https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 10 Apr 2026 08:05:48 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/treatment-options#post-1758025 Mon, 14 Jul 2014 15:32:14 +0000 Shutterbug 1758025@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PurplePumps: I have to say, even though I wasn't successful with IVF (yet), it was really a relief to know that we were capable of creating embryos naturally (well, in a petri dish :silly: ) Good luck to you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/treatment-options#post-1757539 Mon, 14 Jul 2014 13:42:21 +0000 mrswin 1757539@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PurplePumps: My RE is of a similar opinion to yours especially because we are paying 100% out of pocket and have some MFI issues. Like you said at least this way we know that sperm + egg=embryo </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/treatment-options#post-1757237 Mon, 14 Jul 2014 12:25:00 +0000 PurplePumps 1757237@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ShootingStar: Many people get pregnant on just Clomid, or just Femera, or with their first IUI, or whatever other combination of drugs there are, who knows. It's really up to chance on what works for who imo. At this point, not knowing where's its going wrong and really leaving it up to chance, I'm just sick of it. At least with IVF I'd know I have fertilized eggs to start with. My first round is covered by insurance and cost isn't really an issue anyway. It's the highest chance I got, so I'm going for that. I was ready for this 6 months ago as it was. I'm just tired of trying different things and not knowing where in the process things go wrong and not having something to fix and just in whatever it takes mode to make this happen now mode. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/treatment-options#post-1756689 Mon, 14 Jul 2014 09:09:05 +0000 ShootingStar 1756689@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PurplePumps: I'd have to disagree with your RE. I got pregnant with Femara + Gonal-F and TI. No need for IVF. Femara got my eggs going and the Gonal-F was the final push I needed to get a mature egg in a reasonable time frame (instead of ovulating really late and having bad egg quality). The Gonal-F really wasn't all that expensive, and of course WAY cheaper than an IVF cycle. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/treatment-options#post-1756548 Mon, 14 Jul 2014 08:27:38 +0000 Happygal 1756548@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Jump Rope: just seeing this, and thanks! :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/treatment-options#post-1745611 Tue, 08 Jul 2014 13:21:11 +0000 Mrs. Jump Rope 1745611@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Happygal: how did I miss this?! CONGRATS!!!!</p> <p>My insurance company covered IF treatments. Despite my diagnosis of PCOS and anovulation, my insurance company billed/coded it as "unexplained infertility". So, if you ever see that don't freak out! I did the first time :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/treatment-options#post-1745530 Tue, 08 Jul 2014 12:49:35 +0000 PurplePumps 1745530@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Happygal: I'm so happy it worked for you! You're probably right that it has something to do with coverage. My insurance will probably cover one round of ivf at this point and 2-3 rounds of the meds and wanted to make the most of it before using to much coverage on the iuis. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/treatment-options#post-1745336 Tue, 08 Jul 2014 11:24:22 +0000 Happygal 1745336@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PurplePumps: ha! I see your RE's point, but I'm not sure if we would have pursued IVF-it would have been all out of pocket for us, along with a few other factors. My lining didn't improve much on Femara either, so we moved on to injectables to help with that. I'm almost 12 weeks pregnant from injectables and IUI, so it worked for me! I did get the sense that my RE would have encouraged IVF much earlier if we had insurance coverage. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/treatment-options#post-1745193 Tue, 08 Jul 2014 10:44:57 +0000 PurplePumps 1745193@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Happygal: My RE strongly suggests against using injetables unless doing IVF! She feels that with all the $ and effort put into so much stronger meds, why not control the steps more closely and at least ensure fertilization and since we have no idea where things go wrong for us, we agree. I've read a lot of success stories with injectables and iui though! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/treatment-options#post-1745158 Tue, 08 Jul 2014 10:34:06 +0000 Happygal 1745158@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It's always interesting how REs differ in their advice. My RE thought TI was fine with Clomid/Femara, but encouraged an IUI with injectables since those are so much more time and $$. </p> <p>My RE started with Clomid for me. It was cheap and the noticeable side effects were minimal, but it wiped out my lining (which is just one reason why I'm always encouraging people to be closely monitored during medicated cycles!) Femara was MUCH more expensive for me, and although they know it's effective, it hasn't been approved as a fertility med.</p> <p>Good luck making your decision. I hope the info they give you can give you a good idea of what your next steps might be for you and your husband. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/treatment-options#post-1744679 Tue, 08 Jul 2014 08:06:41 +0000 Snowdrop 1744679@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was told IUI doesn't increase odds unless MF is an issue so I'd deffo save money there. We discussed ovulation drugs and if it had come to that we would have used femara as I have cm and lining issues anyway due to weak O. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/treatment-options#post-1744645 Tue, 08 Jul 2014 07:55:48 +0000 LindsayInNY 1744645@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have unexplained IF but I was told that if a "normal" couple has a 20-25% chance of getting pregnant, at this point, given how long it's been, our chances have significantly gone down. I was told that Clomid with IUI brings our odds back up to that level. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/treatment-options#post-1743146 Mon, 07 Jul 2014 12:53:59 +0000 Jenn23 1743146@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>IUI's generally only help for MFI as a few others mentioned above. If your diagnosis is unexplained and his swimmers are good or great, IUI's may not increase your odds. But you can definitely try Clomid or Femara. I had three follicles both Clomid rounds that I did. I've heard Femara is better as far as side effects go, so perhaps you could try that one. Hope you get answers and a game plan soon!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/treatment-options#post-1742182 Sun, 06 Jul 2014 21:38:13 +0000 twoofeverything 1742182@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We were basically offered those options, although our was explained. We did 2 months of oral meds and TI, (chem pregnancy and then a cancelled cycle due to poor response from the Femara). Then we did two IUIs, followed by IVF and an FET. Our clinic was great about starting with baby steps. Feel free to wall me if you have any questions! It was incredibly hard but absolutely worth it :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/treatment-options#post-1742177 Sun, 06 Jul 2014 21:26:45 +0000 bhbee 1742177@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I never had a clinic that used femara but I wish I had been able to. I did 8 rounds of clomid between two ttcs and always had ugly side effects. And it thinned my lining too, my last iui seemed really pointless for that reason.</p> <p>Unexplained is hard. You have to do what you feel comfortable with. Advocate for yourself, it's your body and your emotions! Not to mention your money ... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/treatment-options#post-1742155 Sun, 06 Jul 2014 21:00:02 +0000 PurplePumps 1742155@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@babycanuck: According to my RE, IUI has slightly better chances, but not by much if your DH has good swimmers. I would let cost be the deciding factor. If it was upwards of a grand, I think I'd do TI and put that toward more aggressive treatment if it came to that. If it a few hundred, I'd give it a shot.</p> <p>Clomid and Femera do the same thing, cause your body to create more estrogen. Clomid does it by blocking estrogen receptors so that you create more. Femera does it by actually suppressing an enzyme that converts androgens into estrogens so the body works harder to produce more. According to my RE, statistically, they have the same success rate, but one may work for some and not others and vice versa.</p> <p>I had 4 rounds of Clomid, (3 of which caused me to ovulate), but didn't get pregnant. I'm on my second round of Femera now. I've kind of been deciding what I'm comfortable with along the way while discussing it with my RE. I pushed for IUIs when she said TI should work for us. I suggested to move on to Femera, and will be deciding on my 'final' try next month if not successful to medicate again or do a natural cycle before moving on to IVF. I think the doctors can make their best suggestions, but it's all just a shot in the dark imo, esp for unexplained, so go at a pace and do what you're comfortable with. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/treatment-options#post-1742065 Sun, 06 Jul 2014 18:56:35 +0000 spaniellove 1742065@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@babycanuck: Haha my cervix is bizarre. Two different clinics unknowingly couldn't get the little catheter through my cervix. But if you had a cervix like that, at some point in the testing you'd realize it, don't worry! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/treatment-options#post-1742061 Sun, 06 Jul 2014 18:51:17 +0000 babycanuck 1742061@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>p.s. I would totally be okay with multiples. Twins run in my family - there are fraternal and identical sets (3 sets altogether) so that part of clomid doesn't scare me :P </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/treatment-options#post-1742056 Sun, 06 Jul 2014 18:48:11 +0000 babycanuck 1742056@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@spaniellove: Done WRONG?! HOW?!</p> <p>OH man more stuff to worry about. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/treatment-options#post-1741979 Sun, 06 Jul 2014 17:12:01 +0000 FaithFertility 1741979@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@spaniellove: Your IUIs were done wrong...girl get your money back! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/treatment-options#post-1741977 Sun, 06 Jul 2014 17:00:41 +0000 travelgirl1 1741977@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If you are ovulating normally I would do IUI to give yourself better odds. I think meds will only help if you're not ovulating, and from what my RE told me, clomid can thin your lining. She said femera is good if you only want one egg and there are fewer side effects. Clomid gives you odds of more eggs but nasty side effects. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/treatment-options#post-1741974 Sun, 06 Jul 2014 16:56:18 +0000 spaniellove 1741974@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My (second) RE said that if there wasn't a significant MFI issue he didn't recommend IUI. He even said a second IVF was a waste of money without a reason for doing it. Our later SAs showed less of a MFI issue so I ended up going the meds/trigger/TI route and that's what worked for us.</p> <p>ETA: 3 IUIs and 1 IVF didn't work for us...the IUIs were all done wrong so it's not always more effective than TI. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/treatment-options#post-1741886 Sun, 06 Jul 2014 14:52:25 +0000 LindsayInNY 1741886@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My RE recommended Clomid, trigger shot and IUI as our next step. I asked about TI instead and he basically said he didn't see a point in going that far and then stopping short of IUI. I would've also ended up paying just as much on the Clomid monitoring. So we went with the RE's recommendation! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/treatment-options#post-1741810 Sun, 06 Jul 2014 13:20:53 +0000 babycanuck 1741810@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks for the input, everyone, I really appreciate it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/treatment-options#post-1741801 Sun, 06 Jul 2014 13:13:29 +0000 Trailmix 1741801@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would def do IUI if it's an option, it's so minimally invasive and easy and it ups your chances of getting KU so why not?? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/treatment-options#post-1741714 Sun, 06 Jul 2014 11:36:03 +0000 winter_wonder 1741714@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@babycanuck: I can tell you what my RE said about Clomid vs. Femara. </p> <p>She said that she likes to prescribe Femara because she sees fewer negative side effects in patients. Also, as @faithfertility mentioned, there aren't issues with the thinning of the lining. In addition, I've also read that it doesn't dry out your cervical mucus as much and the risk of multiples is lower.</p> <p>My old OBGYN was going to prescribe me Clomid before I switched to an RE. I've been taking Femara for two days now (at night to minimize any possible side effects). I haven't experienced any issues. I would definitely ask your RE about their preferences in prescribing one or the other. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/treatment-options#post-1741704 Sun, 06 Jul 2014 11:27:38 +0000 FaithFertility 1741704@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@babycanuck: I would do IUI if it is not to costly upfront as @bluestriped bee: said it helps his guys a smidge and places them further them TI</p> <p>I ws never given femara as an option, so I am not too sure on whxh is better, although I know a side effect of clomid is thinning of the linning, I don't think that happens with femara? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/treatment-options#post-1741681 Sun, 06 Jul 2014 10:54:22 +0000 BSB 1741681@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Well, IUIs are slightly better than TI because they take his guys and the process it so the best of guys are put into you. So you have a slightly higher chance at getting pregnant. You also get to know how many million sperm there is and other info on the sperm quality.</p> <p>As for clomid versus femera. It depends on the clinic. My first clinic used femera and never had the chance to try clomid. My current clinic uses both but it was up to me. I used clomid one time for the clomid challenge test and I hated the side effects. I was dizzy and felt really off on them. I'm so glad my clinic let me go back to femera when starting my IUIs.<br /> I'm pretty trustful of doctors so I usually go ahead with what they suggest. It was until, I was getting more and more frustrated my my last clinic that I decided to switch. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/treatment-options#post-1741633 Sun, 06 Jul 2014 10:12:31 +0000 mrswin 1741633@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@babycanuck: I have tried to answer your questions below</p> <p>Would you push to try a month or two with meds/trigger/TI? That is really up to you and your DH. We moved on to IUI because we had minor MF and wanted to increase our chances.</p> <p>If you did, someone help me out with the differences between clomid and femara? Is one better than the other? Most people I know who did clomid it didn't help in any way, and femara did, but again, I don't know anything.<br /> I used Femera but that is mostly because the original RE suggested that it would be better for me because Clomid can aggravate my Endo</p> <p>Would you just go with what the RE says? I would take the RE's advice as far as next steps but if you are not comfortable with something they will allow you to decide what to do and when. As an example if you want to do one more TI cycle before moving on to IUI then let them know that.</p> <p>What else might you ask? What is their process for IUI's (i.e. what time of day is it done, how much monitoring is involved, what is the cost, etc). Is there any other testing they would recommend if the IUI's are not successful? </p> <p>I would probably have additional questions based on your test results. Feel free to wall me once you have them </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/treatment-options#post-1741607 Sun, 06 Jul 2014 09:22:30 +0000 babycanuck 1741607@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I know I'm totally overthinking things. I am trying to figure out how to prep myself for results in a couple of weeks with the RE.</p> <p>Obviously at this point I don't know the issue, but what would do you:</p> <p>They tell you it's still unexplained. You should move forward with IUI.</p> <p>Would you push to try a month or two with meds/trigger/TI?</p> <p>If you did, someone help me out with the differences between clomid and femara? Is one better than the other? Most people I know who did clomid it didn't help in any way, and femara did, but again, I don't know anything.</p> <p>Would you just go with what the RE says?</p> <p>What else might you ask? </p>