How involved is your RE?

loveblacklab · August 2012

I just started seeing an RE in the last month and I'm trying to decide if I want to stay with him or go somewhere else.

I've done an HSG, bloodwork, and DH completed a SA...all were fine except DH's morphology was right on the border.

After my HSG, we asked the RE what he suggested next and he really left everything up to us, depending on how "aggressive" we want to be. He gave us all options, from Clomid to Clomid with IUI to injectibles, to IVF. We decided to trt TI for at least one more cycle and take it from there.

Well, now I can tell AF is on her way :-( and I kind of want to do more, but I am really confused as where to go next.

Is this typical? Or does your RE at least provide their opinion as to what might be best?

amg51077 · August 2012

After my HSG I was lying on the table and said to the nurse "ok, what now?". She grabbed my chart and decided that injectable iui was the route. I had her order the meds and made an appointment with the Doctor to discuss test results, plan, chances and future.

They left decisions in my hands, you need to be proactive with your next cycle.

I ALWAYS deal with the nurses. I never actually see my RE unless requested.

What is your dx?

Jbromberg1985 · August 2012

My RE made recommendations, but at the same time, we also went to an RE knowing that we were going to move forward with some kind of treatment because TI wasn't working. Typically when you go to an RE, it's because you're ready for that next step, and I don't know your situation, but if it were me, I would at least do something more proactive than just TI.

RmJohns92 · August 2012

I see one of the RE's in the clinic everytime. I would do at least something more proactive then TI also.

loveblacklab · August 2012

We did decide that we will do something else for the next cycle but just aren't sure if we should go with Clomid or Clomid and IUI...or something else. The RE just doesn't seem to be pointing us in any direction...are most RE's like that? He literally explained everything and said whatever we want to do is up to us. And I do deal with the RE, not the nurse...

alb245 · August 2012

loveblacklab:
We did decide that we will do something else for the next cycle but just aren't sure if we should go with Clomid or Clomid and IUI...or something else. The RE just doesn't seem to be pointing us in any direction...are most RE's like that? He literally explained everything and said whatever we want to do is up to us. And I do deal with the RE, not the nurse...

Ack, I'm so jealous!! I want to find an RE like this. Can you call the office and ask about success rates for clomid alone vs. clomid with IUI for your dx? That may help steer you in the right direction. Insurance coverage also may affect your decision. GL with whatever you decide!

Sony22 · August 2012

Ours steered us towards IVF due to DH low count, highest success rate and less risk of multiples. She said we could try IUI's but we reviewed the success rates together and took into consideration our diagnosis. We could tell that she didn't really want to try IUI. So, we went home with a copy of this graph that has all the success rates on it and thought about it before deciding.

An option is to start slow and slowly advance. Like clomid one month, then comid plus IUI, etc...

maggie2324 · August 2012

The thing with infertility is, REs can't tell you where you will have success. They're not psychic. They also don't want this responsibility.

They should be able to give you percentages of success with each treatment choice and let you make your own decision once you're fully informed. There are so many factors to consider. Success rate, cost, risk of multiples, emotional readiness... just to name a few. YOU have to take charge and decide because your RE cannot possibly know what is right for you as a couple to take on.

You should ask though, how many cycles of each treatment they would recommend before moving on. They should be able to advise you on that moreso than picking the treatment that's right for you. Good luck!

loveblacklab · August 2012

Thanks ladies. AF arrived this morning so I am going to call today and ask about success of Clomid vs Clomid with IUI. He did give us some statistics on IVF so I am sure he can do that. My diagnosis is unexplained and we are lucky to have insurance coverage for everything (some stuff is fully covered and some is 100%). I think we might start slow with just the Clomid and take it from there...thanks again this was helpful!

buckeyebaby814 · August 2012

My RE would always lay out the options and tell us what he though was best, but ultimately let us decide. For example, our last cycle he gave us the choice to do Clomid+TI, Clomid+IUI, Injections+TI or Injections +IUI. We ultimately choice injections+TI since our problem is staying pregnant.

twistsandturnsto2 · August 2012

Good luck with whatever you decide. Our RE laid out the options for us too, but for us it didn't make sense to just to TI for us anymore so we went straight to IUI. I wouldn't jump to injects without doing a few cycles of oral meds(that's just me) and trigger, just to get our feet wet, so to speak. Don't forget that MFI is not the only reason for IUI, there could be CM or cervix issues that it bypasses.

lin681 · August 2012

Hi, I am unexplained infertility. After all of our testing RE gave us our options: clomid + trigger + TI 3x's, clomid + trigger + IUI 3x's, or a lap.

I asked what he recommended and he said TI or IUI.

Other than that it was up to us. Our 1st medicated cycle we did clomid trigger TI. Now we are doing clomid trigger IUI.

GL with your decision. I know it is hard.

crystalmarcellin · August 2012

I did they whole Clomid monitoring and Clomid + TI with my OBGYN. So when I met w/ my RE and he went over all the testing I had already completed he suggested that we start w/ Femara/ Clomid, trigger and IUI.

After the 3 failed IUI's he gave us 3 options. Continue w/ IUI's, Do Lap surgery to see if he can determinre what the heck is up, or move on to IVF.

We picked move to ivf. We are OOP and don't want to continue to waste money when our chances go way up. Now we are saving up and letting the whole idea of ivf sink in.

Hope your RE starts to atleast point you in some direction.

pulga131 · August 2012

My re laid out a plan for me. He said 3 cycles of femara and ti (second cycle we added trigger and progeaterone after i discussed with him) and then he recommended ivf. I could've suggested or asked for things but he laid out what he thought the plan should be

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