IVF Transfer: Our First Experience

InVitro Fertilization (IVF) is easily the hardest thing I have had to do mentally. I’m pretty open about my infertility journey and have had some time to process it, so opening up about it and trying to get rid of the taboo behind it helps me cope. Today, I’m talking more about our first experience with an IVF transfer.

Our First Experience With an IVF Transfer

Prepping for the IVF Transfer

After our infertility diagnosis (read more here about the start of our IVF journey, and here for our first retrieval story) we did 2 egg retrievals and scheduled our first embryo tranfer. We transferred a PGT tested (genetic test) frozen embryo on March 7th. As far as prep goes, I was taking Lupron injections for a month, then about 3 weeks out I added in Estrance. I stopped the Lupron and just took Estrance, progesterone shots, Z-Pak, and baby Aspirin 5 days before transfer. This protocol is different from the retrieval prep because I only had to go into the office twice for a lining check, as opposed to every few days like you do for a retrieval.

They called 2 days before my IVF transfer to schedule the time and reminded me that I needed to come in without makeup and fragrance free. I also needed to arrive an hour early and with a full bladder.

We got there around 12:30 (transfer scheduled for 1:30.) I was really nervous about my bladder being full enough, so I drank one of those large 1L water bottles. I thought my bladder was going to explode! I went back for my procedure and they confirmed my name and DOB and the embryo we would be transferring. They did an abdominal ultrasound and tried to prep for the IVF transfer, but my bladder was too full! They told me to go release a little bit (harder than expected!) twice. Finally they were able to successfully transfer, and it was SO cool to see the embryo on the ultrasound screen! They had me sit and relax for about 15 minutes, then we were released to go home. We stopped at McDonalds and got the infamous McDonalds fries, then went home and relaxed.

I chose not to test until 8 days post IVF transfer, which was the day before I was scheduled to go in for my blood test to see if our precious embryo stuck. There was a faint line, and I was so excited! March 16th was our scheduled test, and we were pregnant! However, our numbers were low (they typically like to see them around >70 for the first test.) As long as my HCG levels doubled every 48 hours, they weren’t very concerned. I had blood tests every few days, and the results were as follows:

3.16- 29.05
3.20- 135.8
3.22- 371.9
4.7- 15,449
4.12- 21,014

First Ultrasound

On April 7, we went for our first ultrasound, and there was a gestational sac and yolk sac, but no real fetal pole or heartbeat. They said that it was still early, but with my levels starting so low, they weren’t super hopeful. They scheduled me a follow up on 4.12, and we got the sad news that although it did stick, it did not fully develop and would not result in a viable pregnancy. I was given 3 options, wait for my body to naturally miscarry, take Misoprostol (a medication that assists your body in softening the cervix and causes your body to labor and expel the fetus) or schedule a D&C (dilation & curettage, where they surgically remove the tissue from inside of your uterus.) While I wanted my body to naturally do it, due to a bad experience with misoprostol in the past and fear of scaring from the D&C, I did pick up the medication with plans to wait a week to see what happens.

I went for a second opinion ultrasound at my OB and they confirmed the miscarriage on Thursday, 4.20. Saturday I started spotting, and I was so relieved that my body would be naturally taking care of it and I wouldn’t be faced with the difficult decision of medical intervention options. However, early Sunday afternoon the bleeding intensified, and while I knew something felt off, I pushed it away for a few hours until my health started declining. I ended up having complications resulting in an emergency D&C and a short hospital stay. Always listen to your body!

What’s Next For Us

We have decided to take a few months off, and my fertility doctor is going to do a hysteroscopy (a procedure that involves going in with a light and camera to further examine the uterus) before we transfer another embryo.

While we are devastated with the outcome of losing another baby, we are hopeful for the future and still have high hopes in growing our family.❤️