Going from IUI to IVF

We are Day 1 of our 3rd IUI cycle. We have decided this will be our last and we will then move on to IVF. If we are unsucessful this cycle, what will happen? Will they let me go straight onto an IVF cycle? or will I have to wait?

lil_chookie, I moved straight on from IVF after an unsuccessful IVF cycle. You will just need to be ready to make an urgent appointment with your doctor once AF starts so you can start nasal spray, etc (or whatever drugs your doctor decides on).

lil chookiem
I think you may have to do counselling and all the paperwork before commencing a cycle, if your IUI's are being done thru a IVF clinic you may be ok but I know there is a few legalities that have to been seen to do before starting,
Maybe give your FS a call and ask them to start the ball rolling with appointments to see counsellors nurses so you can commence on the first day of AF
Bec

I am also moving on from IUI to IVF next cycle (am day 2 now of IUI cycle) and told my Dr last month that I wanted to move on. She was fine with it and seemed to say that I could start IVF anytime I wanted as long as I thought I was ready.
I am having a lap done next week and also seeing the IVF counsellors but I think you should be fine to move straight into IVF.
Good luck.

Ditto to what Bec said, the only hold up would be the pre-IVF counselling sessions and paperwork. When we were doing our last Clomid cycle before moving to IVF, I booked it all in just in case we needed it. Maybe book them in now for just in case??? (although fingers crossed you won't need to!)

I did 4 IUI cycles before we tried the ISCI cycle (unexplained fertility issues for us). On our last IUI try in December 06 we had our talk with the FS - as there are a few things they need to explain and prepare you for. Even though we were in the process of an IUI cycle, I preferred to be prepared (that IUI was successful, but unfortunately miscarried at 6 weeks). Even though we spoke to the FS, it didn't really prepare us for the experience. And it seemed a long wait to begin the injections, finally began in mid March 07, as the injections (I know some people do the nasal spray, but at my FS, they recommended the injections for me - that was stressful enough, as I have never been good with needles), begun approx day 21. Then few weeks later, around AF time bloods and scans are done, and another injection begun (both were a daily) until egg pick up day, then a transfer 2 days later. Unfortunately our ICSI and the one 1 FET we had was unsuccessful. We have gone back to IUI, and at this stage I will be 5 weeks pregnant on Friday. My point is that make sure you have talked with your FS, ask lots of questions (regardless how silly they seem) and be fully informed, as we found it a very stressful process (compared to the IUI), especially doing the daily injections and the surgery side of it (this is why we decided to go back to IUI for a little less stress). Plus it was so much more expensive. I do know it can be successful, my cousin and 2 friends who all have endometrosis and low counts had success on there first try. Good Luck.

I am already on injections with IUI so I feel prepared for that side of things.

If this cycle is unsucessful we will have to have a cycle rest as I could not get an appointment with the FS until 1 day after I would have needed to be starting injections. It is really frustrating me as the appointment will just be everything we have already discussed! But I need to not think about it like this as I need to be feeling positive that this IUI is going to be sucessful & i'll be calling up and cancelling that FS appointment anyway :)

Hi Lil_chookie,
HOpe you do get to cancel that FS appointment. that would be just great. I am guessing you are with Melbourne IVF is that correct? My advice might not be useful as I am with Monash and they do things differently. but my suggestion would be to ring a counsellor and a nurse as sometimes they know all the requirements for couselling and consent etc. better than the doctors do, so you might get that done even before your FS appointment.

Yes, Melbourne IVF. I have my scans, bloods, pick up meds ect @ Ringwood. So the girls there have already said they will slot me in for counselling ect whenever I need. I have really just been dealing with the ART nurses, not the FS @ all, so I am extra frustrated that the one time I 'have' to see the FS I can't get in!!!

lil chookie,
Maybe the ART nurses could get the FS to look at your file and work things out for you that is IF you need him ;) Afer all he just writes down everything re doses and scans and the nurses do the rest. I just had an appointment with my FS, lol he told me to ring the nurses...they made sooo much more sence

Bec - I said that to them but to go from IUI to IVF I have to have a face to face review with the FS, it's the 'rules'!! It's okay, if this IUI cycle is unsucessful (I have to stop saying this!!) it will probably do me good to have a month off. It's all getting to me a bit and I am finding myself in tears a little more than I would like to be. Although I am worried with it coming up to Christmas time I might end up having to have 2 months off, I don't know how the clinic operates over Christmas. :)

Lil Chookie,
Sometimes forced breaks are good, there was nothing you could of done it was taken out of your hands and a regroup is often needed. Looking back I had a break between IUI's and IVF even when offered a PU as I had so many folis on injections. I got pregnant on the first cycle !!!.
Christmas they stop OPU's a week before Christmas about the 15th.