Yesterday (Saturday) I started the cetrotide injections. These are different from the Gonal-f, as they don’t come in a pre-filled pen and are quite tricky to prepare. You have to empty the liquid that comes in the syringe into the phial, lightly mix the powder and the liquid without shaking it, then transfer the mixture back into the syringe without getting any air bubbles, change the needle and inject yourself. The needle is bigger that the gonal-f pen one as well, which is not great.
These injections hurt a tiny bit more than the gonal-f, because of the bigger needle, I suppose, but they are not that bad. I am actually surprised with myself on how “easy” I am finding the whole injections thing (it’s definitely easier when Jon does it for me, but still, it’s not that such a big trauma as I was expecting).
Cetrotide is an “antagonist” medicine, which means that it prevents premature ovulation, not releasing the eggs too soon. Tomorrow (Monday) I have an internal scan to see how my eggs are evolving (the gonal-f should have increased the number of my growing follicles, stimulating their development).
Fingers crossed, I haven’t had any side effects from both medicines so far. And hopefully it will stay like that! I only have three more days worth of gonal-f left. But I suppose I will be told if I need another prescription or whether I stop when I’ve run out.
Not looking forward to the scan tomorrow, they are more painful than you’d think! However, I am excited to see whether the medicines are working their magic.
Next steps: Appointment at the Hampshire clinic on Monday and on Wednesday. After that I think I will be given an appointment for the egg retrieval at the Wessex Fertility Clinic!
