Fresh IVF Round #2 / IVF #4 - 2nd Ultrasound Results

Just a quick update - we had our 2nd ultrasound to check on the egg follicles today and they counted 4 more than on Thursday, bringing the total up to 21! (see explanation below) Definitely feeling that growth - my ovaries are incredibly sore - making walking quite uncomfortable - and my belly is bloating more and more with each passing day. All that I am feeling is to be expected - a "normal" cycle would only produce 1 egg whereas my body is being "coaxed" via medication to produce far more than that. Additionally, my estrogen levels are on the rise: 838, up from 203 on Thursday. J took a photo of the ultrasound in progress this morning - not sure if this is my left or right ovary but you can see a few of the larger follicles in the picture.

The largest of the 21 eggs is 16 mm, quite a few are 15 mm, a couple are in the 14-12 mm range, a few are 11-10 mm and the rest are 9 mm or smaller. That being said, our nurse told us that even though the total they can see at this point is 21, the more realistic number to expect to be retrieved next week is actually closer to 12 - 14, as several are too small to catch up in time to be considered viable (18-23mm+). We are VERY hopeful they can retrieve at least as many as were retrieved last time (10) but if we could get more than that, we'd certainly be very pleased!! More eggs = more potential embryos so we are keeping our fingers firmly crossed.

Tonight, we will continue with the 75 iu of Menopur and 75 iu of Follistim, but we will add in Ganirelix as well (250 mcg). My next ultrasound appointment is Monday - at this point, they anticipate trigger day (Lupron shot as well as a shot of HCG...HCG primes my eggs for retrieval and must be given 36 hours before my scheduled retrieval time) will either be Monday, 3/14 or Tuesday, 3/15, which will put retrieval at either Wednesday, 3/16 or Thursday, 3/17. Over halfway there!

I'll update again on Monday. Happy, positive thoughts that everything continues to go as anticipated and that those eggs grow, grow, grow!!