Well, sadly things didn't go as planned for our 3rd attempt at IUI. I ended up responding poorly on the all injection cycle with only 5 mature follicles. Dr. H was expecting 8-9 good follicles, but we still ended up with quite enough to try the IUI. I took Wednesday June 13th through Friday June 15th off work for a much needed break.
The IUI was scheduled on Wednesday June 13th and went as planned. At approx 7:30am the morning of Mike "produced his sample" at home and then we drove to the clinic. Its funny watching Mike tuck our precious cargo into his undershirt (keeping it nice and toasty) while I lovingly caress the bulge in his shirt trying to give his swimmers a peep talk on our way to the clinic. "Now boys you have a BIG job to do....but I know your up for it! You've been practicing for quite a while now...so its all up to you...when you get in there just swim, swim, swim!" All the while, Mike is starring at me in a way that makes me laugh. We arrive at the clinic around 8am, drop off the sample and are advised to go get some breakfast and return around 9am.
We visit what has become our usual breakfast spot, McDonald's, mainly because its of its convenience in location. Mike gets a sausage biscuit to go with his biscuit and gravy I on the other hand get only water as usual...."Breakfast? How could I even begin to think about eating as nervous/anxious as I am." So I sit and watch Mike eat...both of us almost silent as we sit there starring at one another....both just anxious, a million thoughts running through our heads, wondering if this will be the day it works, the day we conceive.
We returned to the clinic at 9am and sat in the waiting room until around 9:45am when we were called back. I made a pit stop by the loo on the way to empty my bladder and met back up with Mike in the IUI/IVF exam room just a few mins later. The room is dark because it is attached to the room where embryo's are growing...so it provides a very romantic atmosphere...haha! I undress from the waste down and then hop on to the table and place my feet in stirrups. Dr H comes in and begins.....she tells us that Mike's after wash count was 2.5 million up from 2 million last time, but still very low. She adds that our odds of this IUI working are about 5-10% and that we will probably need to re-group and discuss IVF w/ICSI again if this one doesn't work.
Fast forward one week, its June 20th and I've been on progesterone vaginal suppositories for a week. Not as bad as I expected, but not exactly fun either. I am re-visiting the clinic to have my progesterone checked. Just a short visit to have blood drawn and then back to work. I received a call later that afternoon from Dr H advising me my levels were 19. Dr. H tells me anything over 15 is good.
Fast forward 4 long days and AF arrives and the dreaded BFN! And it seems as if the suppositories have only lengthened my luteal phase by one day from a 10 day to 11 day luteal phase. Our 3rd attempt at IUI has failed. I called the clinic to let them know CD1 began and I set up an appointment on Monday July 9th to re-group and discuss IVF and any other options we might have at this point. We'd discussed IVF over 1 1/2 years ago, but just needed to refresh since so much has happened between then and now.
I have to go for now, but I'll post more on how our appt on July 9th went and where we're at in the baby making process now.
