IVF #5 Starts

Yesterday AF arrived and we went to the clinic for our nurse appointment. We filled in paper work that needed updating and I had some blood tests done. We were all good to go apart from a scan - the clinic was too busy and so I had to go back today!
Anyway, the scan today went well and I can start the injections tonight. I had between 7-9 antral follicles which we hope will all grow and contain eggs. I am on 450iu of Gonal F and in about 5 days I will start the second injection of Cetrotide to stop me ovulating. This is the short protocol, the same one as the last two cycles we've tried. This time we're hoping for the response to be as good as IVF #3 but obviously with a more positive outcome.

Peak Problem

So we haven't given up on our natural cycle and I have been POAS each morning and using my Clearblue Fertility Monitor. Since I started this on CD6 the monitor has read 'HIGH' which is strange because it normally starts off at 'LOW'. I thought maybe the DHEA is affecting it but no, the monitor is right as I am going to ovulate earlier than normal this cycle! How do I know this, well I got my 'PEAK' this morning:

Monitor indicates CD11 and has three bars with an egg in the top one that indicates PEAK fertility! The monitor stick above shows a dark LH line and a light oestrogen line.

So normally this would be great and Hubby and I would be getting busy! However, this morning I have to go for my smear test. I was meant to have it in November but I didn't want it while I was pregnant and then I had the miscarriage, wonky cycles and IUI treatment. Also seeing as how I'm going into IVF after this cycle, I can't really put it off again.

Smear tests are very important and it is a shame that in the UK the big surge we had after Jade Goody died of cervical cancer, has almost reversed and ladies going for tests is very low again.
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/03/19/jade-goody-cervical-cancer-women-smear-tests_n_1361915.html?ref=uk

Coming soon ... IVF #5

Today we had a telephone appointment with our FS. We discussed doing our 5th IVF cycle using Clomid and Menopur. The FS was surprised by how I'd over stimmed on Clomid while doing IUI. He agreed that if we choose to use Clomid for our cycle we could use 100mg on days 2-6 and 150iu Menopur on days 5, 7, 9 and 11. Also as soon as the lead follicles reach 12-14mm I should start Cetrotide to stop me from ovulating early.
Alternatively, I could use the same protocol as the last two times because although I had a bad cycle last time, the time before I produced 9 eggs which is what we will be hoping for this time. So 450iu Gonal F and Cetrotide to stop early OV. The FS reckons we would get more eggs with this protocol rather than on Clomid, and Hubby would prefer to do this too. The FS also said that if this is our last IVF would we look back and say we should have used the Gonal F if the Clomid cycle didn't work out too well. He said Hubby and I should talk about it and decide which one to do.

The FS also said that it probably isn't worth me having another womb biopsy as my last one was in January. I'm glad about this as it is a painful procedure and would have added to our costs.

We also discussed how stressed I have been at embryo transfer - bladder too full, uncomfortable and difficulty passing the catheter through my cervix. So the FS said this isn't a problem and what they can do is a trial ET while I am sedated at EC. They could also give me Temazepam to relax/sedate me, and if that doesn't work they can put me out like they do for EC.

So it is all good and what we wanted to hear. The FS told us to make an appointment with the nurses and I tried to do that but they didn't have an appointment until 30th April and that would mean I can't start IVF on our next cycle. I obviously accepted it as what else could I do? So I was about to start sulking and moaning about how I have to wait for everything, when the phone went again and someone else had cancelled their appointment and we could have that on 18th April. Also Hubby is off so it's all worked out great!

Naturally

So AF turned up and our self-treating didn't work but a bit of good news is that the fertility specialist we wanted to see (but doesn't do private appointments) has agreed to a telephone consultation sometime in the week beginning 2nd April!

So while we're waiting, we're having a natural cycle starting today. I'll be using my Clearblue Fertility Monitor to pinpoint ovulation and we'll be praying that this last chance for a baby born in 2012 works!

Mother's Day

Another year has passed when I am unable to celebrate Mother's Day as a Mother or even as an expecting Mother. However, I try not to be miserable as I am lucky to have a lovely Mother who I can spend the day with and show my appreciation to her for all she has done for me and her continued support.

Since the clinic cancelled the IUI, Hubby and I decided to take matters into our own hands and we did the HCG trigger shot and had timed sex. At 7DPO I started taking the steroids and progesterone. Now, at 12DPO our two week wait is almost up and things aren't looking too hopeful - no symptoms and no line on a test.

So we have booked a private appointment with the clinic to start our 5th IVF cycle but the earliest one we could get is 1st May! We always have to wait for everything when time is not on our side! So while we are waiting we may do attempt #6 at IUI.

Before I got pregnant in September I was reading and practising The Secret, and I was feeling happier and more positive with my life. So I decided to start reading The Power, and I have The Magic ready as well. Surely any sort of positivity will help with all these set backs and disappointments. Mind you, it is already sending me a bit loopy as I've been chanting to myself again:  'I am pregnant, I am pregnant, I am pregnant, I am pregnant, I am pregnant, I am pregnant, I am pregnant ...'
 

The Ultimate Website!

Please have a look at the website www.fertilitypoints.com which my clever Hubby has created. He has gathered information from hundreds of sources and put it all in one place so that people like us don't have to waste hours searching the net for answers on fertility.

Any feedback welcome!

IUI attempt #5 Abandoned!

So I've just been for my CD11 scan to see if I was ready for IUI on Wednesday but I have over-stimmed again by just taking the clomid this month! I have three big follicles and two smaller ones that they are worried could still contain a mature egg.

So we can either do another cycle with just half the clomid tablet or we can start thinking about our next IVF cycle.