IUI or IVF

[findingmyfeet12]

I'm looking for some advice from anyone who has experience of these two procedures.

I'm 36 years old and ttc # 1

I have just miscarried a baby conceived through my third cycle of IUI. The actual insemination was cancelled in that cycle as I ovulated early but I'd had the stims and we conceived naturally.

I want to know whether I should have three more stimulated IUI cycles as it's worked for me before and the protocol is less arduous that IVF (I can have three cycles back to back).

Or, do you recommend going straight to IVF now on account of my age?

We have unexplained infertility and there seems to be no obvious barrier to us conceiving.

I'm sorry for the long post but I'm desperate for some opinions and advice. I can't really discuss this with people irl. Thanks in advance.

[bananafish81]

Do you have male factor?

My Dr told me not to bother wasting my money on IUI as unless you're using frozen or donor sperm, or have very mild male factor, there's no difference in success rates between IUI and timed intercourse.

IUI and IVF aren't comparable

Stimulated IUI is marginally more successful per cycle than a non stimulated natural cycle, and about the same as a stimulated cycle with timed intercourse

So really IUI is just an extension of TTC naturally, just much more expensive

[bananafish81]

And I'm very very sorry for your loss

I had a MMC in Mar, our first BFP (from our second cycle of IVF) - it's utterly devastating.

Hope you are doing OK x

[findingmyfeet12]

Thank you for your responses bananafish I'm sorry about your loss too.

There are no issues with my dh either.

The reason I was tempted by IUI (we are getting state funding for all of this btw) is because it worked for us last time and the protocol is so much easier than IVF. IVF sounds so gruelling and I understand that you have to wait between cycles to allow your body to recover.

[Greaterthanthesumoftheparts]

We are in a similar position. Conceived naturally 2 years ago and had MMC. Unexplained infertility, about to start IUI. We were told that IUI with unexplained infertility has a success rate of 9-12% so I'm not super hopeful but at least it is covered under my health insurance here in Switzerland whilst IVF is not.

[bananafish81]

Aha OK finding - if you're not paying for it, and doing the cycles doesn't mean you forfeit any IVF funding, then don't see that you don't have anything to lose by doing a couple more cycles? If they're free then I'd definitely take them for the sake of a couple of months

If you're paying or your CCG offers IUI or IVF funding then I wouldn't choose IUI over IVF, though if you're not ready for IVF I would just do a couple more stimulated cycles with timed intercourse if you don't have any male factor

IVF it's recommended to leave 3 months between fresh cycles as a rule

[bananafish81]

PS I'm on my third cycle of IVF and I personally don't find it especially physically gruelling, although I'm waddling as I'm so bloated like a salmon swollen with eggs (about to trigger for my egg collection on Thu - 25 follicles means my ovaries are quite swollen!)

I can recommend the book 'Get a life - a his and hers guide to IVF' for a helpful first person guide to IVF from both the female and male POV

[cheapredwine]

I echo banana - until nearing EC when ovaries felt like beachballs I didn't find IVF physically gruelling (have had 3 cycles). It's much less arduous than I had thought in that respect. Mentally it's a complete head fuck though. Or at least the 1st two cycles were, by the time we got to the third I basically just wanted to get it over with to get on with my life - and got a BFP!

[findingmyfeet12]

I think I'll speak to the doctor and have the IUIs before going for IVF. They don't take much time.