Since I’ve been through this process once before, it’s hard not to compare the two cycles in my head. As I mentioned earlier this week, the bloating has definitely been worse this time around.
Oddly enough, though, it did seem to ease up a bit in the past couple of days. It almost had me worried – shouldn’t that keep getting worse if I’m developing more follicles and eggs? But, so far, the nurses have all been encouraging. Everything looks on track or is looking good.
One of the other differences I’ve noticed is in the daily injections. Last time, the injection sites didn’t bleed much, if at all. The med teaching videos recommend using a gauze pad to put pressure on the injection site if there’s any bleeding. I rarely had to do that.
This time, most of my injection sites have bled (some a surprising amount). I’ve gone through a lot more gauze pads than I did last year. I also have some bruising on my stomach, which I didn’t have last time.
Another way I’ve been comparing the two cycles is in the number and size of follicles I’ve had at each stage. It’s been hard to do a direct comparison because in each cycle, I had a couple days where I could skip the blood draw/ultrasound appointment. Those days off fell on different IVF days between the two cycles.
Here are the three days where I can do a direct comparison:
IVF Day 6
2022: 8 follicles, ranging from 7-11 mm
Avg. follicle size = 9.5 mm
2023: 14 follicles, ranging from 5-9 mm
Avg. follicle size = 7.36 mm
IVF Day 10
2022: 14 follicles, ranging from 10-18 mm
Avg. follicle size = 14 mm
2023: 14 follicles, ranging from 10-18 mm
Avg. follicle size 15 mm
IVF Day 11
2022: 17 follicles, ranging from 11-20 mm
Avg. follicle size = 15 mm
2023: 19 follicles, ranging from 10-18 mm
Avg. follicle size = 13 mm
When I did the first comparison on Day 6, I got pretty excited. Nearly double the follicles! We have to play a numbers game, so the more eggs I produce on this end, the more *hopefully* viable embryos we’ll get on the other side.
And then I did the Day 10 comparison – 14 follicles in both years.
Before I had today’s results (Day 11), I was a little disappointed. I know 14 is a good number; I just expected the number to keep growing. It is encouraging that the follicle size, on average, is 1 mm bigger than last year.
For my Day 11 lab work (this morning), my results were surprising… and somewhat confusing. I now have 19 follicles (yay for more!), but the average size has gone down (likely from newer, smaller follicles developing). But I also had some more mature follicles that were 18 mm that are no longer there.
I reached out to Dr. C. to get clarification on this, and I’ll be sure to do another blog when I have more info.
No matter how the number comparison works out, I’m hopeful everything we’ve done this year improves the quality of all my follicles and eggs.
In 2022, they retrieved 19 eggs. 12 of them were mature enough to fertilize, and only 9 did. If we start out with the same number (or more!), better quality eggs, hopefully the end result will also be better. Finger’s crossed the changes we’ve made this year make a difference!
The last final difference from last year is that we have a new doc this time around. I’ve said this a few times, and I’m sure I’ll say it more in the coming months, but switching to Dr. C. was really the right decision for us.
She’s been much more communicative throughout the process, and, as someone who’s job is in communications, I greatly appreciate that.
It’s not just me who loves Dr. C., either. Earlier this week, I told one of my ultrasound techs about this blog and how we switched physicians. She asked who we were working with, and when I said Dr. C., she said:
“We just love her. She’s like a little slice of Heaven in this office. She will move mountains to help you.”
Good decision, indeed.
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If you’d like to help us on this journey–whether through monetary donations; sharing our fundraising efforts; or sending prayers, thoughts, or good vibes–please visit our GoFundMe page or reach out to ivfthat@gmail.com.
IVF That 