As I say good-bye to 2011, I also say good bye to the 11 hopeful attempts to get pregnant. The last of which was a shot in the dark. My doc had already speculated that getting pregnant "this way" was probably not going to work for me. Seeing as how I still had one more vial of swimmers hanging out at Kaiser, I figured I might as well go for it, rather than renting a tank, picking up the lil guys and paying for them to be stored at my sperm bank.
So, I went for it. Like the other medicated cycles, I went in for frequent sonograms, gave myself nightly injections and followed the doctor's orders. About a week and a half after the insemination however, I said to hell with the orders and danced hard, had a drink at a Superbowl party and didn't run from second hand smoke. I pretty much knew I wasn't pregnant. Who knows how I knew, but I did. And I was right.
Well, at least I didn't pay for the last insemination - when I checked in for the insemination, the clerk at Kaiser didn't ask for the usual $180 payment for the procedure. Confused, I double checked and clarified with the clerk that I didn't have to pay. She checked her computer, nodded and confirmed - no payment. Hmm, ok. I went with it, expecting that they would figure out the mistake and stop me on the way out. But they didn't. Go figure. Chrissy, my "partner" at my insemination and I joked that I must have filled up my "frequent artificial insemination card" and this was my buy 10 get one free day!
So, the doc was right. This method (IUI) of getting pregnant did not work for me. Time to move on. The dreaded letters I-V-F. For those of you confused by all the acronyms, here's the low down on In vitro fertilization (according to good ole Wikipedia)...In vitro fertilisation (IVF) is a process by which egg cells are fertilised by sperm outside the body: in vitro. IVF is a major treatment in infertility when other methods of assisted reproductive technology have failed. The process involves hormonally controlling the ovulatory process, removing ova (eggs) from the woman's ovaries and letting sperm fertilise them in a fluid medium. The fertilised egg (zygote) is then transferred to the patient's uterus with the intent to establish a successful pregnancy.
So there you have it. My eggies will be removed from my body, injected with my donor's sperm and placed back into me once they fertilize. Clearly, this method is far more invasive, requiring much medical attention and therefor highly costly. In addition to the costs of the doctor visits and care, I'll have to continue taking medications which will add to the costs. In the United States, IVF may cost between 13-20k. That's a one time deal, no guarantee. Some states offer insurance assistance and others, like Hawaii allow women to try again for free should the first attempt be unsuccessful. California offers no such support, which means I take on all expenses in full.
This is why I've decided to do this procedure abroad, where the costs are 1/3 of the going rate in the United States. After scheduling several phone consults with local fertility clinics, I cancelled them all. I came to the realization that if I go ahead with IVF in the states, I may not have much $$$ left to raise a child! And, I have been itching for a vacation...
I've decided to go with a clinic in Barbados http://www.barbadosivf.com/. I had also considered Thailand, though flights are cheaper to Barbados and the distance of course, much closer. Should I need to freeze eggs at the clinic and return for another cycle, Barbados is far more accessible. I've done a bit of homework and discovered that the clinic was founded my a female Irish doctor who opened her business in Barbados to cater to women and couples seeking IVF at low treatment prices. She advertises an "IVF vacation" and will even set clients up with air fare, lodging, and a cell phone to use while staying on the island to communicate easily with the clinic.
I contacted the clinic and they very promptly responded to my inquiry with a large source of information to study. I soon plan to take the next step and request a phone consult with the doctor. Before doing so however, I need to set up an international phone plan with AT&T or look into Skype. Finding time to chat may be tricky considering the time change and my inability to pick up a phone during school hours.
In the meantime, I'm keeping busy with work and play. Report card season is upon me, so I probably won't take any further steps until I put those to rest - way too much stress to take on all at once. I also scored another job! I applied for a Hot Hula position and was offered the position. I will soon be teaching a class Friday nights. I also decided to compete in solo competition again this year, so I've been busy dancing hard, brainstorming costumes and toning up my body. I've shed a few pounds, my clothes are fitting comfortably and I'm feeling pretty good. It's nice to not have to stress over whether I'm pregnant or not.
Looking to head to Barbados after the school year - end of June. I've got a few lovely friends who are on board to vacation with me on a beach and to care for me the few days I'll be in recovery. I'm getting excited planning for the trip - I've already figured out where we'll be lodging and have an idea how much the air fare will cost. If my body doesn't give me a baby after this attempt, I'll at least get a vacation out of it, right? Gotta find the good in every situation!
Well, that's how my 2012 has kicked off. Since I'm taking a break until IVF in Barbados, I may not have too much to blog about. Perhaps when I start researching in depth, conversing with the clinic, choosing a new donor, and making concrete plans to head over, I'll have more to share. Until then, as always, thanks all for following and caring.
Peace and love!
