Hi Kelly,
I am 42 and about to start IVF number 4. I have few follicles each round so its a numbers game for me. IVF 1 got me pregnant with twins. One only made it to 7 weeks. The other was normal by CVS, but I lost her at 14 weeks or so due to a massive lupus flare. So now its just about trying to get there again and being on the right meds to prevent a lupus flare.
IVF 2 was a total dud (IVF 1 and 2 were on the flare protocol). I had just lost the second twin and was on a lot of supposedly safe meds. Prednisone, plaquenil, two blood pressure meds and a pain med PLUS massive amount of Vitamin D! So maybe the meds caused the really poor quality ???
IVF 3 (Antagon) produced two perfect embryros, but a difficult transfer due to a very thick lining, and a
BFN. Was it the transfer or the embryos, I do not know.
Anyhow, I am about to try a estrogen priming protocol. I personally believe with enough rounds I will get lucky again, but money is an issue here. The first three rounds were paid by insurance, but only three round are allowed. So its out of my very skinny wallet right now. I am trying to get on
DH's insurance (I left my job so that qualifies for an open enrollment at his job). One of the other plans (not his current one) pays up to 10K for IVF. Not a lot but not zero!
If this does not work, I will likely try egg donation. No sisters, but 3 female cousins (37, 35 and 15). Obviously the 15 year old is too young and the others may be too old. I am trying to come up with a plan for the future so I do not freak with another
BFN. I have not talked with the twp older cousins since I was 9!!! However, one of them looks just like me and the other shares a lot of my personality.
DH thinks none of this matters and is fine with whatever we do (adoption, anonymous donors, known donors, etc). His sister was adopted and he has a very open mind to how children come into your life! My brother's wife has also offered, but she is 38 going on 39. Sigh, so still trying to figure it all out.
I am currently waiting for my LH flare...after that I count 10 days and start on an estrogen patch. Last time I though "3 times a charm", but this time I decided I can not count the first time since it really did work for getting my
pg, so now I say its really 3 times a charm! So I hope this round is it for me! I just want to be having that baby already
So in a large nut shell that is my story! I think there are a lot of women our age doing IVF...I was married 8 years before we decided it was time to have children. Before that we were just enjoying life. But as we all know, its harder as you get older. I guess I just was not realizing how difficult this would be! We stared trying IVF last fall at 41.
Anyhow, here is to hoping all us gals have our babies really soon. And Kelly, I totally know what you mean about having regrets. My
OB said that women who are on the fence about having kids and then do not almost always have regrets, those who knew they never wanted them do not have regrets. I always wanted kids, but not just yet. I pushed it to the limit and now I am dealing with my actions!
So after all that! Count me on in!