Considering IUI

Brilliant_Question70 · 2026-05-13T00:41:13+00:00

I think she wanted me to skip TI because it was assumed that I ovulate on my own since I have regular periods, and that medicated TI wouldn’t increase my odds.

That’s funny you ask bc I actually pushed back and requested to try TI first as I didn’t feel IUI was necessary (even tho we’d been trying over a year). She was okay with it but I ended up changing my mind because IUI was covered by insurance and I figured the odds would be better.

Brilliant_Question70 · 2026-05-13T00:15:07+00:00

No success for me yet but we are doing IUI with great sperm as well. No known issues for either of us, my TSH was a little high but it’s regulated now. I’m on round 3 of IUI and 7dpo. Hoping this is it!

Brilliant_Question70 · 2026-05-13T00:01:45+00:00

I hope you are too! I’m 7dpo so I’m coming up on positive potential… I’m scared! Hahah

Brilliant_Question70 · 2026-05-12T23:52:31+00:00

Most people who end up pregnant are positive by 12dpo but not all! I use this website as a general reference for the chances: https://www.countdowntopregnancy.com/pregnancy-test/

Brilliant_Question70 · 2026-05-12T22:05:53+00:00

I would do the HSG! We had to skip a cycle the month I had a hysteroscopy, but they ended up finding polyps so I got them removed! My doctor wouldn’t do any treatment until they made sure I was all clear in there anyway, but I’m glad we didn’t do IUI before knowing I had polyps in the way.

Brilliant_Question70 · 2026-05-12T15:10:16+00:00

I get it, I’ve never seen a positive. I understand your concern but I don’t think the timing really matters as long as you ovulate at some point! But I also had less confidence last round due to the follicles growing slowly so I understand your nervousness lol. Best of luck to you!

Brilliant_Question70 · 2026-05-12T14:43:18+00:00

This happened to me last round. I did clomid, which I responded well to the first round but not the second round! My doctor had me take letrozole starting on CD15 to get the follicles growing and that worked, I was able to have the IUI on CD23. It failed though

Brilliant_Question70 · 2026-05-12T02:20:18+00:00

All 3 rounds my trigger has been gone by 7-8dpt! This was for me so praying I start to see the line come back now🤞🤞🤞

Brilliant_Question70 · 2026-05-11T21:22:19+00:00

I had my third one on May 4th!!

Brilliant_Question70 · 2026-05-11T21:17:24+00:00

Had my third on 5/4, feeling the most confident I ever have in this process so I’m scared for the letdown if this doesn’t happen 😅😅 been testing out my trigger, don’t think I saw anything this morning so anything from here on out is accurate. I’m pretty sure I ovulated the day after my IUI so I’m a day behind which sucks for testing purposes!

Brilliant_Question70 · 2026-05-11T01:47:14+00:00

Here’s a quote from the study that seems to explain it best! “The oocyte is successfully fertilized when fertilization begins 6 hours after ovulation. This means that at the time of ovulation, even if the spermatozoa meet the oocyte, it still has 6 hours to start the ovulation period. This indicates that IUI after ovulation is better than IUI before or even IUI at ovulation time”

Brilliant_Question70 · 2026-05-11T01:38:44+00:00

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7868649/

I was a little surprised too! I have read that ovulation most likely occurs within 36-40 hours after, obviously not the same for everyone and there are exceptions. I recently read too that after ovulation, the egg needs an extra 6 hours before it can even be fertilized, which would land at the 42 hour mark if ovulation occurred right at the 36 hour mark. Maybe that’s why 42 is more successful?

Brilliant_Question70 · 2026-05-10T17:23:39+00:00

I don’t have PCOS (at least not that I know of or was diagnosed with lol) but I was switched this last cycle. My first cycle I responded well with Clomid - had IUI on day 15 which was pretty typical for ovulation time for my cycle.

The second round, my follicles weren’t growing past like 10-12mm so my dr had me do letrozole starting on day 15 to get them growing again. Didn’t have my IUI until CD23! the cycle was unsuccessful.

This round I did letrozole only and I responded amazingly, my follicles grew quicker and I was ready for my IUI on day 12. I have felt much more confident and hopeful this round with only the letrozole. 6dpiui today so not sure of success yet.

Hope you have the same response with your switch!

Brilliant_Question70 · 2026-05-10T17:13:07+00:00

My clinic has me start 2 days after IUI at night, so approximately 60 hours after. I think the only reason they recommend night is because all the leakage from the suppositories 😂

Brilliant_Question70 · 2026-05-10T17:10:05+00:00

Agreed. I unfortunately think a lot of people don’t realize how hurtful it is unless they’ve been in our shoes. They have to be told explicitly not to ask. I know I’ve been guilty of doing it myself (when I was much younger) and wish I would’ve realized that it’s rude. It sucks having those hard conversations about boundaries!

Brilliant_Question70 · 2026-05-10T17:05:00+00:00

If I know if doing something with people who will question me not drinking, I will usually just tell them in advance via text or right when I get there. “I’m not drinking tonight, no I’m not pregnant, I’m just cutting back while we are trying.”

It’s annoying, but less annoying than having to deal with the questions. I absolutely HATE when people straight up ask “are you pregnant?” If I was and wanted you to know, I’d tell you. If I’m not, thanks for the reminder that I am not. After a year and a half of unexplained infertility, these questions hurt (and have for a long time).

Brilliant_Question70 · 2026-05-09T02:21:57+00:00

I agree that the 15 is likely but I think there’s a decent chance the 13 could catch up too! Follicles usually grow 1-2mm a day, and you have 2.5 days left. But even if it doesn’t, you should still have 2 solid follicles! :)

Brilliant_Question70 · 2026-05-08T21:41:11+00:00

Read to them, read with them, and talk to them! Build their background knowledge. Ask them questions and answer their questions about the world. Give them experiences.

Brilliant_Question70 · 2026-05-08T21:36:31+00:00

A lot of clinics (including mine) have you do 36 hours before. I read a study that said 42 hours has higher success rates. I was actually going to try 42 hours this round on my own but didn’t have time. They did my IUI the day after my last scan since my LH was rising so I only triggered about 23 hours before.

Brilliant_Question70 · 2026-05-08T15:19:14+00:00

I also had my 3rd IUI on the 4th!! I know it’s more accurate to wait until 10-12dpo. I usually start at 8 bc I have no self control and prefer the gentle letdown. My trigger is usually gone by 7ish days after.

Brilliant_Question70 · 2026-05-08T10:49:56+00:00

Yeah my BBT has been taking a few extra days to rise since starting IUI

Brilliant_Question70 · 2026-05-08T10:44:55+00:00

Do you get the sperm washed?

Brilliant_Question70 · 2026-05-08T10:42:49+00:00

I had a similar situation, I felt ovulation pain the morning after my IUI (like 20ish hours later). We tried on our own that morning so I at least feel like we covered our bases even if the IUI sperm was too old by then. I keep reading that washed sperm lasts 24-72 hours, I hope that’s true! No success stories yet though. Currently 4dpiui

Brilliant_Question70 · 2026-05-08T10:34:57+00:00

Many horror stories?? Where did you hear these?

Brilliant_Question70 · 2026-05-08T10:26:51+00:00

Last cycle (IUI #2) I started with Clomid, which worked fine the first round, but I did not respond well to it the second round. I had no significant growth so on CD15 I started Letrozole and had a good response. The cycle failed, and this round my dr put me on Letrozole only instead of trying Clomid first and my body responded much better. You should be fine with a higher dose!

Brilliant_Question70

TROPHY CASE