Karen: Wow...India...that is really cool. We almost went abroad to Israel, but the month I found out that our insurance cap was lifted and we were able to afford to cycle here. My first question is why only a SET (single embryo transfer)? Is that a rule/regulation in India or was that your choice? I don't know your age, but assuming you are over 40 (hence being in the over 40 crowd, and having 2 grown children) that seems unusual. Did you do a 3 day transfer or a 5 day? Did you have any frosties? (frozen embryos) left over from your 8? 8 is a great # of embryos for our age..it is what I ended up with as well.
Regarding things to boost you and DH ahead of time. I took COQ10, Maca Root and DHEA for a few months before my most recent and successful cycle. My DH had adequate sperm count and motility, but I still had him take some COQ10 since it is suggested that it can help boost sperm count. I also did acupuncture and found it to be very relaxing. I also did it right after ET (transfer).
I also made some subtle dietary changes. It sounds like you have already as well. Keep up with the prenatals! I don’t know if you’ve seen this interesting article from a Harvard study, but I found it very interesting because not all of it is intuitive. As a result I tried to have more plant protein in my diet, and ate one full serving of FULL fat dairy (ice cream, cheese, or yogurt).
http://www.newsweek.com/2007/12/01/fat- ... ption.html
We did assisted hatching (greatly recommended for over 40) and also something called co-culture that not many clinics offer. It puts some of the endometrium tissue in the “dish” with the growing embryos.
Regarding luteal support, it certainly sounds like they went very minimally with you, which I would discuss with them, or with an OB here--after retrieval I took progesterone (vaginally and orally for 8 weeks after transfer--but that can depend on your levels), estradiol, “baby” aspirin, Claritin, Z-pac and Medrol (I think that was because of the assisted hatching).
Oh! I also listened to guided relaxation mp3’s specific to IVF. I found them really helpful--the ones I used had different tracks depending on where you are in the process (I used Anjionline.com).
I hope that some of this is helpful to you....it is just the things I decided to do. Everyone is different in what they feel comfortable with and what makes sense to them. I wish you the best of luck!!!
Me: 44, endo. & 1 tube due to rupture
DH 36 fine
IVF#1 double ectopic/severe OHSS 12/08
IVF#2 BFN
IVF#3 BFP-->m/c
IUI#1, #2, and #3, 2010 BFN
IVF#4-2/11 HPT=BFP 11dpo; 13dpo=240! 15dpo=653, 20dpo=5522,3/29=u/s-1sac1yolk 4/4=2 HBs!
) and sealed, I had both my kids by c-section. When we went for Ivf, we went to India though, we found this clinic through a very good friend of ours that lives out there( we visit them twice a year) and used one of the top clinics in northern india all went very well, they were really happy with me and our results we had 8 of my own eggs collected and with 1 embryo transfered I carried for approx 6/7 weeks. I did everything that i was told to do, but have since found out that the meds they gave me to take after transfer was only for 10days, apparently we are suppose to take them for longer. We are going to go another cycle in august and are just trying to improve our odds, we would like to find out just how long after transfer we should keep taking our meds and what is the best ones to take, also if there's anything my partner could do to improve his sperm count (even though his results are good)
And I am utterly exhausted, swollen, huge, etc. already!