IUI to IVF

conradtn · January 2013

How did you make the decision to switch? Was it the RE's advice or was it up to you?

I know I've only just had my second IUI, but DH's numbers just haven't really improved yet. I guess I should probably be more patient, which I'm learning is a big factor in MFI. He's only 5 months post-op, so I probably need to wait longer.

jakraft837 · January 2013

for us it was dr's recommendation, but we still wanted to try one more time. He first suggested it after first round of injects, but we said we wanted to try one more time. He said he understood that and respected our wishes.

We did that and it didn't work, so we said we were ready to switch to IVF now. He again told us that we understood we wanted to try that one more time with IUI and that we had to do it at a pace that we were comfortable with and would not regret later.

(our DX is PCOS/Endo. Endo was removed and I respond to meds well, so dr is not sure why we havent' gotten our BFP, so in a way we are unexplained IF)

LuClo · January 2013

The rule of thumb is usually to try something 3 times and then move to something new. Some insurances also want to see x number of one thing before they cover the next. As far as MFI, it really is a waiting game. It can take 6 or more months to see final results from surgery.

But like pp said, it also has to be a pace that you're comfortable with. If time is a factor then it could make sense to go to IVF sooner. If you want to avoid invasive procedures then it might be better to wait a few more months for DH's number to improve and then try another IUI. Sit down and make a list of what is most important to you in this process, have DH do the same, and then go over it with your RE.

conradtn · January 2013

Yeah, I think I'll do that (make the list). My next appt with the RE is 2/7, and I've got all these questions bouncing around in my head. As far as insurance, mine doesn't cover anything fertility related anyways...it'll all be OOP.

kflynn81 · January 2013

My RE said that they try 3 IUIs before recommending IVF. For me it was only 2 because my reaction was so uncontrollable that I was nearly cancelled. I was a much better candidate for IVF so we moved after the 2nd IUI

ElleBeeKay · January 2013

We did 3 IUIs and then moved on. It was more our decision than our RE's, and I think he would have continued with at least a couple more IUIs had it been up to him. A big part of our decision was that we are 100% OOP, so while IVF is still a huge jump financially, we decided to cut our losses and put our money towards something with much better success rates.

We also moved to a new RE who agreed with our decision to move on, so that reassured us as well.

Good luck with your decision, I know it's a really tough one.

Crystal120410 · January 2013

I did 2 rounds of clomid/IUI that were cancelled, then switched RE's and tried 2 rounds of injects/IUI one was cancelled one was BFN. Im OOP 100 percent so at that point it was his recommendation as well as if Im spending all this money then I want better chances. So we decided to go for the gold and moved on. IUI has a 30 percent chance of working per my RE and depending on your dx of course, IVF is 50 percent. My RE also offers a shared rish program so IUI's were costing about 3K that were not included. Its your money and your choice, you dont ahve to move on or dont have to wait and do everything 3 times. Hope this helps.

liz4paws · January 2013

We have MFI and DOR. I wanted to try a few IUI rounds, but our doctor straight up said that the investment of time, money, and emotions was better spent in IVF than IUI.

In hindsight, she was 100% right. I can only imagine how much $$ and emotion would have been wasted if we kept doing IUI after IUI. Everyone has to come to their own decision, but I feel very comfortable in ours.

Good luck!

KariAnnM 23 · January 2013

We got pregnant on our 3rd IUI but lost the pregnancy at 5w4d. We figured since it "worked" we would try IUI again. We did 4 more IUI's before moving to IVF. We had a hard time letting go of the hope that we would get our take home baby from IUI.

ball.and.chain · January 2013

My RE suggested moving to IVF after I responded poorly to Clomid, but I had been hoping that would be her suggestion. She knew we wanted to avoid multiples and that my insurance would cover IVF, so we didn't think it was a good idea to do injects IUIs. At this point I had had 9 IUIs (8 unmedicated), so I was also pretty unconvinced that an IUI would ever work for me.

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