Any IUI success stories?

[Anonymous]

i was tempted to post this in the expectant moms thread, but thought i'd try here first. my husband and i went in to Shady Grove for our first appointment yesterday, and since i am still "young" (34) and we haven't been trying a full year yet, they are recommending IUI+clomid and FSH. i've heard mixed results on it, and would love to hear some stories from anyone who's gone through it successfully. we are technically "unexplained" at this point, as DH has had a fine SA, and my FSH looks fine. i did have a weird HSG, but the doctor said that could have been the result of a spasm, and is not necessarily indicative of anything.

any thoughts?

[Anonymous]

Does your insurance cover you even though you haven't tried for a year yet? What insurance do you have? I would love to go to Shady Grove and do IUI but I think my insurance does not cover it b/c I haven't tried for a year yet. It would be really helpful if you could tell me how you were able to get there. And yes, I have heard lots of success stories with Clomid and IUI. I wish I were in your shoes! Good luck.

[Anonymous]

I got pg with IUI using frozen donor sperm (which is even harder) along with injectible fertility meds and acupuncture and traditional chinese medicine - with a VERY high FSH (18.5 was the highest but it averaged around 12). I highly recommend you consider adding acupuncture and TCM to your efforts. Best of luck to you!

[Anonymous]

OP here - my insurance company does not cover ANY fertility treatments, although they cover diagnostics. I normally see Reiter and Hill (eyeroll), but even they agreed that after six months of good timing we could start testing. When I had my wonky HSG they referred me to Shady Grove.

And thanks for the vote of confidence!

[Anonymous]

I did clomid + FSH at a different clinic. For most women the first step would be clomid alone, so SG is not being super-conservative. If there is no indication that your husband has an issue you don't necessarily need to do IUI - you could just time intercourse. However, some would argue that since you're paying all that money on meds and monitoring, why not give his swimmers a better shot at it with IUI. Also, clomid can affect your cervical mucus in a bad way (don't you love how ttc strips away all your dignity and makes you able to talk about all this stuff with strangers?!?!) so IUI would bypass that issue figuratively and literally. Not everyone responds that great to clomid so the FSH can give you that boost you need to make some good eggs step forward.
Since you are paying out of pocket (I do as well) it is cheaper than jumping straight to just FSH with IUI or IVF. Also, you may want to shop around for your meds. I found that Target and Walmart's price for clomid was much less than CVS (by like a third). Also, there are a few online pharmacies that charge lower costs or have discount programs for the FSH. check out Schraft's and freedomdrug.
Ultimately, I did get pg with injectables + IUI as clomid just didn't work for me, but many, many women do get pg with just clomid or clomid/FSH + IUI. Hope my ramble helps!

[Anonymous]

I got pregnant (DS now 3) on our first IUI plus FSH at Shady Grove (Osborne/Widra). We were also unexplained, a bit older than you (37), DH SA was fine. That said, it turned out to be a miracle we got PG because when we went to try for baby #2 (due in February!!!) we went to Columbia Fertility, did 3 IUIS, no luck. Turns out DH has a male factor issue that sperm analysis does not detect. Only way we diagnosed it and corrected it successfully was with IVF, which worked the second time (first time was how we identified the problem).

So, you can get lucky your first shot, but if you have more than 3 attempts with no luck you might try looking for an answer, either through more specialized male factor testing or IVF. I found SG to be quick to just call us unexplained or the dreadful "advanced maternal age" than Columbia (Preston Sacks, who is the most extraordinary doctor I have ever met), where the problem was diagnosed and fixed.

Good luck.

[Anonymous]

PP here. Forgot to mention: when I was at SG, we had to order our own meds. At Columbia, they order them for you, through your insurance and this results in a huge savings, I found. I spent easily 800 bucks on meds at SG for one IUI and maybe paid 150 bucks out of pocket at Columbia (all for FedEx)--this for three IUIs and 2 IVFs. You might call your insurance co directly and ask about the best way to order the drugs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:i was tempted to post this in the expectant moms thread, but thought i'd try here first. my husband and i went in to Shady Grove for our first appointment yesterday, and since i am still "young" (34) and we haven't been trying a full year yet, they are recommending IUI+clomid and FSH. i've heard mixed results on it, and would love to hear some stories from anyone who's gone through it successfully. we are technically "unexplained" at this point, as DH has had a fine SA, and my FSH looks fine. i did have a weird HSG, but the doctor said that could have been the result of a spasm, and is not necessarily indicative of anything.

any thoughts?

Hello, I am older than you (43) but two years ago I went to Shady Grove and was recommended the same option (clomid +IUI and FSH). I got pregnant at my first attempt. I was very pleased with Shady Grove and I wish you all the best!