The Xth time is the Charm

"Seriously? You don't know how to get there by now?" I asked as my Husband plugged the address for XYZ Fertility Centre into his navigation system. This is our sixth trip to their clinic in less than a year. Twice for a retrieval, and now we're en route to our forth transfer. It feels as if we should have some type of frequent guest loyalty card. For the record, I asked my RE what is the highest number of transfers he has performed for the same patient. He recalled there was a woman who did 4 or 5 fresh IVF cycles, as she never had any embryos to freeze. She was over 40 and had a low ovarian reserve, plus stage IV endometriosis and her partner had severe male factor. She became pregnant after her first transfer, but suffered a second trimester loss. Her recovery was further complicated by retained products and endometritis. She went through a few subsequent failed cycles before having a beautiful baby boy, conceived with their own gametes.

"The third time is the charm!" offered Co-worker "It worked for us!" she added. Yes, that was the case as it was their third and final IUI before moving on to IVF. This is the third frozen transfer, and hopefully third pregnancy. However, it's the fourth transfer with our fifth embryo, technically sixth if you count our spontaneous conception. I'm not sure how to score this.

As my RE is considered courtesy staff at ZYX Fertility Clinic, they accommodate their own patients first. We waited half an hour after our scheduled appointment time before they called us back to the transfer room. Actually, as I'm chronically late, I interpreted it as a good sign; although irritating as I had been pacing myself to have a perfectly full, but not too full bladder. We were in a different room than we had been for our previous procedures, which was a welcome change of venue. Husband and I both took note that the embryologist wore a Hello Kitty scrub cab, as I am quite a fan of the mouthless feline. It wasn't the hottie embryologist, as she was working in the next room, but Husband caught a glance at her when we were leaving. My RE reported that the embryo thawed beautifully ...blah, blah...blah... I opted not to take the photo and copy of the embryo report, and I asked my RE to keep it in my chart at his office. If this goes the distance, I'll return to collect the images.

It seems to be getting harder each transfer. To borrow a favourite phrase from my friend Aramis; my uterus is an asshole and was completely uncooperative. My RE went through 3 or 4 catheters during the mock transfer; but his patience paid off, as the final placement was perfect. I also carried something else from Aramis. While she was in Prague, she picked up a small figurine of an orange cat, just after Angus died. I thought it was very cool to have something from the Czech Republic, and something that represented Angus with me.  When I got back home, Tyler joined me for my rest and recovery.