moving onto IVF

I just had a 5th failed iui cycle. My hubby & I have been ttc baby #2 for 16 months now and have decided to move onto IVF. I was hoping to avoid it. For some reason, I am so scared of the whole process. My RE also recommends doing IVF with PGD (because I am 39 and my history of MC and recurrent chemicals) which is not covered by insurance so this makes it a financial stress as well as an emotional one. How is the egg retrieval and transfer? What is recovery time like? I'll have to take time off from work too. Thanks.

Re: moving onto IVF

Hi! I just went through my first IVF cycle but was canceled due to mid cycle bleeding. I have 7 frozen embryos so when the Dr says I am ready she transfer.

-AF started and did my day 3 exam and blood
- Was on BC pills for a week
- CD 8 Saline sono to check tubes and fibroids
- After that started injections. They were ok, I have a good amount of fat around my abdominal area so it didn't hurt. Its just time consuming and lots of prepping, you may get some bruising.
-Monitoring was very frequent so I was late to work a lot but I gave my job notes and told my boss I had dr. appts. I just stay late to make up the hours.
- Day of retrieval I was nervous haven't been under anesthesia so it was my anxiety mostly. I had DH with me and he calmed me down. They ask bunch of questions like allergies to meds etc, you wear the gown, they hook an IV to you and that it is where they administrator the anesthesia when you go to the OR. Once in the OR and on their table I was Out and just remember waking up and they wheeled me back to recovery. You definitely need that day off. I took an extra day because I didn't know how I was going to feel but I did feel totally fine the next day.
- While in the OR DH was producing his goods
-Following Retrieval just had light cramping but with tylenol I was fine. I ran my errands but then felt a little sleepy in the afternoon and took a nap.
-Day of they retrieval they tell you how many eggs they retrieved and the next day how many fertilized.
- As for transfer I have no idea yet but when I did my saline sono before my IVF cycle my RE said that that it is how a transfer feels like and It was very light cramping.


All practices are different this is based on where I go.

Hope this helps and Best of Luck!

Message edited 3/28/2016 5:05:22 PM.

Re: moving onto IVF

I could have written your post myself a couple of months ago. I dreaded IVF and really was hoping to avoid it, but after doing my first round of stim meds recently, I can honestly say it really wasn't bad. It was much worse in my head.

I also did PGD testing.

I journaled the steps in a post if you want to read it:
My IVF Joural

Re: moving onto IVF

Re: moving onto IVF

Thanks girls. Just met with my RE this morning and we will be doing IVF with PGS starting in May. I'm still a little nervous but I know it's time to do this and I am praying for my little miracle.

Re: moving onto IVF

Re: moving onto IVF

it was much worse in my head. but its still intense emotionally and physically. those 10-12 days you're stimming and going to the dr like every other day for blood work and ultrasounds. I did 2 rounds for # 2, i started at 36; and turned 37 at the end of January after the last failed cycle.

I want to warn you...at 39 its not easy. Egg quality will most likely be an issue just b/c of our age. and if you've had recurrent miscarriages and chemicals, embryo quality is an issue most likely b/c of aging eggs. Im not trying to be a debbie downer, im just giving it to you straight.

First cycle I did the standard antagonist protocol b/c on my paper my #'s were Pretty (as my dr. said). I have young ovaries, a lot of eggs, low FSH, tubes were clear, uterus was fine. They had no reason to think I wouldn't respond well. but I didnt. I did menopur 150 in the am; and 300-400 follistim in the evening for 11 days. I got 8 eggs, only 5 mature, 2 fertilized (without ICSI) and transferred one. During that stim cycle my estrogen dropped and follicles dropped 3 days into stims so the had to max out the dose of follistim. I had a chemical.

in between cycles I also had another chemical.

2nd cycle I did Microdose lupron flare which is typically used in older patients or poor responders. and while I did respond better to this, (follicles were a little more, and all the same size, rather than being all over the place) I still only wound up with 8 and 5 mature. this time we did ICSI and 4 fertlized abnormally and the 1 that did fertilize didnt make it to transfer. So i was left with nothing.

one thing they did tell me was that my left ovary is positioned a bit far to the outside so it gets dangerous for them to go that far with the scope so I dont think they got anything from the left side.

good luck!! this board is very informative and supportive and you will find it a great resource. we are here for you!!

take it one day at a time.

Message edited 4/1/2016 8:37:05 AM.

moving onto IVF

Sending you luck and dust. Im in the same boat as you but I have to do one more cycle of iui until insurance will let me do ivf. Hang in there...

Re: moving onto IVF

For me, IVF was not physically tough. It was more mentally tiring with all the waking up early to go to the RE.

I stimmed for 9 days. I basically started on a Monday. Two Wednesdays later was the trigger shot. Next day, Thursday, was my pre-op class at 6 AM. Then Friday morning was my ER. My transfer was 5 days after the ER.

From that Monday that I started stimming through my ER, there was only 1 day that I didn't go to the RE. I went to Cornell and they have early morning monitoring hours so it was good that I didn't have to take any time off from work except for 2 days- ER and transfer.

Doing the shots was easy. I was on a low dose and I really didn't have any physical symptoms such as bloating. Recovering from the ER was fine. It was on a Friday and I had the whole day off. I would have been fine to go to work the next day, except it was Saturday. Transfer is super easy- like a pap smear. It was more mentally draining since I basically was sleeping 1 hour less per day and running around Manhattan. And I feel like you have to make sure you don't have anything going on while doing IVF because it has to be your priority. You have to do the shots around the same time every night. The trigger shot has to be taken at the time they tell you- it has to be super precise. Basically you don't have much of a life while doing IVF. But it does go fast.

Re: moving onto IVF

Thank you for all the responses. Since I did so many IUIs, I am used to the early morning and frequent monitoring appointments. Because I am doing the PGS, I have to wait after the retrieval for the testing to come back and then do a frozen transfer, which will be approx 6 weeks after the retrieval. It just seems like such a long process.

Re: moving onto IVF

6 WEEKS? Wow, that is a long time?

What is the difference though between PGD and PGS. I know with PGD; the results come back immediately for a Day 5 transfer.

Re: moving onto IVF

Sending you lots of luck! I had multiple failed IUI's too and was so nervous about IVF, but it was my only option. I'm 39 and only ended up with 2 embryos- both put back and I'm sitting here holding my 8 week old son. Stay positive!