IUI Terminated This Cycle

After a month of planning to undergo for the artificial insemination or intrauterine insemination (IUI) procedure, OB decided to cancel said procedure for my DHs sake. Why? It is because DH and I opted for a sperm analysis prior to our supposedly scheduled IUI on the 27th day of April. 

To our dismay, the SA result of DH has a drastic drop of his count and morphology when it was at a minimum of 20 Million count and a morphology of not less than 90% since November of 2012. This really saddened us. So, we decided to have a repeat of DHs SA after 3 days but still, as shown below, it is less than what we are expecting in numbers.

February 28, 2013 SA

April 14, 2013 SA

April 17, 2013

When I went back to OB for a puregon shot, OB told me not to have the injection as well since we are not pushing through with the IUI. According to OB, the IUI can be done but with the psychological effect brought about by the SA results to DH it is best to terminate the IUI procedure and wait for the next cycle.  At that time, we felt we were in a roller coaster ride but we are also contemplating that maybe God has another plan for us. Remember, we only need 1 sperm to conceive so why fret on the terminated IUI.

Then came the result of my transvaginal ultrasound (TVS) showing us only 1 dominant follicle. OB told me, maybe, I am stress that is why I only produce 1 dominant follicle unlike last cycle to which I have 5 of them. Well, so the IUI was really to be cancelled after all even if DH has a good count because OB advised me before that we need 2 or more dominant follicles to go through with the IUI procedure.

The good thing this cycle is my dominant follicle. It was too big and for the very first time I experienced the pain of ovulation for 2 days where I even have difficulty walking. I told OB about it and she told me that it is normal and I should expect more of it when I produced 2 or more dominant follicles. Painful it is but I am enjoying the pain because it only means we are getting nearer to our goal of having our first born.

a dominant follicle on my right ovary

We are still earnestly praying that I will get pregnant naturally this cycle. To God nothing is impossible as long as we believe and we keep our faith. No matter how stressful and heartbreaking this TTC journey is, not to mention that it is financially draining, we believe God will provide us the wishes of our hearts in His most precious perfect time.

Introduction to the So-called IUI

Since DH and I is leveling up on our TTC journey, I asked my friend, Mr. Google, to help me explain the so-called Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) or known as the artificial insemination procedure. Hereunder are the best explanations I have read in introducing to you IUI.

Intra - Inside

Uterine - the uterus

Insemination - putting the sperm

IUI is the process of putting the best lot of specially prepared sperm directly inside the uterus at the expected time of ovulation - egg release is called "Intra Uterine Insemination". In IUI sperm bypasses the cervical barrier and is put directly inside the uterus. By IUI, sperm is put closer to the fallopian tube, at the time of expected egg release to increase the chance of fertilization resulting in to higher chance of conception.

It is essential for the woman that her fallopian tubes are known to be open and healthy before the IUI process begins. A tubal patency test is usually carried out as part of her assessment by the fertility clinic. The second essential requirement is for the partner to have no significant problem with his sperm numbers or sperm quality.

Now, how does the insemination performed?

1. The woman usually is given medications to stimulate development of multiple eggs and insemination is timed to coincide with ovulation - release of the eggs. The ovulation induction is done with the help of tablets (clomid) or injections to increase the availability of number of eggs at a proper time. This increases chance of number of embryos formed resulting in to higher chance of conceiving.
2. The process of follicle development is monitored through TVS. When follicles are ready, HcG injection is given for final maturations of oocyte abd its release, rupturing of the follicle.
3. A semen specimen is collected after 2-5 days of abstinence from ejaculation. The semen is "washed" in the laboratory (called sperm processing or sperm washing). The sperm is separated from the other components of the semen and concentrated in a small volume. Various media and techniques can be used for the washing and separation. Sperm processing takes about 30-60 minutes.
4. A speculum is placed in the vagina and the cervical area is gently cleaned. Prepared sperm sample (washed semen) is injected in to the uterus with the help of a sterile, flexible catheter. This process of injecting sperm in the uterus is called the IUI.
5. The washed specimen of highly motile sperm is placed either in the cervix (intracervical insemination, ICI) or higher in the uterine cavity (intrauterine insemination, IUI) using a sterile, flexible catheter.

After the procedure is done, the woman is advised to rest, which according to OB is 30-45 minutes then I can go back to my daily routine, including office work, travelling, exercise, etc. No worries,since the sperm has been put above the vagina and cervix, thus, it will not leak out when you stand up. DH and I can also have baby dance from the same day and any time in the same cycle to increase conception. IUI, as Mr. Google says is a very simple, easy and painless procedure. There should be little or no discomfort.

IUI may have a very low success rates but whatever it is, DH and I are determined to take our chances just to conceive. As of now, we are still waiting for Wednesday or Thursday to see if his SA has improved then we will take our decision from there if we will push through with the IUI or move it to the next cycle. Everything that is happening now, we may not understand it, but we hold on to God's embrace that He will lead us to the right path. We have waited long, there is no need to rush. Thy will be done, Oh Lord, according to Your. will.

It's Not Yet Time

I'm on CD1 today after 32 days cycle and first round of my fertility drugs (ovamit, decilone, premarin, metformin and duphaston). DH and I had high hopes last cycle but God says it is not yet our time. Still, we did feel the pain in our hearts but not as bitter as the other so many months and years of expecting that we finally conceive our child.

On my two week wait (2ww), I thought this is it because my body feels unusual things unlike my other 2wws plus the fact that I'm on work up this cycle. But then again, my body fooled me for the nth time and had us on high hopes only to be saddened at the end of my cycle. My BBTs for 2ww where so high that I have been sick for days but the funny thing is I'm only sick in the mornings then literally hot in the afternoon and at night. But and but...AF came and our first round of fertility drugs failed. Below is my BBT chart for the last cycle. For the first time, while on work up, my BBT did not fluctuate. Beautiful, isn't it? Only, the temperature drops at the end.

BBT for March 8 to April 8, 2013

I was not really surprise to see AF this morning because on my CD32, and as I have said above, my BBT suddenly drops which signals the end of my cycle but I was praying hard that maybe my BBT thermometer just committed a mistake or whatever reason it is for my BBT to drop. Yet, on my mind, AF is coming. It is not my first time to encounter such drop in my BBT on 2ww. I prayed to Father God to help us conceive but I also told Him that if it is not our time yet His will be done. Then AF came, we were saddened, of course, we felt the usual pinch in our hearts but DH and I faced this so called ordeal, bravely and much stronger, together as one. We will and will soon defeat this TTC ordeal. We have faith and we know God will provide us the desires of our hearts in His most precious perfect time.

DH and I will be moving on to our next plan and will be trying for the very first time artificial insemination this cycle which is called Intrauterine Insemination (IUI). I will be going to OB tomorrow, April 10 (CD2), for another round of fertility drugs until such time OB will schedule our IUI.