IVF: Schedule and Consents

I talked with my nurse last week. She gave me my IVF schedule and consent forms to sign. The consent forms are about 20 pages covering all possibilities. Of course there are waivers and things stating you understand the possible risks involved. You sign off on the IVF procedures and everything it involves. You acknowledge that twins or multiples are a possibility (eek! or yay! ?). You determine if you want ICSI to be done and what that means. You determine if you want genetic testing done (or waive it) on you and your spouse. You sign consents for freezing and storing any extra embryos for future use. And my favorite part - you determine what will be done with your extra embryos in the case of death, disability, or divorce. The reason I like this, is because there is an option available to "transfer them to RCC for anonymous donation to a needful married couple." I like that they aren't just disposed of and that someone else could benefit from that potential life. :)

As for the schedule, it goes something like this:

Start birth control on day 3.

Dec 23: Start Lupron injections (small shots in my stomach)

Jan 1: Take last active birth control pill today

Jan 5: Blood draw and Ultrasound (US)

Jan 6: Start stimulation meds (shots in my hip) & decrease Lupron

Jan 8: Blood draw and US

Jan 10: Blood draw and US

Jan 12: Blood draw and US

Jan 13: Possible blood draw and US

Jan 14: Target trigger HCG shot

Jan 15: Do home pregnancy test (HCG shot will make my body show positive pregnancy, even though it's not)

Jan 16: Target day for egg retrieval and sperm collection

Jan 18: Start Crinone once daily each morning & baby aspirin daily (help with production of progesterone and to keep pregnancy)

Jan 19: Target day for embryo transfer

Feb 2: Pregnancy test

Feb 13: First pregnancy ultrasound

Oct 8: Expected date of delivery

Whew! However, all of that is subject to change. Appointments are never set in stone, as they may decide based on their monitoring that you should come in sooner, or later. Also, the embryo transfer day depends on how they are looking and if you want to do a Day 3 or Day 5 transfer. It's all very subjective and variable. However...that is what we are potentially looking at for the next month. I am getting really excited about it, but of course apprehensive. It's never a guarantee, as I have seen through family and friends. When I told my sister-in-law we were starting IVF, she said, "So this means a baby for sure, right?" Boy do I wish! The chances are obviously better than anything else we've done so far (55% as compared to 15%), but it's still not 100%. It's ok. We just have to go in with faith, hope and a positive attitude, and know that no matter the outcome, we will be ok.