How many IUI's should you do? - 1/8 update

Is there a recommended number of times you can have IUI's done?
If so, does anyone know why?

We're onto our 2nd month of IUI and i'm wondering how many times they try it before moving on (i have a consult with my dr next week to discuss, but thought i'd ask here first)

After IUI, the next option is IVF right? Not sure what we're going to do if IUI doesn't work. IVF is not covered by our insurance

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1/8 update - had our consult with the dr last night and we discussed all our options. He agreed that going at least another 3 cycles of IUI with the Clomid would be fine (this cycle is my 2nd IUI) and that we'll re-assess after that if no BFP by then. We basically have unexplained infertility - nothing is wrong with either of us, i respond well to the Clomid, produce plenty of eggs, they mature just fine, DH's sperm is all good.. so it's just a matter of timing and luck right now (frustrating because thats nothing we can control!)
He said i'm an ideal candidate for IVF, but because our insurance doesn't cover it we really can't afford to go that route right now. I'm going to look into any grants or financing options in the meantime.

Anyway, wanted to update you guys and thank you for the feedback earlier.

Message edited 1/8/2010 10:05:30 AM.

Re: How many IUI's should you do?

I think it is similar to Clomid cycles....
doctor's usually rec. three cycles. I know with Clomid it is because the chances of getting pg don't increase much after the third cycle. So, I am assuming it is similar with IUI.

Good luck!!!!

Re: How many IUI's should you do?

If your insurance covers unlimited IUIs and no IVF treatment, then I would do as many IUIs as your Dr. feels is appropriate. My insurance only covered 3, so that's what we did.

Re: How many IUI's should you do?

Re: How many IUI's should you do?

I guess it all depends on your age and your coverage. I personally did 3 IUI clomid cycles. Got frustrated and left the RE I was with. Then the new one wanted to do 2 more IUI's with gonal-F. I still to this day do not understand why they wasted my time doing 5, which eventually turned into 6 because I did one more IUI with gonal-f while getting all the testing done to move to IVF. I was 39 at the time. I had unlimited IUI's and OOP for IVF. Maybe that was why. Or the fact that I got pg on my own a few months earlier but ended in m/c. Who knows? Hopefully you wont have to worry cause this cycle will work!!!! Good luck!

Re: How many IUI's should you do?

Many people seem to do three IUI cycles before moving on to IVF. However, that can also be because many insurance companies require 3 IUI's before covering the cost of an IVF.

My RE had recommended we try 4 or 5 IUI's before IVF.

Re: How many IUI's should you do?

Re: How many IUI's should you do?

I don't think there is a "limit" like the type of limit there is for Clomid. If your insurance covers unlimited IUI's, then there is no medical reason why there would be a limit.

With that said, it really depends on what your issues are. For us, even if I had unlimited IUI's on my plan, I could do a billion of them and never had gotten pregnant. We did 6 IUI cycles before moving onto IVF. But that was because it was in the middle of my 6th cycle we had conclusive results to all our testing, and knew I wasn't going to get pregnant that way. Coincidently, my insurance only covered 6 cycles.

Re: How many IUI's should you do?

IUIs with Clomid didn't work for me, IUIs with injectables did.

I'm glad we did a few extra IUIs before jumping into IVF.

Depemds on what you are comfortable with, what you can afford and what your insurance dictates you must do before moving forward with IVF

Re: How many IUI's should you do?

Re: How many IUI's should you do?

Re: How many IUI's should you do?

I did 5 IUIs before moving on to IVF. My last IUI resulted in a m/c and I debated about whether or not to do one more IUI. I spoke with my doctor and we decided that moving onto IVF was the best choice for us. I was dealing with egg quality issues and my IVF cycle was going to be covered by insurance.

Re: How many IUI's should you do?

I went straight to IVF without doing IUI... there are grants that they give to couples who are not covered... if that is something you may be willing to look into i would definately start now!

Re: How many IUI's should you do?

Well we did 3 iui and I was convinced it would never work for me. We applied for the grant and the day the final paper work came I got my BFP. My Dr said the general rule of thumb is a maximum of 5 iui before they consider it unlikely for a pregnancy.

Re: How many IUI's should you do?

We are now on out 5th my dr wanted to move onto IVF but we told him we weren't ready because our insurance doesn't cover the whole amount.
So what we decided was that I was doing natural cycles so we are doing number 5 and 6 on Clomid.

Re: How many IUI's should you do? - 1/8 update

bump

Re: How many IUI's should you do? - 1/8 update

just wanted to wish you luck!!

Re: How many IUI's should you do? - 1/8 update

best of luck to you !