Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Fertilization Report

I received the fertilization report, and of our 29 eggs retrieved, 24 were fertilized. I can't believe this - 2 dozen embryos? Are you kidding me? Unbelievable. Based on this, we are scheduled for a Day 5 transfer on Sunday. Started Crinone 8% twice a day, and estrace, and Vivelle patch today.

It’s crazy to think about these numbers. I know that the chances of most of these embryos making it to day 5 are slim to none, but still. It makes me feel very secure that I have this many cooking in the lab, and I will definitely have some to freeze – right? What if this IVF cycle was my only one? What if from now on all I have to do is FET cycles? Shoot, what if I transfer two embryos on Sunday, and two implant, and I give birth to two babies? Could it possibly be true? Except then we would need to consider what to do with the rest of our embryos. We already signed the consent that said that if both the hubs and I die, that we would donate our embryos to research. I would want to be around to make any further decisions about our embryos, so we decided on that. And I know I’m opening up a huge can of worms when I start to think about what to do with the others… But right now, I need to just focus on two. Two embryos. Two babies.

Speaking of numbers, I have a friend at work who knows all about our IVF adventures – actually, I have a few friends who know about this stuff, which is very nice. But this one guy who sits next to me, he’s been very nice and asks almost every day about what’s going on with my eggs. He’s been very good to talk to, as he always turns it into some big joke, and no matter how stressed I am, he ends up making me laugh about the whole thing. He does our financial models at work, and I don't think he has much to do, because after hearing about my 29 eggs, he built me a model which will predict the number of babies I'll get after transferring a certain number of embryos. You can change the chance of baby, and the number of eggs transferred, and it will calculate the chances for each number of babies. He really thinks I should have lots of embryos transferred, call TLC, who will come and tape the whole thing – we could make so much money! He thinks the hubs and I would be great on a reality show… Anyway, here is the spreadsheet assuming 50% chance of each blastocyst working (I saw this chance on a few different sites), and 2 transferred (sorry for the ugly look - I'm not an expert on blogging...):



Here it is assuming 50% chance, and 3 transferred:



And this is what my friend thinks we should do - aspire to be another octomom:



He keeps saying, "this almost GUARANTEES you a baby - don't you want a baby???"

It is interesting to see the impact of the chance of implantation - what if the chance wasn't 50%, and instead it was 30%, and you transferred two embryos?



The odds are back to 50/50 - which I don't love...

Of course, I sent the spreadsheet to the hubs, who also spends a lot of time with financial models, and he pointed out that our friend's model doesn't have certain variables like the chance of embryos splitting and having identical twins. Just goes to show you, you never know... A model may be a good predictor, but as all of us in finance know, past performance is no guarantee of future results! And all models have errors...

For now, I'm just so very happy that I have 2 dozen (!!!!) embryos growing away happily in the lab. I'm so very grateful for all of this - that I had the chance to do IVF, and for all of your support throughout this process. I'm just on top of the world!!! (Plus, I recently took 1/2 of a vicodin...)

40 comments:

  1. I am so excited for you!!! Wow. FET's and as many as you need... that's wonderful. You are having a baby SOON, Alex.

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  2. oh. my. lord. these numbers should have you through the roof with happiness right now. i can say with a certain amount of certainty here that you'll have some frozens. i've never heard numbers like these that didn't result in a handful of frozens. awesome awesome awesome news. enjoy your last few days of nonpregnancy bc you are getting knocked up very soon!! xoxoxoxo.

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  3. Yay!!! That's great news! And too funny about your coworker! Lol @ 1/2 a vicodin..

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  4. Congrats Alex! That's GREAT news! I am starting IVF with my next cycle and I can only DREAM about having 2 dozen eggs cooking in the lab!! Fabulous! I'll be praying for you on Sunday with your 5-day transfer. It must feel so good to have the most difficult parts of all this behind you!
    LOVED the models!

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  5. This is seriously fantastic news!! So happy for you and hoping you get some great quality embryos to transfer and to freeze!
    Take care and update as soon as you can!

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  6. SO awesome!!

    I love the statistics report. Sounds like something my DH would do.

    Thinking of all those little embies growing away!!! Grow embies grow!!!

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  7. That is freaking AWESOME!!! I have such high hopes for you :) Grow little embies, grow!

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  8. That is amazing! So So So happy for you! That protocol seems like it was perrrrfect for you.

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  9. Congrats! That's awesome news!! Here's to hoping they both stick if you transfer 2. :-)

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  10. That's amazing and AWESOME!!! I'm so happy for you. Come on little embies, grow!!

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  11. Oh my GOSH, that is a lotta eggs!!! a baby will be here for you soon.....grow babies grow!!! On my last IUI I had a less then 5-10@ chance and it worked......anything is possible!!!!

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  12. i am so freakin happy for you right now! you are my egg-making hero!

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  13. Oh my gosh, amazing news! You obviously have fantastic eggs :)!

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  14. My eyes got huge when I read about your 24 embies!! That's so fantastic! I'm sending lots of grow embies vibes your way so you have lots make it to day 5.... :)

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  15. I am so excited and nervous for you!!!! MANY GOOD THOUGHTS!!!

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  16. Wow, that is amazing! Congrats to you MANY embies!
    Fingers corssed on Sunday for your transfer!

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  17. What great numbers! This is so wonderful! Your ovaries are super heroes!

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  18. Holy eggies batman! Those are fantastic numbers!! Hope you are not sore... rest and relax and can't wait to hear the 5 day results! Woooo hoooooo!!

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  19. Wow Alex that is a great fertilization report...With that many embryos honestly they say usually you would lose half of them because they are immature but your eggs must have been super:) and I would say you will def have some left to freeze:)

    You bringing up what to do with extra embryo's that are frozen is a hard one...Me and the hubs have been talking about this as we both know that it really isnt in my best interest to have another biological child at least...I cant imagine having a toddler and then getting pregnant and doing all that Im doing now with a child in tow...let alone the financial cost of me being off and what IVIG would cost if we had to pay for it...Just not possible...Even though it saddens me deeply to think I will never be able to experience this again I do feel this baby I am carrying is a true blessing/miracle from God and anything more would be pushing my luck:( The only way I could see this possible for future would be if my son is in all day school and then I could maybe do it but then IVIG would have to be covered but maybe in 5yrs it will? Who knows...I think maybe adoption will be in our future for a sibling for little man and I think that is a wondeful thing to give a child a loving home:) Can you tell this has been weighing on my mind and a soon to be post:)

    Anyways back to you I am so happy things are working out so great and the ride has been pretty smooth so far:) Cant wait to hear more!!!

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  20. Awesome news! Great fertilization rates. Can't wait to hear how they progress.

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  21. Great numbers congratulations!

    We transferred two Day-3 blast/embryos (whatever they're called) and ended up with triplets. Your friend should do those numbers. We were told less than 1% (note that we were told this AFTER the fact that we were pregnant with triplets...).

    Enough about me, congratulations (again)!

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  22. That's great!! Congratulations!

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  23. AMAZING!! Honestly, you'll probably at least have half left on day five and that's fantastic!

    Loving the graphs, but statistics are deceiving and anything could happen. If you can see yourself having triplets, my advise is to transfer two or three.

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  24. WOW - that is so awesome!!! The numbers are def in your favor! This is great news!

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  25. Oh my goodness!!!! This is wonderful!!! Amazing!!! I hope the transfer goes well!

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  26. So awesome and how funny is that chart making you octomom. Love it!

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  27. 29 and 24?! You are a crazy egg producing machine! That is so AWESOME! It is so, so rare that you hear these numbers! I am so freaking excited and happy for you. At this point, you KNOW you are going to get pregnant. I pray it is this cycle!

    Your coworker cracks me up. I can't believe he made you a spreadsheet. That's hilarious.

    Good luck girl!

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  28. Wow, that is an amazing number, Alex!
    I'm glad your colleague makes you laugh, but as your husband and others in the comments pointed out, there are probably a lot of variables missing... so maybe rather take the advice of your RE regarding the number of embryos to be transferred ;)

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  29. What a rockstar you are! That's terrific news, Alex. And those spreadsheets are super-nifty.

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  30. Such awesome news! So excited and so happy for you! Whoo hoo!

    And your co-worker is too cute to come up with that chart for you :)

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  31. What a fun guy!! I don't know about the octomom thing but it would be so fantastic for twins!! Two babies for your troubles would be fair, I think!! Congrats!! I will cross my fingers that it all goes great from here!

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  32. Great news! And great coworker! LOL! Can't wait to hear how Monday goes.

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  33. Alex, I am catching up on your news belatedly but...HOLY BATMAN, WOMAN!! 24 of 29 eggs fertilized!?!? I would call that a very lucky two dozen:) This is wonderful, wonderful news and how I am hoping for those bubs to divide and grow and grow and grow. Day 5 is exactly what you want (as you know!) and I'm thrilled for you. As well as tickled over the fact that your coworker drew a model for this:) I need a coworker like that. Though I think I would probably spend my entire work week looking at it all googly-eyed.

    Fingers and toes crossed for you.

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  34. Awesome report! Sounds like you have a great friend. :) Hope all finishes well.

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  35. Hi there, Im new to blogging and have just started reading your blog. I hoping to add some followers to my blog and connect with other woman who are struggling like me.

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  36. alex - i'm thinking today is your day 5 transfer?? just wanted to let you know i'm thinking of you and sending you all the good vibes that i have :o) welcome to pupo-land!! xoxo.

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