OpenTube

My IVF Story: Hormone Injections, Egg Retrieval, and the Emotional Rollercoaster

PedsDocTalk

100,521 views

In my first Vlog here on PedsDocTalk TV, I take you behind the scenes on my journey with IVF hormone stimulation and egg retrieval.

I share the ups and downs of this process including:

1. Managing expectations as someone who did 15 days of hormone injections and was a slow responder to follicle growth.

2. Navigating the injection schedule with a toddler and a husband who works evenings/nights (and the importance of a support system).

3. The emotional rollercoaster that is this journey.

4. Managing appointments with a clinical job as a Pediatrician (Hint: IVF. in itself is a part time job!)

5. The waiting game as the follicles grow and the stress with the monitoring process

6. Side effects of the meds and egg retrieval Join me as I take you on this journey.

Are you an IVF warrior or new to this process? Comment below.

Subscribe to my channel for my next vlog where I will hopefully have positive updates.

Here are the videos I used to learn how to mix/prepare meds:

Follistim
How To Inject Follistim® AQ Cartridge | Fe...

Menopur
How To Inject Menopur® With Q-Cap Subcutan...

Cetrotide
How To Inject Cetrotide® | Fertility Treat...

Leuprolide
How To Inject Leuprolide Acetate Trigger |...

Pregnyl
How To Inject Pregnyl® (hCG) Subcutaneousl...

Check out all of the PedsDocTalk Courses for more guidance, tips, and support during parenthood. Visit https://pedsdoctalk.com/courses/
Sign up for the PedsDocTalk newsletter to stay updated on the latest news on all things child health and parenting! Here is the link: https://pedsdoctalk.com/newsletter/

SUBSCRIBE to PedsDocTalk to stay up to date! @pedsdoctalk
Listen to The PedsDocTalk Podcast available on all Podcast apps.
Many more resources at https://pedsdoctalk.com/
Shop Dr. Mona's favorite products: https://shopmy.us/shop/pedsdoctalk?ta... (paid link)

FOLLOW ME:
Instagram: Instagram: pedsdoctalk
Tik Tok: TikTok: pedsdoctalk
Facebook: Facebook: pedsdoctalk

20 Comments

@bubbleslovesmichael81958 3 years ago

I’m starting my IVF journey in 2023 and excited but scared. Your video has helped me so much. It’s real and it’s raw. Waaay different than the other IVF journey videos on YouTube. Extremely grateful for this video 💕. Praying for my 2023 rainbow/s🌈

@our2miraclebabies496 2 years ago

We loved this video and all she shared ! We went thru a very similar experience where my wife dealt with Infertility, Surrogacy, NICU, while having Multiple Sclerosis to ultimately having twins !

@AylolAikx 1 year ago

Thank you for posting your journey. I'm going to start on my IVF journey soon. You have shown a more realistic journey than most of the videos I've watched.

@megs83182 4 years ago

This is so so great Dr. Mona!! Thank you for sharing. I did IVF at UCLA. My last stim cycle lasted 15 days as well! We ended up with 6 eggs and 4 fertilized - we ended up with 4 blasts. Did a fresh transfer of the two best looking embryos and we now have beautiful b/g twins who are almost 2. The waiting and lack of control was so hard for me as well!! Hang in there - you got this 💕 sending good thoughts and hugs your way!

@LovelyAwesomePerson 4 years ago (edited)

Sending love and light ❤️. I do my retrieval today… my follicles are up to about 7 that are between 15-20 by day 10 .. hoping for good results . I’m 40yrs 6mths, 1st child 🙏🏽

@notmemes5390 4 years ago

This was absolutely the most intimate, helpful, thorough, and honest IVF video I’ve watched on YouTube. I have my suppression check tomorrow and hopefully start stim meds the next day. I’m not sure where you are in your journey now, but THANK YOU so much for your vulnerability and sharing! This was such a blessing to me. Wishing love and light to you and your family ❤️

@nchan1026 1 year ago

Hello to all, I am on my IvF journey this is my third time doing this. The first two times was unsuccessful and Im currently awaiting my pregnancy test it’ll be next Tuesday. I’m being positive through everything!! This has been an experience I will never forget. I’m little worried of my progesterone level it was a little low and now they increased my PIO injections to 75 mg daily and prometruim capsule three times a day. I wish everyone going through this an amazing outcome.

@nicolemajor8678 3 years ago

You have documented your journey brilliantly and I am incredibly grateful. I will be beginning my journey soon as I am just learning secondary infertility is my new reality. Congratulations to you and your family. Praying for our 🌈 baby and for anyone on this journey.

@Sopranosingh2021 4 years ago

IVF is a part time job!!! The toll it takes mentally and physically. It’s exhausting!!! My clinic was so busy that the wait times to see our specialist was a minimum of 1 hour sometimes 2. My diagnosis was a low AMH for my age so we went ahead with IVF without wasting a lot of time. It’s weird because with minimal stimulation I ended up with 18 eggs. And 9 embryos which went down to 5 normal after PGT testing.

I have a baby boy who is now 11 months old & such a joy.
We had a frozen transfer & were very fortunate that the first transfer worked. I did do acupuncture leading to the transfer as well as 2 hours before & after the transfer. I don’t know what worked. But something sure did 😊 good luck Mona!! You are a warrior.

@yexcellgutierrez481 2 years ago (edited)

I had my egg retrieval yesterday and 6 eggs were retrieved and only 2 fertilized. One is showing a slow development. I cried with your video. Emotions throughout IVF are a rollercoaster.

@EboneeHayward 9 months ago

Wow thank you so much for sharing this so transparently....I found your video just as we are about to start our journey...and as a doc too, this was so informative❤ thank you

@daneenkosa9962 3 years ago

OMG I am so grateful that you documented your journey. I will be going through my first IVF after 6 failed IUIs and I am so anxious!! You are awesome and I wish you the best!!!

@2martinezm 4 years ago

Not going thru the process of IVF. Just watching because I love and support you. I cried with this video... as much as you did. All I hope and hope really hard is that this works at the end for you😘❤️

@stephanieboseman342 3 years ago

Great video and very thoughtful to include authentic tips/ advice. Everyone’s journey is different…. PERIOD! 👍🏽. Thanks

@LaLaAce44 3 years ago

I just wanted to tell you THANK YOU. You have helped me more than you know. I am currently going through IVF stimulation. Similar to your stimulation's progress, my eggs were not growing during the first 6 days of stims. My IVF doctor was seriously considering canceling my cycle. I have watched this specific video a few times and during an appointment I had a few days ago, I remembered a part of it where they increased your Menopur from one vial to two. That was also the dose they had me on. The doctor had no intention of suggesting it. So I advocated for myself and asked her if it was possible to increase the Menopur, since I was only taking one vial. She hesitated but agreed to do it. iI have been doing the double dose of menopur for 3 days now. This morning and my scan , my estrogen level increased from 42 to 94 pg/ml and my follicles increased from 6 mm to 10, 9, 8, and 7 mm and I had an additional one showing that is 5 mm. and the best knews is Im still in the fight. got two more days before my next appointment. Just that one little detail of your experience, kept me hopeful and saved my cycle from getting cancelled. : )

@heathernuske5867 3 years ago

Thank you for sharing your journey! I’m just about to start IVF and this was very helpful in getting me prepared and knowledgeable of the process and emotions that I’ll likely experience throughout. All the very best to you and your journey. Looking forward to upcoming videos about your journey ❤

@feffoose 4 years ago

Have watched a bunch of ivf journey vlogs since I'm on the ride myself and I have to say yours may be my favorite. You're informative, authentic, and relatable. Sending you baby dust 💓

@Bound2Breakthrough 4 years ago

Thank you for sharing your personal journey and being so real. You’re so brave and so strong with all those needles you had to inject daily for so many days. Sending you much love and success

@gisellepierre9516 3 years ago

Thank you for this video. I am a pediatrician as well, starting my ivf journey next week, feeling anxious for several reasons including being an international patient so I don’t have the comfort of home. I appreciate your realness and honesty.

@staciadams6373 3 years ago

Ty for sharing. I'm considering my options, ur video was the first IVF video I watched and I truly felt ur emotions all the way thru. Ur tips and shared experience r priceless, thank u for ur vulnerability.