IUI v IVF - trying to make a decision

[vadercat]

Hi all

Hubs and I have been on the baby making train for 2.5 years now, one year of just trying and 1.5 years floating round the NHS. I have pretty bad endometriosis, diagnosed following a laparoscopy last year - cysts, adhesions, scarring etc - and DH is currentl diagnosed as azoospermic. However, we had our first appt at Queens in Nottingham yesterday, and the consultant was optimistic that DH's bloods indicate he is producing sperm, they're just not getting out! They're repeating his bloods at the moment (hormone, chromosones and CF) and we go back in July for the results.

Assuming everything looks OK, then we'd on course to start some sort of assisted conception reasonably soon afterwards, but I'm not sure which path to go down. We'd only get one shot at IVF, and the consultant said if they can't retrieve any sperm from DH on the day, that we should have backup donor sperm ready, but it seems such an all or nothing approach. I wonder if we should go down an IUI route first to see if there is any sperm to harvest ? if not, then we can have a bit more time to get used to the idea of donor sperm. It did feel like they assumed we want a baby at any cost, but donor is such a huge thing to get my head around, I?m not sure I could make the decision there and then on the day. OTOH, are we best just to crack on with full IVF and keep our fingers crossed!?

thanks

Hi,

When we were preparing for IVF our consultant told us that DH should come in a week or two before 'the day' to deliver a sperm sample that could be frozen, in case there were problems with retrieval on the day, so that we had a back up. Donor sperm was never mentioned.
I think it would be worth asking about this, as if they manage to retrieve sperm at some point, it shouldn't be too complicated to have if frozen I think.
I'm not sure if I can answer your IUI or IVF question, although it is worth keeping in mind that IVF has a much higher success rate (but is also more invasive).