can someone give me some information on the IUI process in Aussie. the waiting period? the costs etc
DH has a low sperm count of 14.5 million and 20% motility. l will get the full results on Wednesday when we see the GP. l have an appt with a FS on Thursday and just wanted to check if it's a good idea for me to ask for an IUI after a HSG. Hoping my tubes are clear. am 30 , DH is 32. been ttc for a year , ntnp for another year.

Hi Ladyf! I'm in Canada (although I did live in Sydney for 2 years) so I can't comment on Aussie wait times, etc. However, I had an HSG on Tuesday and my first go at IUI on Saturday and Sunday. I don't think you really need to wait.
I'm also 30 and have been ttc for 9 months. Good luck! Let me know if you end up doing IUI! And if you have any questions about HSG or IUI, let me know.

thank you for responding. hope l won't have to wait too.is it free for you in Canada? l am not too sure about this side , thats why l need to know before l suggest it. Af due around the 3rd of April so l am hoping that they can do it for the next cycle. do you think 14.5 million is ok for IUI? DH just started taking some vitamins so l hope the count is better next cycle.

GL to you with your IUI!

I'm very lucky that the Canadian healthcare system has covered mostly everything. They did not cover the "sperm wash" which is needed for an IUI, but I believe the actual IUI was covered. (Sperm washing is where they isolate the actual sperm from the white stuff/ejaculate.) It cost about $280 per "wash" here, so just under $600. Not too bad considering all the tests and cycle monitoring and consultations that have been covered this far.

I believe 14 million is perfectly fine! My doctor said 10 million is considered normal, so your OH is well above this number! My OH had 180 million the first go at IUI and 60 million the second... he hasn't completed a full sperm analysis as of yet, but will likely do so this week. This will tell us if there is any issues with him that might be affecting our TTC.

The reason we did an IUI was because a test showed that the sperm wasn't breaking through my CM and getting to where it needs to be. While the doctor isn't sure this happens every month, he suspects it's most likely the reason we haven't gotten a BFP this far. In addition, I found out that I have sub-clinical hypothyroidism, and have been taking meds for that. I'm really keeping my fingers crossed for this cycle!

Why not just inquire with your doctor about IUI. It can't hurt and if it's available to you, maybe it would be a good option? I seem to remember the Australian healthcare system being very similar to Canada, so hopefully its covered. Since I am going to a fertility clinic there was no wait time. As soon as we did the test that showed my CM was blocking the sperm, we did the IUI right away.

Sorry for the long post, but since yesterday I have not been able to stay off this board! It's really helpful connecting this way don't you think? Btw, what part of Australia are you from?

You have been really helpful. Yes, l will ask my FS when l see him. Wish l could have just been referred to a fertility clinic instead, at least everything done in one place .

So this is your 3rd IUI try? When are you scheduled for thenext one? The first SA we did ,the count was below a million so it has really improved in 3 weeks. Hope it continues to. I was hoping for a 2012 bub but l guess not all things go according to plan. We just have to be patient and keep hoping.

Actually, it was my first IUI attempt and I did not expect to be going this route so quickly, but when we saw OH's swimmers weren't getting through my CM we decided to just go for it. If this attempt doesn't work, I will go back for cycle monitoring on day 3 and start the process all over again.

During cycle monitoring they do an internal ultrasound and bloodwork and can tell exactly when you are going to O. So I went in on day 3, then days 11-15. The monitoring showed I O on day 15 and the IUI was done on days 14 and 15. I imagine if you decided to do an IUI, the process would be similar. Its a great option for low sperm count because they isolate the sperm or like me when CM doesnt cooperate!

My SIL did 4 IUI attempts after struggling with unexplained infertility for 3 years. Her next attempt would have been ivf but luckily IUI finally worked. Now she has two wonderful kids... The second one happened on their first few tries naturally. So I just try and think of that story and it helps me be patient with this process.

Let me know if you have any other questions and please keep me posted with what you end up doing!!

those are inspiring stories. hope we get lucky too and get our BFPs soon. will let you know how it goes on Thursday. Fx'd for you for this cycle! GL!