Lessons I've learned from IVF experience. Please read if you are going through IVF

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:HOLY COW!!! 13 IVF's!!! That has got to be so hard on the bod to do that many cycles! I hope you didn't do any long term damage to your body! How old were you when you used your own eggs and why did the Dr. say they did not take? Good Luck on #2, I think it will happen soon!

I was 37 when I tried with my own eggs. 39 going on 40 when I moved to donor eggs. Had my first child when I was about to turn 41, and had my second when I was 43.
Dr. said my egg quality was low, probably do to age.

The 13 number includes the donor cycyles, which isn't as damaging on my body but still, I did do tons of estrogen and progesterone. I did 5-6 cycles trying with my own eggs.

I have great insurance, thank god, though for my first donor cycle, my insurance did not pay for the donor side of things. When I tried the second time, our firm had moved to a different plan, and the donor cycles were covered.

And let me just throw in here that for my second child, my first pregnancy test after the cycle registered at 19 -- yes 19. But I still had a beautiful baby girl. . . .

Now trying to convince my husband to try for a third -- have 4 blasts leftover.

I wish you luck with #3!

[Anonymous]

OP here: thanks everyone for weighing in. Please keep your thoughts coming. I remember when I was struggling through IVF, I wish I had the lessons learned from successes at my finger tips.

I myself went through 6 ivfs and had several miscarriages. But remember, never give up HOPE. You will be a mother some day.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for sharing your experiences. I've had 2 failed IUI and am undergoing IVF right now. We had egg retrievel on Monday and had over 10 eggs, most of which fertilized. We're waiting to hear if we'll be a day 3 or day 5/6 transfer. I took the day off on the day of retrievel but went back to work the next day and felt horrible. I look and felt like I was 8 months pregnant with a swollen belly, constipation and a sore bottom from my injections. We hope to cryopreserve the remaining blast (if we have any) as it's been very physically challenging. I didn't realize it was recommended to take 48 hours off and was planning to work the next day after transfer. After reading your shared comments, I plan to go ahead and share our ART with close friends and family. We were planning not to say anything until we knew we were pregnant as it has been emotionally draining after our failed IUI attempts.

[Anonymous]

we did 13 IUI's (no insurance, social workers' salaries) , at variety of clinics, last cycle ended w/burst ectopic pregnancy & hyperstimulation--resulting in emergency surgery to untorse an ovary & remove a tube. Tried adoption options for 1.5 years (sunk in thousands of dollars & every situation fell through)...Went back to IVF, successful on 1st try w/lousy cycle at Shady Grove--5 eggs retrieved, 2 fertilized, 1 made it, did 3 day transfer, have beautiful DD that is 22 months old & light of our lives. Currently on bedrest after ET for IVF #2 to give our DD a sibling--also a "lousy" cycle--retrieved only 4, only 1 made it, did ET on Day 3 yesterday...hoping for the best...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:we did 13 IUI's (no insurance, social workers' salaries) , at variety of clinics, last cycle ended w/burst ectopic pregnancy & hyperstimulation--resulting in emergency surgery to untorse an ovary & remove a tube. Tried adoption options for 1.5 years (sunk in thousands of dollars & every situation fell through)...Went back to IVF, successful on 1st try w/lousy cycle at Shady Grove--5 eggs retrieved, 2 fertilized, 1 made it, did 3 day transfer, have beautiful DD that is 22 months old & light of our lives. Currently on bedrest after ET for IVF #2 to give our DD a sibling--also a "lousy" cycle--retrieved only 4, only 1 made it, did ET on Day 3 yesterday...hoping for the best...

good luck, we also had transfer yesterday, a d 5 but not quite a blast so we're holding our breathe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here: thanks everyone for weighing in. Please keep your thoughts coming. I remember when I was struggling through IVF, I wish I had the lessons learned from successes at my finger tips.

I myself went through 6 ivfs and had several miscarriages. But remember, never give up HOPE. You will be a mother some day.

WOW! I don't know how you did it. Now that we've done one IVF cycle and are in the 2ww, I don't know how anyone can go through this more than once. IUI is a cake walk compared to IVF. It's tortuous to have your eggs retrieved and to received IM injections of Progesterone every night. Your butt stays sore for days and it leaves a hard knot. Congrats to you on being a mom and for being so strong.