Our IUI Expenses

DH and I took 1 step higher in our TTC journey which means having a more extensive work up for us to conceive. We had our first experience of the intrauterine insemination (IUI) procedure and below is the breakdown of the actual cost we should have incurred for the said procedure.

• Ovamit (3x a day for 5 days - P100.00 x 15)    - P1,500.00
• Ovamit (For DH - 1x a day for 31 days)           -    3,100.00 
• Decilone (1/2 tab a day for 6 days - P25.25 x 3)-        75.75 
• Premarin (2x a day for 20 days - P33.00 x 40) -   1,320.00 
• Duphaston (1x a day for 14 days - P58.25 x 14)-      815.50
• Puregon Shot (2 shots x P4,500.00)                    -   9,000.00
• Pregnyl Shot (2 shots x P1,600.00)                     -   3,200.00
• Check Ups (P600 x 2)                                               -    1,200.00
• TVS                                                                                  -    2,130.00
• IUI (inclusive of sperm washing & PF)              - 14,000.00 
• TOTAL                                                                          - P 36,341.25

The above total of P36,341.25 should have been our actual cost for the IUI procedure but our OB gave us 1 shot of puregon (P4,500.00) for free and a discounted shots of the pregnyl at P1,300.00 per shot (total of P2,600.00). Thus, our actual expenses for the IUI procedure, less the free puregon shot and discounted pregnyl shots, is P31,241.25. We saved P5,100.00 for our IUI procedure because of our OBs very kind and generous heart of helping her patients like us. She wanted really to help us conceive and she also understands what we are going through emotionally, physically, mentally and most of all financially because going through this TTC ordeal means a lot of time, effort and money to succeed. We will forever be grateful to our Father God for bringing us to our OB. Indeed, we are in good hands with her.

Despite a failed IUI, DH and I will forever be thankful also to our Father God (i) for giving us our parents who readily supported us financially, spiritually and mentally in our journey; (ii) for giving us our friends who may not understand what we are going through but still encourages us to go on; (iii) for my GT/TTC friends whom I do not know personally but is always there as my support group through our forums; and (iv) above all, to Father God, for leading us in our TTC journey and making all these possible. Thank you Father God for holding on us when we wanted to give up, for not letting us go, and for encouraging us to carry on our TTC journey.

First IUI Failed

I am better now so I am taking this time to update my blog.

I had my third round of ovamit (clomid) last cycle and since we are to undergo intrauterine insemination (IUI), my OB gave me 2 shots of puregon and another 2 shots of pregnyl. It was also my first time to experience the so-called injectable fertility drugs. The shots were painful especially the pregnyl. Good thing is, my reproductive system responded on the injectables to which I produced 5 dominant follicles at a very early stage of CD14. My biggest dominant follicle measures at 2.9 x 2.5 x 2.4 cm and my smallest at 1.9 x 1.9 x 1.7 cm. Below is the result of my ultrasound last 24 May 2013.

I have had a very promising dominant follicles. On the same day, my OB injected on me 2 shots of pregnyl. She made it 2 shots because she wanted all of the 5 dominant follicles to rupture so we can have a higher chance of conceiving. Below is my beautiful dominant follicles.

4 dominant follicles on my right ovary and 1 on my left ovary

Thus, on 25 May 2013, we had our very first experience of the IUI or what they call artificial insemination. Both of us were very nervous. We had our sperm washing in the morning at 8:30 AM sharp at Victory Art Laboratory Phil., Inc. The collection of DHs semen is done at almost 9:00 AM. Afterwhich, we waited a very long hour of 3 hours, more or less, before we went to OBs clinic at MMC for the insemination of DHs sperms.

Little did we know that OB will tell us that we had a very few DHs sperms to be inseminated. I cannot see DHs face because I am there lying on the bed ready for the IUI procedure but I can feel from his breaths that he is not okay and so am I. I asked OB how many is the post washed sperms and she told us that it is only 120,000. I wanted to shout, really, but I told myself, we only need 1 strong sperm and that I have to focus because I will be carrying with me my egg cells and DHs sperm cells. As much as I wanted to cry, I have to stay focus. Below is DHs Sperm Washing Result.

The insemination is painful. It is like having my Hysterogram all over again. Our travel from Makati to Sta. Rosa, Laguna was a very painful one. We walked very slow because besides the fact that it is painful in the lower abdomen I am also afraid that the sperm cells will drop. I know it will not but I can't help but think that way. Although in pain, we manage to go to Lolo Uweng's Chapel and we prayed together. From CD1 of my cycle, DH and I were praying together. We had our 9-days novena of St. Pio and Sacred Heart of Jesus, after 9-days will start again from day 1 and so on and so forth. We also ate a lot of avocados during our IUI cycle because I have read somewhere that it will help in the ovulation and implantation process. I was on leave for 1 week after our IUI procedure. From 1dpiui to 7dpiui, I felt twinges on my abdomen, left, right and middle. Sometimes, back pain. So, in my week 1 of 2ww, I am in our bed, lying on my back, legs and butt elevated. 

On 10 June 2013, I received an email from 1 of my GT friends that her AF arrived. They had their IUI procedure 4 days after we had ours and they collected 9.5 Million post washed sperms and 4 dominant follicles but still they failed on 12dpiui. I told DH, no matter what the numbers is, if it is not yet God's will, it will come out negative. So, we prayed that even if we had only 120,000 post washed sperms, the result will come out positive. After all, miracles do come.

But it was not yet our time also because at 10:00 PM of 10 June 2013, I saw brownish discharge on my undies. I told myself, this one is only an implantation bleeding and it must be it. I told DH about it but still there is the "what ifs" and these "what ifs" made the 2 of us cry. We cried together and consoled each other. And I also heard DH telling me "I love you", he doesn't know but it eases my pain knowing he loves me still even if we are about to be broken.

I barely did not sleep. I was so anxious feeling if I am wet down there because I did not put napkin since I am hoping it is only an implantation bleeding. Then came the morning of 11 June 2013, I woke up early at 5:00 or 5:30 AM to pee and at the same time check myself. The ugly AF is right there in front of me. I woke up DH and told him I have my AF. He hugged me and my tears came falling down my cheeks for the second time. DH cried too. Good thing it was a holiday the next morning. We drink on the night of 11 June 2013 and cried our hearts out. It really is okay to sometimes sit down there and cry. Bring out all the pain. It is really heart breaking to fail even if we have leveled up on our work up but it is not yet God's will. What is important is to stand again and pick up ourselves then fight again.

DH and I will have a rest this cycle. We will workout on his count first before we do another try of the IUI. As what DH told me, we started on this TTC ordeal together, what we can do is carry on and finish this ordeal together until we come out as winners. Just DH and me together, nothing is impossible. We know God is feeling our pain, our want to have a child, and eventually, in His most precious perfect time, He will grant us the grace of blessing us with our own child.

We may have failed on our first try of IUI after 16dpiui, the process may have caused us so much pain ... but we will never give up. We will cry and feel the pain today but tomorrow, like in our so many failed cycles, we will both stand up and fight again.

A Poem I Made

The agony of the 2 weeks wait is really a pain in the head but we are patiently waiting. Along with the waiting is so many rounds of avocado which I have read that it will help in ovulation and implantation. And most of all, lots and lots of prayers to our Almighty Father God that He will give us the grace of blessing us with our own child.

So, we made it on the first week and, thus, the waiting continues. I have not updated my blog with what we have gone through with this cycle. Soon... For now, here's a poem I just made today while patiently waiting.

I’m so afraid of what tomorrow will bring

So scared that our plans will not push through

I know we have passed this road a hundred times

We have encountered so many failed cycles

We have born more pains and shed so much tears

Still, we are not used to it when we fail over and over

But through it all, we remained strong together

Whatever tomorrow will bring for the two of us

No matter how heart breaking it will be

We will always stand up and pick up ourselves

And will always do everything to achieve our goal

Maybe not today nor tomorrow nor the next day

But in God’s most precious perfect time

We will wait because we believe and we have faith

In His time, will get to share the joy of parenthood

For now, we wait, we hope, and we pray