XP FROM TTTC: what might you do?

HopeSprings2012

Hi ladies,

I am admittedly not the most active poster. I usually post (and mostly lurk) on TTTC.. I'm hoping you might read my story too.. Thank you in advance.

I know this is ultimately a personal decision, but I'm wondering what you think...

So I've done every blood test you could think of, and have had ultrasounds. I am ovulating, my cycles are like clockwork, and seem to be in fine shape. I have not had an HSG or SIS yet - because there was a chance my RE would suggest we go straight to IVF so I wouldn't need them.

My DH seems to be source of the problem. He's had three semen analysis - one 1% and two 2% morphology. The RE is saying since his other numbers are good we should consider trying a couple unmedicated inseminations first. If they don't work, we'd move on to IVF from there.

So we only have $10,000 covered for infertility under insurance. I'm wondering what the chances are with 2% morphology - of an IUI working? Will the IUI's be wastes? I always thought the problem with poor morphology was that they couldn't penetrate the egg.

And if we do IUI's - I still need the HSG and SIS done then right? I just feel like we're going to go through all our insurance $$ for nothing... The RE's argument is that I am ovulating and everything looks OK with me so doing some natural inseminatons are much less invasive than IVF.

Thoughts?? Any information, opinions or experiences would be greatly appreciated!!

dimples128

Have the HSG done. Your RE can't see if your tubes are blocked with an u/s.  you can ovulate with blocked tubes.   if your tubes are clear, definitely try the IUI first. Our second worked, but it ended up being ectopic. Good luck!

Crystal120410

SIS is to check out your uterus so I would do that at the least as well as a HSG is pretty important. JMO here but if I knew then what I know now I would have went to IVF sooner. IUI gives you a 30 percent chance and IVF is a 50 percent chance of getting pregnant. Granted yes IUI is less invasive but IVF has better odds. Plus if your RE does a shared responsibility plan then you could have frosties and do FET's for a way less cost. Of course only if it comes to that. Again this is just my opinion. In the beginning I wanted to try to be a least invasive as possible but now that I'm over a year and 30k in, I wish I would have came out blazing the big guns. Good luck with your decision.

jadwedd

I don't even understand how your dr. could go through with a procedure and not give you those tests.  Just because your husband has problems doesn't mean you don't and if you do then you are just throwing away money.  I am like clockwork too, had the tests and it turns out that I had polyps, blocked tubes, pcos and somehow my eggs are older than I am.  You are lucky to have that $10,000 in the insurance.  Everything is totally oop with me.  But they covered all the testing because it is not necessarily fertility related.  Good luck!

J&D2007

I would at least get the sis done to make sure your uterus is free and clear. I would definitely lean toward going right to Ivf with MFI, just because the chances are so much better than with an Iui. I don't have much faith in the <20% chance Iui, especially with MFI. If you decide to go right to Ivf, I'm not sure that I would go for the hsg either.

Hopeful3434

My husband has MFI as well and our insurance also only covered $10k our RE suggested we go straight to IVF and not waste the money on IUI that had a less percentage rate for us. My meds cost $8K alone so the money went quick. GL.

Spring Fever

dimples128:

Have the HSG done. Your RE can't see if your tubes are blocked with an u/s.  you can ovulate with blocked tubes.   if your tubes are clear, definitely try the IUI first. Our second worked, but it ended up being ectopic. Good luck!

this minus the last sentence. Good luck! 

Spring Fever

dimples128:

Have the HSG done. Your RE can't see if your tubes are blocked with an u/s.  you can ovulate with blocked tubes.   if your tubes are clear, definitely try the IUI first. Our second worked, but it ended up being ectopic. Good luck!

this minus the last sentence. Good luck! 

HopeSprings2012

jadwedd:

I don't even understand how your dr. could go through with a procedure and not give you those tests.  Just because your husband has problems doesn't mean you don't and if you do then you are just throwing away money.  I am like clockwork too, had the tests and it turns out that I had polyps, blocked tubes, pcos and somehow my eggs are older than I am.  You are lucky to have that $10,000 in the insurance.  Everything is totally oop with me.  But they covered all the testing because it is not necessarily fertility related.  Good luck!

I don't think she was saying to do it without those tests... I had asked about getting them done at one point and she said if my hubby's results were really bad and we decided to go straight to IVF then I wouldn't need them because they wouldn't matter.. But if we do IUI then I would need them. I just totally forgot to bring them up again when we spoke on the phone and she didn't mention them so I have to bring them up again.. I agree - lucky to have the $10k - but I know it doesn't go very far wiehn dealing with IF and I don't really want to waste time or money if an unmedicated IUI isn't worth it for MFI..

HopeSprings2012

thank you all! sounds like i have a few follow up questions for my doctor before we can really make the best decision.