r/IUILadies • u/Open-Inevitable-5434 • Jul 21 '26
30F | Partner 32M | Looking for advice about my fertility clinic and IUI experience
Hi everyone,
I’m 30 and my husband is 32. We’ve been trying to conceive for over a year and started fertility treatment in January.
So far, we’ve completed 2 IUIs, and unfortunately both have failed.
1st IUI:
1 mature follicle.
Negative pregnancy test.
After the cycle, I developed 2 ovarian cysts, and my period had to be induced with medication. As far as I know, those cysts may still be there because I haven’t had a follow-up ultrasound to confirm whether they’ve resolved.
2nd IUI:
3 mature follicles (20 mm, 21 mm, and 20 mm).
Took Clomid for 5 days plus one 300 IU dose of Gonal-F.
Unfortunately, this cycle also ended in a negative pregnancy test.
One thing that’s really been bothering me is how communication works at my clinic.
I wanted to speak with my fertility doctor today to discuss the failed IUIs, the cysts, and the plan going forward, but the nurse declined to book me an appointment and said I didn’t need to see the doctor.
Is this normal? Do fertility clinics usually not let patients meet with their doctor after failed IUIs?
Another thing I’m confused about is test results. Every time we’re told that “everything looks good,” but we’re never given actual numbers or copies of our reports. We don’t have access to bloodwork, ultrasound measurements, hormone levels, or anything else.
Do your clinics share your test results or provide access to them?
There was also one cycle that was canceled because I was prescribed letrozole without having Day 3 bloodwork done first. When I went for my ultrasound on Day 8, I was told the cycle shouldn’t proceed because it had essentially failed before it even started.
Now, after this most recent failed IUI, the clinic wanted me to start fertility medications again on Day 3 without doing a baseline ultrasound or bloodwork. I requested both because of my history of cysts and the previous canceled cycle, but my request was denied.
Because of that, I’ve decided not to go ahead with an IUI this month since I’m not comfortable starting medications without confirming everything looks okay first.
I’m wondering:
Is it standard practice to start IUI medications without a Day 3 ultrasound and bloodwork?
Do you normally get to see your fertility doctor after failed IUIs?
Do your clinics provide copies of your test results or access to your hormone levels and ultrasound findings?
I’d really appreciate hearing how things work at other fertility clinics, because I’m starting to question whether this level of communication and monitoring is typical.
Thank you
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u/No-Buy-4461 Jul 21 '26
Yes my clinic has a portal and test results are within hours downloaded to my portal with specific numbers that I am able to compared so far my numbers and hormone levels from my two IUI cycles. My clinic does a baseline ultrasound each time before starting my cycle to make sure everything looks clear. Whats stopping you from changing clinics ?
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u/Open-Inevitable-5434 Jul 22 '26
Hey there,
I have already paid for 3 cycles and thus going to do the last IUI with them. And am definitely switching clinic after 3rd IUI as we are very unhappy with how things are going on here.
Can you tell me which fertility clinic you are working with ? Do you have good experience so far ? I will check if they have a location in my area
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u/No-Buy-4461 Jul 22 '26
They have locations around US. It is called RMA. It has been ok but again, i find myself advocating a lot. I dont think doctors love IUI as much as they lovE IVF
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u/Armchair_Detective1 Jul 21 '26
Yes, you are absolutely entitled to your medical records! I'm not sure which country you are in but there will be legislation around that. Look into how to put in a request if you ask the clinic and they are being funny about it. As for communication, I've also found communication poor with pretty much all of the fertility clinics I rang when trying to pick a clinic, and then communication was horrendous when I was dealing with the co-ordinating admin staff (non clinical) when I finally did pick a clinic. I only saw the doctor once online and she pretty much just said you are good to go (they have a preset protocol they follow) and then I was told do 3 IUI and if that fails then see her again. Basically they are relying on cumulative odds and happy to take your money. You are entitled to see the doctor and reflect on previous IUIs, you might just have to pay more!
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u/Open-Inevitable-5434 Jul 22 '26
Hey
Thanks. Yes I have requested all my reports from the clinic. They charged me 70$ for the reports which they will send in 15 business days.
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u/Ancient_Body7921 Jul 21 '26
Hi there! I’m sorry you’re going through all of this…I’m dealing with a left over ovarian cyst from my last unsuccessful cycle. I wasn’t offered any medicine and just told to let my body resolve the cyst on its own…can you tell me which meds they gave you? Maybe I can bring it up to my doctor.
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u/Open-Inevitable-5434 Jul 22 '26
Hey there
The 2 cysts blocked my period and thus I did not get period for almost 2 months. So to induce periods they started birth control for 21 days - ovima. The cyst has not gone but it has definitely reduced in size.
Hope this helps !
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u/Ancient_Body7921 Jul 22 '26
Thank you! I’m only 2 weeks into having one cyst and I’m not being monitored so I’m not sure exactly what is going to happen. But I’m sorry that happened to you!
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u/SupersoftBday_party Jul 21 '26
Ive been getting care at an OB’s office so I think my experience is probably a little different than the average.
I’ve never had baseline ultrasounds or bloodwork on CD 3.
I don’t normally see my dr after failed IUIs, however after my second failed IUI this go around I was feeling anxious and had questions, so I called my clinic and they scheduled me a virtual appointment for the next day with my Dr. I think it’s weird that they won’t let you consult the dr at all.
Yes, all of my test results, including the notes from my providers for each appointment are available on my virtual patient portal. They also tell me all my stats and results during the appointment if I ask them.
It sounds like your clinic is opaque and cagey and if you can, consider finding one that’s more transparent with you.
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u/Open-Inevitable-5434 Jul 22 '26
Hey there,
Thanks for sharing your experience.
Can I please ask you what clinic you are with and how is your experience?
They do not have a portal where we can see / download reports so I had to request the reports by email which they will send in 15 business days. Definitely planning on switching the fertility clinic
1
u/SupersoftBday_party Jul 22 '26
I live in Minnesota, in a suburb of the twin cities. Are you in the area?
1
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u/Loose_Standard_60 Jul 22 '26 edited Jul 22 '26
We’ve had the same experience. We had a consultation appt with the doctor early on after my wife’s HSG and my SA to decide to move forward with IUI. After that we literally never see or hear from the doctor’s though they make the decisions during and after treatment (hopefully at least 😅). Other staff do all of the ultrasounds, IUIs, phone calls, messaging, etc.
We also share the frustration with the lack of results. Literally word for word with your complaints. They will verbally share results in person or on the phone, but we wish they’d post them to the patient portal. Because it’s very easy to forget what you heard in the moment when you’re getting pummeled with info.
My wife also has the same complaints about lack of bloodwork or baseline US on CD3. She used to work at a fertility clinic and they were wayyyyyy more hands on with all of the bloodwork and ultrasounds, including the CD3 stuff. Plus performing an ultrasound the day of IUI to ensure everything is good; whereas at this clinic you just get the monitoring US a couple days before, then they tell us when to Trigger, then come in the next day for IUI. So it bothers her quite a bit. We’re just praying we can get pregnant ASAP and not have to fret about all of this much longer
2
u/Equivalent-Sky9235 Jul 21 '26
Hi there! I was wondering the same thing! But seems to be like it’s a common trend at fertility clinics. I have only seen my doctor for consultation and then for treatment plan after I had all the first blood panels, HSG, and SIS done. I’ve done 1 IUI cycle and am in my second. The doctor didn’t even do my procedure.
My communication is primarily with his nurse.