In Vitro (IVF)

Hi Laura,

Welcome!  I'll try to answer your questions...

1. I know there's a lot involve in an IVF cycle, but when exactly does an IVF cycle starts? Is it when you receive AF??   There are a lot of different protocols, but usually this is how it usually starts.  You will do birth control pills (bcp's) for a period that could be a few days or weeks.  This lets them get your body on the schedule for your IVF cycle.  The longest period I did bcp's was for three weeks with my first IVF cycle.  Then usually a few days before you stop the birth control, you start an injectible drug called lupron.  Lupron basically slows down or shuts down your body's production of hormones that regulate your cycle.  They are doing this so that they can control and boost your ovaries to produce several eggs.  After you stop the birth control, you will start your period within a few days.  Typically around day 3 of your period, you will go in for baseline bloodwork and a transvaginal ultrasound to look at your ovaries.  This is usually when you start the stimulation meds.  You will take those for about 8 to 12 days.  That all depends on how you respond to the stims and you will be going to the doctor for bloodwork and ultrasounds quite frequently during that period so that they can monitor and adjust your meds as needed.  When your ovaries are ready, you take an HCG trigger shot that prepares your eggs for retrieval which is done 36 hours after the trigger.  Depending on your doctor's preference, the quality and quantity of eggs, you will do probably a 3 or 5 day transfer.  Then about 10 to 14 days later, comes the pregnancy test.  All in all, the process can take from six to eight weeks from starting birth control to the pregnancy test. 

2. Does the whole process takes long?? I was hoping to do it next month (Nov.) and was also hoping to be pg before Jan.2010...I don't know if I'm asking for too much but after 2 years of actively TTC I'm pretty desperate!  It really depends on your doctor's schedule and how many patients they have in the cycle.  My clinic only did cycles during certain weeks, they would let us know the earliest weeks we could target the cycle for.  So, when we decided to start the first cycle in Feb 2008, we scheduled for an estimated date of retrieval in mid-May 2008, so I actually started the birth control in April 2008, about two months after we made the decision to start a cycle.  

3. Our insurance doesn't cover IVF and will have to pay out of our pockets and although all we want is to have a healthy baby, we would also like our chances of conceiving on the first try to be high...I guess my question is how can I increase my chances of conceiving?? Is that only determined by the No. of embries transfered?? How many are usually the norm, and how many will be too many?? We don't mind if we end up with a pair of twins but more than that will be risking it too much IMHO... (I am just putting this all together in question #4) 

4. Do I and DH have a say on how many embryos are going to be tranfered?? How is that determined?? You, your DH and your doctor will determine the number of embryos transferred.  In most cases, when you are young, doctors won't transfer more than two embryos.  If you are older or if you have poor quality embryos, they may prefer to transfer more, but that is always something you have a say in.  You can say, no matter what, we only want to transfer two.  There are a lot of studies that show success with single embryo transfers.  Really, the doctor's optimum outcome is to have you pregnant with a single baby because as the number of babies increase, so does the risk to mom and babies.  As to increasing your chances, there are a lot of studies that indicate accupuncture can increase your odds of conception.  You might look into that.  Also, ask your doctor if there is anything they recommend. 

IVF can be pretty emotional and stressful.  I found, at least for me, that having a support forum like this was so helpful because I could ask questions, vent, or whatever to others in a similar situation.  When you don't know anyone personally who'se gone through IVF, sometimes you just need to talk to people who understand.  So, feel free to ask anything, complain "why me!", or whatever you need to get you through.  We'll be here for you!

Good luck!!  Looking forward to hearing more from you!!

Cilla -- Thanks a lot for the input and your words of support! Congrats on your little boy!

I'm really nervous and anxious about the whole thing but I can't wait to start the process...I can't wait to have my baby...I really look forward to get to know all of you here....I spent the last year at the TTCAM board and it is thanks to them that I'm on my feet...I hope I can be of help to you gals too...

-- Laura

  
 

Hi Laura, welcome to the board. Cilla already gave you a detailed wonderful answer, but I wanted to chime in with my support and input.

1. I know there's a lot involve in an IVF cycle, but when exactly does an IVF cycle starts? Is it when you receive AF??
My two cents: Yes, I would say it's when AF comes, b/c with a standard protocol, that's when you start the b/c for the suppression part of the cycle.

2. Does the whole process takes long?? I was hoping to do it next month (Nov.) and was also hoping to be pg before Jan.2010...I don't know if I'm asking for too much but after 2 years of actively TTC I'm pretty desperate!
My 2 cents: It takes about 2 months, that is if they've completed all the testing. Which it sounds like they did seeing the damage to your tubes and the diagnosis of PID. It sounds like the start of your next menstrual will get things going. I think you can hope to be preggers by Jan 2010, but IVF is a rollercoaster, so many things can throw a monkey wrench in the program. I would just say go with the flow!

3. Our insurance doesn't cover IVF and will have to pay out of our pockets and although all we want is to have a healthy baby, we would also like our chances of conceiving on the first try to be high...I guess my question is how can I increase my chances of conceiving?? Is that only determined by the No. of embries transfered?? How many are usually the norm, and how many will be too many?? We don't mind if we end up with a pair of twins but more than that will be risking it too much IMHO...
My two cents: Studies have shown accupuncture aiding in increasing the chances of conceiving. Not really determined by the number of embryos transferred back in. The norm is 2 embryos. Usually the older you are or different circumstances where they are justified to put in more than 2 embryos. Twins are manageable, but anything more the risks and everything else is too great IMHO. One or 2 embryos are the norm. 3 would be too many at your age and w/o other known factors.

4. Do I and DH have a say on how many embryos are going to be tranfered?? How is that determined??
My two cents: Yes, you have to consent to how many embryos you transfer. You have a say. Your RE recommends and gives their medical recommendation and you have the final say.

I hope this helps, if you have any questions or just need support we hope you find your way here, we're here to help & encourage.

Take care, keep us posted!

Thanks a lot for your input Nita! Congrats on your little boy omg he's a cutie pie!!

You were very helpful, I felt lost 3 days ago and today I feel like I understand a lot more how the whole process works...of course some things I'll still have to wait to ask my RE but at least I wont' be completely lost the next time we meet! 

-- Laura