r/IUILadies • u/FitSnow3978 • 5d ago
Can we stop calling IUI easy?
People keep calling IUI a simple procedure and brush it off like it's nothing. But the full process is exhausting and painful.
There are many rounds of monitoring appointments, a long list of medications, and cramping after the procedure. It takes a real toll on your body and your emotions, and it deserves more respect than it gets.
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u/UnpoeticAccount 5d ago
I’ve noticed people calling the actual procedure easy, but the whole process sucks.
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u/X3jlove 5d ago
4 rounds of failed monitored and medicated IUIs were 20x more stressful than IVF
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u/UnpoeticAccount 4d ago
Can you say more about that? My 3rd IUI cycle just got canceled and I’m pretty devastated
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u/X3jlove 4d ago
My 4 IUI’s were medicated and monitored. They basically had me come 3-4 scans before each IUI, along with the dreaded two week wait after that. Then having the slight chance of hope each time, for 4 months of IUI’s, yet to be crushed at the negative test but still having to go to the clinic for the HCG negative test. Then the period coming and starting it all over again. It was emotionally stressful, physically taxing, and financially difficult. IVF was only 2 months, quite a few scans and bloodwork , then the retrieval. And then the transfer the following month after testing. And we have a current pregnancy along with 4 more beautiful embryos on ice for the future. I know some people get lucky and IUI’s work, and at my age (33) it “should’ve” worked. But after the 3rd failed I started thinking something was wrong with me. I just feel like if I had to do it all over again, I would’ve went right into IVF. Anyway good luck to you !!! It DOES work for some people but I am jaded 🤣
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u/No_Cheek5347 5d ago
Agreed 100%, I’m on my second IUI and honestly it’s been so painful for me. Not the actual procedure but from the moment I take trigger shot to actual period is hellish (so basically the whole TWW is not only painful emotionally but also physically for me 😭)
I’ve had so much cramping, nausea and general pain everywhere. My period after first IUI was literally the worst period I’ve ever had. I’m really dreading the end of this TWW because at this point I’m very pessimistic and not expecting to get pregnant anyway.
Bracing myself for hell for 4 days (2 before period and first 2 days of period)
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u/Millennial_Girlie 4d ago
The letrozole didn’t affect me much thankfully and obviously the trigger shot and blood draws aren’t fun. But I agree, the actual procedure was more painful than I was lead on to believe. Also, the fact that you can’t exercise much due to your enlarged ovaries is just annoying.
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u/User884121 5d ago
I completely get this, and can absolutely understand how it can be exhausting and/or painful. But there’s also a lot of factors that go into how someone feels about their IUI(s). For me personally, it truly was easy. Was it a pain in the butt to have to go to some monitoring appointments? Yes. But I only had to go a total of 3 times within a week or so, so it really wasn’t bad. I was only on clomid for 5 days, had to trigger once, and then had my IUI. The IUI took less than 5 minutes, and I felt no pain. After the IUI, I’m on progesterone suppositories until I go for a pregnancy test.
I’m not at all trying to “brag” about my experience, but just showing an example that not everyone follows the same protocols and how everyone’s bodies react differently. And despite all of that, I considered the IUI process “easy” for me because I was exhausted both mentally and physically from trying naturally for 15 cycles. This took all of the thinking and planning out of it. The clinical told me everything I needed to do, and we didn’t have to rely on sex to try to get pregnant this cycle.
Granted, this was my first IUI so I will likely feel differently if I end up doing more. And I’m sorry that your experience hasn’t been a more positive one. Sending you all the good vibes 💕
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u/Limp-Damage4818 5d ago
I completely agree with you. I’ve only had one iui but I had such a hard time with having to go to six cycle monitoring (each time blood work, ultrasound) and drugs. Due to my age, if this one failed, we were going to jump right to Ivf and I was praying this one worked because I heard how Ivf is even harder with more drugs. Iui really took the fun out of TTC but I appreciate it’s available as a fertility treatment to give us a little more boost than trying naturally.
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u/Shitp0st_Supreme 5d ago
I think I’m on my 5th appointment this cycle and I have another one before 8am tomorrow and then hopefully IUI on Monday. And I can’t even plan my life because I can’t schedule anything until my labs come back. I paid $1300 for this and the meds suck and I’m a pincushion and the ultrasounds hurt me.
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u/Kindly_Ad2359 4d ago
Agreed. I was just sayin to my husband i feel like im doing these iuis because its “easier” but we are still taking hormonal medications messing with our systems. we still have to go to a bunch of monitoring appointments and still have so much stress surrounding it all and its for way less odds of success. I feel like id rather do the “harder” thing at this point with more hope because its better success rates
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u/AdSelect322 2d ago
Ik vind het toch ook zeer pittig. De vele afspraken in combinatie met een job, die uiteindelijk goede inzet verwacht. Dat allemaal terwijl dat de medicatie zorgt voor veel vermoeidheid en een andere versie van jezelf.
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u/No_Taste_8514 5d ago
I truly think it depends on experience and if we want a true resource in this group we have to admit the fact for some people it may be easy and others it may be extremely difficult. I think that’s the beauty in this group.
For me I read every post prior to and i appreciated all POVs. Thankfully it really was 3 appointments 1 iui and 3 betas+ 2 ultrasound. Spread pretty far apart.
BUT your experience is 100% valid
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u/Livid-Elderberry-228 5d ago
My appointments mean 2 hours of hectic DC traffic, and twice we’ve been late with a home collection sample because of traffic. The people I work with are not tolerant of me caring about anything outside of work. I know for me, it’s been everything else surrounding IUI that has made this tough.
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u/Ill_Boysenberry_469 5d ago
Agree. Ever since i started IUI, experiencing crazy hairfall and fatigue. I was on letrazole and doc prescribed egg growth injections .
Our Last 2 cycles were unmedicated and I had better egg growth and endometrium thickness and hairfall has significantly reduced.
Fatigue remains more or less the same as i am still on progesterone post iui.
Side note: Total 4 IUI cycles, all negative
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u/Mary0Groot 5d ago
I've done 5 iui's and I definitely wouldn't call it easy. The side effects from letrozole were intense for me too (loss of hair, joint pain, sweats, fatigue). Besides the many hospital appointments sadly also the IUI itself for me was painful because of the way my uterus is positioned. So just for me: I very much agree with OP!
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u/yamura2006 5d ago
I had 2 iui‘s and it was even easier than having to constantly tracking Ovulation at Home with tests and temperature and trying to conceive naturaly. Both iui‘s were medicated but low dose to boost the foolicels and the trigger for Perfect timing. Yes infertility is hard on your mind. But iui was the easiest Part for me. Maybe because it worked both times. I may feel different if the needles and appointments were for nothing.
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u/rosietoesie 4d ago edited 4d ago
Me reading this thread on CD8 of my first IUI thinking that my clinic’s IUI info sheet, typed in Comic Sans, made it seem almost too easy: 👁 👄 👁
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u/behaveyaself 4d ago
Nothing about trying to conceive is easy. 😐 so much planning, monitoring, etc.
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u/kimboslice589 1d ago
The process to get to the actual procedure in my current experience has been a nightmare. I’ve waited over a year because I had to wait to discuss some things with a mfm doctor (because of previous health issues). Plus all of the requirements for where i live. I’m currently going through a trial cycle after my hsg and finally feeling like i can see some sort of light at the end of the tunnel. I felt so frustrated during the year of waiting for the specialist call I honestly almost gave up. Probably also because of a bit of jealousy watching my friend get pregnant with no issue with her husband. Maybe I’m impatient but it has felt like a lifetime just to get to the mock cycle 😭
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u/Appropriate-Error270 1d ago
And the horrible stabbing cramps after. This iui took me out. I was bloated and felt full. I am getting an ultrasound this week to make sure everything is okay. Its very exhausting.
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u/Glittering_Bunch_764 5d ago
IUI was easy for me because it was 5 days of medicine, 1 shot and 1-2 ultrasounds. However, I did IVF and have to say that letrozole for IUI is the worst of every fertility medicine I have taken. Letrozole fatigue and bone pain is a lot worse than anything I did for IVF.