My first IVF experience

Starfish-I'm not 40 yet but 35, so looking at maternal age, that is kind of "old". I had 1.5 IVF. We started with the Lupron method, which suppresses your system and puts you in menopause, then start artificial medications to replace hormones in your body, to increase follicle #.

#2 try was an easier one. NO suppression just help with the meds and we got 6 mature eggs retrieved (other cycle got canceled due to only 4 follicles). I'm pregnant right now, only 5 weeks and 4 days, but it is a start. So there are good stories out there tho encourage you.

Gl on your journey and if you have any question we are all happy to answer.

Thank you Eva!! I love to hear success stories. Congratulations to you!! Keep me posted on your pregnancy. :)

Welcome and Good Luck!

Thank you! :)

Well, so far so good. Had my mock transfer on Friday and it was quick and easy. My DH and I meet with our ART nurse on Tuesday for a copy of our calendar and she'll explain how and when to give myself the shots. I just hope and pray that this works. I was feeling pretty optimistic about it until today while Googling IVF and the success rates for women 37 and over. Just really nervous now.

Ugh....

Hi Starfish - i'm 38 and am 17wks pregnant with our first baby. We did IVF and it was a success on the first try. We are so thankful! Good luck and if you have any questions - feel free to ask. this site was so helpful to me when i was going through the process.

Lana

Hi Lana - I am so happy to hear that! Congratulations!! It really gives me hope. What meds were you on? I got off the phone with Freedpm Pharmacy a litle while ago and my RE will have me on Gonal-F (was on that during my IUIs), Lupron, Menopur, Progesterone suppositories and an HSG. Did you have any side effects while on your meds?

Allie :)

Starfish...good luck on your cycle. I was on Follistim, Lupron, Menopur and Progesterone oil. I too got pregnant with Twins (boy and girl) on my first IVF attempt. I went through 5 cycles of clomid and IUI and none worked except the last cycle but it ended in a chemical pregnancy.

I had a very bad side effect...I had OHSS really bad...put in the hospital for about a week. They had to drain my stomach 3 times! It was not the best experience! OHSS didn't fully go away until I was about 10 or 11 weeks pregnant! Even then I don't think it went away completely.

Hope your cycle is much smoother than mine :)

Hi Allie -

I was on Follistim, Menopur and Lupron, progesterone suppositories. I didn't have much of the hormonal side effects i read about. I was bloated almost immediately though. The whole process was really good for me (fortunately). My ovaries did feel like the size of softaballs by the time retrevial rolled around. They retreived 17 eggs. We did ICSI and 15 fertilized and 7 of those made it to 5 day blasts. We only transferred one embryo - a grade 5AB. I have 6 frosties left that are really good quality!

The menopur stings a little bit when it goes in - not too bad - but i was glad to know that beforehand to be prepared! just make sure the needles are dry and don't have the meds on them when you inject and that helped.

I'll be keeping up with you! Good luck!

Angie - sorry to hear about your OHSS - i was so scared of that - i drank pickle juice by the gallon! that was the only thing that helped the bloating after retrevial.

Lana

Lana - Pickle juice? Do tell!