Sneak Peek

Today was our first pre-transfer monitoring appointment. This is an aspect of IVF that I really enjoy and look forward to in each cycle. When couples are trying to conceive naturally, there are a lot of days that pass with no news or no indication of what's going on down in the land of babies. The two week wait is notoriously excruciating because of the lack of information. In the IVF process, however, doctors are getting all up in our business on a pretty regular basis, so I'm very up to speed on how things are progressing during each cycle. I like knowing things. In spite of the magic wand they have to use, this state of knowing things makes me happy.

The routine is pretty much the same at each pre-transfer monitoring appointment. They draw a vial of blood to be tested for the pertinent hormones of the week, then I head to the ultrasound room for a quick look at my inner girl bits. First stop on the magic school bus ride is the uterus where they measure the endometrial thickness (lining) and look for any pockets of fluid. Next they head on over to one of the ovaries, count the number of immature follicles (less than 10 mm), document and measure any developing follicles (greater than 10 mm), and check for any cysts. They repeat that procedure on the other ovary and we're done. I put some pants on and head back to work to await the results.

At this first appointment of the cycle, the goal is a thin lining (around 3-5 mm), two quiet ovaries (no follicles over 10 mm) and low estradiol and progesterone levels.

Results
Endometrial thickness: 5.9 mm
Right ovary: 6-7 follicles < 10 mm; 0 follicles > 10 mm
Left ovary: 8-9 follicles < 10 mm; 0 follicles > 10 mm
Additional findings: None
Estradiol: 34 pg/ml
Progesterone: 0.6