Infertility and such
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TV ClubHouse: Archive: Infertility and such

Julieboo

Monday, November 03, 2003 - 05:53 am EditMoveDeleteIP
My dh and I have been trying to have a second child for a while now, with no luck. Which is odd since we got pg with ds so fast (and he was quite a surprise!)

I would be interested in any opinions, stories, experiences in fertility. Anything from "minor" treatments like taking clomid, to insemination, to the big treatments like IVF. And even adoption.

Thanks!

Texannie

Monday, November 03, 2003 - 06:19 am EditMoveDeleteIP
What kind of diagnostic things have you done? Are you taking your temp to see if you are ovulating? Have they checked your tubes to see if they are clear? Did you by chance have a C-section? I have had alot of friends who ended up with scar tissue that prevented them from getting pregnant again. They had a laparoscope/D&C to clear out the tubes and uterus and were able to conceive.
I went through almost all of that if you want more specific info.

Cindori

Monday, November 03, 2003 - 07:57 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Julie,

I've had a little experience with infertility, although not as much as I had anticipated previously.

Five years ago, following surgery to remove a cyst on my ovary, my doctor told me that it wasn't likely I'd ever have children. When he was removing the cyst he found that one of my tubes and one of my ovaries were deformed and they were on opposite sides. I had a hysterosalpingogram and they found that one tube was blocked completely. After subsequent testing they also found that I didn't ovulate regularly, probably because of the deformed ovary. Dh and I purchased a clearplan easy fertility monitor and my doctor prescribed clomid as the first plan of attack. (Taking the clomid, btw, did very odd things to me mentally. I found the side effects to be fairly amusing, but aggravating.) On the second month of clomid and the first month using the fertility monitor, we conceived. (Yay!) I was a relatively high risk pregnancy, I experienced some spotting and cramping and had to severely curtail my physical activities, but I carried to term and delivered by c-section. That was 3 years ago and we've been unable to conceive since then, although we have not yet started clomid again.

I have no idea if any of this will help you, but feel free to ask any questions you might have.

Julieboo

Monday, November 03, 2003 - 09:44 am EditMoveDeleteIP
I am interested in specific information. I did have a c-section. I also had a laprascopy (which untwisted my tubes) as well as that hysterping-a-thing.

I am beyond the stage of just taking temps and such, I do ovulate. I guess I don't really need beginner information. I think I would like info on more advanced stuff like drugs past clomid, insemination, invitro, etc. I really don't like the thought of going that invasive, so I guess that is why I want inforamtion about these things.

Tappy

Monday, November 03, 2003 - 10:52 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Julie:

I did insemination and will be happy to answer any questions. This was 9 years ago and it happened on the 2nd try for me. I am sure the procedures are more advanced now, but it was really no problem. Let me know if you have any questions

Texannie

Monday, November 03, 2003 - 12:57 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I can understand not wanting to do invasive things, I guess my thinking was if there was scar tissue preventing you from conceiving that would be an "easy" thing to fix.
I was on Pergonal. It made me crazy and fat! LOL You also have to be very careful about your ovaries hyperstimulating. My doc put me to bed for the last two weeks of my cycle.

Brenda1966

Tuesday, November 04, 2003 - 02:16 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Julie,

I used injectible drugs to conceive my daughter. I also used IUI inseminations. I have a friend who conceived all 3 of her kids in the same manner (she has a set of twins).

I'm not sure what you want to know. It really wasn't that big of a deal for me (except for the expense - ouch!). I had tried clomid and that didn't work, plus it made me weepy and crazy! I found giving myself the injections a bit creepy, but really quite easy to do. I know some prefer to have others do it, but I preferred doing it myself. I had no side effects from the drugs. I was closely monitored (via blood and Ultrasound) by my RE (I assume you're seeing an RE) so I did not overstimulate. Our goal was a singleton and that's what I got (although the possiblity of twins is always there).

I also started doing my own HCG shots (are you using those to trigger ovulation?) I got tired of driving to the Dr. office for those and learned to give the intermuscular injection myself. THAT was freaky, but doable.

HAving trouble conceiving is heartbreaking. I hope you find a plan that works!

Julieboo

Tuesday, November 04, 2003 - 03:37 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Thanks. I guess the thing I want to know is more about IVF. I don't think I could ever give shots to myself.

Insem doesn't seem too invasive really. But with IVF, there seems to be a lot of decisions that are hard. Like how many embryos do you want implanted, What do you do with the extras, etc... If they put in 3, you may end up with triplets--or twins--or a single or nothing at all. But I don't think I could say put in as many as possible and then get rid of all but one down the line. I just know I couldn't do that. I know I'd have to live with how many I got. But I don't want to end up like the McCoys (I know they spell it differently, but the Iowa family that had 7-due to their beliefs they wouldn't abort any--or selectively reduce-or whatever they call it.)

So I guess I'd like opinions, advice and experiences with IVF. I think we'll try insemination, as it really doesn't seem to be too much of a big deal. Oh, the guy I am now see is a RE. I wasted too much time with regular OBGYNs... My clock is starting to tick really loud!

How did you do the intermuscular? yikes! But I am a big baby.

Texannie

Tuesday, November 04, 2003 - 03:52 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
We did the inseminations, and I got pregnant but was never able to carry to term. At the time, it was $5,000 a pop for IVF (not covered by insurance) and would probably take 3 rounds with no guarranty that I would go to term. My wonderful doc encouraged us to adopt..it was $14,000 and we got a baby! (who is 14 years old today!).
I wish you all the best. You are about to board a very emotional roller coaster.

Julieboo

Tuesday, November 04, 2003 - 04:11 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Thanks! I may be back later to ask more about adoption. It just seems like adoption would be so unlikely cuz there are so many people looking to adopt babies...

What does IUI stand for Brenda? (or anyone who knows)

Texannie

Tuesday, November 04, 2003 - 04:44 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
It really just depends, there are so many different ways to adopt. It can be very expensive though. We were very lucky that with each of our kids it was almost one year from the day we applied to the day we brought them home.
I'm here if you need me!

Brenda1966

Wednesday, November 05, 2003 - 08:21 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Julie, IUI is intra-uterine-insemination (sp?). It just means putting the swimmers right into the uterus.

I guess if I were you I'd talk to my RE about why you'd want to jump to IVF before trying injectibles. You don't say how old you are so that may be part of the consideration.

I had friends who did IVF. What I know of it is: more expensive, more drugs to inject (like possibly projesterone in oil which looked so painful!), higher dose of drugs (to get as many eggs as possible), and the sometimes painful process of egg retrieval. The ethical dilemma of what to do with leftover frozen embryos is something so personal that no one could tell you how to deal with that. Most RE's have very specific rules with how many embryos they will put back and I'd question the ethics and professionalism of any doctor that put a lot back (it's just too risky).

As far as giving your own injections: I think people underestimate their own sheer "will" to get what they want. I had no choice so I just did it. I always iced the area first and it really was painless. That said, I still can't watch them do a blood draw on me -- yuck!

Good luck with this roller coaster ride and these tough decisions!

Awareinva

Saturday, November 08, 2003 - 03:47 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Julie, I don't have an IVF story but wanted to share some encouragement. DH and I tried for two years to have children and went thru all the regular tests (including the hysterosalp thing). Conceived four times using clomid and ended up with two children.

It was a real roller coaster and I remember times when I just about gave up. Friends and relatives will say things unknowingly that are incredibly hurtful, and just the hormones, etc. can cause you to feel you are losing your mind. But if this is what you really want, don't give up and don't let anyone else make you doubt yourself. Only you and your DH know what is best for your family.

On a side note, I am currently 40, with a 12 year old daughter, 10 year old son and 5 months pregnant with a "surprise" son. Doctor had told us basically after son was born that we couldn't have anymore children, but fate/nature had other plans! So I am living proof that doctors don't know everything!! Hang in there and I'll be sending good thoughts and prayers your way! :)