Clomid, HCG Trigger and IUI?

I have recently been informed by my Dr. that I will most likely need to have an IUI cycle in order to conceive. I will be taking Clomid with an HCG trigger, because I do not have a proper LH surge to release my eggs. I asked the nurse before we left our appointment yesterday about the costs of everything and she gave me a fee sheet, which puts the costs of one cycle at a little over $1,000.00. (This includes the 2-3 ultrasounds, Dr. fees, labwork through the month and also the medicines) I am a member of www.fertilitylifelines.com, so I can get a discount on the HCG trigger (save about $50.00), but the rest will be 100% my responsibility up-front, since my insurance doesn't cover infertility.

My question is this.......does anyone know of any programs that can assist in the costs of ART, where it doesn't have to specifically be an IVF cycle? I found a couple of places, including www.inciid.com, but you have to go through IVF to be eligible.

We do not want to wait the six months it will take us to save $1,000.00 to have the IUI done, but it's looking like we don't have a choice. I know we could take out a loan, but then what if the first cycle doesn't work, I can't just keep taking out loans. And besides, if I owe a finance payment for loans, then I won't have the extra money I have budgeted for the baby. I'm just so sad and frustrated ..........

I know this is hard. We have have been ttc for 19 months. We didn't see an RE at 12 months for many reasons but one was because we wanted at least a few thousand set aside just for treatments because our insurance doesn't cover much for infertility. Plus we wanted all excess debt no matter how little paid off first. Such as the $50 here or there that may be on department store credit cards, etc. We also don't want to touch our other savings that is for a new house and just security we need for our futuer. So we saved up what we felt was enough and we went to our first appointment yesterday.

And according to the financial counseler there we are more than ready to start this journey. She said we are better off than most couples she sees but she did say they work with all budgets to help people become parents. So those extra months of savings has paid off. Plus most of my paychecks are free money now that we have paid off a lot of debt so we are hoping that we may not even need to use that money we saved.

It is hard work to save and get rid of debt but we did it and we didn't have to live dirt poor to do it. We took a financial class that tells you tricks to eliminate debt in record time and how to just save money on any budget. It was a free class offered at our community college. It was just an 8 hour thing. We took it about 2 years ago and are so thankful. My cousin just took something similar about 2 months ago and their savings has already doubled plus they have a new 2 month old baby. So it does work.

Also in our info packet we got yesterday it offers interest free payment plans and loans with low interest and it discusses that some use a credit card to pay or refinance their house. Honestly though we knew that if we couldn't pay cash to receive treatments then how would we ever afford a baby. So a baby is something that motivated us to save. I am not bragging that we may be able to pay for our treatment regimine now (now if we have to go in for multiple IVF's we may struggle) but we have worked hard and did a lot the last 2 years to get here. Talk to the financial counseler there to see what your options are. Don't give up and it will happen. I know God has finally opened this door up for us now. We just knew it was the right time to make that first appointment.

Edit: I wanted to add that we scaled down a lot of things also like we eliminated the movie packages from our satallite plan and lowered our cell phone plan. I also clipped coupons and bought things that were only on sale. Things like that really help and add up fast to savings. The first thing that class had us do was take a month or even a week and write down every penny we spent and what we spent it on. She said even a pack of gum write it down. And then seperate into the needs and wants. She said you would be surprised that sometimes the cost of wants was at least half or more of the needs. She said then for the next month or week try to spend only half of the wants and save the rest and so on. Really helps. I would check into the interest free payments if your dr's office has them and pay them back as quickly as possible just in case you have to go in for round 2. I pray you don't. Remember to once you get pregnant you have nine months to get more saved for when baby comes. Just hang in there!!!!!!

I completely understand what you are talking about, however, I was told that I would be getting the Fallopian Tube Sperm Perfusion while on Repronex (a step up from IUI and a step below IVF). The cost would be $3000.00 (my responsibility to pay) I do not know of any help you can get to pay for it, but I would like to know if there is one. I hope that it works for you the first time!! Wish you lots of luck!

hi there, going through the same process myself, but we are lucky enough to get it on the NHS.

i am assuming your partner didnt have a great result on his sperm sample.

as if his semen is good, then clomid could do it alone.

i know this isnt what you asked, but just thought i would say just incase your doctor hadnt mentioned this too you.

EDIT_ just read your comment added later.
i too have the same problems as you, but only given a fertiltiy drug called clomid ( i take a tablet for 5 days on CD2-CD6) which induces ovulation,
altho we have just got my partners sperm analysis back and will be discussed with us next week with our consultant. if his sperm isnt to an appropriate standard they will look at us doing IUI or IVF then.

but with you having a problem with your CM maybe thats why you have to go with the IUI route.

I really just thought i would mention this as you where paying for your treatment.

Really hope you get things worked out as i know how frustrating TTC can be.

xx