Fertility Unspoken

Today started early with a trip to the doctor’s office for an ultrasound and bloodwork. Unfortunately, the poor nurses had a hard time finding a good vein. After three nurses and four pokes (ouch!), we finally struck gold. I think hydration is in my future—clearly, I need to be drinking more water!

Despite the poking fiasco, I got some good news this afternoon. The nurse called to let me know my levels look good, but we still have some time until my follicles reach the right size. For those who don’t know, the follicles are little sacs that hold the eggs, and the doctors are aiming for them to reach about 18mm before they’re mature. Right now, my biggest follicle is at 8mm, so we’ve got some growing to do.

I’m carrying around 20 follicles right now, and let me tell you, I feel for the girlies who have 40 or more. I can’t even imagine the discomfort! It’s already a bit awkward and tender with my 20, so I truly admire the strength of women going through this with double that amount.

This afternoon, I got a call that I need to up my Gonal-F dosage. Cue the nerves and emotions. Every new update brings a wave of anxiety, and sometimes I just want to curl up with my husband and block out the world. There’s comfort in his presence, and right now, I need all the comfort I can get.

On top of everything, I’m also trying to make healthier choices when it comes to food. But let me be honest—it’s a major struggle. When you’re already dealing with needles, emotions, and the roller coaster of IVF, the last thing you want to worry about is whether your snack is “healthy” or not. Yet, I know I need to fuel my body better to support this journey. It’s tough though, especially when you just want to treat yourself!

So here I am, navigating this day one needle poke at a time, hoping that tomorrow brings a bit more peace and progress. Until then, it’s one step (or follicle) at a time.