IVF - In Vitro Fertilisation

I was googling the various fertility treatment programme that is available in the market. Well must do our research first. Since we are gonna part with such a large sum of money. I really do not know what I am in for. The last time when I did the IUI, it was really just a blind effort on our side.

I was reading the IVF procedure conducted at TMC. I am considering of going there straight rather than to Dr Chen then to TMC. The procedure look easy enough but... at some stage it sounds painful. Do I have to remind you that I hate needles.

The IVF programme at Thomson is divided into 4 phases.

￭ Phase 0 The stage of ‘Preparation’ and spans 1 month. The first consultation is usually scheduled on one of cycle days 2-4 to assess the clinical situation and to allow final discussions and fine-tuning before embarking on the programme. A course of oral contraceptive pills (OCP) is usually prescribed to ensure hormonal stability as well as to facilitate scheduling of the IVF programme. Phase 0 may be omitted if certain conditions are fulfilled, whereupon couples can go straight into Phase 1.

￭ Phase 1 The stage of ‘Egg Growth’. You return on day 2 or 3 of the cycle following OCPs to ensure that all is ready to commence hormone treatment. Daily injections with hormones such as FSH, Cetrorelix and hCG are used to stimulate the growth of about 10 eggs. Pen injectors have simplified injections so that many patients are able to self-inject. Blood tests are rarely needed as you are assigned an IVF clinician who will perform all your scans and procedures. Phase 1 typically takes 10 to 14 days and ends when enough eggs are fully grown.

￭ Phase 2 The stage of ‘Procedures’. The first procedure is egg extraction or Oocyte Pick-up (OPU). OPU is typically a 10 – 20 minute procedure performed under a mild, short-acting anaesthetic. The presence of your husband is encouraged to provide emotional support. You are usually well enough to leave the Centre after 2 hours. The eggs in the meantime will be combined with your husband’s sperm in the laboratory. ICSI, where individual sperm is injected to each egg, is performed if the sperm count is very low. Otherwise the sperm and egg are allowed to fertilise naturally. The second procedure is Embryo Transfer (ET) where fertilised eggs are cultured for 3 days after which the ‘best’ 2 or 3 embryos are transferred back into your womb in a simple 10 minute procedure.

￭ Phase 3 The phase of ‘Womb Stabilisation’. Various hormones are administered for a 2 week spell to keep the womb stable until the pregnancy test.

Egg Extraction:

Embryo Transfer:

So after reading all those information, AM I READY??? Physically, emotionally and mentally perhaps. But financially there might be a little problem. We'll see how it goes in the next few months. Insya Allah if everything goes well, I might be embarking on our new journey very soon...

It's THE Day

It was THE day today. Not easy. It started off on a not so good note but after an hour late for the appointment, we finally made it. The traffic was on our side. We reached Thomson Medical at 9.45am but no question was asked. I guess the doctor and nurses understood our situation. We send the specimen in. Were told it would be ready in 2 hours. So we made our way to Toa Payoh to have a late breakfast.

We went from one coffeeshop to the other but could not find any Muslim stall. We were amazed, shocked and stunned. As we were about to give up and make our way to Macdonalds, I saw a signboard. There's a halal food court... Not Banquet. It's called Fork and Spoon (if I remember correctly). The concept is similar to Banquet. The food was not bad. Too bad there was no Mee Bandung so I had Mee Soto instead. the chilli was power!!! Reminded me of a fellow blogger's Mee Soto. Anyway after a satisfying our tummy, we made our way back to Thomson Medical. Waited for about 10 minutes then it was ready.

We took a cab back to Dr Chen's clinic and within minutes I was called in. The result was not too promising. According to her, the reults was the same as the previous time. Not much change. But she asked me to keep my fingers crossed. Although there was not as much as other people but all we needed was one. Just ONE to do the trick. One in a million.... That seems easy enough. But only Allah knows what will happen this time around. We can pray, we can hope but ultimately it will be up to HIM. Please answer MY prayers. Please answer OUR prayers.

So what happens. The procedure was similar to the one we had at Mount Alvernia where they put the dye in me to check if my fallopian tube are fine. The only difference is this time instead of putting a dye, they put the specimen in. The cathither...was damn long.... When she first put it in, I feel this very strong crampy feeling in my abdomen. Similar to that I have when my period is coming but this one is stronger. Felt like something was twisting my abdomen inside out. She asked me to relax... Hmmm... Not an easy thing when you have such a long thing sticking out or in this case in your you know where.... I tfelt as if it took ages for it to be done and there's not even much liquid in the first place. Cant imagine if there was more. Would I have cried??? I tried to be strong. For hubby and myself and our dreams. After another 10 minutes... It was done. She asked me to lie down for about 10 minutes before telling me to move. When everything was done, hubby and me made our way home. The moment I reached home, I slept. Slept for about 4 hours.

Do I feel better now? Slightly. But I am still feeling a little crampy thoug. When to the toilet just now and there was a little spotting. I guess it was natural since they put something in my womb. The womb lining might have been slightly grazed. Now, there is nothing much me and hubby can do. Just wait and see and pray for the best.

2 weeks. That's the waiting time given... Keep a look out at the banner at the side. If there is a change, you will see it soon.

Are you excited??

Today, I met Dr Chen again. It will be the second last time. The eggs are doing fine. One is at 1.89mm, the other is 1.79mm and the last one, she is not too sure because it is hiding behind the biggest one. She said we are still taking a chance. It could still be a triplet but I am okay with chances. If it is meant to be, it will be.

I have made an appointment with Thomson Medical at 08 30 tomorrow. After which, we have to make our way back to Dr Chen's office for the final procedure. After the amount of money we have spent, we really hope this will work. Hubby seems excited at the prospect of having triplets. He seems all excited. So am I!!! But how can I cope? I guess I will think about it once I reach that point of my life. For now, we shall just wait and see.

Today during my appointment, I also find out the reason why I usually feels crampy during my ovulation. According to Dr Chen, my ovaries are slightly higher in preparation for ovulation. I see... So I have been ovulating all these while. Okay time for me to rest. It is going to be a long day tomorrow. I hope everything will go as plan. I have been poke by more needles in the last week than I have in my entire life.

Another appointment with Dr Chen in the morning. Had another scan. Things are surely looking brighter. I am looking forward to the days ahead much more than I used to in the past. Today, the scan showed that there are 3 egg folicles left. The other one I guess had stopped growing and competing. Dr Chen was still worried. She feels that having triplets is still very dangerous for me. I am up for all possibilities. If it is meant to be triplets I will take it with open arms. If it is only meant for one to go through after all this... I am still contented. All I am wishing, praying and hoping for is one first. I have been waiting for this moment for the longest time ever. In fact since we first got married almost 2 1/2 years ago.

This procedure is definitely an expensive one. Today's appointment cost us another$590. I do not mind the cost if it will give us what we had dream of. What an expensive baby/babies this gonna be. Monday. there will be another appointment. She told hubby to be ready on Tuesday, the insemination will probably take place on Tuesday morning. She told me to not go for camp at all. She said I will need all the rest I could possibly get. I keep missing the camp with my class. i was looking forward to bond with them on Monday at least during the bonding games. Now I guess it will be just a memory. Now how do I inform the senior management in school? I have to think fast. real fast.

Okay back to the scan today... The 3 eggs are looking pretty good. In fact she had wanted to do the insemination tomorrow because one of the eggs measuring at 1.8mm is big and mature enough. The other 2 measured 1.4mm. She said if we wait any longer, the other 2 might catch up. For me, if they do, I will still go ahead with the insemination. I am not going to let this round to be wasted. It is not a cheap procedure let me remind you. It has cost us over $1000 so far. I'm not sure how much more it will cost for the insemination. I will ask here when I see her on Monday. Need to confirm everything so that we can transfer the money over. After Tuesday, it is just rest and relax and wait. i should know the outcome whether it is successful or not by the 7th of February. What a great present it will be for hubby!!! For now, it is just more prayers.

Thursday Appointment

After a long day at work, I made my way to Healthcare for Women. Met hubby outside the clinic and visited Dr Chen once again. Another ultrasound was done on me. It was such an expensive procedure. $50 per ultrasound. But I was just glad at what I saw. All 4 egg folicles are growing find. 3 of them measured 1.4mm and the the 4th one measured 1.1mm but it is still catching up. Today, I have another appointment again. The procedure is coming to an end. By Tuesday next week, we should have done the insemination and it will just be waiting from then on. How do i feel? Definitely excited at the posibilities but I am keeping myself cool for the moment. Until the day comes when the dreaded visitor stops coming and on the day I see on the screen the 'possibility'... I will not be putting my hopes too high. Afraid of getting hurt once again.

It's late now. I shall be taking my leave. Time to go to bed and have some rest. Meeting hubby for breakfast in the morning then another visit to the gynae. If only I knew what's gonna happen in the future. I will definitely be more prepared...

Another appointment

Today, after I came back from my course at Buna Vista, I made my way in a cab for my doctor's appointment. This is the 1st appointment after I first started on the injection. Today, was just supposed to be a check on the egg folicles. To see how it is growing and how many is growing. Dr Chen said the right side this month is quiet. All the actions are on the left side. In fact there are 4 egg folicles that are growing very well. They ranged between 0.9 - 1.2. I asked Dr Chen what was the average number she will be looking at. According to her, it will be between 1 and 2. She said 4 could be happening but very interesting. Imagine having a quadruplets??? That will be what happen if all 4 folicles goes through and hubby's sperms do what they are supposed to do. Hmmm.... definitely interesting and scary at the same time.

Appointment has been set again for Thursday, 18th January 2007. Again to check on the size of the folicles. She hopes by then there will be a distinctions between all the 4 folicles and hopefully at most 2 will stand out. So now you know why there is a possibility of more than one baby. Each egg equal to one baby so 4 eggs could mean... Hmmm....

I am not putting my hopes to high. I am not asking for much... Just ONE. One egg is all I am asking for. Let's hope for the best. I will keep myself and you updated of the possibilities ok. For now, more folic acids and enough rest. No stress!!!!

IT's Time

Things didn't go the way I wanted. The way we wanted. The dreaded visitor came to visit on Tuesday, 9th of January 2007. So I called the doctor's office and make an appointment. She set me up for the 11th. Spent $400 plus and we are ready for our next embarkation. Hope this will work this time around. It is not gonna be chaep. Today being the 5th day of the month, I was up for my first injection. Did I mention I was scared of needles. I have a phobia for it. Hubby being the medic he is, helps me to administer the shot. It was over within a few minutes. One down and four more to go. Tuesday I will have another appointment with her. That appointment is to check whether my eggs are growing the way it is supposed to be. For now, let's just pray what we have been waiting for, what we have been dreaming of will turn into a reality. I will come back and let you know what happens ok. Till then have a good break people.

Waiting Again

It's been almost 3 weeks since I last wrote. I am currently waiting. Waiting is such a painful thing to go through. Been counting the days. I have stop looking for any slight signs or symptoms but I am really hoping for it to happen. Looking at other people who are married much later but already have a kid is really very hard.

It's a few more days to the dreaded visit... I hope it doesn't come. If it doesnt come it means good news for me but what about work? What about the promise I made? What about the responsibilities I have been given? Well I must think about myself first before I think about other people right. For now i am just going to continue waiting till the 10th... Yup that's the tentative date for the dreaded visit by the dreaded visitor... If 'she' doesn't appear... I believe hubby and I will be one happy couple for the year of 2007. If not, I guess it's time to do the IUI. Another friend cum blogger is having hers today as it is her 2nd day of the cycle...

For now I am just hoping for the best.

A year has passed...

A year has past since I last wrote here. Actually I didnt want to make a come back till there was any news but I feel that it is high time that I started keeping track of the things that is happening to me and to us. It's been a year since we first started the fertility treatment. Hubby has been on medication every month. So have I. I have also had many x-rays to detect if there was any problems with me. So far everything was fine. For me that is. Thank God.

But things was not so easy for hubby. His test showed that he has a low sperm count and most of his motile sperms are not moving fast enough. Were we disappointed? Yes slightly... but never once did we gave up. Never once did we blame each other for the things that happen or didn't happen to us. We continued with the treatment for a year, stopping for a few months when the cash flow was a bit tight and when we were tired of not getting the desired outcome.

However after much discusssion, in December, hubby and me started treatment again. He is on medication to help improve his sperm count and I am on Clomid to help me increase my chances of ovulation. Perhaps more than one egg can be released during the ovulation. Anyway, we are doing it the natural way this month. Dr was worried my ovulation might fall during the holidays. We might start the first round of IUI (Intra Uterine Insemination) in January. This is tentative though. Depends on when is my Sec 4 camp. Because after calculating, my next ovulation might fall during the time when I am having my camp. So how? I'm not sure. I have a promise to keep. If this goes through I might not be there for my students during their most crucial time.

Ya Allah please help me. Please make my choice easier... Till then, to the rest of you readers out there, please pray for me ok.

More misery this festive season

I am back!!! Why so late you ask? Nope no good news yet... If there is it wouldn't have been a miserable festive season. Well AF decided to knock on the door on my best friend's wedding-18th Dec 2005. So I told hubby I am going to the gynae even if he is not. I called the recommended gynae and booked an appointment. At first hubby wanted to follow but then because of work I had to go alone. I was scared and worried but to cut it short the appointment was not as scary as i thought it would be.

To fast forward the timing- 7th January I went for my second appointment. Results are out. Alhamdulillah everything was fine. But then she turned to hubby... I would like to keep the details of the results private. Well let's just say "the soldiers" needed a little push.
My spirits was still high coz i know we might be one of those who might take a little longer to conceive and have a baby of our own. But high spirits took a dive yesterday. My best friend who got married on the 18th Dec, she sms me yesterday to inform me that she is currently expecting. WAT!!!!!!!

Don't get me wrong. I was happy for her. But at the same time I am green with envy. How else do you expect me to react? Here I am one year plus into my wedding and still no results. And as for her it's only a month and she is bearing the fruits of her labour.

Maybe it's true that it is not my turn yet.. But when? Hubby tried to cheer me up yesterday but it was no help. i thought what he did was to make it worse. He said,"If you do conceive this month, can you imagine, your delivery date might be very close to each other." Stop giving me the IFs... What IF it does not happen? Then what? I don't think I am ready for another disappointment. At least not for now. It is really tiring you know. I can actually picture myself in her shoes. If I was able to.... my kid would be turning 7 months now... Yes I wish but no... It is not gonna happen. Not so soon I believe.