is it stupid for me to jump right in to IVF?

pooman · March 2009

My husband has MFI. ?Good counts but low motility and low morphology. ?(something like out of 100million sperm about 500k are ok and moving in the semi-right direction) ?

We tried IUI once, but do to stress (bought a house, FIL diagnosised with stage 4 cancer, IF , crazy work...you know, the usual) I didn't O when we thought. ?So that doesn't really count. In fact I haven't Oed in 2 cycles.

My next step is either ?medicated IUI or IVF. ?I am OOP but thankfully have enough saved that I won't be going in to debt for either, but don't have so much saved that the second IVF wouldn't hurt.

Reasons for jumping into IVF: ?

My work is on hiatus for two months and they do not know about my plans for a family. ?I would love to go through my first round of IVF while I am on a break. If we were to do IVF I could start my lupron in less than two weeks

-My RE thinks IVF is my best shot. ?Am I just throwing money away on IUI because it's the "next step"?

-The odds are much better with IVF. ?Besides me obviously wanting a baby I would also like FIL to get as much time with grandkid as possible

BUt then the other part of me thinks medicated IUI could totally work and I'm just being a spoiled little brat who wants what it wants when it wants and that's why I want to jump into IVF. ?

What would you do?

finallyreilly · March 2009

So tough. In retrospect, I almost wished we skipped the IUIs and went to IVF, but our IUIs were covered by insurance so we wanted to give it a chance before moving to IUI and paying oop. I think I would base my decision on RE's recommendation, age and finances. GL!!

frustrated and ttc · March 2009

I can only tell you what i did(hence what my opinion would be also). Afetr much talk, DH and I decided we want a baby NOW!! So, we skipped the Clomid and IUI's and are going straight to IVF. Now, i know IVF doesn't garentee a baby but my chance are 50% and 40% of twins. And i figure in the long run it's actually probably going to be less expensive. GL with your decision!

Nerwak · March 2009

That's really tough. Did your RE lower the success rate of IUI because of the MFI? To me that would play a big factor in deciding whether to try IUI again or move straight into IVF. Not to sound like a conspiracy theorist, but I always feel like RE's want you to go into IVF ASAP - yes your success rates are better, but they also make a crap load of money off OOP people...

It sounds like you want to move on to IVF, just from what you've written, but I know its a difficult decision. My clinic is always the first to say that you have to do whats right for you and that there's no guarantees with any of it... doesn't make it any easier though. GL

pooman · March 2009

Thanks ladies.

I will call my RE again today to double check what she thinks our success rates are.

I love my RE...the whole office. ?Yes she is aggressive, but I like that. ?I guess the point is that if I am comfortable being aggressive there is nothing wrong with that.

I really appreciate your help.?

Radler · March 2009

Medicated IUIs (especially injectables) do give you great information about how you respond to FSH stimulation. And that helps a lot when your doctor is starting your first IVF. You might ask your doctor how she would determine your IVF FSH dose without having previous medicated cycles to go on.

That said, I totally hear you on having the time off work--that is HUGE and eliminates a big stressor in the IVF cycle. I swear the worst part of IVF for me was not the ER or the injections, but all the scheduling issues, and having to miss school and work a lot.

fallbride110406 · March 2009

We never did IUI's since our chances of success were only ~5% and IVF was ~60-65%. ?We are OOP too and didn't want to waste the money on IUI's with that low of a chance of it working.

Also, I had never done a medicated cycle before my first IVF and your RE should be monitoring you pretty closely in order to up or lower your dose of stims depending on how you respond. ?I was started on a "normal" dose for someone that doesn't ovulate with PCOS since those were my symptoms. ?I'm young so they just slowly lowered my dose of Follistim as I got further along since I was responding really well. ?I was also seen on day 3, 5, 7, 8 and 9 of stims.?

Good luck!?

CBL · March 2009

If the motility and morphology aren't so bad that IVF is your only option, I'd do at least one or two IUIs first.

1) They're like a warm up for IVF and will give your Dr a lot of info about how you'll respond during and IVF cycle

2) IVF isn't a fix all. Even in only MFI or unknown cases, there are no guarantees. And when it doesn't work, you feel like there's nothing left since IVF is the most advanced treatment. If you have other options, at least give those a try first.

Quizzle · March 2009

We have lowish count, low motility and terrible morph. Our doctor gave us maybe a 5-10% chance with an IUI.

We're not wasting our money and are going straight to IVF.

I'd want to know what the doctor considered the best chance. If we weren't completely OOP, I'd do an IUI first, but I don't want to spend the money.

naflmj · March 2009

I would go to IVF but I also am not one for "conservative" treatment. If you have the money and it is your best shot, it seems like IUI might be a waste of money. Clearly IUI could work but as you add up the amount of IUI's it sometimes takes, I feel like you could already be pg with IVF.

Want a personalized experience?

is it stupid for me to jump right in to IVF?

Re: is it stupid for me to jump right in to IVF?

Choose Another Board

Search Boards