[jenisuzy]

Hello
This is a long-shot (for me) but I wanted to ask, how & what made you decide to do IVF ?? Did you try IUI first ?? I am nearing my 30th cycle of TTC and I dont know how much longer I can continue to try like this. My DH & I have not sat down & discussed IUI or IVF. I want to have some numbers and stats and do some reseach myself before bringing up the topic with him. He has the laid back approach of "whatever is meant to happen, will happen" and pretty much I can tell without asking he is not going to be real thrilled about the thought of IUI/IVF. I on the other hand, dont know if I'm ok being child-less Makes me really sad to even think about I'll be 34 in a few wks, and feel like my clock is tickin away. Thanks for your replies, I'm anxious to read about your journey of choosing IUI or IVF. Thanks!

[Jewels336]

Hi!

First let me say Im sorry that you are having such a difficult time ttc. I know how emotionally draining it can be month after month trying and month and after month being disappointed.
As for how we came to the decsion..Ive known for a long time I would need IVF. and it wasnt something I broadcasted to everyone..lol but it was definitely something I disclosed when I needed to.
For me personally, I dont believe in living with regrets. I know for me personally, I would regret not aggressively trying to get pregnant. I agree with your hubby in that what is meant to be will be..but for me, that means, trying to make it happen..and if it doesnt happen then I can truly walk away with the peace of mind knowing that I tried and it just wasnt meant to be. It makes for an easier healing as well as complete closure.
I hope I didnt make it more difficult for you...but whatever your decision is, I wish you all the luck in the world!
Btw, have you spoken to your obgyn at all about trying? Maybe you can somehow ease the conversation with your dh, by discussing what your dr thinks.
Just a suggestion.

Yolie

[pianogirl]

Hi, I'm actually a IVF success story as well as an IUI success story. I saw your post though and hope it's ok I still replied.

We tried for 1 year before going to get medical assistance. On average it will take a healthy couple to conceive with the 1 year. After that we decided we needed help. It turned out that my DH had sperm antibodies and I had a very mild case of PCOS. By the time we got into the fertility clinic it had been 2 years. So we did clomid & IUI for 4 times with no success, then we transitioned to injectables and IUI and the first time we tried it was successful and we gave birth to our DS in 2007. It was a very long 2 1/2 years of emotions and that was with treatment so I can only imagine the frustration you are feeling. When our DS was only 8 months old we went back to the clinic to try for a 2nd child. We immediately went to injectables and IUI but unfortunately after 5 times of that it had not worked. We discussed it with our specialist and with each other and the only option left was IVF. For us we just knew that if we didn't exhaust all the medical options that we just wouldn't be ok with the unknown. We were able to begin IVF in May of 2009 and was successful but then had a miscarriage. So we waited and then Oct of 2009 we did a frozen embryo transfer which ended with a chemical pregnancy. We then decided to go to a different clinic which was actually a 12 hour drive away but they work with you remotely and then when you are close to retrieving the eggs we went down there. We began IVF in May 2010 and we are now currently 7 weeks pregnant with twins.

I tell my big long story because as you can see it can take a long time before they do all the tests and find something that works. I believe that after 30 unsuccessful cycles I would seek some help. TTC is such an emotional rollercoaster and when it doesn't happen like we think it should it can be heartbreaking. The frustrations of not being pregnant and being around people who it seems to happen so easy for them drove me insane. Perhaps if you sit down with your DH and explain how much it means to you and how it is weighing on your mind about IUI/IVF that he will understand. It could be very simple that all you need is clomid and IUI and you can get pregnant. Until the SA is done and some blood tests with you are done to see if you are ovulating no one can predict anything. Maybe just talk to him about IUI at first so you don't freak him out about IVF. I think a lot of guys hear the word IVF and think dollars so IUI would be a lot cheaper. Hopefully you don't mind me posting and posting a big long saga I wish you all the best and pray you will be able to sit with your DH and get a BFP in your near future. Good luck

[barbarella]

Hi
TTC is certainly an emotional journey. I'm 36 and DH is 37 and we'd been ttc for just over 3 years when we found out last week that we'd been successful with our first attempt at ivf. I'm in the uk. The doctors won't do anything until you've been trying for a year and then you get referred. After my referral I had lots of tests...rubella immunity, full blood count 3 times, hormone levels checked, 6 months of clomid, a laparoscopy and then the final step ivf. The consultant doesn't do iui ( for some reason ) We could have paid for it privately but w decided to bite the bullet and go straight for the ivf.

To our amazement and joy we were successful at our first attempt. I hope you don't mind me answering your post but it's nice to get lots of points of view when you're thinking about doing something like this. I can't comment on iui's and ivf is certainly an emotional rollercoaster but certainly worth doing. I would have done it all again in a heartbeat.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do

[Sarah_S]

When we lived in Vegas we did 1 IUI but I didn't like the dr and was very disappointed with the results of only 1 egg. So when we moved to CA I found another dr here and chose IVF because the price was worth the bestter chances. And because we had no "known" reason for infertility. But after doing one round, we got 21 eggs, ICSI'd 19 and only 6 fertilized. Of the 21 eggs we ended up with 3 8-celled embryos. So now we know that this is about the only way we will get pregnant, and I am ok with it, but we aren't going to do a bunch, after this next one we are going onto adoption. We did get pregnant last time, but lost her at 21 weeks

[crankyfidget]

In my case, I did everything to avoid IVF and FOUGHT it as long as I could. I had tubal surgery three years ago and got pregnant right away! But it would be the first of many, many chemical pregnancies for me. We tried for two years after that without medical intervention and had NO LUCK (more chems only).

Last year at this time, we finally sought the help of an RE (just the same time my insurance stopped covering fertility treatments.. GRRRR!). We did two cycles with injects and Timed Intercourse. I got pregnant both times but miscarried both those cycles. Finally at the beginning of this year my doctor said that my tubes are too damaged and that IVF is our only option. So there you go.. IVF it is.

[jenisuzy]

Just wanted to thank ALL of you for your input I really do appreciate hearing others journeys !!