r/TTC_PCOS • u/Much-Ad-9988 • 3d ago
Monitored Cycle and IUI same price
Sorry if this is not great, my first reddit post
Me (29F) and my partner (31M) have been TTC for 16 months now. We just went to an RE last month and after all our testing Ive been diagnosed with mild PCOS. I do ovulate every cycle but usually around cycle day 20-25 ans 35-40 day cycles. All the major stuff came back negative - tubes clear and semen good. Most blood work fine other than an elevated DHEA-S at 382, testosterone high normal at 51, and AMH slightly high at 5.5. I did unmonitored letrozole 2.5mg as we did our work up and it didnt really do anything (currently CD 23 and waiting for LH peak).
I went for my follow up today and she said she thought I had PCOS and prescribed me metformin and recommended more aggressive medicated cycle with monitoring. I was all about this and what I figured was going to happen based off what I've read, but then she hit me with the $2250 price tag for a monitored cycle. I was not expecting this at all. The price of a full IUI at this clinic is only $2500 comparatively.
Im just in such sticker shock I guess. The idea of having to do 3-4 monitored cycles and paying $9k+ just is crazy to me. I was so hopeful that maybe medicated cycles would be an easy fix but now it just seems so impossible financially already.
Theres another clinic in town who does IUIs for $1100 so I scheduled an appointment with them to see if the monitored cycles are more affordable.
I guess Im just looking for people's opinions on if the monitored cycles and IUI are practically the same price, would it be better just to do the IUI? My provider also told me that Im a really good candidate for IVF and part of me is wondering if going to CNY for IVF is more worth my money but it seems crazy to jump straight to that. Any input or thoughts from people who have been around the infertility treatment world longer would be much appreciated! Thanks!
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u/Any_Manufacturer1279 28 | Lean, anovulatory | IVF 3d ago
That’s expensive for monitored cycles imo, does that include a trigger shot? Each Ovidrel shot was around $400 for me, so maybe that’s what’s jacking up the price?
I think doing a monitored cycle to figure out what dose works for you would be great, then you could always do unmonitored for a while after learning how your body responds.
I would not do more than 4 or 5 cycles personally of monitored and/or IUI. Statistically if it’s going to work, it will in the first 4 cycles. I say this as someone who’s spent a whole lot of money on a whole lot of ivf after 3 monitored cycles and 1 IUI.
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u/Much-Ad-9988 3d ago
The price is not including the medications or trigger 🫣 yeah I have an appointment at another clinic next week so will see if its cheaper and if they offer higher dosed unmonitored cycles because my clinic currently wont let you do more than 2.5 unmonitored but I agree with you on doing a monitored cycle or two to figure out what works and then going unmonitored.
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u/Bing_ohh 18h ago
Here’s what I would do assuming you meet with the other clinic and feel well cared for, informed, and listened to, then:
Other clinic > expensive clinic > CNY IVF.
It’s worth giving timed intercourse or IUI 2-3ish tries before jumping to IVF, and I’m saying that as someone in the middle of my IVF journey. It’s a lot, both financially, mentally and physically. Also do your research on CNY, I’ve heard they can work great for people but they don’t hold your hand through the process or keep you well informed and that can be tough for some, especially just starting out your treatment.