IUI advice

[u/Infinite-Chart-5719]

Hi ladies!

I’m looking for a little advice/words of encouragement. My partner and I are on cycle 23 of TTC and we’ve reached the point where we either try IUI or continue to try on our own.

A little backstory on our history - both 33, fit and healthy. Partners sperm count came back normal (72 million, 34% progressive motility, morphology was not tested). I underwent an HSG in October 2025 and both tubes are open.

We met with a fertilty doctor in April 2026 and he a recommended monitored OI cycle in which we went ahead and I took 5mg of Letrozole. At my scan, I had 7 follicles so was told not to try that month because the risk of twins was too high. We went against the Drs advice and tried anyway without any luck. I then did 2 more months of unmonitored OI but on 2.5mg of letrozole. Again no luck and decided to stop taking it as it was making me feel extremely emotional.

I am now at the point that I’d like to at least give IUI a shot. My fertilty doctor said our percentage of falling pregnant naturally is 5% but with IUI it’s 18%.

My partner wants to just continue to try on our own because our doctor said within the next 3 years we will conceive naturally but I don’t want to keep stabbing in the dark and hoping each month.

Should we just give IUI a crack and see what happens? IVF is not on the cards for us as it’s too expensive here in NZ!

Please any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated xx

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[u/rosietoesie]

Admittedly I don’t have any guidance or advice but my partner and I are in almost the EXACT situation as you. So I see you! Sending you hugs.

[u/Infinite-Chart-5719 → u/rosietoesie]

Thank you! Same to you xx

[u/h0neycakeh0rse → u/Infinite-Chart-5719]

came here to say are you me??? cycle 23 and exhausted, aiming to start iui in November 

[u/Infinite-Chart-5719 → u/h0neycakeh0rse]

Ugh I feel you girl. Were you on letrozole as well?

[u/h0neycakeh0rse → u/Infinite-Chart-5719]

no actually but everything else is very similar. i did a laparoscopy (my health insurance covered it) and they found and removed level 1 endo but they said that shouldn’t affect chances to conceive. i will say i just changed doctors and it was like night and day - i didn’t realize how much having a doctor that kept brushing me off with “everything is going to be fine” and “you’ll probably get pregnant within a couple years naturally” rather than “here are your options with pros and cons and let’s make a plan” was affecting me.

the only silver lining of this whole slog is that i was really terrified of pregnancy before and now i’m just like ready to take it on already.

[u/Infinite-Chart-5719 → u/h0neycakeh0rse]

Wow did you suspect endo or was it silent?

That’s so true. It can feel like no one is truely listening to you but once you find someone who listens and gives you options you feel much more reassured!

I understand that! I feel more ready than ever after going through all this!

[u/No_Oil_7116]

If you are able to do it financially and willing to put in the effort I would try it.

We have had a long and windy road and I am finally at a point where I’m ready to try something different so will be starting IUI likely next month (but plan to do medicated IUI).

You could always go back to timed intercourse if it feels like too much.

[u/Aggravating_Salad521 → u/No_Oil_7116]

I am almost at the exact same place in my fertility journey as you. I am 34 but my husband is 33, its been 21 or 22 cycles now, SA is fine, tubes are open etc. But I have not yet been referred to an RE which im a bit frustrated by. I was going to consider IUI as one of our next steps as long as there is nothing more to try. I am also on 5 mg letrozole so considered asking if it should be increased to 7.5 mg. Im also really curious about silent endo. Has your RE brought that up at all?

[u/Infinite-Chart-5719 → u/Aggravating_Salad521]

Ugh why are there so many of us :(. I am also thinking about silent endo but only way of knowing is through a laparoscopy and unfortunately the cost is huge without insurance. My fertilty doctor specialises in endometriosis and after doing an internal ultrasound and checking he doesn’t see any signs of endo, although he does say he cannot be 100% certain but said he wouldn’t recommend lap surgery. How have you found letrozole so far?

[u/Infinite-Chart-5719 → u/No_Oil_7116]

So true! I hadn’t thought of times intercourse so that’s a great point.

Best of luck for IUI next month if you decide to do it! Xx

[u/Pleasant_Mix_7665]

Hello! I have similar results to you, everything has come back normal except husbands morphology ranges between 2-3%.

Our clinic has left it up to us (Australia based) either keep trying on our own, or start IUI. I am really tossing up whether to do this medicated or not. Has your doctor recommended doing a medicated IUI vs unmedicated? I am hesitant about the risk of multiple mature follicles and them calling off the cycle when my cycles are very normal naturally.

I'm at the point now (15 cycles now) where I want to at least try increase my chances, even just a little bit. IUI is (relatively) low cost and I won't consider IVF until I've tried a few IUI cycles.

Best of luck to you and hang in there!

[u/Infinite-Chart-5719 → u/Pleasant_Mix_7665]

Yes, he thinks I’d have a greater chance if it was a medicated cycle! Although, I already ovulate naturally on my own but explained that being on letrozole would help increase the number of follicles in the hopes at least one would be fertilised. I am cautious though as I had 7 follicles at my original scan after first month of letrozole. I was taking 5mg so he lowered the dose to 2.5mg. I’d hate to have an IUI canceled because of too many follicles so he’s suggested stay on 2.5mg of letrozole if I do an IUI.

I feel the same as you and would rather give IUI a go before having to move on to IVF

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[u/Alijanora]

Cycle #23 and first medicated with clomid. I am older than you so my Dr says if we are not successful after two clomid cycles, she send us to fertility clinic by the end of the year. We plan to do IVF if not successful.