So, we went in for our IVF consultation today to begin the IVF process. After going over everything with us, our doctor said he just wanted to do a quick ultrasound, then he'd prescribe me birth control pills to begin taking with my next cycle so they could take control and manipulate it with IVF medications. He was extremely positive and thought that given my age and Brian's sperm (despite its limitations and problems), our chances of achieving pregnancy would be really good.
Unfortunately, things didn't go so well with the ultrasound. My right ovary and uterus looked normal, as usual, but not so much with my left ovary. Last July when I had my last ultrasound, he noted what appeared to be a small endometrioma/cyst on my left ovary. But he said it was probably no big deal and it didn't matter since he could see eggs being produced in that ovary. Well today the first thing he said when looking at it was "Whoa!" The small cyst had tripled in size in just 7 months, going from the size of a raisin to the size of a strawberry (2 cm to 6 cm). Incidentally, over the past year, since my cycle has regulated to about 30 days, my period have become extra painful. I just figured I was being a wimp and it has just been too long since I'd had periods that frequently (before being on the birth control shot when I was a newlywed). But I guess there was/is a reason for the pain.
So, instead of starting right now on IVF, our doctor recommended laparascopic surgery to drain and cauterize the huge cyst. Then I have to take medications for 3 months while it heals before we can start IVF. I know this is for the best and all, but I guess I had just gotten my heart set on doing this in March, and now we have to wait until June. Why is this stuff so dang frustrating?!
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
IVF Let Down
Posted by Hillary at 7:47 PM
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15 comments:
That is the pitts to say the least!!! There is nothing more frustrating than having to wait when you finally feel you have some direction. When we finally decided to adopt it tooks us 6 months to be approved because of a delayed back ground check. It should only take about 2-3 months normally. I knew it was all part of what was necessary, but it was a set back, but in the end it all worked out. Hang in there and I will pray that the next 3 months go by quickly. I am so excited you are doing IVF. Keep us updated on all the details.
Gosh, I'm sorry your cyst isn't cooperating. (on a silly note, my RE compared my ovaries to grapes and threw in few comments about the possibility of plums. It sounds like our RE's like the fruit basket approach :) I'm sorry that things are being postponed. I'm sure that's so frustrating.
We might end up cycling pretty close to one another. Were headed up to the U for our first IVF cycle in a few months. Not that you know me, but ya know...
i'm so sorry hil. it is such a bummer when you finally decide which road to take and the road has a speed bump. you're in our thoughts.
Ugh. Ugh. And just one more for show... Ugh.
I suppose the upside is that they found the cyst prior to it rupturing and causing further damage, but I agree that it's a total let down, especially when it takes so long just to get to the RE and then get the IVF ball rolling.
Hopefully the few months will fly by for you. Until then keep on going and looking forward to the possibilities.
You dont have to tell, but im just wondering if your husband has problems with the sperm count or motility or both??
Oh, I don't mind. Pretty much everything was wrong on his semen analysis except volume. Bad count, bad motility, and bad morphology. However, with IVF (and ICSI), it shouldn't be a problem since of his 11 million sperm (normal is greater than 30), there were millions of good ones and they only need a few.
Hillary, I'm sorry that you have to wait even longer, that is really frustrating (after what I'm sure seems like an eternity anyway). I am a new reader, my husband and I have been struggling with infertility for 3 years and I recently found this blog. I already feel supported and no one here even knows me! It's not nice that we have to go through what we do, but it's nice to have a network and support of others who understand. Thanks to all who contribute here.
hillary,
my husband has problems with his boys too...and i dont ovulate(PCOS). but, the dr suggested that I do artificial insemination then if that doesnt work do IVF. What have you done before starting the IVF process??
Well, when we first went in, we thought there could be additional problems because after going off birth control, my cycle was all messed up. It took my 18 months to get a period back at all, and then for a year they were like 60 days apart. They suspected PCOS-looking ovaries, but I don't actually have PCOS. The main problems were with my husband's sperm. So we were first sent to a urologist to see what was causing all his sperm problems. They did all different types of blood tests and a testicular ultrasound, but everything came back normal. The urologist did say his testosterone was a little on the low side of normal, but not too bad. Plus, they can't give men artificial testosterone to improve it, because then their bodies stop producing it on their own...and no natural testosterone=no sperm at all.
When we first saw our RE, he recommended 6 rounds of IUI (intrauterine insemination, also known as artificial insemination). The first one we did, last May, was without any fertility drugs. They just had me do ovulation predictor kits (OPK's), then come in when it was positive. The next month they decided to put me on Clomid to increase our odds. They prescribed the lowest dose, then did an ultrasound at day 12 to see how many follicles were developing. They were a little concerned that I had so many (5 or 6), but we decided the risk of multiples was worth it. I had an HCG trigger shot to release all the eggs, and then they did another IUI. I took Clomid in July and August as well, both times producing 5-6 eggs on the lowest dose. At my last ultrasound in July, the RE saw what he thought was a little bit of endometriosis in the form of a cyst on my left ovary. But he said it was no big deal since it was small and he could still see all my eggs in that ovary. We just did natural in July since we were on a vacation when I ovulated, then did another IUI at the end of August. None worked.
They did different sperm preparations for each of our IUI attempts, and nothing was helping my husband's sperm. In September, our RE basically told us we were wasting our time and money, and we should choose between using a sperm donor to mix with my husband's sperm in an IUI, or do IVF with ICSI to help the sperm.
After months of not knowing what to do and lots of prayer, we decided that we would pursue IVF after the new year. So we went in last week to begin the process, only to find out that my cyst had tripled in size and could cause problems both for our IVF attempt and any resulting pregnancy. So now I have to have surgery to remove it, then take medications for 3 months while I heal, before starting IVF. So we're looking at June or July, which is kind of a bummer.
Anyhow, sorry for the long comment. Hope this helps.
Ash,
Sounds like you and I are in the same boat. I have PCOS and only 7% of my hubbys sperm can penetrate the egg. I would recomend finding out the exact problem with your husband. With just PCOS clomid and IUI's are a good option but with the male factor it may not be worth it. We did 6 IUI's in a row before ever finding out about my husbands problem. We spent a lot of time and a lot of money on something that wasn't even a good option for us.
Having said that it is all part of a process to get us to where we need to be. It just would have been nice to know so we could have saved our money.
Good Luck and keep us posted....
I have been on clomid in the past for 7 months straight...a month of that was on metformin as well. They are going to give me another med that is like clomid (cant remember the name) and then do artif insem. if that doesnt work ill take the meds again and do shots with artif insem & if that looks like it isnt working im planning on moving to IVF. I rather start with the cheaper. I was going to start the artif insem my next period however i am moving and will be stressed so i thought id better wait...my husbands boys dont have good motility & i think he has 14 mill which isnt the best...Has anyone seem Dr. Blauer?? He seems really good but just wondering others experiences...my husband and I keep thinking there must be a reason for all of this & we cant wait to know what it is or look back & realize all of this heartache was well worth it. Im so grateful that I found this blog. It makes it easier having so much support with others who know what the pain feels like.
Wow that's crazy... male factor is our issue too. I had no idea it was that common. He has low counts (but doable with IVF), low motility and 0% morphology which is what is really killing us.
Our RE also gave us the sperm donor and the "nothing besides IVF w/ ICSI is going to solve your problems" speech. After quite a bit of searching on the internet, I agree with her.
Our adoption experience was extremely difficult so we really want to try to do all we can do as far as IVF goes this time around. I wish it wasn't so blasted expensive. We live comfortably, but are not wealthy by any means. I don't know how anyone could shell out $12K every time they wanted to attempt a pregnancy and not feel it. And yet that is our reality. I hate it!
Dr. Blauer. is wonderful. He did our pre diagnostice stuff but Dr. Heiner did our IVF. I loved both of them and felt they did everything they could to get us pregnant. The nurses are wonderful too. Like many of you we would do it again if we could afford it. It cost us 14k for one try. We had to do ICSI and only had 2 embroys make it to day 5, so nothing left to freeze. They do offer the shared risk program, and to be honest looking back I wish we would have done it. Spending that much on ONE shot and having it not work was devastating!!! Please keep us posted. I need it to work for someone to give me hope again!!!
Hi ladies. I am new and would love to join your blog. I really feel alone and it is nice to find this blog with others who are in the same boat as me. All of you have the exact same thoughts as me . It is amazing how infertility affects you. My email is katyjo18 at hotmail dot com.
Thanks!
Do you mind if I join you also? I found this blog through R House and have enjoyed reading it. I've had IVF-on-the-brain something awful this week. My email is jaredandtamara (at) gmail (dot) com. Thanks! -Tamara
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