IVF

Well, here we are.  Back when we started trying for a baby, I figured it might take a few months, maybe even up to a year.  I thought maybe we'd have to do some IUIs.  Maybe.  But it's become clear that if we want to have a baby (or really, babies), we need to get serious, and we need to get started.

I just scheduled our IVF consultation for next week (which is SO not ideal, considering D has so little time off at work and I have a huge deadline next week, but the doctor has limited availability so what can you do?).  I can't believe we're at this point already.  I honestly have no idea how we're going to pay for it, unless our house magically sells for asking price, and we manage to get a good deal on a new house, or we drain our savings, which I really don't want to do.  D is adamantly against taking any help from his parents, who really want us to be able to have a family and have been extremely supportive.  He is also adamantly against crowd-funding (is that what the young people are calling it nowadays?).  After seeing some of my younger compatriots raising money on the internet for such things as replacing their stolen bike (this request was from someone who can EASILY afford a new one), I have to agree that asking for money is not what I want to do.  But still, it's a lot of money, and we're not wealthy, nor do we have insurance coverage for IVF.

The surgeon who removed my fibroids suggested we try naturally for another 6 months, and sneak another HSG in there to make sure the surgeries didn't obstruct my tubes.  But by that point, I'll be 37.  I know from reading other blogs that IVF can take some time, and waiting 6 months before we even start the process just doesn't seem like a good idea, especially considering my not-so-good AMH and FSH levels last summer - one year before the doctor's proposed move to IVF.

We're Kaiser members, and I'm pretty excited about their new program where we live.  Because I'm 37 or younger (another good reason NOT to wait), if we can produce up to 3 embryos and are willing to only transfer 1 during the first attempt, they will freeze two extras and transfer them for free (either one at a time, or both together) in future attempts if the first doesn't work out, for no additional cost.  This is not actually meant to be a cost-saving program for patients, although it can end up that way.  The primary goal of the program is to reduce multiples, so my AMH and FSH shouldn't matter, as long as I can produce the eggs and they turn into viable embryos.  I'm assuming if we produce more than 3, which doesn't seem likely, we would have to pay for storage of the extras.  All of our questions should be answered next week, so I will report back and let you know.