Thank you so much for your thoughts and help, it has been very heartwarming to come in here and know that I have your support - infertility can be so isolating IRL, so BB is getting me through.
Just thought I'd provide you with an update, having just come back from an appointment with the FS:
We have 7 Day 2 embryos in the freezer. FS agreed that after 5 FETs and 5 BFNs, it was time to move on to trying to get those 7 to blastie stage. We take the chances that only some or none of them will get to that stage, but it's worth a try.
This month however, we're going interstate on what would be the day before a blasty transfer...so this month will instead be our last attempt with a Day 2 emby, which we'll have just before we go on holiday. If that doesn't work, we'll be trying it with blasties next month and from then on.
I'm also going for an ultrasound to check if there's anything in my uterus that causes concern. I've had a lap and hyst before when they looked for endo about 3 years ago. They didn't find endo, but the surgeon at the time noted that my uterus is 'larger than average' and described it as 'bulging.' This is apparently neither here nor there, or at least regardless of me having a large uterus, there's nothing anyone can do about it if it is in fact causing infertility. But the scan will also look closer at the lining of my uterus and see if there's any cysts or other anomolies in there. Really just a scan for piece of mind I suppose.
As for the chemical pregnancies - FS sort of shrugged and said that it was possible. All my immunity tests came back clear. He reiterated that at the end of the day, it's down to the embryo whether it survives or not. He suggested that, heaven forbid we have to go for another stim cycle, they could do some chromosome testing at the point of EPU. Unfortunately they can't do that testing on frosties.
On the issue of whether we go back for another stim - apparently the legislation says that we can't intend for there to be more embryos in the freezer than we intend to have children - so the fact that we have 7 in the freezer means we can't really go for another stim cycle because it would be hard to argue that we wanted more than 7 children. FS was open to the idea that we do try another stim by the end of the year anyway, but we'll see - I suppose it will depend on how many make it to blasty - if very few make it, we'll be forced into another stim anyway.
If we go for another stim, I'm going to ask FS to consider a different protocol. In December/January we did a down-reg stim cycle which lasted for about 8 weeks. It resulted in 19 eggs, and I had mild OHSS. One of my friends who's doing IVF mentioned a more 'natural' stim cycle with less intervention, which might be worth a shot, and less 'interfering.' We'll see - hopefully we don't even have to get to that stage.
We also talked about transferring more than one emby. FS says it's neither here nor there for him as far as whether we accept the risk of twins. He is however more worried about the pressure and risk of twin pregnancies. He told me that one of his patients had only two embryos after a stim, and she had both transferred (partly on his advice)...she got a BFP but miscarried at 20 weeks. FS said he still grieves over that and whether he and the patient made the right decision. He said he would be happy to transfer two back for me, but wanted me to be aware of the risks...he's such a sweetie.
Okay, enough about me - thanks for reading this far, and thanks again for your support.
Vira, GL with the investigations. I hope some positives come out of this for you.
Taurean, thank you again for your PM, and all the best for EPU next week - take it easy, drink lots of water and get some rest!
Emerald Star - all the best in your TWW. for you.
Tantee - I'm sorry about your BFN, and the fact that I totally hijacked the tread last week - and have now done it again. I hope you're doing okay and bouncing back. for you.
Everyone else - hi, hope you're cheery, keeping healthy and relaxed. Thinking of you all...and can't wait to share birth announcements with you one day.
for you.
for you.
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