Dr. M prescribed progesterone tablets, which he instructed me to start taking several days after the intrauterine insemination (IUI). Dr. M explained that the baby would receive nourishment from my body's progesterone until it attached to my uterus and formed an umbilical cord. If my progesterone levels were too low, then I might miscarry. That was all I needed to hear to take the pills.

I had a hard time taking the progesterone pills. They caused me to feel extremely depressed, which was the last thing I needed at this time in my life. By now, I had been trying to conceive for over a year, and I was ready to get this show on the road.

I also knew that, if I was not pregnant this month, I would have to wait two more months to try again. (See Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) for the reasons why.) So, I felt a lot of pressure to "be pregnant." I did not need pills making me feel depressed.

Over the course of my fertility procedures, progesterone became available in different forms, so I was thankfully able to stop taking the hormone in pill form. The first "new form" I used was a vaginal cream. Later, I was prescribed progesterone in a suppository form. All three versions had annoying side effects, but I definitely preferred avoiding the feelings of depression from the pill version.

As it turned out, the progesterone was unnecessary for that cycle because we did not conceive from our IUI. I was already struggling with depression induced by the progesterone pills. Starting my cycle was about enough to put me over the edge.

This first IUI disappointment came in October, right as we were moving into the holidays. Our doctor had told us that we needed to skip the next two cycles to allow my husband's sperm to replenish, so our failure to conceive meant that I would spend a second Christmas longing for a baby.

This was a very difficult time for me. I could already see how fertility treatments were starting to take over my life, but what was the alternative? Staying childfree was not an option for me. I was going to have to find a way to keep on trying to become pregnant, no matter what it took.

Related Topic:

Progesterone