From IVF to IUI - anyone had success? Age 40+

[Sunnydance]

As you can see from my profile, I have a son born via ivf when I was age 37. (My husband has Azoospermia and despite MTese etc no sperm avail 😭. Husband’s brother kindly donated sperm, the clinic recommended ivf based on sperm motility ⭐️)

Trying to have another child has been an ongoing challenge. A negative FET and a total of 7 ivf (5 fresh transfers). I am fit, healthy, took every supplement going, had acupuncture, read It Starts with the Egg, changed clinic - the lot.

I am now 43 and have admitted defeat, I won’t be having another go at ivf. Mainly due to financial implications and the emotional impact of the negative outcomes on the relationship with myself and my husband.

We do have quite a few straws of DS leftover, my clinic said (reluctantly) I could use these for IUI - and chance of success is same as what it would be trying naturally at this age (around 2%). I am due a refund from the clinic which will cover one round of iui so will give iui a go but realistic that chances of success are extremely slim.

I have read on this forum two people recently who’ve had successful iui (home inseminations) following failed ivf. I’ve also been reading research by Dr Bahadur (Middlesex University) who is advocating for more couples to try IUI (where possible) rather than moving to ivf without trying iui. He also suggests doing it in between rounds rather than letting an egg go.

Just wondering if there is anyone out there in a similar position and wondering if anyone has had success switching from ivf to iui? Dr Bahadur’s research would lead me to believe that the stats for iui are skewed and it can be a lot more successful than clinics would have us believe but ivf is frequently recommended by clinics because of the profit margins.

Any views/experiences/considerations appreciated.

Thank you 🙏

[Starsoutside]

Hi Sunnydance, we are currently considering going for IUI. After our last IVF failed our clinic recommended that we did not do any further IVF as the results were so bad and that if we wanted to further treatment with my own eggs then we would be as well trying IUI. Essentially our doctor said that IUI has as good a success rate as IVF in our case- not sure exactly what that was based on though. When we first went to a fertility clinic they said there was no point trying IUI as it wouldn't be better than trying naturally but I wish I had really questioned it at the time as I am not sure why they said that. I do feel sometimes so much is down to individual doctors opinions based on few facts and as you say profits do have an impact.

I would love to know if anyone has had success with this as well. I will also look up the doctor you mentioned as I think I need to do more research so thanks for this xxx

[Sunnydance in reply to Starsoutside]

Hi, after 7 fresh rounds, the last one resulting in zero fertilisation, it is clear that ivf is not working for me, I probably have around the same chances of success with iui which is much less expensive. Nothing ventured nothing gained! If you google the name of that Dr he has some IUI fertility Lectures on you tube with advice about IUI.

Take care and good luck xxx

[Starsoutside in reply to Sunnydance]

Thank you Sunnydance I will have a look at those YouTube lectures. Good luck to you too xxx

[Marisa32]

Hi, I had success this way. I'm 41 with extremely low AMH. IVF was useless in my case, as I only ever got 1 egg from stims. Since I had no other issues preventing me from getting pregnant, other than old eggs, IUI was an option. I actually got BFP on my first go but ended in blighted ovum. Then I got a BFN and after that I was just trying at home with an at home IUI kit hoping to hit few more cycles/eggs before doing donor egg transfer. I got BFP on my 2nd try and 20 weeks now. I knew going into it my chances were 1% but frankly I had nothing to lose at that point. Hope you get lucky too!

[Sunnydance in reply to Marisa32]

Hi Marisa, that’s amazing, congratulations 🥳 I have old eggs too, my AMH a couple of years ago was really good but I just don’t respond well to ivf now. Sadly my husband has Azoospermia so I’m not going to fall pregnant naturally. We are going to try iui at our clinic. I’m not putting myself through ivf again.

All the best with your pregnancy x

[Miracolo2 in reply to Marisa32]

Hi Marisa, that sounds amazing! Congratulations! We have tried with a needless syringe, but no success. I feel like the syringe is too short. Could you please tell me what kit you used? Maybe PM me, as I am not sure we can say brands.. thanks x

[Marisa32 in reply to Miracolo2]

I used the "Mosie Kit". Their syringe wasn't super long either. I mean it should just go inside like a tampon, not too far in because the sperm is unwashed. If the sperm is good quality, it should be good enough without having to use the IUI at the doctor. That's injected into the cervix. So prior to going down this route make sure the sperm is in good shape.

[Miracolo2 in reply to Marisa32]

Thank you!

[Belangalo]

We fell pregnant after our last failed IVF cycle (1 Fresh transfer and 2 frozen). I underwent a lap/hyster etc. and fell pregnant after surgery via a needless syringe. My husband has a very low sperm count so we tried simply to make me feel like we hadn't wasted a month. I fell pregnant. Best shock of our lives!

I honestly didn't think we would ever get pregnant as I had gotten old waiting for him to start producing ANY sperm at all. I don't have much advice except to suggest that you keep trying. Only you will know when you are ready to stop and I say give everything a go. It can't hurt and you may get that BFP!!! Best wishes and baby dust to you!!! Xx

[Sunnydance in reply to Belangalo]

hi,Belangalo, massive congratulations, what a great shock! I hear all the time about people falling pregnant naturally after failed ivf. I may as well give IUI a go, don’t want to waste the DS! I’ve got nothing to lose. Take care and thanks for sharing your story xxx

[London1978]

Thinking of you and if there is a chance then it is better than no chance at all. Wishing you lots of luck!

[Sunnydance in reply to London1978]

Thank you London, I hope everything is going ok for you? X

[London1978 in reply to Sunnydance]

Not quite, as I have a pregnancy of unknown location and I am still spotting brown blood. I have to go for more bloods on Monday. Hoping for a miracle xx

[Sunnydance in reply to London1978]

Hoping that everything is going to be ok 🙏

[Fairy999]

hi. I am going through a miscarriage after FET. Carrying old eggs, my next step would be IUI too. I will also look into Dr.Bahadur's research too. Thanks for sharing and giving hope too My hubby has vasectomy so we have to take fertility clinic help. How are you doing now? did u try IUI then?

[Sunnydance in reply to Fairy999]

Hello, waiting to get started - should be in the next couple of weeks! 🙏

[Jenniwenni]

Hi Sunnydance,

I just wanted to say a massive good luck for this, and also share my experience...

We also have 'male factor fertility issues'. In a nutshell, we can get pregnant, but the babies end up being poorly. We used PGD/IVF to achieve my daughter, which made sure only healthy sperm was used. However, it was very difficult and took a long time, so we've now decided to use donor sperm for baby number 2.

The interesting thing is...I have no problem getting pregnant naturally! We tried naturally 3 times, and fell pregnant within 3 months each time. However, I respond TERRIBLY to IVF! My doctor advised me to do IUI as opposed to IVF for baby number 2, because he felt IUI would suffice (and there's therefore no need for IVF and all it entails). I also have a very low AMH count. A low AMH means you don't necessarily respond well to IVF, but it doesn't mean you can't get pregnant...especially if you ovulate.

Fingers crossed this is the same for you. 🤞

P.S. I would say to make sure your clinic do a trigger shot as part of the IUI process. That makes a big difference to success rates.

[Sunnydance in reply to Jenniwenni]

Hello 👋 and thank you for your well wishes and advice! Lovely to hear you have a daughter and hope all is going well on your quest for a sibling. I’m wishing I gave iui a try earlier and when I was on the ivf rollercoaster.

I was hoping to get started With iui before now but my clinic are being really unfair. When I was doing back to back ivf they were happy for me to keep going with little waiting in between (profit ££££) but iui requires new consents etc and I wasn’t able to make my “new patient” (what a joke) appointment to discuss iui and next appointment is October 😬. I’ll be 44 by then. Seriously considering throwing in the towel but I have confirmed the October appointment.

Best wishes xxx

[Sunnydance]

Hello -just an update - had unmedicated iui on Saturday with timed trigger shot, thawed 13 straws of DS for the procedure. It all happened very quick, iui was on Day 12 of cycle, despite me having a 30 day cycle? I’ve to do another trigger shot in a few days. I asked the Consultant if he’d ever met a 44yr old who had a successful IUI, he hadn’t! But he has met others in early 40’s who’ve had success!

Whatever the outcome, all my DS is now used and I can in my head (maybe not my heart) call it a day.

Sending love 💓

[Daisyjulia in reply to Sunnydance]

Best wishes for you both it’s looking great so far for you both !!🙋‍♀️sending love and hope for a positive result xx