IUI Questions

SunTan313 · August 2011

Sorry in advance for all of the questions, but this is my first clomid + IUI cycle and I am nervous/excited! I have a few questions for those of you that have been through 1 or more IUI's. I asked my RE many questions at our first appointment, but there are a few things we didn't cover...

- I am finding it hard to stay positive about IUI's. I have read of the low success percentages, and it seems like so many women on here have been through 1, 2, 3, or more IUI's already and they haven't worked. How do you stay positive about this? It's hard not to wonder why so many doctors suggest doing it when the success rates are so low.

- Thursday I am going in for my CD 10 ultrasound. I am a teacher and luckily I can have my ultrasounds after school, but I am assuming my IUI will be during the day. Is there any way to somewhat predict what day or two the IUI might happen based on my previous charts/temps/ovulation days? I am trying to have somewhat of a plan and sub lined up for that day. I know it can't be certain, but at this point, I have NO idea even what week it might happen.

- Clomid: I took Clomid CD 5-9. From a years worth of temping, I have found that I ovulate every month. What benefit is it for me to take Clomid if I already ovulate? Does it improve anything for the IUI?

- My DH has 2% morphology. Are our chances for IUI success lower bc of his morphology? Everything else was normal.

Thanks in advance for your help!!

KateBee · August 2011

I'd suggest asking your RE what day they think you will have your IUI based on your ultrasound. Mine was able to give me a 3-4 window, which was helpful for me.

IUI does work for a lot of people. It didn't work for me, but I have a friend who just had twins from her IUI. Thinking good thoughts for you!

Mrs.Slick · August 2011

As far as chances with IUI, I know it *typically* brings IF couples up to the normal 20% chance if all of you and your H's dx are under control. 2% morph doesn't sound too bad as long as they're washing the sperm and his total count is still good. I don't think you can predict what day you'll O but they might have a good idea at your u/s.

And just remember, the people who get lucky on the first few cycles don't stick around so we don't see them much or remember them as well. It's the ones who have been around we remember and therefore remember their many attempts/cycles. Good luck!

Trish11278 · August 2011

It is hard to stay positive at times. The day I realize that the IUI didn't work is a very rough day for me! The next day I try and put that cycle behind me and look forward to the next.

I am a teacher too and understand how stressful it is. You are lucky that your monitoring can be after school. I have to come in late for school those days because my RE only does them between 8&11. I would ask your RE at the ultrasound about when your IUI would be. They can give you a ballpark answer.

I took clomid also and I have no problem ovulating on my own. With clomid, a lot of times you will produce more than one follicle, which gives you a better chance.

As for your DH and his morphology, has he seen a urologist. My DH had a very low morph also and his urologist was able to bring that number up.

GL!

MandaS08 · August 2011

I am also about to start my first IUI / clomid cycle-so this info was really helpful! Good luck to you! I am excited-but really nervous too! I am trying to be realistic and positive at the same time!

katib77 · August 2011

I think I can stay positive for my second (and someday down the road my third) because I have been on here long enough to see many women get KU from IUI's...be it their second, third, fourth etc. I know that while they don't always work, that there are many times they do! Plus since after the first two, we are adding injects it's something new to help, and anything new brings me new hope!

As for when, it depends...if you O on your own without clomid like I do. Then I'd say to assume you will O anywhere from five days before usual O time to a day or two after usual O time. I had my IUI's cd14 for #1 and cd12 for #2. On non medicated cycles I O on my own between cd13-15 every.single.cycle. So my IUIs were real close to a "normal" cycle for me.

And as for Low morph - My DH has low count & low motility but not low morph. When I got the "post wash" info - they didn't even put morph on it. That's how un-important it seems to be to my docs. What they care about was post wash count and motility. The "Total Motile Sperm" was the most important. They want you to have over 10 mil sperm for IUI's higher sucess rates, 20mil for the most optimal. With our low count & motility, we only had 8 mil for first IUI post wash and for IUI # 2 only 1 milion.

If your H's count is good you should have better post wash numbers - hopefully over 10mil. Good luck!

SunTan313 · August 2011

You have no idea how much better I feel after reading these posts!! Thanks for your words of wisdom and advice.. It has helped more than you know

GL to each one of you!

jessican08 · August 2011

How do you stay positive about this? - I'm not gonna lie, the more we did, the harder it was to stay positive. If you've had 3 well timed IUIs and haven't gotten a BFP, your odds of success go way down. BUT...there are ladies who get lucky on the 5th, 6th, even 11th IUI...so there's always still that glimmer of hope. At some point though, you have to look at what your chances are realistically and decide if you want to keep putting money toward something that has a very low % of success or if you want to put your money toward something with better odds (IVF).

Is there any way to somewhat predict what day or two the IUI might happen based on my previous charts/temps/ovulation days? - I would say if you have a range of days that you normally ovulate you could take a chance at predicting, but meds might make you ovulate sooner or later. My ovulation stayed pretty consistent with my "natural" cycles though. My IUIs were always b/t CD13 and CD15. My RE office has you come in to drop of your H's sample b/t 7-8am and then you go back for the IUI b/t 10-11am.

What benefit is it for me to take Clomid if I already ovulate? Does it improve anything for the IUI? The benefit is that it will help ensure you have at least one mature follicle for the IUI. It will also help your doctor time the IUI as close to ovulation as possible.

- My DH has 2% morphology. Are our chances for IUI success lower bc of his morphology? Maybe yes, maybe no. My DH has 1% morphology but my RE doesn't think this is the reason we're not getting PG at this point. Morphology is highly debated by urologists and REs.

GL!

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