u/glitterngal

I had an IUI on April 29th, with a. Trigger shot the day before. I was on progesterone 200mg 2x/daily and was instructed to take a test on May 12th, which I did and it was stark negative. I stopped progesterone.
I started spotting (light pink, some brown) on May 13th, and it wasn’t getting any heavier (I do usually spot before my period so hoped it was that).
By May 19th I had no period, so did an inito test to see where my hormones were and my estrogen was 82, my progesterone was 8, but my LH was 14. So I took a pregnancy test and it was positive. This was 20 days after my IUI.

I called the clinic and they got me in for a beta and it came back at 132. The nurse told me this is “normal” and “looks good for where they were expect it” when I asked about it being low. I am going in today for a second beta but won’t get results until tomorrow.

I’m very worried this is ectopic - from all the research I have done that number is very low. Obviously I might not know until I get the result from today’s test, but should I be advocating for a scan?

We’ve been trying for 10 months and this was our 5th IUI and first ever positive, so I’m terrified of losing my tube if I don’t advocate for myself well enough.

This is *not* a viable pregnancy as confirmed at my clinic!!!

I had an IUI on April 29th (trigger shot the 28th) started progesterone (200mg 2x/day vaginally) on the 30th. I was instructed to take the progesterone until a negative pregnancy test, and to test on May 12th. I took the test early morning on May 12th and it was completely negative. It was a clear blue test because that was all I had, it was an early detection one though. I messaged my clinic, stopped the progesterone. I’ve done 5 IUIs, 5 at home tries, and never even a slight positive so I wasn’t like hopeful.

I started spotting on May 14th lightly (pink and brown) but it hadnt really increased. It’s now May 19th so we’re 8 full days from when I took the negative test and stopped progesterone.

This morning I woke up and was annoyed my period hadn’t come so I took an inito test to see what my hormones are doing. My E3g was 82, my progesterone was 8, and my LH was 14. Which I thought was weird so I took another clear blue test and it was positive. I panicked, and ran to the store and got two more tests, a first response and another generic red one. They both were “positive” but the test line was lighter than the control line on both. Which at this point it would be expected to be much darker. They brought me in for a beta, and levels are likely too low to be viable, I go back in Thursday to confirm, so considering it a chemical (nurse mentioned ectopic too).

I’m just so devastated, I feel like I absolutely ruined our first chance by stopping the progesterone. I should have used a better test, I should have tested again before now. I’m just so heart broken, I’ve been praying for a positive for 10 months, and I feel like I ruined it. I feel like something is just dying inside of me right now, and I ruined our one chance by stopping that progesterone and not taking a better test or testing again, maybe I could have caught it earlier and saved it. I’m just so devastated and I don’t even know what to do.

I had an IUI on April 29th (trigger shot the 28th) started progesterone (200mg 2x/day vaginally) on the 30th. I was instructed to take the progesterone until a negative pregnancy test, and to test on May 12th. I took the test early morning on May 12th and it was completely negative. It was a clear blue test because that was all I had, it was an early detection one though. I messaged my clinic, stopped the progesterone. I’ve done 5 IUIs, 5 at home tries, and never even a slight positive so I wasn’t like hopeful.

I started spotting on May 14th lightly (pink and brown) but it hadnt really increased. It’s now May 19th so we’re 8 full days from when I took the negative test and stopped progesterone.

This morning I woke up and was annoyed my period hadn’t come so I took an inito test to see what my hormones are doing. My E3g was 82, my progesterone was 8, and my LH was 14. Which I thought was weird so I took another clear blue test and it was positive. I panicked, and ran to the store and got two more tests, a first response and another generic red one. They both were “positive” but the test line was lighter than the control line on both. Which at this point it would be expected to be much darker if it was viable right? I talked to my nurse at the clinic and she said it’s likely not viable.

They brought me in for a beta but I won’t get results until tomorrow.

I’m just so devastated, I feel like I absolutely ruined our first chance by stopping the progesterone. I should have used a better test, I should have tested again before now. I’m just so heart broken, I’ve been praying for a positive for 10 months, and I feel like I ruined it. I feel like a baby is just dying inside of me right now, and I ruined our one chance by stopping that progesterone and not taking a better test or testing again, maybe I could have caught it earlier and saved it. I’m just so devastated and I don’t even know what to do.

I did my first IUI with vaginal progesterone (5th IUI total), IUI was done on April 29th and started progesterone on April 30th, 200mg vaginally 2x/day. I tested 13DPO as per instructions and was negative, technically my last progesterone dose was the night before.
I’ve been off progesterone for 8 days now, and had very light spotting (light pink, like twice I’ve had more brown stringy but barely any) for 6 days but zero increase toward a period.

Is this normal? Should I be reaching out to my clinic?

If my period doesn’t come soon we will miss this whole next cycle because we need to be out of town. This is so wildly frustrating.

Hello!
We just had our 5th IUI fail today, and I’m really struggling with *how* to advocate for myself.

I’ll do the short version - then give more info below. 30 year old female (me), with a 28 year old male known donor. We have tried at home 4 times, and done 5 IUIs. All but 3 tries (first three) were done with letrozole - 2.5mg and I had 1 or 2 dominant follicles, used pregnyl trigger. This last IUI used 5mg letrozole, 3 dominant follicles, and it failed as well. Donor has lower counts, 3% morphology. We have *never* had a positive test.

I haven’t ever thought I had any symptoms of endo. My periods aren’t painful (I don’t use heating pads or take any sort of pain medication). My cycles are regular. My most recent hysteroscopy showed everything looked good (though I know that doesn’t diagnose). However, all these IUIs failing, and with the plan being to move to IVF if the next three don’t work, “silent endo” keeps coming up in my mind. I did learn that both of my aunts have endo (discovered after having kids in their early 20s). I did have very painful periods when I was younger (started my period at age 10) and would miss school due to cramps. However it hasn’t been painful like that since probably 20 years old. My period is always fairly “clotty” and heavy for about 2 days, then levels out. I have always spotted before my period - 3-5 days before my period starts. I also have always been more on the constipated side, except for dying my period when it’s the opposite. I was under the impression this is all normal? However I am now questioning it? When I brought it up with my doctor they offered a lap - but I’m having an awful time trying to wrap my mind around doing that invasive of a procedure for something that the doctors seem to think is maybe possible, but not likely probable, especially when I have no pain - if that makes sense? Does it seem worth it in my case?

I *really* don’t want to start the insanely expensive IVF journey (we have no insurance coverage) if Endo could be a barrier though too? But if it’s pretty unlikely then why do it? Our other concern is DNA fragmentation for the donors sperm, but I’m not sure that would cause zero positive tests ever.

My biggest question is if I should test for endo? By lap? Try to ask about the receptiva? Focus on the sperm first?

Now for the additional info for anyone wanting to read more*
- in 2024 I had a hysteroscopy due to my lining not getting trilaminar. Cleaned everything out, didn’t find any polyps, sent tissue for testing and it was normal. Tubes were checked and were open.
- took provera for three months
- tracked ovulation, wasn’t ovulating regularly for three months. Finally regulated and started trying at home.
- cleaned up my diet, no sugar or processed food.
- 27, 28 day cycles, consistent ovulation. PDG on 7DPO between 11-17 every cycle.
- I do spot 3-4 days before my cycle (brown, pretty heavy usually day before period)
- had blood work in December 2025 and everything was “normal” - AMH of 4.5.
- tested for PCOS and levels all came back normal.
- had another hysteroscopy and everything looked good.
- added 400mg of vaginal progesterone this past cycle.
-my estrogen is on the lower end through my cycle, I use inito and the highest it goes during my luteal phase is usually about 80. However, I imagine this could be from letrozole use.

On to the donor - he is 28, he unfortunately smokes weed and drinks socially (but fairly often). He was taking Coq10 for a bit, but I guess it made him sick. So he isn’t any more. His concentration is 14.9 total sperm count is 27.0, progressive motile is 21mill, and morphology is 3% with 95% head defect. Our IUI clinic keeps telling us it “should be fine for IUI” but we’re five in and nothing.

If you read all of this thank you!!!! Any advice would be so appreciated.

Hello!
We just had our 5th IUI fail today, and I am feeling so sad, hopeless, and wildly confused about what to do next.
I’ll do the short version - then give more info below. 30 year old female (me), with a 28 year old male known donor. We have tried at home 4 times, and done 5 IUIs. All but 3 tries (first three) were done with letrozole - 2.5mg and I had 1 or 2 dominant follicles, used pregnyl trigger. This last IUI used 5mg letrozole, 3 dominant follicles, and it failed as well. Donor has lower counts, 3% morphology. My wife does *not* want to switch donors. We have never had a positive test - which is where the “what do I do now” comes in.
Do we keep trying IUI? Do we move to IVF? If we move to IVF should we test me for endo first? Test donors DNA fragmentation?
My concerns are:
Silent Endo, my egg quality potentially being awful? DNA fragmentation of the sperm. I’m terrified to spend 30-60k out of pocket (no insurance) and find out AFTER doing that my egg quality is awful, or implantation can’t happen due to endo, or there is DNA fragmentation that won’t allow us to move forward.
*Now for the additional info for anyone wanting to read more*
- in 2024 I had a hysteroscopy due to my lining not getting trilaminar. Cleaned everything out, didn’t find any polyps, sent tissue for testing and it was normal. Tubes were checked and were open.
- took provera for three months
- tracked ovulation, wasn’t ovulating regularly for three months. Finally regulated and started trying at home.
- cleaned up my diet, no sugar or processed food.
- 27, 28 day cycles, consistent ovulation. PDG on 7DPO between 11-17 every cycle.
- I do spot 3-4 days before my cycle (brown, pretty heavy usually day before period)
- had blood work in December 2025 and everything was “normal” - AMH of 4.5.
- tested for PCOS and levels all came back normal.
- had another hysteroscopy and everything looked good.
- added 400mg of vaginal progesterone this past cycle.
*concerns* my aunts have endo, my mom does not. I had really painful heavy periods as a kid (started at age 10) but they have leveled out. I rarely have cramps. I do have a pretty consistent history of constipation, except for when I have my period it’s the opposite. Sore lower back. “Poop cramps” sometimes (maybe like once a month though, not often).
-my estrogen is on the lower end through my cycle, I use inito and the highest it goes during my luteal phase is usually about 80.
My biggest fears here are endo, or that I have awful egg quality.
On to the donor - he is 28, he unfortunately smokes weed and drinks socially (but fairly often). He was taking Coq10 for a bit, but I guess it made him sick. So he isn’t any more. His concentration is 14.9 total sperm count is 27.0, progressive motile is 21mill, and morphology is 3% with 95% head defect. Our IUI clinic keeps telling us it “should be fine for IUI”. I’m worried about DNA fragmentation. We haven’t tested.

If you read this far THANK YOU!!! What would you do? Focus on the DNA fragmentation testing first? Endo testing for me? Anything else I’m missing or not thinking of that we should try to test before we go to IVF? I need help!!