oh i see.. i am currently 30 and my husband 31 this year. We seem to be all clear from the tests, except that he has a lower than average morphology levels which the docs didn't seem to be too concerned about. They insisted that we went on so-iui first because we were supposedly good candidates for it and that it was as you said, already a mini-IVF, so if i couldn't handle SO-IUI, i probably wouldn't be able to handle the stress from IVF.
I read stories of IVF also resulting in miscarriages...sometimes we can really do all the lab testing but there's only so much we can control at the end of the day.
I do agree that the success rate is higher and more guaranteed in that sense. I will definitely push for IVF if the next SO-IUI doesn't work out. I'm also quite miserable because the blood test seems to be scheduled after my period, making me waste Aug and having to wait till Sep to start the next cycle.
Are you starting on IVF this month? Is US fertility treatment different from SG? I wish you all the best!
Well my hubby is older... His morphology level is also slightly lower than average (he got a 3 and 4 or more is better) but the doc says it’s ok, nothing to worry about. I wanted to push for ivf then but I came back to Singapore on the 5th day of my cycle so we just went for SO-IUI to see if we hit the jackpot.. but unfortunately didn’t. After our SO-IUI failed, we realized a lot of our friends tried 2-3 rounds and failed and eventually went for IVF and wasted their subsidies.
Yes there are miscarriages associated with IVF but way much lesser if both husband and wife are considered to be generally ok. IUI has a lot more...
Yes, I will be starting IVF process - still don’t know if it’s the short or long protocol as the bloodwork results will be required first (I think Singapore doesn’t have that, all short). Depending on your hormonal levels, you will have a customized protocol. We had to put on hold due to covid but our area is way much better now and the hospital facilities for our area is also one of the best in the US... I am not sure if the treatment process is better/different but it will be almost $0 for me (just pay $40 every time I see the doctor) as my company’s insurance covers 6 cycles of IVF/IUI + prenatal care + birth + hospitalization + postnatal and infant care.
Short Protocol + Dual Trigger (prevents OHSS)
Day 1 to 10: FSH + LH injections
Day 5 to 10: GnRH to prevent pre-mature ovulation
Day 10 to 11: Lupron
Day 12: Trigger + Egg Retrieval (can select intracytoplasmic = inject sperm directly into egg; basically find the best sperm and inject directly)
Day 13 onwards: Progesterone (if pregnant will continue).. if not, will stop and wait for menses.
Day 15: pre-genetic tests on embryos for like missing chromosomes, genetical issues.. all these embryos will be discarded.. only the best embryos will be allowed to grow to blastocyst stage
Day 17: Blastocyst stage embryo transfer. Can select assisted hatching for higher chance of implementation
Day 26: Pregnancy test
Long Protocol (usually used for PCOS patients)
Day 1-14: Birth Control Pill
Doctor explained that PCOS patients tend to release a lot of eggs but majority of the eggs are very low quality therefore causing miscarriage even if they were fertilized.. many turn out as grade B embryos (what you want is A grade). Based on my last scan in Singapore with gynae #3, I do not have PCOS (only 5 follicles with Letrozole). However, previous SG doctor (gynae #1 and #2 said I’ve PCOS but no scans to show).
Next 10-12 days - Lupron to prevent pre mature ovulation + stimulation injections
Day 13 - hcg trigger + progesterone all the way unless didn’t get pregnant
Day 15 - Egg retrieval
Day 17 - pre genetic testing
Day 19 - embryo transfer
Day 28 - pregnancy test
have to go back for blood test 30 Dec.