IUI #5 or IVF? Any experience or thoughts?

Krisd6 · January 2016

I am 40 And trying to conceive baby #2. I have unexplained infertility. All of my labs and my husbands labs are normal. I just had my 4th IUI and unfortunately it did not work. I feel like I am at a crossroads. Do I go on to IUI #5 that is covered by Inaurance (they cover up to 7) or go into IVF that we will have to pay out of pocket? I know our fertility doc is going to recommend IVF. We have a meeting with him later this week. I feel like I should try a fifth IUI so I don't lose the window. To have to wait another month will be torture

I'm devastated this month. I really thought it would happen. All of our numbers, everything looked great. My husband keeps saying we need to take a break from all of this and do it on our own because that is what worked with our son. I feel like if it's not happening with IUis - it won't happen that way.

Has anyone been through this? Any success stories for a 5th IUI to give me hope? I appreciate any thoughts!!!

PCOSat25 · January 2016

I am so sorry you find yourself in this situation. I can not offer any success examples I am on iui number two myself. We have a similar Insurance situation. My insurance will cover unlimited IUIs but IVF would be fully out of pocket. Unfortunately my insurance coverage is only 50% for infertility treatments and the way injectibles are billed it is just cheaper to pay the lesser cash rate with associated discounts. ANYWAY my point is in my situation it is still costing like 1000-1500 per iui cycle. As such my husband and I have committed to each other from the beginning to not do more than 3 iui cycles. If it has not worked by then we believe it will just be more cost effective to save a little and then go straight to IVF.

Honestly Part of me just wants to jump to IVF now...the 20% (or less) success rate with iui is just not encouraging and every new negative is killer.

Sorry if this is not helpful. I am totally cheering you on. If your IUIs are totally covered or not costing much I would definitely understand continuing with them.

laurenlalap · January 2016

I'm sorry you're going through this. I live in Canada, so it's probably a bit different, but my private clinic will not do more than 6 IUIs on anyone, will not do more than 3 IUIs on someone between 35-40 and will not do any IUIs on anyone over 40 (only IVF).... they skip to IVF at a certain point depending on what category you fall into.

If it were me, I would follow this guideline, and opt to go for IVF now, I understand how difficult it is though...

KLake42 · January 2016

I had 7 IUIs before switching to IVF, but that's because IUI was or first method to TTC (my wife and I couldn't do much at home). It seemed reasonable to try some extra time, even though after 3, your likelihood of getting pregnant on a 4th or more IUI is about 8%.

If I were in your shoes, though, I'd move on to IVF now.

twomommiestobe · January 2016

I agree with @KLake42 the success rate is so low after 3 tries that ivf seems like a poosibility. At 40, honestly our RE wouldn't even do iui.

We are paying for ivf oop and it is possible. If you take a few months off, you can get your finances in order and start saving up cash to pay for ivf.

AandDM2014 · January 2016

I'd like to share my story. I was 24 when hubby and I started trying, went to the RE when I was 25 and found out I have PCOS. We ended up doing 6 rounds of IUI, one that didn't result in any egg growth. We decided to move on to IVF, because it was very clear that IUI was not working for us. I had one ectopic and one chemical during the IUIs. I'm surprised that at your age your clinic even lets you do IUI. I know mine also has a cut off, where they won't IUI after about 37.

Best of luck in whatever you decide to do!

jnissa · January 2016

I'm another vote for "I'm surprised your clinic is even entertaining IUI at 40." I was 40 at the time we had DD and my clinic said 3 IUI max and was very clear that it was unlikely to work. At unexplained at 40, your problem is likely egg quality - and IUI won't do much for that. Plus, with IVF you might get a better idea of the issue. Are the eggs not fertilizing? You won't know that unless you do IVF and go under a microscope.

I'm always pro be as aggressive as possible. If the OOP cost isn't going to kill you - just make the jump.

Best of luck!

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