Cycle Day 1 | Beginning of our Egg Harvesting (hopefully)

This is me heading to work.

A blood test later...

8:45 AM PST

It's April! Danny and I decided to take February and March off from all these doctors visits, needles, hormones and fancy plastic sperm collection cups.  I'm so thankful we did. Now feeling refreshed and excited, let's get this IVF journey started!

Yesterday was cycle day 1 and I went in for an FSH* blood test. They want to see:

1. Where my FSH levels are currently 
2. Have me take a Lupron* injection later in the day (eeek)
3. Retest my FSH levels 16 hours later (did this today)

Essentially they want to see how the hormones affect me. I HATE NEEDLES, but I'll do anything at this point.

Shout out to our sweet friend from NorCal Crossfit, who works at NOVA IVF. 

I know we're in great hands. 

I had to time the Lupron shot so I could get my second blood test before work (16 hours). Cause I wanted to go in at 8:30 AM Thursday, I had to take the shot at 4:30 PM Wednesday. That said, I went to 3:30 Crossfit class, got a good workout it, and Danny came to give me to shot right after. Probably not the most ideal place to have my first shot, but the only private spot was in the back of our gym.

HA! Here's a video of my nervous laugh... 

Now we just wait to see how the FSH levels are and if I can move forward with harvesting my eggs this month. Praying all goes well and we get a tentative IVF schedule! 

*FSH: What is FSH? Like LH, its close relative, it’s quite a complex hormone. Centrally controlled by the pituitary gland, FSH manages reproductive cells – in both men and women. In women, it helps regulate menstrual cycles. It’s also instrumental in the production, growth and maturing of follicles in the ovaries. As women near ovulation, FSH levels peak. A good-quality egg effectively reduces your FSH. Learn more...



*Lupron: Lupron acts by suppressing the pituitary gland (the gland which is normally responsible for triggering ovulation). However, before suppression occurs, Lupron will briefly stimulate the pituitary causing an increase in the pituitary hormones LH (luteinizing hormone) and FSH (follicle stimulating hormone). This is called the agonist or flare phase (see picture). If the Lupron is continued, it will eventually stop the pituitary from producing LH and FSH. This is known as the suppression phase. Learn more...