Any infertility doctors that could answer question about IVF/artificial insemination?

My husband and I will not know until it is actually time to undergo procedures whether we will be able to do IVF or will have to use artificial insemination with DS. This means that I will be taking all of the drugs necessary for IVF, and then on the day of the procedure may end up having artificial insemination done instead. I know that with AI, there is not really a higher chance of multiples, but since I will have been on these ovary-stimulating drugs up until that point, couldn't that increase my chances for multiples? There are not many people in this exact situation so I haven't been able to find any answers. Thanks!

motivational mommy - unfortunatley the reason we won't know until it's actually time to do it is that my husband had a vasectomy awhile back, so basically they can't get a sample to figure it out now...they will have to do a biopsy to see if they can find anything viable, and don't want to do that until it's go-time. honestly that is what bothers me the most right now...not knowing!

Not a doctor . . . but been through IUI 6 times and IVF . . .

In reality, IUI actually has a higher rate for multiples. The ovarian stimulating drugs cause you to produce multiple eggs leading to the potential that more than one will fertilize and implant. This is how Jon & Kate plus 8 (show on TLC) ended up with their high order multiples.

In IVF, as you stated - the same meds are being used - but they are removing the eggs and fertilize them in the lab. Your risk is up to you! You decide how many embryos to transfer back . . . if you do not want to have multiples, you could transfer only 1 back! With an IUI, you have no control beyond knowing how many follicles matured.

Hope this helps!

You always run the risk of multiples with IUI/IVF. If you have too many follicles ready to burst at the time of your IUI they may cancel the cycle in order to avoid HOM.
Good luck.

The ovary stimulating drugs can increase your chance of multiples.

If your husband has to have a biopsy to get any sperm at all, then I'm pretty sure they will be doing IVF as he will not have enough sperm to make an IUI successful. They will also probably do ICSI. With artificial insemination (IUI), there is definately a higher chance of multiples than with IVF. With IVF, they will inseminate how many ever eggs are viable and will only implant a specific number of eggs (2-3 usually). With AI, your body will release how many ever eggs it produced with the fertility drugs (I personally produced 14 eggs both times) and the sperm (depending on their quality, quantity, motility, etc) can fertilize none or all of the eggs.

If you want an actual answer, from a real physician, you can post it here (these are my IVF doctors):
http://www.medhelp.org/forums/fertility-...

Good luck

I went through14 years of fertility research and treatment, and the only reason that I have ever seen that they wouldn't be able to know whether they would do IVF or AI is if there is a question in the motility of the male sperm or the actual sperm count. What I have found is that most fertility specialists will test the sperm ahead of time and if there is a question as to count or motility they will try to take a few samples ahead of time and use the best for IVF....that is always the first option for most couples....to use the husbands or partners sperm. If they are not looking at good counts....that would be one of the only times that they would go to AI.

Any hormones or fertility drugs can increase your chances of multiples.....so yes....either way it can increase yor chances of multiples.

I hope that this answered you question in some sense.

If you need anything else...please don't hesitate to ask....I know this time and all the procedures can be very hard!

Good Luck to you!