Fertilization report: IVF #7

Thanks for all of your well wishes on our retrieval. We were thrilled, just thrilled at the news, and we really appreciated your excitement on our behalf.

We started this morning off with another ultrasound. With my E2 at 7,300 the day before retrieval, they were worried I would have fluid accumulating in my abdomen from OHSS. All looked good so far. To try to stave off OHSS, they have me drinking lots of fluid, taking in lots of salt, continuing Centrotide shots for five days (this is pricey without insurance!) as well as taking vaginal Cabergoline (a dopamine agonist), which apparently is being tested in phase III trials for its potential ability to reduce OHSS incidence/severity.

After the ultrasound at 7am (ouch!), we did some sightseeing and when we got back to the room, I was one tired Mo and promptly fell dead asleep until Will woke me up just a bit ago and said no more napping. I think I could have slept for hours more.

We heard from the embryology lab this morning around 11:00AM. And so far, the news is very good. The Denver clinic seems to keep on delivering for us. Keep it coming!

As you know, yesterday we had 25 eggs retrieved (an all-time record that beats our first IVF cycle yield of 22 -three years ago - by a comfortable margin).

Today we found out that of the 25 eggs retrieved, 22 were mature.

And of those, 18 fertilized!!! Which we think is awesome news! They used ICSI and the embryologists seemed to think one more might fertilize from the bunch...not sure why it's lagging. Eighteen fertilized is also a record for us. The most we had previously was Denver's last cycle (#6), in which we had 16 fertilize.

At my request, the lab were still watching the three immature eggs and if any matured would be attempting day 2 ICSI on them (they said that would happen around 2pm today, so fingers crossed that one egg or a couple more matured).

The embryologist shared that there is a "big note" on my chart that said to attempt in vitro maturation on all immature eggs, to call me on day 3 with an update (something the Denver clinic isn't routinely doing for microarray patients anymore), and to try to culture to day 7 for blasts if need be. I love this place. I love that they get it, that all of our normal blasts wouldn't exist except for their willingness to mature in vitro and culture to day 7. I know it is extra work for them, and highly appreciate their willingness to go the extra mile.

So we've cleared a few hurdles already: retrieval (phew!) and fertilization (double phew!).

Next status update on this cycle will be Monday for the day 3 report. We'll see how our 18 little guys (18!!!) are doing at that point.

Still feeling pretty weary. But happy. Definitely lots of happy here in the Mo and Will hotel room. We fly home tomorrow. It will be good to get back to New York.

So far everything is going as well as we could have hoped. We are so grateful.

Mo

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