I'm 42 and British, J the Elder is 49 and American. We met in September 2006, married in January 2008 and live in Atlanta, GA. Because of our advanced ages, we started trying to conceive when we got engaged in May 07. Gradually, we were diagnosed with various afflictions which prevented us from conceiving or staying pregnant. It took three IUIs and three IVFs, fifty-one eggs retrieved and seven embryos that survived to be tested for viability to get us to our two viable embryos - Benjamin and Cecily, born in November 2009.
FET June 08 transferred 4 blasts, BFP!!!!, non-doubling betas, m/c at 5w2d, devastated
Diagnosed with Protein S deficiency and compound hetero MTHFR, both cause blood clotting and can lead to miscarriage, immediately put on extra strength folic acid and will need daily Lovenox shots during pregnancy
Change from local clinic to CCRM in Denver
One-Day Workup Aug 11th 08
Diagnosed with endometriomas, one in each ovary, can prevent egg from moving from the ovary to the tube
IVF #2 Oct 08 - Long Lupron Protocol 20 eggs retrieved, 15 mature, 11 fertilised, 4 blasts, all 4 biopsied and vitrified, cells sent for microarray testing on Oct 15th
Plan A - if we have 2 or more viable embryos, transfer 2 Plan B - if we have 1 or none, another fresh cycle at CCRM in the hopes of obtaining more viable embryos to transfer
Dec 9th - Microarray Results 1 viable embryo, we're thrilled that we're able to produce viable embryos, Plan B goes into effect, on to IVF #3
IVF #3 Dec 08/Jan 09 - Microdose Lupron Protocol 21 eggs retrieved, 15 mature, 11 fertilised, 3 blasts biopsied and vitrified, cells sent for microarray testing on Jan 13th
Feb 20th - Microarray Results 1 viable embryo for a total of 2
FET of both embryos in April
The Language of Infertility
DH - dear husband TTC - trying to conceive IVF - in vitro fertilisation IUI - inter uterine insemination BFN - big fat negative BFP - big fat positive HPT - home pregnancy test BCP - birth control pill AF - aunt flo (period) AMA - advanced maternal age AFC - antral follicle count RE - reproductive endocrinologist (fertility specialist) FSH - follicle stimulating hormone AMH - anti-muellerian hormone MTHFR - Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase Stims - stimulation drugs Stim Check - bloodwork and ultrasound to monitor number and growth of follicles Lupron - drug to prevent ovulation Morphology - sperm size and shape ICSI - intracytoplasmic sperm injection ER - egg retrieval ET - embryo transfer FET - frozen embryo transfer Blastocyst - embryo with 70-100 cells, 5 days after fertilisation POAS - pee on a stick M/C - miscarriage Beta HCG - measurement of pregnancy hormone in the blood
