do you know sperm quality of donor sperm?

[mkdig]

Our first attempt at iui didnt work and I didnt even ask about the quality of the donors sperm. I know he had established pregnancies but I didnt even think to ask about specifics of the sperm quality. Is this something most people find out when doing iui??
Also we just found out today our attempt wasnt successful (sat.) so I haven't talked to our doctor yet, does anyone know if we will be able to try again on my next cycle or will they suggest we wait a month in between?

ps. is it just me or does everyone think these clinics should be open on the weekends as well???

[squeezan]

Hi mkdig
So Sorry it didn't work out for you this time. I've had 3 failed iui's and am just starting #4. My clinic is happy for me to continue every month with no break inbetween, thank goodness - I don't think I could cope with any more waiting! my cycle causes enough delays. I took clomid for the last 3 cycles but have moved on to injectables now.
I've been wondering the same about sperm quality. I haven't asked and feel like I'm doubting them if I do. I guess we just have to trust that they check, afterall, they want it to work too if only so their stats look good.
Are you taking any meds? If not it'd be ok to wait til they open again to ring. If you need meds on day 2 and AF arrives is there an emergency number you can call? Mine has one but I've never needed to try it. I had my first iui on a Saturday - they opened up for me specially.
Good luck with your next cycle.
Feel free to PM me if you want
Su xx

[mkdig]

Good Luck with #4. I guess we just have to believe our chances will get better every time. Thanks for the reply.

[Lis]

Hi mkdig & Su

My dh and I had to buy our donor sperm from Luis Hughes in London - 10 batches for 10 cycles. We were told that a donor's sperm count, motility etc. has to be well above "average", like super sperm because when its frozen then thawed, some sperm do die off so the count is lowered. We were told however that there were plenty in there to achieve a pregnancy!

After cycle no. 5 I raised the very question of our donor's quality etc. The sister asked the lab to test a tiny bit for us prior to insemination and the results showed that the quality, count etc. was exactly as it should be.

As far back to back cycles are concerned - I did 5 back to back - all natural - then had a month's break over last Xmas before no. 6 (as dh and I were emotionally drained with the whole rollercoaster). Then I got BFP on no.6!! So there is hope girls - be patient - it can take time - and it doesn't mean there is anything wrong with you just because it hasn't worked 2nd, 3rs, 4th time.

My clinic would open on a weekend when needed, there were never any problems with that altho I know other clinics will monitor you then give you hcg trigger shot to try and make sure it doesn't happen over a weekend. Def worth checking out. mkdig - are you in Britain??

Good luck to you both. Feel free to pm me if I can be of any help.

Lisa xx

[squeezan]

Thanks Lis, it's good to hear positive stories like yours. I must admit I have been wondering whether it'll ever work and maybe my age is against me.
I also had to buy a batch of 10 samples which is partly why I'm keen to keep going back-to-back. I was told they can only be stored for 1 year and I had a few delays at the beginning so some will get wasted even if I need to keep going for 1 year.
Congratulations on your BFP How's it going? When are you due?
Su

[Lis]

Hi Su

Hey you are still young! and I'm sure your clinic would have told you if they really thought you couldn't have success with this type of tmt. We were also in same boat - had to use it up within a year. Are you doing double insems or singles? I had just one insem on the first 5 cycles then decided on a double on the 6th ie once I had surged I had insem that day then the next morning again- I really don't know if this is why it worked or not. Clinic said there stats showed that doing 2 insems per cycle did not give a higher success rate but they were happy to do it for me all the same.

At my clinic there were another 6 ladies doing back to back tmt with donor. 5 had success and out of those 5 (incl me) only two people got BFP before cycle 5. I was the 3rd on cycle 6 then there were another 2 who got BFP somewhere between cycles 6 - 10. I hope this gives you some confidence that it really can take that time. My clinic told me their stats showed that you have the same success rate for the first 8 cycles then a slightly lower success rate on 9 & 10.

So keep up the pma! Which clinic are you at?

I am due 2nd October, just under 5 weeks. Its all gone so fast I really can't believe I've nearly finished the pregnancy.

L x

[squeezan]

Hi Lis
I've just done single insems so far. I asked about it last time and they said the same as yours that it doesn't increase the success rate. They will do it if I really want but they consider it a waste of money. It seems a shame to waste any though so I might ask again. I've still got 7 left and only up to December to use them
I'm with the Isis centre in Colchester, Essex. It's small and friendly which suits me.
I'm finding it hard getting a balance between pma and getting my hopes up too much. I was really low after #2 and I think that affected the next cycle and reduced the effectiveness of the clomid (my cycle seems to react very badly to stress) so #3 I didn't let myself think that it might work but I don't think that helps either.
Sorry for rambling, I think the injections are making me emotional. Got first scan on Friday so we'll see if they've had the desired effect!
Hope the next 5 weeks fly by for you. Do you know what you're having?
Thanks for your message
Su

[Lis]

Hi Su

How is it all going? How did scan go? Hope the pma is strong!

PS I'm having a girl!

Lisa xxx

[squeezan]

Hi Lis
Friday's scan showed a few follies (biggest one 10mm) so went again today and have got one 15mm so the injections are working but I was hoping for 2 or 3 really. Going back Wed for another scan and trigger then iui Thurs.
Will be very glad to finish injections - they're making me nauseous and quite emotional. Didn't cope with stress at work too well last week, feel a bit silly now. Did you have any meds? how did you feel on them?

How are you coping with pregnancy? Bet you're tired, are you working?

thanks for your message
Su

[Lis]

Hi Su

You shouldn't feel silly! - the meds are bound to take over your mind as well as your body so every little thing becomes upsetting. Go easy on yourself

I never took any meds as my clinic (nhs - altho we paid for the donor sperm just not the tmt's) don't believ in doing that due to risk/incidence of multiple pg. So all my tmt's were natural. I would have daily bloods from about day 11 which would monitor eostrogen and LH levels. I had to go to the clinic between 8 and 9 am then phone about 11 am for results. They would then tell me if I had to go back the next day, miss a day (if levels very low) or come in that afternoon for tmt if bloods showed LH surge. That was always a stress as I had to leave work with an hour's notice. I had intra cervical insem hence the reason for tm on same day as surge.

I am keeping well but getting tired but probably doing too much! I've never been one for lazing around much so have been meeting friends and "nesting"!! I finished work just under 34 weeks as I wanted some time to myself and to get my head around the life change that lies ahead!

So how did yesterday's scan go? Has the 15mm follie grown?! I am willing it to grow big for you

Take care xxx

[squeezan]

Hi Lis
Yesterday was a bit dissappointing as it had only got to 17mm and they won't trigger under 18 so they wanted me to go back today BUT this morning I poas and it was positive. I was so excited - its the first time I've detected a natural LH surge. So I didn't need to go today, just booked in for iui tomorrow morning.

I know what you mean about work, it's a bit tricky at times. My line manager knows and is very supportive but I work in the NHS and staffing is really low at the moment so I feel bad taking so much time off at short notice.

When I started this the plan wasn't to use any meds but my cycle's crazy and I only seem to ovulate some months so they started me on Clomid which they think I've now become resisitant to so that's why I'm having injections.

Try to take it easy if you're tired but I think I'd be the same, I don't like to be doing nothing. Nice to have a few weeks to prepare for the arrival of your little girl!
best wishes
Su

[Lis]

Su

Good luck today! Great news about natural surge.

I also work in NHS! - in a clinical job which is patient based. That caused me a real headache because we are so short staffed too that if I went off unexpectedly my patients often couldn't be covered by another member of staff so had to be cancelled at the last minute... and if i tried to foresee which day I would have tmt and cancel patients in advance I always fgot it wrong and it was always the times when I didn't need tmt that day If I remeber rightly, I went in on various days on different cycles between cycle days 14 and 18.

By now you are probably on the 2ww - I am keeping everything crossed for you and your BFP!

Keep in touch!

L xxx

[squeezan]

Hi
Just been reading back through these posts about success after 5 or more iui's to try to give myself some hope. I poas this morniing and got BFN. Its 2 days early but I couldn't wait any longer. I didn't really expect a BFP but now have lost all hope. I don't know how long I can keep doing this - it's such a drain both emotionally and financially!

Lis - How are you doing? You must be almost there by now. Looking forward to hearing your news. Hope you can find the time to come back and visit.