I know that the same scenarios do not work for everyone. But maybe this can help someone. I’ve done a total of 5 IUIs (2 in 2018, 3 in 2020) and have gotten BFPs twice now including this time.

Background- I am 32, I have PCOS and my follicles don’t grow much, if at all, so I do not ovulate on my own. I’ve done 2 IUIs back in 2018 after trying a couple of at home relations cycles with letrozole and ovidrel. First <a href="https://glowing.com/glow-fertility-program">IUI</a> didn’t work. Second <a href="https://glowing.com/glow-fertility-program">IUI</a> Sept 2018 did! I had an HSG test a few days before to make sure my tubes were clear (which they were) and then did back to back days of <a href="https://glowing.com/glow-fertility-program">IUI</a>. Ovidrel (one 19mm follicle) was a Wednesday night, <a href="https://glowing.com/glow-fertility-program">IUI</a> Thursday morning and Friday morning. Positive test 2 weeks later on 10/12/18 and I now have a beautiful healthy 16 month old boy.

Fast forward to 2020. Started trying again in July- went straight for IUIs since I knew last time worked. Began taking letrozole and did two unsuccessful <a href="https://glowing.com/glow-fertility-program">IUI</a> cycles, once each time. I then realized what worked when I got pregnant in 2018. I had an HSG test and back to back IUIs. So I was determined for my 3rd cycle to exactly replicate it. Funny enough it was September again. I asked for an HSG test (again, clear) and my fertility doctor said we can try back to back days of IUIs. So I did Ovidrel on a Tuesday (one 25mm follicle) and <a href="https://glowing.com/glow-fertility-program">IUI</a> on Wednesday morning and again Thursday morning. Almost down to the same days as I did in 2018.

Tried not to symptom spot, but we all do it. This TWW felt so much longer than the previous ones I had done. I had put on my Fitbit about 5 days after my <a href="https://glowing.com/glow-fertility-program">IUI</a> (took a month off because I had been lazy 🥴) and my RHR (resting heart rate) started out about 6bpm (76bpm) higher than it normally was. I attributed to maybe I was just really out of shape since I hadn’t done the treadmill since our vacation Labor Day week. So I started the treadmill back up last week- 5 days straight. My RHR was increasing each day (my Fitbit cardio fitness level decreasing). Normally I range between 68-72 depending on where I am in my cycle, but I was reading 76-80bpms from last Tuesday (10/6) to Monday (10/12) and still the same today. I’m not in the greatest shape, but I do Peloton power walks/intervals about 4-5x a week normally, so it was enough to notice something was wrong (or right?)

I went back through my app to check my RHR and see what it looked like the week I found out I was pregnant in 2018. It showed a raise in my RHR but not nearly as high as this time. Maybe 75bpms for a few days but that wasn’t until I actually tested positive at two weeks, it was pretty normal prior to that. So I thought either I have to see a cardiologist ASAP or I’m pregnant, hoping for the latter.

I was supposed test tomorrow, 10/14, and call my doctor with the results. But yesterday 10/12 marked 2 years ago exactly that I found out I was pregnant with my son, so being superstitious I tested hoping for some good luck (I was already 13dpt, 12dpiuis) Low and behold, I got my positive! I definitely felt different this time- felt twinges, pulling under bellybutton, mild cramps.. but the cramps were not typical menstrual cramps. They felt slightly different than your normal cramping, not really a dull ache like they usually are. Hard to explain that feeling.

The biggest indicating factor was my RHR because i’ve mostly been monitoring it, with the exception of this last lazy month I had. I couldn’t have been out of shape THAT quickly. I was still able to do a 20-30 minute Peloton class and feel good, not completely out of breath and out of shape like my Fitbit was showing me. Screenshot below I took this morning. Red circle is where I saw my BFP.

I believe the HSG test helped a lot, even though my tubes were clear I believe it helped push out any “debris” or “cobwebs” (lol) that have been chilling in there since my last pregnancy. Sort of clearing the way for the double dosage of spermies!

I know everyone is different, but I know everyone is the same trying to look at these message boards during their TWW figuring out some sort of explanation, hope, or if anyone had been experiencing the same symptoms. I know I do.

I am going to test again tomorrow on my actual test day and call the doctor to schedule bloodwork. I did not test out my trigger, I don’t like doing that to myself, but it was already 13dpt and with all of the other factors going on, I’m pretty sure this is it. Hope my experience helps someone. Ask for back to back IUIs! Ask for the HSG test! My doctor didn’t bring it up this time around, and I know some practices do require it before IUIs. Mine does not.

Again, this situation does not apply to everyone. But maybe it can give hope 💫

Baby dust to you all!