How many IUIs before moving to IVF? **Updated with more questions**

We have unexplained infertility. I just did my first IUI and BFN (pretty sure AF arrived this morning). How many IUIs do you normally do before moving on to IVF?

**Updated with more questions**
Thanks for the responses! We did Clomid this cycle and it produced 3 good (I think) follies - 25, 21 and 18. Is it necessary to go to injectables before going to IVF if Clomid is working? Do injectables produce more/better eggs? My insurance fully covers both IUI and IVF, so there is no reason for me to do so many IUIs. Maybe three will be our limit.

Message edited 9/15/2009 1:38:59 PM.

Re: How many IUIs before moving to IVF?

I'm sorry I don't have an answer for you but just wanted to give you

Re: How many IUIs before moving to IVF?

I moved on to IVF after 6 iui's. I stuck with the IUI's for a while b/c it worked twice for us although they ended in m/c's. But its really what you feel comfortable with. Good luck

Was this past IUI a medicated cycle?

Re: How many IUIs before moving to IVF?

Sorry this iui wasn't a sucess. I haven't started iui's yet but my Doctor said at around 5 failures he would think ivf would be on the table. I am assuming each patient and dr is different though.

Re: How many IUIs before moving to IVF?

we skipped right over clomid, otherwise we probably would have done 2 clomid/IUI cycles.

after clomid, we moved onto injectables... we planned on doing at least 2 cycles before moving onto IVF but ended up having to convert our second cycle to IVF because we had too many follies...

so had we started with clomid, probably 4 IUIs total before moving onto IVF.

we also have unexplained IF>

Re: How many IUIs before moving to IVF?

way way way too many.. I actually lost count somewhere between 11 or 12.. I say 2 iui's then ivf.. I wasted many years on this.. My Dr did what I wanted not what he would have recommened due to my financial situation. the final IVF worked it was my 3rd one and the only one I received treatment for all of my issues.. Good luck,, If you have the coverage do it IVF.. You chances are much higher,

Re: How many IUIs before moving to IVF?

we went through 4 IUI's before moving onto IVF..
the RE and I just felt like this was wasting time.. and we moved forward. it wasn't working for us .

Re: How many IUIs before moving to IVF?

Everyone is different, but we did 5 IUIs before moving onto IVF. I was ready after 4, but DH wanted to try once more.

Re: How many IUIs before moving to IVF?

I have done 1 unmedicated and 4 with Clomid. Now we will most likely move onto injectibles. It really depends on how your body reacts to the meds (If your making eggs or not). They may do un med, clomid, injectibles and then finally move onto IVF. Every Dr is different.

Re: How many IUIs before moving to IVF?

I think it depends on what you feel comfortable with, also what your insurance/ financial situation is and what other "things" are going on in your life. For us, IUI's were completely covered so I probably tried more bc of that. IVF is only covered 1X for me.

I also needed some time to mentally prepare for IVF. Once I felt I was ready, I took the leap.

I think it also depends on what else is going on in your life too. IVF = more stress/ time commitment than IUI. For my job, the summer is super crazy so I waited until things calmed down in other areas of my life B4 I went to IVF.

Re: How many IUIs before moving to IVF?

We are doing 3 unmedicated cycles before moving on. It really is up to you and your individual situation.

I have read however that the odds of getting pregnant after more than 6 IUIs (when none have resulted in pregnancy) are pretty slim.

Re: How many IUIs before moving to IVF?

We did 3 IUIs on injectables because that is what my insurance covered.

Re: How many IUIs before moving to IVF?

We did 4. If I had responded to Clomid we probably would have done 6 altogether. IUIs were covered under my insurance and IVF was not.

After my first injectible cycle the Dr. recommended IVF but we did the four IUIs after that. I got pregnant with twins with my first IVF cycle. Good luck

Re: How many IUIs before moving to IVF?

My RE said that he usually does 3 IUIs before moving on to IVF. Statistically (according to him) your chances of concieving don't go up after 3 IUI's.

Re: How many IUIs before moving to IVF?

We did 3 IUI's before IVF. Our insur only covered 3, if it covered more I prob would have done a total of 5 or 6 before moving on.

Re: How many IUIs before moving to IVF?

I'm on my second IUI cycle with clomid. The plan is 3 cycles with clomid, and then move on to injectables + IUI. I don't know how many cycles with injectables we'll try before moving onto IVF.

Re: How many IUIs before moving to IVF? **Updated with more questions**

i did 4 iuis before moving to ivf
my dr was recommending moving on after 3 but it was june and i figured one more then do the ivf in the summer - i'm a teacher its easier then

i never did clomid, straight to injectibles, clomid never came up, and i produce a lot of eggs so i don't know why that was

i wouldn't do more than 4 or 5 iui's at the most, probably move on after 3

Re: How many IUIs before moving to IVF? **Updated with more questions**

I believe your doctor might limit your clomid cycles to 3. Not sure why.