my IVF experience

First cycle - I had four eggs, two fertilized - great (but no spares). The two I had transferred didn't take (naughty little devils). Very disappointing. Second cycle - I only made it half way through and it was cancelled as I was no responding (not through lack of trying!) Again, very disappointing. Third cycle - the doctor decided on a short cycle which meant my hormone levels had to be right to start. The results of the blood test showed - no go. This meant I had to wait for a whole month to try again. After the shock, again, disappointment set in. Fourth cycle - I am currently on my fourth cycle (a short one - like the short ones). I got 6 eggs (half a doz - jackpot!) and 4 fertilized, even better. Very exciting.

The embryos are in and I am praying that I don't get a period. I won't!. Overall, I have been pleasantly surprised to find it is not as stressful as I imagined. The nurses are so reassuring and compassionate. I actually looked forward to my hospital visits to ask questions and chat to fellow IVFers. I came clean with my boss to avoid adding pressure - such a relief. He was surprisingly understanding (god love him) and wished me luck. I need it!!! Waiting for blood test results is a bit nerve racking, both before and during medication. To be told I couldn't continue or even start hurt. To be told that all was good was fab. There was no patter for me at all, very different each cycle, which really surprised me. The ultra sounds were not scary at all.

A nurse being with the doctor made it easier for me, they know how to keep you chatting at the right times! When the results were good it was a great feeling. When they were not so good and my cycle was cancelled it hurt. When I had to come back every other day to check progress, it was a bit exhausting. When they said my eggs were ready to take was such a relief and gave me hope. Egg pick up was a bit scary before I went in. The unexpected! Even more scary when I saw that it was an actual operating theatre.

Then I woke up and couldn't even remember a thing. I looked down to see the number written on my hand representing the amount of eggs I had and, yay, it was all worth it. I think writing the number of eggs on your hand is neat idea. Fertilisation is a big one, waiting for the phone to ring to find out how many of my eggs fertilized and hoping at least two did - and they did! Egg Transfer was probably the worst of it all for me, being so wide awake and exposed, but knowing it is the last step and convincing myself I wouldn't need to come back made it easier. Watching the embryos go in on the screen was fun. Then walking out feeling like I should be standing on my head for a while... the next few weeks praying that I don't get a period.

Hopefully I can add to this story that I am pregnant soon. I hope for anyone taking on the program that it works for you and you find it as stressless as I did. Good luck PS going without coffee and wine is a killer!