Day 5 - Good and bad news

So out of the 17 eggs retrieved last Thursday, 13 were mature and only 5 were fertilized by pICSI (Physiological Intra-cytoplasmic Sperm Injection).  All 5 made it to day 3.  I received today's report only 1 survived day 5.  Only one blastocyst.  I'm thankful at least one survived but at the same time very disappointed we only have one shot to transfer this time.  I was hoping for more chances especially that this round is covered by OHIP.

We opted out of PGS (Preimplantation Genetic Screening) this time. Whatever will be will be.

Last round we had 2 PGS normal embryo (out of 11 eggs retrieved) and both failed.  This time I think it shows that quantity of eggs retrieved does compromise quality.  And my Puregon dosage has been doubled this time but it didn't help with quality of eggs I guess.

There's no schedule for transfer yet as I need to see our fertility doctor hopefully in the next week.  

It's very hard to remain optimistic and it's very easy to lose hope at this point. 

All 5 embryos survived Day 3 so far!

I can't thank God enough all 5 embryos survived today (Day 3).  They are all currently 5 to 9 cells today according to the embryologist.  Despite the poor fertilization rate, they are dividing as expected with very little fragmentation.  But we still have to wait how many will grow to 5 day olds and become blastocysts.  I will find out the final report on Wednesday.  The clinic will only transfer 5-day old embryos because their theory is that if it doesn't survive in-vitro before that day, it's highly unlikely to survive in-utero.  Still praying all 5 survive on Day 5.  This is amazing so far!

Pretty bad fertilization report

Out of the 17 eggs retrieved yesterday, 13 were mature but only 5 were fertilized.  This is much lower than anticipated.  Embryologist said poor fertilization rate is attributed to very poor sperm quality. He said that there were very low concentration of progressive sperm and zero motility.  I’m surprised because a month ago, my husband’s sperm analysis showed it improved compared to last year.  So I don’t know what happened to yesterday’s fresh sperm sample.  The normal fertilization rate should be around 70% and we’re sitting at 29%.  The embryologist tried to keep me optimistic that we still have 5 embryos (1-day old) and they are still just 1 cell so it’s hard to predict how they will grow.  I will hear another report on Sunday once they are 3-day old.

We know about the male factor issues and we were actually been advised to use sperm from a sperm back from the very beginning.  But we’re not quite ready to go this route.  It’s either has to be both our DNAs or not at all so will just opt for embryo adoption if this cycle fails again.

Last cycle we had 11 eggs retrieved and 6 were fertilized so in comparison, the fertilization rate dropped so badly considering we’ve been taking so many supplements this time.

Nothing I can do but just pray and hope all 5 fertilized eggs survive to 5-day blastocyst and hopefully a healthy baby.

Egg Retrieval

10 days of painful injections, weird pills and bad side effects has resulted today (8:30 am) in getting my eggs retrieved.  My husband and I were at the clinic at 7:30 am to sign all the consents and prepare the IV.  The nurse told me I was the only one doing retrieval today so I have the whole clinic to myself.  The procedure started at 8:30 am.  There I was legs spread, 2 guys and a woman crowded around me in the operating room with a spotlight shining you know where.  Modesty disappears in this situation, especially as they were trying to adjust the stirrups so my legs would be wider.  I did tell them that it felt too wide and a little uncomfortable but they just continued to position that suits them.  And the rest I could not remember after the sedatives had taken effect.

I was in the operating room for only 30 minutes according to my husband but I didn’t remember anything.  It felt just like a dream when I woke up.  While I was in the recovery room asleep after the procedure, my husband had to do his part…deposit his sample AKA sperm in another room.  I hope he did well.  Later in the day, they will select the best looking sperms and insert it into my eggs.  We left the clinic at around 10:15 am.  I was very dizzy and sleepy due to the sedatives.  I just wanted to go home to sleep.

This is the video my husband took.  I wanted him to videotape when I'm coming out of the operating room because last time I didn't remember how I got from the operating room to the recovery room.  Here I'm clearly awake but I don't remember this at all.  Weird.  I don't even remember my doctor (on the right in the video) telling me I had 17 eggs retrieved and I did good.

I slept all day since coming home.  It’s the most peaceful sleep I’d ever hard.  Sweaty cat love sleeping with me.  He's very clingy today maybe because our other cat Dusty passed away the other day.

 

My lower belly is sore like someone punched me hard I can’t move around easily.  Sitting or standing is not comfortable.  Hubby is pampering me 😊 Hopefully tomorrow I will feel better.

Thank God there are 17 eggs retrieved but my doctor thinks there are only 10 mature.  I will find out the fertilization rate result tomorrow from the embryologist.  All the viable embryos will be frozen and transfer will start next cycle.  My body needs to rest and get rid of all the hormones first.

I will continue to take my thyroid medications until told to stop and I've been given Letrozole to lower all the hormones from the past 10 days hormone medications.

Sweaty cat is being clingy after Dusty passed away the other night.

Day 10 of Ovarian/Egg Stimulation - IVF #2

Trigger day! On top of my usual medications (Puregon, Menopur, Saizen) taken subcutaneously, I took Pregnyl (HCG) at 9:30 pm today.  Pregnyl is an intramuscular shot.  Timing is very important as this helps eggs mature.  It is taken 35 hours before egg retrieval.  At 10:30 pm today and 10:30 am tomorrow I have to take Lupron to prevent ovulation which is important so the doctor can retrieve my eggs from the ovaries.  My egg retrieval will be on Thursday 8:30 am.  Tomorrow, I just need bloodwork done and I don’t need to take any injections besides Lupron.  And no ultrasound tomorrow (glad no more poking down there).

I’m really praying this will be our successful cycle!

Day 9 of Ovarian/Egg Stimulation - IVF #2

I had the nurse administer another half a dose of Cetrotide this morning at the clinic as I ran out of that medication.  Boy, it hurt when she injected the needle.  It didn’t hurt that much when I was the one administering it myself on my belly the past couple of days.  It has to be injected at the right speed and angle.  If it’s poked too slow it would really hurt and I think that’s what happened when the nurse did it for me.  And if it’s too fast, it will hurt too.  It has to be just the right speed.

The dosage remained the same today – just 350 IU Puregon and 150 IU Menopur.  And the usual Dexamethasone and Thyroxin.  No Saizen today but there will be one tomorrow.  

My eggs are growing just fine.  There are about 15 mature eggs seen on ultrasound.  I’m hoping it’s accurate.  We won’t know for sure until day of retrieval which is scheduled in 3 days if everything progresses fine.

Day 8 of Ovarian/Egg Stimulation - IVF #2

Today, I’m still taking 350 IU Puregon and 150 IU Menopur.  On Day 6 (June 2), I started taking half a dose of Cetrotide (another subcutaneous injection) to prevent early ovulation, and I will have take it every morning until told to stop.  I’ve been going to the clinic daily since Day 6 for daily bloodwork and ultrasound to monitor how the follicles are growing and keep track of hormone levels (i.e. FSH, LH, etc.) Today, I got a call to take another dose of Cetrotide in the afternoon since my hormones are high (I assume it is LH).  It’s very important to prevent ovulation at this stage or else I will lose the eggs that are growing.

My right ovary has 13 follicles growing larger than 1.0 cm which is good because there were only 3 on Day 4.  My left side isn’t growing as many follicles however – only 4 follicles today but it still increased from 1 in Day 4.  I’m praying they all have good quality eggs. Grow follies, grow!

I’ll probably continue with the daily injections until day 10.  It all depends on what the doctor decides.

I’ve created a chart on the progress so far:

Date	Stim Day	Right Ovary		Left Ovary
		Follicles>1.0cm	Cyst/ Foll	Follicles>1.0cm	Cyst/ Foll
26-May	0	0.5	8	0.5	6
28-May	1
31-May	4	1.1, 1.1, 1,0	8	1	6
1-Jun	5
2-Jun	6	1.4, 1.4, 1.4, 1.2, 1.2, 1.2, 1.0	13	1.2, 1.0, 1.0	6
3-Jun	7	1.5, 1.4, 1.4, 1.3, 1.3, 1.2, 1.1, 1.0, 1.0	13	1.4, 1.2, 1.1	6
4-Jun	8	1.8, 1.7, 1.5, 1.4, 1.4, 1.4, 1.4, 1.3, 1.2, 1.2, 1.2, 1.2, 1.1	13+	1.5, 1.4, 1.1, 1.1	6