I began microdose Lupron and Saizen injections and .5 mg dexamethasone yesterday and will start the stimulation medications (150 Menopur and 300 iu Gonal F) tomorrow.
IVF #7 has officially begun.
The plan, as it was last time, is to gather as many eggs as possible, with the hope of getting as many blasts as possible, followed by the hope that with microarray we can identify one or two blasts that are chromosomally normal. Major bonus prize to the Denver clinic if any of the blasts fertilize normally, develop normally, AND are chromosomally normal. Now THAT would be something.
Because the testing takes six weeks-ish, we'll be freezing everything. Again.
Some of you have asked if we might thaw the normal blastocysts we've got frozen in Denver from IVF #6 and put them back while we're out there. Good question.
We've considered it. Truly. I mean, really, it would be good to get this show on the road after three grueling years of treatment.
But much as I'd love to be pregnant as soon as possible, we decided against transferring at this time for a couple of reasons:
1. Because I have stage III endo, as well as some other uterine lining abnormalities, Dr. Schl. wants me to take lupron for 2-3 months prior to transfer to improve chances of implantation.
2. Some folks believe that the stimulation medications themselves make implantation after a fresh cycle less likely than after a frozen cycle. Don't think there are any studies on this, but it kind of makes intuitive sense...
Our chromosmally normal embryos were really hard to come by. Six fresh IVF cycles hard. So we are going to do everything we can to improve our chances that they will stick. Much as I would love to get this babymaking business truly moving forward, there's no way that we'd do anything that might reduce our chances.
So our plan is to transfer the best two (or possibly three if we include two or more of our wonky blasts), probably in September.
And so we begin. Again.
Mo
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Isn't it great to get started? I always feel so optimistic when I start those shots again. I hope it goes great for you. You are on the exact same doses I was to start (must be a common starting place). I look forward to following your progress and to a great retrieval!
ReplyDeleteWishing you tons of good luck this cycle for lots of eggs...but not just eggs...good, chromsomaly normal eggs that turn into beautiful blasts that freeze great! How's that for being specific? I think you are making all the right decisions regarding freezing and waiting. Has your Dr. considered surgery to help with the endo at all? I know many people who have better luck with implantation after a lap to clean up some of the endo.
ReplyDeletekd
kdactyl,
ReplyDeletegood thought! Because I had a lap last april. Dr. Schl. didn't think it would help for me to have another one this quickly...
I have 2 boxes of menapor one expiring in June and one in Aug. Do you need any???
ReplyDeleteCome on, Mo's ovaries! Give up the good ones! xoxo
ReplyDeletemary - we're good to go with the menopur, but thank you for offering!
ReplyDeletemo
I am excited for you!
ReplyDeletecrossing my everythings for you Mo,
ReplyDeletetruly.
XOXO
Kate
You are aware that the 7th IVF cycle is lucky, right?:)
ReplyDeleteWishing you many normally fertilizing and chromosomally normal embryos!
oh sassymama, I hope so! I *have* of course thought of you often and you're incredible luck on IVF #7. Needless to say, we would be thrilled.
ReplyDeleteMo
Well you've got to start at some point so you can get to the end, right? That's what my hubby told me this week as we started off our trip to move from middle america to alaska. One step at a time girl. Go go miraculous eggs!
ReplyDeleteOh Mo... you sound like you have a level of peace and acceptance that comes with being on this road for awhile. I admire you so much and can't even begin to explain how badly I want to read a post about you getting your BFP, being pregnant with a healthy baby, giving birth and being a mommy.
ReplyDeleteGood plan. May these be the last Lupron injections you ever take, and may they be the beginning of a whole lotta happy.
ReplyDeleteJust MHO, but I think you're doing the right thing by waiting to transfer. I can't remember where I read it, but sometime in the last year or so I read that there are studies coming out that show higher positive pg rates for FETs that occur at least a couple months after retrieval when compared to fresh transfers.
ReplyDeleteThat was also my experience - my one fresh transfer was a BFN, we went immediately into our first FET, it was a BFN, then we waited 2 more months - BFP. The other two FETs, neither of which happened near a retrieval, were also BFPs. Not that they've ended in success, but then again DH and I have lots of IF issues...
Best of luck! Hope this is lucky #7 for you.
ReplyDeleteGood luck to you. My heart is with you.
ReplyDeleteI'm really excited for IVF #7. I am so hopeful for you guys.
ReplyDeleteAll the best for you this time around. I love the number 7...
ReplyDeleteHopefully lucky # 7!! All the best.
ReplyDelete