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Infertility

Our Infertility Support forum is a space to connect with others in the same position, discuss causes, treatment and IVF, and share infertility stories of hope and success.

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Original poster

IUI or IVF?

14 replies

fairgame84 · 01/01/2022 18:17

We don't qualify for nhs funding so self funding. We've always thought we'd need ivf but I think we might be able to do iui.

I'm 37 and all blood tests and scans are normal.
DH is 25 and has low sperm count but normal motility and morphology.
His first sample was 11.3million, 2nd sample 9.5million. So not massively low but we're on cycle 13 and no positives so far.

We haven't had a consultation with the clinic yet as we want to have the money together first before we book.

So do you think we could get away with iui rather than ivf?

OP posts:

Original poster

fairgame84 · 02/01/2022 11:13

Hopeful bump 🤞

OP posts:

Yuliaaa · 02/01/2022 11:57

Hi there,
I was 36 when I started the whole IVF process. My first consultant recommended timed intercourse and IUIs, so I asked for a second opinion from my current doctor. She was very straightforward and told me that IUI is a waste of money and time and the chances are really low compared to IVF.

I wouldn't waste the time, money and hopes on it, but this is just my opinion.

Original poster

fairgame84 · 02/01/2022 12:15

Thankyou
I've seen the chances are really low, its just so much cheaper and less invasive. I think we will only be able to have one shot at ivf where we could have 4-5 goes at iui for the same cost.

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Betsyboo87 · 02/01/2022 12:21

We had to make this decision too. I was 35 and we were unexplained. The only slight issue was my amh was on the low side of normal but the consultant said it wasn’t our issue. DH sperm was great. We’re not in the UK and our insurance here would cover 3 rounds of IUI but nothing for IVF. In the end we went for IVF and paid. My age was the ultimate decider. If I have been younger we would have gone for IUI first. We were lucky and IVF worked first time.

Original poster

fairgame84 · 02/01/2022 12:55

Oh I didn't realise age was a thing with iui!
Im 37 so at the older end when it comes to fertility. Thankyou x

OP posts:

bonetiredwithtwins · 02/01/2022 12:58

IUI has much lower success rates - you need to factor in at least 10 rounds of IUI to have the same success rate as one round of IVF

If you were both in your 20s then I'd say maybe give it at a go....at 37 then no.....took me 5 rounds of IVF aged 36-37 to have success

Betsyboo87 · 02/01/2022 14:19

@fairgame84

Oh I didn't realise age was a thing with iui! Im 37 so at the older end when it comes to fertility. Thankyou x

Yes unfortunately egg quality declines as we get older and fertility treatment can’t stop that. We were told we would need to do at least three rounds of IUI to say we’d given it a proper go. That would take 6 months at our clinic and we just didn’t want to spend that much time on something with much lower chances at my age.

TwiceLemonDifficult · 02/01/2022 15:48

Sounds like you're in much the same boat as I was.

I did 3 rounds of IUI with no success before switching to IVF. The consultant advised that at my age (36) the time factor was worth considering given the lowering likelihood of success. Also there's always the possibility that you may have blocked fallopian tubes that could be preventing pregnancy even if all your hormones and egg reserves are good.

I did one round of IVF and we got 8 embryos and am now 19 weeks pregnant with the first transfer.

My only other advice would be to check the cost models carefully and see whether one round means one egg collection and unlimited transfers or just one fresh transfer. You can sometimes get a better deal going with access fertility for your payments than direct to your clinic but it totally depends.

Hope that helps!

Original poster

fairgame84 · 02/01/2022 16:52

Thankyou.
My tubes are patent, I had the hsg scan last month.
We are only having one round because I refuse to get into debt for it and we can only afford one go so i think based on what everyone has said we should go straight for ivf rather than wasting time and money with iui.

OP posts:

Cloclo93 · 12/10/2023 10:32

Hi @fairgame84 how did you get on? Iui or ivf? I'm in the same boat atm been advised to do ivf over low egg reserve but I'm only 30

Original poster

fairgame84 · 12/10/2023 10:55

Cloclo93 · 12/10/2023 10:32

Hi @fairgame84 how did you get on? Iui or ivf? I'm in the same boat atm been advised to do ivf over low egg reserve but I'm only 30

Hi I didn't do either. We were very fortunate to fall pregnant naturally while we were saving. The nhs fertility consultant recommended ivf with icsi which is what we were saving up for.

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Cloclo93 · 12/10/2023 11:04

@fairgame84 oh fantastic congratulations that's lovely news! How long where ye trying?

Original poster

fairgame84 · 12/10/2023 11:29

Cloclo93 · 12/10/2023 11:04

@fairgame84 oh fantastic congratulations that's lovely news! How long where ye trying?

14 months but I was over 35 so the odds weren't in my favour. I gave birth on my 38th birthday!

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ttcsolomumtobe · 13/10/2023 05:50

Based on age and you saying you can only afford one round I would go IVF, you may get more embryos and if the first didn't work then you may be able to save enough for a FET in the following months/year.

Im doing treatment as a solo female age 34 when started, no known issues, 3 IUIs all failed. Started IVF with a new clinic and fresh day 3 transfer didn't work and now on a FET.

One of my regrets is bothering with IUI. One of the nurses at my new clinic said," it's incredible when it works but it's just not often and it's costly"

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