IVF Egg Retrieval and Embryo Transfer

[LongTimeWaiting]

Hello,
I had a egg retrieval on Saturday, September 12th.  They retrieved 14 eggs and I have severe pain afterwards.  I have PCOS.  Of the 14 eggs 7 of them fertilized and on day five they said they had two perfect embryos and they put them in on Thursday, September 17th and they called today and said that they frooze 3 of the other embryos.  They told me the shell was thin and the shape was perfect and everything looks great.  They even said that if we were afraid of twins that they would only put in one because the embryos looked so good.  I should also tell you that in the past year I have had three failed IUIs.  

My question is how will I know if implantation has occurred.  Will this feeling, mainly cramping ever go away?  I have read several things on the internet and I should not be on there because it will drive you crazy.   Can someone please share their experience with me?  I have a friend who had IVF and her twins are 7 months but she can hardly remember what happened.  This is going to be the longest two weeks of my life.  Would I be crazy to do a HPT in another week or so?  I don't go back for a prego test until October 1st.  

Any advice or experiences that anyone can share will be GREATLY appreciated.

[LongTimeWaiting]

So it doesn't look good.  I have stopped testing and I will just wait until I go to the RE on Thursday.  I will be sure to keep you all posted.  The last test I took was on Sunday and it was BFN.  So I am going on Saturday to an adoption seminar.  I just don't have another $8K for a procedure.  I am debating if I even want to go through the procedure to put in the three that I have remaining.  Keep me in your prayers.  I think this is the most depressing experience I have EVER had.

[KellyD0731]

My RE also said that it is important to remember everyone has a different metabolism and in some cases HCG can be detected early and in some cases later.

I had a FET with a 6 day blast on 9/18 and I POAS on day 5 after transfer and got my BFP.  I have POAS every morning since them and this morning the line is a thick pink line so it has gotten darker everyday.  When I called the RE yesterday he said he has not seen anyone get a BFP on Day 5 and then it continue to get stronger.  I guess I have a very stong embie in there!

[wantingababybump]

Congrats to you!  

[LongTimeWaiting]

Thanks!  I guess I should try a HPT on Saturday morning based upon the calculations you provided.  Thanks again for all of your support through all of this.  It is very difficult.  I really don't have anyone to talk to regarding the entire process.  Your DR always says call with any questions but you don't want to seem like a pest.  
Thanks!

[Baby4me70]

Make sure you do your hpt with first morning urine so the concentration of hcg can be high enough.  Also some hpt don't detect low levels of hcg so give up until you have your blood work.

[LongTimeWaiting]

I don't know how to thank you.  I decided to go home yesterday and do a hpt and needless to say I cried all night because it was negative.  I printed off the information that you provided and it looks like I should test on Saturday because I am only on day 6.

BTW - They did check my estrogen level on Monday and everything looked good.  I go back in on Friday to have it checked again.  I will be sure to keep you posted.  

It sounds like things are working out for you.  I will be sure to keep you in my prayers.  I wish you the best of luck.  

[Baby4me70]

Okay ladies - I have done several HPT and all have been a BFN - I did a 5dt.  My blood test yesterday was positive with a level of 9 to low for any hpt.  I am to repeat it on Thursday so keep me in your prayers.  By the way my estrogen level was 1/2 of what it should be... Just my opinion, but if your RE does not check your estrogen level after the transfer and before your pregnancy test he should.  I had spotting 3 days after my transfer and thought it was implantation spotting.  I feel like if he would have tested by hormone levels then my HCG might have been higher and I am praying I don't loose this baby due to my hormone levels.  Only by the Grace of God will my numbers be higher tomorrow.  Oh, I did start hormone supplements yesterday.  

Estrogen is added back to maintain hormonal balance within the endometrium. The estrogen level usually drops after egg retrieval since many estrogen producing cells are also removed along with the eggs. Estrogen can be used as a patch or as tablets.
http://www.ivfmd.net/Treatment/treatment2.htm

[Baby4me70]

The HCG should be out of your system...  Use this guide to help you determine when your HCG should show positive...  Best of luck!

This is what happens in a 5dt:

-1dpt ..embryo is growing and developing
0dpt... Embryo is now a blastocyst
1dpt....Blastocyst hatches out of shell on this day
2dpt.. Blastocyst attaches to a site on the uterine lining
3dpt.. Implantation begins,as the blastocyst begins to bury in the lining
4dpt.. Implantation process continues and morula buries deeper in the lining
5dpt.. Morula is completely implanted in the lining and has placenta cells & fetal cells
6dpt...Placenta cells begin to secret HCG in the blood
7dpt...More HCG is produced as fetus develops
8dpt...More HCG is produced as fetus develops
9dpt...HCG levels are now high enough to be immediately detected on HPT

this is what happens in a 3dt :

1dpt ..embryo is growing and developing
2dpt... Embryo is now a blastocyst
3dpt....Blastocyst hatches out of shell on this day
4dpt.. Blastocyst attaches to a site on the uterine lining
5dpt.. Implantation begins as the blastocyst begins to bury in the lining
6dpt.. Implantation process continues and morula buries deeper in the lining
7dpt.. Morula is completely implanted in the lining and has placenta cells &
fetal cells
8dpt...Placenta cells begin to secret HCG in the blood
9dpt...More HCG is produced as fetus develops
10dpt...More HCG is produced as fetus develops
11dpt...HCG levels are now high enough to be immediately detected on
HPT

[LongTimeWaiting]

I have been afraid to do a hpt becuase of the HCG trigger shot.  I did go to the store yesterday and brought a few hpts.  I think the lady thought I was crazy because I brought up half of the store.  At any rate do you all suggest doing a hpt?  My HCG shot would have been two weeks this Thursday (September 10th).  I am thinking that it should be gone.  
Best of luck to all of you.  Please keep us posted as you go in for your results.  

[Baby4me70]

I don't think I would POAS on his b-day just incase it is neg.  you don't want to remember that for the rest of your life.  Maybe do it the day after and give him a late b-day suprise!  Just my opinion...  Of lots of prayers for a BFP!

[sam844]

Hi all, I am a first timer doing IVF and glad to know there are others in the same 2ww as me. I had my day 3 transfer on 9/19 and am also scheduled for beta test 9/30. Good luck to all others in the same window!

[KellyD0731]

Happy...I am in a similar situation.  I had 1 6 day blast transferred last Friday, 9/18.  My beta is 9/30, but I know another lady that had a FET last month and started testing on 6dpt and had a BFP everyday starting day 6 and each day the line got darker.  I decided that I would POAS this Friday, 9/25 (7dpt) and if it was positive wrap it up and give it to my DH because his bday is this Friday.

[Baby4me70]

Congrats on your BFP!  I am so happy for you... this is round 2 for me as well.  I just talked to my RE and we moved my Beta up a day so I go tomorrow as well.  congrats again!

[happyplanner]

Hi Ladies,  I am also in the same time frame as you.  this is my second IVF cycle.  I had 1 FET 5d blast transferred on September 8th.  I go for my Beta tomorrow.  I did a HPT 3 times so far from day 9pt and so far they are coming back positive.  My first round they transferred 2 3 day embies and for whatever reason they didn't take.  It was problably one of the hardest things we have dealt with.  So here is hoping that this one is the ONE.  Good luck to all of you and I will be thinking of you.  

[Baby4me70]

I had my ER on the 8th and a 5dt on the 13th.  I am due for my beta on the 23rd.  I had some spotting 3dpt and ran a low grade temp for 2 days.  I was so sure I was pg, however as of today my hpt are all a BFN!  Praying for you all and and please pray for me.  I will update you on wed with my results and please do the same.

[LongTimeWaiting]

I had no idea that there were so many women dealing with infertility.  I never thought that I would ever be in this situation.  The injections and the blood draws!  WOW!  

Today I really feel great.  Most of the cramping is gone and I am not in the pain that I have been in for the past week.  

I wish you all the best of luck and much baby dust during this journey.  Please keep me posted on all of the progress.  I know I am supposed to go back on Monday for bloodwork are they just checking my hormones?

[Susan727]

dt.  that's day's to the transfer right?  My transfer was 3 days after retrieval.  

The retrieval was pretty painful for me.  It hurt just to stand up afterward, but that went away after a day or two.

After that, not too many symptoms which actually made me worried.  I noticed that I was falling asleep on the couch a lot more and I keep turning down the thermostat at work.  Had a little cramping after about 7 or or 8 days after the transfer and started spotting just a tiny bit about 4 days ago.  Initially my bbs were really sore, but I think that was all the hormones I was injecting... once they wore off, they didn't hurt nearly as bad, although I can feel it right under my armpits.  

[wantingababybump]

I am in the same position as you.  I had my retrieval on September 14 and yesterday the 19 was my transfer.  I have my Beta HCG test on September 28.   Good Luck to you all!

[moorebaby]

congratulations! did you have a 3dt or a 5dt? what, if any, kind of symptoms did you have?

[Susan727]

I had my first ivf two weeks ago and go in for my blood test tomorrow morning.  I know what you mean about not wanting to go to work the day of the test.  I took a hpt this morning, figuring that it would be pretty accurate and got a bfp!  

Good luck on the wait.. it stinks, but just keep yourself busy!

[samnaz]

Hi there. We are in the same cycle. My Beta is 30 sept. this is my first IVF so I can't really give any previous advise. I had 6 eggs 4 fertilized and they implanted 2 very good embryo's on 19th sept. I feel nothing yet but it's too early i guess. will keep you posted. Good luck!

[LongTimeWaiting]

I have had no fluttering but I am still having cramps.  They were starting to ease off but now they have gotten worse today just as if my cycle was about to start.  I wish you the best of luck with your IVF.  Yes the wai is going to be horrible.  I am debating if I will go to work the day of the results because I know if things don't work out that I will be crying ALL day long.

[LongTimeWaiting]

Yes, this is my first IVF.  On Friday, I felt better but today I am having this cramping just like my cycle is getting ready to start.  I go in for blood work on Monday.  I am assuming that the sore breast are related to the shot that I had.  I am having pain in my lower back.  My stomach is huge.  I can't fit any of my jeans and my dr said that was to be expected to I went to Target and brought these maternity pants with elastic in the waste.  

Is this your first IVF?  

[sharon7222]

Hi, I went through a donor but had my 5dt on 9/17 and beta test on Monday 9/28.  I've also had cramping and woke up in the middle of the night with a slight fluttering in my stomach.  My wishful thinking is implantation but we'll see what happens.  I don't think I can hold off and will probably test next Friday.  This is going to be the longest wait ever.