Donor IUI Success?

[Dani88]

My DH and I have been trying to conceive for over two years. We found out in August 2015 that he had a count of zero sperm. We saw a specialist and tried everything we possibly could to change that and when nothing worked we booked a Micro TESE procedure to try to extract sperm for IVF (the Doctor told us this would be our only hope). The procedure did not go as we had hoped. Very few extremely immature and underdeveloped sperm were found and we were informed that in all likelihood they will not survive the thaw.

After a lot of heartache and grief for our biological children we probably won’t have, we decided to move on to using donor sperm and IUI. I went in Tuesday morning (CD15) for the IUI. Everything went well. I did an unmedicated cycle as they wanted to try that first as I don’t appear to have any fertility problems. I did the trigger shot (Ovidrel) on the Sunday night (CD13) at 8:55 PM and went in for 9 AM (IUI was at precisely 9:25 AM – I looked at my watch) on Tuesday morning – 36 and a half hours after the trigger. Before the IUI I went for an ultrasound at 8:30 AM and was told my egg just dropped and that it was perfect timing. Was also told my lining was 13.3mm triple line, which they said was really good. The Doctor who did the IUI even said that she could tell I was ready. They nurse said there was a lot of sperm (and she let me look at them under a microscope, which was cool), but I was never given a number or any stats on it.

So far I feel fine, other than feeling bloated. Tuesday night and Wednesday morning I had serious hot flashes and was feeling a little crampy, but probably just due to the trigger shot – I could definitely tell I ovulated… all my regular signs of ovulation were intensified. I started taking progesterone pills vaginally Tuesday night. I go in for my blood test Monday October 17th in the morning.

I was never told what my chances are and am trying to be cautiously optimistic. I am looking for stories from others who have gone through a similar journey and have a child. I am interested to know how many attempts it took and what you did differently the cycle that did work. I will also like to hear any tips for the two week wait.

Thanks!

 

[Rags]

HI Dani88. I've my fingers crossed for you and your DH. My journey was a bit different from yours in that I don't have a partner so was using a donor to fill that gap. That said zero sperm is zero sperm! I was also far older than you - 40 when I began my IUI's with only about a 5% chance of success. I had 3 unmedicated IUI's with no trigger shot, had the insemination based on OPK's, and had my BFP on my 3rd attempt. I have a fabulous 6 year old son to show for it and couldn't be more happy.
All of your details sound promising. As you said there is no suggestion that you have any fertility issues so it will hopfully just be a case of getting the seprm there at the right time. When my Ds was nearly 3 I tried for another this time using medicated cycles - it didn't work for me, infact on every medicated cycle I ovulated before the trigger shot and started my next cycle early - go figure!

I've my fingers crossed for you that it's first time lucky but if for any reason it isn't don't worry about trying again - as I've told my son if I'd gotten pregnant sooner he wouldn't have been the baby I got and when it comes to it he's exactly the one I wanted.

 

[mkwalsh]

I just wanted to wish you luck on your blood test tomorrow! I have a similar story in that we used donor sperm after hubby was discovered to have very few and we couldn't afford IVF, so we skipped to donor IUI with letrozole and a trigger shot. We got pregnant with our daughter on our second attempt and I had a pretty smooth pregnancy. Now we're onto TTC #2! Stuck in my TWW of our first successful IUI since the cycle before was not a fruitful one for me. I'm crossing my fingers for you and hoping for the best!

 

[Dani88]

I just wanted to wish you luck on your blood test tomorrow! I have a similar story in that we used donor sperm after hubby was discovered to have very few and we couldn't afford IVF, so we skipped to donor IUI with letrozole and a trigger shot. We got pregnant with our daughter on our second attempt and I had a pretty smooth pregnancy. Now we're onto TTC #2! Stuck in my TWW of our first successful IUI since the cycle before was not a fruitful one for me. I'm crossing my fingers for you and hoping for the best!

Thank you!!! Glad to hear a success story. Good luck to you too.

 

[Dani88]

Bfn

 

[mkwalsh]

I'm sorry Hun. Take your time to let the feelings feel and come back stronger than before. If you can, talk to your doc about letrozole/femara with the trigger shot for your next cycle. My RE insisted when we first started to help increase our chances and I'm glad she did or I would've insisted. It's totally worth the peace of mind to know you're helping increase your chances. I'm sending you virtual hugs! Hang in there. It's a rough rollercoaster, but it's worth it in the end.

 

[WayPastReady]

Hi ladies! I would love to join in on this as my husband (31) and I (30) have been TTC for over 2.5 years with 2% morphology (found that out this time last year) and have been trying everything under the sun to improve it with no success thus far, so on to donor sperm we go! We will be doing a home ICI insemination with frozen donor sperm at some point in the next week or so when I get my positive OPK. I was obsessively tracking my cycles with BBT, OPKs, CP, and CM, but after doing that for 2 years, I decided to take a break so I'll just be using OPKs, CP, and CM to hopefully help me on the timing and softcups to help keep the swimmers near the cervix.

I also bought a speculum for my DH to visualize the changes in my cervix and to be able to perform the best insemination possible.

Any and all advice, tips, and prayers are welcomed!