The Start to IVF

These posts just started when I wanted to start babbling my frustration on unable to conceive. I typed this since September. But just managed to post it now. So the story starts like this.

I got married in 2006 while studying. So naturally, I wouldn't want to get pregnant when I was studying. So for 7 months plus I was on OCP. Then nearing the end of education, we tried to get pregnant so that I could deliver before starting working. Sadly after 6 months of trying with no luck, we went to Fertility Center of my university hospital.

There, we found out that I was okay but my husband has abnormal sperm morphology. The andrologist said that my husband has varicocele and overweight. Varicocele is quite normal but the weight is difficult to cut down. So we plan to continue our treatment at Malaysia.

However life as a houseman is hard. We found that not having a child yet was a blessing in disguise. But 6 months before finishing my houseman, we want to try aggressively. Since I already consulted the consultant fertility specialist, she suggested for IVF and ISCI.

So our journey began since 2010. Our investigations that was done in Indonesia was still valid. We just repeat the HSA and hormonal studies. First IVF attempt was okay. The daily jabs was still tolerable. Sedation was okay. Managed to get 6 embryos. First attempt of transfer failed. The second time of frozen embryo transfer also failed. The last two didn't survive the thawing process. That was really frustrating.

So we tried another cycle of IVF. The OPU was before the Ramadan, on 22nd July 2011. 21 ovum were retrieved that day. However, no ET was done because my ovaries was overstimulated as marked by the number of ovum retrieved.  A successful ET can cause serious complications. So an FET was scheduled after the raya holidays.

Oh, the agony of waiting for the right time.  Up until September my period wasn't quite perfect for the transfer. My period cycle became 40 days. Made me thinking I was pregnant.  But, of course not. Due to that on 8th September I started typing this down. Venting out my frustration and I managed to recall it quite well when I continue it back in December.

Frustration didn't just come from the waiting. I am working as a medical officer in a clinic for mothers and children. Seeing some mothers that get pregnant so easily and or in my opinion don't deserve to become parents or have lots of children really makes you feel angry and envy.

When I got my period in October on the 18th (another late menses), I contacted the doctor. I was really hoping for the transfer to be done in November. Alhamdulillah, it was possible if my next menses will fall before or on the 13 November. So OCP was started immediately and stopped on 7th November.

My period came on 10th October, so everything was right on scheduled. 13th October I started on Progynova to prepare the endometrial lining. November was quite a busy month. Other than the FET, we also had plans for travel to Penang at the end of the month. It was to attend Naim's brother (Faizi)  wedding and also for sight seeing. We were worried it might affect the FET but the doctor says it's okay. So it was planned that my FET on the 23rd Nov. The flight to Penang was on 24th and I take leave until 4th December.

So on the 18th October, scan day to make sure the ET at the right thickness. Turns out my ET was perfect for transfer   on Monday 21st November. That totally ruined my plan to work two days before the long break. But what is meant to be is meant to be. My nurses did ask why I didn't just take 2 weeks off, so it turned out just like that. I HAD TO TAKE 2 WEEKS OFF.