We had our consultation with the fertility specialist 4 days before start of next cycle. In the office, Steve immediately got comfortable in the massage chair in the waiting room. He is the best. The office seemed very involved and super friendly. I came with a boatload of questions, and I didn’t even ask half. The doctor was informative in a completely different way. He said would recommend a hysterscopy and D&C to clean out any possible scar tissue from post partum with my first. I have never had a surgery before, besides wisdom teeth extraction. I asked to do an IUI and have it fail through this office before that surgery and he was on board with that. Assuming we go into next cycle, it will be the goal to have a third IUI completed and hopefully successful.
CYCLE DAY 1:
I called and let them know my cycle started. Prescriptions were sent in and appointments were made. Added aspirin per doctor order. Started Letrozole prescribed day 3-7.
CYCLE DAY 5: FOLLICULAR SCAN #1
This office is unique in the sense that the doctor completes the ultrasound scans. Before he completed this ultrasound, he was talking about increasing the drugs and using injectables after the Letrozole cycle was complete in this cycle. I was pretty hesitant about this, especially since I know how my body has been responding to the meds in previous months, to add anything else seemed overkill. Supposedly it gives a 30% increase in pregnancy rate to use the injectables after but you also produce more follicles / potential eggs… which adds more risk. I told him I’ve been responding really well to the medications and don’t want to be put in a situation to make decisions about having too many follicles. So we are not adding in the injectables and once he finally got in there to look at the ultrasound he said I’m already responding well (2 days on Letrozole) and have a 12 on one side and 13 on the other (cycle day 5) so to stop taking the Letrozole early (should take them for 5 days usually). I was stoked. And appreciated this different way of thinking.
Although, one thing did stand out that put a bit of a damper on what seems to be the start of a great cycle. He and his nurse said “I’ll likely be in the IVF pile” since we’ve been trying so long while being monitored and didn’t want to do the injectables. I certainly thought it was …rude… how he jumped right to that and tried to brush that comment off. Hopefully we’ll surprise him . He is willing to do as many IUI as we want, but in all reality but it sounds like if 2 don’t work with him, after my 2 through the OB he would recommend IVF, but will continue to do IUI if we choose.
Looking forward, he also brought up the hysteroscopy again next cycle.
CYCLE DAY 8: FOLLICULAR SCAN #2
I have 4 follicles of similar sizing, 2 on each side measuring: 18, 21 and 15, 17. I was SO excited. This cycle just felt different. I felt like this had to be it. I wasn’t that nervous about there being 4 potential follicles total because from my understanding TYPICALLY only one ovary will release follicle during ovulation; it is usually not both sides. He told me to trigger shot on cycle day 10 in the evening; he side the timing of the trigger won’t matter as the IUI is the next morning. I was trying to wrap my head around that rationale, but I suppose as long as you haven’t missed the ovulation window for the IUI it doesn’t matter.
CYCLE DAY 11: IUI #3
I triggered last night which gave like a 12 hr window which is less than most places recommend but, again, he says it doesn’t matter. The sperm was “raging” (doctor’s words) post wash, he had about 44 million and 72% motile; so that’s awesome. We also felt even more confident in the switch to this office after the fluke IUI sperm wash last month with my OB/GYN office.
The IUI never hurts for me, but I bled a little so that’s new. The doctor guided the catheter and then he let Steve push the sperm through. I thought that was very cool. He used an ultrasound to see the sperm going in too.
In the days leading up to the beta lab draw, I had been testing like crazy using my cheapie dip sticks. For me, it helps; I know for others it can cause more anxiety. I’d been testing and getting negatives. My toddler could tell I was feeling down about it all and said “momma sad” and gave me a kiss.
BETA BLOOD DRAW 14 DPIUI: Negative.
Onto the next cycle – of scheduled exploratory procedures.