Injectables and IUI help

[Andeama2]

I'm expecting a call from my doctor on Monday about my dose for the shots I will have to start giving myself. I'm pretty sure it will be FSH I will be starting this cycle. I know this is used before an IUI so I'm wondering if we should just go straight to an IUI or keep trying on our own first. I don't want to have to keep going through rounds of shots if I don't have to. Let alone use all of our money. The thing that is really hard to comprehend is I ovulate every month so will this really make a difference? We're going on about 2 years of trying but just started seeing a specialist a few months ago. Because they haven't found anything wrong with us I don't feel hopeful about this working just like the clomid and famera didn't work.
Any advice would be great.

 

[KatO79]

I'm expecting a call from my doctor on Monday about my dose for the shots I will have to start giving myself. I'm pretty sure it will be FSH I will be starting this cycle. I know this is used before an IUI so I'm wondering if we should just go straight to an IUI or keep trying on our own first. I don't want to have to keep going through rounds of shots if I don't have to. Let alone use all of our money. The thing that is really hard to comprehend is I ovulate every month so will this really make a difference? We're going on about 2 years of trying but just started seeing a specialist a few months ago. Because they haven't found anything wrong with us I don't feel hopeful about this working just like the clomid and famera didn't work.
Any advice would be great.

I'd say if you've been trying for 2 years already and you haven't gotten pregnant yet, chances of it happening naturally are now pretty slim. With an IUI, you're chances go up to 15-20% since they inseminate you very close to your O and give the a head start by placing them in your uterus. Many good sperm are lost during their journey from your vagina and up to your uterus, this way many, many more survive because they're given a head start which ups your chances. Getting pregnant isn't all about just Oing, it's getting the right sperm to meet the right egg and then that fertilised egg dividing properly and being able to implant properly into your lining.

If you've been diagnosed with "unexplained infertility" (which is what DH and I also are) it doesn't mean nothing is wrong because there clearly is something wrong when you haven't conceived with 1 year. It just means they haven't been able to find anything based on the tests they can do but unfortunately, they aren't able to test for everything since they don't know everything about the process from fertilisation to implantation.

IUI has definitely helped many women on this site get their BFPs (although it didn't work for me after 6 tries since I got AF/BFN every single time but I'm also 36 going on 37; FYI had a CP with my 1st IVF and now will be doing IVF #2 in January so looks like IVF is the way to go for us). I'd say go with IUI 3-4 times max and if you get nothing but BFNs start looking into IVF.

 

[Michellebelle]

Hi, I just wanted to let you know what's worked for me!

DH had a SA and it came back normal, so I opted just to do timed BDing instead of iui, since iui can be pretty expensive. I do the shots, and have a couple of ultrasounds to see follicle growth, then the doctor tells me when to trigger and when to BD. This has worked for us 3/4 times we tried it. Unfortunately, the first two times ended in MC, but I have high hopes for this one!

So while IUI may help increase your chances, it is definitely possible to get pregnant on just FSH and timed BDing!

Good luck!

 

[Andeama2]

Thanks for the reply. It helps to know we could have a chance either way. My shots will be here tomorrow and I'll do the first on Sunday. I'm super nervous. We still haven't decided if we'll do IUI or just timed BD. The tough thing is if we do IUI is it will most likely have to happen over the weekend and my DH has to work night shifts that weekend. He wants to make this happen but he's super nervous and is hesitating to take the next step so he's not totally convinced we need to jump right to IUI. I want so bad to tell him he should call into work so we can go on for the IUI but I don't want him to feel like I'm pushing him into it. Anyone had a struggle like this? I feel like the timing is always and issue for us and it's time for us to do whatever it takes.

 

[KatO79]

But don't they do IUI during the day? Maybe he could do a sperm sample at home and you could go in for the IUI alone if he's too tired to go. I'd still say that after 2 years trying, your odds are increased with doing an IUI since more of his swimmers get placed directly where they need to be.

My DH has always been open to trying whatever it takes to make it happen for us. He happily went along to the IUIs and now doing IVF so needed no convincing whatsoever. I've never totally understood men that balked at doing assisted conception, it's more trying for us women since it all happens to our bodies! Maybe your RE could talk to him and convince him?

I do know though that your chances decrease when you're trying naturally the longer time goes and no BFP. After 2 years, your chances are between 1-6%, depending on your age (https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/08/predict-odds-of-getting-pregnant_n_1948517.html). But I don't know what your chances are with timed BDing but would still think your chances are more increased with the IUI.