IUI #2

OPK showed two lines this morning! We quickly arranged to take leave from work and waited for Dr Chin's clinic to open at 9 am to give them a call. We couldn't do the IUI procedure tomorrow because the clinic is not open on Wednesdays. Thus, it was a mad rush this morning. Once I made the appointment, DH had to quickly produce his sample and we rushed down to Gleneagles to submit it to the lab by 10 am. However, the morning traffic wasn't good and the carpark was very full. We only managed to reach after 10 am. Typically, the lab would required 2 hours for the processing, but thankfully, the lab was willing to rush the sample for us. Dr Chin had to close her clinic early today and so we were told to go back at 12 pm.

When we return after lunch, Dr Chin did the same things like our IUI #1. This time, I have not ovulated yet and she could measure the follicle size, which was at 2.34 cm x 2.66 cm in my right ovary.

Today's bill:

Lab work	$300
Consultation	$90
Ultrasound scan	$120
IUI	$500
Duphaston	$48
Clomid (standby for IUI#3)	$10
TOTAL (include GST)	$1142.76

IUI #1

Yesterday (CD12), two lines showed up on OPK. This is two days earlier than my previous cycles and it kind of caught us by surprise. Nevertheless, I called the clinic yesterday and we're scheduled for IUI procedure today!

In the morning, DH produced his troops at home and rushed them down to the lab immediately. Then, we went for lunch. While we were having lunch, DH's troops were being washed. As told, we came back to the clinic at 2 pm. Dr Chin did a scan to check on my uterus condition and mentioned that ovulation had already occured. She also measured my lining and said that it's of a good thickness. After that, her nurse brought me to a room next door and Dr Chin performed the IUI. Then, I was left alone in the room to continue lying down, until a nurse came in around 30 mins later. We paid our bills and we went home. Dr Chin prescribed Duphaston to be taken twice daily for 14 days. Although my doctor says that I can do whatever I want after the procedure, I only got the mood to go home and sleep.

Damages for today:

Lab work	$300
Consultation	$90
Ultrasound scan	$120
IUI	$500
Duphaston	$48
Clomid (standby for IUI#2)	$10
OPK (standby for IUI#2)	$35
TOTAL (include GST)	$1180.21

Preparing for IUI

Just few days back, my girlfriends were chatting in WhatsApp and one of them shared the happy news of her sister's successful IVF after several months of TCM. Her physician has a really good reputation in fertility treatment and had many success stories.

Dr Su Chun Lin (苏群淋)
Fu Nan Traditional Chinese Medical Centre
Blk 152 Bukit Batok Street 11
#01-266
Singapore 650152
Tel: 6896 1618

Dr Su shares the clinic with another TCM physician (whom many say is her husband). Since their charges are lower, their clinic is always super crowded. When I went there yesterday, she happens to be on leave, so I did my registration and left. Today, I called the clinic at their opening hour to take a queue number. The staff on the phone gave me a good estimate of the time to arrive at the clinic, so I didn't have to wait very long for my turn. Dr Su took my pulse and said that my body is fine. I just need to improve the quality and quantity of my blood. It came as a surprise to me that Dr Su doesn't do acupuncture, the other physician at the clinic does. I didn't want to re-queue and wait so long for the acupuncture, so I left with the medicine, which costed only $54 for 2 weeks' worth of medication.

It might be a little late to start TCM now (since my IUI is likely to be schedule in less than 2 weeks' time), but I guess it's still better than doing nothing at all.

HSG Result

DH and I are back in Dr Chin's clinic to receive the result of my HSG test. The report says "The uterine cavity is normal. Both fallopian tubes are not dilated or obstructed." Okay, so I'm fine. So, why am I still having difficulty getting pregnant?

Dr Chin suggests that we try IUI. I'll still be put on Clomid and once I get a positive on OPK, I get an appointment on that day or the next day for the procedure.

Today's bill:

Consultation	$90
Ovulation kit (5 pieces x 2 boxes)	$70
Clomid (5 tablets)	$10
TOTAL (including GST)	$181.90

Hysterosalpingogram

What is hysterosalpingogram?

Hysterosalpingogram (HSG) is an x-ray of the uterus and fallopian tubes performed after the injection of a contrast material. In HSG, continuous x-ray and fluoroscopy are used. The contrast material used for this procedure can be water-soluble. It is administered to the cervix through a small catheter to help the radiologist view the internal uterine structures. HSG is primarily used to examine women who have trouble becoming pregnant. It is able to show the shape and structure of the uterus and the patency of the fallopian tubes.

{ Information taken from a hospital brochure. }

Today (CD8), I took half day leave and had my HSG done this afternoon. DH took the afternoon off too to accompany me. I reported to Dr Chin's clinic and her nurse issued the prescribed antibiotics and painkiller medication to me. Then, we proceed to the hospital side for the procedure. While waiting to be registered, I took the painkiller tablet, because Dr Chin mentioned that this test would be rather painful and her nurse said that I can take it before the procedure. After registration, I was led to the changing room and DH waited in the waiting area. Shortly, I was called into the x-ray room and instructed to lie on the cold, hard metal table. It was really uncomfortable when the radiologist inserted the speculum and catheter. I couldn't really feel the dye being pushed in but I felt some cramping in my lower abdomen. Then, a few x-ray images were taken, with my hip tilted to the left and to the right. The whole procedure didn't take very long and I was allowed to go off after changing out of the hospital gown (and after paying the bill of course).

Today's charges (inclusive of GST):

Antibiotics and painkillers	$35.31
Hysterosalpingogram	$244

Clomid Cycle #4

So I start this cycle with Clomid from CD2 to CD6 (as per previous cycles) and went back to see Dr Chin on CD14 (as told in my last consultation). The purpose of today's visit was to do an ultrasound scan. Well, Dr Chin reported that there's a good follicle measuring 1.63 cm x 1.54 cm, so it seems like nothing's wrong.

Today's bill:

Consultation	$90
Ultrasound scan	$120
TOTAL (including GST)	$224.70

Next step: hysterosalpingogram test (if I still don't get pregnant).

Third Visit to Dr Chin

The past two cycles with Clomid didn't help to get me pregnant, even though OPK was positive on CD15, so I told DH to get his SA done.

Today is CD27 of my 3rd cycle with Clomid, which means AF is due to appear tomorrow if it's BFN again. (No, I have no guts to use the HPT.) And today, we were back in Dr Chin's clinic again. We got DH's SA result and Dr Chin said that there's no major issue. She gave me another round of Clomid and told me to return to her clinic for a scan around CD14.

Today's bill:

Consultation	$90
Ovulation Kit (5 pieces)	$35
Clomid (5 tablets)	$10
TOTAL (including GST)	$144.45

I'm really desperate to get a SG50 baby and the next cycle would be our last chance.

Second Visit to Dr Chin

The OPKs didn't show two dark lines at all, so on CD18, I picked up my phone and made an appointment to see Dr Chin. After waiting for two week, DH and I were in her clinic again.

Today is CD6. Thankfully, I'm still in time for my first dose of Clomid. Typically, the practice now is to take Clomid from CD2 to CD6. But Dr Chin said that in the past, Clomid was taken slightly later in the cycle, so we still can give it a try for this cycle.

To avoid having to make frequent trips to her clinic, she prescribed enough medication for 2 to 3 cycles. I was instructed to take 50 mg Clomid daily from today onwards and use the OPK on CD11 to CD18 (as per last cycle). If LH surge is detected, I am to take the same dosage on CD2 onwards for the next cycle (if I don't get pregnant). However, if no LH surge is detected this cycle, then I am to increase the dosage to 100 mg daily from CD2 onwards for the next cycle.

Before we leave, Dr Chin also informed her nurse to supply DH with a sample bottle and told us that he can have his sperms analysed whenever he's ready. He just have to call the clinic, the nurse will make an appointment with the lab, and he will be given a date to submit his sample.

Today bill:

Consultation	$100
Ovulation kit (5 pieces x 3 boxes)	$105
Clomid (5 tablets x 3 packs)	$30
TOTAL (including GST)	$251.45

First Visit to the O&G Clinic

This afternoon, I made my first ever visit to a gynae. When I called for an appointment a couple of weeks back, the nurse recommend that I come on a weekday, so that I can spend more time with the doctor to talk about our issues. (It would be more crowded on a weekend, with longer waiting time.)

Dr Lisa Chin's clinic is located in Gleneagles Medical Centre. After she spoke to us, she did a transvaginal ultrasound scan on me and reported that I have no abnormal cyst. My womb condition is fine and looks just as expected on CD4. Then, she gave us a piece of note about fertility awareness and instructed me to use the ovulation kit from day 11 to day 18 of my menstrual cycle. The first morning urine is to be used because it would be more concentrated. If the test is positive (i.e. two dark lines appear on the test kit), DH and I are to BD that night and the next. Ovulation is expected to occur the next day and usually there will be clear transparent mucus discharge. While the sperm can last for three days in the uterus, the egg can only survive for one day.

Our bill for today's visit:

Consultation	$200
Ultrasound scan	$100
Ovulation kit (5 pieces x 2 boxes)	$70
Folic acid (28 tablets x 4 boxes)	$8
TOTAL (including GST)	$404.46

Sad...

DH and I had been trying for baby ever since we got married. After slightly more than half a year, there was still no good news. So, we decide to try TCM and both of us went to see the physician recommended by my colleague. The clinic is far from our home, but thankfully it was near my parents', so we'll make appointment on a Saturday or Sunday when we visit my parents. I had to visit weekly for acupuncture and for medicine. Seeing TCM wasn't cheap; every visit would cost us around $100. On certain weeks, it will cost more because the medicine prescribed at different time of the menstrual cycle would be different. Taking the medicine was manageable for me. I just had to mix the pack of powder with hot water and drink it, once in the morning after breakfast and once at night after dinner.



Today, after 3 months of TCM treatment, we are approaching our first wedding anniversary, and I'm still not pregnant. In fact, AF reported today and I am so sad that I decided to take leave to stay at home.