Is IUI worth trying before IVF?

Question

Hi ladies.

Feeling so crushed over here. Yet another timed intercourse cycle with letrozole and trigger failed. We have insurance permission to move onto <a href="https://glowing.com/glow-fertility-program">IUI</a> next cycle, but my husband has super sperm (no male factor issues at all) so I am wondering if <a href="https://glowing.com/glow-fertility-program">IUI</a> is really any better than timed intercourse for us. Should we just try to skip right to <a href="https://glowing.com/glow-fertility-program">IVF</a>? I am 33 and we hope to have another kid after this one, so I worry if I am already having this much trouble at this age it’s going to be worse when I am 35...

Thanks for your thoughts. Sigh, just another sad day.

Answer

With our national healthcare, the government will only cover IVF costs if we try 2 cycles of IUI before (and have been trying naturally for 12 months prior to that, 6 months if over 35) to “prove” infertility. I’m so glad we did IUI.
We were going to take a break after round 2 before going on to IVF, but my husband was away and said we might as well just go straight on to a 3rd cycle and then we can start IVF once he got home. 
I’m so glad he suggest that! Third time lucky and I’m 7 weeks 4 days! Scans last week showed our little yoshi looking lizard with a good, strong heartbeat.
The heartbreak of the first two IUI cycles was horrible. Ive had friends go through IVF and had the same heartbreak when their embryos failed to survive. But there’s so much joy when either process works!
Unfortunately, even if you think you’re mentally prepared for it not to work and try to not get your hopes up, you realise how much harder it is and how crushed you feel. But you also realise how much stronger you are than you thought, and how resilient you can be. 
I’m glad we did IUI and now don’t need to do IVF.

Answer

I have heard that unless there is a physical issue with the sperm getting past the cervix, IUI is the same chance as timed intercourse with ovulation medication.

Answer

I’ve never done ivf but I would skip to ivf. IUI is essentially the same as timed inter course so I don’t know that it would really do much for you

Answer

I don’t think it hurts to try IUI a couple times. The number of sperm that get through the cervix with natural intercourse is only several hundred, versus millions being placed directly in the uterus with IUI. You also gave the opportunity to ovulate more than one egg. Better odds but it’s totally up to you!

Answer

How long have you been trying? We tried timed intercourse for about a year, then two IUI (first sort of worked but had miscarriage after), and now we are waiting on results from first IVF cycle. I had always hoped for two more kids and assuming we are successful with IVF on some level, I kind of wish we skipped the IUIs from both an economic and emotional standpoint. I would have preferred a shorter journey.

Answer

Iui gives about 1 to 2% chance higher than timed intercouse. If youve already done some cycles of that, I would move onto ivf if you can

Is IUI worth trying before IVF?

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