MFI ladies--how long before you moved to IVF-ICSI?

MrsLolaSky

Hey ladies,

DH and I are going back and forth about whether it's worth trying on our own/doing IUIs/anything besides IVF-ICSI. We find all these online stats and reports that make our situation look really bleak without IVF-ICSI. But then our RE and urologist seem to be more encouraging about trying some nonIVF options first. (But, of course, then I'm wondering: do they just want our money? They're both really nice, so then I feel guilty thinking this (I mean, they're probably just trying to help us). Ahh!)

Anyways, DH is on clomiphene right now (even though his T levels were normal… urologist thought it might help him get his count up). He's also taking a ton of supplements/vitamins/etc. Everyone says that we shouldn't expect any SA improvements before 3 months, so we'll do another SA in October. We're currently planning on doing a medicated IUI in August (assuming the huge cyst that they found on one of my ovaries has subsided).

We're torn between going straight to IVF-ICSI this fall--versus doing a varicocelectomy and seeing whether that helps his spermies. The varicocelectomy apparently takes at least 6 months to show any real improvement (if it works at all), so we probably wouldn't do IVF-ICSI until next fall if we go this route.

Anyone else face similar decisions? What did you decide to do? 

MrsLolaSky

BlueJoan for telling me about your experience. It's interesting to hear what you said about your H. I think my DH is also hoping that there is something he could do that will permanently improve his sperm and not put me through IVF…. Even thought the varicocelectomy did not improve your H's numbers sufficiently, it seems like doing it has put him on board with the IVF. 

Of course, I still don't know if I want to take a year to try other things if it's unlikely to work (wasting time and money)--but the financial and emotional strain of IVF is no joke, so I want us to *know* that it's what we need to do.

MrsLolaSky

NariaDreaming. I would feel frustrated wasting another year at this point, too… which is why I want to make a sensible decision. I wish the doctors had a better way to predict things for each couple…. GOOD LUCK to you!

wcasar

We did 5 rounds of IUIs and now they recommend IVF since his count isn't where they would like it to be. But we will be waiting until fall when my work schedule slows down some and we can save a little bit of money. My hubby still thinks we can do it on our own but is okay with us doing IVF in fall.
How bad is your hubby's count? That would make a difference for me on what I'd do. IUIs are much cheaper so maybe do one round first. Just my suggestion.

BunnyBerry

Whether to wait for possible improvements from a varicolectomy or move to IVF...my first thought was, it depends on maternal age. I am near you in age, and I would have a really hard time waiting 6 months, but I think in the end we would wait and try the surgery. It would be a really hard decision, but the possibility of having sperm that work well with IUI of TI is really tempting!! Especially since YH's counts look like they could hit the necessary range with a little boost.

Good luck with whatever you choose! I'm glad you have some time waiting on the Clomid to think about your options. Perhaps the RE or urologist could give you really individualized recommendations on the chances that the surgery will correct the issue enough, and what chances you'd likely have with IUI after all is said and done. Perhaps if it was still pretty iffy, I'd take my chance on IVF.

ky29

We are only MFI (as far as I know..) and we have done 5 medicated cycles, 4 of those with IUIs.  Now we are moving onto IVF.  We are 100% OOP and I was stupid and decided to add up how much money we spent on those IUIs - and it was depressing.  But even knowing that, looking back, I'm not sure if I would've wanted to jump straight into IVF.  It was nice to give the IUIs a shot. 

Sha259

DH and I are tubal factor and MFI (Low morph). We are covered for both IUI and IVF through insurance, but the insurance company requires that you complete 6 IUI cycles before they will approve you for IVF. We lucked out that my RE wrote in a case for exception for us (due to our diagnosis), and the insurance company approved, letting us move on to IVF after only 3 IUIs.

ttcbabysip

We had our first IUI this month, with DH's count being at 500k post wash. Wayyyy lower than his original SA, so we had a re-consult with RE and he suggested moving toward IVF. With the numbers being so low, he said insurance will approve IVF-ICSI without requiring the normal 3 IUI's. It's definitely a tough decision but at this point, we want to do whatever it is that has the best chance of working.

Good luck with your decision!

MrsLolaSky

Thank you for all of the responses!

BunnyBerry: yes, maternal age is definitely in the back of my mind. I guess I'm leaning toward delaying the decision until we see what happens after DH has been on the clomid for 3 months. Maybe we will get a more specific prognosis then.

rainbowbridge14…. I've read stories about men with MFI getting varicoceles removed and seeing improvement… only to find out that the improvement is not enough to make IUI more likely. That's in our mind, too.

ky29… Even if we will ultimately have to do IVF-ICSI regardless, we might be more mentally prepared for it if we knew that we tried everything. (Though our pocketbook might disagree with this plan… we're also somewhat OOP--I don't have any fertility coverage now but I will have a little bit when I start my new job in August.)

Sha259, we will also qualify for a case exception under the insurance to go straight to IVF instead of doing 6 IUIs, but I think we might want to try a handful of IUIs before IVF anyway. BTW: the pinterest fail photo in your siggy *cracked me up* )) 

Good luck to all of you!