It looks like this month of 150mg Clomid + Ovadril shot + IUI + progesterone did not work, I am so bummed. Because my left tube is slightly swollen (which I guess is a problem), I think that the doctor is recommending we try IVF. I don't really know much about what is involved (other than there are a lot of shots).
I have a ton of questions, like how many shots (and where and when), how exactly do they harvest the eggs (and did it hurt), what kind of drugs did they put you on, how many blood draws, etc... I am very nervous, but willing to move forward with this because I turn 39 this year!
Many thanks,
M.
I don't have advice for you but just wanted to say GOOD LUCK and I hope everything works out for you :)
Hi M.--
Try this board out for some extra help. They have an IUI/IVF group on here for questions like yours. Great bunch of ladies and great for asking questions. Good luck!
Hi M. -
First off, I'm so sorry about your initial treatment not working ... hats off to you for electing to go forward with IVF. And? Your fears are completely normal. I went through five IUIs and three IVFs over the past two years, so I can address your questions a bit. For IVF, you typically do two shots a day, either in your abdomen or your upper thigh (on the side). The needles are small (thin and less than an inch long) -- it kinda feels like a blood draw. One prick, and you're done. You did the Ovidrel shot for your IUI, you said, right? It's pretty much the exact same thing as that. Toward the time of your retrieval (when they harvest the eggs), they may add another shot a day (for 1-4 days) to stop you from ovulating until they want that to happen. 36 hours before you go in for the retrieval, you'll give yourself an Ovidrel shot (same as you did for your IUI). The retrieval itself isn't too big of a deal. They go in with a needle and retrieve the eggs. You get anesthetic so you don't feel it, or you barely feel it (for one retrieval, I felt something, but it was kinda like cramps ... not a big deal). Blood draws and transvaginal ultrasounds happen every few days, and then nearly every day as the retrieval draws closer. A few days after retrieval, you go back in for the transfer (where they put the fertilized embryos back in). The transfer is extremely similar to an IUI, so you already know what that's like. Not too bad. After your retrieval, you also typically need to take progesterone shots, which go in your butt. Easiest if someone else (like a husband or partner or friend) administers these.
All in all, although it seems overwhelming at first, you honestly do get used to giving yourself injections and going through the whole thing. By the end, I was giving myself injections while I was chit-chatting with my husband.
You can go to resolve.org (the national infertility association) for more info if you like. If you have any more questions, I'd be happy to answer them as well. I tried to cover all the questions you had in your original e-mail on the 4th.
You GO, girl! Best of luck to you and stay strong.
J.
From what I have heard from others who have gone through IVF, it differs by person. Pretty much you will take meds to produce the eggs and they will retrieve them. Then after the eggs are fertilizd they will be implanted. I went thorugh this 10 years ago and my triplets are going to be 10 next month. I did use shots to get the eggs going, and I used HcG as well. I am not sure what the meds are called now. I think the first thing you need to do is make an appt to just sit down wiht the doc and talk about exactly what will be done. FOr me it was an easy thing, no pain or anything. I thin the hardest thing was taking it easy so I didn't lose them. After implantation, I had to stay on bedrest for 3 days. BORING! We had no cable and no one to talk to. After that, it was easy. So realx, find out the details and good luck.
