IUI or IVF?

kkfall07 · June 2013

Hi everyone - I posted some on the TTTC board months ago but it been awhile - I took some time off from treatment and all things TTC, including the bump.

Now that we're starting back up with treatment, I was hoping to get some advice or opinions from those who have done both IUI and IVF.

If you had to do it over again, would you still do an IUI before moving on to IVF? Or in hindsight, would you just go straight to IVF and skip IUI altogether?

I'm struggling with this decision and not sure how to move forward. My husband and I have been TTC since October 2010, so going on three years. I did get pregnant May 2011 but had a miscarriage at 9 weeks. We've been through all the testing with my RE and are unexplained. I've done one four medicated cycles with TI (one clomid and three femara). All BFNs.

My RE is recommending that we move on to injectibles. He suggested IUI with injectibles or IVF. We are completely OOP for everything.

Part of me just wants to move ahead to IVF. Yes, it's more costly and invasive but the chance of success is greater. I'm also concerned that about multiples with an IUI especially with injectibles and ending up having to cancel the cycle.

I know I haven't been active recently - or even on this board - but I thought insight from those you have gone through this might really help me to decide what is the best path forward for us.

Thank you!!

itsmevkb · June 2013

I've done more clomid cycles than I care to remember. Two of them were also with an IUI. After those two didn't work we moved on to IVF mainly because we had insurance coverage for IVF that was going to end at the end of the year.

Anyway, had we not had the insurance issue we would have continued to pursue IUI. We were lucky and I got pregnant from our first and only IVF. Years later, we tried IUI again and I got pregnant on our second cycle.

Have you asked your doctor about doing a hybrid cycle where you use Femara along with very small doses of injectables? It's less expensive than a full injectable cycle or IVF and you might be less likely to over-stimulate as well.

Abbe2b3 · June 2013

We did 5 iui's before moving onto Ivf. Each round was oop and I wish we had only done 2 and moved on. I only have one ovary and a crappy tube. We got Id twins with our Ivf and I am now a couple weeks out from delivering our 3rd dd from an fet. We wouldn't have gotten pregnant from iui's,but every thing is hind sight.

imgettingmarried1124 · June 2013

I'm with you ! I just had my second IUI and praying for a miracle. MH and I are also unexplained and OOP for everything! My RE suggested after this IUI we should move directly to IVF. I think I'm going to try 3 IUI's before I move to IVF. We just don't have the money now. The only thing that's different is that I have only done Clomid, no injectibles or trigger shots. I also may switch RE's but thats another story!

Good Luck to you!

OceanBreeze1 · June 2013

Initially, we were dx with MFI, poor morphology (0-2% morph). A fertility urologist said IVF probably wouldn't even work, whatever. Once we went to an RE, they suggested 3 IUIs before moving on to IVF.

But I also had some ovulation issues (which I just learned yesterday is likely our problem, NOT MFI). It was originally suspected that I had weak ovulation, but still ovulated, so I went the Clomid route. Never again, lol. (I have since learned I have several symptoms of PCOS w/o the multiple follicles)

Our first IUI/Clomid was not successful. I switched REs and started injectables (Follistim). It was successful, and I have a 28-month-old!

I did NOT want to jump straight to IVF, because of the cost but also because I felt I had to explore every option before. FWIW, our plan was to do another IUI then do IVF after the summer (I got pg in May).

In addition, I feel like going through IUI helps you and your RE understand more about how your body responds, etc. For us, our meds were covered; we just had to pay for the procedure, so that makes a huge difference.

My only advice is to do what YOU are most comfortable with, whether that's the RE's suggestion or not. Go with your gut.

Good luck!!!

Dragonfly1226 · June 2013

Our dx is also unexplained. We are very, very lucky to live in MA and have great insurance. That insurance did require us to do three IUIs before covering an IVF cycle. I never expected the IUIs to work (and they didn't for us) but I am glad we did at least one. It gave the RE a chance to see how I responded to the injectables and also gave me a chance to get used to giving myself shots every day. They were like the gateway cycles leading to IVF, and I think they made IVF easier for me to handle. I hate that money has to be a factor in your medical decisions. It sucks and is not fair at all. I guess if it is possible financially I would do one IUI before moving to IVF. It could make your IVF cycle more successful (if you do need to move to IVF). Good luck!

IBackBevo · June 2013

I was encourage to go straight to IVF. In fact, we were pretty much told IUI was just wasting time as I had DOR. We decided to try IUI first. I'm glad we didn't listen because I got a BFP. You just never know. Even if you are given abysmal odds (and we were), you just never know. I think it is worth at least giving it a try a couple of times. If I were in your shoes, I would do at least one or two Clomid or Femara + IUI unless you just flat didn't respond at all to Clomid or Femara simply because they tend to be inexpensive. The only reason I would be hesitant to try injectable IUI is due to the risk of multiples. That is the only reason I would shy away from it.

As an aside, my brother and his wife were told the same thing -- go straight to IVF. They decided against IVF and got pregnant on their second medicated cycle.

Just my two cents.

Mrs.AmyDylan · June 2013

We did clomid (2 cycles, with TI) and headed to IVF. We are unexplained as well. We had some very modest insurance coverage ($5k infertility and 2.5k RX). We could have very easily exhausted that coverage pursuing IUI, so we went with what my RE quoted us as a 65% success rate for IVF, given our dx, age, and lab tests.

Our additional consideration is that I have a seasonal business that runs May-September. I didn't want to cycle or deliver in that window, and I cycled in April. While we didn't not try on our own with the business in mind, I wasn't going to pay to cycle while shutting down my business. If that makes sense.

I was also tired after two years of trying. I wanted to make my best shot at success before my business started up for the summer.

Want a personalized experience?

IUI or IVF?

Re: IUI or IVF?

Choose Another Board

Search Boards