Hope that everyone is enjoying IComLeavWe for April. I have a question regarding our protocol, all opinions (regardless of experience) welcome. Cause that's how I roll -- baby making by poll/opinion survey.
Here's the situation. The sperm bank has two different formats (that we are currently looking at) for their samples. These are: ICI (intra-cervical insemination) samples which come unwashed, and IUI (intra-uterine insemination) samples which come pre-washed.
Our fertility clinic does a wash on all samples before insemination, so they recommend that we use ICI samples, since you can lose a lot of viable sperm if the IUI sample is washed again.
The donor that we've chosen (yay!) only has IUI samples available right now, though we can get on a wait list for ICI samples which would become available soon (anywhere from 1 month to 6 months, I don't know cause I haven't called the bank, cause I'd rather freak out and talk to y'all here first).
So, how should we proceed? Go ahead with the IUI samples so that we can start sooner, knowing that we may decrease our chances for a BFP because we lose sperm in the wash, OR wait for ICI samples to become available, making our wait longer?
Note: If we go ahead with the IUI samples for this round, I'd have the bank put us on the wait list for ICI samples so that we could get them for possible future rounds.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Donor Sample Question
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27 comments:
I did not do DIUI's but knowing about our sperm count before/after being washed, I would think that you could totally go with the IUI samples and put yourself on the ICI list for future if needed.
*I am assuming an IUI sperm donation would be from someone with very little fertility issues. So the washed IUI donation should be very good.
I am getting excited for you!
I would go with the IUI right now, and be wait listed for the ICI: I don't think I'd have the patience to wait any longre.
What kind of counts does the bank guarantee? I know a friend of mine had samples upward of 100million, the sample of ours that got me pregnant was 8...
(iclw)
What bank are you guys going with?
I don't know much about it, but if I were in your shoes I'd just go for it. Unless of course it is a financial issue and you'd rather spend the $ on the sample with more certainty. If not, what can it hurt?
Is it not possible to get your clinic to forgo the wash on IUI samples? Why do they do that - so they can get another fee out of you? The bank we used charged more for IUI samples, but the difference between washed and unwashed was about the same as what my clinic charged for washing, so it didn't really matter to us. We just ended up getting all washed samples cause that's what was available.
I would also check with the bank to see how long the wait is - they should be able to tell you exactly, and that might help make the decision. If it's only one month, it might be worth waiting, as hard as that is. You could also get just one sample for this month if more will be available before your next cycle, and suck up the risk of losing sperm to the wash.
Ugh. Tough decisions. I hope all my assvice was slightly helpful and I hope you find peace with whatever you decide. Thinking very good thoughts for you.
I've never done IUI - but I'd go for it. Then again patience isn't my strong point.
ICLW
I have no idea but I would say..if I had any experience...is to do the IUI and put yourself on the list.
Good luck!
*ICLW*
Yeah, I'm curious as to why they do a second wash? I get why they would with fresh samples, but really if it has already been washed what is the purpose?
I'm impatient and would just go for it! I have to go back and look at my order because I honestly don't remember which type we got.
I wonder why they do a second wash? That is different. Is there a price difference? I would probobly do the fist, and then get on the wait for the second....unless it is a major price difference. IS the wait b/c there is no specimen, and they are waiting for him to come back and..um...deliver more troops? :)
Good luck!
me- personally- I don't think I would be able to wait any longer and I would go ahead with the first. :)
Hi there,
I am very interested to hear how you chose your donor. My husband is still not budging on the donor sperm thing but I'm thinking if we fail IVF he might open up to the idea. We have genetic issues as well and waiting for the other testing to come back. Not sure what to tell you about the washed or not question. I would say the sooner the better.
I am very bad at waiting so I would probably go for it now, even knowing that they'd wash it again and you'd lose some. I'd rationalize it by saying that the donor probably has a good count and the wash leaves the best of the best in there.
Good luck with whatever you decide. I'm excited for you!
I would also go with the IUI right now and put yourself on the ICI waiting list, just in case.
However, considering your Donor doesn't have any IF issues - I honestly don't think you have much to worry about.
Wishing you the best and hoping to see that BFP soon.
ICLW
P.S. I will do a post later about the Amish Bread. You are supposed to get a "starter" from a friend (hence the friendship bread aspect). I would send you some, but Id on't think the USPS would condone me sending fermenting yeast through the mail. :)
I will find a recipe on how to start the starter. Surely it exists somewhere!!!
If it were me, I'd go with the IUI for now. Because I am impatient.
Good luck to you!
I suppose for me the question would be in terms of cost/what insurance covers. If that's not an issue, then go, girl, go!
Wow. I learn something every day. I had no idea there was difference with donor samples.
I think Anna's suggestion is good. If your clinic would consider not washing the IUI sample, then go with that now and be put on the ICI list.
Good luck! I'm excited for you.
Here from LFCA. I'd go ahead with the IUI and put your name on the waiting list, but that's because I'm impatient! I'd talk to your doctor's office about whether their rule on washing is absolutely firm, and explore whether you're comfortable with doing an at-home IUI.
Tough choice! Since you asked...I would probably make a pest of myself at the clinic, asking why they have to wash perfectly good pre-washed sperm. But their answer wouldn't really matter to me (unless I could get them to forego the second washing) because I am so impatient, I'd use the ICI sample anyway and put myself on the IUI sample waiting list. There's something about fertility treatments - I've already had to wait so long, I don't want to wait one minute more.
Whichever option you choose, I wish you the best of luck! (ICLW)
I always say why wait. If it doesn't work, then there are the ICIs later on. But there is a chance the IUI samples will work. Good luck!!
Although I have no experience in this (but I have worked in labs, and know about egos therein), I'm guessing they wash all samples because they don't trust the banks to do it "properly."
I'm with most of the people here - I'd go for it.
Here from LFCA
I'd just go with the IUI samples as most others have said. You shouldn't lose too many viable sperm doing a second wash on a sample from someone without fertility issues.
I agree with the other ladies, I say IUI vials now, and put yourself on the list for ICI.
This is my first week with ICLW, I'm so glad I found your blog. My husband and I will be doing DI in August. Although we are going wtih donor over IVF w/ ICSI for financial reasons.
Thanks for sharing, I look forward to following your journey!
How goofy that they insist on washing again! I would get on teh waiting list and move forward with the IUI samples in the meantime. You'll most likely lose some swimmers because of the second wash but a chance is still better than no chance.
Good luck!
Not being cold, but if it was me I'd probably just select another donor who did have ICI samples and eliminate fuss. (I didn't have any attachment to the donor we used...just high numbers, etc.)
My answer depends on the $$$ for the may-not-be-uber-awesome, double-washed, IUI samples.
Here from the LFCA...my clinic also washed all samples just prior to use, regardless of whether I purchased ICI or IUI vials. The doctor's reasoning was that it gets rid of a lot of sperm that isn't viable in the process, and that it "jump-starts" the sperm. I have no idea how accurate that is, but hey, it worked, so I wasn't going to argue. I'd go ahead and start, using the IUI ready samples, and get on the list for ICI when they are available.
Decisions, decisions. Go with your gut! We had to play the waiting game for two years because of lack of funds. Maybe just wieght up the pros and cons. But I believe your gut will always come through for you. -ICLW
Here from LFCA. My clinic washed the donor sperm also regardless of whether it was IUI or ICI. The one bank I bought from had both but the other bank only had IUI and my doc washed it for my IUI and he said the counts etc were still great. It's still hard though to think about potentially losing possible good swimmers. Good luck with the decision and the IUI.
Oh and I do think that if you go with the IUI that getting your name on the list for ICI is a good idea.
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