Message Board

Question for a Dr. Re: breastfeeding

buttons — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 19:11:04 GMT

I am currently nursing and would like to know how breastfeeding can affect an FET cycle?

Forum: IVF

IUI question for doctor

isabel — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 05:18:08 GMT

Hello,

I started my IUI treatment on 10/25...3 units of menopur for 4 days and 2 units for 2 days. Had 3 follicles 20, 18 & 19. HCG trigger on 10/31. Insemination on 11/2. I was supposed to take a home urine pregnancy test on 11/16 and I started to spot today, 10/14...does this mean that my next period cycle is starting early due to IUI failure? My last cycle started on 10/23.

Forum: Infertility

LIT (Lymphocyte Immunization Therapy)

Optimistic — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:52:53 GMT

Have anyone on this forum done LIT (Lymphocyte Immunization Therapy) ?

What is the opinion of the HRC doctor's of this treatment? Do you encourage your patients to get tested and undergo treatment if necessary?

"still" Optimistic

Forum: IVF

What is the likelyhood thar its a sperm problem?

mandy — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 12:26:53 GMT

After going down to my clinic on Friday,they confirmed that there is still no yolk sac present,and I am scheduled for a D&C this Wednesday.One important question that my doctor seemed unable/unwilling to address is d/t my pattern of failures,is this likely an egg or a sperm problem. My first cycle of IVF in April ended with a chemical preg. Because my FSH is 13,it was recommended to go to donor eggs the next attempt.That cycle in July also ended in a chem preg,despite using donor eggs. Our latest attempt using a frozen day 5 embryo,left over from that same donor cycle produced a preg. with good strong beta numbers,but the absence of a yolk sac on the six week US.
After much discussion with my husband,he is not willing to even consider donor sperm if it became recommended. I am just starting to become suspicious that maybe there is a chromosomal abnormality on his end because despite using 2 different egg sources now, our outcome always seems to end up the same.He did have several sperm tests done including sperm frag. DNA testing,blood karotyping,and a 5 chromosome sperm karotype,all of which came back normal.I am in favor of trying yet one more donor(egg) cycle,but am not sure how many more miscarriages I can endure. Do you know of any other testing or way of sorting this out? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Forum: IVF

wow

stepmom — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 02:13:14 GMT

where do i begin?? just found out today that my 3rd ivf/icsi cycle was a failure! i am completely schocked considering the fact that everything seemed almost perfect! only 32 yrs old and my husband has had two vasectomy reversals and now this!! according to my doctors i have beautiful ovaries and a gorgeous uterus. what went wrong? i am completely confused and sick to my stomach right now. 1st cycle ended in d&c due to no heartbeat at 6weeks, 2nd ivf was negative and now this!What are my options and next steps? want a baby soooo bad but how? feeling helpless.

Forum: Infertility

Would PGD benefit us?

mandy — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:16:26 GMT

After repeated failed IVF,including one cycle with my own eggs,and a recent failed donor egg cycle in July,we were surprised when the FET from the donor cycle resulted in a positive preg. test. (the previous 2 failed fresh cycles ended in chemical preg, and now it appears that this cycle is also going to end in miscarriage d/t no yolk sac seen on 6 week US.
We are going to use a different egg donor for our next cycle that will probably be in January. I just don't understand why at 37yrs old,also having a 6 yr old daughter,I am having such a difficult time getting pregnant.We have done additional testing on my husband which included a blood test for kerotyping,a Sperm DNA fragmentation test,and then another sperm test that tested for anuplody in 5 chromosomes. All his further testing was normal.
With all our unexplained IVF failures,would it be reasonable to insist on PGD testing before any embryos were transfered on this next donor cycle.I can't stand the thought of going through another early miscarriage. Even though they have not been able to find anything wrong with my husband,I still wonder if the problem is on his end,as he has been the "common detonator" in all our previous attempts. What is your thought on PGD,as our doctor has not mentioned anything about this.

Forum: IVF

Need advice...preparing for the worst

mandy — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 14:10:16 GMT

I spoke wit my doctor yesterday,and he wants me to come back on Friday for another repeat ultrasound,in hopes that a yolk sac will be present. He is under the impression that I am only 5 Weeks,and 3-4 days,but I checked with 2 nurses down there and they said I am 6 weeks and 3-4 days. Which is it,as I agree with my doctor that if I am not even 6 weeks yet,then there may still be hope that the yolk sac will be there next week. My day 5 FET was done on Oct. 2nd. How far along would you say that I am?
I feel in my heart that this sac in not going to be there on Friday.(As I have lost my symptom of nausea,which was there up until Thursday last week). I did inquire what happens next,as far as how this embryo is going to exit my body. He told me that I could either wait,stop my meds,and see if it passes on its own. Option #2 was to do a D&C. What do you recommend? I would like to get started right away with another donor cycle,as it takes about 3 mts to be ready to transfer again. I don't have any objections to having a D&C,but do you increase your risk of developing scar tissue after wards?

Forum: IVF

H1N1 vaccine. Help!!!

babymama2 — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 03:30:50 GMT

In about three weeks I will start the egg stimulation process for IVF. I will be turning 39 around that time and am in good health. My doctor says my labs are great and is set to proceed when my period starts. (We are doing IVF because my husband has a low sperm count.) Here's my dilemma: I was planning on getting the H1N1 vaccine as a preventive measure but have just found out that the only one available to me right now contains thimerasol. If I received the shot could the mercury in the thimerasol have any effect on my egg quality or any adverse effect on the embryos when they are transferred? Is it worth the risk for a possible pregnancy or should I hold off for the thimerasol free vaccine (which as of now has proven to be elusive and may never actually materialize) or become pregnant and get the vaccine with the thimerasol in it putting the developing fetus at risk of mercury exposure? I am at a loss.

One doctor told me to go ahead and get the shot now because the mercury was the equivalent of what would be in a tuna sandwich. The other told me that the mercury would stay in my blood stream for 120 days. Ahhh.... I'm going a little crazy!! I also have two small children that are germ magnets and keep me in the middle of germville!

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.

Forum: IVF

Risk of multiples

sf3698 — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 01:57:21 GMT

I am aware that infertility treatments increase the risk of multiple pregnancies. When I took clomid alone (which was unsuccessful) my doctor told me the risk was about 5-8% for multiples. Now that I will be adding injectible medications & IUI my doctor says the risk is up to 20%. My doctor mentioned she is more aggressive and usually starts with a higher dose of powders and decrease as necessary. How do I assess if my doctor is being too aggressive and increasing the risk for multiples more than necessary. She mentioned wanting to see about 4 healthy eggs... does that sound about right?

Forum: Infertility

No yolk sac seen on 6 week ultrasound

mandy — Thur, 29 Oct 2009 20:27:26 GMT

I was just wondering how often you do a 6 week ultrasound,and see a sac,but no vi sable yolk sac. We had ours today(I am considered 6 weeks and 3 days). The doctor thought he may have seen a little bit of white matter in the corner of the sac,but was not sure if it was a yolk sac. They want us to return in one week. We are very disgusted right now,bec. this was our first positive pg. test after a whole year of interventions.I don't know how often these situations go on to have a happy outcome,but right now our situation feels pretty bl eek. I am so dis guested,I don't even feel like taking my inject ables for another week, what will be,will be. What is your opinion on these situations?

Forum: IVF

Repeat Miscarriages -- what next?

sid2332 — Thur, 29 Oct 2009 03:56:35 GMT

I am 39 years old and my husband and I have been TTC for 2 years. While we tried naturally (unsuccessfully), my BBT chart indicated CD1 began 5-11 days after testing + on an OTK (w/ ~ 5days of spotting during longer luteal phases). We've since been seeing an RE and have gone through 5 IUI cycles w/ FSH injections resulting in 3 pregnancies that all ended in miscarriages by 24 dpo. My husband's SA was normal, karyotyping for both of us was normal, and my HSG, saline hysteroscopy, and thyroid function tests were normal. My CD3 estradial, FSH, LH, and prolactin have been tested twice: the 1st time was wnl; the 2nd my prolactin was slightly elevated (on 2 occasions). I had a full thrombophilia work up and tested heterozygous for MTHFR c667T. For the last 1.5 years I've also been treated for lupus based on physical symptoms, low complements, and anti-dsDNA, but negative on all other blood work and no major organ involvement. I am currently on 10mg prednisone/day, 4 mg folic acid/day, and 1/2 tablet Dostinex 2x/week. After IUI I take either 200 mg of oral Prometrium 4/day or 1ml injectable progesterone, although bleeding starts 8-11 dpo regardless of whether I'm pregnant. My RE wanted to try daily baby aspirin but I'm allergic to NSAIDS. I have two questions: first, is there additional testing or treatment I should consider? Second, will IVF with PGD decrease our chances of another miscarriage relative to IUI with injections? Thank you for your help.

Forum: Infertility

small follicles

taran — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 21:01:27 GMT

I have a couple questions. First, I am wondering if naturally ovulating a follicle (on a non-medicated cycle) that is 18-20mm would decrease fertility rates. I have a feeling that is what is happening with me. I am 35, trying for several years. I ovulate on my own (as per temp charting) with a 33-35 day cycle, naturally. My husbands s/a's have been good. The only test that had come back abnormal on me, is an inverse ratio of LH to FSH of 2:1 instead of 1:2 (or the other way, which ever would not be best. And I don't know exact levels- they said it wasn't bad at all- nearly normal). I am seeing an RE and have done 3 clomid (1st cycle 50mg, then 100mg, days 5-9)/ IUI cycles. On the first, day 14 u/s showed R-9mm follicle, L- 10mm; day 17 u/s showed R-15mm follicle, L-17mm; day 19- HCG inj., although I felt ov. was close anyway. I felt like I ovulated on day 20, and had IUI day 21 anyway. 2nd cycle day 16 u/s showed 2 follicles on left, 1 on right, all 11-12mm; day 20 HCG; day 22 IUI (and I had a gut feeling like it was really too late). Cycle 3, day 15 u/s showed L-14mm, R-2 at 11mm each; day 18 L- still 14mm, R- both 14mm. At this point they told me to do the HCG inj. on day 20, at which point I insisted I get an u/s on that day first, because I felt like we were not timing it right. Day 20 u/s showed ovulation: L- 14mm follicle with free abdominal fluid behind it and signs in the uterus of progesterone, already. I am starting one last clomid cylce next week, and I really don't want to miss ov. on this one. I am so frustrated! Any recommendations on how to proceed? I feel like I should ask them if I can trigger with only a 17 or 18mm follicle (or smaller??), since I seem to ovulate smaller follicles. Would it be worth a try? Should I insist on more ultrasounds to pin it down better? Thank you for any input you can give.

Forum: Infertility

Is spotting a bad sign at 6 weeks?

mandy — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:53:22 GMT

Just wanted a second opinion on what you think of spotting at 6 weeks. I am scheduled to go for my 6 week OB ultrasound on Thursday,and just started to get some spotting today,which is new. I currently take IM Progesterone daily,and Del Estrogen every 3rd day. I called and spoke to my clinic,and they said it is not unusual to see spotting d/t the thickness of the uterine lining and everything.I am not having any cramping.I am just concerned because I had heard that spotting was not a good sign in early pregnancy.

Forum: IVF

GSN

yoddledee — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 02:20:32 GMT

Sorry if this was in the wrong spot since this isn't really a PGD question. I am interested in GSN but I was wondering if HRC (all branches) has had a live birth from GSN/24-probe? I saw on GSN's website that the first baby was born back in July but it was from a different clinic. What kind of success rates are you seeing at your clinic? Do you have the number of live births and pregnancies?

Thank you so much for your time!

Forum: PGD

Does IVF make sense for me?

fgreen01 — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 17:11:59 GMT

i'm 42, and only recently developed fertility issues. i have one child, about to turn 3. In the last 2 years I have had several miscarriages (4 - two in week 12), no reason known. I had all of the standard infertilty testing done last spring and no issues were noted. I ovulate regularly, and FSH and progesterone are normal. Since May, i have not been able to get pregnant. i have taken several rounds of oral Femara, follicles have been noted (usually 2-3 per cycle), LH surge noted, but no luck. Last month we tried IUI with the oral Femara and the ovidrel injection, no luck there either.

Does IVF make any sense for me? I really want another baby, and i'm running out of time! what should we do?

Forum: IVF