My first ever... Pregnancy & Miscarriage :`(

The IVF Stimulation done in Sep’15 was my 3^rd attempt. Mostly, after every stimulation, if there is no Fresh Transfer done in the same cycle, Fertility Experts give your body a good 1.5 months of resting time. After the stimulation, I was on Tab. Primolut-N (twice daily for 7 days) and Tab. Cabgolin (once a day for 10 days) to normalize the hormones and put an end to all the chain reactions resulting from overworked Ovaries and all other organs involved.

After I got my period in Oct, I was put on Tab Ovral-L for 21 days and was asked to come back only on Day2/3 of Nov's period. This waiting time could be very tricky, depends how you tackle it. I chose to be positive and prepare myself for a good news. I utilized these 40-50 days to re-arrange my closets, cabinets, etc. I made all comfortable clothing handy, being super-optimistic. I worked out well and ate healthy food too; although I eat healthy food all the time but I added more nuts, fruits and greens in my diet.

I got back to Nova Bangalore in Nov’15 and was prescribed Tab. Progynova, Estrodiol Gel, Inj. Susten and Cap. Susten with a strict routine and timings to follow. Dr. Rashmi added an Intralipid Infusion on the day of my Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET).

My beta hCG Test was due 14 days post FET. ALAS, IT WAS A POSITIVE RESULT! Repeat test confirmed my pregnancy, although the values weren’t doubling as expected. I got other necessary blood tests done, as directed by Dr. Rashmi. First time ever, I got Gestational Age (GA) mentioned on my file… First time ever, my tears weren’t of pain and sorrow but of joy and happiness. As per my Expected Delivery Date, I should have delivered a baby by now, Aug’16, but it was a short-lived moment of happiness. After my second endovaginal (EV) sonography, my doctor was tensed. She directed me to get a more detailed Early Pregnancy Scan done by an expert. Unfortunately, by then I had some bleeding and Early Pregnancy Scan showed an empty sac :`( Also, beta hCG done on the same day showed a dropped value. 

My First Pregnancy became a miscarriage :`( :`( :`(

Bidding Goodbye to Nova Delhi after 2 more failed Day-5 Blastocyst Transfer

After the failed Fresh Embryo Transfer (ET), Dr. Nalini Mahajan planned a Day-5 Blastocyst Transfer in the next cycle, under the same conditions as that of ERA.

There was a delay between ERA and next transfer because of two reasons: 1) OHSS and 2) either skipping a single dose of Estrogen substitute tablet on my behalf or a malfunction of some medicine, which caused untimely bleeding.

Also, during the Stimulation Process for Oocyte Pick-Up (OPU), I felt I had OHSS symptoms. Although, nobody at Nova Delhi agreed to me, but the internet said it all. I agree that not all information on internet is 100% correct but feeling like a bloated lower abdominal area made me look pregnant and the fullness inside gave me the idea how carrying a baby inside would be like.

Ovarian HyperStimulation Syndrome (OHSS) occurs only after the eggs are released from the ovary (either after ovulation or by receiving a shot of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG)).

So, the body needed time to get back to normal before proceeding with the next transfer.

Two Day-5 Blastocysts were transferred in Mar'15, but even that didn't work in our favour. A Blastocyst transfer is supposed to have better Success Rates than Fresh or Frozen Embryo transfers. I was waiting to get lucky with my next cycle then, last cycle at Nova Delhi as I was left with just Two more Day-5 Blastocysts. Trust me, all of them were mostly Grade-A, and few were Grade-B. I guess, what matters is "The Right Time". At that point in time, mine seemed far away. We were losing hope with each failed cycle.

The next cycle (3rd transfer at Nova Delhi, under Dr. Nalini Mahajan) was also a Two Day-5 Blastocysts transfer. This was done in the consecutive month, Apr'15, sadly, my beans didn't stick this time also.

I didn't want to start afresh and try another IVF cycle at Nova Delhi, even though Dr. Mahajan was quite experienced and knowledgeable. Somehow, I felt something was missing. That pushed me to get back to Bangalore and try my luck with Nova Bangalore.

I had read a lot about Nova's Success Rates being exceptionally good, hence the decision to visit Nova Bangalore.

All this might seem pretty casual but trust me, when you are going through all this, your body takes a lot of foreign particles inside and your brain works overtime. All you need to do is keep your cool and stay happy... because if mind isn't healthy, body can never be healthy. My DH gave his best in keeping me away from worries, tensions, tears and fears.

My Egg Retrieval process at Manipal Hospital Bangalore

Preparation for Egg Retrieval (ER) consisted of a one-time antibiotic dose with a few shots of Injection Gonal F 300IU (Gonadotropins) and Injection Menopur (Follicle Stimulating Hormone), both daily for at least 5 days to start with. Follicular Monitoring (FM) was done by timely scans after the initial 5 days of stimulation and the next dosage was prescribed based on my body's reaction to the medication. A few more shots were administered before a single shot of Injection Pregnyl (human chorionic gonadotropin or hCG) was administered in MHB at an exact specified time, 36 hours prior to my ER schedule. I might be missing few details here, if so, I will update later. For your information, IVF Specialists in India prefer under-stimulating the patient's body, rather than inviting Ovarian HyperStimulation Syndrome (OHSS).

On the day of my ER, my DH was asked to be prepared to give a fresh sample of semen (the 4-day abstinence rule to be followed). The objective was to fertilize two of the extracted eggs and keep the embryos ready for a Day-3 transfer in the same ICSI cycle. Since a good number of sperm ejaculation was in question, IntraCytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) was considered for our case.

 

ER process was done under General Anaesthesia (GA) and they retrieved 13 eggs. Meanwhile, they cryopreserved all 13 eggs and my DH gave his sample to work on the fertilization part for ICSI.

Similar to Hysteroscopy, ER was also painless. After I woke up from a 30-minute anaesthesia sleep, I could feel slight pull/ cramps in my lower abdomen, which continued for a day or two. Doctors/ Nurses told that it was pretty normal, as the body is trying to do the built-up of any damages done to the cells/ membranes.