Feeling hopeless and losing all confidence...

@Leentje the ultrasound went well, and all the blood test results were good too. The DNA test is still ongoing, and we’ll get the results in about 3 weeks.

They said he’s eligible for a PESE (as long as the DNA result is also good), but he has to follow the lifestyle rules for three months first before the procedure.

After his procedure, they’ll start me on hormones, retrieve my eggs, and then (if everything goes well) combine the retrieved sperm with my eggs via ICSI, followed by an embryo transfer.

It’s still quite strange to me that they haven’t been able to find the cause of the azoospermia (no sperm cells in the semen) despite everything looking normal physically, on ultrasound, and in blood tests.

The procedure is currently scheduled for late June or July (so we’ll get a provisional date in about a week). If they achieve the desired result, I’ll start the hormone treatment cycle afterward to produce extra eggs, which will then be retrieved later, followed by the transfer.

So overall, it’s fairly good news, but it definitely feels very slow to me. They could have given me the lifestyle rules back in January when they first found no sperm, and it’s frustrating that I can’t do anything until after his procedure.

I’m hoping for the procedure in June, my hormone treatment in July, and the transfer in early August. But I’m afraid it might not go as quickly as that, and since we’re going on holiday from August 12 to September 2, the transfer might end up being in September or October

As for you, I don’t know exactly how long you’ve been trying, but after 14 months I felt I really had to take the step to see the GP, even though it felt like such a difficult step because you don’t want to discuss with a "stranger" that you can’t get pregnant yourself ;-)

But all the tests take so long, so if I may give you advice, I’d say take that step in good time (of course, after trying on your own for a year).

Love

Leetje, it's so nice that you've had a lovely vacation. Unfortunately, you've gotten your period again .
You can always have a chat with your GP, just ask for some information. And then you can decide for yourself if you're ready to take the step to go to the hospital, girl.
It's a long process once you're in it, but at least something happens. Stay strong, girl.

Things are going okay for us. Our first IUI unfortunately failed. We were allowed to proceed straight to the 2nd round.
Last Saturday I started injecting hormones again. Last weekend I had a heavy bleed, which made it uncertain if there were any eggs left at all. Had an ultrasound last Monday and luckily there was still 1 egg, growing nicely.
We're having another ultrasound today, but I'm afraid I've already ovulated.. it felt like it yesterday. That would mean this IUI round can't go ahead :-(.
But we'll wait for the ultrasound today...

Hi Leetje,
thanks for your kind words. My cycle and period are completely off, and it’s anyone’s guess whether they’ll come back soon

On Tuesday evening, after our daughter kept nagging, we finally went out to get some fries. They sat heavily on my stomach, and even now I still feel like they haven’t digested. I’m so nauseous, my stomach isn’t cooperating, and I can’t even go to the toilet. Before I knew it, I had a test in my hand—I still don’t really know why, call it intuition or something.

And as you can see from the photo, it’s possible even when your cycle is completely messed up and your gynecologist is left scratching their head. I’ll take another test on Saturday or Sunday to see if it shows something clearer...

@Leentje well, it's positive at least that you've gotten pregnant before, even if it didn't work out in the end Hopefully it'll be a hit this month, and if not, maybe they can use something small to increase the chances of conception
We got the date for the procedure yesterday, July 9th. I have to say we're a bit disappointed because they had suggested late June. Not that those two weeks make a huge difference, but my fiancé wants to start his 7th Vierdaagse (Four Days March) on July 17th, and he needs a week to recover from the procedure, so he'd only have 1 day of buffer.
We don't want to reschedule the procedure either, because then it'll only get later, and you don't want to have issues during your wedding/honeymoon ;-)
What you said about the months is definitely true, but it remains painful that people around you (and I don't mean this forum, but "real" life) get pregnant, while some weren't even trying or weren't ready for it. That's really painful ;-) So I hope July 9th comes quickly and that they find plenty of sperm

@Mamske super nice test, hope it keeps going up, enjoy it

Mamske, congratulations on the positive test! The test looks great. Hopefully, they develop nicely.

Leetje, luckily, there was still 1 egg visible on the ultrasound. However, she didn't get it quite right (it wasn't perfectly round and the edges didn't look compact), as seen in the photo from the first time she looked. That caused her a bit of worry.
Fortunately, our egg looked better the second time.
Just to be safe, they took a blood sample from me to check hormone levels. We'll get the results today.
Based on the results, we'll schedule another ultrasound and also the IUI (if everything goes well).

Thanks girls,
I can't really enjoy it yet after the last time. I'll test again on Saturday and if it's clearer then, I'll call the gynecologist on Monday. Hope I can get an appointment soon.

Leetje, we're starting round 3 of IUI. Unfortunately, round 2 didn't work out. We started the injections again last Sunday, and we'll have the first ultrasound next Friday to see if the eggs are growing.

How are you doing now?

@Leetje, thanks for asking. I went for a check-up on Monday and the heartbeat was there; it did take a while to sink in for me. So today is 6w3d, on May 17th I have another appointment. Normally I'd have to wait until 12 weeks, but the OB-GYN thought that was quite long too, so on May 17th, when I'll be just under 9 weeks, I'm going back. If everything is fine then, we'll tell our little ones.
I'm already experiencing pelvic instability. I've had lower back discomfort for almost a week now, not really pain but still a very unpleasant and uncomfortable feeling. The OB-GYN let me know that I have the bad luck of it coming from my pelvis already.

@Leentje, it's no big deal, I haven't been on the forum much lately either since there's really nothing else to do but wait until July 9th ;-)
Today is exactly 100 days until our wedding :-) I'm really looking forward to it and especially to our 22-day honeymoon
How are you doing?
@Mamske, that's great that everything is going well and you're going back for another ultrasound soon, how nice to be able to share it with the rest of us, I'm happy for you
I'd be super happy and blessed with just one child. We'd love two, but given our situation, I'd be incredibly happy and content with just one . It's just so welcome, we're really ready for it . I can't wait to finish setting up the nursery, but I'm consciously waiting because it would be too painful to be reminded of our (currently) unfulfilled wish any more often
Lots of love