1st IVF Curiosities

Woodi

I just had my first round of IVF yesterday and I'm wondering if some of these are common with others that have done IVF.

1. Doing one round of IVF has been a 2 month long procedure and during the first month, I was on BC for a while (followed by tons of other meds).

2.  My RE encouraged cryopreservation of the other embryos to allow a better chance to pick "good" embryos.

3.  And last but not least, I'm on total bedrest for 3 days.  This means that I can get up to go to the bathroom, but cannot be up for more than 15 minutes at a time.

I have faith in my RE, but I'm curious about your experiences. 

mandalinn25

I am doing my 1st IVF and my experiences are similar to yours....it takes about 6-7 weeks for the process, including BCPs and lots of other stuff.  We are freezing whatever embryos are left.  And my RE has us do 2 days of bedrest after the ET.

Mrs.McIrish

My first IVF took 1 month start to finish since I was not on BCP's. The one I will start next week will take longer due to 10 days of BCP's. I had nothing to freeze and thus cannot compare on that.  I had no bedrest- just "take it easy" the day of.

Misielara@aol.com

I am hoping to start our first IVF Cycle this month.  I am currently on BCP and will start meds on Oct 6th.  My Dr stated that once the transfer is done, I will need to be on bed rest for the remaining of the day and take it easy for 24 hours.  Then I would be back to normal.  I did have one accquaintence tell me that she was goign to be on bed rest for 3 week after the transfer.  Yikes!!

wither16

Yes I will say, length of time and BCPs is going to depend on your diagnosis and protocal.  I am with McIrish, I did about 10 days of BCPs, so my cycle was on the shorter side.   

We chose not to freeze the one embryo we had that was of quality to freeze so no advice there.

Also, my RE is on the "take it easy for 2 days" train.  They actually said complete bed rest can lead to blood clots (similar to after surgery)

I think there are studies that really support both bed rest and no bed rest. 

GL!!

dancinaggie

I'm in my 2ww from IVF #1 and my experiences have been basically identical to yours.  Even the 3 full days of bed rest...which gets annoying quick  GL to you!

Woodi

BTW, I know this is a noob question but what the heck is a beta test?  I've seen a lot of ladies reference it, but can't figure out what it is.

And thanks for the good wishes!! 

nawlinsgrl

Woodi:

BTW, I know this is a noob question but what the heck is a beta test?  I've seen a lot of ladies reference it, but can't figure out what it is.

And thanks for the good wishes!! 

It's just the name used for your HCG (pregnancy) blood test.  They are more sensitive than HPTs, and it's what the RE's office goes by.

Woodi

nawlinsgrl:

Woodi:

BTW, I know this is a noob question but what the heck is a beta test?  I've seen a lot of ladies reference it, but can't figure out what it is.

And thanks for the good wishes!! 

It's just the name used for your HCG (pregnancy) blood test.  They are more sensitive than HPTs, and it's what the RE's office goes by.

Thanks, I guess I've never gotten that far before AF shows up since no amount of medication seems to stop it.  In that case, I just hope I make it to the beta test. 

nawlinsgrl

Woodi:

nawlinsgrl:

Woodi:

BTW, I know this is a noob question but what the heck is a beta test?  I've seen a lot of ladies reference it, but can't figure out what it is.

And thanks for the good wishes!! 

It's just the name used for your HCG (pregnancy) blood test.  They are more sensitive than HPTs, and it's what the RE's office goes by.

Thanks, I guess I've never gotten that far before AF shows up since no amount of medication seems to stop it.  In that case, I just hope I make it to the beta test. 

It's my understanding that if you are on progesterone, you will make it to beta, regardless of the outcome, because it keeps you from getting your period.  This is my first full IVF cycle too, so if I'm wrong about this, I hope someone will correct me.

MrsOjoButtons

Mine is similar to yours.  It's 7 weeks, and we hope to have embryos make it to freeze.  My bedrest will be 2 days.

Woodi

nawlinsgrl:

Woodi:

nawlinsgrl:

Woodi:

BTW, I know this is a noob question but what the heck is a beta test?  I've seen a lot of ladies reference it, but can't figure out what it is.

And thanks for the good wishes!! 

It's just the name used for your HCG (pregnancy) blood test.  They are more sensitive than HPTs, and it's what the RE's office goes by.

Thanks, I guess I've never gotten that far before AF shows up since no amount of medication seems to stop it.  In that case, I just hope I make it to the beta test. 

It's my understanding that if you are on progesterone, you will make it to beta, regardless of the outcome, because it keeps you from getting your period.  This is my first full IVF cycle too, so if I'm wrong about this, I hope someone will correct me.

That may be for some women, but I've been taking Prometrium pills since starting IF treatment in 2010 and I've made it to the date that I'm supposed to POAS about once in that time frame.  Keep in mind that the majority of my issues are hormone related though...in that I naturally have less then a postmenopausal woman.

I'm hoping that between the 300mg of progesterone I'm taking a day and prolly taking the HCG injection that I'll make it this time. 

Ergo, you'll prolly be able to make it to your beta test just fine.  My situation is abnormal.  

ellenchris0506

1.  Yes, this is about right.

2.  Yes (though I never had any to freeze)

3.  That's a long time for bedrest.  My RE just likes me to take it easy the day of the transfer, but she believes we should move around to encourage blood flow.  But every RE is different and they are doing what is best for you.

 

Good luck!!

wither16

Woodi:

nawlinsgrl:

Woodi:

nawlinsgrl:

Woodi:

BTW, I know this is a noob question but what the heck is a beta test?  I've seen a lot of ladies reference it, but can't figure out what it is.

And thanks for the good wishes!! 

It's just the name used for your HCG (pregnancy) blood test.  They are more sensitive than HPTs, and it's what the RE's office goes by.

Thanks, I guess I've never gotten that far before AF shows up since no amount of medication seems to stop it.  In that case, I just hope I make it to the beta test. 

It's my understanding that if you are on progesterone, you will make it to beta, regardless of the outcome, because it keeps you from getting your period.  This is my first full IVF cycle too, so if I'm wrong about this, I hope someone will correct me.

That may be for some women, but I've been taking Prometrium pills since starting IF treatment in 2010 and I've made it to the date that I'm supposed to POAS about once in that time frame.  Keep in mind that the majority of my issues are hormone related though...in that I naturally have less then a postmenopausal woman.

I'm hoping that between the 300mg of progesterone I'm taking a day and prolly taking the HCG injection that I'll make it this time. 

Ergo, you'll prolly be able to make it to your beta test just fine.  My situation is abnormal.  

 

It's different for IVF vs IUI.  My RE doesn't even do Beta's on IUI, just HPT and wait for AF.  With IVF, you will not just start a period, due to the PIO, either suppositories or injections.  So you will get to for sure get a real beta this time!  Yea for more needles!! LOL