If you only have $45,000 ?

[Anonymous]

We're paying out of pocket and this is what we've raised through cash out refi. We're unwilling to go into debt and this is the max we want to spend. We're both 40, no previous fertility issues (we have 1 DC), been trying for 18 months. It's time for fertility treatments. It's just age.
Would you just do IUIs, should we save $ for IVFs? What about egg donors?

[Anonymous]

How old is your previous DC and how long did it take to conceive him/her? Do you have any infertility coverage through insurance at all? Diagnostics, for example?

[Anonymous]

Also, do you know your FSH, AMH or antral follicle count?

It may be "just age" but I don't think that's a given. Be aware, that secondary infertility can occur for other reasons as well.

[Anonymous]

I would still get the diagnostic tests done for both of you. Hopefully your insurance will cover some of it. Even otherwise I think your RE will ask for them first.
This will help your RE determine whether IUI is a good option or if you need to proceed to IVF.
Both DH and I are your age, and after all our tests it was determined that IUI would not work for us. Wish you all the best.

[Anonymous]

I would do all the diagnostics and then straight to IVF. I am younger with insurance and wish we had not spent 5 months on 3 IUIs when it turns out I'm a great responder to the injectibles and was successful on our first IVF.

[Anonymous]

As a slightly older person in your same situation spending about the same amount of money--I would plan to eventually do SG's shared risk program with DE, calculate that expense (around 30000 I think) and use the balance to start with a couple of IVF cycles with OE.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a slightly older person in your same situation spending about the same amount of money--I would plan to eventually do SG's shared risk program with DE, calculate that expense (around 30000 I think) and use the balance to start with a couple of IVF cycles with OE.

This seems like a good plan, although I might look into other donor egg guarantee programs as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a slightly older person in your same situation spending about the same amount of money--I would plan to eventually do SG's shared risk program with DE, calculate that expense (around 30000 I think) and use the balance to start with a couple of IVF cycles with OE.

This seems like a good plan, although I might look into other donor egg guarantee programs as well.

+1

[Anonymous]

Just based on my own personal experience, I would decide if donor egg is something you're interested in, put aside the cash for that, then work backwards. That really only leaves you enough for one own egg IVF cycle. I agree with a PP that IUIs and timed cycles are probably at your age a waste of time.

I got pregnant easily in my mid-thirties, but it just wasn't happening for me at 40. If I had to do it over again, I would go straight to donor egg at age 40. That's where I ended up a couple of years later anyway. I'm just glad I didn't waste as much time and money on my own eggs at 40+ as I could have. That's my very biased perspective, taking into account your budget limit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a slightly older person in your same situation spending about the same amount of money--I would plan to eventually do SG's shared risk program with DE, calculate that expense (around 30000 I think) and use the balance to start with a couple of IVF cycles with OE.

+1 I'd say DE for sure at 40-- shared risk 1:3 program or 1:2 (1:2 is about 39K for 6 tries, 1:3 is about 10K less I think)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just based on my own personal experience, I would decide if donor egg is something you're interested in, put aside the cash for that, then work backwards. That really only leaves you enough for one own egg IVF cycle. I agree with a PP that IUIs and timed cycles are probably at your age a waste of time.

I got pregnant easily in my mid-thirties, but it just wasn't happening for me at 40. If I had to do it over again, I would go straight to donor egg at age 40. That's where I ended up a couple of years later anyway. I'm just glad I didn't waste as much time and money on my own eggs at 40+ as I could have. That's my very biased perspective, taking into account your budget limit.

+1 from my experience. IUIs are a waste of time and money. Also your RE should tell you how much "reserve" you have in possible egg production. Also, check the stats on success with IVF at 40. Not so good. Sorry. Some people are more successful with indirect stimulants like Clomid -- less invasive.

[Anonymous]

If you can spend 46K, you could do the 16K multi-cycle IVF discount with own eggs and then if that doesn't work, you would still have 30K for donor egg guarantee program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just based on my own personal experience, I would decide if donor egg is something you're interested in, put aside the cash for that, then work backwards. That really only leaves you enough for one own egg IVF cycle. I agree with a PP that IUIs and timed cycles are probably at your age a waste of time.

I got pregnant easily in my mid-thirties, but it just wasn't happening for me at 40. If I had to do it over again, I would go straight to donor egg at age 40. That's where I ended up a couple of years later anyway. I'm just glad I didn't waste as much time and money on my own eggs at 40+ as I could have. That's my very biased perspective, taking into account your budget limit.

as a 41 yo who wasted time trying with her own eggs, this is good advice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you can spend 46K, you could do the 16K multi-cycle IVF discount with own eggs and then if that doesn't work, you would still have 30K for donor egg guarantee program.

Are there multi cycle discounts available to a 40 yo trying with her own eggs? This would surprise me. I paid a little less than that per cycle with my own eggs, no discount.

I'm 20:53. I'll add that my numbers were fantastic at 40. Low FSH, my reserve looked great, no hormonal issues, no uterine issues. It didn't matter. The age of the eggs trumps just about everything.

[Anonymous]

At Shady Grove, you can do multi-cycle discount at any age- they are making money by assuming some people get pregnant on first cycle and overpay, thereby subsidizing the people who end up doing all the cycles. Plus 16K is still expensive. But maybe it could be an option for OP's situation so she can try two cycles with her own before moving to donor egg.