IUI Stories of Success
Sometimes, all you need to keep going on your journey towards pregnancy are some stories of success from other couples. If you’re thinking of trying IUI in order to conceive, these IUI stories from other couples can help you find the courage you need to press on.
Jeanine’s Long Haul
When she and her husband were first married, they were immediately ready to have a family. After years of trying to conceive naturally, though, Jeanine finally got checked out by her gynecologist, who could find no reason for her infertility. After waiting a couple more years, Jeanine went on a more aggressive route through an infertility clinic. Several rounds of drug-assisted IUI later, she still couldn’t get pregnant.
Then, in a desperate attempt, her doctor suggested exploratory surgery to find out what the problem was, since they were almost sure it didn’t have to do with male factor. After finding and removing some scar tissue in her uterus, they tried another round of IUI, which didn’t work, again. Finally, Jeanine and her husband chose to move on to try three cycles of IVF, which turned out to be an unsuccessful and painful experience.
After taking a break from the infertility roller coaster for a few months, Jeanine needed to give it one last shot. This time, she decided she couldn’t go through IVF again, so she asked her doctor to give her all the medications for IVF but to do IUI instead. After her two week wait, she discovered that she was finally pregnant!
Tricia’s Incompatibility Problems
When Tricia and her husband of nearly ten years tried to get pregnant for several years without success, they decided it was time to see a reproductive endocrinologist. They found out that Tricia’s ovaries weren’t functioning properly, and before moving on to any medications or traditional treatments, the couple decided to try acupuncture and Chinese herbal treatments, which did help improve the situation somewhat.
Even with the improvement, though, the couple was still unable to get pregnant. Finally, doctor’s pinpointed the real reason for the problem: cervical mucus/sperm incompatibility. Basically, Tricia’s mucus was killing off her husband’s sperm, which meant that they would have almost no chance of getting pregnant naturally.
Luckily, this is one of the problems that is easily overcome by IUI. Tricia and her husband did one round of IUI with Clomid, and two weeks later, they found out that they were finally pregnant!
Elaine’s Male Factor Issues
One of the main things that IUI is used to overcome is male factor infertility. Elaine and her husband had already gotten pregnant through IUI despite his low sperm motility before, but they were ready to have a second child. Instead of trying naturally, they jumped right into IUI treatments.
Since the issues were with the sperm and not Elaine, who had a healthy, regular cycle and produced viable eggs, the couple opted for natural cycle IUI. By simply monitoring Elaine’s ovulation, they timed their IUI cycles. Unfortunately, they had to go through seven of these cycles. On the seventh cycle, just when they were starting to give up hope, Elaine finally found out that she was pregnant. She could hardly believe it because she felt no symptoms whatsoever.
For lots of great information about how to increase your odds of making your IUI a success, please sign up for our free email mini-course.
Endometriosis and Infertility
Endometriosis and infertility afflict 30 to 50 percent of American women today. Many of these women are considered subfertile or infertile, particularly when there is scarring in the tissue growth (endometrium). Technically infertility is a symptom, not a cause of endometriosis.
A woman’s body sheds endometrium tissue during menstruation. This tissue lines and normally grows inside her uterus (womb). Outside growth is called endometriosis, which—depending on the severity—can be quite painful.
Medical experts do not yet know what exactly causes this condition and why it decreases female fertility. Decreased fertility may be a result of endometrium scarring in the pelvis that could affect the Fallopian tubes which transport the eggs from the ovaries. Endometriosis also produces hormones and substances that may adversely affect a woman’s reproductive process.
Endometriosis might be the possible cause, if you and your partner have been having difficulty conceiving despite being healthy.
Signs of endometriosis
Pain in the lower abdomen or the pelvis is the most common symptom of endometriosis, often during or just before your period and lessening after menstruation. A woman afflicted with endometriosis may also feel pain outside her monthly period.
Pain may also be felt—
- during ovulation
- in the bowel during menstruation
- when passing urine
- during or after sexual intercourse
- in the lower back region
- in the lower back
- in the legs
Other symptoms:
- diarrhea and/or constipation (in connection with menstruation)
- Heavy/ irregular menstruation
- blood in the urine
- abdominal bloating (during menstruation)
- fatigue
- chronic/ recurring pelvic pain
- high blood pressure
- coughing up blood
- rectal bleeding
- blood in the urine or the stool
- frequent or urgent urination
- difficult or prolonged menstruation
- severe ovulation cramps
- irregular bowel movements
- dysmenorrheal (menstrual cramps)
- nausea and vomiting (in severe cases)
- previous miscarriage/s or ectopic pregnancy
Treatments for endometriosis associated with infertility
There is no current cure for endometriosis, but some procedures can treat the condition and make conception possible (depending on the condition’s extent):
- Medication
Medicines can significantly or completely treat mild endometriosis in most women. Prescribed drugs such as birth control pills can suppress the condition and relieve endometriosis-related pain.
Endometriosis-specific drugs such as GnRH agonists (Lupron, Synarel, or Zoladex) and testosterone derivatives have been designed to regulate estrogen production and postpone ovulation for a short time. Some doctors recommend the hormone pill.
However, a number of well-controlled studies have shown that medication does not improve fertility. The pain may also recur maybe six months after the medication has stopped. You may also experience additional side effects, like depression, insomnia, acne, weight gain, etc.
- Surgery
If your endometriosis is moderate to severe and you want to conceive, undergoing a laparoscopic surgery might work better for you. Laparoscopy is also one of the most effective methods in treating endometriosis as long as all the endometriosis tissues have been removed.
Some studies have noted improved pregnancy rates of 1.5 to 2 percent per month following this procedure. Others say laparoscopy improved fertility by 40 to 60 percent for women scarred by endometriosis tissue and by 10 to 90 percent for those with cleared Fallopian tubes.
There is a steep price to pay for this promising success: anywhere from $3,000 to $10,000 per surgery. Expect possible post-surgery side effects, too, such as abdominal soreness, among others. Your doctor will advise you of the need for surgery.
- Artificial insemination
Having sperm injected into your uterus may also up your chances to conceive by 5 to 25 percent, for a cost of $300 to $700. However, you may first have to take expensive fertility drugs such as clomiphene and gonadotropins—both known to have side effects, aside from the actual procedure’s own possible side effects.
- IVF
In vitro fertilization is often recommended to women with severe endometriosis if insemination does not work out after six cycles, at most. The chances of success are higher for women below 40 years old. Be ready to spend $8,000 to $15,000 for this treatment.
- Natural Treatments
If you want to avoid the painful cost and inconvenience of surgery, drugs, or fertility-assisted procedures, you may opt for natural remedies to treat endometriosis, such as adopting healthier eating habits (lessening/ eliminating caffeine, sugar, and alcohol and consuming organic food) and supplementing essential nutrients such as Vitamin B complex to help lower your estrogen level.
Traditional Chinese medicine experts also have therapeutic herbs to offer, aside from acupuncture and acupressure. Many women have reported success through these procedures.
You can also do exercise, yoga, and meditation to improve your general and reproductive health.
