IUI didn't work IVF next

nbound72nbound72 Posts: 153
in Single Mothers by Choice
This is my first post here. It is so helpful reading everyone's posts I though I would post about my experience. I'm 37 and haven't met Mr. Right. I decided Mr. Right can come anytime, but a having a baby has a time limit.

I am working with a wonderful fertility clinic and my family, friends and close co-workers are all on board.

After a couple of months getting prepped for my first IUI and getting the results yesterday that was no pregnancy, I decided that I'm going to skip any further IUI's and go right to IVF. It is much more expensive, but I realized so is ordering more sperm from the bank.

When you do this process without a partner those are things to consider. It makes the most sense for me.

Luckily, my insurance will help with some of the cost.

I discussed my options with my doctor and he was very helpful in making this decision.

IVF will probably take place in Sept. Would love to hear from others who are in a similiar situation.

Comments

  • VVNJMOMVVNJMOM Posts: 45
    Hello. I am also single, doing this alone, 41 and I am 18 weeks pregnant after 6 IUI's and 1 IVF cycle. I totally understand and support your decision going right to IVF. I wish I had done that. It would have saved me a lot of money and disappointment. I got pregnant on my first and only IVF cycle. They retrieved 6 eggs and transfered 5. I was relieved when only 1 took. If you have any questions about the process, I would be happy to answer. I used donor 11438. What donor are you using?
  • nbound72nbound72 Posts: 153
    I am so happy for you that you finally became pregnant. You must be so relieved. I have only had one round of IUI and I am frustrated. I'm not going to dwell on it, but I also want to cut to the chase. How was the IVF? Was the egg retreaval painful? Will you find out what the sex is?

    I used donor 11257. Thanks so much for commenting. It's nice to know there are others out there who are in a similiar situation.
  • VVNJMOMVVNJMOM Posts: 45
    IVF was not painful at all. The only slight pain was from all the needles and the constant blood draws. The pain was only a pinch so nothing too it. They put you under to retrieve the eggs so that was so easy. I didn't feel any pain or discomfort afterward at all. I have no complaints about the IVF process. I only wish I would have done it sooner. Yes, I will find out the sex on July 29th. I'm so excited. I can't wait to start decorating the nursery :)
  • Ms M404Ms M404 Posts: 111
    Congrats VN !!!!!!!!
  • nbound72nbound72 Posts: 153
    I start all the IVF tests tomorrow. Lots of IVF consults, tests...They are actually putting me on birth control for 1 month. I had a cyst on an ovary which is almost gone. I guess it's to get my body completely ready. I'm really glad I decided to go this route. You must be so excited and I'm sure worth all the wait. Please post when you find out the sex. The decorating is the fun part. Enjoy every minute. I can't wait.
  • nbound72nbound72 Posts: 153
    Did you have to do any home injections? I have to do at least 10 days and I'm really nervouse about doing it myself. If you had to do it, was it difficult at first? I get very squeamish. :)
  • VVNJMOMVVNJMOM Posts: 45
    Yes, I had to give myself 4 shots a day in my stomach for about 10 days. Two in the AM and 2 in the PM. They were easy and painless. The needles are really small. Once you get past the psychological part of sticking yourself, its really simple. The one that was a little more painful and I needed help with was the progesterone shot. You start taking that one in the backside after transfer and up to 6-8 weeks of pregnancy. That's a much larger needle and I couldn't reach to do that one, so I had my friend and cousin alternative nights to do that one. It was a little more uncomfortable but believe me, its all worth it in the end. I don't regret or can complain about any of it. I'm so happy I did it. One you hear that first heartbeat and see the ultrasound, you forget all about the shots and blood draws and everything....

    Never comes labor but I'm not nervous at all. At least not yet :)

    I will definitely post when I find out the sex.
  • VVNJMOMVVNJMOM Posts: 45
    Ms M404 - Thanks you for the congrats. I'm so excited and wish the best for all the others on this board who are trying. To all who are trying, don't give up hope, it took me almost a year, many doctor appointments, meds and needles but I finally got pregnant.
  • JodiAnnJodiAnn Posts: 2
    Hi all, I have just turned 40 this past June and have had 4 Failed IUI's. So I decided to bite the bullet too and opt for IVF. It is NOT covered by my insurance at all and being a single woman alone made the decision that much more difficult. I begin IVF in a few weeks. I am also in the "prep-cycle" righ now. I am so nervous that IVF wont work the first go around as I have basically exhausted all my life savings to do this. I had to move in with my parents to save some money! It is a relief to see you folks on here and I feel a kinship with you. Thanks for sharing.
  • nbound72nbound72 Posts: 153
    Hi JodiAnn -

    I am also in the prep phase for IVF. The nurse joked with me today that my body won't be mine for the next month. Starting my Lupron shots this weekend and I'm sooooo nervous to do them myself. Asking my sister to assist.

    My insurance luckily is paying for a portion of the costs but I was reading today a pamphlet about a program you can participate in that gives you a loan for this at a very low interest rate and if the process doesn't work the first time you can get a refund...

    Ask your doctor about it or if you go on the IVF Florida website they do have info about it there too. I know other fertility clinics around the country participate in that too.

    Would love to hear about your progress. It's such a tough decision to do without a significant other but it's also extremely exciting all bundled up in one.
  • cholland59411cholland59411 Posts: 105
    Hello Ladies,
    I had 8 failed IUI's before moving on to IVF, and I had to put my foot down to get to move on they would still be doing IUI's and I would be waisting my money. IVF is very expensive, but well worth it. I had one round of IVF the needles were not that bad the hardest part was near the end finding a spot to stick yourself. I had my egg retreival on Dec 21st which was not bad a little uncomfortable the next day, but not bad. They got 16 eggs and 14 fertilized. They put two in and none of the others were good enough to freeze. We did the Tranfer on Dec 24th on christmas eve and we are now 34 weeks along. We are not finding out the sex because I want a surprise after all that hard work. I too did the refund program which helped calm my nerves because if it did not work we got to try again. Don't give up it is totally worth it!!!! If you have any questions don't hesitate I am an open book. Kelly
  • nbound72nbound72 Posts: 153
    Hi everyone -

    Yesterday was a tough day. For the most part, I've been ok with this whole process of IUI/IVF as a single mom, but every now and then the feelings of wanting to have a spouse to do this with sneaks up and bites me. Yesterday was one of those days. After shedding many tears, I picked myself up, my sister came over and gave me my first shot (which I didn't even feel) and went out for a nice dinner. I had a moment wondering if I was doing the right thing but I know I am. It's just discouraging when your home turns into a doctor's office with all the IVF medical stuff. Today, I am feeling much stronger and can laugh at everything. I feel very fortunate to have these discussion boards to hear from others. Thanks for posting messages. They really DO help.

    Susan
  • KarenRKarenR Posts: 105
    Hi Susan. I feel exactly the same way you do! Very excited, but at times sad that it's not happening in the order I expected. Please know you are not alone! And of course (as everyone tells me), just because you are doing this single now, does not mean you will be single forever.

    Here's a very cheesy, embarrassing quote - but I was watching "Harry Potter" with my godsons yesterday and there was a line that jumped out at me..

    "It does not do well to dwell on dreams and forget to live."

    I really felt like this summed up why I have decided to have a baby now, instead of waiting a few more years!

    Hope this helps...
    -Karen
  • dmf070872dmf070872 Posts: 33
    nbound72 be strong and of good courage!!i know exactly how you are feeling. I will be 38 in a few days and i decided a few months ago that i was alright waiting for a husband but i didnt want to give up my dream of having a child. So far ive done all the steps to get this process rolling and now im on one cycle of clomid and i see the specialist next month for my first insemination.
    it helps knowing that i have prayed about this decision before embarking on it and it is a tremendous help knowing that all my family and my closest friends all support me and will be here for me through this process. I, like you sometimes really long to have a partner there with me to experience this with, and then i start to think what the people in church are gonna think when i bust up in there pregnant and un married. For me, i m stepp ing forward in faith knowing that i am not alone and will have support each step of the way. BE encouraged by the support you have around you nbound and know all things are working out for you if you believe it you can achieve it.blessings on us both!
  • nbound72nbound72 Posts: 153
    Hi Karen and dmf - I cannot thank you enough for the support. I love the Harry Potter quote. Although I've never read the books or seen the movies, I love the quote. I do believe that we don't have to be single forever but after a while you start to wonder where he "Mr. Right" is. Doing this without a spouse is really tough, but I feel we are all so strong for taking charge of our own lives. Luckily we live in a time where medicine and technology are there to help with this process. Thanks again for the support. :)

    Susan
  • nbound72nbound72 Posts: 153
    Egg retreival was yesterday. 10 eggs and 8 were fertilized. I go in on Thurs for the transfer. I'm so hopeful that this will work. :)
  • LilyM138LilyM138 Posts: 32
    Susan - that's a great result! Did your RE do ICSI, or was it just straight IVF (my doc doesn't want to do ICSI, he thinks the 'young swimmers' will be able to do a good enough job by themselves!) Hope everything goes well on Thursday... Keep us posted!

    (which donor did you end up using?)
  • nbound72nbound72 Posts: 153
    Hi Lily -

    I think those swimmers did it all on their own. 1 vial fertilized all 8. They will transfer either 2 or 3 embryos. This was a really tough process so I hope it takes. I used donor 11257. I will keep you posted during the dreaded tww.
  • LilyM138LilyM138 Posts: 32
    Hey Susan - how did it go? Did you transfer 2 or 3 embies?
  • nbound72nbound72 Posts: 153
    Hi Lily - It went really well. They transferred 3 embryos on Thurs. It was amazing. They gave me a picture of the 3 of them. I am so happy the whole process has reached it's final stage. Hopefully at least 1 of them "stuck" I go back Sept 7 for pregnancy test. I will be shouting from the roof tops when I get the good news. Thanks for asking. :)
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