Does IUI really work?

[TrixieLox]

Hi ya'll. Hubby and I have been TTCing for about year and half now, all tests show I'm OVing and hubby's got 'amazing' swimmers. Next stage is IUI according to our NHS fertility expert - we'll be popped on the waiting list if we don't get preggo 'naturally' by end of the summer.

Thing is, with a 14% success rate, is IUI really worth it? Would it be better to go straight to IVF?

We have enough money to go private too so am thinking we might prefer to do this, is it much better than NHS? I hear waiting lists are about 1-2 years for IVF, I can't wait that long, this really getting silly now. Thanks guys. x

 

[vineyard]

Talk to Debshopeful and Arcanegirl.

 

[JASMAK]

I am wondering that too. And how many times???

 

[Pixie0723]

I too am wondering about this, i have to start IUI, with clomid during my next cycle. Does it work? I really really really want that BFP.

 

[vineyard]

Also, look at John and Kate. They got 2 from their first IUI and 6 from their second. : )

 

[maz]

My consultant told me not to waste my time with IUI. According to him, the increased chances of success are negligible and a waste of money. But then he went on to say that it seems to work okay for women under 25. So who knows? I didn't bother going for IUI just straight to IVF, but it's down to how you feel about it. IUI would be a little less invasive than IVF, so it could be worth a shot to try that at the end of the summer and then if that doesn't work, go for your private IVF.

The NHS v Private question .... I'd go private every time. We only get one NHS funded treatment of IVF here so I'm going to use that slot, but I really am not looking forward to it. The way I see it though, I've paid enough national insurance so why shouldn't I get something back for it??

Good luck with whatever road you decide to go down ...

 

[CareBear]

I think IUI like with anything else works for some people and not for others, if you're prepared to go down the route of more invasive procedures then IUI is probably worth a go before going onto IUI especially as your OH has good swimmers, I would have thought this could increase your chances. Good luck with what you decide x

 

[Millnsy]

Good question and one I've been thinking about as well! I posted a thread while ago about how my fertility nurse described it to me:

https://www.babyandbump.com/problem...98-intrauterine-insemination-information.html

I had my first IUI procedure on Friday morning and now have to wait 9 more days to see if AF arrives. If not then I can test a week later but not before as the drugs will give a false positive.

REgarding the NHS / Private thing I have to say I am delighted with the NHS treatment I have received so far in Nottingham Nurture. After the first appointment where we waited about 3 months for that, we have had no waiting lists at all and get 3 funded IUI cycles and then 1 IVF before we have to start paying. WE could go private but it is exactly the same clinic so the treatment would be no different as far as I am aware.

Hope that helps and that the link worked...

Millnsy x

 

[Pippin]

My best friend had three failed IUI's then went for IVF and got a bfp first time. Her girlfriend is now trying and they have gone straight for the IVF route as she thought it was more likely to work but everyone is different hon and it can work otherwise they wouldn't do it. Good luck though which ever route you choose. Hope that helps. x

 

[kristy87]

i have exactly the same story as you, and was told they dont offer iui anymore, and if we did do it it would take one chance of ivf away iykwim. 3 chances, ivf or iui, not both. which i was a bit gutted about x

 

[HS Bean]

In Canada you have to pay for both IUI and IVF. We tried for 2.5 years to conceive our first on our own, and three tries of just clomid, then got pregnant on the second cycle of IUI with clomid. We tried for 1.5 years to conceive our second on our own, then got pregnant on the fourth try of IUI (I think I got pregnant on the third try, so they let us go after a break for another IUI). We got pregnant with our third and fourth on the first try.

Do I think it is a waste? No, it is seems to be the only thing that works for us. We have unexplained infertlity. But it also depends on each person, I know a lot of people who didn't get pregnant with IUI and had to move onto IVF. For us IUI seemed like the logical next step. Though when we first looked at the stats, we wondered if it was worth it too.

So really if I were you, I would talk to your doctor a bit more, and see what they think based on what they know about you!

 

[jk28]

Hi there

Unfortunately it didn't work for me, (I had 3 attempts), but that's cos we've now found the problem is my poor quality eggs, so wouldn't have stood much chance!! However, I have had 2 friends who've had IUI & it worked 1st time for both of them, 1 in late 20's, the other mid 30's!!

Good luck
Jayne x

 

[Arcanegirl]

I worked for me, i was classed as unexplained infertility and it took two goes.

 

[twinmom07]

While we did IUI because of MF issues, and were successful a friend of ours also did IUI simply to help with timing issues. Not only does it pinpoint a more exact insertion, but it also puts them right where they need to be so they aren't traveling as far and it uses the best swimmers.

 

[Kelly9]

I would honestly go with IUI since you mentioned that both your tests results came back good, I am pretty sure I read that you have an additional %5 chance of getting pregnant then any other normal ttc couple who doesn't use IUI so anywhere from %25 to %30 as opposed to 20 / 15 % for the regular non IUI couple. I am due to start it in a couple of months but because we pay for everything except the clomid including IVF in Canada we're trying the cheaper alternative first also it is less invasive.

 

[Millnsy]

Thanks for this thread, it is filling me with hope. I will find out in 8 days if AF doesn't arrive whether it has worked for me... can't test for 15 days though due to the trigger shot... wish me luck!

 

[MrsR32]

Good luck Millnsy! Let us know how you get on x

 

[MissAma]

I'd go for IVF from the first try. More so, I would insist on ICSI since it doubles fertilization chances and you can insist on it since you'll be doing private. I'd also insist on blasto just to get an even better chance and do it outside the UK to get two embryos in.

Good luck hon!

 

[TrixieLox]

Thanks guys, really useful. x