IUI success?

Sammydan703

Tomorrow will be my third and final IUI.  If this doesn't work we are moving on to IVF.  I just learned that IUI actually has quite a low success rate.  I am trying to remain positive but I'm having a difficult time.  Have you had success with an IUI?  How many did you go thru?

Lizarella82

I did! We conceived with our third IUI and Gonal-f. Our first two IUIs were with Clomid, and like you we would have moved on to IVF if the third hadn't been successful. It does have a lower success rate than IVF but is usually much less expensive, so there are many factors to weigh (including diagnosis) when considering each option. I do know that success rates with IUI drop after the third, statistically speaking. Of course some people continue with IUI for many cycles because it's what's best for them emotionally/financially etc, and some do conceive after multiple attempts.

hweise85

I had success after 2 IUIs using Femara, Bravelle, Ovidrel and Progesterone Suppositories.
Like you, we were going to go for 3 IUI's and then discuss IVF if the IUIs weren't successful!

Rachnan

Had success on IUI #4 (3rd IUI on the correct clomid dosage).  If we hadn't conceived on #4 we were headed down another path.  Good luck to you!

CMDR513

One of my closest friends got pregnant and delivered twins with her first IUI. 

MJC1116

I had success with my 2nd Follistim/Ovidrel/IUI cycle. Depending on your diagnosis, it could increase your chance to 18-20%, according to my RE, which is the chance of getting pregnant each month for a "normal" couple. 

I agree with PP, though, about your progesterone levels. I think it would be important to be on some sort of progesterone supplement during the 2WW. My RE prescribed it no matter what a patient's levels were. 

Try to keep up hope. I know it's hard. When my first IUI failed, I felt so defeated. We were OOP, so IVF was likely not an option. RE would only do 3 due to success rates, so I can understand your feelings of urgency. I hope this is your lucky cycle!

formerwigirl

My success came from my 3rd IUI. I honestly was soo defeated after the first two I felt like I was just going through the motions. I had an appointment scheduled for an IVF consult and told my RE on the day of my IUI. She said "well hopefully that will be your first ultrasound and not an IVF consult." We ended up having to change the type of appointment! Good luck to you, I know how I felt after the first two failures but I am proof it can work.

Sammydan703

Thanks so much everyone!

@1983Lindsey - thanks for the questions.  The first IUI was crazy.  I'm not sure what happened.  I wasn't responding to the follistim dose I was on so every time I went in for monitoring my doctor raised it.  Day 11 I had a 16.5 follicle and when I went back on Day 13 it was gone.  My doctor thought it was a cyst that dissolved and didn't seem too concerned.  Day 15 I finally got to the number he was looking for so I triggered (ovidrel) on day 17 and had my IUI on day 19 of a 26 day cycle.  We did the IUI and on day 26 (one week later) I went in for bloodwork and started spotting and then eventually got my period (or so I thought).  The doctor called me later that day and said that it doesn't look like I ovulated (but I told him I think I ovulated that 16.5 which he agreed was very possible).  I went back in that Friday for what I thought was day 3 monitoring of my next cycle and was told I had too many cysts to continue right away, that I should do a month of BCP.  After my month of BCP my period never came.  I called the doctor and he told me to come in for a look.  When they did bloodwork I had a 13,000 beta.  In the same breathe he told me I was pregnant he said that my progesterone was too low and that it wasn't viable. 

This round I requested progesterone supplements just in case this goes on again.  So 1 week out of my IUI i had bloodwork and my progesterone was a 4.3 (should be around a 15) so they knew I ovulated but again my progesterone was too low.  I started on oral progesterone supplements that day but started to spot the next day.  Because of my experience with bleeding the last time the doctor had me stay on the progesterone for the remainder of the 2WW.  I tested 15dpiui with the doctor and got an official BFN. 

This is my last try.  Originally the doctor said I would have to be on BCP again for February and start up again in March but the progesterone helped and cleared the cysts earlier then expected.

My doctor does give HCG shots 1 week out after IUI but because of the cysts I can't get it.  My ovaries would be over stimulated.

Thanks again for the good wishes.  I'm hoping for a good outcome this time. 

Sammydan703

Thanks @1983Lindsey.

I actually started it the week after.  The nurse said they want to make sure I really did ovulate and they can't tell if I am on supplements.  I think I might call and see what my options are this time.

marnief

Good luck to you, Sammydan!  I hit on IUI #4, my first with Follistim.  Like 1983Lindsey, I always started progesterone the day after IUI, so hopefully your doctor will support that switch.  FX for a successful final IUI!

rox825

(Lurking)

I had success from IUI #2 (ended in a MC though).  I'm currently on IUI #5, which is my 3rd post-MC, and I'm not totally sure yet but it's looking like I might have success again.  If your RE is monitoring your follicles and giving you a trigger shot, they should be pretty certain that you'll ovulate.  And if they want to be sure before starting progesterone, instead of 7dpo BW you could ask for an US the day after IUI to make sure that you ovulated- my RE's office does this sometimes.  And then once confirmed by US you could ask for progesterone suppositories (prometrium and crinone are the 2 that I've used) to start the day or 2 after IUI, vs. oral progesterone.  I believe that suppositories are supposed to be more effective.  Good luck!

saraeric

We were successful after our 2nd IUI attempt: letrozole cd 3-7 + ovidrel. Good luck this cycle! I was totally surprised that it worked after two tries based on the odds. I had pretty much resigned myself to the fact that it wouldn't work (we had a lot of issues that cycle) and low and behold, here I am. 

Mnerani

We had success with our first attempt at IUI, with stims and a trigger. GL!

Cutiecruz327

We had success with our 3rd IUI. After 1st two we were discouraged and planning on taking a break after the cycle. We are currently 6weeks! Good luck this cycle, FX for you.

iloveflipflops

I'm pregnant after iui# 3. good luck!!

Ejgibson2010

It took 6 iuis before we finally got our BFP

We tried three with Clomid. Then one with letrozole and two combos. I was devastated after the first combo didn't work but for the second I had three large follicles. My husbands numbers were the lowest they've been for all of our IUIs and my heart sank. But lo and behold we have a little one on the way. Our first u/s is March 18th. Kind of excited to see if it's 1, 2, or 3. We have pictures of my follicles to put in the baby book. How many people can say they have pictures of their kids before they were conceived?!

So, there is hope and no magic number on how many will work. 

Best of luck