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.
Hi everyone,
I just joined this discussion group. We waited until last year to try to have kids -- I was going to grad school and we were moving around, trying to find secure jobs (get health insurance, and all that). For about 1 year and 4 mo. we've been trying to get pregnant. No luck. Before we started trying I did a check up at the gyn. Everything looked good. No ovarian cycts. Normal blood work. Just moved to MD and got a new gyn. Told her we'd been trying for more than a year. She said to try another 3 mo. and then come back and she'd prescribe Clomid. Didn't like her much... and didn't like her idea to wait another 3 mo. before trying anything.
About 3 mo. later I sought out a fertility clinic. The doc is one of the friendliest and most competent specialists I've ever come across. His degree from Johns Hopkins and he's in his early 50s, w a lot of experience. Asked my husband to do a sperm wash and I did blood work (to check hormone levels) and an HSG. Everything looks o.k. For years, I've worried that I may have endometriosis, but I've never had it verified.
My question is about what to do next. The doc is saying that, for the quickest and best results, we should just go straight ahead and do in vitro. He says we could do a laparoscopy to check for endometriosis, but the procedure may or may not give us more info. And if he finds and removed scar tissue ... that may or may not solve the problem. He says that taking Clomid would increase my monthly fertility chances from about 18% to about 25% per cycle. And it wouldn't help if there are any undiagnosed problems. My health insurance covers IVF, so this would be the most effective course of action. He says that his office has a 40% pregnancy success rate per IVF. His logic sounds convincing to me.
But my husband is suspicious. He thinks that docs always want to start out with surgery because "that's how they make money." I want to get pregnant soon. The clock is ticking. What do you think? Is IVF a good first treatment, or should it be reserved for later, after other things have been tried?
I just joined this discussion group. We waited until last year to try to have kids -- I was going to grad school and we were moving around, trying to find secure jobs (get health insurance, and all that). For about 1 year and 4 mo. we've been trying to get pregnant. No luck. Before we started trying I did a check up at the gyn. Everything looked good. No ovarian cycts. Normal blood work. Just moved to MD and got a new gyn. Told her we'd been trying for more than a year. She said to try another 3 mo. and then come back and she'd prescribe Clomid. Didn't like her much... and didn't like her idea to wait another 3 mo. before trying anything.
About 3 mo. later I sought out a fertility clinic. The doc is one of the friendliest and most competent specialists I've ever come across. His degree from Johns Hopkins and he's in his early 50s, w a lot of experience. Asked my husband to do a sperm wash and I did blood work (to check hormone levels) and an HSG. Everything looks o.k. For years, I've worried that I may have endometriosis, but I've never had it verified.
My question is about what to do next. The doc is saying that, for the quickest and best results, we should just go straight ahead and do in vitro. He says we could do a laparoscopy to check for endometriosis, but the procedure may or may not give us more info. And if he finds and removed scar tissue ... that may or may not solve the problem. He says that taking Clomid would increase my monthly fertility chances from about 18% to about 25% per cycle. And it wouldn't help if there are any undiagnosed problems. My health insurance covers IVF, so this would be the most effective course of action. He says that his office has a 40% pregnancy success rate per IVF. His logic sounds convincing to me.
But my husband is suspicious. He thinks that docs always want to start out with surgery because "that's how they make money." I want to get pregnant soon. The clock is ticking. What do you think? Is IVF a good first treatment, or should it be reserved for later, after other things have been tried?
The problem i that the insurance didn't cover it bc we didn't have 3 IUIs done 1st AND the 1st IVF cycle didn't work.
So....after having to pay for one cycle (and we were so sure it will work) and pretty much being emotionally devastated, i am back to doing IUIs so i can at least try to get something paid by my insurance and so that i can be emotionally ready to do another IVF and know that i have done everything else before doing IVF again.
So... don't regret doing IVF and the only reason i am back to IUIs is b/c of insurance problems and financial reasons.
Good luck!
I'm going to start today by having them do a thorough check of my health coverage and make sure that there aren't any conditions / qualifiers related to whether the IVF would be covered. If we had to pay for it myself, we couldn't justify the expense of making it the first step. From what I read in my packet, our insurance will cover three IVFs. But I have to find out the details. I'll let you know what we decide to do.
That's great that your insurance covers three courses of IVF. I was 38 when I started TTC, and was lucky to be successful without treatment. Now that I am 41 (nearly 42), and trying to have another, I have run up against a brick wall of ovarian aging... I know all about waiting too long, but for me it was because I hadn't met the right person to have kids with until then. So we have moved on to IVF. I tried one IUI cycle, but I think if I were to do it at your age, I might try a couple more cycles with injectable medications before moving to IVF. But I wouldn't wait long, especially if you want to have more than one child.
Good luck!!