IVF what is it like??? any experiences or know anyone that has gone through it?

There is always the fear of the unknown. I've gone through 4 IVF cycles. I've been through surgery before so was not nervous about the retrieval but the injections scared the heck out of me. It took be 20 minutes to do my first belly shot. After that, they were a piece of cake. You can barely feel the needle going in and if you ice the spot you won't feel it at all (Do not ice once you start the progesterone in oil injection (PIO) as that will make the oil set in one spot and not disperse as easily). I have never taken Lurpon but have heard from my IVF friends that headaches and irritably is the most common side effect. For me, I take Follistim (same as Gonal F), Menopur, and Ganerelix. I really don't experience side effect the first few days but by day 5 I need a nap mid-afternoon. I get, as most of us do, pretty bloated too. If you are taking Menopur as part of your protocol, know that it stings a bit going in but stops when you’re finished. You can’t feel any of the others going in.

Once I do the hCG trigger then start the PIO then I experience pregnancy symptoms at time and PMS symptoms at times. It's evil :) Don't read into symptoms after your transfer or you'll go nuts!

During you stimulation you'll go in for several blood tests and ultrasounds to see how your follicles are doing. Once they mature you'll have to take the hCG trigger at the exact time they tell you. You'll then have your egg retrieval two days after that. You'll take a few other oral medications (antibiotics, and others to keep your lining plump). The retrieval is fast. You're only sedated for about 15 minutes and (Usually for most) it is just a twilight sedation where you are alert but won't remember a thing and you wake up fast without any horrible side effects as you may get if you do a longer sedation. You'll be a little crampy after the meds wear off. Similar to menstruation cramps. They take a couple of days to subside. The transfer is not painful for me at all. I barley feel a thing. They say to have a full bladder but the first time I did that I was ready to explode and it was very uncomfortable. My advice is to fill up half way and let them wait for you. They will know when you’re ready because they can see your bladder through a sonogram. After transfer you may get a catheter to drain you and lay there an hour or you may get up in 5 minutes, use the restroom and be on your way. It just depends on how your clinic works. Then, you may be on bed rest or you may not. The success rates are the same for both.

Hearing about OHSS was scary for me. Your doctors will know if you are at risk for OHSS. They can tell through your blood work. Out of my 4 cycles, I developed it my last and it didn't get too bad. I did drink tons of V8 and Gatorade. It went away.

If you are doing PIO injections in your tush watch this. My husband did them for me but seeing the exact spot to inject helped. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4M8iCq8zDU Also, if you have a small tushy you can use the 1" and not the 1 1/2" needle.

I found an online forum I joined when I started IVF. I was not getting many answers here but got lots there as there is a large group of women who are just started out, mid-cycle, in the TWW, and post-cycle. They have a wealth of information and are a very supportive group. They also have cycle groups for each month. http://www.fertilethoughts.com/forums/ivf-high-tec... If that is not the forum for you there are lots other out there. It's just nice to chat with those who have taken a walk in our shoes!

Feel free to contact me through my profile if you have any questions! Sending sticky baby dust!

I'm on my 2nd IVF. The first one was scary. You don't know what to expect so your emotions are all over the place. For me the only side effect I had was when I first started taking Lupron I would get a migraine everyday. That lasted about the first four days and then I was fine. The other drugs I was fine with. I did have some bruising on my stomach where I would give myself the shots and also some bloating but that's normal.

The egg retrieval was scary for me the first time. I've never been put to sleep before so I didn't know what to expect. It wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. I did have some cramping afterward so I just took a heating pad and laid in bed for the rest of the day/night. I then took it easy for the following two days. Relaxed on the couch, watched tv, read. Nothing crazy.

I would suggest to you that once you start taking the stimulation medicine that you start drinking gatorade. The salt in the gatorade will help you with bloating and also keep away OHSS (Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome)

As far as the embryo transfer it's uncomfortable but not painful. It feels like you are getting a pap. Keep in mind you have to have a full bladder in order for them to do the transfer. I know for my clinic after the transfer they make you lay there with the full bladder for 25 minutes before they will let you get up to use the restroom.

I hope this helps!

Good Luck!

We additionally conceived via IVF w/ ICSI on the 1st try. it particularly is a grueling and extremely complicated therapy for infertility. whether we paid alot of money, and that i went via alot of discomfort and days of feeling ill, I nevertheless evaluate myself between the fortunate ones to conceive on the 1st try to to even conceive in any respect. this does not artwork for each individual who tries. So on no account forget that we are only the fortunate ones! sturdy success to all of us, all of us should have our desires come real.