[Erin84]

Prior to this cycle, I have had 5 medicated cycles, 3 of which were IUI, all 5 BFNs. 2 were Clomid with timed intercourse and 1 was Clomid with IUI. During those 3 cycles, I had 1-3 mature follicles each time. I then did two cycles with injectable Follistim, resulting in 4-6 mature follicles each time, with IUI. Prior to this, DH and I were able to conceive 100% naturally on our own twice, once with sweet angel Drew, and once with an early miscarriage/chemical. It took 13 months once, and 7 months the next time. This is currently our 6th month of medical assistance.

There's the history.

My doctor is amazing. He very much makes me an active participant in my care plan. That being said, he left me some options for this cycle, and I'd like some opinions. The practice is not open on the weekends/holidays. My insurance is awesome, but it's hard to find an RE who will take it. So since I found a doc I really like, I've stuck around, even with the less-than-ideal weekend closures.

I'm CD 10 today. We saw 5 follicles he thinks are likely to mature this cycle. (17, 15, 15, 14, 13 -- the rest were 7 and below.) I am on 75 IU of Follistim. He said that he would have expected IUI to work by now if it was going to, and with our history, not to count out timed-intercourse as a viable option. He said the reason it likely didn't work with Clomid was the way it dried up my CM, but that with the Follistim he always sees perfect, abundant EWCM when he does my IUI.

He says he really expects me to surge on my own and probably ovulate before he'll be able to see me. He says that I MIGHT be able to hold off ovulating if I lower my Follistim dosage to 50 IU, as opposed to the 75 I'm taking now, but no promises. He said he doesn't want me to stop the Follistim altogether because he wants all of those follicles to develop, with my history of **** just not working.

So if I didn't O, he won't be able to give me a go or no-go on triggering until Tuesday around 2pm after my ultrasound. The IUI would only be 26-27 hours after that, when if a couple is doing a single IUI like we do (especially with DH's awful awful count etc.), the ideal time to do IUI is 36 hours, because they assume you O 36 hours post trigger based on when the majority of women O after trigger. Washed sperm only live for ~12 hours. So we would be cutting it ridiculously close if we did the IUI. With DH's poor little spermies, I don't even feel like I can trust such a big gap in time.

So I don't know what to think. This is our last medicated cycle here, with this doc, on our insurance, before we're forced back into the old-fashioned way, at least for the next ~9 months or so. So it's kind of an important cycle.

Do I keep up with the 75, likely surge on my own, and have timed intercourse? Do I lower it to 50 and attempt to wait it out for a poorly timed IUI? Is a poorly timed IUI better or worse than doing it naturally? DH has low count, high % slow motile, low % normal motile, and devastating morphology. In theory the IUI selects for stronger sperm and puts them where they need to be. But they would have quite a long wait for ovulation (~10 hours when 12 hours is the max upper limit they like to do IUI pre-O). Or do I even potentially just keep doing the 75 and wait to O naturally, screw IUI altogether? (That was another option.)

I know what I'm leaning toward, but I'm curious what others would do in this situation. Thoughts?

[.:Shortcake:.]

Honestly, if it were me, I would skip the IUI and just do it naturally. The only reason being is cutting it close with the sperm would scare the crap out of me. You have already put so much in this cycle that I don't know why I just have a feeling if you BD when you O your going to get pregnant. You have gotten pregnant twice without IUI and call me crazy but I'm going with my gut on this one love! Any way you choose though I hope brings you your rainbow!

[MountainMomma]

Good luck!

[sandiegomom]

Honestly, I would go with natural. I would be to afraid of waiting and then missing the window with the IUI. Sometimes, the old fashioned way ends up doing the trick when we least expect it. I hope so for you...I really, really do.

[ninja_mommy]

Is there some reason you can do timed intercourse while the office is closed and do IUI when they are open for an "extra shot?" I'm not really sure how all that works, so don't know if that's an option or not. Come on little miracle bean!

[Cait&AngelAbove]

I would go with natural. Good luck! Keeping everything crossed for you!

[Mrs_lynn.c]

Being the fact u have been able to concieve twice on your own even with poor sperm,i would go for the good old fashion way. Set up for a romantic evening relax and do the dang thing girl!!! Ive got everuthing crossed for you and sending up prayers for god to work some magic!!

[Erin84]

Okay, cool, everybody was thinking the same thing I was Continuing on with the 75 IU and doing timed intercourse.

Originally Posted by ninja_mommy

Is there some reason you can do timed intercourse while the office is closed and do IUI when they are open for an "extra shot?" I'm not really sure how all that works, so don't know if that's an option or not. Come on little miracle bean!

We COULD maybe do that... Except for the low count, poor motility, and awful morphology. So if we were to BD then do an IUI, like, the next day, his number would be something like 2 million. Some people can get pregnant off that, but we haven't been able to get pregnant yet on 4-8, plus IUI is $425 out of pocket for us. So We'll probably just stick with TI. I hadn't actually thought about that though, you definitely got my gears turning! Thanks for the idea!