Michelle Britton

During the IVF process – I have discovered many things about my body that I think I should have already known – but it is not until you are deeply entwined in the process that you realize how much of an idiot you are about how the girl parts work.

After the multitude of shots to suppress ovulation, stimulate follicle growth, and drop mature eggs – your ovaries are really not working just yet. So, prior to embryo transfer, you will need to simulate two hormones, estrogen and progesterone. Estrogen helps maintain the endometrial lining of the uterus, while progesterone prepares the lining for implantation of a fertilized egg.

Estrace pills are taken three times a day to ensure estrogen levels are being maintained. But the prometrium, that mimics the progesterone, is required to be taken inter-vaginally every eight hours.

Now, we have all had to insert a tampon or two in our day, so we are all familiar with the area and the concept. Put a pill on the end of your finger and push it in as far as you can.  But hold on, no body told me there is going to be discharge that ends up yucking up the panties.

I started by wearing pantie liners – but this lead to a bad diaper rash. Great, not only am I impatient with the 12 day wait and have this stupid discharge, but I am now itchy and sore.

As many of you know, Dirk and I are trying to have a baby. Dirk has been keeping the masses update via his blog on our IVF process, but I thought it was time for me to express my thoughts.

Our first transfer – I felt nothing. No sore boobs. No cramping. No anything. The outcome was negative, we were not pregnant. I am in shock – I do not believe the doctor – I question him like a idiot. Are you sure?  Yes. What is my hCG? Zero. Just in case you are wondering – hCG (the hormone Human Chorionic Gonadotropin) is produced during pregnancy and in the first weeks is usually between 5 – 426 mIU/ml, doubling every 48 hours. So zero is not a good number.

With our second transfer, I feel different. I have had sore boobs for about a week now. Several days I have had cramping – almost like I am going to get my period. I have had a headache now for 4 days. There are waves of nausea. And the topper, I was watching ‘Meet the Fockers’ and got teary – this is a comedy folks!!

Now I wonder, is this in my head? Am I making them up? Are these just signs of my period and that again this did not work?

I go to get a new toothbrush today and came home with a pregnancy test. I put it away and hope that I can make it until Monday before losing my mind. Patience.