Doing my first IUI tomorrow and scared about multiples

janabananac

Hi,

Did anyone get pregnant with only one child from IUI?  I have four follices and am doing an insemination tomorrow and Wednesday.  I am freaked out about twins (let alone anything more than that).  I have only heard from people who have had twins through IUI and I was hoping to hear if anyone had a lot of follices but only ended up with one baby?

I am fully aware that I might not even end up with a pregnancy but I am still trying to figure out what will happen if it does work. 

Thanks very much. 

krissyh21

Well, I did 3 IUI with 3 or less follicles and none worked, but the truth of the matter is that if you trigger with 4 mature follicles there is a chance of becoming pregnant with multiples. Yes, there are people who have done IUI with a result of one child. I know quite a few - but the board has been pretty slow lately so I can not say they will see this.

What will you do if you are pregnant with more than one? I am sure you will find a way to overcome what ever issues you may face and also selective reduction would also be an option (depending on your views). 

Did your RE discuss the possibilities to you before starting treatment? 

janabananac

Thanks for your input.  I don't know what I will do if I am pregnant with more than one.  I know that selective reduction is an option but I have decided I won't make a decision one way or another until I am actually in that position.  At this point I am hoping not to be in that position.

 My RE didn't go over this too much with me, I think he thinks lots of people are so happy to have twins and I know that getting pregnant on my own would be incredibly difficult so there isn't much room to choose what I do.

Thanks again. 

jesselayne8

I had 3 follicles (with a possible 4th close behind) and ended up with one baby.  That being said I would have been okay with twins.  Like the PP said you need to be okay with all the possibilities before moving forward with your IUI tomorrow. GL!

UsedToBeGoldie

you did clomid for 5 cycles (if i'm reading this right) before, correct? I'm guessing you were not monitored?  Because IUI doesn't increase the chances that much... it's the clomid or other meds that incraese the chances.  If you weren't monitored there's no way to know how many follies you had then- and likely you had more than 1 then, too.

I had one follie and got DS1.  I had 2 follies when I got DS2.  B/c we had success on our first cycle with just 1 follie- we knew that any follies could easily = babies, and we were NOT comfortable going forward if we had 3 or more follies.  We were lucky and didn't get more than 2.

You need to know what you are comfortable with - and discuss the true risk with your RE before you proceed.  Since you have had failed cycles with clomid i'm guessing your chance of all 4 inseminating are lower.... BUT you have to know that they might - and know what you will do then. 

kate + 8 got pg with hers from IUI.... it happens.  Go with your gut and what you are comfortable with... and best of luck!

krissyh21

janabananac:

Thanks for your input.  I don't know what I will do if I am pregnant with more than one.  I know that selective reduction is an option but I have decided I won't make a decision one way or another until I am actually in that position.  At this point I am hoping not to be in that position.

 My RE didn't go over this too much with me, I think he thinks lots of people are so happy to have twins and I know that getting pregnant on my own would be incredibly difficult so there isn't much room to choose what I do.

Thanks again. 

Hmm... not to be catty or anything, but no, most doctors do not take the stance of people being happy with twins since there are medical issues that can be caused by a multiple pregnancy for both mother and babies.

Most REs make you sign a waiver saying that HOM is a possibility and selective reduction would be your choice.

 

dusk42

I had two mature follicles for my first IUI, three and a smaller one for my second, and one for this current cycle.  The first two did not work.  My RE won't trigger with more than 4 follicles on an IUI, and they get pretty nervous with 3-4 and give the HOM speech again at the monitoring appointment.  However, there was a poster in the thread below who had 3 mature follicles and is pregnant with quints (I think she had two smaller follicles and three larger ones, but maybe she'll chime in).  But there are others who have gotten 1 or 2 babies from successful IUIs.  It's all about your risk tolerance at this point and your RE's guidance.  

 

https://community.thenest.com/cs/ks/forums/65715281/ShowThread.aspx 

MBandBud

janabananac:

I know that selective reduction is an option but I have decided I won't make a decision one way or another until I am actually in that position.  At this point I am hoping not to be in that position.

I had 4 follies and cancelled my IUI b/c I was not comfortable with HOM and selective reduction.  I strongly suggest you come to terms with how you feel about HOM and selective reduction prior to proceeding.  Really you should be comfortabl with this prior to starting treatment b/c it is hard in the midst of a cycle to start making these decisions.  It is difficult to move through fertility treatments with the goal in mind without considering the risks until after.  The consent paperwork you sign is there for a reason and very real.  I would talk through the risks/% based on stats and have a conversation with your RE/DH.  Did they also do bw?  What were those numbers?  I remember that being factored in.  I get frustrated when people post about outcomes of infertility treatments b/c they claim they didn't think it would happen to them.  Many clinics don't focus on the slight odds but they can happen to you.  Best wishes in your decision. 

fantine31

I'm expecting quints (thanks for the shout-out ... and yes, we had 3 mature follicles, 1 that was very close and no others that were even considered close, yet we ended up with 5.

i have done 2 other iuis (1st w/ 1 mature follicle, BFN; 2nd w/ 1-2 mature, BFP)

Honestly, if you do not want multiples, I would not do the IUI this cycle.  I know it may feel like a huge set back, but if you are really that worried, I would not. You do not want to be in the position to selectively reduce.. it is agonizing, believe me. 4 follicles is a lot.  GL to you whatever you do.

perry7285

multiple follicles resulting in just one baby happens all the time. that said . . . if you truly do not want twins, i think you might not want to go ahead with four follicles. like fantine said, four is a lot. my old RE wouldn't do an IUI with more than three. i know it would be very upsetting and frustrating to cancel a cycle, but if you really don't want multiples i think you should consider it.

choco_lab

My DS1 is the result of an IUI.  I had 4 follies measuring at  21, 16, 16, 16, 15 mm.  Do you know how big your follies are?  The problem with any kind of treatment you go through is that there is always the chance for multiples.  There is no guarantee it won't happen even if you did IVF and only transfer 1 back (it could split).  What are you afraid of?  The physical stress on your body, the cost, the work involved?  How does your DH feel?  The fact of the matter is.. people get pregnant with twins all the time the "old fashioned way".  They don't even get to think about it being a possiblity.. it just happens!  And they find a way to make it work.  The fact that we have to actually think about the possiblities is just another thing bothers me about the whole IF journey. 

leslie&brian

I did an IUI with 5 follicles, but based on my bloodwork and my estrogen levels and such, my NP was very confident that they weren't all mature. I got pregnant with just one baby. Good luck to you!

AtlJuneBride

I had 2 mature follies and 2 borderline when I triggered.  I only got pregnant with DD.  I would have been fine with twins at that time.  However, now that I have one child, I am very hesitant to do IUI again because I do not want multiples now.  I want one and only one more child.  For that reason DH and i have been discussing the possibility of just doing IVF and returning only one embryo.  There's still the possibility that it would split, but less of a chance than multiples through an IUI.  I agree with what the PPs have said-if you're not comfortable with multiples I would not go forward.  Good luck with whatever you decide!

Cajunladybug22

I got pg with DD on IUI #2.  I only had one mature follie for each cycle though, as I was on the lowest doese of Femara.

Good luck with whatever you decide!