Still haven't started 2nd IUI

[mommy2mark]

My first IUI was unsuccessful and then I was benched with a cyst. It had gotten smaller and I thought we were going to be able to start a new cycle this week, but no, the cyst is now bigger!! I have at least two more weeks of BCP's. If it does not go away on it's own, the Dr. will have to go in and remove it. AhhhhHHHH!!

If we had not been benched with a cyst and I did have the worry that we would again the next cycle, then we would do at least one more IUI, maybe 2. Just knowing the amount of time the cyst is taking to go away this time and worrying about having another one next cycle is making me seriously consider moving straight to IVF. Depending on the cyst, it may even be hard to get a cycle in before the end of the year.

Plus, we have some insurance coverage, but it is limited. I want to be able to get the most out of the money we do have.

I just don't know what to do. I think I want to move to IVF, but am scared at the same time. It is the last step and can be a pretty intense experience from what I've heard from others.

Any advice from others who have been through IVF?

[wloublue]

I have not made it to IVF, still trying IUI. (#3 this cycle)

I'm sorry you are having a rough time. This "hurry up and wait" stuff really stinks.

[innocencelost]

We have been recommended IVF because I respond well to meds (Repronex with IUI, failed X3 + 3 failed rounds of Clomid), but all those juicy follies contain duds.

I see your FSH is on the higher side. Is that from the cysts? (supposedly there's a play between FSH/estradiol levels/LH levels) and cysts. What does your RE think?

I am scared to spend my entire retirement on an $8,000 lottery ticket. I still have a hard time wrapping my brain around my AGE being the prime reason for only Oing dud eggs when I got pg naturall just 2.5 years ago. I just went to my 20th HS reunion where a couple of my 38 year old classmates were pg. Naturally.

[mommy2mark]

Hi Carolyn,

I had my FSH tested on the 2nd cycle after my last Clomid cycle (I did 3). I did the Clomid w/my OB and the ultrasound technician never mentioned that I had any cysts. My RE did not mention anything about the FSH/cyst connection. Is it that if you have a high FSH you are more likely to develop cysts? I would like to ask my RE about it. He just said the cysts are not unusual from the injectible meds.

The only thing he mentioned might play an effect on my FSH, although not necessarily, is the fact that I had a dermoid cyst removed from my rt. ovary last year and that ovary does not appear to be working anymore. I develop small follicles, but nothing big enough to actually ovulate. That is one of my concerns with IVF. If we take that route I would like to have a good chance of having some eggs to freeze since a frozen cycle costs much less and is much less demanding physically. My RE seemed to think I would have a good chance of having some to freeze, but from what I've read of other women's stories, you can have a lot of eggs harvested, but very little that make it to transfer and/or through a freeze. Doesn't sound that promising for my one ovary.

It is scary how expensive IVF is. Luckily we have some insurance coverage. One of my reasons for wanting to persue IVF is because of it having such a higher success rate than IUI's. I don't know how much money and time I want to spend on those, especially with the cysts putting me on the bench. The RE said I might not have them after another cycle, but I could.

I go back to the RE next week to check on the cyst. I think my decision will be based on what we have time left for this year. If we can get an IVF cycle in before the holidays, then we'll probably go that route. If not, hopefully we can at least get an IUI cycle in.

I sometimes feel so frustrated that we too were able to get pregnant after 5 months naturally the 1st time and this time it is so much harder! It is definitely possible for it to happen naturally at 38, sometimes it might just take longer. So very frustrating!

Is Repronex an injectible drug? I used Follistim for my IUI. Are you still contiplating your next steps? It is such a hard decision. I change my mind daily.

Good Luck!
Jen

[innocencelost]

www.fertilityplus.org/faq/hormonelevels.html#female

Hi there,

Above is a link where I read about the ratio of LH:FSH and cysts. IMHO after my convo with the RE, my HS classmate and the fact you have some IVF coverage, I wouldn't continue to dink around with IUIs. IVF allows them to hyperstimulate you (both duds and viables we hope!!!) and then carefully control which one(s) are fertilized, then monitor them (my classmate said they called her every day to tell her the progress of embie A, embie B etc) and then insert them.

I am still waffling about it too. Repronex is an injectible (RE said all those drugs are a different strain of same drug) and I had horrid side effects from it (abdominal pain from before O to AF and sore boobs from O on.). This month I freaked at the thought of going to a friend's baby shower (she's also 38, first child) not pg, so I knee jerk reacted and did 50 mgs of Clomid this month. I actually feel better this month than since I did REpronex (with gave me the symptoms even after I stopped for months on end). I have no pain other than nipples feel like they're being twisted.

I have heard there is something called "shared risk" IVF coverage (sounds like "insurance" where if it fails you get a % refunded.)

I waffle because we could also adopt from foster care, (we have finished precertification beofre I got the really good job I have now out of the blue) so we could keep our $8,000, spare my body the physical pain of the IVF prep, avoid herniation of an old disc injury in a delivery and have a baby in our arms timewise before we could birth one.

[innocencelost]

PS - I only did my injectibles (and a mixed Clomid/inj cycle) every other month because they caused cysts, but they resolved quickly.

[mommy2mark]

Thanks for the website. It looks like The FSH and LH ratio may indicate PCOS, which I do not have and that the E2 levels may indicate a cyst. My Dr. did not do any blood work and I'm assuming that is because he has been able to clearly see the cyst w/ultrasound. I went back today and it is still there (it's been 1.5 months already)! We are going to give it another couple weeks and then we're going to consider some other options to get rid of it. In order to start IVF it needs to be completely gone. The plan is to do an IVF cycle if we can get it in before the holidays. Otherwise, we may do another IUI. If we can only get an IUI in before the holidays, I may just sit and and try on our own for the rest of this year and wait to start IVF next year so that I (hopefully) won't have to worry about another cyst.

I too had the sore boobs in the 2ww after my IUI. I did not really have any side affects from Clomid. Are you responding well to it (as far as follicle grown and number)?

My Dr. does not do a shared risk program, but I know a lot of Dr.'s do. From what I understand, you pay up front for 2 or 3 IVF cycles. If you get pregnant on the 1st/2nd try you don't get any of your money back. If you go through the 2/3 cycles and do not get pregnant then you get a refund.

That must be hard to decide between adoption and IVF. We will consider adoption also, but want to exhaust all our other options first. But cost and physical demands are definitely are consideration when trying to decide what route to go.

Good Luck! It is such a hard decision.