Baby 2

IVF @ Grace Fertility

Minimal Stim IVF · Grace Fertility (Dr. Cheung) · Outcome: Negative · IVF Cycle 1 — Complete

Eggs

retrieved

Fertilized

of 7 (86%)

Transferred

Day 3 fresh

Blastocysts

of 3 remaining

Frozen

none banked

Outcome

Negative

Apr 4

⏱️ Timeline

Phase 1 — Workup & Diagnosis

Complete

Ovarian reserve: AFC ~4 (low), AMH low-end for age
Diagnosis: Diminished ovarian reserve (DOR)
HSG: Blocked tubes identified; SIS and tubal canalization flagged
BC public IVF waitlist: Applied, est. start 2028 — proceeding self-pay

Phase 2 — Pre-Cycle Preparation

Complete

Feb 8–12 — Letrozole priming (CD3–7)
Feb 26–Mar 3 — Estradiol suppression (CD21–CD1)
Protocol: Minimal stim (Clomid + Puregon/follitropin beta)
Genetic testing: Igenomix selected for PGT-A
Consent & fees signed (Grace + Igenomix); embryo disposal form completed

Phase 3 — Stimulation

Complete

Mar 4 — CD1 (period arrives); estradiol stopped
Mar 5 — Stim begins: Clomid 50mg AM, Puregon alternating 200/400 IU nightly
Mar 9 — US #1: 6-8 follicles ~7.5mm; Puregon normalized to flat 200 IU
Mar 13 — US #2: lead 13mm (R), cohort 7-8mm (L); Orgalutran added
Stim extended to let left cohort catch up; local histamine reaction (harmless)
Mar 18 — Ovidrel trigger shot (11:30pm); Indomethacin started
Mar 19 — Last day of Indomethacin

Phase 4 — Egg Retrieval

Complete

Mar 20, 10:00am — Retrieval at Grace Fertility (~30 min, IV sedation)
7 eggs retrieved
Crinone gel progesterone support started (2x daily, continued until Apr 4)

Phase 5 — Fertilization

Complete

Mar 21 — Fertilization report: 6 of 7 fertilized (86%)
Embryos now in culture

Phase 6 — Day 3 Fresh Transfer

Complete

Mar 22 — Day 2: 4 of 6 embryos still developing
Mar 23 — Day 3 fresh transfer (3 embryos)

Embryo	Cells	Quality	Status
1 (leader)	8-cell	16/20	Transferred
2	3-cell	15/20	Transferred
3	3-cell	14/20	Transferred
4	3-cell	—	Kept in culture
5	2-cell	—	Kept in culture
6	Undivided	—	Likely arrested

Dr. Cheung recommended fresh transfer — lining was good; body is a better incubator for lagging embryos
Ultrasound-guided catheter; air bubble flash confirmed placement
Remaining 3 embryos kept in culture — none reached blastocyst by Day 5/6. No embryos banked.

Implantation probability: ~39% cumulative that at least one would implant. The leader carried most (20–30%); lagging embryos added ~5–10% each.

Phase 7 — Two-Week Wait

Complete

Progesterone: Crinone gel twice daily throughout (from retrieval until period on Apr 4)
Mar 24 — Sore throat (caught from Nathan + mild post-transfer immunosuppression)
Managed conservatively; avoided NSAIDs and pseudoephedrine
Mar 25 — Nathan started vomiting — stomach bug; sick all morning, recovered over the following days
Mar 27 — Adam caught the same stomach bug; recovered fairly quickly
Mar 30–31 — Andrea had mild diarrhea (no major stomach pains); resolved quickly
Largely avoided the worst of the stomach bug despite immunosuppression and close contact with both
Lifestyle: Caffeine <200mg/day, no heavy lifting, no hot baths, showers only
Seasonal allergies overlapped with cold symptoms; managed without antihistamines

Phase 8 — Outcome

Complete — Negative

Apr 4 — Period arrived; transfer unsuccessful
Apr 4 — Beta blood draw at LifeLabs (moved from Apr 3 due to Good Friday closure)
Apr 6 — Clinic results call (expected)
No embryos remain from this cycle

📉 Attrition Funnel

Stage	Count
Eggs retrieved	7
Fertilized (IVF)	6
Developing at Day 2	4
Transferred (Day 3)	3
Remaining in culture	3
Reached blastocyst	0
Banked / frozen	0
Implanted	0

📅 Cycle at a Glance

Date	Event
Feb 8–12	Letrozole priming (CD3–7)
Feb 26–Mar 3	Estradiol suppression (CD21–CD1)
Mar 4	CD1 — period arrives
Mar 5	Stimulation starts (Clomid + Puregon)
Mar 9	Monitoring #1 — 6-8 follicles ~7.5mm; dose adjusted to 200 IU
Mar 13	Monitoring #2 — lead 13mm (R), cohort 7-8mm (L); Orgalutran added
Mar 18	Ovidrel trigger shot (11:30pm); Indomethacin started
Mar 20	Egg retrieval — 7 eggs
Mar 21	Fertilization report — 6/7 fertilized
Mar 22	Day 2 — 4 of 6 still developing
Mar 23	Day 3 fresh transfer — 3 embryos (8-cell leader + two 3-cells)
~Mar 27	Remaining 3 embryos failed to reach blastocyst — none frozen
Apr 4	Period arrived — transfer unsuccessful. Beta drawn at LifeLabs.
Apr 6	Clinic results call (expected)

🎯 Key Decisions

Decision	Status	Notes
Self-pay vs. waitlist	Resolved	Proceeded self-pay; BC public waitlist remains open (est. 2028)
Protocol type	Resolved	Minimal stim (Clomid + Puregon + Orgalutran)
Fresh vs. freeze-all	Resolved	Fresh transfer on Day 3; lining was receptive. No PGT-A this cycle.
Number transferred	Resolved	3 embryos — the leader + two lagging 3-cells, per Dr. Cheung's recommendation
Next cycle approach	Active	To discuss Apr 6: back-to-back vs. paced cycles, FET vs. fresh, protocol adjustments
Future cycle location	Open	Cross-border options explored: Budapest monitoring + Czech/Slovakia (LilyMed–Repromeda, Istenhegyi–GYNCARE). Full clinic research →

🗓️ What's Next

Apr 6: Clinic call with beta results — becomes the "what next" conversation with Dr. Cheung
Back-to-back retrieval vs. paced cycles?
FET cycle (estrogen priming for better lining) vs. another fresh transfer? Clomid's anti-estrogenic effects on lining are a factor.
Summer timing feasibility for a European cross-border cycle — clinic research compiled
BC publicly funded IVF program: longer-term option, estimated 2028 waitlist

↑ Back to top