So, we’re back in our home country, going through one more cycle of this process. We were expecting that the same process that produced a few eggs two months ago, would yield similar results and we would have enough eggs to go for the IVF.
Unfortunately, the treatment did not produce the same results. This time my ovaries produced no eggs at all. Empty tiny ovaries were all we could see in the ultrasounds.
As we are here for just a month, we had to decide how to finish this cycle. We could simply stop here and try again later, which means to organize another international trip, or extend this one. Or, we could continue with a fertilization of the 2 eggs we have stored and if successful, we could leave with a developing embryo already implanted.
As we have been told how low the odds were for 2 eggs to begin an IVF cycle, this is a hard choice. It means spending an IVF cycle out of the 4 we get, with a low chance of pregnancy. In my mind I already know that we won’t get much out of my ovaries, so after that, the option is to take donor eggs. So, I asked the doctor if we could try an IVF cycle with my 2 eggs AND donor eggs.
The doctor looks at me and says no one has ever asked him that. He thinks it is a good idea, but would need to check with the lab. To me, it’s a logical process, to increase the odds by having more eggs.
The other question is if my endometrium is ready, since we weren’t preparing for implantation, and ovarian stimulating drugs have a detrimental effect on the thickness. Yes, typically, a local patient would just wait for the next month, but with our traveling plans, it’s not as easy. Exams are ordered and the doctor goes to do research and get some questions answered.
After the weekend we get an answer to our question. We can try the cycle with two sets of eggs, own and donor. The only condition from the lab is that they’re not mixed so we know which one is being used. It makes sense to me. It means that if we get a single viable embryo from my eggs, we will try with that one alone.
The doctor has found two matching donors of frozen eggs, since we don’t have time to start a stimulation now for fresh eggs from a donor. They have 6 and 10 eggs and we have to choose one of them. The smaller amount come from a younger woman, which the doctor thinks is a better option.
I’m excited that we are moving forward with the IVF process this time and am really hoping to travel back to the US with one more passenger inside me…
A Stork's Journey 