How we got here…

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)