If you're looking for proof that there's more mystery than science to IVF...

Look no further than my infertility journey. Note to the Fates: This is not to suggest that this pregnancy is a sure thing, but rather to prove that you, Fates, have the control, certainly not me.

IVF #1 - November/December 2007
FSH - 6
BCPs, no lupron
150 units Follistim, 150 units Menopur
Ganirelix, estrogen tabs, estrogen patch
baby aspirin
No acupuncture
Retrieval: 14 eggs, 9 mature, 7 fertilized via ICSI
3 day transfer - one eight cell, one five cell, froze two blasts
Lining = 8
BFN

FET#1 January 2008
Cancelled due to thin lining (6)

FET #2 February 2008
both blasts survived the freeze, both transferred
lining 8ish
BFP, chemical pregnancy


IVF #2 August/September 2008
BCPs, no lupron
150 units Follistim, 150 units Menopur, after 4 days raised to 200 Follistem, 225 Menopur
Ganirelix, estrogen tabs, estrogen patch
baby aspirin
Acupuncture
Retrieval: 5 eggs, 4 mature, 4 fertilized via ICSI
3 day transfer - two eight cells, froze one blast
Lining = 8.7
BFN

IVF #3 (WTF cycle) December 2008 (Donor egg discussion until FSH came back at 6)
BCPs for less than two weeks
5 units lupron (during stim), 200 units Follistem, 200 units Menopur
No estrogen tabs until 2nd week of stims, no Ganirelix
baby aspirin
Acupuncture
Retrieval: 9 eggs, 8 mature, 8 fertilized via ICSI
6 day transfer - two AA blasts, froze 3 (all AB blasts)
Lining = 9 (WTF?)
BFP, so far at 8 weeks, twins (WTF)

I have no idea why, overall, my third IVF was so much better than the first two. Logically, it doesn't make sense. What it does prove to me is that if you have two negatives in a row, you have to change something. I don't know if it was the microdose of lupron that made the difference or if I simply hit the one good cycle of my life. No idea. I regurgitate this data only to point out that there really is hope even when it feels like it's all over.