Anyone doing IVF/PGD now or in July?!

I have two amazing little daughters whom we love with all our hearts. But I've been told that my next pregnancy will most likely be my last due to complications that I've had with both my previous pregnancies. So we really (really, really, really!) would love to have a baby boy to complete our family. We have decided to do IVF with PGD in hopes that it will bring us a son. We are both in our early 30s and don't have any history of infertility. All of our screening test came back great and the doctor said that everything looks perfect and that we appear to be ideal candidates for the procedure. My husband's sperm analysis was better than ideal, and she joked that I should be careful standing next to my husband, as i might get pregnant, Ha! Of course, I already know that. If only he could get me pregnant with a BOY!! So here is our current plan: She put me on a birth control pill starting for 21 days. I'll start Lupron on day 18, then FSH (Gonal F) for 8 days, and then add Menopur for 5 days. I should trigger some time in late July (roughly the 24th?), have retrieval 2 days later and transfer 5 day blasts around July 31st (this is a rough estimate depending on how things go). After retrieval I will begin taking estrace and progesterone. And finally, we would go in for a pregnancy test 10 days later, around August 10th (that feels SOOOOOO far away). Even with this very positive assessment, she said our success of pregnancy via IVF is still around 55-60%. If we have 2 healthy, male blasts, we will put both in so that will help our odds. But she also said there is a high risk of us having multiples of course. That would be a little scary, but really we would be THRILLED!! She was also concerned about hyperstimulation and said they would be monitoring me very closely, as much as once a day. We also discussed what level of PGD to do. We don't have a history of pregnancy loss, so she recommended 3 chromosome screening (X, Y, 21) FISH. Does this sound accurate to other's who have done PGD? I'm so excited to FINALLY be moving forward and beginning our attempt to have a son, but it is a LOT of information and all so overwhelming! It is also discouraging to read these forums because it is clear that even if you have no trouble conceiving naturally, that isn't always the case with IVF. It's a lot of money, time, and emotional energy to put on the line. For now I'm just trying to take it all one day at a time. I would love to find some others who are either going through similar treatments now, or have in the past, to share my journey with!

Good luck to you! We are just getting started and are waiting for our consult. We had a consult in Michigan, but have since moved to Oregon and have to start all over. We have 4 fabulous boys and can't wait to welcome a girl. I have had 5 c sections and a TL with the last one. I wish you the best of luck! I don't have any advice since we are also just getting started. Maybe if all goes we will both be on the same track

Hi WishingFor XY, I know how you feel,I have a beautiful 9yr old daughter who was born a year after our marriage,a true blessing from God,we are now doing ivf/pgd for our most wanted baby boy.We are in Bangkok for the treatment going to Jetanin Hospital.I jus got my egg collection done yesterday got 5 eggs retrieved but came to know only 1 egg fertilised today was dishearted a bit,they're doing pgd on the 23rd,am keeping my fingers crossed and praying for a miracle.Hope this embie turns out to be our beautiful baby boy!:)Hope all is going with you:)

 

JustOne4me:

Good luck to you! We are just getting started and are waiting for our consult. We had a consult in Michigan, but have since moved to Oregon and have to start all over.

 

Can I ask where in Michigan, which center? I used to look at the options there, and I could not find a place that seemed really enthusiastic about GS.

Thanks (and GL to you and all the previous posters!)

WWP

Hi WWP! We went to MidwestIVF. I don't know that I could really say that anyone is very enthusiastic discussing gender selection, but they were willing to do it. I wish we had taken the opportunity, but I guess it just was not the right time.

I'm so happy to see that some others are with me in this! JustOne4Me - When is your consult set up for? Did you go through all of the preliminary testing and whatnot back in Michigan? Good luck! Keep us updated! Padma123 - Fingers crossed that your embie stays strong and it's your baby boy! Lots of blue stick dust your way! WantWarriorPrincess - From some of the other posts I've read, I'm feeling very fortunate that we have found an RE that does sex selection and is close by AND very open and nonjudgmental about family balancing. I don't understand why a facility would offer sex selection but then make their patients feel guilty for requesting such services. Good luck to you!

Wishing, I did not do any testing, but 3 of our 4 boys were conceived on BC and even though I have PCOS I got pregnant with surrogate baby after 3 months, no drugs, only IUI. We have a consult scheduled for the end of July, but I just found I can schedule a free consult and even do it over the phone. I'm wondering if I should cancel consult with the one clinic in favor of free one? Our insurance doesn't cover anything :( I can't wait to hear how it works out for all of you ladies!

Got my meds in the mail today and will start with injections tomorrow!!! How are the rest of you ladies doing?!

Congrats on getting started, Wishing. How are you feeling? How is everything going? I'm still waiting on my consult ... Very anxious and wishing it would hurry up already!

Feeling good, thanks! I've been on Lupron for 7 days now and don't really feel much at all in the way of side effects. I stopped taking birth control on Saturday and got my period today, which was a huge relief because that means we can really get the ball rolling now! I go in tomorrow for a blood test and ultrasound and then I believe I start the serious drugs! I think I take Gonal F for 8 days (ish) and add menopur after the first few days. But I'll have more detailed instruction after tomorrows tests. Thanks for checking in and keep your fingers crossed for us! Have you been able to schedule your consult yet?

Fingers are always crossed! I'm so excited for you and glad to hear that you're feeling ok. I'm terrified about the side effects but hope they won't be so bad. Our consult is at 1 on the 24th. It's a little frustrating cause I'm ovulating either tonight or in the morning but can't do anything about it. I look forward to hearing more about your progress. It kinda helps that you're just a few steps ahead... Lets me know what I will probably have to do next :)

I was really worried about taking all these meds and the side effects, but I've been on Lupron for 11 days now and started Gonal F 3 days ago and have yet to feel any side effects. I'm really shocked by this! It makes me worry that things aren't working, but I go in for monitoring every couple of days, and so far, so good! When I started the gonal F, they cut my Lupron dose in half, from 10 units to 5 units. I take both the Lupron and Gonal F in my belly and the needles are super tiny and don't hurt much at all. I just got back from a blood test this morning, and I think they will start me on Menepur as well today or tomorrow. As overwhelming and scary as all the drugs and needles are, I really don't have any complaints so far!

Hi there!! So I'm a little late to join, but I just saw this post! Wish I had checked sooner. I just had my egg retrieval yesterday (7/20)!! I did the maximum dosage of Gonal-f and Menopur, and we were only able to get 6 eggs. The doctor anticipated I would get a max of 8 based on my preliminary ultrasound, and it looks like he was right. I got the call today that only 3 were mature, but luckily those three all fertilized. I'm taking progesterone, estrogen, and a steroid to help with inflammation. Plus the prenatal! I swear I've never been on so many medications before. And fortunately I'm doing well with them!! I think it was only the cetrotide injection to suppress my LH surge that made me a bit hormonal. So anyhow... keeping my fingers crossed for my little embryos!! I'll get an update on Monday, which is day 3... and when they will be doing the PGD testing. I REALLY REALLY hope all of them make it! Baby dust and good luck to you ladies!!

@wishing I'm so glad to hear that you're doing so well with the meds! @ A&T I hope Your 3 make it and they are all girls :)

A&T welcome and congrats on 3 embies! Did the doctor estimate a max of 8 based on the number of follicles early on or how they were growing as you approached your retrieval date? Just curious because when I had my ultrasound on day 2 of my period, the day I started my Gonal F, they counted the number of follicles under 10mm that I had and there were 17 on one side and 20 on the other, which is similar to what I had during my initial screening ultrasound. That seems like a lot to me, but I wasn't given any indication as to whether that is a good thing or if it doesn't really matter at that stage anyway. I'm guessing that what matters more is how many are growing closer to the 18 mm mark?? I started Menopur today and have another blood/ultrasound Tuesday morning. I'm very curious to see how my eggs are responding. From what I've read, at the end of the day, it doesn't matter if you have 20 or 2...it only takes ONE to make a baby! Fingers crossed that those are your 3 little ladies and lots of baby dust your way! Keep us posted as your journey progresses!