Surprise surprise... our last IUI cycle was, again, a big fat negative.
So where do we go from here? In case you've lost count, we're 3 cycles in and stillllll waiting. Bleh. Our clinic normally schedules an appointment with our doctor to sort of "regroup" after 3 failed cycles, so that's what we did this week. We've been presented with a few options, so here's what we're tossing around at the moment:
1. (Simplest) - Continue doing up to 3 more IUI cycles with Clomid, same as we've been doing. Just because it hasn't worked yet doesn't mean it never will. This option is the cheapest, easiest, and least risky in terms of the possibility of multiples.
2. (A little more aggressive) - Continue up to 3 more IUI cycles with a drug called Bravelle (similar to Menopur), which is a daily self-injection (or spouse injection as I just don't think I have it in me) that will essentially cause more follicles to mature than Clomid does. This basically increases our chance of pregnancy by increasing the number of targets available. This option is more expensive, more of a pain, and carries with it a 30% chance of multiples.
3. (Most aggressive) - Forget IUI altogether and move on to In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). This would probably pretty much guarantee us a pregnancy, and gives the doctor control over how many babies are put all up in there. HOWEVER, we do not currently consider IVF to be an option for us, for several reasons that I won't get into here.
So, that leaves us with two choices... keep plugging away with the Clomid or step it up a notch with the Bravelle. At this point, I'm almost positive that we'll try again with Clomid.
At the moment I'm acutely aware of how small our problems are in comparison to what others are going through, so I'm almost embarrassed to ask for continued prayer. But I know that God concerns himself with even the least of our issues, so I humbly ask again for those of you who pray to keep us in mind as we make these decisions and continue on with all this unpleasant business.
So where do we go from here? In case you've lost count, we're 3 cycles in and stillllll waiting. Bleh. Our clinic normally schedules an appointment with our doctor to sort of "regroup" after 3 failed cycles, so that's what we did this week. We've been presented with a few options, so here's what we're tossing around at the moment:
1. (Simplest) - Continue doing up to 3 more IUI cycles with Clomid, same as we've been doing. Just because it hasn't worked yet doesn't mean it never will. This option is the cheapest, easiest, and least risky in terms of the possibility of multiples.
2. (A little more aggressive) - Continue up to 3 more IUI cycles with a drug called Bravelle (similar to Menopur), which is a daily self-injection (or spouse injection as I just don't think I have it in me) that will essentially cause more follicles to mature than Clomid does. This basically increases our chance of pregnancy by increasing the number of targets available. This option is more expensive, more of a pain, and carries with it a 30% chance of multiples.
3. (Most aggressive) - Forget IUI altogether and move on to In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). This would probably pretty much guarantee us a pregnancy, and gives the doctor control over how many babies are put all up in there. HOWEVER, we do not currently consider IVF to be an option for us, for several reasons that I won't get into here.
So, that leaves us with two choices... keep plugging away with the Clomid or step it up a notch with the Bravelle. At this point, I'm almost positive that we'll try again with Clomid.
At the moment I'm acutely aware of how small our problems are in comparison to what others are going through, so I'm almost embarrassed to ask for continued prayer. But I know that God concerns himself with even the least of our issues, so I humbly ask again for those of you who pray to keep us in mind as we make these decisions and continue on with all this unpleasant business.
There is nothing too small to ask for prayer. God is our good Father and he is concerned with all things big and small. Praying for you and here for hugs if you need them :)
ReplyDeleteI totally think I get what you mean with the IVF....it brings up a lot of questions/decisions about what one does with the other embryos that are sitting on the ice if a pregnancy takes with just one. And with all that goes into one cycle of it...I don't know how couples do it.
ReplyDeleteThinking of you and praying...big decisions - may they not weigh too heavily upon you.
ReplyDelete