Today is Cycle Day 11 and I attended the first ultrasound for my first ever Intrauterine Insemination (IUI).  The clinic were very efficient today, I was in and out within 15 minutes.  I sat waiting in the examination room for the doctor to arrive, and there on the wall was a poster explaining the differences between fraternal twins and identical twins – A handy guide or perhaps more of a handy reminder of the increased risk for multiples with IUI.  Today, the doctor had a student shadowing her, I had no problem with this, but I think he looked a bit awkward throughout – bless his cotton socks.

The doctor showed the student my good uterine lining – apparently three lines is good.  This is all new to me, so I appreciated her explaining everything.  I had two follicles in the right ovary (as I had predicted) one 20mm and the other 28mm.  I also had a teeny tiny one in the left ovary, only 6mm, but she said it might be nothing.  So I am ready to go.  They don’t open on a Sunday, so my appointment is on Monday 16th Feb.  As a romantic Valentines day gift, I get an injection of Ovidrel at 1130pm.  Not looking forward to this given my phobia of needles.  I am undecided yet whether I will do it myself or get Chris to poke me in the abdomen.

This is all assuming my medication arrives tomorrow as freedom fertility pharmacy have promised me.  Today I called them to check the status of my order with regard to my insurance approval.  They had the approval for the Ovidrel, but not yet negotiated the progesterone.  I don’t understand how this system works in the background, but from what I understand, it is crazy.  So I said I would go ahead and pay full price for them rather than wait for the insurance company to do its thing.  If it is covered, then I can just try to claim it back later….but I needed my meds ASAP!

The progesterone was $49 and the Ovidrel was $123 full price, with the insurance agreeing to pay up, my 10% copay made it only $12.30.  Not too bad.

Cost of this IUI cycle, full price:

• Meds inc. letrozole, ovidrel & progesterone: $311
• Ultrasound: $225
• Sperm Wash:$140
• Insemination:$225

Total: $901

Expensive stuff!! Chances of success? Our doctor told us our chances were about 20%.  Advanced Fertility.com breaks down the success rates even further depending on age, sperm mobility and treatment options. Apparently there is a 7.6% chance of success with one follicle, and an increase chance to 26% with two follicles. Wooohooo!  But those numbers are still pretty small. there is almost a 4 in 5 chance that we won’t conceive.  Putting it like brings you back down to earth.

Fingers crossed for a Valentines baby (Just like Chris is!).  Happy Valentine’s day everyone!