Thursday, February 19, 2009

Coculture procedure


I had the endometrial coculture biopsy today.


I realized last night that I was a bit nervous about it, having visions of the two unanesthetized D&Cs I went through after miscarriages 1 and 2, which were - really - rather hellish. Any procedure description that includes the words "gentle scraping" using a currette now makes me wince. From these prior experiences, I know there is not a thing gentle about it.


There was really nothing to the biopsy procedure today, though. It hurt a decent amount for the few seconds during the actual suctioning - maybe 30 seconds?- as my RE was getting his little snip of the lining. And then it was over. That was it.


The nurse held up the container to me afterward to have me check my name, but I didn't hear that part and instead marvelled at the little pink tissue bits floating in the saline. I even said, "Yup, that looks like a part of my uterine lining!" (I have to admit, I thought it was a little odd she needed me to confirm the contents.) She repeated dryly, "Your name, just look at the tag - is this your name?" Oops. Yeah.


I read some of the research on co-culture, and the process to clean and separate and then seed the cells into the dish sounds pretty cumbersome. No wonder more centers don't offer it. I'm grateful my clinic does and I am hopeful it will help.


I certainly like the idea of my own cells with their growth factors and helper cells surrounding the embryos and hopefully nourishing them as they grow and divide.


Stims start on day 2 of my cycle, probably next Tuesday or so.


IVF #4, here we come! Fingers crossed that this coculture makes the difference.


Mo


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17 comments:

  1. Good luck! I hope this is your last ride on the (not so) merry-go-round.

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  2. That sounds pretty cool, in a painful sort of way - and yeah, neat that your clinic offers the procedure - intuitively, it sure SOUNDS like embryos ought to like that home more than a pure chemical bath.

    (non-anesthetized D&Cs? You're a crazy woman and I am in complete awe of you. I bow down before your courage.)

    Oh, Mo! My fingers are crossed so tightly for you on this one that it's hard to type!

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  3. Good luck! Keeping my fingers crossed for you!!

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  4. Good Luck! I work in a chemistry lab and not a bio oriented lab but I imagine it is hard. The amount of blood they need from you to grow the cells out is crazy. I had a similar D&C experience. It is montrous and I am still traumatized from it. I hope things turn out better this time. The time I tried coculture was the only 8-cell embryo I ever had in 6 IVF cycles so it seems to have a little difference for me.

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  5. I have my fingers crossed for you too! I am glad things went well today!

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  6. Glad it wasn't too bad. I am hoping this is the answer!!

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  7. Yay #4! I cannot wait to hear the details as they emerge!

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  8. This all sounds so encouraging -- a totally new thing that offers so much promise. I am holding out much hope for you & IVF #4!

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  9. It's hopeful to do something different with all of this and it sounds like it brings you great comfort. Glad to hear that #4 is off to a great start!

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  10. This co-culture stuff is so interesting to me. A little ouchy, but it sounds like it may well be worth it to give your embies a nice home to grow in.

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  11. So glad to hear it was relatively easy. Hope this is the cycle for both of us. Playdate 2010!

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  12. I've heard that those hurt quite a bit so must have quite the pain threshold tolerance. I was LMAO at your confirmation that those pink bits were indeed your endometrial lining! Luck luck luck!!!

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  13. i have my fingers and toes crossed for you as you start this new adventure!

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  14. this co culture thing sounds fascinating. I don't see why it wouldn't make a difference.
    I'm full of hope for you, sending you all kinds of wondeful wishes that this cycle will bring what you most desire.
    :)

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  15. Some nurses have no sense of humor. I hope it all works out for you!

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  16. Good luck Mo! And thank you for letting us in on the co-culture process and reasoning. I had never heard of it before your planned cycle. There is nothing good about hearing about your D&C's. That is inhumane and I am so sorry. I could not agree more- delicate scraping my ass. So-- wishing you all the best these next few days as you ramp up to tuesday. And yes, Will clearly rocks.

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  17. Funny and cool, I think this technology makes so much sense!

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