If you had IUI/Timed Intercourse, how often did you have to go in for monitoring? (Ultrasounds)
-
You talking about ultrasound or bloodwork? Or both?
My office (or dr) only does day 3 bloodwork every 6 months and no bloodwork during the IUI. I do come in for day 10/11 ultrasound. I may come in on day 13/14 ultrasound if my follicles weren't big enough on day 10/11.
-
@bluestriped bee: U/S.. I'll clarify in OP.
-
It varied by cycle. The first cycle I went in 3 times, and the next 3 cycles I only went in once. It's all about how well you respond to the medication, and I think you can expect more monitoring appointments the first time because they're not sure what to expect from you.
ETA: I voted 2, but that was my quick guess, then I checked my charts and I had forgotten I usually only went once! In contrast, for my first IVF cycle I had 5 monitoring appointments.
-
@littlek: Can you add a 'depends' option? Usually it's just one ultrasound but based on meds, I might need more.
Going off of @Shutterbug:'s comment, my first IUI cycle had only one ultrasound because I was on a standard femera does that ended up being too high for me. So my follicles were large enough on day 10 ultrasound. I triggered on the same day and had the IUI the next day.
The femera caused me to have a possible cyst or left over follicle that following month so they suggested lowering my femera dose so I don't overstimulate.
After I was on the lower dose, that's when I had to come in for a second ultrasound because my follicles on day 10 ultrasound was not quite big enough.
-
@bluestriped bee: @Shutterbug: The reason I'm asking is that they are quoting me a flat $1,600 fee for unlimited monitoring or $450 per time.
-
@littlek: well, I'm convinced that your insurance will be covering it
but if they don't, I would go with the $450 per time, because I don't think you'll end up going more than 3 times (and $1600 is only worth it if you go 4+ times). If you weren't consistently ovulating then I'd say you may end up going back a bunch of times and messing with your dosage (people with PCOS, for example), but since you are ovulating and your dx is unexplained (mine too) then I'd say plan to pay per time.
-
@Shutterbug: That's what I was thinking.
-
I tended to go in around 6 times on a TI cycle and then 1 more time to check for progesterone. And yes I always ovulated.
-
Hmm, I definitely went in more than 3 times for ultrasounds during my IUI cycle.
-
I went in 3 times for TI monitoring when I was on Clomid or Femara. For IUI with injectibles I went in 9 times for my first IUI and 8 times for my second.
-
2-3x for clomid cycles (I've been ovulating on my own too). CD3 to ensure no cysts and good to go forward. CD11 for first follicle check. the first time I had to go back on CD13 because they wanted to see more growth, and I triggered that day. the second time they had me trigger the next day on CD12 so only 2 visits total. I ovulate later on my own but with monitoring they can see to trigger at a certain size which is why they start checking earlier.
for TI I think they would be less worried about the precise timing so it would more be a check to see how you responded, i.e. how many follicles? for IUI they may want to time things exactly which is why I ended up with the extra visit. all REs are different though.
bottom line I think you only go in a lot if you are doing heavier stimulation where they need to watch you closely. I really hope you end up with coverage . . . I am betting you will. it's just a disaster, I have good coverage but I hear different things every time I talk to a new person or from insurance vs RE's office.
-
Last cycle I had 2 ultrasounds (baseline and CD10) but I was doing a sequential cycle of femara CD3-7 and gonal-f CD7-10. I had poor response, so called off the cycle, but likely would have had at least one more if not.
This cycle I'm doing a straight FSH cycle (gonal-f CD3-?), and so far have had 4 scheduled (baseline, CD7, CD9, and will have another tomorrow on CD11). Each ultrasound appointment I've been in and out in about 10 mins, but of course, it costs $250 each time out of pocket.
My understanding is you need a lot more monitoring the more meds you're on, so I would take that into consideration when picking which option to go with. You might just want to do the $450 option for now, since I wouldn't think you'd have more than 3 ultrasounds?
-
My IUI cycles I go in:
CD3 u/s blood work
CD12 u/s before trigger
and again
CD21 just for b/w to check progestrone!
I was taking clomid -
@littlek: Seems like your insurance should cover it. Have you checked with them?
-
All my visits include blood and u/s. Day 5 baseline. Day 11/12 to check follicle growth (which for me is most likely going to be small cause my body just moves so slow). Then follow up a few days later pending those results.
-
I always had to go several times for my TI cycles because I was a poor responder. I've honestly lost track since it was a while ago now, but as much as 6 or 7 some cycles. But again, I'm not good at responding to meds and I have PCOS.
When we were considering IUI with injectables they gave us an info sheet that explained how often monitoring was and the pricing - my RE has kind of a flat rate pricing for IUIs and the monitoring. And the monitoring was WAY more than what I was doing on oral meds. I don't remember specifics but I know I was a little horrified. I don't know how anyone holds down a job while going through that.
-
2-3 times. Baseline, day 11/12 and depending on how well I responded, I might have had a 3rd.
-
@littlek: once per cycle. They had me OPKs at home starting on CD12 and through CD15. If I detected a positive surge I went in for same day bloodwork & ultrasound. If I didn't detect a surge, I went in on CD16 for bw & u/s
-
@Mrs. Jump Rope: I was talking to DH and he doesn't see the point of timed intercourse and asked what the difference was from what we are already doing. Not sure what to tell him.
-
@littlek: I didn't ovulate on my own, so I need need clomid to make that happen. Once in my cycle I needed Ovidrel to induce ovulation.
I liked the TI cycles. If I went based on CM alone, I never would have timed anything correctly. And, OPKs weren't 100% accurate for me. The cycle I got pregnant I had a positive OPK and when I went in for monitoring we discovered that I was close, but not AT a surge point. That was the one cycle I went back in the following morning (I normally was monitored 1x/cycle) & we detected that I did surge overnight. I wouldn't have timed anything properly if I'd gone off OPKs alone.
I liked that it was perfectly timed, no questions asked, no guessing games.
I also like that my RE could pinpoint conception.
-
@Mrs. Jump Rope: I wonder if it would be as beneficial for me since I ovulate at my own, consistently at day 14. I've had CD21 testing to confirm ovulation.
-
@littlek: I'd ask! My gut tells me that if you take clomid you'll O later.
You generally surge 4-7 days after the last pill.
but if they don't, I would go with the $450 per time, because I don't think you'll end up going more than 3 times (and $1600 is only worth it if you go 4+ times). If you weren't consistently ovulating then I'd say you may end up going back a bunch of times and messing with your dosage (people with PCOS, for example), but since you are ovulating and your dx is unexplained (mine too) then I'd say plan to pay per time.
Reply
Subscribe to our newsletter
- Google Plus
- Stumbleupon
- Twitter
- Facebook
- Pinterest
- Favorite0
22 comments