open and healthy. I see that you say that you ovulate, but there is LUFS - lutenized unruptured follicle syndrome which would be helped by the trigger injection to make sure you produce an egg when you ovulate. Does that make sense? I agree with you to possible go straight to injections/IUI. You could even look at possibly do Femara/injectable/IUI. That is what we have done.

I am new to this thread and seeing that it is the first day, wanted to join on a fresh thread.

I am 39. We dealt with IF for 7.5 years before conceiving via IVF/ICSI/AH for my little man who is 22 months. We are now TTC #2 with IUI. This is the second IUI we have done with Femara, the first was with Follistem, and this one was with straight Femara. When we did the IUI on Monday, the 27th, it was with 1 #20mm follie. I am praying this one works. I also have PCOS, APA, and MTHFR factors. Dh is just fine but we still put him on Fertility Blend for Men for this cycle.

laural

[songbird45]

Thanks for the new thread, LibbyLou!

Originally Posted by blueyezz4

Well, I had my appt with the RE after 3 rounds of clomid and 2 IUI failures so now he wants me to do 2 rounds of injectables and then if neither one of those 2 work it is on to IVF (or so he says, not sure what the bank account says!!!!). So my question is... Is gonal F the same as Follistim???? I thought i had heard that somewhere. I know Gonal F Pen is more expensive I think, so i didn't know if i could ask for the Follistim instead. Anyone have any input on which one is better and why?????? He had recommended the Gonal F Pen. TIA

Two things. First, Gonal F and Follistim are both injectible FSH, so it doesn't hurt to ask for Follistim if that's what you want! Second, Why only 2 IUI's? My RE wanted me to move on after 3, but we decided to do 6 because we knew the Femara was making me ovulate and wanted to give it a fair shot at working. I conceived on try 4. If you feel ready to move on, I don't want to second-guess that, but I just wanted to say that you shouldn't feel pressured by your RE to move on if you're not ready.

Originally Posted by wtg4miracle

He only gave me 3-6% chance of pregnancy for clomid/IUI. 15-20% chance with injectables/IUI. 30% chance with IVF (kind of lower cause of my age).

Now, my debate why do clomid with only at best for 6%, I am thinking of jumping into injectables first. I ovulate on my own with no problems so using clomid will be mute.

I would like to know what others did with these options. What would you do if you had a choice?

With the age factor and the difference in success ratio I think it makes sense to try the injectibles IUI for 3-6 tries. That will also give you a good idea of how you respond and whether to move on to IVF sooner or later. In my case I knew my problem was ovulation so it made sense to try to induce ovulation and try to conceive as naturally as possible.

[wtg4miracle]

Thanks songbird and happily blessed. I will do all my tests once af shows up and then I will take it from there. I will be leaning towards injectables but still open to clomid. I have a few weeks to think what is best. I will ask my docs opinion on it. I just want to be a little more aggressive since I don't have much time left.

Please anyone jump in and let me know what worked best for you. I am all ears and eyes. thanks

[blueyezz4]

Originally Posted by songbird45

Thanks for the new thread, LibbyLou!

Two things. First, Gonal F and Follistim are both injectible FSH, so it doesn't hurt to ask for Follistim if that's what you want! Second, Why only 2 IUI's? My RE wanted me to move on after 3, but we decided to do 6 because we knew the Femara was making me ovulate and wanted to give it a fair shot at working. I conceived on try 4. If you feel ready to move on, I don't want to second-guess that, but I just wanted to say that you shouldn't feel pressured by your RE to move on if you're not ready.

Thanks for your response!!! I've actually done 3 rounds of clomid (1st 100mg - thinned my lining way too much, and then 2 rounds of 50mg which didn't seem to get enough good follicles just one or so). So the RE thinks we need to increase our number of follies to help improve our chances of getting the egg. That is why we have only done 2 IUI's. I could have done one actually today (natural with only a trigger shot no clomid) but we decided to just trigger and go "old school" (as my DH likes to call it now) this month and if we don't get our BFP : then next month we will head for the injectibles (I'm a little scared, but hope that they don't even affect me at all just like the clomid didn't . I wish I could use Femara, but the practice I use won't use it!! I did ask since I know it doesn't thin your lining like clomid so it seemed like it might be perfect for me - but it was a no go.

So Gonal F and follistim are both injectible FSH...Is one the generic for the other or are they two different brands??? Wonder if one is better than the other or if most people use one over the other for some reason??? That Gonal F pen seems pretty convenient though, i have to say. Let me know if anyone has any more info on the two. Thanks.

[crystal-mommy]

I am having a hard time being as positive as I was @ the beginning of the cycle... my progesterone was 19.1 which is good. But doesn't mean a whole lot unless I get that BFP this month!! My dh is being an assmunch, which makes things hard. Sometimes I feel like the only reason he is agreeing to TTC is b/c he really doesn't think it will ever work. very frustrating!!

what do you guys do?? do you believe till af shows that your preg... or be cynical like me and be convinced that it didn't work?? I am TRYING really hard to believe I am preg this month- but, I am afraid its going to make AF that much harder. (not being very positive if I am already worrying about af showing! I am hopeless @ being positive!!)

I just want to climb under a rock and hide!!

[by-the-lake]

Crystalmom- I would like to chime in and say this time I waited for AF because I did not want to see the BFN. It feels like an insult to see the snow white pee stick or the dreaded words 'not pregnant'. It did hurt to see AF, but not as much as BFN. Anyways, I felt I made a good decision for me.

Wgt- My doc says the reason for the lower chances with Clomid is because Clomid binds all estrogen receptors which thins the uterine lining out so much. He says Femara(Letrazole) has a higher sucess rate because it only binds some of the receptors, hence, a better uterine lining. The best results were from injectibles (Follstim or Gonal -f, same thing) because it does nothing with the estrogen.

AFM: IUI #5 with letrazole until monday, Gonal f Tues and Wed, U/S on Thursday. I thought last month was my month. I'm losing hope here. I started Dong Qui tea. Anything at this point.

[nummies]

Originally Posted by wtg4miracle

Thanks Libbylou for starting a new thread! A fresh start for a new month. Wow its November already.

Yesterday we had our first RE visit. Nothing huge went on. No tests were performed, just questions. It wasn't so horrible as I thought it would be. The RE just asked basic general questions. I mentioned to him about dh severe morphology and he wasn't putting to much emphasis on it. He said the lab we used was probably using old machines. He thinks the SA was not based on krueger or WHO. He thinks they were using there own standards. So dh will be doing another SA at the RE office. I pushed the Re for another SA, he wasn't to concerned to much about dh. He was more looking at me. Hes little concerned of my age and he wants to do more tests.

So he wants me to test call when cd1 comes and I come in and they will do tonsof bloodwork on cd3 and ultrasounds. Then somewhere around cd5 and cd7 he will do the HSG and some other procedure where they do saline. Then he will start a plan for us. He thinks after our "interview" he wants to do clomid/ IUI for 3-6 cycles, then injectables/IUI for 3-6 cycles and then onto IVF. But he said we can do whatever we want do.

He only gave me 3-6% chance of pregnancy for clomid/IUI. 15-20% chance with injectables/IUI. 30% chance with IVF (kind of lower cause of my age).

Now, my debate why do clomid with only at best for 6%, I am thinking of jumping into injectables first. I ovulate on my own with no problems so using clomid will be mute.

I would like to know what others did with these options. What would you do if you had a choice?

Sounds like it went really well. I like your plan of action. If it were me, I would obviously get all the testing done, then skip over to inject/ IUI.

Originally Posted by Happily Blessed

I am new to this thread and seeing that it is the first day, wanted to join on a fresh thread.

I am 39. We dealt with IF for 7.5 years before conceiving via IVF/ICSI/AH for my little man who is 22 months. We are now TTC #2 with IUI. This is the second IUI we have done with Femara, the first was with Follistem, and this one was with straight Femara. When we did the IUI on Monday, the 27th, it was with 1 #20mm follie. I am praying this one works. I also have PCOS, APA, and MTHFR factors. Dh is just fine but we still put him on Fertility Blend for Men for this cycle.

laural

Welcome!!! Good luck to you!

Originally Posted by crystal-mommy

I am having a hard time being as positive as I was @ the beginning of the cycle... my progesterone was 19.1 which is good. But doesn't mean a whole lot unless I get that BFP this month!! My dh is being an assmunch, which makes things hard. Sometimes I feel like the only reason he is agreeing to TTC is b/c he really doesn't think it will ever work. very frustrating!!

what do you guys do?? do you believe till af shows that your preg... or be cynical like me and be convinced that it didn't work?? I am TRYING really hard to believe I am preg this month- but, I am afraid its going to make AF that much harder. (not being very positive if I am already worrying about af showing! I am hopeless @ being positive!!)

I just want to climb under a rock and hide!!

I spend most of the month preparing myself for the worst. I hate the 2ww.

Originally Posted by natrualmom

AFM: IUI #5 with letrazole until monday, Gonal f Tues and Wed, U/S on Thursday. I thought last month was my month. I'm losing hope here. I started Dong Qui tea. Anything at this point.

AFM: DH had his SA on Saturday. All went well, we find out about our results at our RE appointment on Wednesday!

LibbyLou- Thanks for starting the thread!

[gumby74]

Af showed her face today............and I am hosting a baby shower. Coincidence????

[wtg4miracle]

Crystal-mommy--I know the 2 ww is very hard. Especially when we were let down many times with a BFN. Its like negative feeback. If you stay positive and hopeful and you get a slap in the face when AF shows. I know the feeling, why bother at times. You try to guard your feelings so that it will not hurt so bad when AF shows up. Its like being hopeful but not being to much hopeful.

Naturalmom--don't lose hope yet, try few more IUIs. How many follicles do you have when you do the IUIs? Thanks for mentioning Femara. I will ask my doc about this. I might give clomid/femara a try first. I am still debating on this. I will take one day at a time and wait for all my test results come back.

blueyezz4--good luck this month on the "old school". I had to smile when you said this. I am in the beginning stages of preperation for IUI.

nummies--good luck on SA. thanks for the advice on using injects/IUI. I think this where I am leaning towards.

Afm-I am 6dpo and feeling nothing going on. No cramps, no twinges, nothing. Its not like I should give my hopes up anyways. Its that our chances of regular "old school" is next to nil. So why do I even bother putting my hopes up. Now after reading someones post mentioning that you can have all the surges and you might not pop out the egg. I am thinking this is happening to me. I have the buildup leading up to ovulation and then when the time comes it doesn't want to come out. hmm

I am wondering can our temps go up without actually releasing the egg?

[wtg4miracle]

Originally Posted by gumby74

Af showed her face today............and I am hosting a baby shower. Coincidence????

I am so sorry. Lifes cruel joke. One day it will be your day. I was in your situation many times. Have a few mimosas(sp) if you drink. Or have tons of coffee.

[LibbyLou]

Updated to here

Originally Posted by Happily Blessed

I am new to this thread and seeing that it is the first day, wanted to join on a fresh thread.

Welcome! I've added you to the first post.

Originally Posted by crystal-mommy

I am having a hard time being as positive as I was @ the beginning of the cycle... my progesterone was 19.1 which is good. But doesn't mean a whole lot unless I get that BFP this month!! My dh is being an assmunch, which makes things hard. Sometimes I feel like the only reason he is agreeing to TTC is b/c he really doesn't think it will ever work. very frustrating!!

what do you guys do?? do you believe till af shows that your preg... or be cynical like me and be convinced that it didn't work?? I am TRYING really hard to believe I am preg this month- but, I am afraid its going to make AF that much harder. (not being very positive if I am already worrying about af showing! I am hopeless @ being positive!!)

I just want to climb under a rock and hide!!

I tell myself every cycle that I'm not going to believe every little twinge means I'm pregnant, but I find it very hard not to get my hopes up. My heart doesn't seem to want to listen to my brain.

Originally Posted by gumby74

Af showed her face today............and I am hosting a baby shower. Coincidence????

s That's crummy.

[DaisyMae08]

Into week 2 of the 2ww here. I go for my test on Friday. Today I helped throw a baby shower for one of my good friends. The only time it was really hard was when everyone started talking about when they plan on starting a family and who will be the next one to get pregnant and then of course asked me when DH and I plan on having children. I had to come home and take a nap after that.

[Happily Blessed]

Originally Posted by DaisyMae08

Into week 2 of the 2ww here. I go for my test on Friday. Today I helped throw a baby shower for one of my good friends. The only time it was really hard was when everyone started talking about when they plan on starting a family and who will be the next one to get pregnant and then of course asked me when DH and I plan on having children. I had to come home and take a nap after that.

Big hugs to you. Even though I now have a son, and am trying for #2, I still refuse to go to babyshowers. I will buy them a present but that is about the extent of it all. I didn't even enjoy the one I had. Hate the little affairs.

[kjbarr1174]

I'm new to this thread - but I've been following your stories for the past two months. I've been ttc for 2 1/2 years, been through 3 cycles of clomid, changed doctors, been diagnosed "unexplained infertility", and just went through a cycle of clomid + hcg shot + IUI. Last Monday, my bloodwork showed progesterone at 134.5. Tomorrow I go for more bloodwork to check for a BFP... but AF has already started to show signs of coming. I started spotting. And I'm cramping. I had such high hopes this month, and now I've been crying all day.

Hugs to all of you that attend/host baby showers. Those events make me a wreck, too. I like Happily Blessed's idea: just send a gift.

[DaisyMae08]

I think if the shower had been for anybody else, I probably would have just sent along a gift. For this friend, I felt like I really needed to be there for her.

DH and I were just talking about how hard it was and he told me his experience visiting one of his college buddies yesterday, whose wife is due in Dec. They asked him about having kids and he told them we planned on it and would start trying eventually (he didn't really want to share) and his buddy's wife started giving him fertility tips (what to eat, take zinc, etc). He said it was really hard. People mean well, but sheesh.

[Lola88]

just started my 4th round of clomid...yuck!! does this stuff make anyone else nauseous? i think we are going for the iui this month, if i don't O at Thanksgiving since we'll be out of town, which i shouldn't.....we'll see. Good luck to all y'all in the 2ww!

[DaisyMae08]

kjbarr, so sorry about AF. Such an unwelcomed visitor.

[crystal-mommy]

Originally Posted by wtg4miracle

I am wondering can our temps go up without actually releasing the egg?

My dr said that you can NOT ovulate and still get a rise in your temp- he said some ppl just have a natural rise in temp about midcycle. He said I didn't need to temp- but I could if I wanted to. I haven't temped in a few months-it was more stressful scrutinizing my chart and then getting AF.


kjbar my progesterone my second month on clomid was 115. everyone was sure I was preg... BFN!! sucks!! hopefully AF won't show and it's your baby "burrowing" My bff is 7 weeks preg and was sure she was getting af b/c of all the cramping- she was wrong!!

gumby for 3-4 months in a row the day AF showed I would get news that someone else was preg... talk about devastating!! One month I found out my sis' friend who doesn't have custody of her 1st kid, is mildly challenged (I am trying to put that nicely- there is really something wrong w/ this girl!!) is preg again!! I thought I was going to come unglued! Another month it was DH's friend who is having a 3rd baby- they can barely pay for the 2 they have... it seems like it is never-ending!!

DaisybWhat cd will you be on friday? I will be 12dpo friday so I think I might test... not sure yet. I would like to hold off till monday, but I don't know if I can hold off that far. I usually get AF sx about 4-5 days before she shows, so by wed or thurs I will have a better idea of what might be going on.
Good luck!!