IUI

Writing about the creation of life is about beginning again. There is so much information available today for most people who are trying to conceive. Websites, blogs, advertisements, all leading to potential answers and antidotes which will certainly help you become pregnant. After having gone through so many infertility treatments, experiments on my body, mind and soul, it would inevitable lead to the "Begin Again". And, every time, the begin again was so excruciating and so painful, and yet there was the promise of next time. This is where the mind is so powerful over being influenced by those involved in this multi-million dollar industry. Your goal is to be a parent and you will go through things so incredible to have a… [more]

IUI is widely considered the "first step" when a couple begins fertility treatments beyond taking medications. I have had friends state that they are willing to try IUI, but draw the line there. They say that they won't "go as far" as attempting IVF. This decision is, if I am being brutally honest (and I am), baffling to me. IUI is more affordable and less invasive, but there are definitely risks that often are not considered when someone decides that IUI is the better bet. IUI is less effective meaning repeated tries are often necessary. When IUI is successful multiple births occur much more frequently than with IVF. The majority of multiples conceived… [more]

While suffering with infertility I always had a secret hope that I am sure is shared by many other people who pursue fertility treatments. I wanted more than anything to just miraculously get pregnant and prove all the doctors wrong, showing everyone that we weren't actually infertile and that we could get pregnant on our own. I did lots of reading about people who got pregnant after the HSG test and convinced myself that would happen to me too, but it didn't. I kept putting off the initial consultation with the Reproductive Endocrinologist thinking that I would have luck in the month before the appointment, to no avail. I tried a new tactic every month that was supposed… [more]

The decision to visit a Reproductive Endocrinologist (RE)is a big one. Once you take the step to delve deeper into your fertility issues by researching treatments and more advanced therapy and seeking the help of a fertility specialist, then you have had to come to the point of admitting to yourself that you may be infertile and may need more help than your regular ob/gyn can offer. That first consultation can be nerve wracking and overwhelming and it is often difficult to know what questions to ask. My biggest piece of advice is to make a list and take it with you! Write down your questions and concerns and get the answers that you need. It is also helpful… [more]

It seems to me that a certain phenomena exists among those struggling with fertility that involves a "competition" of sorts among those having trouble conceiving. Those who are "just" trying clomid or similar medications to induce ovulation don't know true suffering. If you are successful with IUI or injectibles you haven't really had to endure the hard stuff. If one IVF cycle works you can't imagine the pain of multiple failed cycles. If you use donor eggs or donor sperm you are in a club of your own and so on. Same thing goes for age - if you are 24 and proclaim that you have been trying for sooo long, it is really hard for someone… [more]

When people found out that we were about to try IVF we were asked many times if we were going to have multiple children, with more than one reference to us as Larry and Sheila plus 8. After my twins were born and a friend asked how we were doing, we honestly said that although we were loving every minute of it, two newborns were hard. She said, "well you did IVF, you knew you were going to have twins or more." In response to both of these statements I tried to really explain the IVF procedure and the chances of multiple births. Granted, my explanation was more plausible before IVF rather than after, when I knew that I had… [more]

To tell or not to tell, that is often the question when it comes to infertility struggles and treatment. When my husband and I first decided to try to have a child we adopted an "if it happens then great" attitude and didn't really think much about it beyond a general agreement that we thought we were ready and really hoped it "worked" soon. As the negative pregnancy tests piled up we began to realize that it might not be that easy and began to get a little more diligent in our efforts. We started tracking my cycles, taking basal body temperatures, and made sure that efforts to conceive were happening at the right time of the month… [more]

After the sperm wash was completed, we were ready for our first IUI. I was so sure that this was going to work. I would do this procedure one time, and then I would hold my baby in my arms in nine months. The nurse led me to a room and told me to make the same preparations that are used for a pap smear.

When the doctor came in, he expressed concerns about my husband's low sperm count. He asked if my husband had a fever recently, and I said yes: He had been sick a week or two before. The doctor said that his fever might have "fried" his sperm but that his sperm would be replenished… [more]

Along with the FAQs about IUI in the previous post, there was a section that listed 4 personal stories from women explaining their IUI experiences. These ranged all the way from a woman who has had 8 IUIs to a woman who had just had her first one that day. I thought that this one had the most information. They are all anonymous, so the writing credit goes to FertilityPlus. The process for IUI at my doctor's office was to call and schedule the procedure once LH surge was detected, or, if monitoring and doing hCG trigger, schedule the procedure based on the time of trigger. I did both methods and got pregnant from Clomid and IUI 24 hours after LH surge. I also did double IUIs based… [more]

I haven't personally known of anyone who has used IUI (Intrauterine Insemination) but I do have some online friends who have used it. I was unsure about the whole procedure, so I thought that I would take a look around and see what I could find to help explain it to me. I found the following page that was very helpful in answering all of my questions along with questions that I wouldn't have even thought of. The last time it was revised was in March of 2002, but I think that it covers most of the bases. IUI FAQ from FertilityPlus, Information for Patients, Written by Patients. Here is their description of what an IUI is: An IUI --intrauterine insemination -- is performed by threading a… [more]