https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 26 Apr 2026 03:39:14 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-time-with-iui-any-advice-for-a-first-timer/page/2#post-1660362 Tue, 27 May 2014 12:39:34 +0000 Jenn23 1660362@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Lilamo: Oh no, sorry to hear that. That must have been so disappointing to find out. :( I hope you have success in the next two months trying on your own!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-time-with-iui-any-advice-for-a-first-timer/page/2#post-1657564 Sun, 25 May 2014 18:54:42 +0000 Lilamo 1657564@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Man... so I guess my body had a negative response to the Letrozole. It suppressed my ovulation by about a week. GAH! In the past 20+ years I've ovulated and started my period to the day. Such a bummer. I also usually bleed only 3 days, and with the Letrozole, I bled for about 8-10 days. </p> <p>This is such a weird process, especially since I've never ever even tried to get pregnant on my own. We went right to IVF due to a vasectomy. Then right to IUI with donor sperm. So.... I'm going to take the on-call docs advice and try at least 2 months on my own...my own cycle and everything. With the assistance of an ultrasound and a trigger shot. Just no meds at all beforehand. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-time-with-iui-any-advice-for-a-first-timer/page/2#post-1652042 Thu, 22 May 2014 12:50:28 +0000 Jenn23 1652042@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Lilamo: Good luck to you!!! Can't wait to hear how it goes! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-time-with-iui-any-advice-for-a-first-timer#post-1651419 Thu, 22 May 2014 10:04:17 +0000 Lilamo 1651419@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PurplePumps: Thanks for asking... This was based on the failed IVF attempt. It's sad, but this is a money issue. We simply cannot pay another $23,000 for a one-shot "maybe," compared to a round of IUI which is putting us at about $1,200 each time. There is speculation that because all of the embryos started behaving poorly after day 3, that it could have been a sperm issue. But I'm 39, and I'm sure my embryo age also contributed. </p> <p>Another factor is that my husband has two children from a previous marriage. I think if he had no children, moving to a sperm donor would be a more difficult decision. We mourned the idea of not having a child from both our genetics, but in the end we just want to add to our family in whatever way.</p> <p>I think if we had a ton of money, we'd do IVF again, but paying that much (no insurance coverage for this) would be too hard to deal with. This way, at least we get to try several times and not deal with such a financial blow.</p> <p>Fingers crossed! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-time-with-iui-any-advice-for-a-first-timer#post-1650924 Thu, 22 May 2014 08:07:23 +0000 PurplePumps 1650924@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Lilamo: Good luck with the IUI!! FX for you. If you don't mind sharing, did you do testing to determine that your eggs and your husbands sperm wouldn't work together, or was it based on the results of the IVF attempt? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-time-with-iui-any-advice-for-a-first-timer#post-1650885 Thu, 22 May 2014 07:57:20 +0000 Sunshine1810 1650885@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Lilamo: Good luck! I agree with others. IUIs are a snap compared to IVF! Keep us updated! :goodluck: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-time-with-iui-any-advice-for-a-first-timer#post-1650389 Wed, 21 May 2014 20:32:21 +0000 lazypanda 1650389@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Lilamo: good luck! I had my first IUI last month and it was super quick and painless. :goodluck: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-time-with-iui-any-advice-for-a-first-timer#post-1650379 Wed, 21 May 2014 20:25:58 +0000 Lilamo 1650379@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It has been a while! Well, we do our first IUI most likely on Monday. There has been a lot of mourning and healing after our failed IVF, knowing we won't have a child with *both* of our genetics. We've come to terms with that, and are moving on. </p> <p>Everything looks good and we picked a sperm donor. What a weird process that was! It was like picking out a date, except that I'm married. heh. My husband and I both really like our donor. We were able to see a baby photo, hear audio, and see all his history and family's history. He has two children of his own, and that was important to me because I want to know that at least we're all good on his end. </p> <p>We'll give IUI a try for three times, and then re-evaluate our path if nothing has happened at that point.</p> <p>Fingers crossed!! :grin: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-time-with-iui-any-advice-for-a-first-timer#post-1547191 Fri, 04 Apr 2014 18:33:42 +0000 Lilamo 1547191@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We're sticking with our RE... she supports us doing IUI with meds (vs. our OB) so we'll do that starting in May. She thinks it's worth a try, given my numbers being borderline... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-time-with-iui-any-advice-for-a-first-timer#post-1547184 Fri, 04 Apr 2014 18:28:35 +0000 CatchAFallingStar 1547184@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@spaniellove: I have slight DOR and endo and my RE is doing IUI. I think it just depends on each individual patient. That being said, I think @Lilamo: should stick with an RE, not OB. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-time-with-iui-any-advice-for-a-first-timer#post-1547047 Fri, 04 Apr 2014 16:56:51 +0000 spaniellove 1547047@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Lilamo: How successful is this OB with DOR? Because from what I know, REs generally won't recommend IUI with DOR so I'm surprised he's recommending no meds... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-time-with-iui-any-advice-for-a-first-timer#post-1547039 Fri, 04 Apr 2014 16:50:59 +0000 Lilamo 1547039@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@spaniellove: My husband has a vasectomy, and we'll be using a donor sperm... And he said with IUI there is a better chance than doing ICI (like intercourse). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-time-with-iui-any-advice-for-a-first-timer#post-1547029 Fri, 04 Apr 2014 16:46:45 +0000 spaniellove 1547029@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Lilamo: But that's basically the same as having sex. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-time-with-iui-any-advice-for-a-first-timer#post-1547025 Fri, 04 Apr 2014 16:46:12 +0000 Lilamo 1547025@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@spaniellove: yeah </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-time-with-iui-any-advice-for-a-first-timer#post-1547019 Fri, 04 Apr 2014 16:44:19 +0000 spaniellove 1547019@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Lilamo: Wait...do you mean he was suggesting just IUI with no meds? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-time-with-iui-any-advice-for-a-first-timer#post-1546992 Fri, 04 Apr 2014 16:21:04 +0000 Lilamo 1546992@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We just met with an obgyn in our town who is highly recommended for IUI's... He wasn't that into the idea of medication for the first couple tries. I actually really liked him. I can see trying it that way 1-2x, and if that's a no-go, going to Spokane and doing it with meds, ultrasound, etc. It's an hour and a half away and I'm so sick of traveling, like we did for IVF. It's not as intensive as IVF, but still involves time off work, etc. That's why staying within our town for a couple months sounds so appealing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-time-with-iui-any-advice-for-a-first-timer#post-1544073 Thu, 03 Apr 2014 17:57:24 +0000 Lilamo 1544073@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@spaniellove: No, I was just reading about the DHEA and thought I'd try it. Thanks for mentioning! I'll talk to my RE before I start taking them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-time-with-iui-any-advice-for-a-first-timer#post-1544057 Thu, 03 Apr 2014 17:51:25 +0000 spaniellove 1544057@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Lilamo: AMH generally goes down but it's not as important an indicator as your AFC in a given cycle and then maybe your FSH at any point, but still that can fluctuate and you can get pregnant with a wide range of FSH too. Although the news was hard to take, your AMH was actually not too bad! When I was 31 mine was .25. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-time-with-iui-any-advice-for-a-first-timer#post-1544048 Thu, 03 Apr 2014 17:46:48 +0000 spaniellove 1544048@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Lilamo: About the CoQ10, I think Ubiquinol is supposed to be more effective (even if it is more costly), especially if you're in your late 30s and up. Did your RE recommend the DHEA and check your levels? It can either help or hurt you depending on your actual levels. I think wheatgrass is supposed to be pretty good; supposedly it can lower FSH - I took this:<br /> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Amazing-Grass-Organic-Tablets-200-Count/dp/B0010Y6QBC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&#038;qid=1396564856&#038;sr=8-2&#038;keywords=wheatgrass" rel="nofollow">http://www.amazon.com/Amazing-Grass-Organic-Tablets-200-Count/dp/B0010Y6QBC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&#038;qid=1396564856&#038;sr=8-2&#038;keywords=wheatgrass</a></p> <p>And I also took calcium because DOR isn't just about your ovaries and fertility; it means you may hit menopause earlier and need to protect your health. It's a lot to take but you get into a routine! </p> <p>I highly highly recommend the High FSH group:<br /> <a href="http://www.network54.com/Forum/209394/" rel="nofollow">http://www.network54.com/Forum/209394/</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-time-with-iui-any-advice-for-a-first-timer#post-1544034 Thu, 03 Apr 2014 17:43:26 +0000 Lilamo 1544034@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Do you all know is there any way to increase AMH levels? Or is that pretty much a static number that will only go down, once we age and head towards menopause? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-time-with-iui-any-advice-for-a-first-timer#post-1544022 Thu, 03 Apr 2014 17:38:50 +0000 Lilamo 1544022@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@spaniellove: That's funny, as I'm researching online right now! I'm currently taking: </p> <p>pre-natal multivitamin with extra folic acid<br /> vitamin D<br /> CoQ10<br /> Fish oil</p> <p>I just started DHEA and L-arginine...</p> <p>I have maca, spirulina, and royal jelly which i was making into smoothies, but I fell off the wagon after our failed IVF. I wanted to start up again tomorrow.</p> <p>Do you have any other recommendations? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-time-with-iui-any-advice-for-a-first-timer#post-1543996 Thu, 03 Apr 2014 17:32:37 +0000 spaniellove 1543996@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Lilamo: Are you on any supplements for egg quality? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-time-with-iui-any-advice-for-a-first-timer#post-1543972 Thu, 03 Apr 2014 17:22:48 +0000 Lilamo 1543972@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@spaniellove: For my ivf, I did 450 Follistim/day and 20 Low-Dose HCG/day. I had one vial of Follistim left over, and she wanted to use that (because I had it)... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-time-with-iui-any-advice-for-a-first-timer#post-1543960 Thu, 03 Apr 2014 17:19:52 +0000 Lilamo 1543960@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@spaniellove: We haven't started yet... but she was going to do small amounts of Follistim for 5 days and some other drug that I can't quite recall the name of. It was pretty cheap though- like, $20, an oral tablet. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-time-with-iui-any-advice-for-a-first-timer#post-1543937 Thu, 03 Apr 2014 17:15:10 +0000 spaniellove 1543937@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Lilamo: Before you do all 3-4 IUI cycles, I would make sure you research DOR thoroughly and make sure the meds you're using are specifically for DOR and your situation. What does she have you taking? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-time-with-iui-any-advice-for-a-first-timer#post-1543865 Thu, 03 Apr 2014 16:58:09 +0000 Lilamo 1543865@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our new RE said she thinks, given my #'s, that IUI with donor sperm is reasonable for 3-4 tries. It's about $1k per IUI, so a lot less than IVF. </p> <p>My husband is not keen on the idea of a donor egg (which is weird because he was totally ok with donor sperm), but I know if that is what we need to do, I can make a good case. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-time-with-iui-any-advice-for-a-first-timer#post-1543857 Thu, 03 Apr 2014 16:55:21 +0000 Lilamo 1543857@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Jenn23: The day after my ivf failed, my long-time friend took me out to dinner. Where she proceeded to tell me how her sister donated "like, a million eggs!" in her 20s, and how it runs in their family because she had 4 kids with no issues whatsoever. </p> <p>*sigh* </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-time-with-iui-any-advice-for-a-first-timer#post-1543832 Thu, 03 Apr 2014 16:48:47 +0000 Lilamo 1543832@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@CatchAFallingStar: I found out today that my FSH was 9.6... my AMH was .75. I'm almost 39 years old. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-time-with-iui-any-advice-for-a-first-timer#post-1543811 Thu, 03 Apr 2014 16:42:28 +0000 Lilamo 1543811@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Jenn23: Thank you! Oh man, the "so, just adopt!" statement is so annoying... and it's usually from someone who has four kids. </p> <p>I found out today that my FSH was at 9.7... so, borderline. And my AMH was .75, so below 1.0. The previous RE seems to think with multiple ivf cycles, we can get a baby. But.... at 23k a pop, who can do that multiple times?? So we're gonna try IUI 3-4x, and then go from there.</p> <p>I don't think we can do another cycle to have the same result (both financially and emotionally). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-time-with-iui-any-advice-for-a-first-timer#post-1542828 Thu, 03 Apr 2014 12:44:51 +0000 Jenn23 1542828@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Lilamo: I'm so glad you are with the new RE and are getting great advice. Sorry about the DOR, but just know with meds to give you extra chances (extra eggs), that should help! :) I totally know what you mean about friends saying things that really can hurt. My neighbor who I consider a friend said to me a few years back when I mentioned we were having fertility issues, "So, adopt!" Grrr!! I came home and cried. Sorry you are going through this, but I really think you have a good plan in place and fingers crossed it works the first time. Oh, and I also relate on the age thing. I'm almost 37 (August) and don't feel or look old, but feel like an old lady when it comes to fertility! </p>