Houston, we have a plan!

Well, our meeting with the RE went really well yesterday.  We talked to him about all our questions and concerns and got everything worked out.  So we are all set to go for my next cycle which I’m very happy about.

We primarily discussed the risks of multiples in IUI’s and how our specific protocol will go so as to mesh with our feelings about multiples and that fact that we are 100% against selective reduction.

So usually our RE uses injectible medications for IUI’s with the hopes of stimulating the woman to produce 3-4 follicles per IUI.  But we are going to do a combination of the more conservative Clomid only method, and the more aggressive injectible med only and use a clomid/injectible combination.  This supposedly gives the eggs a little more of a boost.  So we’re hoping to do the IUI with no more than 3 mature follicles (at least for the first IUI).  If for some reason my ovaries decide to produce more than that, they will aspirate some of the eggs out before doing the IUI.

Unfortunately, we understand that by not being more agressive, we are also not maximizing our chances.  But we have to balance this with the fact that we really don’t want triplets (or more).  Our goal will be to walk that fine line between being conservative and aggressive and just have faith that God will work it out the way He wants it to.  If we have twins…we will make it work.  If we have one…perfect!  If we have nothing…we will accept that too.  (But please God help us not be another J.on and K.ate!)

So that’s about it.  I just have to call them when AF arrives and we will officially get started.  They already gave me the injectible medications yesterday and taught me how to do the injections.  Scary!  I still need to send in the prescriptions for the Clomid, Ovidrel, and progesterone.

I’m hopeful but trying to not get my hopes up too much sinec I know the success rates for IUI’s aren’t all that great.  So as much as I am hoping that we are one of the lucky ones that it works for, I am very much aware that it doesn’t work for lots of people too.  And let’s be honest, luck (or God’s Providence, depending on how you look at it) hasn’t exactly been on our side these past two years.

But at least this will give us a chance to try one last thing so we can move on to adoption knowing that we really did everything we could reasonably do.  I think I will be a lot more at peace about adopting at that point.  Mainly because I have always been ok with doing an IUI and was really disappointed (here) when Mike wouldn’t consider it because he thought the Catholic Church was against it. 

But with IVF, both Mike and I are in agreement about not doing it.  I just hated to think that someday I might have had bitter feelings towards Mike about not doing IUI’s.  But now that we can try that, at least I know I wont feel that way about IVF down the road because it is my decision too.  Does that make sense?

Ok, I’ve procrastinated long enough…back to work for me!  Have a wonderful day everyone.