The Embryo Transfer (implantation) 16th June 2010

This morning at approximatively 10:14 we received a phone call from Jo the embryologist at the Peninsular Centre for Reproduction Medicine to say its all systems go and our embryos are cell diving as they should.

Later on we attending our appointment to have the embryos implanted and at precisely 4 o clock the procedure was completed.

This procedure is done drug free, using a ultrasound machine and a catheter.

All that is left to do now is to keep taking the Antibiotic Cepfradine until friday, also to keep taking Progynova and Cyclogest Twice a day and do a pregnancy test in 2 weeks time.

Tuesday 15th June 2010

Today I received a phone call from the embryologist at The Peninsular Centre for Reproductive Medicine.

From the 8 Eggs that were collected in my Egg retrieval yesterday only 5 Eggs were mature enough for treatment.

From the 5 mature Eggs remaining  3 eggs were not viable to be injected with sperm so they died.

This leaves us with 2 fertilized strong and healthy embryos.

An appointment has been scheduled for 3pm tomorrow afternoon to implant the 2 strong and healthy embryos.

Although we had no embryos to freeze in this cycle it is still very much a positive outcome so far.

Final drugs part 2 (15th June 2010)

Along side Cyclogest I started taking Progynova 2mg Tablet (Estradiol Valerate).
This works along side the Cyclogest to maintain endometrium. The combination of these drugs along with a little luck will help a pregnancy until the body resumes the production of normal hormones.

Progynova should also be taken twice a day (12 hours apart) until I am 12 weeks pregnant, unless the pregnancy is unsuccessful.

The Final Drugs (14th June 2010)

The evening after my Egg retrieval I started Taking Cyclogest 400mg Pessaries (Progesterone PhEur).
Progesterone is a hormone produced by the ovary that sustains an early pregnancy.
This hormone is also responsible for premenstrual sysptoms such as bloating, breast tenderness or feeling that your period is imminent.

I to take Cyclogest  twice a day (12 hours apart) until I am 12 weeks pregnant unless the pregnancy is unsuccessful.

The Egg Collection and TESA Procedure (14th June 2010)

Today I had my Egg retrieval and Dave had his TESA procedure (Sperm Collection).
We got to the Peninsular Centre for Reproductive Medicine for 8am, There was a little wait while the last of the paperwork was done then at about 09:40am I Was called in to the theater (Dave was allowed to come in with me).
A sedative was injected in to my hand by a cannula  and with in 5 mins the procedure was under way.
Using a probe to aspirate the follicles the surgeon quickly aspirated fluid from the follicles containing the eggs, in total the surgeon harvested 8 eggs, This was all visible on the monitor though difficult to watch while sedated.

The whole procedure only  took about 20-25 mins then I was wheeled back to the ward, where I was put on a blood pressure machine and monitored.

Dave went to theater at about 10:05am, almost immediately  after entering the theater the procedure began with several local anesthetic injections. Then the process of aspiration begins, this involves extracting tubules from the testicle one at a time, till approximatively 8 samples have been harvested. This procedure also only took 20-25mins.

The Final Injection (12th June 2010)

Yippee With the final injection done (pregnyl) I now just wait until our appointment in 36hours time at the Peninsular Centre for Reproductive Medicine where the egg retrieval  and Dave's TESA procedure will take place.

The Last of my Buserelin and Puregon Drugs (12th June 2010)

Today at 6am I injected my Buserelin and Puregon drugs for the very last time, YIPPEE!!!!
I also took the last of my steroid tablets, but I had to start my course antibiotic tablets.
I took two different Antibiotics they are Called Cephradine (250mg 3 times a day for 7 days) and Doxycycline (100mg twice a day for 2 days).

Tonight at 10PM I will inject my last ever injection, which is Pregnyl (HCG)
Pregnyl injections are used to stimulate follicules to mature and ovulation to occur, it comes in a box with 2 glass containers, one is a liquid the other is a powder, these need to be mixed together and injected at the exact time your fertility nurse tells you to (normally 35 - 36 hours before Egg collection).

The Finale Scan 11th June 2010

Today I had my final scan before the procedure to remove my eggs at Peninsular Centre for Reproductive Medicine.
I have responded as expected to the fertility drugs and the results suggest
I have 8 follicles in my right ovary and 5 follicles in my left ovary, but 3 are a little small, which leaves 10 good size follicles to use in my egg collection on Monday.

Then after the scan the fertility nurse showed me how to mix up the pregnyl which is the last drug that I will be injecting on this cycle.

Today I started injecting another medication called Puregon, this is as well as still injecting Buserelin, so now I am on two injections every morning and also I now have to take a steroid tablets called Betamethasone.

There are multiple reasons for these other medications being taken now which are firstly to improve FSH response and to aid implantation but also there is evidence of a lower miscarriage rate if taking a steroid of this nature.

The 1st Scan Tuesday 1st June 2010

Today I had my first scan to see if the Buserelin drug has been doing its job (preventing ovulation).

This scan is a vaginal scan, its done by what I call the dildo cam!!

I also had to have vaginal swobs to test for any STI's to update my file.

Tomorrow I will start injecting my 2nd fertility drug and start my steroid tablets, whilst still injecting Buserelin

.