Twisted Ovaries

Eight

In order to donate and have my own IVF cycle, I needed 8 follicles.

8.

That's the minimum. Less than 8 and we have a choice-keep all the eggs and pay over £3000 for a cycle. Or give them all to her and then my whole next cycle is free and I keep all the eggs. A version of hell, either way around.

I needed 8.

I have been so worried. My clinic wants to avoid overstimulation so much, could I be understimulated? Did I fuck up in my Buserelin shot, and now am ovulating, thereby wiping out the whole process? I have been feeling discomfort and pain, particularly on the left hand side, but was that because my ovary had turned into a tennis ball at night and Bjorn Borg would come calling? Are the follicles ok, the right size, shape, and in the right tax bracket?

We went to the clinic. I was a pale version of myself as we were running late again. We get to the clinic and I am stressed-I have to get to London for a meeting by 9 am. It was 7:45. Aidan had a phone conference at 9 am and had forgotten his phone.

Did I have at least 8 eggs?

I change into the blue paper sheet and lay down. The scan nurse has handed Aidan a post-it note to note down the amount of follicles and their sizes, which she will read to him. She loads up the fun rod and in it goes.

My lining is perfect, she tells me. Women would give their right arm for my uterine lining. It is thick and perfect, a "dream".

Excellent. So I have a thick lining and I get to keep my right arm. I'm ready for step two, but how the fuck am I doing on step one?

She highlights the follicles on the right ovary. There are not many. They look like big black marbles and range in size from 14 to 8, which she says is just right for my cycle timing.

But are there 8?

She measures and she and Aidan play a game to see who can guess the size. A tear escapes my eye and I roll my head to the table to get it away. Oh God, two whole families depend on what heat I am packing, are there 8?

The left ovary has more follicles, she says it is the left ovary's turn to do the work this month, that's why there are more. It explains the pain in my left side, it is not psychological on my part-there are follicles in there and they are large. The size is right on target.

I needed 8.

At the end of the scan, she counts them up.

I am carrying at least 14 would-be babies.

When we leave the room, I cry uncontrollably with relief.

Posted by Vanessa at April 19, 2006 05:20 PM | TrackBack