Contemplating IUI, feedback appreciated

jburke1 · January 2013

Hi ladies. Well we received some bad new today and I am hoping some of you may have similar experiences and can give me some words of advice. Went to my appt this morning with my RE and he told us that DH has only 2% morph and sperm count 11 mil. he said our best option would be IVF, but when I told him that just isn't a option for us right now he said that we could try IUI, but I needed to be aware of the miscarriage rate and he just didn't seem very hopeful. im curious if anyone else gone through IUI with low morph? Successful or unsuccessful? Do your RE say the same thing? I would appreciate any feedback! Thanks in advance!

Balabusta · January 2013

My RE told us that if the count is under 10 million, he doesn't have very high hopes for success. But then again, it only takes 1!

I'm sorry you received such bad news, but you're not alone! Good Luck!

solisilou · January 2013

Hi, I'm sorry you got bad news. MFI can be a very hard Dx to accept and deal with.

We're also MFI (morph 4-5%, motility low, count 1-5 million/ml) and we were told by our RE that with these numbers we only have a good chance with IVF/ICSI. With ICSI they just choose the best sperm and inject it directly in the egg to help fertilization. We asked about IUI and were told that it would be a waste of money and mental energy. Nobody also said it was impossible but just very, very unlikely.

We did a fresh cycle in June that ended in an m/c and are just now in the 2ww of our 3rd and last FET from IVF#1.

I wish you all the best, regardless of what path you choose.

jburke1 · January 2013

I think I was wrong. His count must have been 11 mil. His count was a big of an issue as morph.

thanks for the help! And good luck to you as well!

jburke1 · January 2013

Best of you too solisilou and thank u!

katka512 · January 2013

We have severe MFI. Our RE also said IVF is our best option but he was ok with trying IUI first. We are lucky to have insurance coverage so we opted to try IUI first. IUI #1 was negative and we're in the 2ww of #2. DH's post wash count was 4.2 million. Over 5 million is what our RE wants to see but he still acted hopeful probably because 4.2 was a good number for us.

If this IUI is negative, we will opt for IVF in a couple months after we come back from a vacation. We may try one more IUI while waiting.

Our RE said our chance of success with IVF with ICSI is 70%, which was great news! However, we also weren't ready to go straight to IVF. When we first started trying I remember telling DH that I didn't think I could ever go through IVF - but we're almost there! I've learned that this is a very fluid process and my mind and feelings can change at any time!

JewelsW1980 · January 2013

Our RE suggested we start with IUI even though our morphology is at 3% washed. He told us that people have gotten pregnant with less so we tried with IUI more times than I'd like to admit. We have normal count and our motility is hit or miss...looking back now, I wish we wouldn't have moved past the 3rd IUI and just put that money & time towards IVF; our RE wasn't rushing us into IVF.

JSM0801 · January 2013

I remember being in your shoes, and it is tough! Our first RE also did not recommend IUI for count under 10 mill. He was very aggressive and is known to push everyone straight into IVF. The chances of success are much higher, and it is way more $$ for them. As doctors, they also have to be honest and realistic. We didn't want to go through months of failed IUI's for the mental, emotional and physical aspect, so we chose to go straight to IVF. I think you have to do whatever you are comfortable with, and if IVF is not an option for you right now, then stick with IUI, but just be prepared that it most likely won't work. However, it does only take 1! You also might want to get another SA, because they can vary. We only had 1 when we made our decision for IVF (count 7.5 & motility 19%). However, the 3 after that were b/w 12.5-15 mill & motility 43-64%. As for morph, I am still puzzled, b/c his % are completely normal at urologist but low at fertility clinic. We might have had a shot with IUI, had we known these #'s then. Also, does YH have good motility? You might have a better chance if he does. GL moving forward!

PPL2011 · January 2013

You should have your husband do a Semen Culture Test, so see if he has an infection. My husband had a bad semen analysis, then his urologist suggested the culture and they found some bacterial infection, he took antibiotics for 3 weeks and then repeated his SA in 6 weeks and it was totally improved. Does your husband have a urologist? My husband went to a urologist that specializes in male reproduction. CoQ10, L-Carnitine and his multi-vitamin also helped! Good luck!

LuClo · January 2013

Ugh, sorry that you have to be here. MFI is tough. It takes time to adjust to the news before you can really figure out what's right for you. Two years ago I couldn't really wrap my head around fertility treatments in general, now I'm jumping into IVF w ICSI. When it's the only option it suddenly becomes a lot more palatable.

jburke1 · January 2013

His motility is the only thing that is normal. His morph is the biggest concern, followed by the count. They said they want at lease 10 mil for count and he has 11.. He has not had a culture done, so we will have to look into that. Thanks ladies!

LuClo · January 2013

katka512:
Our RE said our chance of success with IVF with ICSI is 70%, which was great news! However, we also weren't ready to go straight to IVF. When we first started trying I remember telling DH that I didn't think I could ever go through IVF - but we're almost there! I've learned that this is a very fluid process and my mind and feelings can change at any time!

Where are you cycling?!? I think most success rates are around 40%. Either your RE is fluffing his numbers, or I need to start driving to wherever he is!

katka512 · January 2013

Haha I know it's incredibly high. The clinic's overall rate is around 40%. He said ours is higher because there isn't really anything going on with me other than irregular periods. I definitely take it with a grain of salt but the odds are still much better then with IUI ( which he told us is below 20%, probably closer to 10%).

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