2 Failed IUI's...now what?

annebenton22 · February 2016

Hi Everyone, I am just wanting to start a discussion on IUI treatment and when to move on to IVF? In August & September 2015, I did back-to-back Clomid cycles, which were BNF. I then decided to go ahead and move on to an RE and start testing & treatments. My uterus is fine, and husband's sperm is great (thankfully); I basically have weak/sporadic ovulation and poor CF. We did our first IUI (just 100 MG Clomid) around Thanksgiving...around that time my mom went into the hospital (very stressful) and we had another BNF. We sat the holidays out to regroup and had our 2nd IUI in early February, this time using 100 MG Clomid + 100 MG Gonal F for about 4-5 days. The 1st IUI, I had 2 eggs and the 2nd time I had 3, all of which were confirmed ovulation. Again, this time, I had a terrible cold & cough and recevied another BNF. I went back a week ago excited to start a new cycle, and when they did the US, found a large cyst on my left ovary. I am now sitting/waiting to go back in a few weeks for a re-check on my cyst to see if we can start anew. I am just so tired of waiting and frustrated with all of the disappointment. We started TTC in July, 2014, which I know is not as long as others have been TTC, but it is still heartbreaking. Any experiences you can share if you have been through this would be helpful. I don't know if I should try another IUI and then move to IVF or just go straight to IVF? Thanks!

ultratomato · February 2016

Well my insurance had me do 3 iuis on clomid and 3 on injections. So I just finished my last iui on injections and if this doesn't take its on to ivf. Luckily my insurance covers it. I would have went straight to ivf because the chances are greater. Good luck in whatever you decide

AandDM2014 · February 2016

I had 6 failed IUIs between October 2014 and September 2015. I ended up moving to IVF. I wish I had done it sooner.

KLake42 · February 2016

I had 7 IUIs before moving on. But I had never before tried to get pregnant (I'm gay), and it made sense. I still think that I might have a shot at getting pregnant by IUI if I could try it for a year (every month), but I don't have the time or money.

Obviously, since it didn't work, it would be nice to go back in time and start with IVF, but I still think I made the right choice to give it a shot.

annebenton22 · February 2016

@ultratomato thanks for the reply. My insurance doesn't cover a thing, so that is great that yours does! At this point, I am just considering what is most cost effective, ya know!?

annebenton22 · February 2016

@AandDM2014 thank you for sharing and I wish you and your husband the best of luck with your most recent transfer!

annebenton22 · February 2016

@KLake42 ...thanks for sharing and I wish you the best of luck in your next IVF cycle. Its hard to know what to do, but you just have to make the best decision with the information you have at that point in time. Good luck!

wifeinraleigh28 · February 2016

There is no easy answer @annebenton22. The fact is IVF has a much higher success rate. Many choose to do several IUIs in hopes that they work and they can save money, while others choose to go to IVF sooner, eating the costs, for the greater chance. We are currently on IUI #2 and DH wants to do IVF next if this doesn't work, but I want to do one more IUI (we get 3 IUIs covered under our insurance and no IVF coverage at all). I think he's just tired of the disappointment

I am too.

BrightenMySky · February 2016

/ bfp & loss mentioned /

Hi @annebenton22, we did 2 failed Clomid IUIs, and in the tww of #3, we met with our RE because I wanted to know how we could be more aggressive and what we should do next. He convinced us that because I responded well to Clomid, there was no reason to not go forward with more of the same. And #3 was in fact successful, although unfortunately it ended in loss (that was almost certainly unrelated to our IF issues or any of the treatments, based on results of genetic testing). How do you feel about your RE? Can you have a frank discussion about your concerns with her/him and get her/his take on next steps?

We do have some insurance coverage, although that is tied to DH's job, which is temporary through the end of the summer. It covers (partially) 6 IUIs and then IVF, so we were planning to race through the IUIs to go on to IVF, if needed, and at this point will probably try to get back on that track, although I am at the mercy of my hormones and don't know when I'll get my period again.

And I had a cyst when I went in for my baseline for the third (and successful) IUI cycle, but my RE said that as long as it was not producing estrogen (based on my bloodwork), it was ok to go ahead with the Clomid as planned. I did not have as many mature follicles that cycle, which was maybe because of the cyst, so I was definitely down about that, but turns out it did not matter.

It sucks and it's a rollercoaster and I'm sorry.

annebenton22 · February 2016

@wifeinraleigh28 yes it is so dissapointing each time..I hope your IUI works this time, but if not maybe 3rd time is the charm for us both. I guess the good part is that insurance is helping cover the treatments...paying out of pocket and being BFN each month is no fun! It is also hard on my husband...guys have such a harder time expressing themselves, but they are def. going through it, too. Wishing you the best!

annebenton22 · February 2016

@BrightenMySky thank you for the reply and explaining your experience. I am so sorry for your loss and cannot understand what that is like...my friend and neighbor had an 11 wk mc after her first IVF transfer. Her 2nd transfer she did 2 embryos and had a successful pregnancy. Nothing is easy about this and we will just have to hang in there and keep the faith that it will happen, even through the disappointment.

I definitely trust my RE...he is one of the founders of the IUI procedure and did groundbreaking research in IVF, etc., so its just a matter of me not trying to control the situation and listen/take his advice. However, I do think we all have personal limits and need to take break sometimes and enjoy life/have fun through this. I am also care taking for a parent on the side and need to be careful with my stress levels. Take care and wishing you the best of luck!

emgem819 · February 2016

@annebenton22 sorry you are going through a hard time with frustration and taking care of a parent at the same must be tough too. We're on our second iui and if it doesn't work my re has suggested ivf just to save money as she knows I'm paying oop for everything (I also need a large number of hormone shots to increase the follie sizes) but since ivf is SO much more we will have to make a decision if we get to that point. It's tough but if you have time to do some more iuis it could be worth it but you obviously have a higher chance with ivf and one ivf cycle could be all you need. Sometimes it's just a gamble I guess on how long you want to put your body and your mind through this! GL with whatever you decide...talk to your re about it too!

annebenton22 · February 2016

@emgem819 thanks for the reply and good luck with your latest. I scheduled a sit-down with my RE for the 29th to have a heart-heart about it, as I am really leaning towards just starting the IVF process. Still want to hear what he thinks based on his years of experience. I had no idea how many women are going through this until I started having issues and a lot of my friends started opening up about it...again, good luck to you and keep me updated if you want to!

chicandbubbly · February 2016

It is definitely very difficult to determine what the next step is... I am in the same boat as well. My second IUI just failed. Originally our plan was to do only two IUI's before moving on to IVF but now my DH wants to take a break for 1 month and then do one last IUI before moving on to IVF. I am ok with this plan but I definitely want to keep moving forward with treatments. It all depends on your situation- we get nothing covered by insurance so the financing is unfortunately a big decision factor for us.

Good luck with your RE meeting!

annebenton22 · February 2016

We really are in the same boat @chicandbubbly. We will probably do the same thing...we added in the injectible shots with the last IUI, so I was really hopeful. I think we finally have the right "formula" so maybe the 3rd time is the charm, but if not, just keep pressing forward! We are not covered either, so that plays a big part in our decision to move on. Good luck to you!

BrightenMySky · February 2016

Thanks @annebenton22. I am glad you like your RE, but I know that letting go of control (and we already have so little control on this journey) is tough. Fx for you!

tripledaggerWed95976 · February 2016

Lurking...
i did 3 IUIs then moved to IVF. Best decision I ever made- looking back on it I wish I hadn't wasted time with IUIs and had just gone straight to IVF. Live and learn

kms456 · February 2016

***BFP mentioned***

So we have MFI, so it might be a little different. We got pregnant on our first IUI with DD#1 so stupidly thought it would be "easy" for us to try for #2. Well DD#1 was obviously a fluke (all previous SA's were low count/motility and it just so happened that he had a huge surge that one month and had a normal SA). After failed clomid cycles and 2 Failed IUI's we decided we had enough. DH's sperm count post wash was around 3million. Our RE doesn't like to do IUI's under 10 million so she said we were almost wasting our time (but of course the decision was ours). Since we were paying OOP, we decided to just jump to IVF. We've done everything we can to get his numbers up, but it's just not happening. Our plan was originally to do 3 IUI's before moving on, but after really looking at the numbers - we feel it's pointless.

annebenton22 · February 2016

@KKamm917 it seems like everyone has a different set of issues, with the same end result...struggle. Hopefully my upcoming meeting with RE will give me some clarity on whether to try a 3rd IUI or move on to IVF. No MFI - which is a blessing, however, just not sticking! It's crazy how low the odds are doing IUI, even if the formula is perfect. Good luck to you!

annebenton22 · February 2016

@tripledaggerWed95976 thanks for sharing your experience...yes, hindsight is always 20-20 ...maybe the 2nd child attempt, assuming we get there, will be easier/faster!

Tulips29 · February 2016

I did 3 IUIs, all 3 were a fail. I'm not in the process of my first IVF cycle and looking back, I wish I didn't waste the time on IUIs. Given their low success rate, I would have moved on to IVF right away. But naturally, I thought "oh, it'll definitely work for me" and my first RE was so sure she'd get me pregnant within 3 IUI cycles. I switched RE's after that and my current one right away told me that IUIs would not work for me with my situation and I needed IVF. GL to you whatever you decide!

annebenton22 · March 2016

Just an update for everyone...I met with my RE yesterday and I think we are going to try IUI ONE more time...making 3 times total. Hoping this will be the time. He also gave us IVF information so we could start preparing just in case.

annebenton22 · March 2016

It all such hard decisions...there is a lot of money, time and emotions on the line. Our formula for the last IUI was so good, we are going to try one last time with same meds/dosage. Hoping this will be it and good luck with your first round of IVF!

yelllow22 · March 2016

@annebenton22 I think you are in the right track, I had 3 failed IUI's, and yes it is frustrating but I don't regret doing it, even though mine failed, a lot of people have gotten pregnant that way, and the IUI's are considerably less expensive and less time consuming than IVF ( I don't get any insurance coverage either). That being said, my Dr. Said that success rate after the 3rd IUI decreases significantly, And because we knew I have good eggs, DH has no issues, I ovulated, he came to the conclusion that most likely the issue is in the interaction between the egg and the sperm, so it made sense to me to move into IVF... No one has the absolute truth, we all do the best we can following our brains and hearts! Wish you the best!

annebenton22 · March 2016

@yelllow22 good luck with your 1st IVF...I could be right there with you soon if this next one doesn't work. You are right, we just do the best we can at the time! Sounds a lot like me...just hang in there!

mskeenan · March 2016

Hi there! I see that you are moving on with one more IUI... and I personally think that is a great choice. I did 4 medicated cycles (two TI and two IUI) and I'm still not pregnant and I'm in an IVF cycle now. I don't regret four cycles before IVF at ALL even without being successful. I'm glad I gave means other than IVF a legitimate shot. IVF is such a huge investment financially... physically and emotionally. I know IUIs are, too. But I wish IUIs had been successful for me. I think you are right to do one more... I had one doctor that told me he would do at least 6 before moving on to IVF. If you have to move on to IVF it's not the end of the world. It isn't as bad as I expected.. but it isn't easy. No matter what you decide, we will be here for you! Best wishes for your next cycle.

wifeinraleigh28 · March 2016

I agree with what a lot of others have said here. Since you don't have sperm issues, you have as good of a chance as anyone with IUI. Our decision to skip our 3rd IUI is entirely because we have an MFI diagnosis and our chances are very slim. So we don't find it worth it to try another time even though it COULD work. GL to you with IUI #3!

yelllow22 · March 2016

@annebenton22 thanks for the good wishes, sending you lots of positive energy! Keep us updated

Want a personalized experience?

2 Failed IUI's...now what?

Re: 2 Failed IUI's...now what?

Choose Another Board

Search Boards