Either/Or

So, the report is basically fair-to-middling. Out of twelve eggs, seven were mature. Of those seven, four fertilized. I was nervewracked all day since I couldn't actually call them back at work. I have taken so much time off for all of the appointments that today I had back-to-back meetings, including lunch. I couldn't even sneak off to the ladies without someone coming along. I did manage to leave work by about 4:00 and call the clinic on my way home, but they had all left for the day. Gah!

On the off-chance, I emailed my doctor just to let him know I would try to call early tomorrow. He emailed the report to me at 7:30 tonight, which was so sweet. And so much better than tossing and turning all night, wondering if all my eggs were duds. My initial reaction was really mixed - relief that some of them made it, and disappointment that there weren't more. In the end, it is what it is - the percentages are against the older eggs, so now I just have to hope that one of those four is the winner.

One other thing that he mentioned is that we could do a day-3 or a day-5 transfer. I am extrapolating here, but I think that means either a) with four we will just put them all in anyway, so no need to wait for day-5 to help us with selection, or b) there may be nothing left by day-5, so get them back in there A.S.A.P. In a way, I want to wait for the day-5, even if there aren't any left. Supposedly at that point the genetic material from the sperm kicks in, and if that gives us any helpful information it may be worth it. There is such an emotional desire to get those little cells back in the human body, but in fact day-3s would (in a non-IVF conception) be still traveling in the tubes, so the uterus may not be the best place for them after all.

We were approved for the three-for-two package, by the way. It was contingent on how many eggs were retrieved - I think it had to be nine - an apparently my husband settled all the paperwork while I was still zonked out. So, now we have two more tries already paid for if this one doesn't work. Obviously, I would be happy enough if it turns out that the first try is it, that I paid way too much for this cycle, but oh, well. I'm forty - I can make money later, but making eggs is another matter. If this cycle doesn't work, I am willing to view it as a fact-finding mission and hope that we can figure out what other issues we may be dealing with.

I should know more tomorrow. Meanwhile, the PIO wasn't so bad. Kind of a production, with the ice pack and the heating pad, and the massaging. It took me about 20 minutes in all, but maybe most of that was procrastinating...