The Motherhood Series, Ep. 2: From IUI to IVF — My Journey to Pregnancy and Beyond

After two long years of trying to get pregnant naturally, my husband and I finally decided it was time to seek help. We started by seeing a specialist at UConn Health, where we confirmed two important things: first, I was ovulating regularly, and second, my endometriosis wasn’t considered severe. Honestly, that news gave me a lot of hope. But even with that reassurance, we were advised to move forward with a full fertility clinic for more advanced assistance.

Once we got to the clinic, the real testing began. We both had extensive bloodwork done. I had an ultrasound and a trial transfer, while my husband completed a semen analysis. Based on the results, he was referred to a urologist for further evaluation. It felt like a whirlwind of appointments, waiting rooms, and Google searches trying to understand everything.

When we finally sat down with our fertility doctor, we were told we had two main options:

• We could try intrauterine insemination (IUI), but it had lower odds given our combined factors.

• Realistically, IVF (in vitro fertilization) with ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection) would be our best shot at success.

  
  

Hearing that we might have to jump straight to IVF was...a lot. I was in complete denial at first.The idea of injecting myself with hormones daily felt terrifying and overwhelming. It wasn't just the physical part; it was the emotional weight of it all. I wasn't ready—not yet.

So, we decided to try IUI first.

We were cautiously hopeful as we started the IUI process, following a detailed plan laid out by the clinic. It began with closely monitoring my cycle at home. I would call the office on the first day of my period to report the start of my cycle. Then, I began taking Clomid—the drug I absolutely hated.

While many people have great success with Clomid because it helps stimulate ovulation, it affected me really badly. I’m convinced it triggered anxiety and panic attacks that I had never experienced before. I felt wired, overwhelmed, and like I wasn't in control of my own emotions. It made an already emotional process even harder.

While on Clomid, I monitored ovulation using OPKs (ovulation predictor kits) at home each morning. Once I got a positive peak result, I would call the clinic, and they would schedule the insemination for the next day.

On the day of the procedure, my husband and I would both go in together. He would leave a sperm sample, the clinic would prepare and wash it, and then the IUI procedure would take place—where they carefully insert the prepared sperm directly into the uterine cavity. After that, it was a waiting game: two long weeks before I could go back for a pregnancy blood test.

Unfortunately, despite all the hope and effort, IUI did not work for us.Given our specific circumstances, it became clear that IVF was our next step.

While IUI didn’t bring us the outcome we hoped for, it was an important step in our journey—and it led us exactly where we needed to be.

In my next post, I’ll be sharing the emotional leap from IUI to IVF, how we made the decision, how I overcame my fear of injections, and what starting IVF really looked like for us.

If you're standing at the crossroads of fertility treatments, feeling scared, overwhelmed, or unsure, you are not alone. I'll be sharing every step of our journey in the hopes that it can bring a little more light to yours.

Stay tuned,❤️