Sorry to hear that, though I have to admit it all sounds tasty. But bummer none the less. :( I don't know what to say about IVF and IUI and where to do them. Sounds like you are leaning toward a local medicated IUI. I'm sure you have good reasons, including much greater convenience and trusting your doctor. It would be great to do an IVF for a lot of "control of egg quality" reasons, but I believe that you have had low response to stims maybe? and of course the huge costs. sending good wishes whatever you choose.
Thanks, Kristina. Yes, I think that's where I'm at (at least today!). An IUI aiming for 3-4 follicles (if I can get Dr. Gorgeous to agree to it). As I understand it, IVF doesn't really control for egg quality; it's designed to get a larger egg pool to draw from and, yes, my response has been poor enough that it doesn't actually provide a benefit (at least that's how Dr. Gorgeous talks). Other folks would say that it would help with the whole egg + sperm issue, but I've gotten pregnant on my own and had 100% fert rate for the IVF I did, so clearly my eggs fertilize. The other reason, obviously, to do IVF is that it lowers risks of multiples (as compared to IUI with large numbers of follicles), but, again, that's not a huge risk with DOR as my primary diagnosis. Today I don't see any reason to do IVF at all, even at a different clinic with a different protocol. But that might change after my consult on Tues!
Hi again - I was thinking egg quality in terms of if several eggs were retrieved and fertilized, then the highest quality embryos could be put back in the uterus. Aren't the embryo grades related to egg quality? Maybe I'm mistaken on that. . .Interested to hear how your meeting went today!
My understanding is that yes, egg quality does play a big role in determining embryo health. But there's a whole lot that goes into "egg quality," including the very drugs used to stimulate an IVF cycle (that is, a genetically normal egg can get "ruined" by stimulation, if not done properly). And by a certain age--like mine--the difference between success with IUI and IVF is minimal (assuming, of course, sperm and tubes aren't issues). If you don't get a lot of eggs--and women with DOR don't--IVF is a lot of money for very little benefit. (In my IVF that made it to transfer, I had only 2 embryos, so it wasn't like I had the choice of putting back the best ones. I put back what I got, which probably would have been better off in my body.) Anyway, thanks for your thoughts!
Sorry to hear that, though I have to admit it all sounds tasty. But bummer none the less. :( I don't know what to say about IVF and IUI and where to do them. Sounds like you are leaning toward a local medicated IUI. I'm sure you have good reasons, including much greater convenience and trusting your doctor. It would be great to do an IVF for a lot of "control of egg quality" reasons, but I believe that you have had low response to stims maybe? and of course the huge costs. sending good wishes whatever you choose.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kristina. Yes, I think that's where I'm at (at least today!). An IUI aiming for 3-4 follicles (if I can get Dr. Gorgeous to agree to it). As I understand it, IVF doesn't really control for egg quality; it's designed to get a larger egg pool to draw from and, yes, my response has been poor enough that it doesn't actually provide a benefit (at least that's how Dr. Gorgeous talks). Other folks would say that it would help with the whole egg + sperm issue, but I've gotten pregnant on my own and had 100% fert rate for the IVF I did, so clearly my eggs fertilize. The other reason, obviously, to do IVF is that it lowers risks of multiples (as compared to IUI with large numbers of follicles), but, again, that's not a huge risk with DOR as my primary diagnosis. Today I don't see any reason to do IVF at all, even at a different clinic with a different protocol. But that might change after my consult on Tues!
ReplyDeleteHi again - I was thinking egg quality in terms of if several eggs were retrieved and fertilized, then the highest quality embryos could be put back in the uterus. Aren't the embryo grades related to egg quality? Maybe I'm mistaken on that. . .Interested to hear how your meeting went today!
ReplyDeleteMy understanding is that yes, egg quality does play a big role in determining embryo health. But there's a whole lot that goes into "egg quality," including the very drugs used to stimulate an IVF cycle (that is, a genetically normal egg can get "ruined" by stimulation, if not done properly). And by a certain age--like mine--the difference between success with IUI and IVF is minimal (assuming, of course, sperm and tubes aren't issues). If you don't get a lot of eggs--and women with DOR don't--IVF is a lot of money for very little benefit. (In my IVF that made it to transfer, I had only 2 embryos, so it wasn't like I had the choice of putting back the best ones. I put back what I got, which probably would have been better off in my body.) Anyway, thanks for your thoughts!
ReplyDelete