I guess it’s pretty obvious from the title of this post that we made a decision to move forward with IVF. Yes…you heard me correctly, WE’RE STARTING IVF!!! We’re both excited and nervous about it. There’s A LOT that goes into this process. Even more than I initially thought. So I had a mid-cycle ultrasound done a few weeks ago and that was just to look at my ovaries and the follicles. After that, I was given instructions on when to start my birth control pills. They put you on birth control for 2 reasons: to quiet everything down (prevent ovulation) and for scheduling purposes. My doctor also likes to do a saline sonogram or a sonohysterogram (SHG). This procedure is done to look at the uterine cavity and ensure that everything looks normal. Well, unfortunately, he had a hard time getting the catheter in my cervix so I will be having hysteroscopy done instead. It’s a similar procedure except I will be put to sleep and he will also be able to do the uterine scratch at the same time. The uterine or endometrial scratch is done to increase the chances of implantation.
After I stop the birth control pills, my cycle will start and on the 4th or 5th day of my cycle, I will have what’s called a baseline ultrasound. This is done to ensure that there are no cysts and that my follicles are are the size that they are supposed to be at this stage of my cycle. After they make sure that everything looks good during the baseline ultrasound, that’s when I start my medications. I will be on Menopur and Bravelle. These are both medications used to stimulate my ovaries and cause them to produce eggs. These medications also help the eggs mature quicker than they normally would. Both of these medications are injectables which means that either I will be giving myself shots or my husband will be giving me shots. Not sure how I feel about that but that this point, we’ll do whatever if it means we get a baby out of it.
IVF is such a long and strenuous process. Not only am I taking my body through a lot but I will also endure a lot mentally. I’ve been praying a lot and asking God to give me the strength to go through this process. He’s given me peace about it but at times I feel myself worrying about the what-ifs. I realize that I have to have faith. I have to trust God’s plan, regardless of what the outcome may be.
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity or cowardice or fear, but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of sound judgment and personal discipline [abilities that result in a calm, well-balanced mind and self-control].
2 Timothy 1:7 (AMP)
Kristen D. Johnson
