Last week I spoke to the doctor that performed our last IVF cycle. She said that they only have a telephone evaluation after a failed IVF treatment if the patients ask the nurses too many difficult questions about it. Yeah, that sounds like me! :-)
Why did it go wrong? Unfortunately nobody knows why succesfully fertilised embryos don't implant. Something in nature has decided that these implanted embryos are not viable, most likely because of a genetic or chromosomal defect. We might simply have been a bit unlucky.
Could the laporoscopy have influenced the outcome? When women start IVF soon after a delivery or after an operation on the ovaries, it can happen that the ovaries do not respond like they otherwise would. During an operation also healthy tissue is removed and that can mess about with hormone levels, negatively influencing the outcome. Given our history, it seems most likely that I don't have a large stock of egg cells though.
Is there something wrong with me? There is nothing wrong with me, other than not having a large stock of egg cells. Normally this would not have been a problem and we would not have even noticed. Because we rely on IVF and the hyperstimulation that goes with it, it is a bit unfortunate. A small consolation is that quality is more important than quantity.
When can we have another go? She suggested having an ultrasound on the third day of the next cycle and determine my FSH levels. The FSH level determines how many egg cells will grow during an IVF cycle. As a general rule, the lower the better, as it rises when a woman approaches menopause. This is something they want to rule out (although there is no real reason to suspect it). This would mean starting stimulation again the beginning of November.
What will we do differently? To give us the best possible chance, they suggest to do the long protocol again. That would mean we have a rest this cycle. Next cycle on day three I start on the Pill.
Huh, the Pill? But we want to get pregnant? The pill regulates the growth of the follicles a bit more. Instead of having one very enthusiastic follicle, they are much more likely to all be the same size. So by the time they are ready to be harvested, they are all ripe enough to be fertilised.
How do we feel? Still a wee bit sad at times, but mainly looking forward to the next try. We can now fully concentrate on the new house, appreciate some IVF-free time and I can enjoy my occasional glass of wine!
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