Cycle 4 Begins

Today is CD1... the start of our next cycle. We are going with the same routine as last cycle... baseline scan on CD3, clomid CD3-7, monitoring scan on CD12, Pregnyl 10,000 trigger injection when follicles are big and happy, followed by IUI 24 hours later.

The good news... we took in Devoted Daddy's swimmers for a check up on Monday, everything looks spiffy and we are good to go for this cycle... we just know that the 3 day abstinence is a MUST.

I'm still going for weekly acupuncture... I feel like I am getting more relaxed during treatment... almost like a heaviness over me, but I'm still semi-aware. Today, I didn't open my eyes at all during the treatment but I do remember sounds around me. It was a nice feeling.

I must say... the HCG trigger gave me some interesting PMS symptoms. My new cycle started 18 days post trigger (17 days post O)... so, my LP was longer than normal (could this be due to the higher progesterone with multiple follicles?). My ability to cope was limited the last few days to week... it's just not a good time to have a serious conversation with me. My sense of smell was heightened to an almost ridiculous level. I was tired... all the time.

I tested out the HCG shot on CD4 and CD5 with a digital test (I had freebies from my ovulation packs here). CD4 proclaimed "pregnant" (when I knew otherwise, evil device!)... CD5 was correct with "not pregnant". I tested again at CD11 and CD12 with First Response Early Tests... just in case we managed a miracle despite our low swimmer count... they were both negative, of course. When my LP reached 16 days, I was hopeful that I was in for a late positive... but my temp had dropped so I knew better.

Part of me wants to go on fertility vacation... quit worrying about it for a while. The practical part of me knows that I'm much to OCD and would still stalk my chart and obsess over the possibility... so it wouldn't be a break... it would just be no assistance.

That said... I'm surrounded by pregnant women lately. What's up with that??? Torture or signs of things to come... or just plain dumb luck...

Cycle 3- Cancelled

Yesterday, CD12, I went in for an ultrasound. I had two nice follicles at 18 & 24 mm. We triggered at the clinic with an HCG injection.

This morning, I took the specimen in... two hours later we were back waiting for IUI... but the count was much too low... we didn't have enough swimmers for IUI.

So... here I sit. With engorged, painful ovaries waiting for ovulation... knowing that unless God throws us a miracle this will be a wasted cycle (and the most expensive one so far with the extra monitoring and injection).

I feel defeated.

The Cost of Infertilty PRE-ART

Who said baby making was inexpensive? Since we follow NFP and therefore didn't purchase birth control, I'm not saving anything there. (Some of you may be saving $360+/yr, I save that every year anyway).

Our infertility related costs will be covered at 50% by our insurance company (including IUI and IVF) with a $5,000 lifetime cap. So, we might get one round of IVF paid for at 50% if we don't exhaust our lifetime cap with diagnostics testing and IUI before then. Some medications will be covered at 50-90%, we won't know which ones until our prescriptions are in hand.

Our fertility related expenses so far~

Pre~Seed $19.99 (monthly)
OPK's $20-$33 (monthly)
Prenatal Vitamins (food based, organic) $28.00 (every two months)
Other supplements for Manic Mama $75.00 (every two months)
Supplements and vitamins for Devoted Daddy $50.00 (monthly)
Pregnancy tests $20.00 (monthly because I'm pee stick obsessed)
Preventative yeast treatments (for end of AF) $15.00 (monthly)
Acupuncture for Manic Mama $65.00 (weekly)
Online fertility charting $50 (annual)

Pre-pregnancy dental exam/cleaning $85.00 (every one should have this, insurance pays 70%)
Regular gynecologist visits (3 so far totaling $167.00 out of pocket)
Lab work for Manic Mama $584.00 (funny, insurance doesn't like to cover infertility labwork)
Lab work for Devoted Daddy $112.00 (ditto above statement)
Infertility books $100.00

When our clinic appointment rolls around in October, we will pay $200 for the first visit (normal fee is $400). We are anticipating minimal/no testing in the beginning because our tests to date have already given a clear picture of what our issue is. We may opt for a hysteroscopy to make sure my uterine lining is not severely damaged from the previous surgeries. Our fear is conceiving and losing the baby (possibly late in the pregnancy) due to uterine damage. How this procedure will be covered by insurance we aren't sure... is my old insurance responsible since it's assessing damage from a previous surgery covered under them? Will my new insurance cover it as a medically necessary procedure (based on pain/cycle issues) or will it fall under infertility diagnostics?

I have researched standard pricing for many IF treatments, but the cost of our IUI will depend on a lot of factors including medications and monitoring.

Infertilty Recommened Reading

A Few Good Eggs
TCOYF (Recommend reading for all women)
How to Make Love to a Plastic Cup (For Dad to be, although I enjoyed it as well!)
Real Food For Mother and Baby

(The links will direct you to Amazon, I've included them purely for reference... I have nothing to gain by your use of them.)