So we just wrapped our third infertility treatment cycle, and it went a little something like this: Letrozole oral medication and Gonal-F shots to increase follicle development in my ovaries. With those medications, I had two mature follicles. We did a trigger shot of Ovidrel and 36 hours later had another Intrauterine insemination or IUI. Then, 13 days of taking progesterone.
After all those drugs, I felt like the Hulk. I probably could have picked up a car if I wanted to. It’s like having PMS - just a lot longer.
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I find that the hardest part of the “two-week wait” are the final days before you take a pregnancy test. You are searching for any signs that you are pregnant. The sad part is that your body is so revved up with hormones from all of these medications that you can actually feel pregnant. Your mind and body can play tricks on you.
This was our third IUI and our first using injectable medications. I was just so sure it was going to work. Then, I took the test and saw a BFN (Big Fat No). To be honest, I took a few tests (one each day until my period arrived) because I was hoping the first one was wrong.
The idea of having to go through the shots, blood tests and ultrasounds again just made me sick. I was heartbroken. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to open myself up to another month of emotional and physical pain.
We took a few days and waited for the sting to go away and then decided to move forward with a fourth treatment cycle. My insurance covered three IUIs, so this fourth one will be on us. It is just so much to take in.
For those of you who did IUI or IVF, how many rounds did it take? Did you take a break in between? How did you handle the two week wait?
Kathy is a mom of one and Out & About editor for WRAL.com. She writes for Go Ask Mom about her experience with secondary infertility.