IVF or IUI? | Mumsnet

Mumof1wifeof1 · 2026-03-01T17:53:39+00:00

Hi everyone. So brand new to all the infertility chat. So bare with. Yesterday we have started our journey to baby number 2. I have been diagnosed with PCOS with the NHS and they have offered me all they can offer (as we have a child together already) We went to London women's clinic yesterday for their open day and had a free 15 minute consultation. We've booked in for their initial consultation which includes scans, blood test and semen analysis for 2 weeks time. I kind of already know the results due to the NHS telling me everything previously. I know they are then going to tell me my options of whether I do medicated IUI or do IVF. I'm so aware that this is going to be so expensive. Would it just be best to just go straight to IVF than waste almost £2500 on IUI. I don't have an endless money pot for this so want to try my best options. But if IUI works then even better. I know it differs person to person but I'm just wondering if anyone has any advice? For background. I'm 34 (35 in July) husbands sperm previously has come back normal. I've been diagnosed with PCOS. Currently have the mirena coil in 5 years ago to control random heavy bleeding. Fertility specialist has said to keep it in for now until they've done all their tests as it could be a polyp or endo that was causing that. Anyone got any advice, success stories or even just some kind words 🥰

Lgn90 · 02/03/2026 16:13

Hi! I just wanted to say I am in a really similar position. Already have a DS (luckily - and he was relatively easy to conceive) but have been trying for 10 months now to conceive number 2, and had a MC at 10 weeks just before Christmas. We went for tests last month and I was fine (although I have long cycles, but not PCOS) but my DH's tests were sub-optimal. He gets retested later this month and they are doing an extra sperm DNA fragmentation test and get those results end of April. Regardless of whether his results have improved though, will go straight to treatment. If they haven't improved much it will be straight to IVF (with ICSI) but if his results have improved they might suggest we have an OK chance with IUI.

I am pretty tempted to go straight to IVF regardless to be honest, as IUI still seems like quite a lot of appointments/scans and I am 35 (my DH is a bit younger) so this doesn't really help if the egg that month isn't a good one! And the consultant we saw said that an MC at 10 weeks was more likely to be a chromosomal deficiency in the egg, rather than sperm (which would more likely cause an earlier miscarriage). As with IUI I'd need to do it medicated too due to longer/unpredictable cycles. But with IUI, I feel like I could get pregnant and then potentially have another miscarriage, whereas if did IVF with PGTA tested embryos hopefully that means there's a lesser chance of that.

I'm also feeling a bit impatient as had hoped to have less than a 3 year age gap (not for any particular reason, just as this is what DH and I have with our siblings) and already going to be at least that.

Another thought I had was that IVF potentially gives you "leftover" embryos which could possibly be used to try and have a third (obviously I am realistic that the chances of getting loads of good embryos at this age are low) - which is something we'd maybe want but definitely wouldn't go down the trying naturally route again as been so stressful. If we were now trying for our first would definitely go straight to IVF to try and get embryos for a second, even if I was younger.

Obviously though IUI could work and is less expensive/invasive. We're at a diff clinic in London and potentially looking at up to £15k for ISCI with PGTA. We are extremely fortunate that we could afford this, but obviously not guaranteed to work and could need multiple rounds, which we'd make work but not comfortably.

I do read so many articles where the government is moaning about the birth rate - surely it would make sense to provide some NHS fertility support for subsequent children too but hey ho.

This maybe isn't very helpful in terms of advice but just some of my thoughts(ramblings) and hopefully helpful to know there is someone else in the same position!

Original poster

Mumof1wifeof1 · 02/03/2026 20:18

Lgn90 · 02/03/2026 16:13

Hi! I just wanted to say I am in a really similar position. Already have a DS (luckily - and he was relatively easy to conceive) but have been trying for 10 months now to conceive number 2, and had a MC at 10 weeks just before Christmas. We went for tests last month and I was fine (although I have long cycles, but not PCOS) but my DH's tests were sub-optimal. He gets retested later this month and they are doing an extra sperm DNA fragmentation test and get those results end of April. Regardless of whether his results have improved though, will go straight to treatment. If they haven't improved much it will be straight to IVF (with ICSI) but if his results have improved they might suggest we have an OK chance with IUI.

I am pretty tempted to go straight to IVF regardless to be honest, as IUI still seems like quite a lot of appointments/scans and I am 35 (my DH is a bit younger) so this doesn't really help if the egg that month isn't a good one! And the consultant we saw said that an MC at 10 weeks was more likely to be a chromosomal deficiency in the egg, rather than sperm (which would more likely cause an earlier miscarriage). As with IUI I'd need to do it medicated too due to longer/unpredictable cycles. But with IUI, I feel like I could get pregnant and then potentially have another miscarriage, whereas if did IVF with PGTA tested embryos hopefully that means there's a lesser chance of that.

I'm also feeling a bit impatient as had hoped to have less than a 3 year age gap (not for any particular reason, just as this is what DH and I have with our siblings) and already going to be at least that.

Another thought I had was that IVF potentially gives you "leftover" embryos which could possibly be used to try and have a third (obviously I am realistic that the chances of getting loads of good embryos at this age are low) - which is something we'd maybe want but definitely wouldn't go down the trying naturally route again as been so stressful. If we were now trying for our first would definitely go straight to IVF to try and get embryos for a second, even if I was younger.

Obviously though IUI could work and is less expensive/invasive. We're at a diff clinic in London and potentially looking at up to £15k for ISCI with PGTA. We are extremely fortunate that we could afford this, but obviously not guaranteed to work and could need multiple rounds, which we'd make work but not comfortably.

I do read so many articles where the government is moaning about the birth rate - surely it would make sense to provide some NHS fertility support for subsequent children too but hey ho.

This maybe isn't very helpful in terms of advice but just some of my thoughts(ramblings) and hopefully helpful to know there is someone else in the same position!

Thank you so much for replying. It's a bit of a mind field isn't it and such a lonely road so your reply means everything.

Yes j completely agree with the government being concerned about birth rates but not being proactive in helping.

I'm so sorry to hear of your loses i too had a loss before our DS who will be 14 in may. The age gap kills me but there's nothing I can do about it.

I guess going straight to IVF does give better chances of better quality eggs and sperms.

It's a hard road to walk down but it's nice knowing every thought you just wrote is everything I'm thinking. So again thank you for replying xx

OP posts:

TheIceBear · 04/03/2026 12:14

Personally I think it’s better to spend your money on ivf. It’s not even as bad as it sounds (I didn’t find it bad anyway but was lucky had very little side effects) . Like with iui you have to do injections and with ivf you are more likely to be successful . Iui is kind of a stab in the dark I think .