The journey so far

  • May 1999: Mr Jem and I start dating
  • Jun '03: Mr. Jem and I get married, buy a house, adopt two cats
  • Dec '06: Pull the "goalie" (BCPs)
  • Jan '07: TTC officially starts
  • May '07: I turn 37. OB/GYN recommends fertility testing if we don't get PG within 6 months.
  • May '08: I turn 38. OB/GYN recommends fertility testing - my results: FSH of 6.6 and all other levels good to go! Mr. Jem: low, low sperm count (100K)
  • 2008: The year of total denial
  • May '09: I turn 39 (gulp)
  • June: Second SA confirms low sperm count (600K)
  • July: Visit RE, Dr. W, who recommends IVF. Start acupuncture with Dr. Needle. Pre-cycle testing: FSH 5.3, Estrogen 50.
  • Sept 13: IVF cycle starts
  • Oct 2: due to start stims, cycle delayed for genetic testing. Back on BCPs for 10 days.
  • Oct 16: start stims (after a two-week delay)
  • Oct 27: Trigger day!
  • Oct 29: Egg Retrieval = 24 eggs + Testicular biopsy to retrieve sperm (poor Mr. Jem!)
  • Oct 30: 16 eggs fertilized with ICSI, 9 developed
  • Nov 3: 5-Day ET: 2 embryos transferred (3 AA + 2 BB)
  • Nov 4: 3 embryos frozen (5 BB + 4 BB+?)
  • Nov 12: Beta: HCG = 8. Chemical pregnancy
  • Nov 30: WTF appointment
  • Dec 17: HPTs from hell
  • Dec 2009: FET cycles starts
  • Jan 7, 2010: FET - three gorgeous embies transferred
  • Jan 16: Beta #1: HCG = 19
  • Jan 18: Beta #2: HCG = 17. Stop all meds. Not a viable pregnancy
  • Jan 25: Beta #4: HCG = 109. WTF?
  • Jan 27: Beta #5: HCG = 150. Ectopic pregnancy. Metho.trexate administered.
  • Jan 30: Beta #6 = 350.
  • Feb 1: Beta #7 = 384.
  • Feb 3: Beta #8 = 358 (heading down!).
  • Feb 6: Beta #9 = 338 (not going down fast enough).
  • Feb 12: U/S showed tiny sac in ute, therefore not ectopic. HCG = 294 (not low enough).
  • Feb 13: MTX #2
  • Feb 17: Beta #11: 61 (at last!)
  • Feb 22: Spotting
  • Feb 25: Beta #12: 28 (almost there)
  • March 5: Beta #13: HCG finally down to 1
  • ... Taking a break ...
  • April 23: SA: count at 250K
  • May 2010: IVF #2 starts
  • May 25: CD1
  • June 7: baseline sonogram & HSG. All clear!
  • June 11: start stims
  • June 24: Egg Retreival - 14 eggs, 9 mature, 7 fertilized
  • June 27: 3 embies transferred on Day 3: 2 8-cell, 1 6-cell
  • June 30: no embies to freeze.
  • July 8: beta day: BFN
  • Aug 19: WTF appointment #3 - no good explanation of why the cycle failed except that I'm old
  • Sept 22: 2nd opinion phone call with Dr. Z
  • Oct/Nov: on a break and prepping for IVF#3 with Dr. Z
  • Dec 2: CD1 of IVF#3
  • Jan 2, 2011: Baseline U/S and
  • Jan 3: start meds: micro-dose Lup.ron
  • Jan 14: Trigger with 22 follies (11/11), biggest at 18mm
  • Jan 16: ER: 28 eggs - 22 mature, 11 fertilized w/ Mr. Jem's fresh SA.
  • Jan 21: 5-day Transfer of 2 chromosomally normal girls
  • Jan 31: BFN. HcG less than 1.
  • June: miscarrage, D&C
  • July 27: start medicated dIUI cycle.
  • July 28: start stims: Folli.stim
  • Aug 5: Right ovary: 13 follicles; Left ovary: 5 follicles - time to trigger!
  • Aug 7: IUI with donor sperm - all 32 million!
  • Aug 21: Beta #1: 325!
  • Aug 23: Beta #2
  • March 30: go on maternity leave
  • April 30: expected due date 
  • April 27, 2012: Rosie born at 1:44 pm -- 8 lbs, 10 oz. 20 in