Once our other issues were sorted out, we showed up at Manipal and were greeted by Dr. Jyothi who was wondering as to where we had disappeared. She had some news for us. The older Dr. Sulochana Gunasheela at Gunasheela IVF had passed away. Dr. Jyothi had been invited to come back there as Medical director by the daughter Dr. Devika Gunasheela who was now running the center.
It was a bit of a surprise, but we could not grudge Dr. Jyothi the opportunity. Dr. Jyoti handed us off to Dr. Bina Vasan, made introductions and updated her about our case, and planned her exit out of Manipal. We started with Dr. Vasan for the FET.
Dr. Bina Vasan was certainly a busier doctor with a huge patient load. One aspect is that she sees too many patients to fully know everybody's case in detail. In fact, I am not sure how Dr. Jyothi is at Gunasheela because I am sure her patient load has gone multifold. Anyway, she gave us a briefing and handed us over to Dr. Manju and Shyamala for the FET.
In FET, they basically give you medication to suppress the pitutary gland which controls the menstrual cycle. This is followed by estrogen tablets as the cycle begins. In other words, the doctors control the hormones and growth of the endometrial lining. Once they had a good lining. Simultaneously, oocytes also grows in the ovary like any normal cycle. Once the lining is deemed good, once again ovulation is induced by an injection. Then the progesterone doses start. Once the age of the progesterone treated lining matches that of the embryo. The embryos are then unfreezed and thawed and observed as to whether they are alive and multiplying. If that is established, then a transfer can be executed.
We had all three embryos survive the freeze. Two were properly divided at 32 cells and the other one was a bit slow and supposedly not all that great. The embryos were proclaimed to be of good quality and the uterus lining was supposedly beautiful. Dr. Bina Vasan did the embryo transfer which is a 5 minute process and we were off to the waiting period.
Post embryo transfer period consists of rest and many medications. Progesterone mainly in the form of suppositories (vaginal tablets) and injections, estrogen tabs, a mild dose of prednisolone (steroid) to lower immunity, folic acid etc.
Unfortunately and devastatingly, not a single one of these guys took hold. Our serum HCG test after 15 days had nothing. As usual, nothing prepares you for a situation like this, even though one knows that a negative result is a distinct possibility.
It was a bit of a surprise, but we could not grudge Dr. Jyothi the opportunity. Dr. Jyoti handed us off to Dr. Bina Vasan, made introductions and updated her about our case, and planned her exit out of Manipal. We started with Dr. Vasan for the FET.
Dr. Bina Vasan was certainly a busier doctor with a huge patient load. One aspect is that she sees too many patients to fully know everybody's case in detail. In fact, I am not sure how Dr. Jyothi is at Gunasheela because I am sure her patient load has gone multifold. Anyway, she gave us a briefing and handed us over to Dr. Manju and Shyamala for the FET.
In FET, they basically give you medication to suppress the pitutary gland which controls the menstrual cycle. This is followed by estrogen tablets as the cycle begins. In other words, the doctors control the hormones and growth of the endometrial lining. Once they had a good lining. Simultaneously, oocytes also grows in the ovary like any normal cycle. Once the lining is deemed good, once again ovulation is induced by an injection. Then the progesterone doses start. Once the age of the progesterone treated lining matches that of the embryo. The embryos are then unfreezed and thawed and observed as to whether they are alive and multiplying. If that is established, then a transfer can be executed.
We had all three embryos survive the freeze. Two were properly divided at 32 cells and the other one was a bit slow and supposedly not all that great. The embryos were proclaimed to be of good quality and the uterus lining was supposedly beautiful. Dr. Bina Vasan did the embryo transfer which is a 5 minute process and we were off to the waiting period.
Post embryo transfer period consists of rest and many medications. Progesterone mainly in the form of suppositories (vaginal tablets) and injections, estrogen tabs, a mild dose of prednisolone (steroid) to lower immunity, folic acid etc.
Unfortunately and devastatingly, not a single one of these guys took hold. Our serum HCG test after 15 days had nothing. As usual, nothing prepares you for a situation like this, even though one knows that a negative result is a distinct possibility.
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