Archives for February 2010

IVF Cycle Ten

February 28, 2010 By Carol 4 Comments

This month I really thought that there was a possibility I could be pregnant even though I had been negative about it happening this time. My negativity stemmed from the fact that this month I ovulated later than normal and then somehow my hormones surged for 3 whole days before I actually ovulated. As my body was behaving differently to normal, I decided to change the number of embryos transferred from two to one. The logic being not to waste the embryos I had. I really felt that my body was conspiring against me for this cycle to get pregnant.

However, some positive things occurred which lead me to think this time could be different. My period was 3 days late – a pretty rare event. I didn’t develop acne. I didn’t feel bloated. I’ve been making some positive changes to my lifestyle – getting more sleep, having regular acupuncture and taking Chinese herbal medicines twice daily. It also seemed quite plausible and after 10 IVF attempts, surely it was my turn to fall pregnant. I also made a big personal decision and decided not to put my life and career on hold until I got pregnant.

Unfortunately, Aunt Flo decided to arrive yesterday. So its now back to the drawing board again! As much as I was filled with anticipation, I have learned not to get excited or upset about the possibility of getting or not getting pregnant. Its funny but my initial failures have been quite disappointing. Each subsequent failure seems to have gotten harder and harder to bear. But now it is less difficult. Whilst I would still dearly love to have a little baby and am upset at the thought of never having a baby of my own, I can’t let it control me. IVF has almost become this thing that just happens to me. I have no control over it. Maybe it is just surrendering to life as it happens moment by moment.

One or Two Embryos

February 15, 2010 By Carol 1 Comment

After surging LH levels for 3 days and ovulation now probably occurring today, I am concerned that the length of time between ovulation and my next cycle will be short and that my body will not have enough time to support the embryo that is planned to be implanted on Friday.

Maybe I am being paranoid but I don’t want to put my little blastocysts at risk. We’ve had 10 cycles now (although I am losing count) so any problems could mean yet another cycle to go through. Even worse, we had planned to have 2 enbryos transferred. Now I am reluctant to have both implanted as my cycle has been really strange this cycle.

For a start, I noticed on day 13 that there was a slight surge in LH levels but not enough to say I was ovulating. Every day after until Saturday, there had been no surge and now I have surged for 3 days. My basal temperature also tells me that I have not yet ovulation. Whilst it is normal for me to ovulate a little late, the fact that my LH levels have been surging for so long is not normal.

I am putting the interruption to my cycle down to the fact that I had been travelling early last week and severely lacked sleep due to the travel in different timezones and the lack of comfortable bed.

So the question is do I change my consent form from 2 embryos to 1 or do I just skip this month and start again the following month? We really haven’t had much luck in the baby department so far so I am reluctant to put my little embryos at risk and head back to the baby making factory for yet another round of IVF.

Rants and Raves About The Cost of IVF

February 1, 2010 By Carol Leave a Comment

As I was getting ready to undergo another IVF cycle – this time a frozen cycle, I learned that the cost had increased by 68%. Last year it only cost $1,400 and now it has gone up to $2357.00 excluding hospital costs. I can honestly say that an expense that high did not feature in my budget for this month! I would have at least put my dentist off from putting that crown on my tooth that he has been waiting to do for the past 2 years. Now I have the crown plus a higher frozen embryo transfer bill. Nice one! If only work paid me overtime for the time I lose when travelling.

This time the paperwork just came in the mail. No appointment to see the nurse – just the consent form to go another round and a bill! And whats worse it is probably the one time where I really do what to see my nurse. Why? Because logistically it is a little bit more difficult this time as I will be travelling to two different Sates around the time I ovulate.

What this means is that I may need to have to have a blood test in either state. Since my fertility clinic is not available in either Adelaide or Perth, I assume I am just going to have to rock up unannounced without an appointment and have a blood test. The question is where? What blood testing clinics are open early in the morning before the meeting I am supposed to be presenting at. Some advice right now would have been really good – particularly at an extra $957. I guess I am not paying for the service! Maybe I have specialist embryologist or something. Damn it, I know having multiple transfers is unpopular these days but at that rate, I’d rather stick two embryos in and only pay the $2357.00 the once only to find out that my attempts at having a baby didn’t work again! Ok – well it might work but I don’t have a very good track record with this IVF gig.