Hi Charlotte,

welcome to the gang. Lovely to have you, but hope you nick off after the 23rd IYWIM?? LOL!!

Best wishes for that date by the way!!

There's always one, isn't there, who has to put there two cents in and mix religion up with medicine to the point that they can't work effectively together. After all, look at Sushee and I. Both praying like mad and have our mums going to church for us to pray that IVF cycles work! You CAN combine the both. I agree with Jo, what's the difference between this and any other medical intervention? At least those going through IVF are guarranteed to want kids. Not just have them because they got blotto one night and ended up with an oops and regret it. (sorry, makes me a bit cross too!!!)

Charlotte, your 4 sounds like it could be reasonable from 11 fertilised. You are never going to get 100% fertilisation rate anyway so the drop off from 14 to 11 sounds ok to me. Who knows what the "right" number is?? I had 11 eggs for my last two cycles and only got 1 good enough to put back the first one and 2 the second one, so you're doing better than me!!!

I get what you mean about giving IVF a certain period of time and then having a break. I've been there, so I can fully support the break thing (and your finances will love you!). But on the other hand, 6 months may not be long enough to give IVF a chance. Keep in mind that you probably will have probably 2 months off between each cycle, so in 6 months, you may be lucky to get 2 cycles in. Whilst I hope that this first time is hugely successful for, many first goes are not successful (some are of course) and the drs will get a whole lot of information about you and your response from this cycle to build your next drug regime.

I guess I'm saying, provided your finances and emotions can hold out, make sure you give yourself a realistic timeframe to expect IVF to work.

Hope this helps.

Hayseed