It was asked about my next cycle, and the details, we have some of them.
Aidan rang the clinic the day we found out it was negative (which, for those following along at home, was 10 days ago. 10 days seems so many days and so many bottles of pinot grigio away...). There, the RE (the one who used the "bummer" expression, which I still think: Hmm. We may need to talk about how to address people who have just found out their cycle is over. Use the word "bummer" again and I may offer to introduce you to the business end of the stirrups, babe.)
The next cycle is a frozen embryo transfer (FET), as we have 5 of the little guys sitting in a cryotank. The embroys vary-there are 3 at four cell (2 grade 2, 1 grade 3) and 2 five cell (1 grade 2, 1 grade 3). The 3 four cells are frozen together and the two 5 cells are frozen together. This FET commences 21 days after my next period, which according to the calendar is due the 9th of June, although my periods tend to be early but my body was supremely hopped up on hormones, so when it comes is anyone's guess.
Now, Aidan and I thought that meant that the little chilly buggers would go in 21 days after my period.
This is not the case.
Turns out my FET will be medicated, so the dreamsicles will be re-implanted the end of July, 2012.
No, not really. It's not in 2012, but it is a FUCKING LONG TIME AWAY.
I start taking the drugs on day 21 after my next period, actually. I start with the down-regulation stuff, the same I took last time. Then two weeks after that, they do a scan to see how my lining is. If I have sufficiently flipped my body into menopause-complete with the symptoms of last time, which were hot flashes and the new Kiwi sport called Extreme Tears-then I start taking a tablet called Progynova (thank Christ, there's finally an oral tablet in all of this nightmare.) I've never had Progynova before, but I am sure I will love it. Progynova then throws me back out of menopause and builds up my lining. Once the lining is in good shape, I start taking the butt suppositories again (which I loved. There is nothing greater than farts the size of Manhatten, absolutely nothing.)
Then, at some point in time, they transfer the babies back.
All told, this cycle is nearly as long as the fresh cycle, where I got the good drugs and had loads of eggs. This cycle will take 40 days, so technically I could have built an ark and saved the entire fucking animal kingdom in this amount of time.
The deep thaw of the embryos is cause for concern as well. Some embryos don't survive the thaw, and the hospital is of the early opinion that they will have to defrost all 5 of them to ensure I can get two good ones. We will wipe out our entire stash in one go, and this is a bit hard for me to accept, simply because it will mean we could be that much closer to my next fresh cycle.
Because this is the hardest part-the success rate of FET is 16%.
Just 16%.
I cried when I saw that, as I thought it was so low.
It terrifies me, while at the same time, I am going to work hard to be positive.
We have an appointment to go over it all next Thursday, and one point Aidan wants to discuss with them is the option of another fresh donor cycle, thereby adding to the frozen bunker. On one hand I do want that and on the other, if it fails then we have to determine what to do-either keep going and pay ourselves, stop altogether, or one other option-ask about the other donees. If both of them got pregnant, it could mean I get a third cycle, only that? Yeah. That would hurt, and I am trying not to be selfish about it, as I really want all of us to get truly knocked up with my eggs.
It's a lot to think about, and my fingers are hurting for being crossed so hard.
yeah, thalia's right about the numbers - your odds might be quite a bit higher. hugs
Posted by: UtRus at May 28, 2006 05:40 PMMy fingers are crossed for you too.
Posted by: April at May 24, 2006 03:09 PMThe protocol does sound long, but you're much better off with a medicated protocol in terms of success rates. Does the 16% refer to success rates based on total protocols started (ie starting with downreg) or embryos transferred? Because if it's the former, your own odds are probably better since you have enough embryos that you are very unlikely to have nothing to transfer; and you know you respond well to the hormones so you are unlikely to be cancelled because your lining hasn't got thick enough etc. The latter is not a dead cert, of course, since things change from cycle to cycle, but I'd be a little more optimistic about your chances than those numbers suggest.
Sweetie have you thought about moving your blog? The main page frequently doesn't load, and the comments page won't load 9/10 times, it's very frustrating!
Posted by: thalia at May 24, 2006 06:41 AMIt's hard to type - but my fingers are crossed for you here, as well.
xoxo
Posted by: Margi at May 23, 2006 06:30 PMI was shocked how long the protocol is for a medicated FET. I am doing an unmedicated (daily blood draws - puke), but I have to wait until my July period so I'll still be a bit behind you. Your clinic is 1% better on FET's than mine. The success rate is low, it's hard to build up much hope.
Posted by: jenny at May 23, 2006 03:05 PMfingers crossed for you here too.
Posted by: a duck at May 22, 2006 10:22 PM