We have been given a lot of information over the past few days. I will try to explain it the best I can. I’m sure once we get started actually doing things, it will make more sense!

First of all, we are definitely 100% on track for IVF. My hysteroscopy results were fine and so was hubby’s infectious disease screen. We learned ALL about the meds yesterday and made decisions regarding what happens to any embryos in case of death, divorce, etc. It seemed kind of surreal to make decisions about embryos that don’t even exist yet…

Here’s the plan at this time:
~I go to the doctor on Monday for a baseline. If all is still “baseline” quality, we will start stimming next Friday. This means we should be getting our meds soon. They are still checking with insurance to see what is covered and what we will have to pay for out of pocket.
~From what I understand, hubby starts an antibiotic the day I start stimming to get the swimmers all healthy. At first, the shots will be like the IUIs. There’s a little more to mix, but we’re looking at one shot for about the first week. This shot is intended to make the follicles grow. Starting on stim day, I will have to limit physical activity. I can’t get my heart rate up too high, can’t lift anything heavier than a gallon of milk, and I suppose this is where the no stretching comes in!!
~We will add a second shot to the mix about a week in. This one will suppress ovulation to give the follicles a chance to all get to 18-22mm. With IUI, they only want 2 or 3 follicles. With IVF, they want as many as they can get.
~I will go to the doctor every other day for blood work and ultrasounds. When the doctor gives us the go ahead, we will inject TWO trigger shots. This has to be perfectly timed because it is coordinated with the surgery center’s schedule.  Somewhere in here, I will start an antibiotic as well.
~We will then go to the surgery center on whatever date specified. Hubs will give his sample. About an hour later, I will go under anesthesia again. They will stick a needle through my uterus and into my ovaries and retrieve my follicles. (I think).
~At some point, the sperm will be directly injected into each follicle. This is called ICSI. Then they will see which follicles turn into embryos. Somewhere in here there is something about blastocysts, too.
~We are considering participating in a study that will then (possibly, depending on which group we are blindly assigned to) biopsy each embryo to do genetic screening. This is to check for abnormalities that could cause problems with implantation or viability.
~The embryos will then be frozen.
~At my next menstrual cycle, I will return for another baseline. If all looks good, I will start new meds– estrogen pills, estrogen patches, and progesterone in oil (PIO) shots to be administered in my bum.
~FINALLY, at some point we will go back for an embryo transfer. If we do the study, we will transfer one embryo. If we do not do the study, we will transfer up to two.
~And maybe this is where the PIO shot comes in. I’m not really sure. Anyway, this would be the beginning of the TWW.

And that, my friends, is how you make a baby! My meds will probably be in early next week. I’ll be sure to post a pic for you. Thank you all for your continued prayers!!