Anonymous wrote:I’m 34 and after 6 failed IUIs I just need a damn break before moving on to IVF. Most importantly for my mental health but also for my wallet and for the career I’ve been neglecting. Is 1 year in your mid 30s that big of a deal?? Obviously I’ll talk to my doctor but I expect him to give me the most risk averse and money grabbing answer, not necessarily the accurate one.

If you truly feel that way about your doctor - whether or not it's true - might be time for a new one.

Anonymous wrote:I’m surprised you went for 6 IUIs as they have such a low success rate. I did 3 IUIs to satisfy insurance and then immediately launched into IVF, which was successful on the first try. Same age as you but secondary infertility.

OP here. I did 6 IUIs because I am gay and that is the requirement to get a diagnosis of infertility in order to have IVF covered by insurance as a lesbian. It’s bs given as you said that IUIs have such low success rates and I’m paying $1200 a pop for donor sperm.

I don’t have a specific diagnosis but I’ve always had irregular periods which could be mild PCOS. I do not have low ovarian reserve, my AMH levels are normal, but I read all those stories about age 35 being a cliff and it makes me nervous.

*sorry, I didn't do IUI.
IUI and IVF both have medications and monitoring, then transfer and a 2 week wait. IVF has higher doses of meds and the egg retrieval but IMO to have much higher odds of success totally worth it.

I'd plan a short break, 2-3 months. Get a therapist because it really helps. I was older so went straight to IVF. I didn't do IVF but think it's a little extreme to say IUI is a walk in the park compared to IVF. I'd say IVF is more involved, but having done IUI a lot of the process will seem familiar. I'd way rather do two IVF cycles than 6 IUIs.

^ Anyway, you should just go for it. Maybe take a month off during the holidays. IUI is a walk in the park compared to IVF.

I’m surprised you went for 6 IUIs as they have such a low success rate. I did 3 IUIs to satisfy insurance and then immediately launched into IVF, which was successful on the first try. Same age as you but secondary infertility.

I did two retrievals to bank embryos, almost a year apart. I was 34 for the first and 35 for the 2nd. There was a notable difference in my test numbers. Ultimately I got 2 x as many eggs the first time around as I did the second.