By May 2022, Charles was set to leave his job with Disney, which meant losing our fertility benefits at the clinic we were using. We had 3 little embryos left and decided we were going to try to fit in one more transfer before leaving! After our first failed embryo transfer, our fertility doctor recommended that we try using 1-2 months of Lupron prior to the next transfer. We were able to work it out with our clinic that we would plan for the second embryo transter during Charles’ last week at Disney!
Protocol
I started progesterone-only birth control in late March and did that for one month, at which point I started Lupron. Because we had a tight deadline, I actually ended up completing only about 1 month of the Lupron. We didn’t have any significant changes in my protocol for the second embryo transfer, except for the addition of the progesterone-only birth control and lupron prior to the transfer, both of which are common treatments for endometriosis.
Hold, please
After my initial cycle visit, I went off to graduate! I had spent the last 2 years working toward my Master’s in Public Health and graduation worked out perfectly in between visits. So, my parents, Charles, and I headed off to D.C to graduate from George Washington University! It was great time celebrating and spending time before the upcoming move to Colorado.
Embryo Transfer
When I returned from D.C, I started the dreaded Progesterone in Oil shots every other day and Estrace orally three times per day. A few days later, I added Endometrin suppositories three times per day. Then, on 5/17/22, Charles and I went in for our second embryo transfer! Once again, I wore one of the shirts my sister-in-law made me!
Plot Twist
After our transfer that day, we were on a high. We were so excited and nervous. I took the day off for the transfer and Charles was still working from home at that time. Unfortunately, by the end of the evening, I was not feeling great at all and decided to take a COVID test. Welp… it wasn’t the positive test I was hoping for, that’s for sure! I took quite a few tests, *just* to be sure and it was positive each time. I had covid.
Not surprisingly, I was upset, but tried to remain positive. We had a good protocol and I wasn’t feeling all that bad, very similar to a cold. I was able to take off work the next 10 days to relax and recover. Neko kept me company and helped me pack, sort of.
Results
Since Charles left his job at Disney the week of my transfer, we weren’t able to get blood results through the clinic. After IVF transfers, it is typical to get a HCG blood test about 10 days after a transfer to see if the transfer was successful. Majority of the time, an at home pregnancy test would be accurate, but an HCG is done for confirmation. If positive, the HCG should double every 48 hours. Since I was no longer at the fertility clinic, my PCP ordered the HCG test. (Thanks, Dad!)
I had been checking an at home pregnancy test for a few days prior to the blood test and was getting negative results, so I knew it was likely a failed transfer. I went for the lab test 10 days after the transfer and unfortunately had a negative result, meaning that I was not pregnant.
Colorado
The week after the transfer, Charles was off to San Francisco to start his new job at Playstation! Luckily, I was surrounded by my amazing family, who helped me get through the negative result. About 3.5 weeks later, Charles and I met in Colorado to explore the state to see where exactly we wanted to end up. After a very full weekend exploring the entire state, we landed on Boulder, Colorado!
With a final destination confirmed, I was able to start doing reseach on fertility clinics near me in Colorado. I landed on two options and made appointments with both. One clinic was immediately personable and able to get me in for a virtual visit within the month, and the second clinic, while very well-known, was much more similar to my first clinic and the wait was about 2 months out. I scheduled both, just in case the first one didn’t work out.
I’ll save the start of my Colorado fertility journey for the next infertility post.
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