Here we go again...

Yep, that's right, I've been given the go ahead for another cycle next month. My ovaries and uterus are all looking normal so we are good to go. We are doing another HRT FET cycle which will go along these lines:

28/11 - last day of contraceptive pill
2/12 - start progynova tablets every 12 hours
8/12 - change progynova tablets to every 8 hours
13/12 - start pessaries every 12 hours, continue progynova tablets every 8 hours
16/12 - scan to check lining and ovaries for cysts to get go ahead for transfer
18/12 - transfer day

Based on this, the blood test will most likely be on the 29/12, so I will be kept hanging over Christmas. On the other hand, if it is a negative, I will have one hell of a new years!

I also spoke to the specialist about double embryo transfer (DET). It's something that has been on my mind for the last couple of months. I've done quite a lot of research on DET and on twins because obviously transferring two embryos increases your chances of conceiving twins. Before I had my son, my clinic was advocating DET for me, so this is what I went with. Looking back now, I really don't think I was informed enough to have made that decision - I don't believe that it is one that should be taken lightly. In fact, when my hcg level was through the roof at the start of my son's pregnancy, I was completely panicked about the idea of twins, and even started to wonder if I should have transferred two.

I don't want to have that sort of regret or worry this time around. Originally I was dead set on only doing single embryo transfers, but with a lot more research and some good talks with my hubby, I have decided that, particularly on a FET cycle, it is worth the risk for us. One of the major influences for us is financial - with the new government rebate structure looking to add thousands of dollars to IVF (my clinic estimated today around $2K more out of pocket per cycle), it's just not going to be that affordable for us anymore and I really don't know how far we will be able to go with it. This cycle will be our last for a while, I would think at least 3-6 months.

After speaking to my specialist today, he agrees with me. Again he allowed me to voice my opinion first, and only gave me medical statistics and info, then after I had made my decision, he told me that if it were him, he would also do a DET. He estimates that my chance of success with a single embryo transfer in a FET cycle is around 20%, a DET would increase that to 30-35%. In my personal situation, he estimates my chance of twins at around 15%.

I feel much more confident with the idea of twins after having my son - I now know what type of parent I am, and how I react to different situations - I have more confidence in my abilities as a parent in general. We are in a better position work/business wise this time around than we were last time. With my son, my hubby wasn't around much and left for work around midnight so was never there for the early mornings and was always tired so wasn't able to help much in general. This time he should be around a lot more for help. I am, and always have been, very healthy. And while I know that this doesn't mean we won't have complications during a multiple pregnancy, it's not a factor that could increase the chance of such complications. If we did manage to get a child out of IVF this time, we wouldn't be going back for a third attempt - I can justify it to try and get a sibling for my son, but I couldn't justify the emotional, financial & physical risks for any more than that. This just scratches the surface of the physical and emotional aspects that I have considered.

Now, none of this guarantees that we wouldn't have problems with a multiple pregnancy/babies, but I feel better knowing that I have considered & researched the risks, and applied them to our situation. I feel like I am much more informed that what I was the first time around, and am confident that a DET is right for us in this particular cycle.

Of course, we still have to get 2 embryos to survive the thaw!