IUI risks? is it painful?

[Anonymous]

hi there:

my husband and I have been ttc for about 9 to 12 months---(9 months with OPKs, 12 months unprotected sex). I'm 35 as of last week and would really like to make this happen ASAP---as I'm sure everyone in this forum would---but I'm concerned about side effects of drugs and other assistance.

Is IUI painful? Has anyone experienced a bad reaction? How likely is it to work?

thanks for any guidance you can provide!

[Anonymous]

Your chances of success depend on your diagnosis, but I have generally heard that your odds of success are about the same as a couple having perfectly timed sex. For example, with our diagnoses, I was quoted odds of 15% per cycle. Have you had tests run yet?

IUI is not painful for most women. The side effects of the medications vary pretty widely from woman to woman. I had headaches on Clomid but didn't feel all that bad on other medications. To be honest, the IUI process was no big deal to me compared to IVF.

[Anonymous]

I had two IUIs and they were not painful at all. They didn't work for us unfortunately, so we moved onto IVF and have had success with it.

[Anonymous]

An iui is pretty similar to have a Pap smear.

[Anonymous]

is it possible to do an IUI without going on any drugs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:is it possible to do an IUI without going on any drugs?

Yes, but that would reduce your already small chances of success. It isn't common...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:is it possible to do an IUI without going on any drugs?

Of course it is. Lesbians like me do it all the time. I conceived both of my kids each with an iui and no drugs. Used an OPK.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:is it possible to do an IUI without going on any drugs?

Yes, but that would reduce your already small chances of success. It isn't common...

21:44 again. I mean to say it isn't common if you have fertility issues. It isn't clear from your post whether you actually do.

[Anonymous]

Any feetility doc will make you do a test to see if your tubes are open yet. I woykdbt waste any more time. Call a clinic and get started. The steps take months.
You can certainly do a natural IUI if you wish.

[Anonymous]

thanks! OP here---had the HSG test and tubes are open. still waiting for blood test results (anti-mallarian etc) and will have to go back later this month for progesterone test. just trying to think ahead about what options exist.

[Anonymous]

OP, I think the HSG test was a hundred times more painful than IUI. Seriously, IUI is not painful at all (nor are the drugs) and I would not worry about that. You just focus on trying to relax and not be stressed out. I would ask DH for a nightly foot rub or massage - or try acupuncture. Good luck!