Our IVF Timeline

It's official, we've started our IVF cycle.  I'm really amazed at how optimistic I'm being about all this.  I keep finding myself saying "WHEN we have our baby..." instead of "IF this works..."  I really do believe this is going to happen.  It might be something to do with our clinic's 83% success rate with couples our age undergoing IVF with ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection).  That's amazing odds!  We're working with some of the best doctor's in the country and I trust them 100%.

One thing I really like about RRC (Reproductive Resource Center) is that they have a patient portal that you can use for correspondence with your doctors and nurses.  They upload all your lab results there so you have them at your fingertips.  It's pretty cool, especially for someone like me who doesn't like to use the phone.  If I have a question, I can just shoot a quick message through the portal and I typically get a same day response.  Love it!

We got our calendar sent to us through the portal this past week.  Here's our timeline for everything:

Sept 24 - (hubby and myself) - Initial general consult, IVF consult (they don't typically do this on the same day, but I guess we're special), pelvic exam/PAP, ultrasound, labs (for both of us)

Oct 1 - Called to report the start of my period, went in for labs (just me)

Oct 2 - Started birth control pills as part of the suppression phase, also began daily low-dose aspirin (supposed to improve ovarian responsiveness, uterine and ovarian blood flow, and implantation and pregnancy rates)

Oct 11 - Go in for a Sonohysterogram (procedure where they infuse the uterus with saline via catheter and do an ultrasound to check for any abnormalities)

Oct 19 - Begin Lupron injections (also part of the suppression phase), also start taking dexamethasone (a low-dose steroid tablet (may improve egg quality)

Oct 23 - (hubby and myself) - Go in to sign and complete paperwork with a notary and make payment, also ultrasound and labs (for me), last day of birth control pills, start Z-pak (hubby and myself - to prevent infections in the reproductive tract)

Oct 28 - Begin Gonadotropin injections (used to stimulate the growth of the follicles in the ovary)

Oct 30 - Go in for labs (just me)

Nov 2 - Go in for labs and ultrasound

Nov 5 - Go in for labs and ultrasound (at that time they will determine the specific date of the retrieval...based on my scans)

Nov 6(ish) - take Ovidrel injection 34-36 hours before retrieval (to complete the maturation process of the eggs)

Nov 7, 8, or 9 - Retrieval day (done in the hospital) - I'll be put under with anesthesia while they retrieve the eggs through a needle guided by ultrasound, hubby will be required to provide a sperm sample to be used for the fertilization process.  Begin progesterone injections (to help support early pregnancy).

Nov 12, 13, or 14 (five days after the retrieval) - Embryo transfer - My embryos will be 5 days old at this point and will be considered blastocysts.  They will take one or two of the best looking ones to transfer back into my uterus.  They will give me a valium to help relax me during the procedure which is done through a catheter.  I'm on strict bed-rest for the next two days (no working, no cooking/cleaning, etc).

8 days later...I'll go into the lab to take pregnancy test (blood tests can confirm pregnancy faster and more accurately than home pregnancy tests).  This will (hopefully) take place right before Thanksgiving!