When undergoing IVF, you’re hormonal from all of the drugs you take, you’re bloated from the doctor stimulating multiple follicles at once, and—if all goes according to plan (though it sometimes doesn’t)—a human embryo is put into your body. At this point, the doctor tells you not to drink alcohol or overly exert yourself because you may be pregnant. It’s a real mind trip when you’ve been trying to conceive unsuccessfully for months or in many cases, for years…
IVF isn’t for someone who is scared of needles or who doesn’t have time to hang out at the doctor’s office every 24-72 hours for weeks on end. It’s also not for someone who isn’t prepared to spend thousands and thousands of dollars on something that may or may not work.
Going through infertility and fertility treatments hits us on every level: emotionally, physically, financially, and even spiritually. This stressful process also rocks our relationships; it can also be very isolating to go through infertility, as most people don’t openly discuss their experience. That’s why I founded pregnantish—and why I was thrilled when Anna Beard agreed to share her experience with me so I could share it with the readers of Prevention. —Andrea
Anna’s story
I’ve been TTC (trying to conceive) with my husband of five years since June 2015, when I was 34. Even though I suspected I’d have an issue due to spotty periods and strange cycles, I didn’t visit a fertility specialist until October of 2015. Initially, I didn’t think I’d try IVF: I’d heard it was a nightmare, plus I figured I’d just need some minor intervention and be on my way to a healthy pregnancy.
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That’s not what happened. In January 2017, after a couple of years of trying naturally, having many tests and procedures, and experiencing multiple failed IUI (intrauterine insemination) treatments, my husband and I finally decided to do IVF.
At the end of February, a week before my period was due, I headed to the fertility clinic to start prepping my body for the procedure.
The week before my period starts
I never thought I would need IVF and am nervous to start, but after so many failed IUI cycles, it’s time. This whole thing is draining already.
I’m at Johns Hopkins Fertility Center at Green Spring Station in Timonium, Md. It’s a teaching hospital, so it’s normal to be seen by residents and students. I’m okay with this, as we’re learning about it, too.
My husband and I are told that before starting IVF, we need to get all kinds of authorizations done through our clinic’s Financial Coordinator and through our insurance company. We are also instructed by the nurse to get all medications ordered. It is a lot of medication. (Apparently you get everything you need up front because based on your blood work you won’t really know what you have to take until day of.)
Being on the phone this week with the insurance company is stressful and time-consuming. It’s a hassle to get all of the authorizations, and I’m worried we won’t get the medication on time to start this IVF cycle.
Ugh. I’m stressed and haven’t even started the medications and injections yet… I end up having to borrow some medication from my doctor’s office so it won’t mess up my timing.
Meanwhile, my husband has to get another semen analysis. (It has to be within 6 months, so even though he’s done it before for our IUI procedures, he needs to repeat it now). And we both have to do blood testing for HIV, hepatitis, syphilis, etc.
Week 1
On Day 2 of my menstrual cycle, I go in for the blood work and an ultrasound. Yes, during my period. This part of the process makes me so uncomfortable, but I’m grateful it’s quick and that they made sure I didn’t see any of the "mess."
My husband and I have to sign a bunch of consent forms at the clinic. More paperwork! We have to decide things like what we want done with any leftover embryos, since our clinic is part of a research hospital. This is a hard decision and my husband and I can’t agree. We have a difficult argument and decide to stop talking about it for now.
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The injections start right after my blood test results. I didn’t expect this and have a hard time with these shots—many times I either spill some meds or use the wrong needle to mix—even though we previously attended an IVF class that taught us about all the different injections and needles and how to mix medication.
I’m freaking out and worrying that I’m doing it all wrong.
After being on drugs for a few days, I go back to the clinic for blood work and an ultrasound and am told that I have 21 follicles and really high estrogen. (Most women have two ovaries and each ovary contains follicles, sacs that each have an egg in them. At the start of IVF, the ovaries are in the "resting" stage, and after a few days of medication they start growing in quantity and size.)
The doctor instructs me to cut my injections to half doses. I guess everything is growing fast.
On Day 6, I go for another ultrasound.
Week 2
I’m starting to go for regular blood work and ultrasounds at the clinic. They have to track everything to see how I’m responding to the medication and how my follicles are growing.
I’m really lucky I have a flexible work schedule because I work for myself. I cannot imagine how someone who needs to go to an office every day can go through IVF.
On Day 8, they tell me that I have 25 follicles. I’m told some follicles are on track and above 13mm. This is a good thing—follicles need to be approximately 15-23 mm before a doctor can retrieve them—but I have a swollen belly and am totally uncomfortable.
I return for another ultrasound and more blood work on Day 9, the next day, and I’m instructed to take a shot that night to stimulate ovulation. The trigger shot releases the eggs 36 hours later.
On Day 11, I’m back at the clinic and put under anesthesia for my egg retrieval. They retrieve 25 eggs. This is good, but I’m groggy and feel so uncomfortable.
On the bright side, part one of IVF is done! Now that they’ve retrieved my eggs, they’re going to try to fertilize them with my husband’s sperm. I should be relieved, but I feel yucky.
The next day I’m on the toilet almost all day. I have prune juice because I’m so backed up and have extreme belly bloat. I drink a ton of Gatorade because that’s what they told me to do, but I wish I had stuck with Pedialyte or coconut water because the Gatorade has so much sugar and makes me feel even more sick.
More on this…
