Looking for advice about IUI

[Kel1971]

Can anyone give me a little advice about the whole procedure of IUI.

I am suppose to start my first IUI this month - RE said next was IUI with injectibles (we haven't gone over all the details yet - I have an appt in about a week)

Can anyone let me know what I should expect?  
What are the injectibles or are there different ones? Are the injections painful?  
Is the IUI itself painful?  (I had the dye test to check my tubes and it was very uncomfortable-luckily all was ok there)

I understand from reading some on here, that you are monitored before to see if you are ovulating and size of follicles etc - what all do they monitor and how often will I have to go into the doctors for monitoring (just preparing myself to  have to take time off work)

I would appreciate any information anyone could give me on the whole procedure and any successes.

Thanks

[Tanker Chic]

I had a total of 3 IUIs the first time.. I did get pregnant on the first try but unfortunately that one didn't work out.  The second one didn't work but there we other circumstances that reduced my odds that time.  I only have one fallopian tube, and the mature follicles were on the side that is missing a tube.  The next time (3rd) the follies were on my good side and it worked out.  

This time.. so far I have had one IUI but again the follies were on the side without the tube.  From now on if the follies are on my bad side, I'm just going to cancel the IUI. I go in on thursday for an ultrasound. If the follies are on my good side we'll be going for #2.

Sorry your appt got rescheduled. I would really be upset about that.  If your clinic doesn't service clinents 7 days a week, you might considering finding another place.  Timing is everything and if they only do IUI monday-friday that can cause a lot of issues.  

best of luck to you.. I hope it works out the first try for you!!  

[Kel1971]

Thanks again for all the info.
I have my next appt in Oct now....the doctor just changed it. It can be so frustrating (as I am sure you know) I want to get started - each month counts and now I am another month before I can go. UGGG
It seems like it is a count down, I am almost 37 and feel like each month that passes and we don't do something more...is a waste. Obviously the clomid alone is not working - so I am ready to move to something new - then they change my appt.

I must say it is nice to hear a success story....I hope it works a 2nd time for you.
Did it take very many IUI for you the first time?

[Tanker Chic]

When your follicle gets to a mature size you do an hcg trigger shot and that signals the body to ovulate... it works like your own natural LH surge which is the hormone that the OPKs is testing for...  I'm not a fan of OPKs either... they just confuse me even more...

Nothing in life is guaranteed, but with hcg trigger your chances are very likely that you will ovulate around 36 hours after shot.  

[Kel1971]

Thank you so much - at least that gives me an idea of what to expect.
What is the HCG Trigger Injection that you referred to?  My RE told me that the ovulation kits don't always work - not to waste my money on them - so we have just been timing it - but apparently it is not working.

I have been on Clomid for awhile and that is not working - it is nice to hear a success story with IUI - gives me some hope.

Thanks again

[Tanker Chic]

My son was the result of IUI and I am now undergoing IUI again for another baby.  I haven't done the injectables myself but from what my RE has told me, there is a lot more monitoring invovled with the injectables...  Without injectables the number of times you will need to go in for monitoring depends on how regular your cycles are. If your cycles are irregular you might have to come in an extra time or two to see where you are at... I have had cycles with and without clomid and got pg both ways... here was a typical cycle for me:

Clomid cd5 thru 9
Ultrasound on cd10 and cd12 (sometimes we skipped the cd10) to check follie number and size
HCG trigger injection at 11 pm on cd12 and bd that evening
IUI on cd14 at 11 am (so IUI is 36 hours after hcg trigger)
After that you are officially in the TWW (two week wait)

different drs time things differently.. I seen someone women on here get two IUIs. One 24 hour after shot and another 36 hour after shot... and some get just one 24 hours after shot... some women do not do the hcg trigger shot and instead use ovulation predictor kits to time IUI... I personally recommend using the trigger shot.  Takes a lot of the guess work out of it...  

The IUI procedure itself is not a big deal.. feels a lot like having a PAP done..  my RE tells me to come in with an uncomfortably full bladder, but I have only seen one other person on the board mention that, so I don't think most dr do that...  I think the full bladder helps open things up and makes access easier for the dr.  My dr also uses an ultrasound during the procedure to guide the insemination tool into the right place.. the screen is faced toward me, so I can see him release the sperm into my uterus and watch them dart off and swim off real fast.. it is really pretty neat to see...  

best of luck to you... i hope it works out for you!!