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Inconceivable: IUI, IVF, IDK

Have you gone through IUI or IVF? What was an average month like for you? I know a lot of people have daily injectables when going through treatment. What treatments have you tried and which ones worked for you?

Posted 2017-11-27T19:58:29+00:00 - Updated 2017-11-29T01:30:00+00:00

Kathy Hanrahan

The world of fertility treatments is filled with lots of new words. I feel like I have an entirely new vocabulary. I didn't know the difference between an IUI or IVF.

Here's a breakdown of the fertility treatment lingo I've learned:

OPK - Ovulation Predictor Kit that detects surges in LH, or luteinizing hormone, in your urine indicating ovulation is near

IUI - Intrauterine insemination is cheaper and less invasive than IVF. I've heard it referred to as the turkey baster method. Basically, the doctor takes your hubby's sample and shoots it into your uterus right around ovulation time. The best swimmers are placed in the right spot to increase your chances of getting pregnant.

IVF - In Vitro Fertilization is the most commonly known fertility treatment. It is expensive and often not covered by insurance. Basically, your eggs are removed and then combined with sperm in a lab dish. The embryo is then put back into your uterus.

Clomid - A medication that stimulates your follicles and increases the chance of you producing more eggs - AKA more targets for the sperm to hit and fertilize.

Letrozole, also called Femara - A medication normally used to treat breast cancer. Doctors, however, have discovered that it also can be used to stimulate your follicles and increases the chance of you producing more eggs, creating more targets for the sperm to hit and fertilize. This medication is known to have less side effects than Clomid.

HCG Trigger Shot - This is a medication that you shoot into your abdomen to trigger ovulation before an IUI or IVF. NOTE: There are a lot of other injectable medications but I haven't used them yet so I am not as familiar.

CoQ10 - A supplement for cellular renewal. My fertility specialist suggested my husband and I start taking this. She said studies have shown that older rats taking this have produced litters the same size as their younger counterparts.

For us, the doctor recommended prenatal vitamins, Vitamin D, Omega 3 or fish oil, CoQ10 and Letrozole. Every cycle, the amount of Letrozole increased until we hit the maximum 12.5 mg daily.

A basic cycle with an IUI for us went like this:

Day 1: Report cycle start to doctor
Day 3: Baseline ultrasound and start of Letrozole.
Day 3-10: 12.5 mg daily of Letrozole
Day 11: Follicle ultrasound to see if the meds worked, blood test to check LH surge, possible trigger shot
Day 12 or 13: IUI at doctor
Day 19 or 20: Blood test to check progesterone, if it's low then doctor gives us supplement
Day 25-29: Lose mind and wait as long as I can to take pregnancy tests. If we get a BFN (Big Fat Negative), wait for the cycle to start all over again! If we get a BFP (Big Fat Positive), pass out and then take three more tests to confirm.