Infertility Support Group

In vitro fertilization is one of the most common and utilized ways of treating conception problems. This support group is dedicated to those beginning their journey with IVF and needing support. Join the community and share your experiences, advice, and story with people going through similar challenges starting a family.

2,817 Members

29,973 Posts

0 Online

JHibler 01/02/2015

My husband and I have been through all the testing necessary to come to the conclusion that we cannot conceive without help. My doctor strongly suggested IVF although I could try that or fertility injections. I'm leaning more toward the injections because they're about 1/3 of the cost of IVF and it seems like the less invasive option.

Has anyone chosen one over the other for better reasons that I've come up with? Also, how much time is necessary at the doctor's office for fertility injections?

endowife 01/02/2015

We chose IVF over injections and got preggers. The odds of injections working is much lower and also time was a factor for us.

I was 34 at the time, hubs was 39 so we knew we wanted to get pregnant faster rather than later. IUI for example is successful only 16% of the time versus IVF with an embryo is like 45% or with a blastocyst is about 60% success. So imagine doing injections with IUI vs. IVF for multiple cycles (it typically takes more than one cycle), probability of getting pregnant in 3 cycles is:

40% for IUI
94% for IVF with a blastocyst

hmmmm...yeah. Why stick yourself with needles and get all stressed out about getting pregnant for a long long time? That was our thinking.

Hope this helps, cost isn't everything. I haven't met someone who got pregnant with injections or IUI, but I'm sure they are out there. I have met dozens of women who got pregnant with IVF.

JHibler 01/04/2015

That does help, thank you! That is making me re-think my original decision.

jhesterm 01/08/2015

I think it really depends on what you can afford and what your diagnosis is by your doctor. Usually most of the tests to determine infertility will be covered by your insurance so before you get talked into one way or another I would make sure to get a Semen Analysis (morphology AND motility), HSG, Saline test, blood work, and anything else your insurance will pay for. You didn't say what type of workup you've had done so it's hard to say what you should do without knowing the specifics.

If you haven't had these tests done then they can give you a more detailed picture of what is causing your infertility. A lot of hormone problems can be fixed with drugs and supplements. Why pay for IVF when you could take something for 3 months and get pregnant naturally?

Also, without knowing your specifics, I am surprised that your doctor is giving you only the option of injections v. IVF. I would seek a second opinion. Our doctor's policy was do the least invasive and least expensive treatment options first. Unless money is of no issue, least invasive is best to try first. If shelling out 15k is fine for you, or if you happen to live in a state, or have an insurance policy that covers it, then go for IVF.

Join the Conversation