Gearing up for IUI #4...

I was holding out the (irrational and unrealistic) hope that maybe I'd get magically pregnant naturally last cycle, but it didn't happen.  You would think after 30 cycles of negative pregnancy tests, I would learn my lesson.  It's highly unlikely to happen this month, too.  So, I'm gearing up for my 4th IUI next month.  I expect that it will probably happen the 3rd week in August.  Unfortunately, that is when I was planning to spend time down at the beach with my family, but the IUI takes precedence.  I seriously considered putting the IUI off another month so that I could have some beach time this summer, but I don't want to drag it out anymore.  I want to get in at least 2 injectable IUI cycles before the end of the year so that we can pursue IVF early next year, if necessary.  I'm going to order the meds next week so I'll be ready to go. 

We just planned a fun trip to Colorado the week before Christmas and may also take a Caribbean vacation over Thanksgiving.  We also are going to DH's hometown over Labor Day for a wedding, so we have some travel to look forward to in the next few months.

A quick apology...

A quick apology for the goofed-up design of the blog this week.  I'm updating the design and it may look jacked up for a few days... Stay tuned and thanks for reading.

Two quick book recommendations...

I'm reading two great books about coping with infertility that I thought I'd share.  They are both pretty popular among the infertile crowd.  I wish I'd read them a long time ago.  All the other fertility related books I have read tell me "use my method and you'll get pregnant right away!" (I'm looking at you, Taking Charge of Your Infertility and The Infertility Cure.)  I do recommend "Taking Charge" and "The Infertility Cure" to people who are just starting the TTC process, but I find them to be somewhat misleading in their claims to "cure" infertility.

Anyway, I highly recommend these books:

Conquering Infertility by Alice Domar
and
A Few Good Eggs by Maureen Regan and Julie Vargo

Breaking the bank

I got a friendly letter from the RE on Saturday, stating that their price for the IUI with injectables is over $1500.00 and it must be paid at my first appointment.  This doesn't cover the price of the medications, which are looking like they will be about $750 per cycle.  I am insured through my husband's job, and they provide absolutely no coverage for any infertility treatment whatsoever.  They recently changed our prescription coverage, but they they don't cover injectable fertility medications of any kind.  We are fortunate that our state (NJ) mandates fertility coverage by law, but unfortunately my husband works in Pennsylvania and our plan is administered in PA.  So, we don't get that benefit either.  I know it's been said over and over again, but it is fundamentally unfair that many health insurance plans cover pregnancy, contraception, and erectile dysfunction but don't cover infertility treatment.  It's not our fault that we are infertile.  I didn't do anything to cause my infertility.  We are being punished for something that we have no control over.  It is so frustrating!  So, we are most likely going to have to clean out our savings (and possibly our retirement accounts if we end up doing IVF). 

On that note, if anyone knows which pharmacy is the cheapest for Folli.stim, Lu.pron, etc. please let me know.  I am using a NJ-based mom and pop pharmacy, but I don't know if their prices are cheapest.

RE consultation today...

I just got back from our consult with the RE.  We met with one of the nurse practitioners, who was very nice.  The plan is to do a few more IUI's with Follistim, then possibly on to IVF.  She says it's totally up to us how many more IUI's we want do to, since we are paying out of pocket.  She said that the success rate with Clomid is actually only about 5% (I had been told 20%) but that the injectables have a much better success rate.  We'll probably do 2 or 3, then move on to IVF.  Their IVF price isn't as high as some that I've seen - she said it's about $6000 plus the cost of drugs.  She said if we do move on to IVF we will have a very high chance of success, as much as 70%, due to my age.  Their general success rate is about 45%, but she says that in women my age (under 35), they normally only transfer one good-quality embryo and about 70% of these women get pregnant.  So, some reassuring news.  We'll do the first injects cycle in August.  I can't do it sooner due to work obligations, which would interfere with monitoring appointments.  I'll continue to check in from time to time. 

Sending positive thoughts to Jo

My blog-friend Jo got some bad news today.  Please send some love and good thoughts her way.

Negatory

The beta was negative.  Fail #3.  I'm fine, taking it in stride.  At least now I can take some Advil for these cramps!  Still no period, but it will probably come tomorrow.