Timing of IUI - need help understanding

Monika3524

I had my second IUI procedure done yesterday (the first one didn't work) and I am having trouble figuring out the timing and understanding

At 8am yesterday I had blood work done which indicated that my LH was 65 and my doctor recommended that I have the IUI done that day. My dominant follicle was 20cm. The day before my LH had been 4, and so the jump indicated that the timing was good. I had the procedure done at 1:30 in the afternoon and I've been worried and wondering if that was the optimal time to have the IUI. I am just trying to understand how things work and to do what I can (if anything) to improve my chances of conceiving. I've been reading that washed, thawed sperm are most active for 12 hours after an IUI but that after 12 hours they lose their potency. Is this true? Was the timing for my IUI the best that it could have been? I'm older and understand that I do not have many cycles left to try. I'm just trying to secure the best chances I can of the IUI working, even though the odds are not in my favor. Would having a second IUI today have made any difference?

Thank you to anyone who might be able to provide insight.

Dencnygirl

I'm part of the group Single Mothers by Choice (you can find us online if you are single as well) and we debate the timing of IUIs all the time. And I'm afraid you won't really get a straight forward or accurate answer.

Doctors all say something different and perfect timing for one patient may be completely wrong timing for another patient.

Don't get me wrong, I'm completely sympathetic to your situation and not having a true, definite answer on timing drives me nuts.

Have you considered a trigger shot to help nail down the timing?

My first two IUIs were unmedicated and no trigger. My 3rd is coming up and I'm adding meds (clomid). I will add a trigger in the future if the 3rd attempt is not successful.

Monika3524

Thanks a lot for responding. It is a maddening process for sure to understand the timing and to feel confident that it's right. My doctor is a big advocate of doing everything naturally -- or at least trying with no medication for as long as possible -- and I only just learned what trigger shots were online. If this cycle is unsuccessful, I will ask him about the shot. Thank you! I talked to him today to ask if using more than 1 vial per cycle would help with timing and with making sure that the sperm remained viable and active long enough, and he said that they can last up to 36 hours (I have heard so many different things on thawed, washed sperm viability/longevity, I just don't know what to believe) but if they last 36 hours, the window for fertilization in my case was still good. I'm older (44) and he didn't want to use Clomid or other drugs if he didn't have to because at my age, apparently it can actually be a hindrance. My FSH vacillates between 4 and 7. Who knows! It's such a Catch 22 because we're supposed to stay calm and chill to help our chances and yet there is a lot of hope and worry encountered along the way. Thanks again for responding. I appreciate it.

Dencnygirl

Oh yes, we debate the topic of whether or not adding a 2nd vial increases your chances or not....and also the topic of how long does frozen sperm remain viable and active.

Most don't think using more than one vial increases the chances.

And the answers to how long frozen sperm remains viable is all over the place, just like timing.

You would think after all these years we could have some more accurate responses than that.

Good luck to you!

prbs2002

The timing is always a major issue! I know people on the baby center board who swear that the iui should take place 24 hours after you get your +OPK, but then others who say they have a short surge and need to do it on the same day. I think I fall into the latter category and if I wait 24 hours I have missed it. It varies so much from woman to woman, the best way to know if you are in the correct fertile window for you is a blood test, then your doctor can establish exactly where you are in the cycle (although even that won't tell for sure exactly when you will ovulate!)
Clear as mud!
Good luck!