So my "WTF?" appt. didn't tell me all that much, but it was still good. I already knew that I had passed the sac prior to my D&E so there wasn't any fetal tissue to test. After a lot of thought, I think I'm ok with that. Might have made things tougher. Basically the doc dissected my last cycle and then gave us his recommendations. Pretty much what I mentioned the other night...we'd do the estrogen priming protocol. Still not 100% sure why he is changing things up, but I'm ok with it. Apparently the "EPP" is usually for poor responders, which he said didn't apply to me as I did have 12 eggs at retrieval. But, he did say that my responding wasn't off the charts either. So I'm thinking that he's hoping to get more eggs with this New protocol. He did say my bloodwork at trigger time showed only low to average estrogen for the number of follies I had, so I'm thinking maybe that also has something to do with choosing this route. The only new info he presented was the idea of doing CCS testing. Any of you guys familiar with this? Basically he said my AMH was great...my FSH level was great too. The only "kicker" as he called it, was my age. Womp-Womp. So the idea of producing a big batch of follies, then giving each of them this complete chromosomal biopsy (at what looks to cost an average of 5K, but he is going to go to bat for us with Aetna) is what he thinks is best for us. I am definitely a fan of this plan, but there are two scary factors (well probably more, but two for now) 1. None of my follies make it to blast which is where they need to be for CCS, and 2. Whatever # make it to blast get tested and come back "abnormal". Sigh. Just thinking about that possibility is a tad overwhelming. I'm gonna try to keep my PMA and move forward. Gonna call tomorrow to get price specifics, then I just need AF to show up. (Of course i was hoping doc would immediately insist that I take a pregnancy test right that instant, but alas he hardly even batted an eyelash). This EPP business takes a lot longer than the microdose Lupron protocol, so she better arrive STAT! Any CCS experts in our group?? Or even non-experts?? The googling I've been doing makes it out to be the wave of the future for IVF...
Hey Turkey. CCS is the type of PGD that we did. It's called PGS or preimplantation genetic screening at my clinic. Every clinic calls it something different but essentially it tests to make sure all the chromosomes are normal vs regular PGD which tests for specific genetic disorders. My RE is a huge proponent of this and he said it will be standard for all IVF cycles at some point in the future because it ups the success rates so dramatically. We were quoted a 65% success rate for cycles with PGD tested embryos.
Also, even younger women can have a lot of abnormal embryos. In my age group 30-35 my RE said the rate is of abnormals is approximately 50% which is exactly what we had. We tested 8 embryos and only 4 were normal. In my case I chose to do the testing because I can only transfer one embryo at a time. I'm too high risk to carry twins due to my blood clotting disorder. If you can transfer two embryos, chances are you'll transfer at least one normal. That being said, knowing what I know now, if I were ever to cycle again I would 100% do the testing.
At my clinic they biopsy day 5 embryos because by that time the embryo is 100 cells and it's less damaging to take a few cells from something that is 100 cells vs an 8-10 cell day 3 embryo. By day 5 they can tell which cells become the fetus and which ones become the placenta and they take cells that would become the placenta. On day 3 they use a laser to drill a small hole in the outer shell of the embryo and by day 5 a couple of cells have started to pouch out of that hole and those are the ones sent off for testing.
My clinic freezes the embryos and then does a FET the next cycle. I asked about the day 6 transfer but my RE believes that it's better to wait and do a FET because the high estrogen levels from a stim cycle can negatively affect implantation in some women. Most likely you'll have to meet with a genetic counselor from the company that your clinic uses and they will give you so much more info and detail on the process.
So excited that you're getting started again soon!! Come on AF!!
I hope you can get in earlier to see your doctor.
