Click here for episode 1

Irene had started her injections on day 3 of her cycle. After five days of injections, it brought us to day 8 and she was here for her ultrasound. This is what we saw:

RIGHT OVARY: (14×13) (15×14) (13×13)
LEFT OVARY: (16×14)

Lining = 8mm Triple Layer

This was a great stimulation. There were enough follicles to give a good chance of pregnancy, but not so many that we needed to be concerned about quadruplets. The follicles were not quite ripe yet, but they were close. I continued her on the same dose and brought her back after two more days.

This is what we saw:

RIGHT OVARY: (16×16) (17×16) (13×13)
LEFT OVARY: (21×18)

Lining = 8mm Triple Layer

It was a tossup whether to trigger the ovulation today or to wait one more day. I decided to go ahead and trigger and bring her back two days later for the insemination. In general, for first time patients, I trigger at around 5PM in anticipation of ovulation in the morning two days later.

Irene came back two days later and had her insemination. She was started on progesterone supplementation.

Twelve days later, she came for her pregnancy test. It was positive! Her hCG level was 88 IU/L !

For most first time pregnant women, this would be a great moment of joy. For Irene who had four miscarriages in four pregnancies, this was the beginning of the scary time.

As planned, she was started on daily injections of heparin.

Click here for episode 8.