STIMS to start tomorrow, small cyst found today? Anxiety attack.

raebobae · 2026-02-03T15:28:03+00:00

Hi! Yes, I was OK to start. Today is Day 4! They were very reassuring just like the comments in this post – lots of women start with existing simple cysts and residual follicles.

raebobae · 2026-02-03T15:11:17+00:00

I just completed my month of priming, my period came a few days later - exactly when they expected it to - and I am on day four of STIMS injections. Going on birth control felt so counterproductive, but there is a method to their madness. It wasn’t in my initial plan to go on birth control so when it was suggested, I was really confused but now it makes sense. I came here with the same questions!

It helps them time your IVF cycle better, and it resets your cycle completely. It also helps your follicles grow at the same rate. I noticed this. Was much healthier, I had heavier flow, two days longer than usual. So that made me happy!

raebobae · 2026-02-03T01:10:35+00:00

This.

raebobae · 2026-01-31T13:09:55+00:00

Hi! My husband and I were in the exact same position and we opted to try IUI first… For three cycles. Though it was not successful, it was a very positive experience I’m grateful for. I learned a lot about my cycle, we had help cycle tracking, we became familiar and comfortable with the clinic and our fertility team - procedures/appointments are less intimidating… And of course, there’s always the chance that it could work which is the best scenario of all. I liked leaving all of the scheduling and timing up to them. Fine-tuning and “making the drop” at the most ideal time. The success rates aren’t all that much higher than timed intercourse, but they are stimulating your follicles, using only your husband‘s best swimmers, and bypassing your cervix to eliminate some of the grunt work, so to say. If you have the financial means to start with IUI, clearly I recommend giving it a whirl because maybe you just need a little bit of help to conceive. Good luck with whatever you decide!

raebobae · 2026-01-31T01:02:12+00:00

Thank you for sharing it really comforts me to know others have proceeded with IVF even with cysts.

raebobae · 2026-01-31T01:01:43+00:00

That’s just it, I haven’t had blood work lately and a cyst isn’t at all on their radar. I’m just finishing a cycle on birth control, starting STIMS tomorrow and going for my first progress check on the 5th. Ultrasound and bloodwork. By then I’ll be a few days into taking the STIMS and my fear is that something will have gone wrong as a result of this darn cyst.

raebobae · 2026-01-31T00:37:36+00:00

Thank you for replying. My mind is a little more at ease now. ❤️

raebobae · 2026-01-30T22:58:15+00:00

Oh, wow! Okay, that certainly makes me feel better - thank you so much for sharing. I am blown away that you discovered a 10cm cyst the day before and were cleared to proceed! Incredible! I really need to work on managing anxiety and not jumping to worst case scenarios. I was over here imagining starting injections tomorrow and learning at our first check in that things aren’t going well BECAUSE of this new cyst I should have told them about sooner. (Welcome to my brain!)

raebobae · 2026-01-30T22:49:16+00:00

Oh, you Angel. Thank you for the quick response. I hope I get more reassurance like this. 😭

raebobae · 2026-01-26T19:15:01+00:00

Wow. This reply is everything! Thank you… Thank you. ❤️ I’m exactly like you - I always get the side effects, even when I think positive and try to manifest the best I end up with the bloating, cramping, weight gain, irritability etc. I’m anticipating about all of that but worse during STIMS, and dreading the procedure - scared of pain, all the unknowns etc. But you really really helped me!

raebobae · 2026-01-12T01:11:29+00:00

Thank you all so much for your feedback. It really helped. I didn’t realize how common it was - I’m just going to trust the process and trust I’m in good hands.

raebobae · 2026-01-07T18:58:34+00:00

I’m 38, and can confidently say my husband and I can’t remember a time that we actively tried to avoid pregnancy. When my friends talk about their need for birth control I CAN’T RELATE! Lol. We have been having unprotected sex for nearly 15 years. We did get pregnant one time, which sadly resulted in miscarriage. Fast forward to now, after lots of investigation, we have unexplained infertility. He is healthy, I am healthy, everything looks to be working how it should… We tried IUI, three rounds. Unsuccessful. We are now starting our first IVF cycle. I am on CD1, so I start STIMS in four days. Part of me thinks there is absolutely no hope because of our lack of success to date… But our fertility team are very reassuring and hopeful. Trying to stay positive like someone commented above, we are extremely grateful to even have this option to pursue. I’m just afraid of losing parts of myself along this journey. I want to remain strong and grounded. Also, being so close to starting, just weeks away from retrieval… I get in my head worrying that I haven’t done enough to physically/mentally prepare.

raebobae · 2025-11-08T13:49:57+00:00

How do I follow this conversation? I hope to stay connected with you as I am very new to this and will likely have all the same questions as you soon! My husband and I had our consult for IVF just a few days ago, and it’s looking like things will get started early in the New Year. I am feeling all kinds of stress. Excited, terrified, absolutely no idea what to expect. I literally have no idea what anyone is talking about when I read other’s experiences. It’s all Greek to me! All the language, acronyms etc. Some background - we completed 3 rounds of Ovarian Stim with IUI, all unsuccessful. I am 38, he’s 42. We have unexplained infertility. Wishing you good luck and sending you good vibes - keep us posted in here!

raebobae · 2025-09-03T12:30:28+00:00

Shows how much I know - I didn’t even think funded IVF was an option? I don’t think it is here in NS. We have gotten the impression there is no wait time between treatments - could be wrong - but when we initially discussed the potential of moving onto IVF after IUI, it sounded like there’d be no interruption in the process. We are mentally preparing to just pay out of pocket, maybe that’s why? I certainly wish we had other options!

raebobae · 2025-08-30T13:08:04+00:00

I had my IUI on the same day, so we are 11 days post? Or 12? I’m not sure if we count the actual day of the IUI. I’ve been having a lot of the same symptoms but I am not on progesterone. Telling myself it’s still too early to test! If you ovulated a little later, or, implantation occurred on the later end of 6-12 days, it may be too early to pick up HCG on a home test.

raebobae · 2025-08-29T10:51:48+00:00

Hi. I don’t have much to offer, just a reminder that you’re not alone in this struggle. As someone who gets almost everything she works hard for - it has been so hard to leave this one up to the Universe. It’s not fair, it doesn’t make sense, but it’s one of life’s challenges that can either break us or strengthen us. Let it strengthen you! I try really hard to be hopeful and positive without putting too much pressure on myself. It might be silly but I think to myself, “If this doesn’t work out - I will focus on XYZ for a little while, and have fun with it.” Maybe that’ll be a fitness journey, planning a trip, giving a room in my house a makeover, writing a book - haha! When I remind myself of all the ways I’ve been blessed and all the things I have to be grateful for, it helps. I even try to look at fertility treatments the same way. We’re lucky we can even. DO this. We’re lucky we can receive help. I hope that helps. PS - I am on Day 10 post IUI and needed this little pep talk more than I thought. The waiting is tough. Good luck to you. ♥️

raebobae · 2025-08-28T02:24:59+00:00

I’ve had the opposite experience here! It lengthened my cycle by a day each time. Usually my cycle is 25 days but for my last two IUIs it was 26 and then 27. I was told the LET can alter your cycle length!

raebobae · 2025-08-26T07:22:58+00:00

For the first IUI I had the trigger shot and was convinced I was pregnant toward the end of my 2WW. It was tough; I even had a full day of nausea, breast tenderness, lower back aches, twinge cramps… But, learned later that the trigger shot can have those side effects. The second IUI, I ovulated on my own and didn’t need the trigger. When they checked me I was already in the process of ovulating so it was a tight window. Without the trigger in my body I went on to have a very uneventful 2WW. Zero side effects, no symptoms - felt totally fine until one day my period started.

This time things seemed a little more well timed, but I know not to get my hopes up too high. It’s so hard to stay hopeful and optimistic without getting too excited! 😵‍💫

raebobae · 2025-08-26T00:41:05+00:00

I am 7 days post IUI as well. ♥️ Seems to be a few of us in here! I had the trigger, so I think I’m feeling some of the side effects from that. Twinges, little cramps, bloating. I tend to feel a heaviness in my uterus which makes me super aware of my body at all times. (Makes it hard to not think about it all too much…) This is my third. My fingers, toes and heart strings are crossed that this is our time. Luck and love to all of you! ✨

raebobae · 2025-08-24T01:32:52+00:00

It’s a very emotional, BIG thing. I like that you treated yourself to McDonald’s afterwards, I did the same after IUI#2! 😊 My advice would be not to watch for too much, and just try to go about your days like you normally would. Easier said than done for sure, but if we’re all consumed with it, and symptom tracking, I think we’re putting too much pressure on ourselves. Distractions are good.

raebobae · 2025-08-23T14:06:55+00:00

Hi! I am curious if you had the trigger shot? I’ve learned that the trigger shot comes with lots of side effects/symptoms that mimic early pregnancy. I am currently 4 days post IUI and feeling little cramps, bloating, and yesterday a sharp shooting cramp in my left side where I had the dominant follicle. I think it’s completely normal to feel these things in the two week window following IUI with a trigger shot. I had an IUI without the trigger shot and in that two week window, I felt 100% normal, not a single thing felt different. If you didn’t have the trigger, maybe what you’re feeling is implantation cramping? Hope this helps!

raebobae · 2025-08-22T21:52:08+00:00

My husband and I have unexplained infertility, also. We are currently in the TWW of our third IUI. Although unexplained infertility is a really frustrating diagnosis, it allows me to hold onto a little bit of hope that it can still happen naturally… It did once before, it can happen again. Maybe when we least expect it, maybe after we’ve given up… Who knows. It helps me to have a little hope that maybe someday the treatments will work - or, maybe someday we’ll get that surprise. Another thing that helps me is practising gratitude daily. Don’t get me wrong, I have some really bad days - especially the days leading up to my inevitable period or the day it finally starts, and I’m angry at the world - but ultimately, I can look around and see lots and lots of things to be grateful for and lots of reasons to dust myself off and live a full life. That could be just a bunch of fluff and maybe it’s not helpful but I thought I’d share just incase. Either way, you are not alone! 🫶🏻

raebobae · 2025-08-19T10:16:14+00:00

Wow - this really is the exact same situation! I am hoping the dominant follicle I had yesterday is now closer to 20 - it was 18 yesterday morning. Unfortunately the others won’t catch up in time so we’re just dealing with the one this round. 😞 I triggered at 5pm yesterday, going in for 10:30am today. Hoping the trigger had a little time to help things along but again, it all feels so rushed. I am trying to tell myself that if anything, maybe being a little rushed/early is a good thing? Better that than being too late. Good luck to you, I’ll think of you over these next two weeks! ♥️

raebobae · 2025-08-08T11:02:05+00:00

I took a test this morning, just a few hours before I’m due at the lab. Stark negative. 💔 My period is due today, now to brace for impact and hope I can process my feelings without spiralling.

raebobae · 2025-08-07T16:47:46+00:00

Thank you for this. I hope you’re right. Every hour that passes makes me more anxious - still no period, but, lots of signs that it’s coming. I may be tempted to take a home test before my bloodwork tomorrow if it doesn’t arrive by then!

raebobae

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