What else can be done prior to IVF?

[ald]

I am currently on round 2 of Clomid, but been told not to be to hopefull as my dh has really bad sperm motility. I also have PCOS.

My question is, I got Clomid on my first FS appt, and was told after 6 months I would go straight to IVF. Shouldnt there be anything done inbetween?

IVF scares the living daylights out of me and I just thought there would be more tests / different meds or something before we got to that stage.

Do you think I should be asking my FS for anything else, or just go straight for IVF after Clomid?

Thanks you xx

 

[latestarter]

Some women do injectible medications before they head to IVF. Its called superovulation, and the idea is to create 2 - 4 eggs only and then ovulate them. So it increases your chances because you have more eggs.

Because you have (or you DH) has a motility problem you might want to consider doing clomid or superovulation with an IUI. This puts the sperm directly into the uterus. So more sperm have a chance to get to the egg. Not sure if you have been doing this?

I chose NOT to do superovulation. And went straight to IVF. My RE said superov does not increase your chances of pregnancy very much - but DOES increase your chance of higher order multiples. I believe the difference between a regular IUI and superovulation was only and increase of 2 - 5% pregnancy rate (so maybe a 25% chance). At my clinic, IVF dramatically increases your chances of pregnancy. 50 - 60% pregnancy rates if you are under 35. If you are over 35 (like me) the pregancy rate is 40 - 50%.

Superovulation is also expensive (none of this is covered for me). So when I did the math, and looked at the chance of pregancy. I'm done kidding around. ( I also have to consider my age) My Dr. also said that in many countries where fertility is covered, they hardly ever do superovulation. The success rates are just not high enough. They do it here, because it is less expensive. IVF gives us a superior chance.

Also I started one IVF cycle, and it really wasnt that bad. ( I over stimulated immediately and had to cancel my cycle.) And am doing a new cycle this month! (with more supression so I don't overstimulate) Yay.

Good luck with your decision. And whatever you decide to do, there is a baby waiting at the end of it all.

 

[CurlySue]

IUI would be another option but if your husband's sperm is that bad there is little point. Some healthcare providers think that IUI is a waste of time. In know mine does.

 

[Aria]

Hyperovulation (same thing) is what's caused every single case of sextuplets and more in the world aside from Octomom. Most cases of quintuplets are also due to hyperovulation (only 12 sets of naturally-conceived quints have been recorded - EVER). So unless you're willing to take the risk of high-order multiples, you probably are better off going to IVF where there's more control over the number of embryos (just don't be like Octomom by aiming to have a whole litter in one pregnancy).

 

[CurlySue]

I think what she was asking was is there any other treatment she could embark upon before going to IVF, not the actual process of IVF itself. In that case, there is only really IUI.

Having said that, I was told you needed three or four months on Clomid before they would consider IUI or IVF.

They do not recommend IUI to those with sperm issues, which is why your healthcare provider most likely skipped straight to IVF. There is little point in wasting time with a treatment not particularly suited to your circumstances.

 

[ald]

Thank you, we are on 6 months of Clomid so wouldnt get IVF until after that. But I havemt had any other test done like to see if my tubes are blocked etc, and by the sounds of it I'm not going to get these tests just straight to IVF. Should I be pushing for these tests?

Oh and I only want 1 (maybe 2 if blessed with twins) babies at the time lol!!!!

 

[CareBear]

Before going onto any other treatment after the clomid they should do a HSG or lap and dye to check your tubes are clear before embarking on any other treatment. As CurlySue said some hospitals offer IUI before IVF but a lot of hospitals don't because the chances of falling with IUI are not much higher than with clomid and are even lower if you have sperm issues. I would be pushing for further tests to check everything is clear first. Good luck!

 

[latestarter]

Sorry if I didn't explain things properly. Superovulation (or hyperovulation) are not IVF. You use similar medications as you would for IVF - sometimes the same. Just not as intense. You take the medications until you are ready to ovulate. You do ovulate, and then do an IUI. So its a medically enhanced IUI, that causes more eggs to ovulate - usually more than you would get with clomid.

This is why you end up with higher order multiples. The Dr.s can't really control how many eggs ovulate and you can end up with 6!

Many women do this without proceeding to IVF (no egg collection or transfer) as it is cheaper.

Also IUI's can be done with no medication, or with clomid or other non-injectible medications that are less invasive. But I agree with the other posters, if you have a motility problem. IUI (with or without medications or superovulation) won't help if the swimmers can't make it to the egg.

Good luck.

 

[vineyard]

We did IUI twice with "superovulation". The goal was to only get 2 eggs though and they monitored very closely that only 2 mature follicles were there to prevent higher order multiples. We also had a motility problem (16%). However, we did increase that to around 30% with a multiple vitamin and extra vitamin C, no alcohol, and no caffeine. But, as you can see by my signature, the IUIs didn't work and we ended up doing IVF. I think doing a couple IUIs are worth it. But, that's something you would have to decide for yourself. Sometimes I do wish I would have saved myself the money (and applied it to IVF) and the stress of the IUIs and gone straight to IVF. However, IUIs are significantly cheaper than IVF. My medicated IUIs cost around $600 whereas my invitro cost around $12000.