Cycle Day 32

One of major effects of the IUI I haven't posted about is the cramping.  The doctor informed me I might have some cramping while he jammed the sperm up there.  He did not tell me that I might cramp for a week however.

Don't get me wrong, the cramping isn't unmanageable.  It is annoying.  Oh except when having sex.  Ouch!  But the cramping was an unnecessary effect in my eyes.

I did some research on why I had some cramping.  What I came up with is that it is normal.  Typically sperm enters through the vagina and the cervix "washes" the sperm for you.  However, you kinda skip that with IUI.  Instead, a technician in the lab "washes" the sperm for you and then they inject it.  If the sperm is not washed, you will most likely experience cramping.  This is because there is stuff on the sperm that the cervix would take off if the cervix had been given a chance.

During my research, I discovered that if you ask the clinic to wash the sperm (spin it around) a little extra, you are less likely to experience this cramping.

It is looking like we will have that chance to ask for an extra wash.

Although you could have fooled me, I don't think I am pregnant.  I used a home pregnancy test yesterday despite my better judgement.  That would be 10 days post IUI (10dpiui).  It was negative.  I will still test on the 12th or maybe just the 14th to make sure, but things are not looking up.

Cycle Day 21

Insemination Day!

My hubby went in early to provide a sample.  Between then and my arrival, they washed his sample.

When we went into the room when it was finally time to give me a baby, the doctor showed me the paper with hubby's results and asked me to look at his name.  "Is this your husband?" he asked.  I wanted to point to my hubby and say "No, that's my hubby.  What you have there is a piece of paper with my hubby's name on it."  But I didn't.  I did however give a verbal acknowledgment that indeed that piece of paper was my husband.

Then he showed me the sample and with the label turned away from said "Is this your husband?".  Again, I resisted the urge to say something like "Am I suppose to recognize his sperm?".  But the doctor turned the label to me before I could utter the words.  Acknowledged verbally that yes, that vial was my husband.

Then it was legs in the stirrups, hubby holding my hand, speculum inserted, catheter inserted.  He told me I might feel some cramping as he pushed my husband's man juice in.  And there was a little cramping.  But it was manageable.

That was it.  I was told to lay there for 10 minutes.  Hubby joked around that he should have been allowed to do me while my legs were in the stirrups, but he's an ahole.  My Ahole.

The nurse came in 10 minutes later and gave us an instruction sheet.  Sex tonight "just in case", progesterone suppositories starting in two days.  We were on our way!

For those of you that are curious about IUI and haven't done it or researched it much, I found a cool youtube video that says it all.

Cycle one

And hopefully the last until baby two!

Yes, we will go through this twice.  Unless of course we get multiples out of this, then we are done.  Button down the hatches, sew up my hole, snip his nuts off, DONE.

Yesterday was our first real appointment.  Who knew these clinics were open at 8 something on a Sunday morning.  And who knew it was a requirement to bring an iPad?  We were the only couple without one.  So we both whipped out our trusty older model iPhones so we could be the cool kids too.

If you have never gone through infertility treatment, let me explain to you what our process leading up to IUI is with our clinic.

Starting cycle day 3, for the first time only, I go in for an ultrasound of my uterus and ovaries to verify everything is there and in working order.  Doctor said that my uterus looks great.  My ovaries are great, 7 eggs in one which is a normal number and 9 in the other which is a fantastic number.  Then they drew blood for a Clomid Challenge Test looking at my FSH and Estradiol.  And we are on doctors orders to have sex, sex, sex. Happy Hubby.  Ugh.

Cycle day 5, I start 100mg Clomid.

Cycle day 6, I take 100mg Clomid, quit Metformin (which in my case is being used for several purposes, one being infertility, but no, I do not have PCOS).

Cycle day 7, I take 100mg Clomid.

Cycle day 8, I take 100mg Clomid and get an HSG.  Take pregnancy test before procedure and bring stick in to prove we didn't get lucky and don't have to spend lots of money.

Cycle day 9, I take 100mg Clomid.

Cycle day 10, Stop Clomid, start Metformin, FSH lab test (another 830AM test half an hour away on a Sunday???), NO MORE INTERCOURSE!!!  Ever!  Well, that's how my husband feels about it.  I'll be happy for the hiatus.

Cycle day 11, Nothing.

Cycle day 12, Ultrasound to verify egg(s) matured and popped out (as I understand it).

Cycle day 13, Nothing

Cycle day 14, Party in my Uterus!  Get HCG shot, Hubby provides sample, doctor shoots sample up there.  We get pregnant and live happily ever after, well after we do all this one more time for a second baby.

Cycle day something or another we go for pregnancy blood test.  It's going to be positive of course because I am an optimistic fool.