I had my follow up RE appointment today after all the blood tests and SIS. Besides my vitamin D being a bit low (which I've already been treating for 6 weeks), they couldn't find anything wrong with me. So, the doctor says I have "unexplained female infertility." Which is clearly the best kind because it gives me SO many answers. I mentioned how I had gotten pregnant after a month of trying last time and now I can't get pregnant...is this a thing? He said that happens quite often with couples he sees, or vice versa (hard time conceiving #1, no trouble with #2 or #3.)
In any case, he said the next step would be to start on Clomid with IUI. I hate the idea of them using a catheter again, but the nurse said she had the IUI done and insisted there was no pain. It all seems like a very involved, complicated process. The RE is a little over an hour's drive away from where I live, so the idea of DH and I going in for the IUI at the last minute sounds stressful.
I want any and all opinions, trials, successes, etc. with Clomid users! Was this as stressful as it sounds? Any tips? Advice? Did your insurance pay for the IUI, or if not, were you able to find other financial aid? (Doc says it costs about $800.)
Thanks, all. I haven't even talked to DH yet (he's at work), but I feel like I want to go ahead with this if I'm not pregnant this month. There's still some anxiety there, but if this is what I have to do...
I saw this under recents. I just wanted to suggest that you ask these questions on TTTC as there are several ladies over there who have experience with IUIs and clomid.
I did clomid (no IUI) with metformin for PCOS. It was successful and I didn't experience any side effects that I recall. IUI was covered under my old insurance but I think that's actually pretty rare in Texas (crappy overall fertility coverage in this state).
I did 3 IUI's with Clomid (1 of which was Clomid + injects). I didn't have any issues with Clomid except for hot flashes. I took it at night before I went to bed. It's pretty straightforward - I would take it cd3 through cd7. That may vary though. IUI's aren't painful. Just a little bit of cramping was all I had. No biggie. The most painful thing for me was the random appointments. I would usually go in cd12 for a follicle check, but if you're not ready then they want to see you again and if you're not ready they want to see you again. I couldn't really schedule ahead of time. I had to be able to go in with a day or two notice. So that was annoying.
No good anecdotal story from me. None of my IUI's were successful and we're now moving on to FET #2.
I'm on my second round of Clomid right now. We're aren't doing IUI though, just timed intercourse. The Clomid hasn't been that bad, although I was extra weepy the first month. My insurance doesn't cover anything fertility related. The actual Clomid script cost under $20, which was no big deal. This month I have to do monitoring ultrasounds, which will be kind of a pain to work into my schedule at the last minute, but I'm fortunate that I have a fairly flexible job. Good luck. I hope you find something that works!
Sounds like we are on a similar schedule. I also plan to do my first IUI next cycle and fall into the "unexplained" camp. So fun, right?
My doc is putting me on Femara rather than clomid as he said he sees less side effects from that med. I am nervous about it too, especially that it doesn't really have an increased chances of success compared to trying on our own, which is a bummer.
My insurance will cover IUI, and my doc said it would be around $425 per cycle, so if we did 6 cycles it would be $2600. So at least it's a lot less than IVF.