Is IUI after 37 pointless? Straight to IVF?

[BowlofRamen]

Hi,

Already have this running on the Donor Conception board, but it's veeery quiet over there.

Visited a clinic a couple of years ago at 35 and was advised to give IUI a try, given my fertility results were good. Then covid and so it was all put on ice. Tbh we're still not sure we want to take it off ice, but dp and I were finding ourselves talking about it again recently. I'm worried at 37 (38 not too far round the corner) I may have missed the IUI boat.

Would be great to hear your thoughts and experiences. Anyone had IUI successful in their late 30's?

TIA

I conceived my son at 36 with iui, my daughter at 38 with iui and am currently 33 weeks pregnant at 42 via iui.

It depends on your own fertility. If I were you I’d repeat the blood tests etc and see what is recommended.

@slapmyarseandcallmemary, wow! Congratulations! Was that medicated? Can I ask how many attempts you had?

I know if we go back to the clinic, I'll be strongly advised to skip IUI. Fertility results don't seem to make much difference once you reach 37, looking at the statistics

I'm in exactly the same boat. I tried IUI unsuccessfully twice when I was 34, though, so my consultant is quite keen for me to do IVF this time. My AMH needs testing again, but back then it was 52 which is high, so I'm also very interested to know about success stories. I think often clinics (understandably) push for IVF because the higher success rates look good, but I'm a bit nervous of how intrusive it is.

FWIW, there's a massive IUI/IVF community on instagram. Not to everyone's taste, but if you're missing people to chat to it might be useful.

My dd had hers naturally at 38, 39, and nearly 43.
She’s well aware that she was lucky, but several of her friends also had their first in late 30s or very early 40s.
One had her 2nd naturally at 45.

Hmm it depends. If not paying for donor sperm, and all your levels look good, perhaps do one cycle of IUI and then go to IVF if it doesn't work? I certainly wouldn't waste time / money on multiple IUI rounds at any age.

@GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER

My dd had hers naturally at 38, 39, and nearly 43. She’s well aware that she was lucky, but several of her friends also had their first in late 30s or very early 40s. One had her 2nd naturally at 45.

All with IUI?! Wow.

3 unmedicated rounds for 1st baby, 2 unmedicated for 2nd baby and 1 medicated for this baby ☺️