IUI success with DOR
Just wanted to share my success story because I was obsessed with looking for them while TTC! My husband and I started trying in April 2025 (tracking BBT and using ovulation strips, the whole deal), and after six months I checked in with my OBGYN. Because I was over 35 she got me in for the usual battery of tests, AMH, TSH, LH, etc etc. Everything looked good except low AMH. Had an HSG that showed my tubes were clear. Decent SA results from my husband. At some point I had a baseline ultrasound that showed low AFC. So at that point it seemed like our only issue was diminished ovarian reserve. (Well, and some performance issues that meant we were mostly doing at-home insemination.)
Started doing IUI with my normal OBGYN and did two back-to-back cycles. The first one was unmedicated, the second I used clomid and a trigger shot. Neither were successful, but I felt that timing was a little off. At that point, I switched to an actual fertility clinic. The fertility doc told me she'd like to try two more IUIs (making a total of four) before talking about IVF. My next IUIs were also back-to-back, again with clomid and ovidrel.
The cycle I was successful, my AFC was actually decently high at my baseline (I forget the specific number, maybe 20 across both ovaries?) and much higher than before I had been doing medicated cycles. I'm convinced the medication kind of jump-started my ovaries, and doing the cycles back-to-back helped. I also think the fertility clinic had better timing, because they aim for 36 hours post-trigger and are open on weekends so you can get it right.
At my day 10 ultrasound on my successful cycle, I had one 15 mm follicle and two 18 mm follicles. I triggered on day 11, IUI on day 13. Tested out my trigger shot, then true positive 10 DPO. Good betas at 14 and 16 DPO, and just did my 8-week ultrasound! Baby is measuring on time with a good heartbeat.
Just want to give some hope for IUI. I was ready to face the challenge of IVF but am glad we did a decent number of IUIs first. I hadn't realized IVF pregnancies were considered higher risk and required induction, and it's nice that this pregnancy doesn't carry those attributes.