Trouble TTC

How many IUI's before IVF?

We've done two Clomid cycles without IUI and two with IUI.  I know two IUI's isn't that many but I am so ready to move on to IVF. I just don't believe that IUI is going to work for us.  How many cycles have people done before moving on to IVF.  I am thinking one more... is 3 too few?

Re: How many IUI's before IVF?

  • vpinevpine member
    I suggest trying injects/IUI before moving to IVF - injects have slightly higher success rates than clomid, good luck.
    Me: 32, DH: 34.
    Trying since Jan 2011. Unexplained IF.
    2 IUIs = BFN.
    1 IVF (Dec 2013) = BFN.
    FET, 2 frosties (June 13, 2014)

    14dp5dt-June 27 -BFP, beta 2061. 2nd beta >5000, 3rd beta >5000, 2 sacs 06/30.
    Twin Girls - 02/11/15 - at 37 weeks (no NICU, home with me at 3 days).
  • What is your DX? That might help us give advice.
    Me: 37, DH: 35 :: TCC since 2/11 SA: Perfect! CD3  HSG = Blocked Right Tube
    April- Femara 2.5mg + Trigger + IUI = BFN   May- Femara 5mg = CX - No Response on Left = BFN
    June- Femara 7.5mg + Trigger + IUI = BFN  August- Lap & Hysteroscopy = Blocked & Partially Blocked Tubes
    September- Femara 5mg = CX - No Response on Left = BFN  October- 100mg Clomid + Trigger + TI = BFN
    IVF # 1: Stims 11/30 ER 12/12/12! (10R, 10M, 8F, 2T, 6 F) :: Beta #1- 176  c/p @ 4w4d
    FET #1 February 26th :: Lost 4 to Thaw, Transferred 2 = BFFN
    IVF # 2 Stims 5/10 ER 5/21 (15R, 13M, 13F, 2T, 7F- 6d3 & 1d5) :: Beta # 1- 15 c/p @ 4w
    FET #2 Cancelled, Right Tube Developed a Hydro  8/28 Hydro & Scar Tissue Removed  Cleared for FET
    FET #2.2 Scheduled for September 20th
    2 Thawed, 2 Transferred! Beta #1- 96, Beta #2 906! :: EDD June 10th
    2015- 2 failed FET. We are done
    SURPRISE! BFP 8/8/16   EDD 4/1/17

     
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  • My Re's plan is to do 3 before moving to Ivf. Hopfully the first one in July works, but it seems it never works on the first try!
    TTC for baby #1 since March 2012 DH SA- ZERO Jan 2013, Low T, started clomid. Up and down swimmies since. Me- Ovulation dysfunction, low progesterone, hormone levels all off http://babydreamsinnj.blogspot.com
  • My insurance required 3 IUI's before covering one IVF. (Remember after age 40 there is no coverage.) Talk to your dr though about your specific diagnosis. Think also about a lifetime use of clomid being only for 6 cycles and with strict monitoring so it doesn't thin your lining and create other issues. Good luck!

    ************** Siggy Warning************


    Married August 2012 -- Me (40 yrs old) My husband (45 yrs. old) 

    RE referral from ObGYN in late Jan. 2013 -- Testing Confirms Unexplained IF 

    IUI #"s1 - 3 (Femara + IUI) April - June 2013 - all BFN

      Decided to do IVF... Began stimming on September 10th!  Egg Retrieval 9/20/13.  19 eggs: 6 to mature to freeze after 6 fertilized with ICSI

     3 morula stage embryos transferred on 9/25/13.....Beta #1 on 10/4/13/ = 7.5  Beta #2 on 10/6/13 =  negative

      IVF#2 - Lupron plan  (set to begin on 10/28/13)  (Planning on thawing and fertilizing our 6 eggs with ICSI as well as all of the mature eggs they retrieve with this fresh cycle.)

     Late October 2013 - ectopic pregnancy - methotrexate injection....benched 3 months

    CD1 - 12/5/13...Lupron set to start on 12/26/13; CD1 - 1/2/14....Baseline 1/3/14....begin follistim tonight and continue with lupron.  (Got my calendar today!  IVF#2 is a go!)

    ER = 1/14/14  (11 eggs....9 were mature. 9 fertilized.  Of the 6 mature eggs we thawed, only 4 fertilized.  At this time, we have 13 eggs fertilized and growing.  Waiting for news about a 3-day or 5-day transfer.)

    ET = 1/19/14  (5dt).....3 blastocysts transferred!   (All nine embryos didn't make it to freeze.  =(  )

    Beta #1 = 1/28/14   (2 weeks after ER)  BFP! 209 (9dp5dt)   EDD 10/7/14

    Beta #2 - 1/30/14  (11 dp5dt) 302

    Beta #3 - 2/3/14  (15 dp5dt)  1222 

    Ultrasound set for 2/17/14......TWINS!        Twin A - HR 124 bpm; Twin B - HR 126 bpm

    Final Ultrasound with RE 3/10/14 - Twin A - HR 176 bpm; Twin B - HR 177 bpm.

     PAIF/SAIF Welcome! 

     

     

    imageimage 

    imageimageimage

     

  • What is your diagnosis?  We are unexplained and did 3 total IUIs before moving on to IVF.  But as you can see from my siggy we did 13 treatment cycles before moving on.  Lots of femara or clomid + TI cycles and a hybrid injects cycle too.  We never did an injects only cycle b/c of the expense.  We preferred to put the $ towards IVF.  Good luck with your decision.

     

    IF, 5 losses, 1 son, 1 on the way.
    fall in love with someone Pictures Images and Photos  photo turtlejpg
       

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  • ky29ky29 member

    Like others have said, it depends on your diagnosis.  We are MFI.  He was going to do a couple natural IUIs, then a couple medicated IUIs before moving to IVF.  However, that all depended on his post-wash counts. 

    When we are ready to go back to the RE in a couple months, I'm going to suggest skipping the natural IUIs and trying a lightly medicated IUI to hopefully increase our chances.  We will probably do three before moving on.

    image
    TTC since March 2012
    DX: MFI (4% motility)

    Cycle 13: Natural cycle w/ HSG test = BFP
    Identical twins! 
    Lost my angel boys at 10.5 weeks

    Cycle 14-16: Natural Cycles = BFN
    Cycle 17: Follistim + Trigger + IUI = BFN
    Cycle 18: Natural Cycle = BFN
    Cycle 19: Follistim + Trigger +IUI#2
    Polyp found: SIS 11/11 - hysteroscopy 11/14
    Cycle 20: Follistim + IUI#2 = BFFN
    Cycle 21: Follistim (adj. dosage) + IUI#3 TI  = BFN
    IUI cancelled due to weather
    Cycle 22: Follistim + IUI#3.1 = BFN

    Cycle 23: treatment break, IVF consult
    Cycle 24 - 26: natural cycle w/ acupuncture + Chinese herbs = BFN
    Cycle 27: Follistim + IUI#4 = BFFN
    Natural Cycles until IVF
    Cycle 30: IVF#1 - Starting with Menopur + Follistim + Ganirelix
    17 retrieved, 12 fertilized, 5dt w/ 2 blasts, 5 frosties

    Betas:  #1-156(9dp5dt), #2-1200(13dp5) #3-6112(17dp5)
    Ultrasound #1 10/6: 1 bean!
    TEAM BLUE!

    My Chart
    ~~ALL WELCOME~~

    BabyFruit Ticker
  • We did 4 IUIs, 1 with my OB/GYN and 3 with my RE.  Only 2 of the 3 with my RE were medicated.  We didn't do injects with IUI. 

    imageimageimageimageimage

     

    image

    TTC #1 since August 2011

    My Blog

    September 2012: Start IF testing

    DH (32): SA is ok, slightly low morph, normal SCSA  Me (32): Slightly low progesterone, hostile CM, carrier for CF, Moderately high NKC, High TNFa, heterozyogous mutated Factor XIII, and +APA

    October 2012-May 2014: 4 failed IUIs, 3 failed IVFs, and 1 failed FETw/donor embryos

    November 2014: IVF w/ICSI #4 Agonist/Antagonist with EPP and Prednisone, Baby Aspirin, Lovenox, and IVIG for immune issues.  Converted to freeze all due to lining issues.  2 blasts frozen on day 6!

    January 2015: FET #2 Cancelled due to lining issues

    April 2015: FET #2.1


    PAIF/SAIF Welcome!

  • imagevpine:
    I suggest trying injects/IUI before moving to IVF - injects have slightly higher success rates than clomid, good luck.

    I think this really depends on your diagnosis.  Both REs I saw recommended moving on to IVF for us after 3 clomid + IUIs.  We are "mostly" unexplained and are OOP.  Both felt that the money spent on injects + IUI would be better put towards IVF, since the success rates are so much higher. 

    imageimageimageimageimage

     

    image

    TTC #1 since August 2011

    My Blog

    September 2012: Start IF testing

    DH (32): SA is ok, slightly low morph, normal SCSA  Me (32): Slightly low progesterone, hostile CM, carrier for CF, Moderately high NKC, High TNFa, heterozyogous mutated Factor XIII, and +APA

    October 2012-May 2014: 4 failed IUIs, 3 failed IVFs, and 1 failed FETw/donor embryos

    November 2014: IVF w/ICSI #4 Agonist/Antagonist with EPP and Prednisone, Baby Aspirin, Lovenox, and IVIG for immune issues.  Converted to freeze all due to lining issues.  2 blasts frozen on day 6!

    January 2015: FET #2 Cancelled due to lining issues

    April 2015: FET #2.1


    PAIF/SAIF Welcome!

  • imagevpine:
    I suggest trying injects/IUI before moving to IVF - injects have slightly higher success rates than clomid, good luck.

    This.  We only did two due to MFI, but my RE said he always likes to do an injects IUI before moving on to IVF as it also gives him a good idea of how you are going to respond to injects before going all in with IVF so that he can best anticipate the right protocol and starting doses for you.  I don't think it is coincidental that he has the lowest IVF cycle cancellation rate in a 10+ RE practice!

    Married: 7/2/11 TTC: 12/2011
    Me: 31, PCOS DH: 37, low morph and low counts

    4 medicated TI, 1 IUI+Femara, 1 IUI+GonalF = BFNs
    IVF #1 Lupron/GonalF (Dec 2012)= 30R, 21M, 21F with ICSI, 18 HIP frosties!!!
    FET in August 2013 

    http://i45.tinypic.com/21pym9.jpg

  • imageJessieann1020:
    imageNJHopeful:
    My Re's plan is to do 3 before moving to Ivf. Hopfully the first one in July works, but it seems it never works on the first try!


    We are doing our first in July too!! I should be CD1 Saturday.


    I start my first round of clomid on Saturday too! My doc is combining clomid with injectables and IUI. Again its probably based on your specific problems as other ladies have said. My problem is that my eggs don't mature before ovulation so DH's little swimmers can't fertilize them. Im hoping that this treatment works out. I wish you all the best of luck and plenty of baby dust! Lets go July...ladies lookin' for a BFP!
  • Our RE recommended that we do 3 rounds of IUI before moving to IVF.....but he said that we can do as many as we want. We are on our 3rd now, but if it works, it sure is a lot less money then IVF.

    We are using Femara and consistently have at least 2 follies each time.  Our RE said that using injectables wouldn't help our odds enough considering it's an extra $800 per month.  Since we have 2 follies every time, adding injectables would just mean that that we might have 1 or 2 more....but that is just a maybe.  So if we can be on meds that cost $9 a month and still produce 2 follies each time, then no need for injectables.

    Married 4-26-2011  Me 31 DH 28  
    TTC since 12/2011  
    5/4/13-IUI #1=BFN,  6/3/13-IUI #2=BFN, 7/1/2013-IUI #3=BFP!!!
    Little Man arrived 3/28/14 at 10:32pm
    9 lb 1 oz & 21 3/4 inches



  • lin681lin681 member
    We did 2 IUIs w clomid then I had a lap then we did 2 more IUIs.  We are starting our IVF cycle tomorrow!
    TTC since June 2011
    SA - Normal CD3 Bloodwork - Normal HSG- All clear!
    July 2012 50mg Clomid CD3-7 Trigger+TI = BFN
    August 2012 50mg Clomid CD3-7 Trigger+IUI = BFN
    September 2012 50mg Clomid CD3-7 Trigger+IUI = BFN
    October 4th LAP - Mild Endo - All Removed
    Treatment Break 3 cycles = BFN
    1st Treatment Cycle Post Lap --
    February 2013 50mg Clomid CD3-7 Trigger+IUI = BFN
    March 2013 50mg Clomid CD3-7 Trigger+IUI = BFN
    April 2013 Break Cycle ~~~ May 2013 Meet with RE discuss next steps
    July 2013 IVF ~ Stims start 6/28
    
ER 7/10 20R/14M/14F
    Day 3 - 10 Embryos
    ET 7/15 Transferred 1 Blast on day 5 - Froze 6
    7/24 Beta 1 150 7/26 Beta 2 313 7/30 Beta 3 1,084 Beta 4 3,000 Beta 5 8,120 1st U/S 8/8 image
  • With our mild MFI and my LPD my RE recommended doing four IUIs because he said 80% of people that are candidates for IUI (ie can be brought fully to ovulation and have enough sperm for IUI) get PG within the first four.  And those 20% that don't get PG in that first four don't seem to have better chances by doing more.  

    That said, we did land in that percentage since we got PG on our fourth IUI but had a c/p m/c.  So instead of moving on to IVF after our fourth he said he was fine with continuing a few more IUIs since we'd shown that everything happened as it was supposed to (sperm met egg, I was able to implant, etc) but that I just came down on the side of the odds for my age of 35, that 30% of pregnancies will end in m/c.  We finished our fifth IUI a few weeks ago and agreed that while we could do another one or two, we'd rather move on to IVF due to success rate and money concerns.  


    TTC since July 2009. Dx MFI & LPD. 
    IUI#1&2&3 (2011 & 2012) BFN
    IUI#4 1/23/13 on 75iu x9 Follistim = BFP then chem preg m/c (Feb 2013)
    IUI#5 BFN (April 2013)
    IVF w/ICSI Oct. 2, 2012 - 13R, 11M, 7F, 1 frozen blast 4BB grade - - - FET Nov 15, 2013
    BFP! Beta 1:104 @ 10dp6dt, Beta 2:178 @ 12dp6dt,  beta 3:366 @ 14dp6dt
    Saw heartbeat twice before missed M/C at 8w3d on 12/27/13, missing my little angel boy
    JUNE 2014 IVF#2;  5R, 2M, 1F Three day transfer 6/7.  Beta 6/18 - BFN
    Child Free Now?
    S/PAIFW , S/PALW

    My Blog

    image



  • We are doing only 1 IUI cycle, but it is based on our diagnosis.  Our RE doesn't think we should waste the money since we are OOP and our chances are so low with IUI.

    ~~~~~~~~~Siggy Warning~~~~~~~~

    Me~28 DH~27 

     6-12-2010  Miscarriage. 
    3-16-2012 D&C/Miscarriage.
     Blocked Left Tube. 
    Diminished Ovarian Reserve   
    MFI - Sperm Morphology 2%.  
    MTHFR 
     Abnormal Antiphospholipid Antibodies
    April 2013 ~  1st IUI attempt - 100 mg Clomid- Canceled
    May 2013  ~ 2nd IUI attempt -100 mg Clomid- Canceled
    June 2013 ~ 3rd IUI attempt - 100 mg Clomid+ Trigger+ Progesterone~BFN
     IVF/ICSI #1 May 2014 ~ Freeze All ~ Due to OHSS
     5/1/2014 ~ 22 retrieved, 12 fertilized, 3 frozen
    5/28/2014 ~ FET#1 ~ Transferred 2 Hatching Blasts
      6/1/2014~ **BFP**
    6/9/2014 Beta #1 ~ 1022
    6/12/2014 Beta #2 ~ 3099
    6/16/2014 Beta #3 ~ >5000
    6/19/2014 First U/S ~ TWINS!!!  
    1/7/2015 Twins born @ 34 weeks

    image image Image and video hosting by TinyPic



  • imageTwinkie0612:

    imagevpine:
    I suggest trying injects/IUI before moving to IVF - injects have slightly higher success rates than clomid, good luck.

    I think this really depends on your diagnosis.  Both REs I saw recommended moving on to IVF for us after 3 clomid + IUIs.  We are "mostly" unexplained and are OOP.  Both felt that the money spent on injects + IUI would be better put towards IVF, since the success rates are so much higher. 

    All of this. We are not doing injects per the recommendation of my RE. We did 4 IUI's, and are moving on to IVF (hopefully) this cycle. 


    ** After  2 1/2 years of Unexplained IF, 2 failed medicated cycles, and 4 failed IUI's - our baby girl came to us through the miracle of
     Mini IVF! **

     image
    image
  • We are OOP for EVERYTHING too! Did your doc say you could skip over the IUIs and go right to IVF? We will give it 2-3 tries 

    TTC for baby #1 since March 2012 DH SA- ZERO Jan 2013, Low T, started clomid. Up and down swimmies since. Me- Ovulation dysfunction, low progesterone, hormone levels all off http://babydreamsinnj.blogspot.com
  • NeeseyNeesey member
    imagekatib77:

    With our mild MFI and my LPD my RE recommended doing four IUIs because he said 80% of people that are candidates for IUI (ie can be brought fully to ovulation and have enough sperm for IUI) get PG within the first four.  And those 20% that don't get PG in that first four don't seem to have better chances by doing more.  


    We were lucky on IUI # 4....twice but unlucky in that they didn't stick.  Since we got a bfp on a IUI cycle, we knew we could connect and implant so we were willing to go more.  We have done a total of 8 IUIs but hopefully we are moving on to IVF after my next AF. 

    image 
     image image image
    TTC since 3/2011 Adenomyosis, LPD, hypothyroidism. 
    BFP on 7/20/12 after 4 cycles Clomid + IUI 
    2 large subchorionic hematomas & no heartbeat at 7w6d   
    D&E 8/18/12 Sonohysterography found septum and necrotic tissue.   
    Hysteroscopy to remove both 10/5
    IUI #5-7 50mg Clomid + trigger = BFN  
    IUI #8 Femara + Bravelle + HCG + Progesterone = BFP 3/27/13
    Beta 1 (13dpo) = 169  Beta 2 (17dpo) = 1073  No heartbeat at 9w3d. 
    D & C 5/10/13  Triploidy 69 (paternal inherited)
    IVF #1 with ICSI and PGS 11R 8M 5F 2 biopsied/frozen
    PGS results = 1 with trisomy 13 & 1 good embryo for FET 
    FET #1 EV, estrace, nitro patches.  Cancelled due to thin lining
    FET #1.2 oral estrace, f'ing nitro patches and no delestrogen.  Transfer 12/31. BFN
    PAIF/SAIF welcome
    Surprise BFP on 6/13/14  Our only unmedicated bfp ever.
    Beta #1 339  Beta #2 649 44 hour doubling time
  • My RE reccomends 3 IUI's and then IVF. I would say whatever your insurance will cover if you're not 100% OOP. We are doing 3 then looking into IVF, I will discuss another IUI with injects.
    My Ovulation Chart
    TTC since 0ct. 2011
    Me-34,DH-34
    Dx:Hypothyroidism 2008
    HSG- All clear CD 3 bloodwork normal
    SA- Abnormal Dx:MFI
    DH on 50mg Clomid 3x week
    BFP#1- 1/21/13 CP 1/24/13
    Cycle 18,19 & 20 50mg Clomid+trigger+IUI= All BFFN
    Cycle 21-25 Taking a break for now, still HIO Hoping!
    Moving onto IVF Next AF
    (PAIF/SAIF Welcome)
    Image and video hosting by TinyPic
  • my insurance doesnt pay for ivf but i only have to pay 110 for iui so i am on #4 with femara and menopur. i will do 8 until we think about something else. we did 4 medicated cycles before iui.

    Married 11/27/09 and TTC right away
    Dx: Complete septate uterus with cervical duplication, endometrial polyps, PCOS, endometriosis, hypo thyroid, luteal phase defect
    4 uterus surgeries to correct my complete septum and to remove polyps and 2 years of seeing the RE, medicated cycles and IUIs
    Baby 1 and 2: BFP 3/3/11 with 2 babies EDD 11/1/11, M/C 4/6/11
    Baby #3: 8/11 pregnant EDD 4/27/11 and m/c:(
    Baby #4: 10/12/11 BFP! EDD 6/16/12m/c 10/26/11
    Baby #5: 3/13/12 BFP! EDD 11/25/12 ANOTHER m/c :(

    Baby #6: 2/14/13- BFP! EDD 10/24/13, CP 2/19/13
    Baby #7: 3/15/13- BFP! EDD 11/27/13, another CP
    Baby #8.  BFP 5/19/13 EDD 1/22/14. 8 was not our lucky number

    4th septum resection on 5/31/13.
    Baby #9: 6/29/13 BFP. C section scheduled for March 5th!

    My miracle baby was born March 5 at 9:33am. He was 8 lbs 12.5 oz and 21.25 inches long!

    image"">

  • We're jumping straight into injects. Since we're unexplained, my RE doesn't see any point in wasting time and money on lesser treatments when there are certain barriers that "could be" the issue. He recommends 3 before moving on, but I think we'd try one extra, then talk about IVF. I'm praying we don't have to go there.
    image

    Anniversary

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