New to IUI/IVF, have questions

[nellym]

Hi all,

My DH and I are just starting down the path of Assistend Fertility. Have been to meet with the IVF clinic and they expect that we may start with IUI but will probably have to go to ICSI. We will start this process in the new year.

I have seen a few people talking about injectables. Are they the standard drugs the clinic gives or are they only for extreme circumstances?

Also, I have seen some people who have been through the IVF cycles and have managed to get more then 1 embryo put back. For those of you that are under 35, how did you manage to get the Dr to do this for you? I know the statistics for multiple pregnancies are higher but i just want to get this done so we can start our new life as a family

I look forward to all your comments.

Thanks everyone.

[trubabe]

hi nelly DP and i are doing our second iui cycle (first one was nearly 2 yrs ago) i am on letrazol tablets for 5 days and then start fsh injections hopefully monday.we are hoping to be able to do ivf in january or february and fertility specialist said we can transfer 2 embryos right from the start.i think it varies from clinic to clinic.Im 31yrs old. our clinic is QFG in brisbane

[nellym]

Really? That is great news Trubabe.

We are going through IVF Sunshine Coast who are part of QFG so hopefully we can ask for 2 embryos straight off too.

[briggsy's girl]

if they're talking icsi, i can't see IUI being the way to go - it really depends on WHY you're undergoing treatment to be honest. IUI is just a way of getting the eggs and sperm closer together - if they don't think the sperm will penetrate the egg on their own, it's not really going to help

there are several ways that IUI is carried out - natural ovulation with insemination. forced ovulation with clomid (tablet form drug) with insemination. forced ovulation with injections and insemination. again, it depends on WHY you're going through assisted conception. IUI is usually tried for people with no male factor issues, whose main issue is lack of ovulation (often as a result of PCOS) - the success rates for IUI are very low in comparison to IVF

if you go the ivf/icsi path, you WILL have the injectible meds. this is something all ivf patients use - the only thing that varies is the protocol with relation to preparation and then dosage (down regulation cycle has you on the pill, then taking daily nasal spray or injection to get your body to have flat hormone levels so the fs has complete results, while an anatagonist cycle doesn't use the drugs to stop your natural hormones, it uses a different type of injection while you're using the stimulating drugs to stop ovulation - it can be very complex!).

given they have floated the idea of icsi (sperm being injected into the egg) i'm guessing they have either confirmed male factor issues ie low count, decreased motility (swimming ability) - or morphology (dodgy tails so they don't swim properly), or they suspect there is an issue where the sperm can't penetrate the egg (maybe a problem with a hard "shell" or with the proteins in the sperm that penetrate) - either way - if they have information of these kinds of issues, and subject you to IUI, it is highly likely to be unsuccessful. if they want you to undertake IUI but are mentioning ICSI, confirm WHY, and how they think it will work.

as to the embie count being put back - some clinics have a flat one embryo policy. they won't put more back. others have an age related policy. others have an age and failed cycle policy - mine had this. i was younger, but due to several failed IUI's, failed IVF and early miscarriages on the ones that did take, we ended up being able to put two back twice. we got a positive result on one of those cycles but lost the baby very early

good luck with your journey through AC. i hope it is a short one. i would suggest, if it's possible, to look at complimentary therapies to go with your journey. i was IUI number seven while waiting for another ivf cycle locally (i live regional so it's only local every few months that the clinic is local), and had also had three failed ET's before we got our BFP and much loved baby girl. with that cycle, we used accupuncture for uterine blood flow for the first time...

HTH

BG

[nellym]

Thanks BG,

Yes we are waiting on another test to be done on DH's semen to determin the course of treatment. They have already identified that he has low and abnormal sperm and I don't ovulate.

I have to admit that when we were sitting in the IVF clinic talking to the Nurse coordinator I zoned out when she showed us the first needle. I have been trying to get my head around the reading material. What I do remember is she kept talking about wanting 1 baby not 2.

As much as I want one, I would not complain about 2. And with the current changes to medicare we want the best chance at conceiving so hopeing if we have to go down the ICSI path that we can get 2 put back straight away.

I am turning 33 this month and DH just turned 31.

[redlady]

Hi ladies,

Im 36 yrs old my DH has a genetic condition so we can't use his sperm.

I am currently injecting FSH in the form of puregon. my cycles aren't really regular so thats why they decided to give me the puregon. We are using donor sperm to get pregnant. I will try four IUI if that doesnt work then I will go to IVF. I just want to give my body the chance to fall pregnant as I have been before to a previous partner. I had a termination because I didnt know I was preg and had xrays and MRI's without knowing. I dont think the outcome for the foetus would have been good.

If you want to talk please do.
Redlady.

[Muppity]

As much as I want one, I would not complain about 2. And with the current changes to medicare we want the best chance at conceiving so hopeing if we have to go down the ICSI path that we can get 2 put back straight away.

Hi Nelly

I just wanted to wade in here and ask you to do some more reading about stats on the difference between one and two embies being put back.

I know how wonderful the thought of having twins is when you have been trying for some time - DH and I discussed it at length cycle after cycle before deciding what to do each time.

In the end we looked at the stats. Having two embryos transferred doesn't really increase your chance of falling pregnant by any significant amount. What it does increase is the chance of having twins if you do manage to become pregnant from a transfer. And with twins the chance of complications is just so much higher.

I think that if you are seriously thinking about getting two transferred to in the first instance you should be chatting with your FS now - rather than once you are in a cycle (if that turns out to be what you need) as by then you can be so emotional and overwhealmed it can be difficult to have a rational conversation about what you want for breakfast let alone important things.

Good luck with your journey - I hope that they come up with the answers for what type fo cycle you need really soon.

[trubabe]

we are only doing iui so that at least we are doing more than DTD until the money for ivf is sorted out. i had iui done this morning.DPs last semen analysis was only 11 million per mil but today before concentration it was 27 million per mil and final result was 30 million but my cervix decided to be unco operative