Well, the big cons are $$ and keeping my sanity intact. My lowest moments from the past year come from IVF and its aftermath. I have a feeling I'm setting myself up for massive disappointment. My aborted IVF last July/Aug really did a number on me. Likewise, having 7 follicles and only getting 2 mature eggs/embryos in Oct.
The upside is that it has the potential to work. But I'm not sure the odds are in my favor for that happening... I didn't badger Dr. G into this cycle, but she didn't suggest it, either.
Hm. I decided to skip the intentional IUIs because everything I read indicated that IUIs are less successful the closer a woman gets to 40, and encouraged women close to 40 to go straight to IVF. And I was getting emotionally exhausted. I really, really needed better odds. But I was/am much closer to giving up ttc than you are.
It is really a tough decision. I am of course now biased since I did finally get that bfp, and with just two good eggs, so it really made all the difference for me. I had three for the IUI/cancelled IVF before, and that didn't work.
But the money. Yes, that really does sting. Does your insurance cover any of it?
InB, the $$ is actually the least of my concerns at this point (no my insurance doesn't cover IVF or IUI, but I do have great drug coverage).
I've actually never heard that about IVF vs IUI. My understanding was that it largely has to do with diagnosis; IVF works great for women with tubal problems and partners with sperm problems. It's not a great option for women with ovulatory problems and/or diminished ovarian reserve. Dr. G told me a while ago she didn't think it had much advantage for me...
And one more thing: you'll never know, but there's a good chance you would have conceived this cycle no matter what you did. Clearly the "right" egg popped up. Everything I've read indicates that IUIs that are cancelled/converted IVFs have very low success rate (vs. "intentional" IUI) due to the issue that causes the poor IVF stim in the first place (i.e. poor egg quality). That's the other thing that scares me, though less so now that Menopur has been taken out of my protocol...
My story was all IUI and I'm older than you. The only time IVF was mentioned at my clinic was when I brought it up and my doctor said in my case, it wouldn't necessarily change my odds because I was getting pregnant with IUI - it would just cost more. I'm sorry - I know that doesn't help your decision. I can't imagine how frustrated you must be. I was pretty frustrated with my short-lived success of 3 losses in a row when in reality I was responding well and should have been more grateful at the time. The only thing I can offer if it is of any help to you is left over meds. I have Ganirelix and Gonal-F I would love to donate to you!! I think I have 4 vials of Ganirelix and 2 of Gonal-F. I know you've used the Ganirelix in the past. They are all yours if you want them. Anything to help. My other thought is a second doctor's opinion but I know that is typically a long process and probably not one that you want to endure. Does Dr G work alone? Even another doctor in her practice - another pair of eyes? Sorry. I wish I could be more help.
I've also gotten pregnant 3 (or 4?) times from IUI, so believe me I'm not knocking low tech! What I'm hoping is that an IVF protocol (i.e. upping stims from ~150 to 600) will get me more follicles, which can't be a bad thing whether or not I get enough to proceed to IVF. But IVF failure is SO much worse psychologically than IUI failure.
Thanks for the drug offer, truly. I'd rather it go to someone who doesn't have coverage.
If you've been able to get pregnant with IUI, I'd be really hesitant to fork over the thousands for IVF, but that's just me. I know that you've been through enough already, and maybe going to IVF is what you need to do in order to assure yourself that you're doing everything possible.
Yea, you are right Gwinne. I might have just finally gotten the right egg and the technology wouldn't have made any difference. But since my husband is close to 60, the ICSI might have helped our tired gametes find each other and make friends. Who knows.
I can't remember where I read the recommendation about trying fewer IUIs in older women, so that should be taken with a grain of salt. At the time, I was also looking for answers, and that pushed me over to IVF, which I was already leaning towards anyway.
From all of this, it sounds like you might be better off with the IUI option.
InB, what you say about your own situation makes sense; addressing *sperm* issues is a major benefit of IVF.
The thing is....I'm not getting pregnant. Last definite pregnancy was May 2009, with another likely loss (acc. Dr. G) in December. The fact that I *can* conceive via IUI doesn't mean that it's the best course of action right now. What I don't think I want to put myself through is more highly stimulated IUIs...and natural cycles have very low chances of success. I can't go on like this for much longer, and I can't mentally get my head around donor egg until I've given my body a chance at a good cycle. I think the best shot at that is IVF...
Ok, so I think maybe you should bring in the heavy guns. I don't know much about various dosages (you understand this much better than I do), etc., but if I were you I might mentally prepare not to get too many more follicles than you get with IUI stims (and hopefully be very, very pleasantly surprised). Then, let the technology cross that fertilization hurdle for you. That just leaves your body to do the implantation part.
I'm very pro-technology generally speaking, so take that bias into consideration. But if the money is not a deciding factor, then why not do the IVF? ICSI might even increase the fertilization rate even more. Maybe you'll even end up with a couple of embryos to freeze.
The stress of that retrieval and transfer week really sucks, but knowing that you have fertilized eggs inside is a huge step closer to the goal.
After my IUI I spent hours and hours convincing myself that we screwed up the timing. And since the window on the egg gets shorter and shorter as you get older, this just really really freaked me out. With IVF, I knew we didn't screw up the timing.
But damn, it is really freaking stressful. All of it is though. All of it is so less than ideal...
Why not? What are the pros and cons for you?
ReplyDeleteWell, the big cons are $$ and keeping my sanity intact. My lowest moments from the past year come from IVF and its aftermath. I have a feeling I'm setting myself up for massive disappointment. My aborted IVF last July/Aug really did a number on me. Likewise, having 7 follicles and only getting 2 mature eggs/embryos in Oct.
ReplyDeleteThe upside is that it has the potential to work. But I'm not sure the odds are in my favor for that happening... I didn't badger Dr. G into this cycle, but she didn't suggest it, either.
Hm. I decided to skip the intentional IUIs because everything I read indicated that IUIs are less successful the closer a woman gets to 40, and encouraged women close to 40 to go straight to IVF. And I was getting emotionally exhausted. I really, really needed better odds. But I was/am much closer to giving up ttc than you are.
ReplyDeleteIt is really a tough decision. I am of course now biased since I did finally get that bfp, and with just two good eggs, so it really made all the difference for me. I had three for the IUI/cancelled IVF before, and that didn't work.
But the money. Yes, that really does sting. Does your insurance cover any of it?
InB, the $$ is actually the least of my concerns at this point (no my insurance doesn't cover IVF or IUI, but I do have great drug coverage).
ReplyDeleteI've actually never heard that about IVF vs IUI. My understanding was that it largely has to do with diagnosis; IVF works great for women with tubal problems and partners with sperm problems. It's not a great option for women with ovulatory problems and/or diminished ovarian reserve. Dr. G told me a while ago she didn't think it had much advantage for me...
And one more thing: you'll never know, but there's a good chance you would have conceived this cycle no matter what you did. Clearly the "right" egg popped up. Everything I've read indicates that IUIs that are cancelled/converted IVFs have very low success rate (vs. "intentional" IUI) due to the issue that causes the poor IVF stim in the first place (i.e. poor egg quality). That's the other thing that scares me, though less so now that Menopur has been taken out of my protocol...
ReplyDeleteMy story was all IUI and I'm older than you. The only time IVF was mentioned at my clinic was when I brought it up and my doctor said in my case, it wouldn't necessarily change my odds because I was getting pregnant with IUI - it would just cost more. I'm sorry - I know that doesn't help your decision. I can't imagine how frustrated you must be. I was pretty frustrated with my short-lived success of 3 losses in a row when in reality I was responding well and should have been more grateful at the time. The only thing I can offer if it is of any help to you is left over meds. I have Ganirelix and Gonal-F I would love to donate to you!! I think I have 4 vials of Ganirelix and 2 of Gonal-F. I know you've used the Ganirelix in the past. They are all yours if you want them. Anything to help. My other thought is a second doctor's opinion but I know that is typically a long process and probably not one that you want to endure. Does Dr G work alone? Even another doctor in her practice - another pair of eyes? Sorry. I wish I could be more help.
ReplyDeleteI've also gotten pregnant 3 (or 4?) times from IUI, so believe me I'm not knocking low tech! What I'm hoping is that an IVF protocol (i.e. upping stims from ~150 to 600) will get me more follicles, which can't be a bad thing whether or not I get enough to proceed to IVF. But IVF failure is SO much worse psychologically than IUI failure.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the drug offer, truly. I'd rather it go to someone who doesn't have coverage.
If you've been able to get pregnant with IUI, I'd be really hesitant to fork over the thousands for IVF, but that's just me. I know that you've been through enough already, and maybe going to IVF is what you need to do in order to assure yourself that you're doing everything possible.
ReplyDeleteYea, you are right Gwinne. I might have just finally gotten the right egg and the technology wouldn't have made any difference. But since my husband is close to 60, the ICSI might have helped our tired gametes find each other and make friends. Who knows.
ReplyDeleteI can't remember where I read the recommendation about trying fewer IUIs in older women, so that should be taken with a grain of salt. At the time, I was also looking for answers, and that pushed me over to IVF, which I was already leaning towards anyway.
From all of this, it sounds like you might be better off with the IUI option.
InB, what you say about your own situation makes sense; addressing *sperm* issues is a major benefit of IVF.
ReplyDeleteThe thing is....I'm not getting pregnant. Last definite pregnancy was May 2009, with another likely loss (acc. Dr. G) in December. The fact that I *can* conceive via IUI doesn't mean that it's the best course of action right now. What I don't think I want to put myself through is more highly stimulated IUIs...and natural cycles have very low chances of success. I can't go on like this for much longer, and I can't mentally get my head around donor egg until I've given my body a chance at a good cycle. I think the best shot at that is IVF...
Oh, keep the comments coming, folks... this is really helpful in getting me to articulate what I want to do and why...
ReplyDeleteDear G,
ReplyDeleteOk, so I think maybe you should bring in the heavy guns. I don't know much about various dosages (you understand this much better than I do), etc., but if I were you I might mentally prepare not to get too many more follicles than you get with IUI stims (and hopefully be very, very pleasantly surprised). Then, let the technology cross that fertilization hurdle for you. That just leaves your body to do the implantation part.
I'm very pro-technology generally speaking, so take that bias into consideration. But if the money is not a deciding factor, then why not do the IVF? ICSI might even increase the fertilization rate even more. Maybe you'll even end up with a couple of embryos to freeze.
The stress of that retrieval and transfer week really sucks, but knowing that you have fertilized eggs inside is a huge step closer to the goal.
After my IUI I spent hours and hours convincing myself that we screwed up the timing. And since the window on the egg gets shorter and shorter as you get older, this just really really freaked me out. With IVF, I knew we didn't screw up the timing.
But damn, it is really freaking stressful. All of it is though. All of it is so less than ideal...