6 Month Infertility Update // Clomid, HSG, IUI
By the time you read this, we’ll be way past the 6 month update, but I figured I should check in before all the details get hazy. In our initial consultation, we asked our doctor when he realistically thought we could conceive and he said by September 2020. Thankfully I took that estimate with a grain of salt because for anyone keeping track, it is now mid November and we haven’t even started our first treatment cycle yet.
I’ve heard one too many stories of couples who finally see a fertility doctor after 2-3 years and bam, they miraculously get pregnant naturally or after one month with a dose of Clomid. For the sake of those of us who aren’t so lucky, you should know those stories are not inspiring. They are simply jealousy inducing conversation fillers that make us spiral deeper into dangerous “why me?” territory. Every case is different and for the majority of us, the timeline is always longer than expected.
Anyway, here’s what we’ve been up to over the past six months… After my initial exam, which included bloodwork and an internal ultrasound, I took a backseat as my husband went through rounds of doctor’s appointments to address his unexplained low sperm count. We were eventually given a 4% chance of conceiving naturally and encouraged to move forward with IVF. Because of my needle phobia, I immediately refused, so my husband’s urologist instead prescribed him with Clomid and instructed him to take daily vitamins in the hopes of boosting his count. When Clomid is prescribed for men, there’s about a 50/50 shot it will work, but the results take 3-6 months to show, one of the reasons our journey has been so prolonged. My husband also made lifestyle changes, like exercising, eating better, and cutting back alcohol.
Now back to me. Because my thyroid is slightly elevated, I was put on a daily dose of Synthroid. Unfortunately, that means regular blood tests to check my levels. My endocrinologist has been super understanding of my needle phobia, so for the most part, I’ve been able to coincide my TSH checks with the blood tests my RE orders at our clinic. Let’s just say, it’s been rough.
Simultaneously, my husband has been getting regular blood tests to monitor the Clomid and three months in, we got some good news. The Clomid is working! Don’t get too excited because it doesn’t change the diagnosis, but with the boost, it does mean that we now have the option to try IUI first (against our doctor’s recommendation), rather than go straight to IVF. I’ll create a post on the IUI process after I experience it, but in all honesty, it has a very low success rate in general and we were given only an 8% chance if I do a medicated cycle (Clomid + a trigger shot). IUI is appealing because it’s minimally invasive, but we’re trying to stay realistic and already expect to try three times before our doctor tells us it’s time to move on. To learn more about IUI, you can read this article.
While meeting with our doctor to create our IUI treatment plan, he prescribed me with a test I could no longer avoid, the notorious HSG, to make sure my fallopian tubes are clear. The test has a horrible reputation for a reason, but I briefly want to share my experience since I frantically scoured the internet for reviews of the process before my appointment. If you want a full explanation of how the test is done, read this article, but I’m just going to discuss how it went down as a terrified patient.
My nurse referred me to East River Medical Imaging based on positive reviews from other patients and I could not have been happier with the recommendation. Like almost everything in the infertility world, I had to wait for my period to start in order to make the appointment since an HSG test can only be done on day 6-10 of your cycle. Thankfully, East River was able to squeeze me in when the time came, so I didn’t have to postpone a month or find a different radiologist.
Due to Covid, my husband has not been allowed to come to any of my appointments, but he was able to wait in the waiting room for this one since it is recommended that someone drive you home following the HSG. After changing into a paper robe, a nurse led me to a room where I was instructed to lie on a metal table, which was underneath a very intimidating x-ray machine. I get queasy just thinking of what happened next, but there was a speculum, a catheter, and dye injected into my uterus to check for any blockages in my fallopian tubes. All clear, by the way!
The test was EXTREMELY uncomfortable and did cause cramping, but the intense cramping stopped immediately when the radiologist was finished. As awful as it was, I have to say the HSG was not nearly as bad as I had anticipated, but to be fair, I was on 2 extra strength Tylenol, plus a Xanax. Pain wise, I’d give it a 5/10, but I’ve read accounts from some women who barely felt it and others who were in severe pain for days after. Moral of the story, it’s impossible to determine how you’ll feel, so pop some pain pills in advance, and just breathe.
I think that about sums up the last six months. Infertility is a full time job, but thrilled we’re finally ready to move onto the treatment phase. Already panicking over the trigger shot, which many women self administer, but my doctor knows me well enough not to even suggest that. lol Lots of doctor’s appointments ahead, but hopefully it will all be worth it and my next update will be a positive one. Fingers crossed!
xx Esther
*These posts do not reflect my current situation as they were written in the moment.
Still waiting on our miracle, but sharing now to help others feel less alone.
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