Unexplained infertility.... 5 failed IUI's...what's a girl to do?

[Leaah]

My DH and I have been trying to conceive for a little over four years. We hesitated to see a specialist at first but finally went in and after a whole bunch of tests, we were diagnosed with unexplained infertility ugh!!! Now after 5 failed IUI's we have only two chances left (covered by insurance anyway). I'm feeling very disappointed and starting to think we will never become parents. I've done everything the doctors have asked of me to a T and still nothing. Don't know what else to do to make this happen for us. So frustrating!!

 

[amy8686]

Sorry to hear it hasn't worked for you. That's so frustrating. I'm just about to start on my first IUI.

Is IVF an option for you? (I'm guessing it's not on your insurance, but it may be worth saving for if you're not having luck with the IUI's...)

Good luck!

 

[Leaah]

Good luck!! Fingers crossed for your BFP!! We've considered IVF but it is really expensive. we may be able to do it once. I'm really hoping that one of these two tries we have left with injectibles and iui works though. We've also considered a lap but Dr. Hasn't mentioned it since our initial consult. It may be worth it to find out what's going on though.

 

[mandimoo]

We put the cost of our IVF on a credit card with a 0% rate and we just balance transfer when the rate runs out. We are quite disciplined like that and its not a solution for everyone, but thought I would suggest it in case you hadn't thought about it.

 

[GirlArmyPilot]

Sorry to hear about this. My husband and I have been TTC for about 19 months. We have been put into the "unexplained infertility" category as well. Although it sucks, I know many people are still able to conceive with this "diagnosis". I have finally got a second opinion and this doctor is having me due a lap in the jul-aug timeframe. My husband is deployed right now so she wants to do it a couple of weeks before he comes back. She thinks with the heavy/painful periods it could be endo. But, well see. We are both in the military and have seen a IVF doctor and are going to be doing IVF in December, unless a miracle happens. I think that you should do a lap. You never know what they may uncover!

 

[GirlArmyPilot]

Good luck!! Fingers crossed for your BFP!! We've considered IVF but it is really expensive. we may be able to do it once. I'm really hoping that one of these two tries we have left with injectibles and iui works though. We've also considered a lap but Dr. Hasn't mentioned it since our initial consult. It may be worth it to find out what's going on though.

Were do you live? My husband and I will be using a great doctor in the Dallas/FT. Worth area. We are going to be doing a plan so that we get six tries within one year at a fixed rate. Maybe you should look into something like that?!?

 

[Prayerful]

Are you doing the IVF on base? How much does that cost? I'm in the military as well and am afraid IVF is in our future...

 

[GirlArmyPilot]

Are you doing the IVF on base? How much does that cost? I'm in the military as well and am afraid IVF is in our future...

No, we were going to try that, but there is typically a waiting list for it. Can be up to a year with some of the different places they have. We are sick of waiting the the military to help us, so were are using a place near Fort Worth. Yes, the army's program may be cheaper bit I'm not dealing with the waiting game. The place we are using is six tries in a year for about 23,000 dollars.

 

[Prayerful]

Wow! That is the highest amount I've heard of, but at least there is a better chance this way. And it is certainly cheaper than paying for 6 individual IVF sessions! When is your first IVF?

 

[GirlArmyPilot]

Wow! That is the highest amount I've heard of, but at least there is a better chance this way. And it is certainly cheaper than paying for 6 individual IVF sessions! When is your first IVF?

Yeah, we think it is totally worth it though! Its good because it would be more than that for most places if we had to do it twice, or hell three times without this payment plan. We are not going to do it until December. My hubs is deployed right now and maybe coming home in the September timeframe, and I may be going to a school for the Army Sep-Nov....so it really is the best time for us. Especially with that being the best time to take a larger amount of leave. But we are excited!! We just really want a baby and although it may be drastic to bypass doing any IUIs, we want to be aggressive as possible. 19 months was way too long to try in a row to be let down every month!!

 

[Prayerful]

I know how you feel. We've been TTC non-stop for 2 years now. I pray that hubby makes it home safe (and SOON), and that all goes well with your first IVF!

 

[Leaah]

Sorry to hear about this. My husband and I have been TTC for about 19 months. We have been put into the "unexplained infertility" category as well. Although it sucks, I know many people are still able to conceive with this "diagnosis". I have finally got a second opinion and this doctor is having me due a lap in the jul-aug timeframe. My husband is deployed right now so she wants to do it a couple of weeks before he comes back. She thinks with the heavy/painful periods it could be endo. But, well see. We are both in the military and have seen a IVF doctor and are going to be doing IVF in December, unless a miracle happens. I think that you should do a lap. You never know what they may uncover!

Hello and thank you. I've considered a lap but my Dr. hasnt brought it up since our initial consultation. I think I should do it too since this could possibly be a solution to our problem. I would love to know what our problem is. Good luck to you I hope you get your BFP soon. Have you tried iui or are you going straight to IVF?

 

[Leaah]

Good luck!! Fingers crossed for your BFP!! We've considered IVF but it is really expensive. we may be able to do it once. I'm really hoping that one of these two tries we have left with injectibles and iui works though. We've also considered a lap but Dr. Hasn't mentioned it since our initial consult. It may be worth it to find out what's going on though.

Were do you live? My husband and I will be using a great doctor in the Dallas/FT. Worth area. We are going to be doing a plan so that we get six tries within one year at a fixed rate. Maybe you should look into something like that?!?

I live in Los Angeles. Never heard of that before but definitely will ask at our consultation

 

[popchick75]

We've been struggling with unexplained infertility for 9 years now.

I would suggest that before you do any more IUIs or IVF that you get immunology and genetic testing done. I had genetic tests done last year and everything came back fine. I got my blood drawn for the immunology tests yesterday and am waiting for my results in 2 weeks. There are only a few labs in the US that will do the tests, so your RE will have to send the blood off to be tested.

The immunology tests look for natural killer cells. They will cause recurrent miscarriages or prevent the embryo from implanting at all. Since we haven't had a bfp in this entire time, they are pretty sure the test will come back with elevated nk cells. If you do have this, the IUIs and IVF will not work. The nk cells will prevent a successful pregnancy. Once you have been diagnosed there are therapies you can go through in conjunction with the IUI/IVF that lead to high success rates!

 

[Prayerful]

I was tested for immunology issues a few months ago and my NK numbers were high. They started me on Intralipid infusions to help lower my immune responses. I've done 2 cycles with that so far. AF is due is less than a week. Don't think it worked this cycle, but hopeful that it will happen soon. Please keep me updated with your immunology results, popchick. I'd love to hear how it goes for you! Good luck!

 

[ragae32]

God bless you,good luck!!!God bless you,good luck!!!

 

[popchick75]

I was tested for immunology issues a few months ago and my NK numbers were high. They started me on Intralipid infusions to help lower my immune responses. I've done 2 cycles with that so far. AF is due is less than a week. Don't think it worked this cycle, but hopeful that it will happen soon. Please keep me updated with your immunology results, popchick. I'd love to hear how it goes for you! Good luck!

Good luck this month! Are you doing IUI or IVF with the intralipids or going all natural?

 

[Prayerful]

I did an IUI on April 5th. Also took Femara, Follistim, Ovidrel, and Prednisone. We had originally planned on only doing 3 IUIs before moving to IVF, but this was IUI #5. It was only the second with the intralipids though. We may do 1-2 more IUIs with intralipids before we move to IVF. Hopefully by then we will have either saved enough for IVF or gotten that elusive BFP!

What tests and treatments have you done over your last 9 years of TTC?

 

[popchick75]

We have done a few IUIs, 1 round of IVF, and more rounds of Clomid that I can count. I've had 3 HSGs done. I had genetic testing done last year, but everything was clear. Hopefully my NK cell tests will be back next week and we will have some answers. I've been through 4 REs and no one has been able to find anything. The new one says that we are pretty much out of things to test for.

If the NK cell test comes back positive, we'll try a medicated IUI cycle with the intralipids. If it comes back negative, I have no idea what will happen. We will probably do the medicated IUI cycle anyway.

How about you? Do you know the results of this months IUI yet?

 

[Prayerful]

Yikes! You've definitely been through the gamut of things! It is so frustrating to go through all this, especially without even knowing the cause.

I got a BFN this past cycle. Now on CD3. Saw my RE today and she changed my meds again. I started with Femara, then went to Femara plus Follistim, then Clomid, then Clomid plus Follistim, then back to Femara plus Follistim and intralipids... now I'll be doing Follistim daily (no Clomid or Femara) plus the intralipid protocol. I don't really see how that will help but I'm willing to try anything! And I'm glad they don't have me keep doing the same thing over and over while expecting different results.

Where are you in your cycle right now? I know its probably weird but I'm super anxious to hear the results of your NK testing. Not that I would wish for your tests to come back abnormal, but it would be nice to have an Intralipid buddy and compare protocols and SUCCESS stories!