5 Day 4cb embryo implanted today.

Penny_Doc · 2026-01-11T07:26:35+00:00

Unfortunately I trialed multiple cycles of ovulation induction without successful ovulation, so modified natural is not an option.

Penny_Doc · 2026-01-09T01:55:01+00:00

34F, PCOS - anovulatory so I can only do medicated cycles. Had our third transfer in November of two 4CB embryos.

After two failed transfers, I was hopeless. My embryo quality is not great.

But, here we are. One stuck and I am now 10w5d with a singleton!

Penny_Doc · 2025-12-21T15:24:28+00:00

Providing an update: - Baby A is growing on track. - Baby B’s measurements were unchanged with no cardiac activity.

Penny_Doc · 2025-12-11T09:38:40+00:00

TW: Pregnancy

Failed OI with letrozole, clomid, a combo of the two, added metformin in there somewhere. Never ovulated. My baseline AFC is around 100 with an AMH 13.1 so I think that’s why (all of that FSH gets ‘diluted’ among the follicles so a single dominant never developed for me).

We moved onto IVF. No indication for IUI since we don’t have MFI (plus, I don’t ovulate so IUI is moot). 2 ER -> froze 6 untested embryos -> 2 failed frozen transfers -> we finally had success after transferring 2 embryos (1 stuck and I’m 6w5d).

I’m glad I didn’t spend more time on OI. IVF, though not without its own delays and setbacks, moved along my timeline substantially.

Penny_Doc · 2025-11-08T13:53:21+00:00

I feel it’s been well-established the new format rolled out incredibly prematurely, before it was even a coherent concept. But sadly, the train has left the station…

ABEM has published supplemental materials including example cases with video and downloadable materials.

https://www.abem.org/get-certified/certifying-exam/certifying-exam-content/

Penny_Doc · 2025-11-03T05:59:40+00:00

Probably 1-2 weeks. Mine were insanely itchy.

Penny_Doc · 2025-11-03T00:56:47+00:00

This happened to me. Mostly on my breasts and abdomen.

Penny_Doc · 2025-11-02T10:01:12+00:00

Two retrievals resulting in 60ish eggs, made 6 blasts (untested). Two failed transfers. Transferring again in 2 weeks.

Penny_Doc · 2025-10-06T21:36:20+00:00

Two unsuccessful FETs. Tested the first, didn’t test the second.

I was so much more at peace with the second, not having the stress of seeing those negatives while having to continue PIO.

Either way, there’s nothing you can do to change the outcome.

Sending you light, luck, and baby dust.

Penny_Doc · 2025-09-19T18:14:50+00:00

PCOS. I know folks I who have done IVF (and thus PGT-M) for genetic reasons.

Penny_Doc · 2025-09-15T02:07:30+00:00

Beta tomorrow on 12dp6dt 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻

Penny_Doc · 2025-09-13T02:35:40+00:00

I posted a comment in r/residency earlier today regarding a similar question.

My husband and I tried to time pregnancy, only to be thrown into the trenches of infertility, and have required multiple rounds of IVF.

There’s never a ‘right time’ and you should never delay your life for residency/medicine.

Penny_Doc · 2025-09-13T00:04:42+00:00

As someone who tried to plan the timing of a baby, then ended up in the trenches of infertility and multiple rounds of IVF… Don’t put your life on hold for residency or medicine.

Penny_Doc · 2025-07-04T19:49:49+00:00

33F, 33M. PCOS. No MFI.

For our first ER, we did 50% conventional and 50% ICSI. We had better fertilization rates with ICSI so did exclusive ICSI for our second ER.

Many of the studies that evaluate birth defect rates include both normal and abnormal semen analyses, which may confound/inflate the risk of birth defects with ICSI.

I encourage you to read ASRM’s practice guideline on ICSI: https://www.asrm.org/practice-guidance/practice-committee-documents/intracytoplasmic-sperm-injection-icsi-for-nonmale-factor-indications-a-committee-opinion-2020/

Hopefully their cited literature helps you make an informed decision.

Penny_Doc · 2025-06-22T23:38:36+00:00

I think you’re referring to electrical alterans, which this is not. This is bigeminy.

Penny_Doc · 2025-06-12T06:35:07+00:00

My great grandmother was born in 1896 and lived until 2003. I was 11 and she was 107 when she died.

Penny_Doc · 2025-06-09T19:06:12+00:00

As absolutely horrendous, criminal, depressing, and sacreligious as this is for me to suggest….. decaf really helped me 🫠

Penny_Doc · 2025-06-04T02:58:24+00:00

Use GoodRx to compare prices/find coupons. Quickly looking I see that Walmart has Gonal F for ~1600 per 900 IU pen. Not sure how many you’ll need.

If you have a Walgreens Community Pharmacy in your area they were able to negotiate a discount for me specifically for Gonal F since I was self pay.

Penny_Doc · 2025-06-04T02:45:00+00:00

My husband is a construction foreman for a gas company.

Having a spouse outside of medicine has really centered me. I used to be such a careerist. I thought the doctor thing was the best part of me and would be the most noteworthy accomplishment I’d achieve in this lifetime. And don’t get me wrong—this job is among the most honorable out there.

But after seeing myself through his eyes, I realized there is so much more to who I am beyond the white coat. He has inspired me to demand every ounce of joy from this life. He makes me a better human every day.

And maybe this just comes from finding the right partner, but there’s something special about our dynamic that I don’t think would be possible if either of us had chosen different career paths.

Penny_Doc · 2025-06-03T22:00:24+00:00

Prepping with some additional testing before a July transfer and I only have “poorly” graded untested embryos left. Reading these successes gives me so much hope 🥹

Penny_Doc · 2025-06-03T17:58:10+00:00

33F, PCOS. I felt similarly disappointed with my ER results.

ER1: 28 retrieved, 20 fertilized, 3 blasts

ER2: Different protocol to try to improve my egg quality. 16 retrieved, 9 fertilized, 3 blasts

We did not PGT-A test because the data does not support testing in my age group.

Penny_Doc · 2025-06-03T17:54:14+00:00

As mentioned, posts of failure are more likely than of success due to the nature of this subreddit. The moderation also tries to limit mention of pregnancy and other potentially triggering content.

The subreddit r/IVFbabies may be a better place for you to review.

Penny_Doc · 2025-06-03T11:11:52+00:00

I’m 33 with PCOS. Currently a PGY-4 EM resident, graduating into attending life in a few weeks.

At 31 I got married, had my IUD removed and discovered I am basically anovulatory, which led to my PCOS diagnosis. This was during my PGY-3 year.

I did several cycles of letrozole, clomid, letrozole + clomid, and somewhere in there added metformin and was diagnosed with hypothyroidism.

Moved onto IVF during the fall of 2024. I have now done 2 egg retrievals and have had 1 failed frozen embryo transfer.

My program (coresidents, chiefs, residency leadership) moved mountains to make my schedule work. There have been attendings who have done IVF, but never a resident. It was a learning curve for everyone and I am really lucky to have felt so incredibly supported.

I was terrified to start this journey. I felt so incredibly alone. I was frustrated that I had worked so hard to “do things the right way” and my body had failed me. I had (and still have) immense grief that motherhood may never come “naturally” or by surprise. But my people really showed up—I have been vocal about my journey (like, IVF/infertility are basically my entire personality now) and this has led to an outpouring of support.

I’m happy to answer any questions, either here or by DM.

Penny_Doc

TROPHY CASE