This time, we're doing it with the option of IUI instead of timed intercourse. The process is the same at the beginning of the cycle with the pills, the shots and the routine ultrasounds followed by the Ovidrel shot. What's different is that we get to do what I like to call "The Fertility Rendezvous."
One of my strengths throughout this process has been to keep a sense of humor. I have learned that fertility treatment is such an awesome resource that I have been blessed to have available to me; however, things just get down-right awkward with the number of nurses and residents and who all else works at this facility who see what used to be what I considered to be my "private" areas.
The "Fertility Rendezvous" is my risque-sounding name for the process of getting an IUI (Intrauterine Insemination). Once I have taken my Ovidrel shot, I then have an appointment at the 36 hour mark. For example, I took my shot at 9:30PM on Tuesday night and have a scheduled appointment on Thursday morning at 9:30AM. BR has his appointment at the same facility an hour and a half earlier (8AM). When he arrives at the office, he will be given instructions on providing a "specimen" or a cup of sperm. Yes, this is where it gets really awkward; sending my husband into a room of "visually stimulating" materials to be able to provide a "specimen" in a cup that he puts in a paper bag and passes through a window in the wall to a lab located on the other side. AWKWARD.
Once the "specimen" has been provided, the lab then spends the hour between our appointments to "wash" the sperm. I don't know exactly what is involved in this process (not sure that I want to know) but they basically get the sperm down to it's most concentrated (and strongest "swimmers") state.
When I come in at 9:30AM for my appointment, I will go into a room that would be the same as if I were to be going for my annual pap-smear. The nurse/doctor will then follow the same procedure as the pap then with a tiny catheter inserted past my cervix, with a syringe, inject the sperm into my uterus. I lay there for at least 15 minutes "resting" and letting the little guys swim up to meet my "nicely developed" eggs that the Ovidrel has forced to come out of my ovaries. SIMPLE, right??
My faith has resembled a roller-coaster these days. One day I may be so excited and positive that this round of treatment is going to be THE ROUND that gets us pregnant. Other days, I may be in tears with the feeling of no hope of ever having the experience of pregnancy and delivering a child from my own womb. Through it all, my wonderful husband has been my ROCK, my shoulder to cry on and my hand to hold. He's going through the same thing but has always made it seem like everything is going to be alright.
Praise be to God! I have found the most wonderful picture recently that says it all: "I have cast my anchor in the port of peace, knowing that present and future are in NAIL-PIERCED HANDS."
WOW. Yes! My faith is in the Lord and it shall not be swayed! Like the song sung by Josh Wilson that says "Whatever you do, just don't lose heart. Keep pushing back the dark" and that is EXACTLY what I intend to do! I WILL NOT lose heart!!
Please pray as we go through our IUI experience tomorrow, 10/3/13. I pray that this is the treatment that will get us our baby (or babies- since our risk for multiples is higher with treatment)!!
The IVF post may not be necessary, so, in that case, PRAY, PRAY, PRAY!
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