Answers on comments

For everybody that is not interested in detailed medical information: please skip this post. We will be back soon with non-medical stories. Promise!

One commenter, Ilse, wanted to know what drugs and what dosis we are on. For her and for anybody else who is interested in the infertility saga so far), this is our history:

IVF/ICSI #1 Gonal-F, Decapeptyl, Ovitrelle 5 eggs, 3 fertilised, 2 put back, -ve
IVF/ICSI #2 Menopur, Decapeptyl, Pregnyl 2 eggs, 1 fertilised, 1 put back, -ve

I am now on the long protocol, started on 225IU and then with a higher dosage of stimulation: 300 IU Gonal-F. Plus first one shot and now 1/2 a shot of Decapeptyl a day. The cycle was preceded by 2-3 weeks of birth controls to quiet my ovaries down. We since found out that, unlike stimulation, I respond extremely well to surpression. More on that later.

Dr. Google told us that Gonal-F might work better for poor responders like me. One because it is synthetic. Some women react better to that. Two because it only contains one hormone (FSH) and not another hormone (LH) as well. This should work wonders for egg quality.

Which brings me to another subject. The one of egg quantity versus quality. That is an interesting one. Unfortunately poor response to hyperstimulation in IVF is generally indicative of the egg quality. So yes, we only need one egg, but the chances of that one getting us pregnant are slim.

I have heard a story of a woman who had 30 (!) follicles, but only one contained an egg. That one was fertilised and got her pregnant. Or embryos with poor grading sticking. Not to mention natural pregnancies when there was an ICSI-indication. It all happens. And I really hope we can be one of those urbans legends.

Another thing. I try not to worry about my uterine lining. At the moment it is too thin to be the home to an embryo. This is a side effect of the pill. It should not surprise me since I am still bleeding after more than a week, but is does disappoint me. I never had problems with my lining before. It was always a nice big cushion for the embryo to jump on.

This cycle is not looking the best so far, but we are not giving up. Yet, as the gyneacologist kindly remarked. It is just hard. Hard to give this cycle our full positive energy and cover ourselves for the potential disappointment at the same time. We really appreciate all the crossed fingers everywhere! Send any soothing, calming vibes you can our way!