Our Dr. recommends doing a few things that he thinks will increase our chances the first time. One is assisted hatching. Bascially they make a hole inthe egg shell (metaphor) so that the cells can break out and attach to the uterus lining. They will also do a procedure called ICSI (ick-see) that forces the sperm into the egg. (I'm sure my IVF friends have a better and more technical way to describe these things, but that is how our Dr. described to us).
There is some concern over the ICSI procedure because of 'natural selection'. Maybe the sperm or egg have something wrong with them and shouldn't be fertilized. At this point this procedure is a 'maybe' for us.
My next step is to get my blood drawn on day 10 (which will be Monday, December 20, 2006). They will check FSH, LH and estrogen levels. We are also working on scheduling, but for now it looks like we'll be doing the procedure in February 2007. Retrieving around February 14 and transferring around February 18. C at Dr. B's office does the scheduling and she'll be sending us a tentative schedule soon.
I can't wait.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
The forms...
It is amazing how many forms we had to sign to start this process. It really got me thinking ethically about stem cells and research and all of the things that go along with this human life and technology story.
I was reminded of a friend of mine in CA that had to make a decision about what to do with her frozen embryos she ended up with after she was successful with twin boys. They did not want any more children because of their ages and the clinic needed to do something with them. I do not know what they finally decided, but it is such an amazing, empowering (almost too empowering) and emotional decision.
We had to sign forms to authorize the clinic about what to do with any of our embryos if there were any remaining. We had to indicate who would own them if one or both of us died or if we got divorced. Luckily Miles didn't want to have to make the decision, so he signed them over to me. In case of my death, I think we signed them over to my mom.
I know that now after having children and understanding what so many people go through with infertility, there is no question that I would either choose to use them myself or donate them to a couple who was unsuccessful using their own egg/sperm. At the time, I could not comprehend the raw emotion and the enormity of this decision. It is humbling. And I am actually grateful that we didn't end up with any embryos after our own procedure. Such huge, huge issues.
I was reminded of a friend of mine in CA that had to make a decision about what to do with her frozen embryos she ended up with after she was successful with twin boys. They did not want any more children because of their ages and the clinic needed to do something with them. I do not know what they finally decided, but it is such an amazing, empowering (almost too empowering) and emotional decision.
We had to sign forms to authorize the clinic about what to do with any of our embryos if there were any remaining. We had to indicate who would own them if one or both of us died or if we got divorced. Luckily Miles didn't want to have to make the decision, so he signed them over to me. In case of my death, I think we signed them over to my mom.
I know that now after having children and understanding what so many people go through with infertility, there is no question that I would either choose to use them myself or donate them to a couple who was unsuccessful using their own egg/sperm. At the time, I could not comprehend the raw emotion and the enormity of this decision. It is humbling. And I am actually grateful that we didn't end up with any embryos after our own procedure. Such huge, huge issues.
Friday, February 15, 2008
The Swimmers
Not only did they tell me that everything on my side of the equation looked ok and normal, everything on Miles' side looked normal as well. In fact, he always has a high count with good mobility.
While I was going through my IVF pre-work, Miles had to get bloodwork done (HIV testing, etc.), to make sure that when they cryo-preserve his sperm that he doesn't introduce something bad. They preserve some of his sperm in case something happens the day of the collection and fertilization so that they have a back-up.
More testing, more normal results.
While I was going through my IVF pre-work, Miles had to get bloodwork done (HIV testing, etc.), to make sure that when they cryo-preserve his sperm that he doesn't introduce something bad. They preserve some of his sperm in case something happens the day of the collection and fertilization so that they have a back-up.
More testing, more normal results.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
2004 or Here We Go!
I had 3 IUI's in 2004 with no success. I was now a candidate for in-vitro fertilization (IVF) - the very high-tech method (as Dr. B says, as opposed to the low-tech IUI process). Not to mention the very expensive method. His estimate was $14,000-$16,000 and we had no idea if insurance would cover any of it.
So, in November 2004, we had to make the decision if we were going to go for it. We wanted to be sure that we put money away into our pre-tax flexible spending account to cover the portion that was not covered by insurance. We put the money away and we were ready to go.
First step was our chlomid challenge test. They do this to see how my ovaries respond to fertility drugs. They want to be sure not to over-stimulate my ovaries and at the same time, give me enough so that they have good eggs to harvest. Harvest, funny word...
I had to get blood drawn and an ultrasound on day 3 of my cycle to see where I started out. Pre-antril count was completed on December 13, 2004.
On Thursday, December 16, I had to go in with a full bladder (ouch) so that they could do a trial transfer - basically making sure the catheters they plan to use will work. They don't want to come to the day of the transfer and run into problems.
They let me drain my bladder (phew!) that was painful - having to go to the bathroom very badly and then they start poking at the bladder - I'll have to do that again the day of the transfer.
Next they did a sonogram - not sure exactly what it's called, but they stuck a balloon in my uterus to expand it a little - then stuck the ultrasound in to check for fibroids - really bad cramping - ouch!!
Everything looked normal, so on we march through this adventure.
So, in November 2004, we had to make the decision if we were going to go for it. We wanted to be sure that we put money away into our pre-tax flexible spending account to cover the portion that was not covered by insurance. We put the money away and we were ready to go.
First step was our chlomid challenge test. They do this to see how my ovaries respond to fertility drugs. They want to be sure not to over-stimulate my ovaries and at the same time, give me enough so that they have good eggs to harvest. Harvest, funny word...
I had to get blood drawn and an ultrasound on day 3 of my cycle to see where I started out. Pre-antril count was completed on December 13, 2004.
On Thursday, December 16, I had to go in with a full bladder (ouch) so that they could do a trial transfer - basically making sure the catheters they plan to use will work. They don't want to come to the day of the transfer and run into problems.
They let me drain my bladder (phew!) that was painful - having to go to the bathroom very badly and then they start poking at the bladder - I'll have to do that again the day of the transfer.
Next they did a sonogram - not sure exactly what it's called, but they stuck a balloon in my uterus to expand it a little - then stuck the ultrasound in to check for fibroids - really bad cramping - ouch!!
Everything looked normal, so on we march through this adventure.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
The Gap
As I read through my spiral notebook on my infertility journey I remembered that there was a very interesting gap in my entries. My first entry, my last post, dated December 18, 2001 and the very next entry dated December 18, 2004. I remember as I wrote that second entry 3 years later that it was EXACTLY three years later.
The Gap includes all of our OB tests, HSG, post-coital, estrogen levels, etc. Everything seemed normal, so after several months (I can't even remember how long it was), she sent us over to Dr. B, the wonderful fertility specialist here in our home town.
(Side note: I remember reading about people who's fertility Dr. was hundreds, sometimes thousands, of miles away. I remember feeling very lucky to have such a wonderful and well known Dr. right here in town. I couldn't imagine all of the trips and how to do this long distance. Wow.)
In July 2003, we did a laproscopy to check and make sure there was no endometriosis, fibroids or anything else suspicious that could be causing our inability to get pregnant. He did find a very small amount of endometriosis, but not enough to be blocking our attempts at pregnancy.
At this point, I still thought I had a chance to get pregnant on my own. I was 36, but still optomistic. My thought was that it was taking a longer amount of time because of my age. In 2003 we did 2 IUI attempts, but also kept trying on our own.
Unexplained infertility. Hmmmmm.
The Gap includes all of our OB tests, HSG, post-coital, estrogen levels, etc. Everything seemed normal, so after several months (I can't even remember how long it was), she sent us over to Dr. B, the wonderful fertility specialist here in our home town.
(Side note: I remember reading about people who's fertility Dr. was hundreds, sometimes thousands, of miles away. I remember feeling very lucky to have such a wonderful and well known Dr. right here in town. I couldn't imagine all of the trips and how to do this long distance. Wow.)
In July 2003, we did a laproscopy to check and make sure there was no endometriosis, fibroids or anything else suspicious that could be causing our inability to get pregnant. He did find a very small amount of endometriosis, but not enough to be blocking our attempts at pregnancy.
At this point, I still thought I had a chance to get pregnant on my own. I was 36, but still optomistic. My thought was that it was taking a longer amount of time because of my age. In 2003 we did 2 IUI attempts, but also kept trying on our own.
Unexplained infertility. Hmmmmm.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
December 18, 2001 or Ignorant Bliss
I've been reading the Fertility Awareness Method (FAM) and my period started today. We are starting our journey! We are starting the countdown to when we can start trying to get pregnant. At first I was very apprehensive about being pregant. Scared of the unknown, I guess, but now that we've decided to try for a family, I am overjoyed and excited.
I have always been excited about having children, even contemplated having them even if I had never met the man of my dreams. I've just been scared about being pregnant. I'm hoping things go smoothly for us.
I have always been excited about having children, even contemplated having them even if I had never met the man of my dreams. I've just been scared about being pregnant. I'm hoping things go smoothly for us.
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Why I'm Creating This Blog
I have a current blog, "Never Too Late", that I started in November 2007 to document my life with twins and subsequent 3rd baby only 20 months later. I originally was going to post my journey through infertility and IVF to that blog, but I found that there is so much to talk about parenting twins and a new baby, that I didn't want to go back and post date a bunch of entries on IVF.
I've decided to create this blog to post date my journey through infertility, IUI, IVF and then unassisted pregnancy. I don't know how long it will take me to update this site, but I will try to refresh the content regularly until I've caught up with present day with my other blog.
Mostly this is for documenting my journey so I have something other than a spiral notebook, but it is also to share with the others that I have been meeting recently that are just now going through this. I know not everyone likes to hear a success story, especially if they're in the middle of the struggle. That's ok. Everyone has their own way of navigating through this.
In the end, we all just want a family that we can love and grow with. This blog already has a happy ending, so hang on and enjoy the ride.
I've decided to create this blog to post date my journey through infertility, IUI, IVF and then unassisted pregnancy. I don't know how long it will take me to update this site, but I will try to refresh the content regularly until I've caught up with present day with my other blog.
Mostly this is for documenting my journey so I have something other than a spiral notebook, but it is also to share with the others that I have been meeting recently that are just now going through this. I know not everyone likes to hear a success story, especially if they're in the middle of the struggle. That's ok. Everyone has their own way of navigating through this.
In the end, we all just want a family that we can love and grow with. This blog already has a happy ending, so hang on and enjoy the ride.
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