Gambling in Vegas...or the equivalent of it in the IF world

So, after really no thinking at all, we decided NOT to do the IVF with genetic embryo testing. $20K is way too much money to spend on a possibility. We just aren't into flushing that much money down the toilet at this point. Not sure we will ever be into that, actually.

Dr. Surrey at CCRM told us that in our case doing an IUI would be like gambling in Vegas: the odds are certainly stacked against us. We figured, using his analogy, that there are also circumstances where people beat the odds and win big. So, that is what we are going to do....gamble.

We are all set to do an IUI (with injectables) cycle in November. My biggest hope at this point is that it does not affect the travel that Matt has scheduled for that time. It will be within days of his planned trip, so we are cutting it close. At Kaiser, though, they do not do IUIs in December....and I plan to travel to Chicago in January. It is now or not for quite some time. We chose now.

Here is the rundown:

call the clinic on CD 1

go in anytime prior to CD 5 for ultrasound and bloodwork

take clomid on CD 5 through CD 9

do injections of either menopur or repronex (FSH) on CD 9 and CD 10

go in on CD 12 for ultrasound and bloodwork

wait for natural LH surge (no trigger shot for this cycle!)

after surge is detected, schedule IUI for the following day (I think)

We are not putting a lot of faith or hope into this cycle working. We do know the odds. Even if it does work, I would have at least a 30% chance of another miscarriage. We are willing to take all of the chances, though, because an IUI cycle will only cost us about $1000. I like betting in small amounts.....

We will keep you posted. This cycle will be completed prior to the Thanksgiving holiday. Keep us in your thoughts and wish us luck. We could use some....

Appointment with Dr. Surrey at CCRM

So, we really didn't learn anything new. It was basically what we were expecting. Our best option (and the one Dr. Surrey is recommending) is IVF with genetic testing of embryos prior to putting them back. PGD costs about an additional $4000. They are also doing a study right now at CCRM on a new genetic testing procedure where they test all the embryo cells for all the most common abnormalities. This testing would take 3 to 4 weeks, so all the embryos would have to then be frozen for a later transfer. Because it is a study, it would only cost an additional $1000 (versus the $4000 for PGD). Sadly, they don't discount the cycle itself. You don't have to pay for a full FET cycle, but you still pay for the transfer. He would have us repeat a TON of testing (including FSH...which I JUST DID!), in addition to doing some new sperm tests. All in all, a cycle would cost us at least $20K. Hmmmm...doesn't sound so great to me! Dr. Surrey said even if all the embryos turned out to be bad and we couldn't do a transfer, at least we would have one answer.....yeah, for the low low cost of $20K. Not bad!

Dr. Surrey equated us doing an IUI cycle with gambling in Vegas. It COULD work, but the odds are certainly against us. Yes, but at $1500 a pop, it seems like a nicer bet to take! I think dh and I have decided to do an IUI through our carrier /doctor(Kaiser) in November. I am going to ask him about taking baby aspirin and steroids just as a precaution going into the cycle. If it doesn't hurt, why not?

Anyway, that is the state of the union. His only thought on the miscarriage issue is that it is just bad luck with chromosomal abnormalities of the embryos. Each cycle / batch is different, so we still have hope. No second thoughts on my endometriosis, except he doesn't recommend another surgery, which is good.

So, there ya have it!

More to come down the road, I am sure......