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.

IUI attempt #5

So last cycle we didn't make quads like the clinic worried we would!
So onto IUI #5.

I was meant to have a scan on day 2 because I over-stimmed last cycle but because CD2 is on a Saturday and they don't scan at weekends we decided to just go ahead anyway and start the clomid tonight.

So it begins again but this time we hopefully won't over-stim and we are going to try progesterone from 7DPO and maybe start the steroids then to.

Uterine Natural Killer Cells - Results

I had an email from Professor Quenby:

NK results: My team and I have studied your endometrium very thoroughly.
 We have found that the following changes have occurred: your glands have developed normally, your stromal cells appear to be developing normally, blood vessels are appearing normally and the epithelial surface looks normal. These changes mean that ovulation occurred, as did the post ovulation rise in oestrogen and progesterone and that these hormones had the desired effect on your endometrium. Your NK count was 6.9% of your stromal cells.
The upper limit of normal is 5%. This result was high.

I then spoke to the Prof this evening and we discussed the results and treatment. The treatment is basically 20mg steroids from the day of the positive pregnancy test, up to 12weeks. Her team have found that using progesterone and steroids together works better. So I have three possible scenarios:

TTC Naturally - use progesterone from 7DPO and take the steroid as soon as you get even a faint line on the test. If not pregnant stop the progesterone.

TTC IUI - take the progesterone and steroids from a positive pregnancy test.

TTC IVF - progesterone is from EC and steroid from ET.

What does this all mean to me? I'm not really affected by the outcome if I'm being honest because nothing matters but getting pregnant, only then does the fact that I have high uNkcells come into play. If I'm not pregnant it doesn't matter. However, it could be a reason for my first two miscarriages and could possibly explain why IVF hasn't worked - especially IVF #3 when we had a good blasto put back but it didn't work.

The Prof also said once I am Pg I can ring up the clinic and she will scan me every two weeks, from 6weeks. So I'm happy about that!

So I just need to get pregnant now! I really want to do another round of IVF but we can't afford to for a while, so onto IUI #5 when AF arrives! Fingers crossed!

IUI attempt #4 Abandoned!

So we went for the CD11 scan to see if I was ready for the IUI, and like last time I have over-stimulated and grown too many follicles. I had 3 on the right and 1 on the left ready (20mm, 18mm, 17mm, 16mm) and smaller ones (12mm, 11mm, 10mm, 10mm). In the UK they will only let you do IUI with a maximum of 3 follicles because of the risk of multiples. I argued that the follicle on the left doesn't count because my left tube is blocked but they insisted that there is a small risk that the egg could make it down one of the tubes.

So we signed the paperwork to say that if we have unprotected sex we would be going against medical advice. We will be going against medical advice!

Last time this happened we had 6 follicles and we went against medical advice, and with 6 chances we didn't conceive. This time we are hoping that the womb biopsy will help with implantation and the fact that I'm back on the DHEA and all the other supplements I've been taking have made my eggs better!.