Too many IUI's

[psteach]

So I have been coming to these sites quite often lately looking for hope in others success stories.  I am beside myself on what to do.  I have already had 8 iui's.  Four of them were with my husband's sperm, which is not the greatest and he has a low count.  We decided to move on to a donor and on the first donor iui I was on Clomid and a trigger shot with no success.  The second donor iui (with the same donor) I finally saw a positive, however they were watching my hcg levels and were concerned that I was having a tubal, so they called me in early for an u/s.  The u/s showed everything was normal and that I was at 6 weeks, which was right where I should have been.  They were even able to get a heartbeat.  I went back a week later for a regular scheduled u/s to make sure everything was progressing and low an behold no more heartbeat.  I was crushed and decided to do a natural miscarriage.  I miscarried naturally the day before  Thanksgiving.  We then waited a few months to let my body get back to "normal" before proceeding.  I have since tried two more times with the same donor and on femara instead of clomid (forgot to mention that when the iui finally worked I had been switched to femara) and have had no success.  I am very frustrated and confused.  We really don't have the money for IVF, but if we had thought it was gonna be this hard we would have saved the money from the 8 iui's we have done.  I don't know if I should try one more iui with injectables, or take out a loan for ivf.  My doctor is not very aggressive and I feel like I have been the one making all the decisions. He has given very little input and I am considering going elsewhere.  This is the hardest thing I have gone through next to losing my mom at the age of 9.  I am not a quitter, but at this point I wish I was and I wish I didnt want a family as badly as I do; it would be much easier then!  If you have any words of encouragement I sure could use some!  I wish all of you the best in your journey to start a family and hope it goes much better than my journey!  

[psteach]

Thanks for your input.  I am 34 years old and don't have any kids.  Just had the first pregnancy with iui and donor this past October and lost it 6 weeks in.  I have made an appt. to talk with my RE in a couple of weeks.  I am going to let him know how I feel and see what he is thinking for us.  If I don't feel good about it, I am going to have to drive over an hour away to an RE that I heard was more aggressive in his approach.  I am hoping one day that all this sadness and pain is worth it!

[kris71]

if you don't feel comfortable with your current RE - then definitely look elsewhere. Do you mind me asking how old you are? I know my RE approach for me before actually starting the process (i'm 38 and have had one successful pregnancy - I'm experiencing secondary infertility now ) was to do 3 cycles of clomid and IUI, then 3 cycles of injectables and IUI and then ultimately IVF.(he told me for younger patients he might try up to 6 cycles of each - maybe this is what your RE is doing??)  HOwever, I did my first clomid/IUI and although i got 4 follicles on that cycle, my lining was thin - only reached a 7 even while on estrogen. Also, my IUI didn't work. When i went to try for a 2nd IUI, my baseline u/s showed a small ovarian cyst (probably caused by the clomid because i haven't had cysts before that i know of) so this IUI cycle had to be cancelled because I was not allowed to take stimulation meds but I had a conversation with my dr and he said based on what the clomid did to my lining and then causing the cyst, it was best to move right to injectables next cycle (should I not get pregnant naturally this cycle). He keeps telling me IVF is way down the line but if i don't get pregnant on the next IUI, i don't know if i'm going to keep doing it. My insurance pays for nothing so to keep spending almost $3K (with meds etc) is killing me. I'd rather save that money and try for IVF. Anyway - I would either have a serious discussion with your RE or look for another one. good luck - i know how heart wrenching and frustrating this is.

[mhv]

I agree with Kricket212.  I think you should get a 2nd opinion.  Also, there are places that offer financing for IVF, you can google it and find someone or a lot of feritlity clinics can tell you where to look for financing.  We all have the dream of becoming parents, and I believe if there is anyway you can afford to do so GO For it!, go for the 2nd opinion and see what they say!  
Good Luck to You and Don't Give Up!  : )

[Kricket212]

I would highly recommedn going elseware.  After 8 IUI with no results.  I would suggest doing IVF with your husbands sperm.  There really is no need to do donor sperm if infact he has some.  I know someone who just got pregnant with a husband who had no sperm & had to have it surgically removed.  It worked!!
Keep Positive & def look for another dr.  You can just get an opinion...it wont cost anything for that.  Best Wishes!!