The Saga of Becoming Fruitful

Archive for the ‘Ovary Follicle Egg’ Category

The 2-Week Wait

So I had my 2nd IUI for this cycle this morning…we started with the ultrasound to see if the follicles ovulated and if so, how many of them did that. Looks like I ovulated 1 on the right and 2 on the left.

But… I have no sonogram because I forgot to remind Dr H to print one. I was telling the medical assistant later as I was checking out and guess what she said “You don’t want those. You want the “real” ones in the next 2 weeks.” I told her “this is real as well”. Hmmmpph!!!

So “worst” case, triplets? For me, 1 is alright, 2 is better, 3 is a stretch but I think still good. Well, we will know in 2 weeks.

Did anyone notice that I did not mention the SA results yesterday? Well, I intentionally did not mention that so as not to pressure DH (who reads this blog) on it. We however talked about it later, so now I can tell you about it.

My DH’s last SA was done late 2005 with good counts (71M) and motility (53%). What was below normal was the 4% morphology. When we asked Dr H last Sunday, she was not very concerned about the morphology and that she was after the motile concentration instead.

The post-wash SA yesterday for the first IUI was not very good with 4M motile concentration only. Perhaps it was because DH was nervous that he was only going to give a few millions. Perhaps because he was a bit sick. Perhaps because of the lack of lubrication. (I learned later that he did use s teeny weeny bit ) Anyway, Dr H said that maybe if we “stage” it better tomorrow.

So today, we used the recommended lubricant “Pre” from the lab that did the SA. The frontdesk person in the clinic actually said any non-spermicidal lubricant can be used. Here’s the front and backside of Pre containers:

… and we “staged” it. “Stage” - interesting word… let your imagination work. And we got way much better post-wash SA today at 19M motile concentration! (The desired level is 10M.)

Dr H was feeling good about my girls ovulation and my DH boys’ improved motility concentration.

So, the 2-Week Wait starts today and hopefully ends positive on August 5. Meanwhile, I will use Progesterone VS starting on 7/25 Thursday.

The time starts now!!! (tapping fingers…). So how do you “occupy” yourself in the 2WW? Any suggestions are welcome!

COST: $530 (180 ultrasound, $170 IUI, $180 SA/wash)

CD10: Follistim Day 6 Response (Cycle #2)

Murphy threw a couple of curveballs today - I woke up late because of tossing and turning last night thinking of the “expired” Follistim (will post about this separately) and then I had to get some gas because DH did not replenish the car’s gas. So there I was late for a 7:30am ultrasound appointment, so I detoured for the blood draw because I didn’t want to be late for both. It was already 8:45 when I came in for my ultrasound appointment. Dr Hansard graciously squeezed me into her schedule - but not without asking me why I was late.

I have 1 “leading” follicle - yehey!!!

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CD7: Follistim Day 3 Response (Cycle #2)

The effect of the lower Follistim dosage on my left ovary is shown in the ultrasound image below: (It was Cindy the sonologist who did the ultrasound.)

Other stats are as follows:
Endometrial Lining = 7.1
Right Ovary = 10: 7, 6/3, 5/5, 4
Left Ovary = 9: 8, 7, 6/4, 5, 4/2
Estradiol = 91
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What Does the Human Egg Look Like?

You’ve got to see these photos of an actual ovulation where the human egg is coming out of the follicle! It was reported that the actual ovulation was about 15 minutes long. Isn’t it neat!!!

(Source: New Scientist)
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CD25: Ultrasound 15 Days Post-Follistim

Today is the day to get my ultrasound done to see if the birth control pills have decreased the follicles that were stimulated by Follistim. From here, we will know how and when to proceed.

Well, here is the ultrasound image of the same left ovary I’ve been showing previously:

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What Happens to the Unovulated Follicles?

I should ask the question on what really happens to the follicles that were not triggered for ovulation to my doctor for the “official answer”. Anyhow since I went to the pill this cycle, this question suddenly popped out of nowhere and I started to think…
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CD10: Follistim Day 8 Response (3rd Monitor)

Well, the good news is that I’ve got robust ovaries and plenty of growing follicles. Dr Hansard said that if we were doing IVF, then they would be perfect.
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CD8: Follistim Day 6 Response (2nd Monitor)

An ovary full of growing follicles is a sight to behold. Check out the ultrasound image of my precious left ovary and follicles:

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CD5: Follistim Day 3 Response (1st Ultrasound Monitor)

From St Davids Main, we drove to the Texas Fertility Center for an ultrasound monitor. I’m dreading it a bit since it will not be Dr Hansard who will be in. Instead, one of the male doctors, Dr Silverberg, will be the one on call/duty. I’m not really a fan of male doctors in obstetrics, gynecology or reproductive endocrinology but in this case, I have no choice, don’t I?

Guess who is in the clinic? Read more »