IUI or IVF?

[Eq777]

Hi all,

Wasn't sure where to post this so I posted it in 2 places- sorry for the repeat!!

My husband and I have been TTC for 2 years and had the consult with our RE with all results today. DH (38 years old) has tons of sperm but bad morphology (1% normal). I (almost 36) was diagnosed with Diminished Ovarian Reserve. My blood work isn't too bad (FSH 6.82, Estradiol 42 - although last cycle it was 79, LH 3.47, AMH 0.45, Inhibin B 144.7) but on CD 3 my follicles are ~11mm which I guess is pretty big. Also, they are few and far between - 4 last cycle and 6 the cycle before. My HSG was normal.

Based on this my RE recommended agressive treatment and ICSI IVF. I am hesitant to go straight to IVF when we haven't tried anything else yet but don't want to waste time or money (although amazingly much of the treatment will be covered by our insurance). What do you think? Any advice? Is it worth trying IUI?

Also, I like my RE, but the success rate of the clinic I'm going to is lower then some others in the area. However, I've heard that the other clinic inflates their success rates by only taking only "prime candidates". Any thoughts? Is there a straightforward way to evaluate the rates between clinics? Pitfalls to avoid? Or anyone in the Phoenix area that has some personal experience with who to go to/avoid?

Thanks in advance for any and all help!

W

[SC-Impatient_in_VA]

PREG MENTS

I am younger than you with better numbers, we did 3 useless IUIs with 1% morphology, and no baby.

We did IVF, and I am pregnant right now from a FET. Even with great eggs, out of the first 4 I transferred only 1 took, so I am glad I didn't waste more time with IUI!

I would absolutely skip IUI when morphology is an issue, but of course you will always hear miracle stories. It could happen to you. The best way to evaluate clinics is to use Society for Assisted Reproductive Technologies and pick the clinic with the highest live birth ratio in your age group with also the highest number of cases. 100% of 1 patient is not better than 50% of 300 patients. If a clinic inflates its success rates by only taking prime candidates, but takes you, then you don't have a problem. If they won't take you, then you're only out the consultation fee -- so choose the center that has a lot of successes out of a lot of women in your age group!

Good luck!

[Eq777]

Thank you so much for your response, and congratulations on your success! I will definitely start looking at the SART with new eyes. All of this information is completely overwhelming - I'm very grateful for this board and nice folks like you who are willing to share their experience. Best of luck and thanks again!

W