Question about IVF

How many medicated cycles of IUI will you go through before considering IVF? DH and I are still waiting for our first IUI (the 50mg of clomid did not work well enough for me last cycle).

I am a school teacher, and am thinking that IVF might be "easier" (for lack of a better word) to deal with over the summer when I have off. I know the whole process is very draining (physically/emotionally) and thought it might be better to go through when I am not working. What do you think? Even if I don't get through the required about of IUIs, could DH and I suggest IVF sooner?

Re: Question about IVF

We did 6 medicated (Clomid) cycles with IUI before moving to IVF. You don't really need alot of time off if you're doing IVF. I took the day of retrieval off, and if my transfer was on a weekend (it was on a Sunday), I would have taken a 1/2 day at work since they do the transfers in the afternoon. I took an additional 3 days off though because I wanted to stay off my feet. But it was not required that I do so.

Re: Question about IVF

I'm on my 4th cycle of Clomid+IUI. If this doesn't work my RE recommended moving on to IVF.

Re: Question about IVF

6 cycles.
3 medicated and 3 no medication.
I wish we didnt wait as long.

Re: Question about IVF

You are in control. If you want IVF ask for it. If your Dr doesn't want to do it, find a new one and start with that expectation. Althouigh I would say IVF is a lot on your body and requires a big time committment. I am in sales and work at home, I said to my DH yesterday I don't know how I could do it otherwise..

Re: Question about IVF

We did 2 unmedicated IUI cycles, but I only wanted to do one (we did the second one since we had gone away and couldn't start IVF that cycle). It all depends on your diagnosis as to how well IUI will work, but if you feel you want to move on then go for it. You're your own advocate and they will do what you want. They sort of suggested IVF to us but weren't pushing. I went ahead and made the IVF consult to get things moving and they fully supported my decision.

Re: Question about IVF

We did 3 medicated IUI's and after the 3rd didn't work I basically said I don't this is working to the doctor and he agreed with me.

We go for our IVF consult on 4/10 and hope to start the process sometime at the end of this month.

Re: Question about IVF

I don't know about IUI's b/c it wasn't an option for us but, the IVF cycle does take a lot out of you. In addition to the retrieval and transfer, you have about 10 days of stims and you have to go in for monitoring every other day. Depending on where your clinic is and what their monitoring hours are, that could be a pain. Oh, and this last cycle, I actually had to be monitored 3 days in a row!!! I was in between jobs so it wasn't bad but if I was working, that would mean getting up earlier and going to the clinic first thing in the am each day and then to work. Also, for my retrieval this time, it was in the afternoon and b/c of the anestesia, they didn't want me drivine for 24 hours so I had to take 2 days off of work. It's just a lot some times.

Re: Question about IVF

I did two cycles of clomid + IUI and one cycle of injectibles and then moved right onto IVF. I have a blocked tube and new from the beginning we would need to do IVF. And I am so not a procrastinator.....

Re: Question about IVF

DH and I never went through iui and went straight to ivf. Looking at the success rates, we decided, along with our RE, that our best chances of getting pg were to start off with ivf. It does take time out of your schedule so plan for it according to what works best for you. Good luck!

Re: Question about IVF

i did 7 iui's in total. one unmediacted and 6 medicated b4 moving on to IVF and we had undiagnosed infertility.

Re: Question about IVF

I had 4 medicated IUIs, bot pregnant on 2 of them, did IVF, 2 rounds, had good eggs for one of them and have a chemical. I'm back on medicated IUIs and have done 3 so far with 1 pg (another chemical).

Re: Question about IVF

We did 4 medicated IUIs before moving on to IVF.

Re: Question about IVF

I think that a common recommended course of treatment is 3 rounds of Clomid/IUI, 3 rounds of injectables/IUI, and then IVF. I also work in a school and have been thinking about doing IVF this summer but I am further along in my journey than you are and feeling like it's time to give it a try.

Re: Question about IVF

Thank you all for your responses.

I am hoping to get a few IUIs in before the summer (if my body will cooperate!). I just know how emotionally/physically draining the whole IVF process can be, and think it might be easier on DH and me if we do it over the summer when we both have off. I guess it's something I will have to speak to my RE about and hopefully he will support me.

Re: Question about IVF

I did two rounds of Clomid (no response), followed by 3 injectible cycles and then one unmedicated IUI.

After my first injectible cycle (which was cancelled due to overstimulation) when the Dr. saw what a good responder I was he suggested IVF then. If I had gone with his recommendation I would have actually not done any IUIs. We decided to try a few more injectible cycles before moving on to IUI this May/June.