Well, I've got my surgery set for January 28th. That means we'll get to start our IVF cycle on March 28. I can't wait!!
My husband and I were discussing last night whether a single embryo transfer (SET) is the best option for us. SET has only a 40% chance of taking compared to 70% with 2 embryos. Clearly, we do not want to carry twins in a half uterus, so if both took, selective reduction would be a serious consideration. I wonder if selective reduction (SR) increases risk of miscarriage in the one baby left? The chief of obstetrics that we met with the other day, said if SR is done early enough, it is safe for the remaining baby, but it still makes me nervous. It's something to think about and discuss with the doctor.
I found out that my clinic does vitrify their embryos to freeze!! I'm so thrilled that most of my frozens will make it through. On my first antral follicle count (small ovarian follicle at the beginning of cycle that could develop eggs) I had 26 follicles. If I could get a similar # during IVF and get them all to mature, we could maybe have 10 or so embryos to freeze.... trying not to get my hopes too high, but it seems realistic. Once we have our 2 babies, we plan to donate the remaining embryos to couples in need. :). (Update 10/18/13: how hopeful i was back then! I cannot believe I was talking about donating embryos. I was so naive!)
I haven't received the results back from the pre-IVF tests. Here's hoping we don't have HIV! Other hormones levels received: FSH: 6.5, LH: 7.5, Estradoil: 32. Doc says all hormones are normal.
That's all I've got to update for now. Will post as things develop.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Thursday, January 13, 2011
MRI Results and More
My MRI results are in! I have both kidneys and a possible rudimentary horn. A rudimentary horn occurs when the second mullerian duct begins to form the uterus and tube, but for some reason stops. Basically it is the other half of my uterus, but very small. At this point, they do not plan to remove the rudimentary horn
Tomorrow we have an appointment with a the chief of obstetrics to discuss the risks of pregnancy. I still need to schedule my salpingectomy, but am hoping to have it in February.
I was reading last night about vitrification for freezing embryos - the survival rate of the embryos is 95% compared to the usual freezing where only 50% of the embryos survive thawing. I really hope my clinic uses this technique, I'm gonna find out tomorrow. Also, I've been doing a bit of reading on whether to transfer embryos (day 3) or blastocysts (day 5). It seems like the blastocyst is the way to go. They're able to monitor the embryo two additional days, which is a big deal. Since I am having SET (single embryo transfer), I want to make sure I get the best quality possible! Will be discussing this with the doc tomorrow as well.
Having more blood drawn today and tomorrow....today is LH, FSH, and estradoil. Tomorrow my husband and I will be doing our pre-IVF blood tests (HIV, Hep B and C, Rubella, VLDR?, and blood type). I hate needles, so what a fun two days this will be!
Tomorrow we have an appointment with a the chief of obstetrics to discuss the risks of pregnancy. I still need to schedule my salpingectomy, but am hoping to have it in February.
I was reading last night about vitrification for freezing embryos - the survival rate of the embryos is 95% compared to the usual freezing where only 50% of the embryos survive thawing. I really hope my clinic uses this technique, I'm gonna find out tomorrow. Also, I've been doing a bit of reading on whether to transfer embryos (day 3) or blastocysts (day 5). It seems like the blastocyst is the way to go. They're able to monitor the embryo two additional days, which is a big deal. Since I am having SET (single embryo transfer), I want to make sure I get the best quality possible! Will be discussing this with the doc tomorrow as well.
Having more blood drawn today and tomorrow....today is LH, FSH, and estradoil. Tomorrow my husband and I will be doing our pre-IVF blood tests (HIV, Hep B and C, Rubella, VLDR?, and blood type). I hate needles, so what a fun two days this will be!
Monday, January 3, 2011
Follow Up with RE
I had a follow-up with my reproductive endocrinologist regarding the results of my HSG. Our plan as of now is to remove the hydrosalpinx via salpingectomy, recover for 2 months, then start IVF. Once the salpingectomy is completed, I will have no fallopian tubes left, thus no chance of natural conception. It's upsetting, but I am happy to at least have a plan and some answers. Luckily, our insurance will actually cover most of one IVF cycle. We will only owe $400 for the whole cycle. I can't believe that insurance will cover any part of IVF! Hopefully the first IVF will be a charm, but if not, I'm hoping to get lots of embys to freeze. An FET is only about $3000 compared to $13000 for IVF. My RE will only put one embryo back per IVF / FET due to my unicornuate uterus and the risk of carrying multiples.
I'm going in for an MRI today to confirm whether I have two kidneys, and to see if a rudimentary horn is present with my unicornuate uterus.
I'm going in for an MRI today to confirm whether I have two kidneys, and to see if a rudimentary horn is present with my unicornuate uterus.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Journey Through Infertility
My first post!
I'll first start with our story.
My husband and I were married in June 2009 in San Francisco, CA. In September we decided to start trying for a family. I went to my gynecologist for a pre-conception visit, everything went well and I started my prenatals. The first few months were stress free, just casually trying. After 3-4 months of trying, I added ovulation predictor kits to my routine. I was getting positives every month around ovulation. After a few months of this without a positive pregnancy test, I started tracking my basal body temperature. My temperatures looked great! Low temps until ovulation, then high until menstruation - just like it was supposed to look. Temping, temping, temping, still no pregnancy.
I went back to my gynecologist at 10 months trying to conceive. I had an ultrasound, which showed a cyst on my left ovary and a hydrosalpinx on my right tube. A hydrosalpinx is a fluid filled, dilated tube. It is thought that the fluid within the hydrosalpinx could be toxic to embryos. Six weeks later at my follow-up ultrasound, the cyst was gone, and my fallopian tube looked normal. I started Femara my next cycle. Femara is a fertility drug that is similar to Clomid - an ovulation stimulator. Femara is off-label for fertility as it is a breast cancer drug.. After four months on Femara with no results, I stated seeing a reproductive endocrinologist (RE). I had lots of hormone tests, all of which came back fairly normal. Progesterone, 19; Prolactin, 9; Thyroid Stimulating Hormone, 1.3; Anti-Mullerian Hormone 7.6. My RE ordered an ultrasound. The hydrosalpinx had re-appeared. I was told my ovaries and uterus both looked good, antral follicle count 26. I was then sent for a hysterosalpingogram (HSG) to check for tube blockages. The HSG was painful. The x-rays were taken and the doctors left the room to discuss. I was trying to make out what I saw on the screen. It certainly did not look normal. There was a small line to the right (my uterus, it turns out) above that was a large black spot. There was nothing on the left side of the screen! I was told that I have a unicornuate uterus and a large hydrosalpinx. A unicornuate uterus occurs when one of the two mullerian ducts does not develop in a female baby. Each mullerian duct creates 1/2 of the uterus, and 1 fallopian tube. By 20 weeks gestation the mullerian ducts have created both, and the uterus will fuse together as one. With a unicornuate uterus only one mullerian duct develops, therefore, only 1/2 uterus and 1 fallopian tube develops. I do have both ovaries.
So this is where I am now. I was told by the ultrasound tech that I could not carry past 28 weeks with a unicornuate uterus. My doctor on the other hand does seem hopeful. We will first have to deal with the hydrosalpinx. My assumption is that my doctor will want to remove the tube and move to IVF. I meet with the doctor again next week to discuss all of this in detail.
Unicorniate Uteri is a rare condition, and I hope that my story can help someone else. I will keep updating my blog as things progress.
I'll first start with our story.
My husband and I were married in June 2009 in San Francisco, CA. In September we decided to start trying for a family. I went to my gynecologist for a pre-conception visit, everything went well and I started my prenatals. The first few months were stress free, just casually trying. After 3-4 months of trying, I added ovulation predictor kits to my routine. I was getting positives every month around ovulation. After a few months of this without a positive pregnancy test, I started tracking my basal body temperature. My temperatures looked great! Low temps until ovulation, then high until menstruation - just like it was supposed to look. Temping, temping, temping, still no pregnancy.
I went back to my gynecologist at 10 months trying to conceive. I had an ultrasound, which showed a cyst on my left ovary and a hydrosalpinx on my right tube. A hydrosalpinx is a fluid filled, dilated tube. It is thought that the fluid within the hydrosalpinx could be toxic to embryos. Six weeks later at my follow-up ultrasound, the cyst was gone, and my fallopian tube looked normal. I started Femara my next cycle. Femara is a fertility drug that is similar to Clomid - an ovulation stimulator. Femara is off-label for fertility as it is a breast cancer drug.. After four months on Femara with no results, I stated seeing a reproductive endocrinologist (RE). I had lots of hormone tests, all of which came back fairly normal. Progesterone, 19; Prolactin, 9; Thyroid Stimulating Hormone, 1.3; Anti-Mullerian Hormone 7.6. My RE ordered an ultrasound. The hydrosalpinx had re-appeared. I was told my ovaries and uterus both looked good, antral follicle count 26. I was then sent for a hysterosalpingogram (HSG) to check for tube blockages. The HSG was painful. The x-rays were taken and the doctors left the room to discuss. I was trying to make out what I saw on the screen. It certainly did not look normal. There was a small line to the right (my uterus, it turns out) above that was a large black spot. There was nothing on the left side of the screen! I was told that I have a unicornuate uterus and a large hydrosalpinx. A unicornuate uterus occurs when one of the two mullerian ducts does not develop in a female baby. Each mullerian duct creates 1/2 of the uterus, and 1 fallopian tube. By 20 weeks gestation the mullerian ducts have created both, and the uterus will fuse together as one. With a unicornuate uterus only one mullerian duct develops, therefore, only 1/2 uterus and 1 fallopian tube develops. I do have both ovaries.
So this is where I am now. I was told by the ultrasound tech that I could not carry past 28 weeks with a unicornuate uterus. My doctor on the other hand does seem hopeful. We will first have to deal with the hydrosalpinx. My assumption is that my doctor will want to remove the tube and move to IVF. I meet with the doctor again next week to discuss all of this in detail.
Unicorniate Uteri is a rare condition, and I hope that my story can help someone else. I will keep updating my blog as things progress.
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