It has been a few weeks since I updated you all in what is going on with me and my treatments right now. In my post about my FET cycles, I left off with the anger I was feeling the day after Christmas when I got yet another BFN (big fat negative).

I decided to meet with my doctor again on January 8, 2019 to discuss the possibilities for the next cycle. I am tired of doing the same things and nothing working. (As I’m sure you’ve all heard the famous quote – doing the same thing over and over expecting different results is the definition of insanity! Sorry Einstein for butchering your quote.)

Anyway, I first wanted to ask about maybe transferring two embryos. We had always just done one, and I knew that doing two would up our chances. However, it also ups our chances of twins. As I fully expected, my doctor shot that down. He pretty much told me that if I got pregnant with twins, I would be put on bed rest – which is not ideal for anyone. Not to mention, while the idea of being stuck on the couch all day sounds nice – I know I’d eventually go crazy.

So instead, he suggested we take a break for a month and do some testing. This involved two things – an ERA biopsy and another saline sonogram. I’m going to talk about the sonogram first because it is quick and easy, and every IVF cycle requires you do have one done.

Basically, a saline sonogram is where they use a catheter to spray some water into your uterus so they can check for any abnormalities. It feels super weird and cold. Afterwards, I had some light cramps but nothing extreme. Anyway, this time around when I had that done, they showed me all the images they took of my uterus right then and there. The tech and the doctor both said my uterus was “perfect.” Not a compliment I ever thought I’d hear, but okay. 🙂

Now, the ERA biopsy is optional testing that not everyone doing IVF has to do. To have this biopsy done, you still do all of the intramuscular injections that you do for a transfer. Then, the day that you would normally do the transfer, you go in for the biopsy. They use a long swab to swab your uterine lining. It definitely doesn’t feel great, in fact it feels kind of like they are under your bellybutton – but it is quick! The most annoying thing is that they send the biopsy to a lab and it takes TWO WEEKS to get the results. Luckily, I had the biopsy done before the saline sonogram so during the long wait for the results I was busy.

Anyway, the results finally came back from the biopsy and they looked great too. For that biopsy, they are checking more specifically the lining of my uterus, and checking how “receptive” it is to an embryo. (Remember, I went through the steps like I was going to have the transfer done.) Since the results were great, this meant that my body was found to be receptive for an embryo on that day.

The annoying thing about all of this – if everything is so “perfect” and “great” and “receptive” – why hasn’t it been working??

Of course, when my nurse called me with this good news about the biopsy, I was very happy. Yet I did say to her, “so this means they have no idea why it isn’t working?” She replied with “pretty much.” Excellent. But she also told me that they decided to add in an extra day of injections this month, because that can only help things.

Anyway, here we are getting ready to start this month’s round of injections for the next FET. My next transfer day is scheduled for March 11. I am REALLY hoping it works this time. I mean, obviously I hope every time – but after all of this additional testing I am going to be very frustrated if this time doesn’t work.

Everyone please send good thoughts/vibes/prayers our way for the next month or so! I think of my infertility community always – here’s hoping we all get our BFP’s so soon! xoxo