Here is the skinny...
I am currently on Birth Control, I know a little bit odd but apparently it "suppresses follicle-stimulating hormone release by the pituitary gland, blocks ovulation and thus prevents formation of the corpus luteum...". In other words, it is supposed to better plan the cycle - I think. I will take the birth control for 19 days and so far, not so good. These pills give me heartburn! I have felt awful since I started taking the pills but it's fine, I only have 15 more days to go. During the birth control period I will go in for a "mock transfer".
What is a "mock transfer", you ask? Well, prior to Dr. O doing the actual embryo transfer, he wants to measure the depth of my uterus and determine the best way to insert the catheter during the real embryo transfer. I never thought anyone needed to know the depth of my uterus or clean my cervix,etc... Anyways, once that is done and I get the "OK" that my uterus is beautiful we move on to the next step. More blood work and more vaginal ultrasounds. Once that is done, on or about November 9th, I will start the injections.
In the morning, I will get a shot, by my lovely-handsome husband (please be gentle), of Gonal-F (150 IU) ($744 for about three shots) and in the evening I will get another shot of Gonal-F (75 IU) and Menopur (150 IU) ($150 per shot). These two drugs will hopefully help me develop a lot of eggs. This will go on for 3 full days and on the 4th day I will get Gonal-F (150 IU) in the morning. That same day I will go in for blood work and another vaginal ultrasound. After I get the results that afternoon they will let me know the dose of medication that I will inject and I will continue to take three shots per day. I then go in for blood work and more exciting vaginal ultrasounds every other day until my follicles measure 14mm or larger. Once they are the appropriate size I will add Ganirelix injections (to delay ovulation) to the Gonal-F and Menopur. Now I get to go in for blood work and vaginal ultrasounds every day! How exciting!!! <insert sarcasm> At this point my lovely husband doesn't need to do anything but prick me with a needle 4 times a day! Around the 18th of November we do one last shot, the trigger shot - Lupron, and the following day I go in for more blood work and a vaginal ultrasound. If that goes well, a day after we do the egg retrieval.
I am quite nervous about the egg retrieval. I will be under anesthesia and Dr. O will take out as many eggs as possible. Oh! I forgot, while this is going on my lovely-handsome husband is in a special room doing you know what... After the egg retrieval the eggs will be mixed with my husband's sperm and the rest is up to the little cells. The eggs will be in the dish for 2 to 4 days. Depending on how many cells have developed we will have the embryo transfer 3 to 5 days after the egg retrieval.
By the way, if it doesn't work the first time, I get to do it all over again!
I am currently on Birth Control, I know a little bit odd but apparently it "suppresses follicle-stimulating hormone release by the pituitary gland, blocks ovulation and thus prevents formation of the corpus luteum...". In other words, it is supposed to better plan the cycle - I think. I will take the birth control for 19 days and so far, not so good. These pills give me heartburn! I have felt awful since I started taking the pills but it's fine, I only have 15 more days to go. During the birth control period I will go in for a "mock transfer".
What is a "mock transfer", you ask? Well, prior to Dr. O doing the actual embryo transfer, he wants to measure the depth of my uterus and determine the best way to insert the catheter during the real embryo transfer. I never thought anyone needed to know the depth of my uterus or clean my cervix,etc... Anyways, once that is done and I get the "OK" that my uterus is beautiful we move on to the next step. More blood work and more vaginal ultrasounds. Once that is done, on or about November 9th, I will start the injections.
In the morning, I will get a shot, by my lovely-handsome husband (please be gentle), of Gonal-F (150 IU) ($744 for about three shots) and in the evening I will get another shot of Gonal-F (75 IU) and Menopur (150 IU) ($150 per shot). These two drugs will hopefully help me develop a lot of eggs. This will go on for 3 full days and on the 4th day I will get Gonal-F (150 IU) in the morning. That same day I will go in for blood work and another vaginal ultrasound. After I get the results that afternoon they will let me know the dose of medication that I will inject and I will continue to take three shots per day. I then go in for blood work and more exciting vaginal ultrasounds every other day until my follicles measure 14mm or larger. Once they are the appropriate size I will add Ganirelix injections (to delay ovulation) to the Gonal-F and Menopur. Now I get to go in for blood work and vaginal ultrasounds every day! How exciting!!! <insert sarcasm> At this point my lovely husband doesn't need to do anything but prick me with a needle 4 times a day! Around the 18th of November we do one last shot, the trigger shot - Lupron, and the following day I go in for more blood work and a vaginal ultrasound. If that goes well, a day after we do the egg retrieval.
I am quite nervous about the egg retrieval. I will be under anesthesia and Dr. O will take out as many eggs as possible. Oh! I forgot, while this is going on my lovely-handsome husband is in a special room doing you know what... After the egg retrieval the eggs will be mixed with my husband's sperm and the rest is up to the little cells. The eggs will be in the dish for 2 to 4 days. Depending on how many cells have developed we will have the embryo transfer 3 to 5 days after the egg retrieval.
By the way, if it doesn't work the first time, I get to do it all over again!
