Natural cycle IUI-- is it worth it? Success stories? (secondary infertility)

[Anonymous]

I am considering natural cycle IUI for unexplained secondary infertility. I don't seem to have a problem ovulating, and I don't want to take meds and risk twins if it isn't necessary. But I'm not clear on what advantage this would give me over frequent, well-timed intercourse. Any thoughts?

[Anonymous]

I think it gives very little if any increase in chances. Personally I wouldn't pay the $ for that little increase, unless money is no object. Basically you'd be having a doctor insert the sperm into your uterus as opposed to just depositing it into the vagina. Unless there is a sperm mobility issue I'm not sure this increases your chance much at all.

Worth a try tho if the doctor is willing and you have the money

[Anonymous]

Do nc IVF instead.

[Anonymous]

Has your husband had a semen analysis?

[Anonymous]

Have you had an HSG--where dye is injected into your uterus to see if the tubes are open?

[Anonymous]

It would bypass any cervix issues and some amount of MF. Depends on the circumstances but it could be a good first step before deciding to move onto IVF. In your case I'd look at natural cycle IVF if you do.

[Anonymous]

OP here-- I haven't had the HSG yet but probably would before spending any significant money. DH has his semen analysis next week. His analysis three years ago was fine, and my last pregnancy was in September (MC in November) so I'm not sure there is any MF problem, but it's possible.

The issue with IVF is that we need to change our health insurance first, so we wouldn't be able to do that until next calendar year. So I'm wondering what we can do between now and then.

[Anonymous]

Natural cycle IUI is almost no difference if you have intercourse at home with proper timing( considering you DO NOT have male factor) only in IUI washed sperm is already in your uterus and that means sperm saves somewhere 2-4 hrs in traveling. where if you had properly timed intercourse sperm would travel from where it is ejected into uterus and that's it it till have the same time and rout to find the egg. That is why success rates are absolutely identical if you have timed intercourse with your husband (using OPK, basal temp. etc to predict your ovulation) or have natural cycle IUI. If you DON't have male factor and have had several months/attempts in getting pregnant timed it during your ovulation and could not get pregnant natural IUI will be no different, you have the same odds in getting pregnant. I would consider waste of time. Unless you extra have funds or your insurance covers it all.

I personally wasted my time & money on natural cycles. We are moving on to medicated cycle next month, fingers crossed

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here-- I haven't had the HSG yet but probably would before spending any significant money. DH has his semen analysis next week. His analysis three years ago was fine, and my last pregnancy was in September (MC in November) so I'm not sure there is any MF problem, but it's possible.

The issue with IVF is that we need to change our health insurance first, so we wouldn't be able to do that until next calendar year. So I'm wondering what we can do between now and then.

An HSG would be the next step. The success rate of getting pregnant increases in the 3 months after an HSG, even though it is a diagnostic procedure and not a treatment. There could be "cobwebs" that need to be cleaned out. The HSG can do that as well as see if there are any blockages that are preventing the sperm and egg from meeting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Natural cycle IUI is almost no difference if you have intercourse at home with proper timing( considering you DO NOT have male factor) only in IUI washed sperm is already in your uterus and that means sperm saves somewhere 2-4 hrs in traveling. where if you had properly timed intercourse sperm would travel from where it is ejected into uterus and that's it it till have the same time and rout to find the egg. That is why success rates are absolutely identical if you have timed intercourse with your husband (using OPK, basal temp. etc to predict your ovulation) or have natural cycle IUI. If you DON't have male factor and have had several months/attempts in getting pregnant timed it during your ovulation and could not get pregnant natural IUI will be no different, you have the same odds in getting pregnant. I would consider waste of time. Unless you extra have funds or your insurance covers it all.

I personally wasted my time & money on natural cycles. We are moving on to medicated cycle next month, fingers crossed

Well, if there is an issue with cervical mucus, or an issue with the cervix itself, there would be a benefit.

[Anonymous]

Are you older, op? If so, I wouldn't waste my time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Natural cycle IUI is almost no difference if you have intercourse at home with proper timing( considering you DO NOT have male factor) only in IUI washed sperm is already in your uterus and that means sperm saves somewhere 2-4 hrs in traveling. where if you had properly timed intercourse sperm would travel from where it is ejected into uterus and that's it it till have the same time and rout to find the egg. That is why success rates are absolutely identical if you have timed intercourse with your husband (using OPK, basal temp. etc to predict your ovulation) or have natural cycle IUI. If you DON't have male factor and have had several months/attempts in getting pregnant timed it during your ovulation and could not get pregnant natural IUI will be no different, you have the same odds in getting pregnant. I would consider waste of time. Unless you extra have funds or your insurance covers it all.

I personally wasted my time & money on natural cycles. We are moving on to medicated cycle next month, fingers crossed

Well, if there is an issue with cervical mucus, or an issue with the cervix itself, there would be a benefit.

True, but OP stated she has "unexplained" so I spoke more to her condition with assumption no male factor. If she stated Cervix related issues then IUI would be first consideration before IVF.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Natural cycle IUI is almost no difference if you have intercourse at home with proper timing( considering you DO NOT have male factor) only in IUI washed sperm is already in your uterus and that means sperm saves somewhere 2-4 hrs in traveling. where if you had properly timed intercourse sperm would travel from where it is ejected into uterus and that's it it till have the same time and rout to find the egg. That is why success rates are absolutely identical if you have timed intercourse with your husband (using OPK, basal temp. etc to predict your ovulation) or have natural cycle IUI. If you DON't have male factor and have had several months/attempts in getting pregnant timed it during your ovulation and could not get pregnant natural IUI will be no different, you have the same odds in getting pregnant. I would consider waste of time. Unless you extra have funds or your insurance covers it all.

I personally wasted my time & money on natural cycles. We are moving on to medicated cycle next month, fingers crossed

Well, if there is an issue with cervical mucus, or an issue with the cervix itself, there would be a benefit.

True, but OP stated she has "unexplained" so I spoke more to her condition with assumption no male factor. If she stated Cervix related issues then IUI would be first consideration before IVF.

You don't always know if there are cervix issues. I have yet to have anyone ask about my cervical mucous. Plus, all 3 of my IUIs, and my mock embryo transfer took no less than 20 minutes to get the catheter in. Apparently I have a difficult cervix, yet no one has said anything to me about it.

[Anonymous]

OP here with an update:

DH's semen analysis came back good.

Had the HSG today. Left tube was open. Right tube he said he couldn't quite tell but it definitely wasn't conclusively blocked. The doctor said it doesn't matter as long as you have one tube, but I'm not totally sure I believe him.

Anyway, on the basis of that, it doesn't seem like NCIUI would be worthwhile.

[Anonymous]

I knew lots of people who got pregnant during the month of their HSG, OP. Hope you are one of them.