IVF or IUI - can anyone who has made the choice please help.

[DuelingFanjo]

I have 'unexplained infertility'.

I know that some people will expect me to go back to the consultant and ask for more tests to determine why I can't have kids but believe me I have been through all that and also 6 months of clomid (one pregnancy- then miscarriage) and I am now at the point where I have to decide what to do next. This is all the clinic are offering. I am having all my blood tests and my DH's sperm test repeated and then we will move on to either I.U.I or I.V.F.

We will have to self-fund this unless my appeal is successful and the prices are in the region of £1000 for IUI and £4000 for IVF.

I don't know what to do as both will be a struggle financially and emotionally.

One is obviously more invasive than the other but also has a higher success rate.

I am 40 next year. Is it better for me to go through all the cost and everything involved with IVF (we can probably only do this onece) or choose IUI which we might be able to do twice?

I have read that IUI is good for couples with unexplained infertility and IVF seems like a big step when I know I can get pregnant all be it with the help of clomid.

Can anyone who has had to make this decision please talk to me? I feel like such a failure and I feel like it'll just be ME going through this as it'll be me who has to have all the stuff done to me.

Given your age I'd go straight to IVF. No point throwing your money after IUI (although of course it might work first time) but more often couples have three failed IUIs and then move on to IVF. You have a much better chance of conception with IVF.

Oopsy, just caught up with the thread. Hearty congrats Fanjo.

How odd! I saw this pop up and thought 'blimey, I could have written that' then realised I DID!

My baby was born in December and is now a healthy and happy 8 month old. Obviously my advice to myself would now be go straight for IVF!

Hi there people, I was wondering if you could give me some advice. I have a 2 year old girl who was conceived thru IUI on our second attempt. I was 36 at the time. We then tried 5 more attempts at IUI at age 37 and nothing!!! We then pulled out the big guns and attempted 1 round of IVF but the doctor had troubles getting my eggs out. I am now 39 and she has suggested now doing IUI with the IVF drugs.Has anyone had success with this?? We were very shocked and never thought there was a problem with me .... our problem was with the hubby and his abstract sperm, so coming out of the IVf proceddure with no eggs was totally devastating. We always planned on having two and now it seems we might have an only child. sugesstions please?

Hi,

Me and my partner are currently looking in to starting a family! We are completely new at this and we have gone to our GP but she didn't have a clue on what to do and was no help! it's now been 2.5 weeks and I have phoned the GP 5 times and still am no further than when we started. We don't even know if we would be eligible to go through the NHS or we have to go private. So is there anyone in the West-Midlands area that has gone through this process and guide us in the right direction?