What to expect from IUI

[LoveRainbow02]

Hi there, just as the title says I would like to know a bit more about IUI and what sort of things to ask my consultant.
I have been diagnosed with unexplained infertility, urgh! Been ttc for over 2 years, had a miscarriage in February at 8 weeks and a chemical pregnancy last week.
Next step is IUI. I am waiting on my letter coming in telling me I'm next in line. What I am wondering is should I ask to have IUI with meds or injections? I ovulate on my own so not sure if consultant would agree to meds. I was last at my consultant in April and she said waiting list could be 4 months but hoping it's a lot sooner than that.

I had 2x rounds of IUI back to back. I ovulated on my own but still took injectables (Menopur I think) from day 3 of my period I think. There was then a trigger injection of HCG to stimulate egg release, iui was a day or so after this. All in all it wasn't too stressful and not half as bad as Clomid tabs which drove me nutty! It worked both times for us - first cycle I miscarried at 9 weeks and second time I got my gorgeous dd.
Good luck with it.

Meant to say my understanding is that with injectables there is greater chance of success. I had regular intra vaginal scans to check egg progress.

@Jemimapuddleduk sorry you have suffered a loss as well. Would it be worth me asking for injectables too? I just want the best chance possible. I can't wait until my next appointment to find actually what's going to be happening etc.

I would go with what your consultant says. I was on the NHS protocol. With my successful (4th pregnancy as had 3 mc's in total) I had the iui and also low dose aspirin, fragmin, progesterone pessaries and steroids. I then fell pg approx 8 months after that pg naturally and only took aspirin and had a ds.
I really hope the iui works for you. Wishing you lots of luck and I hope my story has given you some hope.

Definitely has given me some hope. I just feel it's a long journey but so excited to start. Thank you for sharing your experience x

I had 3 cycles IUI last year, due to the circumstances i.e. both DH and me appearing to be in tip top fertile health with no reasons for infertility, clinic recommended we have unmedicated cycles. During first cycle my eggs was maturing very nicely unaided but when it got to 22mm and i still had not ovulated they decided to trigger. For second cycle we used the same approach and on the third they decided to go the whole hog. Unfortunately, non of our cycles were successful, but the point i am trying to make is to trust your doctors, they will give you the best treatment to suit your situation. Hope all works out for you (on to IVF for us next)

Hi snowy. I wish you all the luck with your ivf journey. I am really anxious but also excited to start IUI. I don't want to get my hopes up too high in case it is unsuccessful. My consultant hasn't mentioned doing it unmedicated or with meds so unsure what she will decide. I just want the best chance possible. Like you and your partner we don't have any reasons for why it isn't happening either. When do you start ivf? I had my last appointment in April so I'm not sure when my IUI will start. I was told the waiting list would be 4 months. Just so eager to start lol.

Got put on NHS waiting list at the end of April there but it's a 9 month wait list so am going to go private, had tube test last week which was all clear and then a family waiting at the weekend so was getting that all out of the way before contacting the clinic. AF is due on Monday so am hoping clinic will fit me in next cycle or the one after

Gosh that's a long wait isn't it! I wish you all the luck in the world

It's such a long wait, and in reality by the time the letter comes and appointments are arranged and we can actually start on NHS it will more likely be 10/11 months, we have enough saved for one cycle private so going to bite the bullet and do it. All the best to you as well

Yeah the waiting lists are really long. You must be so excited to get started soon.

I would now ask them a lot of questions about the efficacy of IUI for yourselves and in particular about your unexplained diagnosis.

Unexplained infertility is infact no diagnosis at all; this basically means that they have failed to find out what is wrong. Sometimes it is a "diagnosis" given to couples when the couple has not been adequately investigated. What tests have you both had done to date, particularly with regards to male factor?. For instance one semen analysis is not conclusive.

My partner has had 4 detailed semen analysis done, full blood count and sti tests.

I have had scans to check for pcos, cysts etc. Laparoscopy and dye test to check for endometriosis and to see if tubes were blocked. Full blood count done regularly with all levels checked regularly.

All tests have come back normal for us both. I have had 1 miscarriage and 1 chemical pregnancy so I can conceive.

@snowy1982 Rang my consultant today and my IUI should be starting in 3 months time. I'm so impatient. Wish it was sooner lol

The waiting is so frustrating I know, but 3 months will fly by, just keep yourself nice and busy

I have a lot planned over the next couple of months so yeah I'm sure it will fly in.

Hi ladies, just checking in with how we're all doing? Any good news?

I have a few updates, but none are good :( So last I was here I was planning to try another month naturally (since there is so much anecdotal evidence that people get pregnant after their tube test) and then I was going to contact the clinic to arrange private IVF. Am now on CD26 (AF due on Sat), getting to the end of TWW and not feeling hopeful, getting some very thin watery discharge which isn't a good sign and although am not cramping I have a pressure like pain so thing AF is definitely imminent. In the meantime, I received the official results letter from tube test and they are offering me 3 cycles IUI on NHS which can be done while I am on the wait list for IVF. I rang yesterday to arrange it, but they can't get me in for planning appointment until 2 August, now I know given that I've been TTC for almost 3 years now, another 6 or so weeks isn't that big a deal, but given the timings of my cycle it is likely that first IUI will happen when I am supposed to be away for my BF hen do (I am her chief BM and am arranging everything) and my experience with NHS is they don't let you delay things, treatments are generally on a use it or loss it basis. Also, I decided to go ahead and ring the private clinic yesterday to see if I could get the IVF in before the IUI, my clinic has merged with another one and they will only take me on the basis that I am a new patient and have to go through all the blood tests, SA etc again, so think are also saying it would be August before any treatment is likely to start. I know these aren't major set backs, but when you've been waiting so long it really is just heartbreaking. Had a lot of tears yesterday (another sign AF is on her way??)

@snowy1982

I totally understand how you feel. I've been ttc for over 2 years with a miscarriage happening in Feb. I'm also getting 3 cycles of IUI before ivf ( hoping I don't need the 3 cycles) and I am still waiting on my initial letter telling me I'm at the top of the list!
I got referred back to my clinic in April after the miscarriage so it's looking like anytime between July to September my IUI should be starting. All the waiting totally sucks! You should ring your clinic and give them dates you would be away and hopefully you get in before your friends hen do.

Unfortunately the 1st available planning appointment isn't until August, although they will call if any cancellations. Had really hoped it would happen naturally this month, there is no medical reason why we can't conceive so hoped i would be one of the lucky ones who got BFP straight after HSG but no such luck (really should have known better).

Am actually proud of all us TTC ladies, how do we go through all this and still manage to keep it together. I dont know about everyone else's situation is like, but even though my DH wants this and is happy to do whatever it takes, he just doesn't understand it or feel it the same way i do.

I could literally have wrote your whole post there lol!

I haven't been given an exact date as to when my appointment will be. All I know is that I will get a letter once I'm at the top of the list (between July-September) I'll make an appointment to discuss the procedure and meds then I've to call back on the first day of my period.

Like yourself we don't have any underlying causes as to why it's taking so long either. I had a laparoscopy to check my tubes were open last august, nothing was found to be wrong and I got pregnant in the December.
I just wanna be pregnant again with a sticky little bean!

Fingers crossed your letter comes in the early end of the time range then

I wanted to reply as before I had IUI I was desperately looking for success stories. I was successful on our second IUI round on injectables (resulting in my 11 week baby boy) after trying to conceive for over two years. It was discovered through a private scan that I wasn't forming an effective womb lining but this would never have been discovered on the NHS as they don't do as many tests.
You have a meeting with the nurse who goes through objecting and the protocol before you start but the things I would've wanted to know about were during the cycle.
Ask how many eggs will they let you continue with? My clinic said 3 but a friend was allowed to continue with 7.
What time are appointments available? I was lucky to get mostly early appointments (they opened at 8am) and my work were very good about me going in slightly late but you have A LOT of appointments and they are only booked day by day. Each cycle I had 6 -7 appointments and then the transfer which takes about 2 hours.
You also need to commit to being available the whole cycle which can take up to 3 weeks. I had a work trip booked which caused a lot of stress as the whole cycle would've been abandoned if I missed one day/appointment.
Can you do cycles back to back? Some clinics make you wait a month between appointments but ours allowed back to back so meant you could get 3 cycles done in about 11 weeks depending on how quickly you responded to the drugs.
I hope this has been helpful. Let me know if you have any other questions and good luck!

I guess every clinic has different ways of doing things. I only ever had 2 appointments a cycle plus transfer and I was in and out of transfer in about half an hour. I had to miss an appointment on one cycle as I was in a car crash on the way to it but they managed to work around it and my clinic wouldn't complete the cycle if I had more than 2 eggs maturing. None of mine worked though so yours sounds much better

@Chunkymonkey123 Thank you for sharing your experience. Those are great questions to ask. I always think of things to ask but when it comes to the time of asking my head goes blank 😂!
Were all your tests beforehand normal? Quite worrying that nhs aren't really that thorough with their investigations. I'll have no problem going back and forth to the clinic on short notice but my oh might struggle a bit. His boss isn't the best to deal with. We have given them a bit of notice that the treatment is upcoming and that we can't give them a specific date so we shall see how the respond nearer the time. It won't affect us regardless as my oh says he's going to these appointments no matter what as this is such a huge deal to us. I also think my clinic prefers a month off in between treatments but this is something I'll ask at my appointment beforehand. Thank you again.

You're welcome, I think the thought of it was worse than the reality. Even the injections really aren't that bad to do.
All tests were normal but I did have to have a procedure to dilate my cervix as it was stenoised but they said that shouldn't have affected my fertility.
If your clinic is the same your husband will need to go to the initial appointment about how IUI works then he only has to come to the implantation so most appointments you can attend alone. They involve an internal scan then a meeting with the nurse so only take 20mins total.