OP are you considering doing a medicated IUI? As in, will they be giving you medicine to induce ovulation (clomid, femara) and/or trigger ovulation (ovidrel etc)? Or just the IUI on its own?

I did two IUIs, one resulted in a chemical pregnancy and one in DD. I have PCOS so was prescribed femara (actually, I took the generic, letrozole). The second round I also did a trigger shot (ovidrel) to induce ovulation once it was determined via ultrasound monitoring that the follicles were big enough. My husband's sperm actually tested totally fine, but we decided to go for the IUI anyways because it really wasn't that expensive (or invasive), and although it's hard to nail down an exact percentage it does appear to increase the likelihood of pregnancy even with normal sperm numbers, because it basically allows the sperm to bypass the whole journey/process and get right to their target - all that has to happen is successful fertilization and implantation. It puts you a step ahead. And since we were already going through all the meds and monitoring appts, I wanted to just be proactive and go ahead and do everything we could to increase the chances.

My IUI experiences were very similar to what PP described. The first time (when I wasn't using a triggershot), they had me call when I got a positive OPK and schedule the IUI for the next day. The second time, I was instructed to use the ovidrel trigger shot (my husband did it, small needle in my stomach, very much not a big deal) and come in for the IUI 36 hours later. I had the option of bringing my husband's sample in from home, but he opted to just come and "deposit" on-site. Then I went in for the procedure ~an hour later. The first time I literally felt nothing, the second time I felt a sharp discomfort that was brief and certainly not unbearable - akin to some Pap smears I've gotten. The procedure itself is pretty quick, then they had me lay there in the dark/quiet for about 10 minutes after.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I did a medicated one (successful). The basic procedure was I took letrozole to promote ovulation, then took a trigger shot when the follicles looked big enough. I had one monitoring appointment to determine this. 36 hours after the letrozole, DH and I reported to the facility. DH went first and produced the semen sample, which they then washed or spun or whatever. I showed up about 2 hours later for the actual procedure. They had me verify that the semen sample was correctly labeled, showed me the analysis, then the doctor used some kind of tool (turkey baster equivalent I guess) to place the semen up past the cervix. I lay on the highly uncomfortable bed for 15 minutes, then departed. I don't recall any cramps or anything.

They had me take progesterone suppositories, and after 7 days I tested out the trigger shot. I got a positive pregnancy test around 9 days after ovulation (I was temping and using OPKs so I know i ovulated the day after the IUI) and they had me come in at about day 15 for a beta. They did several more betas and progesterone checks, and a couple ultrasounds (I had some bleeding), and at 8 weeks I was released from the RE to an MFM. Because of various issues, the RE continued to monitor me until 34 weeks, and I saw the MFM and OB throughout the pregnancy and, of course, delivered with the OB.

Hope the blow by blow is helpful.

OP here, what's a beta? This recap is very helpful!

If you don't mind me asking what led you to do the IUI? Turns out my eggs are old-ish (I'm 36) and DH is just tipping into the negative side of all of measures.

A beta is an hcg (pregnancy hormone) test. It measures the amount which should double every 48 hours in early pregnancy.

I'd had recurrent miscarriages that we thought might be tied to late ovulation (often day 22 of cycle or later). The letrozole was to address that. My husband had some slight negative factors so the doc recommended iui. I was 36 - delivered baby 2 months shy of 37. (I had my first kid, without intervention, at 33, and got pregnant easily 3 more times at 34-35 - they just weren't sticking. )

Anonymous wrote:I did a medicated one (successful). The basic procedure was I took letrozole to promote ovulation, then took a trigger shot when the follicles looked big enough. I had one monitoring appointment to determine this. 36 hours after the letrozole, DH and I reported to the facility. DH went first and produced the semen sample, which they then washed or spun or whatever. I showed up about 2 hours later for the actual procedure. They had me verify that the semen sample was correctly labeled, showed me the analysis, then the doctor used some kind of tool (turkey baster equivalent I guess) to place the semen up past the cervix. I lay on the highly uncomfortable bed for 15 minutes, then departed. I don't recall any cramps or anything.

They had me take progesterone suppositories, and after 7 days I tested out the trigger shot. I got a positive pregnancy test around 9 days after ovulation (I was temping and using OPKs so I know i ovulated the day after the IUI) and they had me come in at about day 15 for a beta. They did several more betas and progesterone checks, and a couple ultrasounds (I had some bleeding), and at 8 weeks I was released from the RE to an MFM. Because of various issues, the RE continued to monitor me until 34 weeks, and I saw the MFM and OB throughout the pregnancy and, of course, delivered with the OB.

Hope the blow by blow is helpful.

OP here, what's a beta? This recap is very helpful!

If you don't mind me asking what led you to do the IUI? Turns out my eggs are old-ish (I'm 36) and DH is just tipping into the negative side of all of measures.

I did a medicated one (successful). The basic procedure was I took letrozole to promote ovulation, then took a trigger shot when the follicles looked big enough. I had one monitoring appointment to determine this. 36 hours after the letrozole, DH and I reported to the facility. DH went first and produced the semen sample, which they then washed or spun or whatever. I showed up about 2 hours later for the actual procedure. They had me verify that the semen sample was correctly labeled, showed me the analysis, then the doctor used some kind of tool (turkey baster equivalent I guess) to place the semen up past the cervix. I lay on the highly uncomfortable bed for 15 minutes, then departed. I don't recall any cramps or anything.

They had me take progesterone suppositories, and after 7 days I tested out the trigger shot. I got a positive pregnancy test around 9 days after ovulation (I was temping and using OPKs so I know i ovulated the day after the IUI) and they had me come in at about day 15 for a beta. They did several more betas and progesterone checks, and a couple ultrasounds (I had some bleeding), and at 8 weeks I was released from the RE to an MFM. Because of various issues, the RE continued to monitor me until 34 weeks, and I saw the MFM and OB throughout the pregnancy and, of course, delivered with the OB.

Hope the blow by blow is helpful.

Have done four. By no means an expert but happy to answer any questions I can. I found the infertility forum to be a great place to get information

Have done four. Am by no means an expert by happy to answer any questions I can.

Anonymous wrote:I don't know; I remember trying to research and feeling there was a lack of info out there. I've had two though...Do you have specific questions?

OP here. I get overwhelmed by all of the forms and scripts at the fertility doctor's office ... so would love an IUI for Dummies overview. I promise I am a generally intelligent person but all of these tests and the timing of everything has my brain scrambled.

Shady Grove Fertility has an overview on their website.

I don't know; I remember trying to research and feeling there was a lack of info out there. I've had two though...Do you have specific questions?

Any suggestions on the best site to read up on IUIs? Thanks!