My fertility eval was overall fine except for an arcuate uterus and AMH of 0.7. Unfortunately my DH has run sperm counts from 2-11 million concentration, 25% motility, and around 50% morphology. He was placed on clomid to help, but his testoterone was never abnormal so I don't know how much that will help. We were advised by 3 fertility docs to go straight to IVF/ICSI but I am scared to death of doing it, very intimidated by the cost and the stats on IVF are discouraging at my age (37yo).
However, we got pregnant on our own last year (and miscarried) so I KNOW it is possible for a sperm and egg to meet, which makes me still feel like theoretically IUI could work. Has anyone with MFI ever had success with IUI? I can't find much info online and I don't want to waste too much time pursuing hopeless treatments, but if there is any hope then I want to do IUI first before facing IVF. Thanks so much, can't tell you how much help I have found just reading other posts!!
Re: has anyone had success with IUI and MFI?
I can't speak to IUI, but my husband had similarly poor numbers (I'm 36 with no realy issues) and we were directed to IVF/ICSI, too. Our RE said that the IUI would have incredibly low odds of working. Since we are paying out-of-pocket and everything I read on-line seemed to state that IUI would be a waste with MFI (my acupuncturist who specializes in fertility treatments also cautioned against IUI as a waste because she said it never worked for her clients, but that IVF did), we went with IVF/ICSI in Jan. I didn't feel like the stats on IVF for 37 were that grim (I looked at the stats around my age) and my RE said we have a 60% chance of success. I'll find out on 2/3 if it works.
I'm very sorry for your loss. Our RE did say that it wasn't impossible for us to get pregnant on our own, but that every month that passed that we weren't would make it less likely.
Good luck with whatever you decide.
***************************Loss Mentioned***************************
Me 37 y/o, DH 45 y/o; DH vasectomy reversal (his 2nd marriage) 11/8/12; TTC since 12/8/12. IVF due to MFI. DOR diagnosis April 2015.
IVF #1 BCPs/Antagonist w/ICSI Jan 2014 = BFN
IVF #2 MDL w/PICSI March 2014 = BFN
IVF #3 EPP/Antagonist w/PICSI May/June 2014 = BFP!; MMC 6w4d
IVF #4 No suppression/Antagonist Nov 2014/Converted to IUI #1 = BFNIVF #4.1 Feb 2015 = cancelled
IVF #4.2 April 2015 - Lupron Stop Protocol with ICSI = PGD testing of embryo indicated it was abnormal
IVF #5 June 2015 EPP with Antagonist
IUI#4 1/23/13 on 75iu x9 Follistim = BFP then chem preg m/c (Feb 2013)
IUI#5 BFN (April 2013)
S/PAIFW , S/PALW
My Blog
Unfortunately, not many women here have had success, but don't let that get you down. Everyone's story is different!
I can speak to wasting time with treatments though. IVF was suggested to us early on because of my endo. My husband is fine (from what we know so far), but I'm a mess. However, I really thought we'd be one of the success stories without IVF. Well, what I learned, the hard and expensive way, is that most RE's don't push IVF unless it's really needed. There are some that do, but most would rather try less aggressive treatments first. Looking back, I regret not trying IVF sooner. If I could be in your shoes again, I'd do 3 IUI's because, why not try. Like you said, you did get pregnant, so that's a start. But, once you start adding injectables into an IUI cycle, it only takes 3 or so for the cost to add up to an IVF cycle. I learned that lesson the hard way!
IVF is a scary thing to get into. I promise you that if you need to use it, it becomes second nature eventually and you'll be okay. But, why not try an iui or two and see what happens? Best of luck to you! You'll find great ladies here to support you through whatever treatment you choose and help you make up your mind if you need to make the big jump to IVF!
ttc #2 since 2004 Me (35): Stage 3 Endo, DH (34): High DNA Frag
IVF/ICSI #2: April 2014: BFP!!!!!!
ET of 2 great quality embryos. + BFP on 9dp5dt. Beta #1 (10dp5dt): 257, Beta #2 (14dp5dt): 1561,
Beta #3 (21dp5d5): 8,172. Wow. It seems this is actually working. Shocked beyond belief.
1st u/s @6w5d: Baby A hb 124, Baby B hb 127 (Both measuring perfectly!)
Lost baby A. Praying that baby B stays healthy. Baby B hb 175 at 11 weeks
It's a GIRL!!!
My Blog
**** siggy warning - bfp & loss **** ---- All Welcome ---
Me: 44 - Hashimoto's (under control), DH: 38 - (minor issues)
IUIs: 2 in 2012 ... Both BFN
IVF #1: 10/16/13 ... BFP, however it was not viable and ended in an early loss at 7weeks.
IVF #2: Feb '14 ... Cancelled. Positive beta at baseline appt, became very early loss.
IVF #2: Apr '14 ... Retrieval Only. 2 embryos made it to day 3 freeze & will be batched with IVF #3 for PGD testing.
IVF #3: June '14 ... Retrieval Only. 4 embryos growing, all arrested before day 5. Two from April thawed, but also arrested.
Currently benched while determining how to proceed.
"Keep going until you can't fail"
Me (36) - LOR, DH (34) - MFI (low count & poor motility)
TTC since 01/2012
11/2012-04/2013 Unmonitored Clomid cycles through OB/GYN; Referred to RE
05/2013-Benched due to cyst
06/2013 - Clomid 50 mg + HCG Trigger + TI = BFN
07/2013 - Clomid 50 mg + HCG Trigger + IUI #1 = BFN
08/2013 - Clomid 50 mg + HCG Trigger + IUI #2 = BFN
09/2013 - Benched for lap & hysteroscopy (Stage II Endo Removed)
10/2013 - Menopur + HCG Trigger + IUI #3 = BFN
11/2013 - Menopur + HCG Trigger + IUI #4 = BFN
12/2013 - Clomid + HCG Trigger + IUI #5 = BFN
2/2014 - IVF #1 - Microdose Lupron Flare Protocol - 5R/4M/4F w/ICSI; 2 embies transferred on day 3 (none to freeze)
2/27/14 - First BFP Ever!!! EDD 11/3/14
N14 Nov. Siggy: CELEBRATION!
DH 38- Low Everything
Me 33- AMH .9
Married 11 years
2002-current IUIs, meds, natural = All BFN
Aug. '13 Attempt at IVF #1 with Lurpon Flare- Canceled due to ovulation through Lupron.
Sept. '13 - We will try again with EPP.
October '13 Started BCP for December IVF. Long Lupron protocol. Canceled due to ovulation through Lupron.
April '14 Planning IVF attempt #3. Adding Cetrotide. Doc consult at the end of this month.
Thanks for all of the help! So nice to talk to some people who don't just tell me to take more vitamins and see an acupunturist! I think I will still do a couple of rounds of IUI, just for peace of mind.
What do PAIF and SAIF stand for? It would be nice to hear a few success stories as well, but I am new to the forum and have not figured out where those would be.
Success after infertility
They are different forums on the same site. The people on this forum are still trying, but the women on those boards have found success.
TTC #1 since June 2012
Me (28) - DOR (AFC <10, undetectable AMH, >10 FSH), homozygous E429A MTHFR
DH (29) - MFI low count and morphology
September 2013 IUI#1 - Clomid + Trigger + IUI = BFN
October 2013 IUI#2 - Letrozole + Menopur + Trigger + IUI = BFN
Nov 2013 IVF/ICSI #1 - Protocol: BCP prep, high doses Menopur and Bravelle (12 days), ganirelex
Results: 5 retrieved / mature, 4 fertilized, 1 arrested and 3 complex abnormal after day 3 PGS = Cancelled after ER
Jan/Feb 2014 IVF/ICSI #2 - Protocol: Estrogen priming, high doses Menopur and Bravelle (11 days), microdose lupron
Results: Cancelled after 11 days of stims due to low response and E2 levels
Feb 2014 IVF/ICSI #3 - Protocol: No prep, low dose Menopur (6 days), ganirelex, Bravelle booster with trigger
Results: 1 retrieved / 0 mature = Cancelled after ER
Officially moving on to embryo adoption! We used and love Embryo Adoption Services of Cedar Park
October 2014 FET #1 - BCP/Lupron/Estrace/Prometrium, transferred 2 of 4 from match #1, BFN
December 2014 FET #2 - BCP/Lupron/Estrace/Prometrium, transferred 2 of 4 from match #1, BFN
March 2015 FET #3 - BCP/Lupron/Estrace/Prometrium, transferred 2 of 6 from match #2, BFN
May 2015 FET #4 - BCP/Lupron/Estrace/Prometrium, lost 2 to thaw, transferred 2 of 6 from match #2, BFN
October 2015 FET #5 - Natural cycle, lost 1 from match #3 and 1 from clinic backup to thaw, transferred 1 backup, BFN
February 2016 FET #6 - Natural cycle, transferred 1 from match #4, B FREAKING P!
Beta 1 = 162, Beta 2 = 316, doubling just over 48 hours