How many IUI before IVF?

jamielynn0021 · #1 (**permalink**) 03-25-2008, 06:28 PM

Hello ladies!

In your experience how many IUI's did you complete before moving on to IVF? I am in the 2ww now for 2nd IUI...if this doesn't work I want to move to IVF since my insurance covers 80%...Doctor said it's up to me, but he wouldn't recommend more than 3 IUI's....

Let me know what you think!

JSquare · #2 (**permalink**) 03-26-2008, 05:44 AM

We did 3 IUIs before moving on to IVF but I was 37 when we made that decision and I do think age plays a role here. There are a lot of younger girls who do 6 or 8 IUIs before moving on to IVF. I wish we could have tried more but my RE said we only had a 20% chance with IUI and IVF was our best bet so we basically had no choice but to move on to IVF.

Good Luck to you and I hope you get your BFP and don't have to even make the decision!!

UEScookie · #3 (**permalink**) 03-26-2008, 06:47 AM

It depends...isn't that the lousiest answer?

We did 3 IUIs, knowing that they likely wouldn't work. My diagnosis is endometriosis and I've had a lot of surgery, so I likely have lots of scar tissue. The IUI didn't really up our chances, but it was covered by insurance. IVF isn't covered, so I figured we could try 3 IUIs as I psyched myself up for IVF.

That said, if I'd had IVF coverage, I would have gone for it much sooner.

I hope you don't have to worry about it--I hope this IUI is a success for you! Keep us posted!

Dana30 · #4 (**permalink**) 03-26-2008, 06:52 AM

We did not do any. My Dr said it was up to me, and we had MF issues, so we went to IVF.

I hope your latest IUI works!

Mommy Wannabe · #5 (**permalink**) 03-26-2008, 08:03 AM

It really depends on your particular medical case, but we did 4 clomid/IUI cycles and two injects/IUI cycles before we went on to IVF. I think I would have been happier doing only two of each, but what's done is done. I don't think I would bother with more than 3 or 4 if you have IVF coverage, but that's me.

SmittyJr · #6 (**permalink**) 03-26-2008, 10:34 AM

Again, it depends.

First question. Has your DH had a normal sperm analysis? If that is a yes, keep reading.

If he has not been tested, go get him tested. If you are dealing with MF, no more than 2-3 IUIs.

Reasons you could do a few more tries than the average "3":
- You have "unexplained infertility"
- You are fairly young, so you have time
- You respond well to Clomid

Now, you have 80% IVF coverage. If you want to get down to business, I would move forward with that. But, even 20% out of pocket can be expensive.

and hope this just ends up to be a BFP at IUI #2.

colinsmom · #7 (**permalink**) 03-26-2008, 01:08 PM

We did about 5 or 6, but decided to try a round of injectibles before we moved onto IVF. That way the doctors could see how I would respond to the drugs when we moved onto IVF. That worked for us! Personally, I would try the injectibles before moving onto IVF.

ainara · #8 (**permalink**) 03-26-2008, 02:51 PM

Yeah I agree, you should try injectiblesw/ IUI before moving to IVF, unless there is male factor infertility, in that case IVF is the recomended course.