2005
March - We start to discuss the “let’s have a baby” idea in earnest, investigating options, reading etc. (£30 on books) December - We approach our first (and only) Known Donor - he agrees!
2006
January - Vee starts temping in earnest, in anticipation of impending insems. (£25 VIP charting membership)
February - We consult a solicitor to get a donor agreement drawn up, and get it signed. (£600 solicitor’s fees)
March - Nothing - still waiting for donor to get his act together and have STD checks.
April - still waiting….
May - and waiting….
June - And we’re off! Try #1 with KD - BFN. (£20 on petrol and £5 on a DIY insem kit)
July (beginning of) - Try #2 with KD - BFN. (£20 petrol)
July (end of) - Missed cycle - KD jets off on holiday at the last minute. (£120 on a fertility monitor and test sticks)
August - Missed cycle - KD yet to return from his holiday. We approach 2nd potential Known Donor and are turned down.
September - Third potential KD approached -we are turned down again. Try #3 with KD - BFN. (£20 petrol)
October - Try #4 with KD - BFN. (£20 - petrol; £10 - monitor sticks)
November - Try #5 with KD - BFN. (£30 as above)
December - Try #6 with KD - BFN. (£30 as above)
2007
January (beginning) - Missed cycle - ovulated on New Year. (£25 VIP charting membership)
January (end) - try #7 with KD - BFN. (£30 as above)
February - Blood tests reveal nothing hugely untoward. Apparently we’re just unlucky. Try #8 with KD - BFN. (£30 as above)
March - Missed cycle - donor needed to be away for a few days and chose the crucial ones.
April - Missed cycle - donor needed to be away for a few days. Again. We start looking into clinic options.
May - Try #9 with KD - BFN. Referred to clinic. (£50 in petrol)
June - Missed cycle - KD informs us (on would-be insemination day) that he can no longer continue donating. We have our first clinic consult and are cleared to go for our next cycle. (£370 for consult and counselling; £15 petrol)
July - IUI #1 with frozen donor sperm - BFN (£822 - IUI; £10 monitor sticks; £15 petrol)
August - IUI #2 - BFN (£822 - IUI; £10 - sticks; £12 - OPKs; £15 petrol)
September - missed cycle - we hit ovulation Sunday - clinic closed.
October - IUI #3 - BFN (£822 - IUI; £10 - sticks; £12 OPKs; £15 petrol)
November (beginning of) - IUI #4 - BFN (£1072 - IUI; £10 - sticks; £12 - OPKs; £15 petrol)
Nov (end of) - HSG and IUI #5 - BFN (£320 - HSG; £1072 - IUI; £10 - sticks; £12 - OPKs; £30 petrol)
December - Missed cycle - clinic closed over Christmas, when I ovulated.
2008
January - Follow-up appointment with clinic doctor. Approved to move onto injectable FSH and trigger next cycle. (appointment - FREE!; £15 - petrol)
January - IUI #6 - BFN - final “natural” cycle, this time with added acupuncture (£1072 - IUI; acupuncture £116; £10 - sticks; £12 -OPKs; £15 petrol)
February - IUI #7 - BFN - first “assisted” cycle (£223 - FSH & triggershot of hCG; £1502 - IUI with monitoring; £66 - acupuncture; £10 - sticks; £30 petrol)
March - IUI #8 - BFN - second assisted cycle (£1502 - IUI with monitoring; £10 - sticks; £5 - trigger shot; acupuncture - £66; £30 petrol)
April - IVF #1 - cancelled due to a high FSH level of 12. (£60 blood test; £15 petrol)
May - second attempt at IVF #1(£3254 - IVF with donor sperm; £500 - drugs for IVF; acupuncture - £264; £135 - petrol) OMG! BFP!
RUNNING TOTAL - £15,480 (approx $30,443)
6 responses so far ↓
notesfrom2moms // November 25, 2007 at 9:31 pm
someday you will have to change the name of this page to something happier….
jay // November 25, 2007 at 9:34 pm
ahh, that’s a nice thing to say. you are right!!
Mel // November 28, 2007 at 3:35 am
I need to add this up AND do the conversion from pounds to dollars. Regardless, I have the feeling the number is high. It’s sort of gulp-worthy to see the whole thing written out as a list.
starrhillgirl // December 14, 2007 at 1:09 am
These lists leave my head spinning. Soon. It will be soon. I know it.
eggdropblogger // April 27, 2008 at 11:29 pm
Wow. You have been through a lot. It’s really stricking when you list the entire ordeal out and include the price tag. I am afraid to do it for myself. One day, we will both look back at our lists and laugh, right?
I’m holding out until that day for both of us.
Buffy, the sperm nurse « Hatchling // June 19, 2008 at 12:31 pm
[...] other blogs out there, including Vee and Jay’s staggering running total, we’re so fortunate to live in a country where our Medicare system covers most of the costs [...]
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