Next Steps...IUI

My appointment with Dr. R was yesterday afternoon. I got there early, and she was already running late with her patients. I ended up waiting about an hour, slowly working myself into a panicky lather in the lobby.

Finally, when my name was called, I went into the exam room and met with Dr. R. She immediately said, "So you didn't ovulate. Let's make you ovulate then, shall we?" Her nonchalance was nice actually, it helped me to feel a little more relaxed about my prognosis. When I asked her why I didn't ovulate, she said she didn't know, adding that "it's only one cycle". She basically told me not to worry about it.

She laid out three options for me:

1. I can try another cycle of Clomid at the same dose as last time (100mg)
2. I can try the next higher dose of Clomid (150mg)
3. I can try either of the above two options ALONG with IUI (intra-uterine insemenation), to offset the affect of the hostile cervical mucus from the Clomid.

We talked a bit about IUI. I didn't know much about it, I'd never really looked into this option before. Dr. R said this would be her recommendation, as it would give us the best advantage. She explained the procedure, and wrote me a referral to a local fertility clinic that would be doing the actual IUI.

There are several tests that D and I have to do before we can do the IUI. D has to get a sperm analysis performed, and we both have to get a ton of blood work done. I have to get something scary done called an HSG. Apparently, this is where they insert a needle into your fallopian tubes and inject some sort of dye that's visible on x-ray. This procedure is to ensure that the tubes are open. Then, after all this is complete, we get started at the fertility clinic.

I am currently on Provera to start a new cycle. I should get my period in about 5-6 days or so. This upcoming cycle will be a non-trying cycle with no meds. We need time to get all the tests done and Dr. R didn't want us to "waste" a round of Clomid. I'll induce another period 28 days after the period to come and then the fun shall begin...

As Dr. R was leaving the exam room, she said, "It's gonna be OK." I said, "Do you promise?" She said, "Yes, I promise. We're going to make it work." I know it's just one of those things that people say, but it really did make me feel better. Her confidence was just what I needed to hear.

So how do I feel about all this noise? Well, tentatively hopeful is the answer, I guess. I'm still afraid of not ovulating again; and this time if I don't ovulate it will be in the context of an IUI and all the business surrounding it. But I'll take whatever advantage I can get, and I'll just pray that I do ovulate, and it works for us.

Over the next few weeks, I'm going to work as hard as I can to get myself as healthy as possible. When it's time to move forward, I'm determined to be ready, inside and out.