IUI Question

[Atia_Julii]

Maybe I should post this on the fertility section, but you ladies are much more responsive usually. :-D

Anyway, I'm doing IUI this cycle, and have been doing ultrasound monitoring every other day.  My follicles grow slow, which is why I have such long cycles.  I did take Femara this cycle, which is speeding things up a bit.  Yesterday I went to the RE, and my largest follicle was 17 mm, and my endometrial lining was 6.5 mm.  I'm just wondering based on any one of you who has done IUI, how much longer before this all happens?  I go in for another ultrasound tomorrow, and I'm just trying to estimate what day the actual insemination will occur.  So excited and nervous!

[Atia_Julii]

I have bit of an update!

So, I went to do an ultrasound today, as I get ready for insemination, and my one follicle is 24!!!  So, they also did a blood test, and sure enough, the LH was positive, so tonight at 8pm I'm going to do the HCG trigger shot, and then tomorrow is insemination day!  YAY!  So excited and nervous! :-D

My questions are this. . . How do I know I won't ovulate before that?  I've been doing OPKs at home everyday, and did 2 yesterday, both of which were negative, but I don't always trust OPKs.  I can feel ovulation pain in my side which makes me nervous.  

And two. . . my lining is still only 6.5.  I asked the RE about it today because I told him if it lowers my chance of conceiving doing IUI, that I don't want to waste my money.  He told me that with Letrazole, patients often don't have that thick of lining, and then as soon as ovulation occurs, bam! It grows.  I'd never heard of that, but I guess I should trust what he says.

[Atia_Julii]

Sorry for the confusion. . . My RE is having me do the OPK test everyday, to check for the surge.  (I ovulate on my own, so I'm guessing this is so I don't ovulate and they'll miss it)  Then when I get a positive on the OPK, I'll do an HCG trigger shot to help the quality and timing, and then the next day I'll do the IUI.

Question though. . . I had another ultrasound this morning.  I have a ton of follicles, but only one large one, and that measured at 18 mm today.  My endometrial lining is 6.5, and the nurse said it needs to be at least 6 for implantation, but they'd still like to see it at 7.  I wonder why mine isn't thicker?  Just another thing to be worried about I supposed. ***sigh***

With my follicle at 18, I think it will be any day now! :-D

[Griggsy]

I'm confused. THe OPK surge means that you are ovulating or going to within the next few hours/day. The trigger shot causes you to surge and ovulate. I've only heard of woman doing one or the other, but not both. As soon as you a positive OPK call your RE, and ask them what they want you to do. With one good sized follie I would hate to miscalculate, but Anya is right, it only takes one follie, and IUI isn't too painful!

Good luck!

[Anya1984]

Well, I was prescribed Follsitim but I heard that many women are prescribed Femara and get pregnant! I guess it just depends what your RE uses...yeah, 10 to 14 mm is not that much, maybe your RE will wait to see if they mature to 16-17 and then you can do trigger..
Don't be nervous, IUI is not painful at all and you have a good rate of success there! Believe me, u only need one follie to get pregnant :) And I have 2 friends that got pregnant on one, including me :)

[Atia_Julii]

I'm not sure how many follicles I have.  When I went for my day 10 ultrasound, my RE was afraid I was overstimulated, but then one kind of took off.  That's the one that is now 17 mm.  I have at least 3 others, and I was trying to read the nurses notes, and it looked like the additional 3 ranged from 11 mm to 14 mm, so I'm wondering if those are too small to make a difference?

My plan in to take the OPK everyday, and as soon as I get a surge, that evening, do the HCG trigger shot, and do IUI the very next day.  What I'm confused about though, is if only the largest follicle will drop?  Not sure how that works.

[Griggsy]

Sorry I had 3 smaller follies.  All under 17mm at the time of IUI. The 4 bigger ones were all 19+mm

[Griggsy]

Hey girl,

If the follie gets much bigger than 20 it my rupture on it's own. Are you going to a trigger shot or are they letting you do it on your own? I would HIGHLY recommend a trigger shot. It gives you 36 hours until you ovulate, and IUI is much easier to get the timing right.

How many follies did you have? I have no idea about my lining as they never told me that measurement, but I had 4 really good follies, and 2 smaller ones.

I took BOTH follistim and femara. THe first time just femara and I had 3 good follies. THe next time with 75iu's of follistim CD1, CD3, CD5 and CD7 I had 7 follies. I think it helped me a lot. It's worth the extra money for the insurace if you will.

GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Keep me posted!

[Atia_Julii]

This will be my first IUI. . . So I'm nervous about what to expect!  Does follistim injections have a better success rate than Femara?  

[Anya1984]

My RE did the trigger when my follies were 18 mm and more, so I am sure that on your u/s tomorrow, you will trigger, BD and then come after one day for IUI...is this your first time doing IUI?
The first time I got pregnant was on clomid , I had 1 mature follie and first time IUI, and got preggo...unfortunatelly, I m/c....
second time I got pregnant was on Follistim injections, I had 3 follies, and had IUI...so i got pregnant EVERY time on IUI...GOOD LUCK!

[Atia_Julii]

Thanks for the information.  My RE said he likes to see them between 18-20, but when they are ready to drop, don't they just drop?  I would love for some other follicles to catch up.  The more there are, the better the chances! I just hope it works. :-D

[kikicoates78]

It dependes on your RE, He may be waiting for other follies to catch up a little, at 17 some are considered mature, but some RE's like to see 20. either way you will probly have it done by Fri. I would guess, maybe Sat.! Good luck, I hope you have success! I have been through 6 cycles, so let me know if you have any questions, I'll be glad to help!

[Atia_Julii]

Thanks so much Michele! I've missed talking to you.  I'm going to PM you! :-D

[Michele, Katy, TX]

Man girl, I wish I knew what to tell you but I just don't have any info. on IUIs.  But I wanted to wish you tons and tons of luck!!!!!!  Please keep us updated and let us know what happens and when it will happen.