Hi,
So, I am on my first IVF cycle. We have hit some bumps like me having a cyst early on which did not effect my estrogen so we got to continue. That was a week of waiting. Now we are ready for the trigger shot and my doctor called me today. I have known all week that I do not have many mature follicles and was worried about being canceled. She said I have 5 mature follicles and the rest are small. If we continue we would trigger tomorrow with retrieval on Monday. She says we can still go ahead with it but she also said we can stop this cycle and do a different treatment and hope for more follicles the next cycle. Because of my age and background she thinks I should have good eggs in the follicles but then again nothing is for sure. She also said she thinks I can do better but she also does not know that for sure. She basically has left if up to us to decide what we want to do. We have enough to continue but not as many as she would like to have seen. I am so confused and scared. If she thinks we have enough to go through with it why did she even call me to discuss this? Has anyone been through a similar situation and seen success? It it worth continuing, seeing that I am put under for the retrieval? This just sucks. My 30th birthday is on Sunday and I hate that I have to worry about all this now.
Any suggestions?
A hard decision
That is a hard decision indeed. I understand why you would be concerned.
If you don't mind me asking are finances a concern with continuing now?
If money is not a concern I would be tempted to go on just because you have put in all this work and you never know, it only takes one good egg to make it all worthwhile.
You are still young and can always try again later but do you feel like you have something to lose by trying? Would you be too devastated to try again if it did not work out?
I wish you the very best of luck no matter what you decide just as long as you are ok with it.
If you don't mind me asking are finances a concern with continuing now?
If money is not a concern I would be tempted to go on just because you have put in all this work and you never know, it only takes one good egg to make it all worthwhile.
You are still young and can always try again later but do you feel like you have something to lose by trying? Would you be too devastated to try again if it did not work out?
I wish you the very best of luck no matter what you decide just as long as you are ok with it.
41, unexplained (plain old) fsh 4.7
DH 55 lots of good swimmers
3xclomid BFN
3xIUI BFN
First and last IVF:
A) canceled due to low response on day 3
B) Negative beta April 06/09
DH 55 lots of good swimmers
3xclomid BFN
3xIUI BFN
First and last IVF:
A) canceled due to low response on day 3
B) Negative beta April 06/09
Punkin,
Here is a little background on our situation........
We tried for 7 months on our own. Dr. then did some baseline tests. Mine came back fine but looking at my cycles she thought I maybe didn't ovulate every month. I had two cycles that were 38 days. My usual length is 30-31. My husbands tests came back with low counts and low motility. That is when she referred us to the RE. We did 3 IUI's with clomid. Each time I produced 3 follicles on the lowest dose of clomid. All negatives. And now we are here.
One thing that is a concern with me is that I had one month were my FSH was a 12. I think that was in August. All the other months it was below 10. My RE said that is a red flag even though it is just one month.
We can do an IUI but having done 3 I don't have much hope. I don't think trying naturally is going to help considering my husbands counts.
I guess I feel like because of my husbands problems we have a better chance with IVF than an IUI even though there are only 5 follicles. They are planning to do ICSI.
Here is a little background on our situation........
We tried for 7 months on our own. Dr. then did some baseline tests. Mine came back fine but looking at my cycles she thought I maybe didn't ovulate every month. I had two cycles that were 38 days. My usual length is 30-31. My husbands tests came back with low counts and low motility. That is when she referred us to the RE. We did 3 IUI's with clomid. Each time I produced 3 follicles on the lowest dose of clomid. All negatives. And now we are here.
One thing that is a concern with me is that I had one month were my FSH was a 12. I think that was in August. All the other months it was below 10. My RE said that is a red flag even though it is just one month.
We can do an IUI but having done 3 I don't have much hope. I don't think trying naturally is going to help considering my husbands counts.
I guess I feel like because of my husbands problems we have a better chance with IVF than an IUI even though there are only 5 follicles. They are planning to do ICSI.
Hi Ert, Ok I guess IUI really isnt a great alternative.
So Why are you considering forgoing this cycle...money, anesthesia, something else?
I see you mentioned having to go under for the retrieval. Are you afraid? Did you have a bad experience with anesthsia? I know everyone is different but from my experience, the retreival isnt bad, probably the easiest part of the process.
Or is it something else?
So Why are you considering forgoing this cycle...money, anesthesia, something else?
I see you mentioned having to go under for the retrieval. Are you afraid? Did you have a bad experience with anesthsia? I know everyone is different but from my experience, the retreival isnt bad, probably the easiest part of the process.
Or is it something else?
ME 35 DH 40
TTC 8yrs - Unexplained
6 IVFs - BFN
1 Fresh DE - BFN
2 DE FETs - BFN
TTC 8yrs - Unexplained
6 IVFs - BFN
1 Fresh DE - BFN
2 DE FETs - BFN
Hi,
We are very fortunate that my insurance covers everything so that is not a concern. I guess what bothers me is how my doctor handled it. I just wonder if she thinks it is not worth it since she called and gave us the option of canceling. I guess I look at like she is the doctor and she knows best. To me the fact that she called shows me that she is thinking canceling is a better option. I don't know. I over analyze everything.
As for being scared. I guess I am scared there will be no eggs or they will not be good quality since I had the high FSh one month. Do you guys know anything about that? I have had it tested the past 7 months and each month it was around 6-8 but in August it was 12. I read somewhere that if it is high just once that your ovarian reserve is not good. At the same time I think if there is a bigger problem that we don't know about I would rather find out sooner then later.
As of right now I think we are going to go ahead with it. From the beginning we decided to transfer 2. That is all I need two good eggs and two good sperm!
For those of you that have done this before is it hard waiting each day after the retrieval to find out how things are progressing? I can see myself being an emotional mess next week.
We are very fortunate that my insurance covers everything so that is not a concern. I guess what bothers me is how my doctor handled it. I just wonder if she thinks it is not worth it since she called and gave us the option of canceling. I guess I look at like she is the doctor and she knows best. To me the fact that she called shows me that she is thinking canceling is a better option. I don't know. I over analyze everything.
As for being scared. I guess I am scared there will be no eggs or they will not be good quality since I had the high FSh one month. Do you guys know anything about that? I have had it tested the past 7 months and each month it was around 6-8 but in August it was 12. I read somewhere that if it is high just once that your ovarian reserve is not good. At the same time I think if there is a bigger problem that we don't know about I would rather find out sooner then later.
As of right now I think we are going to go ahead with it. From the beginning we decided to transfer 2. That is all I need two good eggs and two good sperm!
For those of you that have done this before is it hard waiting each day after the retrieval to find out how things are progressing? I can see myself being an emotional mess next week.
I say, go with your gut instinct! I know, it's not medical and it doesnt' probably help at all but that's how I think. I had 29 follicles and ended up with 49 eggs because a ton of mine had double eggs. I'm not saying this is happening to you I'm just saying you never know what can happen regardless of how many and what the numbers say.
If you have faith then I would do it! Afterall, faith by definition is BEING CERTAIN OF WHAT WE HOPE FOR AND SURE OF WHAT WE DO NOT SEE.
Sorry I am really of no help but I will be thinking of you and I hope you keep us posted. Good luck!!!!!
If you have faith then I would do it! Afterall, faith by definition is BEING CERTAIN OF WHAT WE HOPE FOR AND SURE OF WHAT WE DO NOT SEE.
Sorry I am really of no help but I will be thinking of you and I hope you keep us posted. Good luck!!!!!
Me 35, DH 35
Ectopic Oct. 2005
IVF transfer 1-21-07. . .TWINS!!!!
ww.batesbabies.blogspot.com
http://lilypie.com][img]http://b2.lilypie.com/2XRom7/.png[/img]
http://lilypie.com][img]http://bd.lilypie.com/hWoJm7/.png[/img]
Ectopic Oct. 2005
IVF transfer 1-21-07. . .TWINS!!!!
ww.batesbabies.blogspot.com
http://lilypie.com][img]http://b2.lilypie.com/2XRom7/.png[/img]
http://lilypie.com][img]http://bd.lilypie.com/hWoJm7/.png[/img]
Personally speaking, I think 5 mature eggs are good. I wish I had that many. I am older than you.... I didn't even start having IVF cycles until I was like 38... (I had IUI before then).
Basically, I was a poor responder to the drugs/medications. Mostly my injections were anywhere from 11-14 days, and the most mature eggs I got were 4. I would say for the first 3-4 cycles I got 3-4 mature eggs. Number 5 I got 2 mature eggs and # 6. For cycles #5 & 6 I also did acupuncture, which did not increase the number of eggs, but I think that had a positive impact on the quality. I too had insurance cover up to 6 cycles, but I was told that a cancelled cycle still counted toward that total of 6. Out of all my tries, the 5th was the most successful--ending in an etopic pregnancy. None of the others produced any kind of pregnancy.....
I would say personally if you came that far, it wouldn't really hurt to continue. I know that when I switched clinics, after about 9 days, they wanted to convert to IUI, which really didn't make sense to me since I had no left tube and on previous cycles, I had taken the shots for at least 11 days. When I questioned them on this, then they decided to continue. It was a bust b/c I never had an e/t, but when you come so far, I felt I had nothing to lose. I had taken the shots, gone in for u/s and b/w--invested the time and money (just co-pays on the meds since my insurance covered 100%), so I figured I was no worse off going forward w/ it.
Good luck w/ your decision
Basically, I was a poor responder to the drugs/medications. Mostly my injections were anywhere from 11-14 days, and the most mature eggs I got were 4. I would say for the first 3-4 cycles I got 3-4 mature eggs. Number 5 I got 2 mature eggs and # 6. For cycles #5 & 6 I also did acupuncture, which did not increase the number of eggs, but I think that had a positive impact on the quality. I too had insurance cover up to 6 cycles, but I was told that a cancelled cycle still counted toward that total of 6. Out of all my tries, the 5th was the most successful--ending in an etopic pregnancy. None of the others produced any kind of pregnancy.....
I would say personally if you came that far, it wouldn't really hurt to continue. I know that when I switched clinics, after about 9 days, they wanted to convert to IUI, which really didn't make sense to me since I had no left tube and on previous cycles, I had taken the shots for at least 11 days. When I questioned them on this, then they decided to continue. It was a bust b/c I never had an e/t, but when you come so far, I felt I had nothing to lose. I had taken the shots, gone in for u/s and b/w--invested the time and money (just co-pays on the meds since my insurance covered 100%), so I figured I was no worse off going forward w/ it.
Good luck w/ your decision
Last edited by kbat on Sat Jan 24, 2009 1:17 pm, edited 2 times in total.
ME--42 DH 41
P.S. On FSH--I was considered high at 11.8, but I was told that 12 is borderline high, but anything under 15 isn't bad. I did the clomid challenge & when I was on clomid, it was something like 7....
I know you put a lot of trust in the doctor's, but sometimes when you ask questions, you either get answers to help satisfy you or then they re-think stuff.
I know you put a lot of trust in the doctor's, but sometimes when you ask questions, you either get answers to help satisfy you or then they re-think stuff.
ME--42 DH 41
I think IVF is more of an art than a science as everyone responds differently. My friend's doctor wanted to cancel her retrieval because he only saw a few follies on the u/s. But she went ahead anyway, retrieved 11, had some embies to freeze, got pregnant (but unfortunately miscarriage)....go figure. I guess the docs go by the stats & studies and try to manage your expectataions.
I dont know too much about ovarian reserve
That's great about Insurance! I agree with kbat, youve come this far.
Lots of BabyDust! Kepp us posted.
I dont know too much about ovarian reserve
That's great about Insurance! I agree with kbat, youve come this far.
Lots of BabyDust! Kepp us posted.
ME 35 DH 40
TTC 8yrs - Unexplained
6 IVFs - BFN
1 Fresh DE - BFN
2 DE FETs - BFN
TTC 8yrs - Unexplained
6 IVFs - BFN
1 Fresh DE - BFN
2 DE FETs - BFN
Another thing. I've been to 2 clinics and although I've had some good things and bad things to say about both, I would say that both really focused on their success rates. I think it's important for the clinic to have good success rates, so they may try to talk you into cancelling or limiting your number of tries or in my case--really trying to talk me into doing donor eggs..... Stay firm in your beliefs and do what is best for you....
You've come this far, what's the worse that can happen? It doesn't work? There's no guarantees it'll work whether you have one to transfer or 10 to transfer. I know for me I stayed firm when they wanted be to go to IUI (of course I had to remind them I had no left tube). Even though I didn't get to e/r, I felt that I had given it a shot and I ended up being no worse off.
But in the end, it's a personal decision. A lot depends on how comfortable you feel w/ your RE and your clinic and that they are giving you the best advice/care for you and not looking at success rates....
You've come this far, what's the worse that can happen? It doesn't work? There's no guarantees it'll work whether you have one to transfer or 10 to transfer. I know for me I stayed firm when they wanted be to go to IUI (of course I had to remind them I had no left tube). Even though I didn't get to e/r, I felt that I had given it a shot and I ended up being no worse off.
But in the end, it's a personal decision. A lot depends on how comfortable you feel w/ your RE and your clinic and that they are giving you the best advice/care for you and not looking at success rates....
ME--42 DH 41
Hi,
Thank you so much for all your kind words and encouragement. We are going to do it!!! The retrieval will be on Monday. I went in yesterday for my last blood work and ultrasound. The ultra sound lady who is always so nice was telling me that 5 is not that bad and being younger is a benefit. I also had another follicle that was close to being mature so maybe by Monday I will have 6? After the ultrasound and blood work we sat down with a nurse to tell us our next steps and she saw the note in my file that said the doctor had talked to me and we were deciding on what to do. We told her we decided to do it and she clapped her hands and said I think you should. I feel like all the nurses are my personal cheerleaders and more supportive than the doctor. I do think all they worry about are their statistics.
Last night I did the trigger shot. That was the first time I have had to do an inter-muscular shot. Ouch! I am not looking forward to the progesterone shots but I will do whatever I have to do to start our family!!
Thank you so much for all your kind words and encouragement. We are going to do it!!! The retrieval will be on Monday. I went in yesterday for my last blood work and ultrasound. The ultra sound lady who is always so nice was telling me that 5 is not that bad and being younger is a benefit. I also had another follicle that was close to being mature so maybe by Monday I will have 6? After the ultrasound and blood work we sat down with a nurse to tell us our next steps and she saw the note in my file that said the doctor had talked to me and we were deciding on what to do. We told her we decided to do it and she clapped her hands and said I think you should. I feel like all the nurses are my personal cheerleaders and more supportive than the doctor. I do think all they worry about are their statistics.
Last night I did the trigger shot. That was the first time I have had to do an inter-muscular shot. Ouch! I am not looking forward to the progesterone shots but I will do whatever I have to do to start our family!!
Good for you--I think that's great that you decided to continue. 5 or 6 is a good number to work w/ (I wish I had that many). There's still a good chance it would work--I'm older than you and never got as many as you did, etc. and even I had kinda/sorta of success. You can read more on this board about people who only had one or 2 mature eggs that fertilized and went to egg transfer and got pregnant--so it's possible.
the progestrone shots aren't bad--my dh did them for me. The worst part was not really seeing what was happening....
Good luck to you. Lots of baby dust to you. I will hope and pray that it works out for you.
the progestrone shots aren't bad--my dh did them for me. The worst part was not really seeing what was happening....
Good luck to you. Lots of baby dust to you. I will hope and pray that it works out for you.
ME--42 DH 41
I just wanted to congratulate you on your decision, no matter what happens I think you made the right decision and I am on your cheer-leading team 
I wish you the very best of luck and don't forget to update us on every step, I have a very good feeling about this one
I wish you the very best of luck and don't forget to update us on every step, I have a very good feeling about this one
41, unexplained (plain old) fsh 4.7
DH 55 lots of good swimmers
3xclomid BFN
3xIUI BFN
First and last IVF:
A) canceled due to low response on day 3
B) Negative beta April 06/09
DH 55 lots of good swimmers
3xclomid BFN
3xIUI BFN
First and last IVF:
A) canceled due to low response on day 3
B) Negative beta April 06/09
Hi Everyone,
Well, we had the retrieval this morning and they got 8 eggs!! We were both very surprised because we were expecting 5 or less. Tomorrow we find out how many fertilized. I am so happy we went through with this. Thank you for all your encouragement!! I am praying that tomorrow we have good news as well.
Well, we had the retrieval this morning and they got 8 eggs!! We were both very surprised because we were expecting 5 or less. Tomorrow we find out how many fertilized. I am so happy we went through with this. Thank you for all your encouragement!! I am praying that tomorrow we have good news as well.