Need help making an important decision

[Atia_Julii]

AF showed up today, and tomorrow, I need to call the RE and tell him what treatment my husband and I want going forward.  We've been trying since February, and I do ovulate, and we've been timing intercourse, but nothing.

I know this needs to be our decision, but I would love any input you all wonderful ladies could offer.  Basically, my two options are. . .

1.  Begin taking letrozole (I've heard this has less bad side effects than clomid) which will help my cycles to become shorter and ovulation to happen a bit sooner in my cycle.  (My cycles are nearly 40 days right now, with ovulation around 25-30)
The pros of this plan would be that it would be cost effective.  The cons are that I already ovulate, so I don't get how making ovulation sooner will make me more fertile.

2.  Next month, take letrozole and also do inter uterine insemination.  (IUI)  
Pros would be the success rate is pretty good, cons are maybe there is something wrong with me that isn't discovered yet which will maybe make IUI not as successful.

Any feedback would be SO appreciated.  I just want to hear some opinions.  My hubby and I are really on the fence.

[Atia_Julii]

Went to the doc today for my day 3 labs and a baseline ultrasound.  I met with the nurse for a while and she put me on a prescription of Letrazole for the next 4 days, and she told me I'll come back for a week for an ultrasound, and that if my follicles are responding to the meds, that this cycle, and if my sonogram next week doesn't show any bad stuff, that this cycle, they will do insemination!!!  I'm freaking out a bit! This so wasn't my plan! I was all ready just to do meds.  The nurse said though that she thinks I should do everything I can, and fertility meds aren't something I should be on for long, so I may as well just do insemination right away.  So freaked out right now! But excited too! I just can't believe how quickly this is now progressing!

[Atia_Julii]

Thanks all for the support.  I'm going to try to relax a little, and take it one day at a time. I keep making the mistake of comparing myself to some friends of mine who got pregnant their first cycle trying.  I think it's important to realize we're all different.  My new mantra is. . . IT WILL HAPPEN, IT WILL HAPPEN.

:-D

[etorres77]

I would keep trying. I tried for 4 years. i did get pregnant a year ago, but miscarried. I found out that my my body is resistant to insulin, that is why it took so long to get pregnant and that is why I miscarried. I was on metformin to control insulin levels. i also was on clomid. But I think the metformin kept everything under control. I did ovulate on my own, but the clomid expands your days. Also, my male hormones where high. Make sure they  check all that by blood tests first. Thanks.

[Atia_Julii]

I have ordered that book from amazon as well.  I will be busy reading fertility books. :-D I also want to look into meditation.  I think my stress is adding to me not getting pregnant.

[KM604]

I think that the letrozole may help regulate your cycles more.  I would think that if your cycles are longer, then obviously it will take longer for you to conceive.  If you break down that the average women's cycle is 28 days, that means that the amount of times/year that they can try and get pregnant are 12-13 times.  If you have a 40 day cycle, then your average times/year to try and get pregnant is 9.  So by shortening your cycle it's just increasing the chances of getting pregnant to each month rather each month and a half.  That's the only logic I can make of it.  It may help during the ovulation process with something also.  Anyways, I would definitly try that for at least 3 months - becuase you want to make sure it is shortening your cycle.  So if after 3 months of working like it is supposed to, then I would try the IUI.  

[Michele, Katy, TX]

I have also heard wonderful things about a book called Taking Charge of Your Fertility.  You may want to check that one out also.  I haven't read it, but another MH regular has and she has posted facts from that book.  I have learned a lot from her based off that book.

[Atia_Julii]

Thanks so much for your responses.  And to answer some of the above questions. . . My husband and I have pretty much been tested for everything.  My husband's S/A was good in terms of total number and motility, but his morphology was low.  Our RE said that it isn't even proven if that's an issue or not.  I still struggle with that because I read so much conflicting info on the internet saying it is an issue.  My RE has verified that my tubes are open, I don't have any cysts on my ovaries, and in a couple weeks I'll have a sonogram, and honestly, I'm not even sure what that tests for.  I've had lab work done which is all normal, and besides having a long cycle, everything is checking out.

I think I will definitely to the letrozole.  I'm realizing what I really need is confidence that this is actually going to happen.  I just ordered a book called the Mind Body Fertility Connection, and I can't wait to start reading it.  I need to start being positive that this will happen for hubby and I.

Thanks again for the comments. :-D

[Michele, Katy, TX]

I agree w/ Joy.  I sure wish I could help you more but I don't know much about fertility treatments.  My SIL has long cycles like yours but they are regular and her and my brother are pregnant with #4 now.  BUT she has to take Progesterone to sustain the pregnancy.  I believe she takes it for the first 12 or 13 weeks.  My brother told me but I can't remember exactly but my guess would be the first trimester.

Good luck and let us know what you decide :)  But I would probably go with the least expensive route first.

[JoyRenee]

Well I would do the first option first. Try that for at least three cycles and then move to IUI. A friend of mine tried for 19 months. She had PCOS and uterine lining issues. They did more than one IUI treatment, she had to get a surgery--- her situation was basically very complicated... And guess what! She is 25 weeks pregnant with a girl now.

If she could get pregnant, when she was in this 1% liklihood of never conceiving because of all these compounded issues, YOU CAN TOO!

Try the letrozole!

[ashiepooh]

Has your RE checked to see if there is any blockage or anything?  

If it were me, I'd go with the first one.  Give it a try, and then move on from there.  If it makes you ovulate sooner, my guess would be that since I assume it'll shorten your cycles you can try more, and increase the chances!?  

Also, has your hubby been checked for motility?  And all that with the semen?