Starting our Journey

They advise giving it two years. That’s exactly what we did. Then, a friend of mine mentioned she used ovulation strips and conceived almost immediately. I decided to try the ovulation strips for four months, but when nothing changed, I reached out to my OB and scheduled an appointment. To start, I underwent day 21 blood work to measure my estradiol levels, confirming that ovulation took place. Additionally, I had day 3 blood work to assess the quality and quantity of my eggs, ensuring that I’m releasing eggs of good quality, indicated by the FSH level. Finally, I had an HSG procedure, which is an x-ray performed using the ultrasound machine, to evaluate my fallopian tubes and uterine cavity, ensuring there are no blockages present. Then they checked my husbands quantity and quality.

After completing all the necessary steps, we had a consultation with the fertility doctor who reviewed our test results. He informed us that our only chance of conceiving was through ICSI. Initially, we opted for the more affordable, non-inclusive package, hoping to save money. I was unaware that the frozen transfer was not part of this package. If I could go back, I would choose the pricier option, which would ultimately be more cost-effective in case I fell ill and couldn’t proceed with a fresh transfer.

Proceeding with IVF

We proceeded with IVF, and I was taken aback by the size of the medicine box that arrived in the mail. It contained an overwhelming amount of medication and needles. The length of the needles frightened me, and I worried they wouldn’t need to go all the way in (spoiler alert: they do). Later on, we had to exchange the trigger and suppository shot needle (the one for the back) for a smaller one, as the nurses recommended it due to my size.

I experienced all the side effects from the medication, with hot flashes being the most intense. I would feel extremely hot even in an air-conditioned room. After administering the thicker medicine in my lower back, I would massage the area with a heating pad to relieve some discomfort.

Prior to the egg retrieval, I felt extremely bloated and in pain. Upon waking from anesthesia, the doctor informed me they had retrieved 75 eggs. I was thrilled yet anxious, having heard concerning stories about OHSS.

Out of those 75 eggs, 23 were successfully fertilized, and 10 developed into viable frozen embryos. Initially, we intended to do a fresh transfer, but due to the number of eggs, we had to delay that plan.

OHSS

For two weeks, I struggled with OHSS due to the high egg count and had to postpone my fresh transfer in favor of a frozen one. I spent many nights sleeping upright in a recliner, as lying down was too painful. I felt so nauseous that I had to order anti-nausea medication. It was the worst I had ever felt. I was advised to drink Gatorade and Ensure vanilla protein shakes. At one point, I could only manage sips of chicken noodle soup broth. We even bought different flavored Gatorade to make staying hydrated more enjoyable. Fearing hospitalization or worse, I diligently followed the doctor’s instructions. The bloating and pain were so severe that I struggled to stand upright.

On the way to an appointment, prompted by my mom who contacted the doctor’s office due to my condition, I vomited all over myself and the passenger seat. Once I arrived, they performed an ultrasound and noted a significant amount of fluid and planned to monitor my situation. I was extremely nauseous, bloated, and in pain, unable to stand straight or walk normally. I ended up sleeping in a recliner, and my ribs and back ached. I had no appetite, and it was painful to lift my arms, so my husband and sister had to help brush my hair.

I consumed two Ensure protein shakes daily, drank 150 oz of Gatorade, and walked slowly around the backyard to prevent blood clots.

Four days after my egg retrieval, they decided to perform a paracentesis to drain fluid. They removed 2 liters.

Approximately three weeks later, I went for an ultrasound to see if I was cleared to begin my frozen embryo transfer. I geared up for another round of medication and preparations. 

Transfer

After the transfer, I needed to lie down for 30 minutes, followed by 72 hours of bed rest. It was a wonderful experience to be awake and see the embryos being transferred on the screen, along with receiving a photo of the 5-day embryos to take home and their first ultrasound.

My last injection occurred at 9 weeks pregnant.

During our first frozen transfer, we transferred two embryos and successfully got one. The second transfer also involved two embryos, but resulted in zero. In our third attempt, we transferred two and got two embryos.