No News is Good News

There's no news yet on try number four. We should know either today or tomorrow. I think both D and I are afraid to get excited or to jinx anything because we've both deliberately not mentioned the fact that right around now is the time that we should be testing. We had a consultation with Dr. Jaffe to reassess our situation given the past few unsuccessful attempts. I had anticipated that Dr. J would remind us that the chances for success drop significantly after three failed attempts, but she actually encouraged us to keep trying IUI with a slight change in our drug regimen (she suggested that we try four more times before considering more extreme -- more expensive -- measures). Most hetero couples try for six to twelve months on their own before seeking treatment at fertility clinics, so Dr. J reasoned that the available stats wouldn't be accurate for us, given that we hadn't had the months of trials before beginning treatmentm. She suggested adding Gonal-F injections into the mix. She also tested D's hormone levels to determine whether something else might need to be adjusted in our treatment plan. The results showed that D had slightly elevated DHEAS levels (androgens that have something to do with insulin resistance), which can, apparently be corrected with a perscription. This could have a slight effect on egg quality and lessen our chances for pregnancy. However, when the doctors were looking over D's chart, they realized that she might be a good candidate for a certain drug trial that the Center is particapating in. Our participation would afford us one free cycle of IVF, which is not covered by our health insurance carrier and normally costs about the price of a car. Participation requires that D not take any drugs besides the one that's the focus of the trial, so the doctors chose not to correct the slight hormonal imblance that they uncovered. The ovary stimulation drug involved in the trial has already been approved in Europe and has been in use for quite some time. We're going to discuss this option further should try number four prove a failure. Keep your fingers crossed, rub your Budha's belly, and I'll be back to post in a couple days.

Fast Charmer

Try number 3 failed, so we've kicked Eagle Scout Drummer boy to the curb. Perhaps the Eagle Scout was too squeaky clean for us? Anyway, we've chosen a new donor called "Fast Charmer," and we're hoping he charms D's egg and gets us pregnant. Try number 4 will be Friday. Everyone think good thoughts.

Three Times the Charm

I apologize for being lax with updating this blog. Baby making has become a long and arduous process. So, the incredible Hulk of follicles was a bust, and we're onto number three. On Sunday, the ultrasound revealed one follicle at 16 mm and another at 13 mm. After reviewing D's E2 levels and the ultrasound results, the doctor instructed us to wait until Tuesday to trigger. We were a little concerned about the timing since we've missed our window several times and follicles can grow anywhere between 1 and 3 mm per day (you'll recall that 18 mm is optimal), so we asked for a second opinion. Another doctor reviewed D's chart and instructed us to trigger one day sooner and to listen to D's insight into her body. So, now, we're triggering tonight (Monday) and inseminating Wednesday. Let's hope this is the one. Dr. Jaffe's nurse told us that we'll need to schedule a consultation prior to continuing treatment if this IUI doesn't work given that the chances of pregnancy decrease significantly after three well-timed IUI's. I'm not convinced that we've had any WELL TIMED IUI's and neither is D, so we'll probably continue for a few more cycles before considering alternate treatments. So, that's the news. Wednesday's the day. We're hoping for lots of baby dust and good luck!

The Incredible Hulk of Follicles!

We went for D's second ovary check today (cycle day 11). Surprise, everyone, her ovaries are still there! Actually, we got some good news (I think?). Two follicles were found in D's right ovary -- one was 27 mm (which is "too large," according to the technician), and the other was 14 mm. The gargantuan 27 mm follicle made the nurse think that D might have already ovulated (which would mean that we missed our window). She drew blood to test for E2 and progesterone. The results came in this afternoon. D's progesterone level suggests that she hasn't yet ovulated but that she's very close (1.2). Given the blood work results and the extra large follicle, the doctor recommended that we give her the trigger shot tonight and do an insemination tomorrow. So, tomorrow is try number two with the Incredible Hulk of follicles. Baby dust come our way!

Lunacy and Lunar Cycles

Sadly, we realized that D wasn't pregnant on Sunday when her menstrual cycle decided to make its appearance with the full moon. Thirty-four days when she normally has a twenty-six day cycle! Seriously? D's always hated her period, but now that hate has evolved into more of an intense, seething hostility. Tomorrow, D goes in for an ovary check, which we've both decided is just an excuse to charge patients for an unneeded ultrasound. All the technician does during the first ovary check of the cycle is confirm that D's ovaries are still there. Where would they go? Anyway, after the ovary check, she'll be prescribed five days worth of Letrozole and one Oviderel (HCG) shot to induce ovulation once the follicles are large enough. Here we go again... For some reason, I think straight baby-making is more fun.

Peeing without the Stick

So, today is the 21st -- PT Day (Pregnancy Test Day). Of course, both D and I couldn't stand the wait and decided to jump the gun and test early yesterday, mid-afternoon. Sadly, the test came up negative, but we're hopeful that we just tested a little too early and/or D's pee wasn't as concentrated as it needed to be to get an accurate reading (the instructions recommended either using first morning urine or holding pee for a certain number of hours prior to testing). Since we did neither of these, we had planned to re-test this morning with the recommended first morning urine, but in her normal sleepy, zombie-like state, D peed without testing while I was in the shower. Hence, we've decided to wait until tomorrow morning. D's last period began on the night of June 22nd, which makes today the 30th day. By tomorrow, she'll officially be three days late. While we both are thinking optimistically because of her lateness, we're still skeptical given the negative reading yesterday. We're also unsure of whether inducing ovulation with the HCG shot can delay her period. So, we'll wait some more... And I'll make sure to put the toilet seat up before I go to bed tonight just in case a comatose D decides to direct her sights on the toilet without being armed with the stick.

Musak and Stirrups

I hope everyone's thinking positive thoughts for us. We had our first IUI procedure yesterday. Before the procedure, the nurse asked us to verify that the donor's number was the same as that marked on the vial. Then the doctor told us about the donor sperm's concentration (40 million per ml) and motility (65%), both of which were apparently excellent for a frozen specimen. You go Eagle Scout Drummer! During the IUI, a catheter is used to inject washed sperm directly into the uterus. D said that it hurt a little. The whole procedure took a momentous five seconds -- we exhausted ourselves worrying about this for the last three months and it's over with one five second plunger push. How anticlimactic!? Afterward, D was told to remain lying down for fifteen minutes before dressing, so we were left in the room listening to bad Musak with D's feet in stirrups. Despite the unromantic, sterile atmosphere and the Air Supply, I still managed to get weepy thinking of the possibilities while D and I held hands and waited for the nurse to return. Our next appointment, which is to test D's progesterone level, is scheduled for one week after the procedure. Pregnancy, though, can't be confirmed until one week after that -- the 21st. Since it is a thirteen day wait, maybe it's not appropriate for me to ask that you keep your fingers crossed, but do think positive thoughts.