IVF

Hi! I have been lurking for some time now. I have had 5 unsuccessful IUI attempts. I have one more try and then the docs want to do IVF. Can someone please tell me exactly what that entails? How many days of injections? How bad are the injections? How many days of monitoring? I am trying to plan my summer. Anything else or advice you could give would be great. I am just petrified of the whole thing. Thanks so much!

Re: IVF

It is easy to get overwhelmed but IVF is really not that bad.

It really depends on your protocol but mine looked somewhat like this:

Injections of Lupron for about 12 days, got my period, continued on Lupron (suppress your ovaries) & added shots of gonadtrophins (these stimulate your ovaries), stimulated for about 12 days, stopped both, triggered ovulation with ovidrel, retrieval 36 hours later, transfer (could be 3 or 5 days after retrieval), start progesterone shots, 14 days after retrieval I took a beta test.

DH took some antibiotics (pills) leading up to transfer. And I took a steroid and antibiotics (both pills) for a few days after the transfer.

The shots were all subcutaneous (just under the skin) except the progesterone shots were intramuscular. They sound a lot scarier than they really are.

Any other questions please feel free to forum mail me. I did three cycles last year - successful on the third and will be starting a new cycle on July 2nd!

Re: IVF

People make a much bigger deal about IVF than is necessary. Is it fun? No. But it is totally doable. The worst part is the waiting and the disappointment when you get the BFN.

They really say that you should not keep doing IUIs. If you don't get pregnant within the first three, there is only a small chance you will get pregnant by a later one.