IUI Frequency?

.Mrs.Matt. · April 2014

I'm curious to know how others plan potential future IUI's, and their reasoning. Initially we had planned to try it every other cycle, considering that the cost is slightly above $500 total. When I had my first one done earlier this month, the office only charged $50 for the sperm wash and IUI, stating that my insurance covered 50%. So that is obviously not 50%, but I wanted to get out of there ASAP so I went with it, presuming I'll get a bill in the future for the remainder.

Now I'm torn. I think we may go ahead and try again next cycle, but emotionally and financially, I'm not sure.

So have you tried IUI consistently for a few cycles? Or spread them out? And was that decision made for financial, emotional, or other reasons?

tifga · April 2014

We have done 5 cycles since December, inculding this cycle right after our m/c. I can't really imagine taking time inbetween. It is hard but I get about 18 days between the last faulirue and being excited and hopeful to try again. It has been really hard to be excited or hopeful for this cycle but I couldn't imagine not trying again. But I also to unmedicated cycles so I don't have the added pressure and phsyical stress of all the hormones and drugs.

The bigger cost for us is the sperm then the actual IUI so the cost each month isn't so bad but the thought of not trying, even if I'm certin it won't work, is just depressing because it will never work that month if I don't try.

I just do my best not to think about the money because I am a HUGE worry when it comes to money.

This process so has not helped my anxiety.

JadziaDax · April 2014

I did 6 IUI's with one short break in between and I wish I would have spread them out. I ended up exhausting myself and felt like I couldn't even move after the 6th one. I think a lot of that had to do with the meds and the migraines I get. I wanted things to work and was growing so impatient, but If I could go back, I would have spread them out with one cycle in between each one (at least) and would have focused more on eating more healthy foods and visiting my neurologist to check in with him for his feedback. I feel like I rushed and exhausted myself for nothing, but If one of them worked, i'd probably be telling a different story I guess.

I want to wish you luck with whatever choice you make. I just hope you don't feel so rushed like I did and burn yourself out.

.Mrs.Matt. · April 2014

Thanks, everyone!

I'm thinking for now I would still like to go ahead next cycle and try IUI again, but perhaps we'll take one or two cycles off after that. Ever since my RE explained that we have about a 5% chance every cycle to conceive and that IUI is about a 17.5% chance, I have a hard time wasting cycles without giving ourselves more of a 'normal' chance!

Good luck to everyone, this journey is so hard but I know it would be MUCH more difficult without this board (even though I mostly lurk!).

Pintobean39 · April 2014

Originally we said we would do every other month because the cost per cycle is about 3k. Were doing injects with TI not an IUI. With my age being 39 almost 40 were doing back to back cycles. I'm on my 3rd and last before we go straight into IVF. My second cycle worked but had a cp so I have everything crossed and praying my heart out for this one.

My age is a huge factor all my levels are good now but that can change in 6 months so I can't really wait.

Lillovebug79 · April 2014

I have done all of my cycles back to back starting with Clomid and an HSG in August, then moving on to a clomid and IUI in September. And I have done IUIs every month since and all but one were medicated. I just could not bear the thought of taking a break, for me it was worse than the side effects of meds and hassle of appointments. I think my main motivation is the fact that I will turn 35 in under 4 months. I desperately want to be pregnant before then. Also, last year I had already met my out of pocket deductible before starting treatment and IF is covered 50%, meds 30%. So it wasn't a huge investment. However, this year our deductible is more than double last year's and we have paid everything completely out of pocket since January, although we do get a negotiated rate with my insurance.
If this cycle ends up being another BFN (and it likely will), we will be moving on and starting the IVF process next month. My treatment plan will require a month of birth control before starting stims. I am going to be honest, it will be a nice break from constantly counting days and going to appointments. Not to mention a very welcome break from having something shoved into my uterus!

I can honestly say that I don't regret doing back to back months. I always felt like I was trying and doing everything I possibly could every cycle and that alleviated a lot of my anxiety. And although we have already spent a lot out of pocket this year, it hasn't depleted our savings. If we were in a different place financially or we didn't have any IF coverage at all, I would probably feel differently.

Edited for correcting autocorrect!

jencity9 · April 2014

I ignored my fertility issues for so many years that now I feel like I want to keep doing everything I can. So we did 3 IUIs in a row and would have done a fourth but it was canceled when I didn't respond and then secretly ovulated lol. I plan on going back as soon as I get AF. It just depends in where you're at financially and emotionally!

pmpknbride · April 2014

I took my time when I was doing my Clomid + TI cycles. I did 5 cycles over the course of about 9 onths and when the cycles failed (with no ovulation) I would wait a few weeks until I would call and get a prescription for Provera to start the next cycle. Now that I'm with an RE I'm all in. I've done 4 cycles of IUI back-to-back, 3 with Letrozole and 1 with Injects. I have 2 IUIs + inject cycles to go before being approved for IVF by insurance. So I'm just pushing through and getting it done and over with - If IUI was going to work, I think it would have by now. I should be done mid-June with the IUIs and plan to take off July for vacation and then dive right into IVF in August!

cymber217 · April 2014

I would base it on my ovarian reserve of eggs, If you are on the younger side and have time and healthy eggs.. spread it out. give yourself a break. But if not then maybe you should be as aggressive as possible.

StacyLH24 · April 2014

*C/P mentioned*

We did four back to back cycles, though the first only ended up being a trial run due to shipment timing issues with our sperm. I then had to take what amounted to a two month break for surgery. We started again and have done back to back with the exception of the previous cycle because I started bleeding the same day that I got my BFP. It is exhausting, and I'm sure the meds are doing a number on my body. I wouldn't do it any other way though. We had to cancel our cycle in January because I over responded. That was hard for me. I felt like it was such a waste of time, energy, money and good eggs! If this current cycle ends in a BFN, we will be benched as we move on to IVF. While I'm looking forward to no long trips and giving my body a break, I know it will be hard to be patient. I feel like every cycle that doesn't end with an IUI is a waste for us.

sunlavender · April 2014

This will be our fourth medicated/IUI cycle (all cycles back to back). It was a decision we made and we're budgeting accordingly. If we need to move to more aggressive treatments (injects or IVF) we'll need to sit down and discuss our financial constraints since we're completely OOP.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Mommalawyer · April 2014

I plan on doing mine back to back. I'm pretty sure this first one is a BFN, I'll do the next one ASAP. I'm almost 38 though and DHs urologist who did his reversal said that the best success rates for pregnancy post reversal is within 18 months. My mindset is that we have to hit it & hit it hard cause time isn't on our side. That's me though.

.Mrs.Matt. · April 2014

Thanks for the input - it is very interesting to see what others are planning! I go back and forth all of the time on what we are doing!

Since we are both paying our college loans on our own, I'm not sure if we'll ever be able to afford IVF. At least we'll know within the next year or so if IUI's will work for us.

MrsCMK2011 · April 2014

I am currently on cd10 of my second IUI ( clomid/bravelle/ovidrel) and we are doing them back to back. The first cycle I was fine but this go round the meds have made me so irritable and all around unpleasant or so incredibly sad all it's all I can do to keep from crying. We are oop and each IUI costs $1600 plus another $450 for meds I think we will do one more if this cycle doesn't work and then reevaluate hopefully IUI will work for us because just the thought of discussing the cost of IVF with the hubby is enough to make my hair turn gray. Fx for everyone !!

kaynix21 · April 2014

We took a five months off during deployment...obviously lol. Which was an AMAZING mental break. And then we took the month off after our MC.

This cycle is medicated, trigger, and TI. We're doing IUI next cycle and our plan is to do IUI every cycle if we can until he deploys again so we have as many chances as possible before he's gone for six months. I'll save money and take a break then.

Alicia_R1 · April 2014

I have done 2 back to back so far, the reason is that my cycles are so off that I was more concerned with having another 60-70 day anovulatory cycle if I waited in between them, that waste of 2 months would have annoyed me more than anything.

Right now, if this one doens't work, I am considering a break for 1 cycle and we will do our 3rd IUI with injects, so that also give me time to get the insurance approval for the meds. Plus I just want a break as well.

MissEm15 · April 2014

This will be our 3rd back to back IUI (2nd w/ injects) bf IVF. I wouldn't want it any other way. If this cycle is a bfn, we will do IVF right away. We are lucky though, to have the insurance coverage. Our IUI's w/ meds and u/s costs around $300. I can't take a cycle off.. I need to feel like I'm doing something. I'm am so ready to be done with all of this.

runawaylaurel · April 2014

I have 2 injects cycles with 2 month break after my first one. If this one fails, I will jump straight into a 3rd one without a break, if possible, then onto IVF. I don't cycle on my own, so we gain nothing by taking time off since we can't really try on our own during that time. It's basically impatience and frustration and just wanting to feel like I'm doing something versus nothing.

jaytee16 · April 2014

We did 3 cycles in a row on Femara, but got cancelled on the third one. Then we went right to injects + IUIs, I'm in the 2ww for our 4th one now, we haven't taken any breaks. We are OOP for treatments and while the IUIs are expensive we can afford them right now. We will likely need to stop and look at everything (finances, emotional need for a break) if we move on to IVF. I have not wanted to break or stop up until this point, so we just keep on keeping on.

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