Follicles?

Mashuginah27Mashuginah27 Posts: 53
in LGBTQ+ Couples
I wanted to post on this forum about this because I have noticed that alot of information that I am getting off the internet is from heterosexual couples who have fertility issues.

I am curious...
How many follicles are other couples getting every month? What are the outcomes? What meds did you take? and What was your IUI timing?

We did our first IUI this month and have 5 mature follicles and the RE gave us an extensive talk about the risk of multiples because my partner does not have any infertility issues (that we know of), we went ahead and inseminated because some of the 5 follicles were only 14/15mm so we werent too worried about those. We did out IUIs at 25 hrs and 48 hrs and now we are very nervous because of the follicle count. I want to see if this is normal cause the RE and her ARNP have been doing this for 23 yrs and they looked and acted nervous. The doctor said to us the day after the shot and right before the first IUI that she actually couldnt sleep the night before because she was thinking about our situation. I mean is it really that extreme, my partner thinks if it was that extreme they would have refused to perfom the IUI's after seeing the follicles, but Im nervous.

Thanks everyone and good luck to all.

Comments

  • DrADrA Posts: 50
    Hi Mash,

    My RE group expect to see at least one large mature follice of 19mm or more and at least 200pg estrogen level per every mature follicle before they do IUI. Once you are close to it and have a surge you will have your IUI done. One cycle if natural and back to back cycles if you are medicated. Ovidrel itself increase your risk of multiple. Remember, you can start the pregnancy with multiple and only one will survive the first few weeks of pregnancy. The main goal now should be to get pregnant!!
    Rest and relax and with good faith in 2 weeks you will see a bright BFP!!
    Good LuCK!
  • Mashuginah27Mashuginah27 Posts: 53
    Thank you DrA and Dharmabum, I just need to relax ;)

    They do check your lining thickness and follicles. We too were on 50mg of Clomid, which the RE said would be lowered to 25mg after her ovaries went into overdrive.

    DrA I do not believe they checked her estrogen level, I could be mistaken though, but it wasnt mentioned to us what her level was. Our follicle sizes were 21,18,17,15,14. So there were essentially only one within your range so maybe I shouldnt be so nervous ;)
    Also are you saying the Ovidrel itself CAN cause multiples? Im just curious Im an information person.

    When we first mentioned back to back to our RE she said generally just one, but after speaking with a fellow RE she agreed to two for one main reason...
    Sperm Exposure, when a heterosexual couple gets an IUI they can have sex after the IUI basically sending in back-up,who knows whether the IUI or the back-up got them preg, we do not have that option so the second IUI is essentially the "back-up" in case it all happened too early.
    I was glad that she agreed to this but I did feel very strongly about two because you are limited to that sperm exposure.

    Thanks again and good luck too!
  • TeiallyTeially Posts: 53
    Hey I had 2 follicles last time one was 21 and think the other one was 18.

    I am sure you guys will do just fine. I am thinking if I don't get pregnant this time — I will be doing double IUI as well.

    Is this your first IUI ?
  • Mashuginah27Mashuginah27 Posts: 53
    This is our first IUI so we are kind of thinking it may just be a practice round since most couples do not get pregnant on their first IUI. She has felt alittle differently but her period is due in a wk so that makes it alittle hard to judge any symptoms.
    I guess we just have to make it through til the 9th to find out.

    How many IUI's have you done? Have you done a double yet?

    I think she will most likely only have two follicles if it does not work out this month because the doctor is going to lower the clomid to 25mg so it wont be as scary next month if this month does not work out.
  • MGALBNMGALBN Posts: 325
    I did 100mg clomid and trigger shot and ended up with 2 follicles one 18mm the other 22mm. I've read that there can be a viable egg in follicles as small as 14mm so I'm hoping for the best! My RE also said my lining was at 11, not sure what that meant yet!
  • Mashuginah27Mashuginah27 Posts: 53
    Hey MGalbn

    The 11 is the thickness of your uterine lining, which directly effects the eggs ability to implant, I believe 11 is good.
    Did you have any smaller follicles between 14-18mm? I read that after the trigger shot is administered that the follicles mature alittle more before released. I think I read about 1.5mm more.
  • Sunshyne2010Sunshyne2010 Posts: 91
    When do you find out the thickness of your lining? At what point of the process?
  • MGALBNMGALBN Posts: 325
    Mine was cycle day 12 and there were only 2 that were mature enough @ 18 and 22. My RE thought I was ready to go and had me do the trigger shot when I got home that evening (tuesday) then my IUI was thursday morning. I'm sure they had the chance to grow another mm for sure since they grow all the way up until release and I had a whole day in between.

    My lining was @ 11 which the RE said was good!
  • MGALBNMGALBN Posts: 325
    @Sunshyne my RE told me that my lining looked 'great' in my initial exam. He showed me on the sonogram the white line that represents it. When I had the second sonogram to check on the follicles, my white line was there but it wasn't as bright and defined and he said I was an 11. Clomid can thin your lining, its one of the only drawbacks to using it...
  • Mashuginah27Mashuginah27 Posts: 53
    dharma the sizes I gave for our follicles were on CD12 and we did Ovidrel trigger that day due to the amount of follicles and sizes the doctor did not want anymore to get any larger and they grow about another 1.5 mm after trigger but before releasing. We then did IUI the 2 days following that (CD13 and 14).
    We did 50mg of Clomid, I believe on CD's 3-7.

    Aunshyne we found out at the Follicle measuring on CD12 about the linig thickness, I cannot remember what it was but according to the doctor it was good, I was very excited considering my partner had a D&C to remove a uterine polyp last month.

    We had blood drawn today to check her progesterone lvl and that was alittle low so they are giving her an oral prescription to start tomorrow as a progesterone booster. This doesnt mean our cycle is a bust there is still a definite shot this will just help sustain the pregnancy if there has been implantation.

    Good Luck everyone!
  • MGALBNMGALBN Posts: 325
    Did any of your 5 little guys make it?
  • Mashuginah27Mashuginah27 Posts: 53
    We ended up with a chemical pregnancy. The RE said there are a few different factors that could have caused this, too many fertilized/implanted and not enough resources could have been one of the causes. We did our 2nd round of IUI this past wk so we are waiting again. It is not as stressful this time around as we only had two follicles, so we feel more relaxed and not so anxious.

    How is everyone else doing? any success?
  • TommieWartickTommieWartick Posts: 307
    We just took our last dose of clomid yesterday, now we are taking estradiol. We go in for the ultrasound on the 30th and if needed we will get the trigger shot. We are soooooo excited! This will be our first IUI...starting monday we start the OPK...fingers are crossed!!!!!
  • UfoundwaldoUfoundwaldo Posts: 2
    I finished my last clomid today 100mg (days 5-9). I go in in 4 days for my ultrasound to determine if I am ready for my trigger shot or not. This will be out 10th IUI, but only the second with the trigger shot, 4th with Clomid. I had 4 follicles last month with one showing over 19, so we triggered the day of my ultrasound and inseminated 2 days later and only once. My doc has never suggested two tries.

    We are really hoping this cycle works. I have a scheduled appt with a Fertility Specialist 4/22. I am thinking if this cycle doesn't work they will move me to IVF because of my age, almost 39.

    Keep the faith.
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