no news isn't always good news: November 2012

How we got here

2012- February 14- Maggie was born!
2011- June- 6w4d u/s shows singleton pregnancy, HR 115bpm.
2011- June- beta 6/3- Positive! 174 2nd beta 6/6 = 534. We're pregnant!
2011- May- started stims on 5/8, CD2. 28 eggs retrieved on CD13. 7 mature; 4 fertilized and transferred on CD15.
2011- April- started Lupron on 4/29, CD22.
2011- March- met with RE to start planning #2.
2010- March 22- Charlotte was born!
2009- July beta 103 @11dp3dt; 512@15dp3dt (1.72day doubling time). EDD 3/25/2010
2009- July- ET (5 embies) on 7/5; HPT- BFP@9dp3dt
2009- June/July- IVF #2- long Lupron protocol. 40 eggs retrieved on CD12. 24 mature; 15 fertilized.
2009- Mar/Apr- 7th IUI cycle, OI w/ Gonal-F; 11 follies, converted to IVF #1. BFN
2009- March- sixth IUI cycle, +100mg clomid. BFN.
2009- February- fifth IUI cycle, +100mg clomid. BFN.
2009- January- social worker, clomid challenge, HSG, mammogram. Everything A-OK.
2009- January- first insured appointment with the RE. Testing ensues.
2008- November- fourth IUI cycle, +100mg clomid- BFN.
2008- October- third IUI cycle, +100mg clomid- BFN.
2008- September- second IUI cycle- BFN.
2008- August- first IUI cycle- BFN.
2008- July- first visit to an RE, paid out-of-pocket. Referred to local clinic specializing in AI.
2008- July- union-provided health insurance is exempt from state mandates. We're on our own.
2008- June- sent C. to a urologist- SA reveals zero sperm.
2008- March- started charting BBT.
2007- September- gave up caffeine and alcohol, started observing "fertile signs" and timing our attempts.
2007- June- married Mr. Right. No longer "trying not to."
2004- finally met my Mr. Right

Common Acronyms in the IF Community

#DP#DT- number of days past _-day transfer (IVF cycles)
#DPO - number of days past ovulation
3DT- 3 day transfer (in an IVF cycle, embryos are grown for three days outside the body then transferred into the uterus)
5DT- 5 day transfer (in an IVF cycle, embryos are grown for five days outside the body then transferred into the uterus)
AF - Auntie Flo (menses)
b/w- blood work
BFN- big fat negative
BFP- big fat positive
CD# - cycle day... i.e. CD4 is day #4 of a menstrual cycle
ER - egg retrieval
ET - embryo transfer
FSH- follicle stimulating hormone
Gonal-F- an injectible FSH
HCG- human chorionic gonadotropin- an injectible drug that triggers ovulation
HPT- home pregnancy test
ICI- intracervical insemination
IF - infertility
IUI- intrauterine insemination
IVF- in vitro fertilization- eggs are retrieved from the ovaries then fertilized outside the body with the intent of transferring to the uterus some number of viable embryos.
LH- leutinizing hormone
Lupron- an injectible drug that suppresses normal production of LH and FSH
MFI- male factor infertility
OPK- ovulation predictor kit
POAS- pee on a stick (as with HPTs or OPKs)
PUPO- pregnant until proven otherwise
RE- reproductive endocrinologist
TWW - two week wait (2WW)
u/s- ultrasound