The gift of my miscarriage was the discovery that using condoms, which we had to do until my period returned, prevented the pain after sex that I had been dealing with for as long as I’d known A. I have come to the conclusion that I have an allergy, or at least an extreme sensitivity, to his se*men. After I got pregnant with Gatito, I was probably the only married pregnant woman in the world buying condoms.
I don’t really mind the condoms, and nor does A. After all, it’s not very sexy for most people to know that they are hurting their partner, is it? And the one time we went without a few months ago, it was worse than ever– or at least worse than I remembered. I was in pain for several days afterwards.
But as we get ready to start trying for #2 (I keep saying 2008 and, whoops! here we are!), I am realizing that we have a teensy bit of a problem. Even if I didn’t mind the 4-5 days of pain after, I sure as hell could not be doing the deed again until I was healed, which means that we’d only get one shot per month. But I have to tell you– I do kind of mind the 4-5 days of pain every time I pee or, you know, walk. Not that I wouldn’t go through that to have another child, of course, but you can see why I might not be looking forward to the process.
So I am considering doing IUI. It would be unmedicated, could be done at my OB’s office, and unlimited attempts are 80% covered by my insurance, though I need to confirm that it would be covered for this purpose. I plan to talk to my OB about it some more at my annual exam next week.
To my friends who have done it: Are there things I need to consider when doing unmedicated IUI, presuming I do not have a fertility problem, or is it as simple as I think it is? Is it possible that it would be more painful that what I’ve described above? Anything else I should be thinking of? What questions should I be asking my OB? Thanks.
I did medicated IUIs. So I don’t know about nonmedicated, but I have a “difficult cervix” which I didn’t know about until the IUI and the catheter that is supposed to be a breeze, actually was difficult and painful to navigate. It actually took three nurses and ultimately the doctor to do one of my IUIs.
For me I was uncomfotable for a few days after the IUI. I have similar issues to you so I don’t know if that was why I had those issues. But I was also medicated so some could have been side effects.
how about condoms with holes in them?
I wish I knew anything about IUIs! So I will only wish you luck.
IUIs were completely painless for me. I’d ask your OB about sensitivity within the uterus causing you pain. Either way, the IUI will give you a higher chance of success if you have to endure the pain to conceive. Hopefully you’ll only have to do it once! I’m rooting for you! Hurray!
I am sorry about the allergy…I have a sensitivity similar to yours and it sucks. Wishing you luck!!
I thought IUIs really were that easy. And I’m going to assume you have no fertility problems =)
The things I’d want to ask would be:
1) timing – are they going to rely on OPKs, (and do they work well for you?) or bloodwork/US, (even though you’re not medicated) and are you comfortable with this answer?
2) how many? – would you be going for one well-timed shot or two rounds over three days? And how many would he let you do at his office (if there is a limit.)
Have only done medicated and it was really easy…it sounds like a good solution for you!
Hi there,
I am wondering if you will still be affected by the “drip”. What goes up, must come down. After your IUI you may be asked to lay there for 20-30 minutes, but once you get up, you will feel wet. I hated that with IUI and IVF I felt like everything was going to fall out once I stood up.
The IUI or the transfer at IVF didn’t feel any worse to me than a pap.
I can’t imagine your ins not covering IUI because of this. I understant that some insurance not wanting to cover procedures that “create a pregnancy” (like mine, which I think it total bullshit), but your condition sounds to me like even the insurance companies can’t argue its “legitimacy”.
It is likely that after your period, they will give you a baseline ultrasound and then monitor you with blood tests and ultrasounds to figure out when you are going to ovulate and schedule IUI for the right time. Should be no big deal. Maybe they will give you some extrogen pills or patch and then I take it you will do progesterone support again.
Fun times ahead! Oh, and sorry to hear Gatito doesn’t have any pockey’s anymore.
I’m doing low tech IUI’s (just clomid). The wetness afterward is not the semen flowing out (when it’s inthe vile it is an infinitesimal amoutn), but rather teh lube that they use to put in the speculum and the cervical mucus that is knocked loose by the catheter being inserted into the uterus. I’ve had two (the first was a bust, oy), and my experience was that I felt a little pressure and buring for less than 10 seconds when they put in the semen, and then about 10 hours later I got crampy. They warned me about this, but I don’t know why it happens. Luckily I’ve read so many pregnancy blogs that I know cramping means sit down with your feet up!
You might want to see if your OB/GYN can refer you to a Urogynecologist before you jump into IUI. I work for one now, and they do amazing things! Just a thought.
I did medicated IUI and that IUI part was not hard at all. Kind of like having a super long pap smear and then I laid there for 20 minutes.