Questions on TTC

AmyRehs

Hello again!

 Just a quick question...we've been doing some research on TTC and we've read that TTC at home and attemping IUI in the same cycle leaves you with better odds (obviously). Has anyone out there tried this and would you mind sharing your thoughts or experiences with this?

 

Thanks!

maryoosa

Hi,

 So I've been actively TTC for over a year. 

Here's what  the info was from  midwife, my  OB/GYN, my RE, and my accupuncturist (who's also an RN).

 If you are doing this at home--- which is largely an ICI, or what I like to call "turkey baster" that's just about the same chance of getting pregnant as a couple having sex would have. That's about a 6% chance of conception. 

 With ICI, you still need the sperm to swim up into the cervix and find an egg. 

With an IUI you're givin' the boys more of a fighting chance. I've heard numbers between 17%-25% for conception with IUI if everything else is ok. But the short of it is, you're dumping the sperm directly into the uterus. So they are closer to finding an egg---shorter swim--which is easier for the frozen guys. 

 Now, if you have no issues with fertility both of these things  should be easy and doable.

If you have fertility issues, it gets slightly more complicated. 

AmyRehs

Can I ask which method you are currently using?

ball.and.chain

AmyRehs:

 Just a quick question...we've been doing some research on TTC and we've read that TTC at home and attemping IUI in the same cycle leaves you with better odds (obviously). Has anyone out there tried this and would you mind sharing your thoughts or experiences with this?

I'm not sure I understand...are you talking about doing an at-home ICI AND an IUI with a doctor or midwife in each cycle?

AmyRehs

Correct, I am asking if anyone is currently TTC using ICI at home AND IUI with a medical professional in one cycle.

 

Thanks!

 

 

 

ball.and.chain

AmyRehs:

Correct, I am asking if anyone is currently TTC using ICI at home AND IUI with a medical professional in one cycle.

Thanks!

I see.  I have to say, I've never heard of anyone doing that.  It's possible that someone here has and I've missed it, but for the most part it seems that people either do at-home OR they do IUI.

I don't think your odds are better if you do at-home ICI AND IUI in the same cycle -- it's just that your odds go up if you do more than one insem per cycle, regardless of which kind (and my understanding is that IUIs have better success rates, so you'd be better off doing 2 IUIs in one cycle).  We looked into doing 2 IUIs per cycle, and found that it did not raise our odds that much, but it doubled our sperm costs per cycle, so we decided it was not worth it.  If I was using free sperm, I would definitely do more than one insem per cycle.