Are multiple IUIs as effective as one IVF?

[Anonymous]

I'm 39 and struggling with secondary infertility. After a year of TTC naturally, we have moved on to IUI. I do not want to do IVF. But I'm wondering if I do 3-4 IUIs, would that be as effective as one IVF statistically?

I have unexplained infertility. I got pregnant with my daughter quickly and naturally but cannot get pregnant again.

[Anonymous]

The odds are cumulative, so they do add up over time. That said, depending on what the issue is, IUI may not address that.

I did MANY IUIs, none successful.

[Anonymous]

I'm 38. I got a completely clean bill of health from my RE and still had six unsuccessful IUIs. Then one successful IVF cycle. Some women get pregnant on their second IUI.

There's no way to tell how it will go for you. I wouldn't consider more than 3 IUIs before moving to IVF, but you should really let the doc advise you. IVF was nowhere near as scary as I had built it up to be.

[Anonymous]

Why are you so against IVF? If it's because of meds, then consider natural cycle. Honestly, I wouldn't waste time on IUIs at your age. I found them to be a huge waste of emotional time.

[Anonymous]

Different poster, but isn't the cost a lot less with IUI?

[Anonymous]

OP here. I'm not comfortable with IVF for many reasons:

-high doses of meds (RE told me I'd need high doses)
-Prolonged course of meds
-Egg retrieval sounds awful
-Don't want to do ICSI
-Cost--our insurance covers IUI but not IVF
-I am not doing more than one IVF for the above reasons if I do decide to do IVF

I'm leaning towards doing 3-4 IUIs and then moving to donor egg.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I'm not comfortable with IVF for many reasons:

-high doses of meds (RE told me I'd need high doses)
-Prolonged course of meds
-Egg retrieval sounds awful
-Don't want to do ICSI
-Cost--our insurance covers IUI but not IVF
-I am not doing more than one IVF for the above reasons if I do decide to do IVF

I'm leaning towards doing 3-4 IUIs and then moving to donor egg.

That sounds pretty reasonable. I'll quibble with you that most people don't find egg retrieval that bad, and I don't know why you'd object to ICSI.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Egg retrieval terrifies me. I've had 4 surgeries in the past and they all went horribly due to the anesthesia. It's the anesthesia that terrifies me. If I could do it awake I'd be okay with it.

[Anonymous]

In your scenario, I would guess the biggest drawback with multiple IUIs is time -- IUI doesn't work all that well (especially if you have male factor problems, which I'm guessing you do because ICSI?). So you could just cut to the chase and do DE now, versus waiting 6 months to do several cycles of IUI.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Egg retrieval terrifies me. I've had 4 surgeries in the past and they all went horribly due to the anesthesia. It's the anesthesia that terrifies me. If I could do it awake I'd be okay with it.

Eh, the anesthesia is different for egg retrieval. I also have a horrible time with general anesthesia, but SG has it down pat. I had zero issues, and will do another retrieval if I have to (without hesitation this time).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Egg retrieval terrifies me. I've had 4 surgeries in the past and they all went horribly due to the anesthesia. It's the anesthesia that terrifies me. If I could do it awake I'd be okay with it.

Eh, the anesthesia is different for egg retrieval. I also have a horrible time with general anesthesia, but SG has it down pat. I had zero issues, and will do another retrieval if I have to (without hesitation this time).

Yup, Dr. Steve mixes a good cocktail.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Egg retrieval terrifies me. I've had 4 surgeries in the past and they all went horribly due to the anesthesia. It's the anesthesia that terrifies me. If I could do it awake I'd be okay with it.

Eh, the anesthesia is different for egg retrieval. I also have a horrible time with general anesthesia, but SG has it down pat. I had zero issues, and will do another retrieval if I have to (without hesitation this time).

I would counter that different clinics have different cocktails. DW never had an issue at SG but got a little sick at Cornell.

[Anonymous]

My favorite part of egg retrieval was drifting off on that anesthesia ; ) I never had any issues with anesthesia at SG.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Egg retrieval terrifies me. I've had 4 surgeries in the past and they all went horribly due to the anesthesia. It's the anesthesia that terrifies me. If I could do it awake I'd be okay with it.

I did NC IVf while awake. It wasn't bad at all. I was also terrified of it beforehand. I didn't want to do ISCI either, but I did a lot of research and finally came to terms with it.

[Anonymous]

Can someone explain the objection to ICSI? For me it was originally a cost issue, but I figured I'd prefer to know for sure that I gave the eggs the best chance at fertilization. Are there serious reasons other than cost?