I have luteal phase defect which is a bit of a controversial area and the NHS don't treat - they've told me to keep trying until I get pregnant and/or become eligible for IVF. I also never have any EWCM, even when I search for it. My LP is naturally 7/8 days and I've just done my first medicated monitored cycle with a private clinic and successfully lengthened my LP with letrozole and two trigger shots. Unfortunately I'm not pregnant. Each monitored cycle at this clinic costs me £500. Because of my lack of CM, it makes me sceptical that the sperm are meeting the egg in the first place.
An IUI with the same clinic costs £1500. My doctor said we'd try three to four monitored cycles with TI then could move onto IUI. I'm wondering whether we should just try IUI now. It's minimally invasive and saves us spending up to £1500 on three more monitored cycles. But three IUIs would be £4500, which is half a private IVF cycle. And three monitored cycles followed by three IUI cycles would be £6000. And what if they don't work and we eventually get referred for IVF - it will all have been a waste of money we could be putting towards IVF...so should we keep doing medicated, monitored TI cycles then go to IVF? Should we skip to IUI?
If anyone has a crystal ball that will tell me how I'll get pregnant so I know which treatment to go for that'd be great! Failing that, if anyone has any thoughts on IUI and whether it's worth it I appreciate it. I know IUI isn't that common in the UK (and generally not done by the NHS) but it is in other countries. I feel like it might be a benefit in our case, but is it enough of a benefit to pay £1500 a cycle when we could just save the money for potential IVF...I don't know....