Okay, that was sort of enough to get me off the subject but I've never really let it go in my mind.
I don't want to make it seem as though IVF with donor eggs is in any way more "special" than IVF with your own eggs or that I'm more worthy of succeeding than someone doing regular IVF. BUT I do want to say that I make this distinction: IVF with donor eggs is unfuckingbelieveably expensive and if I have to endure some pain to ensure I'm not missing some protein that has a very simply remedy (3 months of Lupron Depot), why not just do it, you know?
I never had my post-one-day-work-up consult with Dr. S - mostly because I didn't think I needed it. But I think I should have it. I have some questions - a small list actually - and maybe this would be a good time to have them addressed.
As for you other ladies out there in IF land - whether you've done IVF with your eggs or donor eggs:
- Have any of your doctor's recommended an endometrial biopsy? If so,
- Did you have one? If so,
- Did it hurt? If so,
- How badly on a scale of 1-10.
9 comments:
I'd do the post-workup consult... ours was very useful. Once Surrey had all the results his tune changed dramatically, said we had like *no* time to use my eggs and had to cycle *right now* if we wanted to take a last chance. (went to ccrm initially for donor egg, did workup for both regular IVF and DE IVF)
He didn't bring up the biopsy, but honestly, how bad can it really hurt? You might as well while you're waiting for a match. *shrug*. Another "what if' to check off the list, esp if it's an easy fix if it's an issue.
hth.
I just had my one day w/up with Schoolcraft last month and he recommended the same biopsy to me, which I plan to do with my local doctor this month. He played down the painful part to me, however, my local dr mentioned that it would not be comfortable. Yikes! Anyway, painful or not, I think it's worth it
Hey, thank you both.
Elizabeth, could you report back after you've had it done?
Believe me, pain or no pain I'll do it unless Surrey talks me out of it.
But all the same, I'm a weird bird - even if something is awful, I like to know about it in advance. Seems like added torture but, for me, it just allows me to prepare adequately.
Thanks! :)
I have not had an endometrial biopsy, Dr. Schoolcraft did not suggest it for me. My friend Brenda at No Regrets (you can get there via my blog) had one done within the last few months and she did talk about how uncomfortable it is.
But I seriously think you should just do, I would. But I am all about taking EVERY precaution.
The one thing that Brenda did mention was that the biopsy was taken twince, so two chunks, not just one. But seriously, you're right, donor IVF is so expensive ... you should just do it so that you have nothing to look back on to say ... if only ...
If you do the Schooly follow up, let us know what he says about it.
I had the biopsy and have no regrets whatsoever about it. It's an easy fix if something is wrong, and if everything is normal, then you can put any worry aside once the transfer is complete of a potential implantation problem. Peace of mind either way you look at it. I think more doctors should do it. I've seen girls that this was discovered to be their problem, treated, then pg after long struggles. I'll stop here as you can tell how pro-biopsy I am.
FWIW, I didn't think it was too bad. I do have a pretty high pain tolerance, but it was just another drop in the ole infertility bucket for me. I think I took some pain med (ibuprofen or Tylenol) prior to and following and again, it wasn't too bad.
Thanks for your lengthy reply on my blog. Food for thought. :-)
As for the biopsy, I did it at CCRMs urging for the beta 3 integrin. I didn't have very much pain at all. It was crampy afterwards. I think the fact that they A) gave me valium B) took advils (i think) C) did a shot of lidocaine to my cervix made is not too bad. (just like Dr. S did during the hysteroscopy). I think the pains meds given make all the difference. I've heard some doctors don't do as much. I recommend discussing the pain management with the RE.
Hi there, I haven't done any endometrial biopsy. But just like what my friend, Polly commented earlier, B from No Regrets has done it before. And my other friend at iwantitvmuch (u can get her blog from mine) has done it before too. Both of them are lovely and I'm sure they would be able to help you.
I hope everything goes well.
(((hugs))
I had the beta integrin test after my 3 failed ivfs. It was negative. I high % of women with endo are lacking it so I had a Lap. to look for endo. I had stage IV! This is after 3 RE's said I probably didn't have endo. (thanks, idiots) Anyway I was retested after my lap and it came back positive, so it might have been the reason for no implantation in previous cycles. By the time we made it to CCRM my FSH had risen and we couldn't afford another go with my eggs and then a donor cycle if it didn't work. So we went with DE and the better odds. Dr. S would have test me if I hadn't been tested earlier.
And yes, it hurts like a sharp, severe cramp but it's over quickly.
Sky-A friend of mine (who also had the biopsy) sent this to me. Thought you might find it interesting...
A blurb in the Sept 08 Fertility & Sterility journal (volume 90, supplement 1, page S224) regarding some preliminary (I think?) research of Bruce Lessey, et al on depot lupron & letrozole w/ IVF & beta 3 integrin.
Basically, to summarize...
-70 women with unexplained infertility who were planning IVF within 3 months were tested for the beta 3 integrin.
-36 of them were positive for it and 21 of them conceived.
-34 tested negative, only one of them conceived without any treatment
Next phase, they found 13 of those 34 women who tested negative (who all happened to have endometriosis although they weren't really focusing on endo).
They treated 5 of them with 3 months depot lupron prior to IVF and the other 8 with letrozole/femara during the stim phase.
The following IVF was successful in 11 out of the 13, the 2 failures were in the letrozole group.
Small sample but something I thought you might like to see since you are open to comments and ideas about the biopsy...
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