After all that testing: unexplained IF

[charliefox]

Since this board is quiet I figured I'd just make a new post.

Just got back from our follow up with the RE. All tests came back normal except my thyroid is elevated, not enough that she thinks it has affected my fertility but enough that I started meds to bring it down. During this whole process, and the reason I put off making an appointment with an RE, my fear was that we wouldn't find an answer and that's what happened: unexplained IF.

She gave us our options and now H and I need to figure out the next steps. So far naturally TTC, natural IUI (with or without trigger), and medicated IUI are on the table.

RE doesn't really recommend a natural IUI since it doesn't up our chances that much. However, I'm leaning towards trying that first because the risk is multiples with a medicated IUI freaks me out.

Hugs and love to everyone on this board because this ish sucks. ❤️

Guess I'll be joining the IUI checkin.

[orangehibiscus]

I'm sorry for the unexplained diagnosis charliefox! Big giant hugs. You could always do a couple cycles of natural IUI and then try medicated IUI if that doesn't work. Start where y'all are comfortable, and don't let anyone push you into treatments y'all aren't ready for. Good luck with your decision!

[charliefox]

Sept 1, 2017 16:56:50 GMT -6 orangehibiscus said:

I'm sorry for the unexplained diagnosis charliefox ! Big giant hugs. You could always do a couple cycles of natural IUI and then try medicated IUI if that doesn't work. Start where y'all are comfortable, and don't let anyone push you into treatments y'all aren't ready for. Good luck with your decision!

Thanks! For some reason it feels like a big leap to go straight to medicated IUI when we don't know for sure what, if anything, is wrong with us. I dunno, makes me feel like something *is* wrong which makes me feel vulnerable and I do not like it at all! lol. 


edit: proboards ate some of my words

[bonzo]

Hugs! I agree with orangehibiscus, don't feel pressured to go straight to a treatment you're not ready for. Starting with a natural IUI doesn't mean you can't do medicated later. I'd recommend taking some time with your H to let things sink in and talk about all the options. It's most important that the two of you are on the same page. Good luck taking these next steps!

[thechickencoop]

I understand the frustration {{hugs}}

Do you have IF coverage through your insurance? Because that can majority affect your decision. When we thought we *didn't* have coverage, we opted to go right to a medicated IUI cycle so as to not waste money just waiting around. Turns out we did have coverage but we probably still would have gone the same route.

What types of meds too? My medicated cycles were a very low and short dose of clomid (uhh...50mg? Just for 2 days) then ovidrel, then IUI followed by progesterone. I really didn't experience any side effects during those cycles.

Also, keep in mind regarding multiples, you will be monitored. My RE would cancel an IUI cycle if there were more than 2 mature follices. One cycle we had two. The next just one, then the third one and one poooossssible runner up. If you end up with two mature, remember, you're in charge. You don't have to do an IUI then.

[kleigh]

Hi charliefox New here, but I was on TCF . I agree with thechickencoop regarding you being in control, you can cancel the cycle if monitoring shows more than one mature follicle. I had 3 mature follicles every cycle with 50mg, yet I have two friends who were on higher doses and had only one mature follicle every single time (multiple cycles each). Everyone responds differently to these things so trying the medication doesn't necessarily lock you in to proceeding if it's not progressing the way you're comfortable with.

Also we were unexplained IF and it really sucks...nothing to treat per se that will better your chance, that feeling of "if nothing's wrong then why doesn't it happen", etc. So many hugs to you.

[jacks]

Hi charliefox. I'm sorry you find yourself here. I totally understand your feelings about admitting something is wrong and feeling vulnerable. Before we first met with the RE, I was confident we'd be an easy case since we knew our problem and it was H. (spoiler: it has not been so easy). This group has definitely been helpful in making me a more informed patient and not feeling so incredibly overwhelmed as I did when we first started!

[charliefox]

Thank you, everyone.

thechickencoop haven't checked with our insurance yet, but H's company covers up to 20k. The difference in cost between a monitored natural IUI and a medicated IUI isn't so much that one would be out of the running based on cost (whether wasting money or costing too much etc). That is to say, it doesn't necessarily factor into our decision. It's definitely difficult to decide how far to jump.