hey ladies,
I've posted a bit in an IUI thread, but want to say hello in here too. It's nice to know you all understand the struggles of not having unlimited sperm!
To recap the last few months of my wife and I TTC using anonymous donor sperm:
August-October 2012 at-home ICIs (trying for IUIs but cervix too closed), BFNs
November 2012 at-home ICI, added Clomid, BFN
November- decided to step it up and went to Reproductive Clinic, HSG showed open left tube but blocked right tube.
Otherwise good fertility. So, now we're doing IUIs in-clinic with ultrasounds first to make sure the dominant follicle is on my left (good) side, or else we cancel.
December 2012- 20mm follicle on the left on d10, had IUI at day 12, 36 hr post HCG- BFN again.
January has pretty much sucked too. This was the first cycle we added a single FSH injection on day 9 ("Mayo protocol") in addition to the Clomid d3-7 in hopes of getting multiple follicles. Went in for US on day 10 and there was a 14mm follicle on the right (blocked tube side) and a 13.5mm one on the left (good side). We were relieved that there was something on the left and were told to come back in 2 days for a follow-up ultrasound. Well, we were pretty surprised by what we saw on those images. Somehow the right side went gangbusters and I had 4 big follicles over 17mm. The left, however, had totally crapped out and my little follicle had only grown to 14mm. The docs advised cancelling the IUI since the chances were so low that that left one would be viable or that the left tube would cross over to the right ovary.
What a waste. Very disappointing. I wallowed in self pity for a few days.
But also, just bad luck. I did respond well to the meds and had the follicles just been dispersed differently, I would have had something going on over there in the left ovary.
So, we're going to do the same thing this coming cycle and just cross our fingers that if I have 3-5 follicles again, that at least 1 will be on the left.
However, this is what I'm thinking- we should make our back-up plan be minimal IVF if that same scenario comes up. What do you think? I mean, I had 4 harvestable eggs, I was a perfect candidate for minimal IVF. I already wasted the $ on meds, US, etc., I had already sunk costs into that cycle. Why not turn lemons into lemonade IF that happens again and at least go for something with a pretty good likelihood of working? It probably won't happen again that everything's on the wrong side, but if it does I think I want to go for minimal IVF. Yeah, it costs more, but not a hell of a lot more... about the same as 3 IUIs and has much better rates. At my age and I had awesome 9mm uterine lining, I think chances of implantation are good.
Anyone here have experience with minimal (or "micro") IVF?
thanks and well-wishes to everyone!