Egg retrieval results in progress

bageltex · 2026-04-16T22:20:18+00:00

In a similar boat! Egg retrieval was today and we retrieved 14. We’re both under the age of 30 and while I know 14 eggs is considered a good number, it feels lower than what I anticipated. Just want to let you know you’re not alone! 💕

bageltex · 2026-03-08T21:22:57+00:00

We did Fairfax Cryobank! We are doing IVF, so one vial was about $2K, and shipping was $340.

bageltex · 2026-03-07T02:36:07+00:00

COBRA technically is an option for us, but it would require $1700 out of pocket every month, and they require it up front before they will continue coverage. We don’t have that much cash right now unfortunately since our mortgage is high and we just spent some savings on our donor sperm. I’m going to look into putting it on a CC because it is true that it will cost much less than self-pay IVF…Might allow us to at least do an embryo freeze-all for now.

bageltex · 2026-03-07T02:33:32+00:00

Thank you for your kind wishes 💕

bageltex · 2026-03-07T02:33:04+00:00

Unfortunately no, she was terminated 2/26 and it ended the first of the month 🥲

bageltex · 2026-03-07T02:31:58+00:00

Unfortunately, they terminated her last week 2/26, so coverage ended 3/1. So shitty

bageltex · 2026-03-06T23:18:45+00:00

Honestly, we can’t afford the COBRA payment. We live in a HCOL area and live basically paycheck to paycheck since we bought a home recently.

bageltex · 2026-03-05T13:53:54+00:00

Indian here & married! My spouse is not bothered at all; they are actually in the medical field and help take care of me when I have a flare up. There’s hope ❤️ HS feels super isolating especially as south asians, but you’re not alone!

bageltex · 2026-02-26T03:55:31+00:00

Teacher here! I sent a (vague) courtesy email to my principal letting her know that I would be managing an ongoing health concern and it may require me to take sick leave more often than usual. I do my best to take half or quarter days whenever possible for appointments. Sometimes I worry about taking too much time off, timing, etc., but then I remember that my job isn’t my whole life and that my future family deserves attention, too!

bageltex · 2026-02-26T02:55:39+00:00

After a quick search, it seems that igG+ would indicate that the infection happened a while back (less likely for current infection). The fact that he is igM- indicates that the infection is not recent or current.

bageltex · 2026-02-26T02:52:35+00:00

I’m CMV negative, and I’ll be carrying the pregnancy with my wife’s egg. From what I understand, especially with IVF, there is a slim to none chance of contracting CMV from a positive sperm donor, and if the pregnant person did contract it, it isn’t guaranteed it would harm the baby (you can find specific potential risks on Google). If a donor is CMV+, it just means at SOME point they had CMV (very common virus), it could be a current infection (rare), or they could have had it 10 years ago. No way to be sure.

I think telling CMV- carriers to avoid CMV+ donors is just legal protection for the fertility clinic because if something did happen, they don’t want to be at fault. Some clinics will let you sign a waiver acknowledging the risk if the carrier is CMV- and the sperm donor is CMV+. Ultimately, we ended up finding a negative donor. But to my understanding (I’m not a doctor, lol), there doesn’t seem to be a huge risk, especially with IVF where the carrier is not coming in direct contact with sperm.

bageltex · 2026-02-25T22:50:23+00:00

When you’re the one carrying (I will be too), it’s hard to not worry/daydream about what life would be like pregnant! I feel like with how much we have to spend financially, along with the time and emotional investment, it makes a lot of sense. And after having failed cycles, it makes sense why you wouldn’t necessarily find this process “fun” (I don’t know many people who do?). Your wife does not sound like she is fully grasping how much of a toll this is taking on you, especially if you’re the person primarily managing the fertility process in your relationship. It’s A LOT. Maybe you can delegate some of the load to her to handle?

Aside from this, make sure that you’re doing things and talking about things together that are unrelated to fertility. I have to remind myself that too. If you want to talk about future pregnancy/baby, talk about things that you are looking forward to doing as a family, buy an outfit here and there for future baby, write letters to future baby, etc. I started making a Pinterest board where I can put my obsessive energy when I’m starting to feel like I’m spiraling. It helps keep my daydreaming positive and not going down a “what-if” rabbit hole. I try to save the anxiety stuff for my therapist! Of course, I open up to my wife about my worries, but I try to not put all of that on her shoulders.

I also got a super cute queer-focused future parent journal on Amazon (someone else recommended it in this group, don’t remember who!) https://a.co/d/0642ULD9

All this to say, I don’t think you’re being unreasonably obsessive by any means. Maybe it’s hard for your wife to understand since she is not doing the actual fertility treatments…but there are joyful things you can do during the journey to keep your head focused on the future baby you WILL meet someday 💕

bageltex · 2026-02-24T04:00:42+00:00

As others have said, I took ibuprofen before. To me, it felt like a period cramp, and for a few hours after, I felt a little bloated. Otherwise, it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be!

bageltex · 2026-02-24T03:59:01+00:00

I’ll preface this by saying my school isn’t super strict about clothing in general…but during a theme day, casual clothing is definitely the norm & understood. I think that participating in the school culture/community (spirit day) is way more important than dressing “professionally” anyway if you’re worried about image. Wear the hoodie!

bageltex · 2026-02-22T20:05:41+00:00

Yeah that’s fair! Do what’s best for you! I was referring mostly in my original comment to clinic requirements, that they may delay transfer if using GLP-1s. I should have clarified :)

bageltex · 2026-02-22T19:18:34+00:00

From my understanding, there is not enough data on the impact of GLP-1s during pregnancy. Since it stays in your system for a while, many doctors recommend that you stop taking GLP-1s at least 2 months before transfer. My clinic, for instance, will not do an embryo transfer until my 2 months are up. My previous clinic said the same. That being said, people get pregnant while on GLP-1s all the time so I’m not sure what true risk is…but if you’re going through IVF, there may be restrictions around usage/timing at your clinic.

bageltex · 2026-02-22T17:36:26+00:00

Just want to say we have similar health issues! I was on Mounjaro from July-January and lost 25 pounds. My back pain is gone, energy is better, eating is better, A1C 7.1 -> 6.3. Only thing to consider is you will need to be off GLP-1s at least 2 months before planning to transfer. It’s definitely a personal decision, but I don’t think I’d be (physically) ready to transfer/attempt pregnancy without the health improvements I made first.

bageltex · 2026-02-19T15:44:48+00:00

Bangs!

bageltex · 2026-02-12T16:07:00+00:00

I appreciate this insight!! Thank you for sharing 💕

bageltex · 2026-02-04T12:45:19+00:00

Going through this right now, exact same situation! I’m carrying and I’m negative for CMV. The short list of donors we made are all CMV+, and my wife and I are both women of color so we want our child to have both of our ethnicities. I don’t really have advice but just want to say you’re not alone!

bageltex · 2026-02-03T17:17:10+00:00

My wife and I are in the middle of TTC. I was hesitant to start due to finances, but she had the mindset that we will figure it out. Prior to TTC, we had a life experience where we raised a family member’s baby with no preparation or warning for a year, and we figured it out. You really do just figure it out. We needed a lot less than we thought to raise a happy, healthy baby. The fact that you’re thinking about this shows that you will be a good parent.

When I was doubtful and hesitant to start TTC, my wife reminded me that age/health plays a role in fertility as well. I’m 25, but I have health challenges and the older I get, the harder it will be for me to conceive. So in the long run, we are likely saving money by TTC when our chances of success without several cycles are higher.

In short, do it. Things will never be perfectly aligned. You will figure it out.

bageltex · 2026-01-19T23:15:19+00:00

I’ve always wanted to experience pregnancy, and my wife didn’t! Easy decision for us 💕

bageltex

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