After going through an unsuccessful IVF cycle, there are many things that run through your head that are hard to grasp. That being said, one of the hardest parts of IVF and fertility treatments in general is playing the waiting game. It’s hard enough going through the physical demands but when you are forced to wait for results and answers, your mental state of mind takes a toll.

My wife and I are currently waiting to start our second IVF cycle. This cycle will be a Frozen Embryo Transfer, commonly referred to as a FET). But, before that happens she has to have her period. Then she has to test negative for HCG again. After that, she will get on the pill to regulate her cycle. Then, after all this has taken place, we get to experience our first frozen embryo transfer. Included in the anxiety of this “wait and see” game is waiting to find out how many of our embryos withstand the thawing process which is a whole other set of stress.

We were told our second IVF cycle would be around the end of February but due to Wendi’s irregular menstral cycles, the exact time is anyones guess.

We experienced the 2 week waiting game once the embryos were transferred in our first IVF cycle. This was extremely painful as it was our first time and we were hoping for the best. We found out on New Year’s Eve that our first IVF attempt had failed.

Our next waiting game began the second after we head the bad news. Wendi’s first question to the doctor was, “When can we try our second IVF attempt?” It’s now February 6th and it seems like a decade ago since we finished our last IVF cycle. The waiting seems to cause just as much stress and anxiety as the actual treatment…maybe even worse. But then again, I’m just the husband and “supplier” so I don’t have to go through all of the injections, meds, and the procedure itself.

We just want to send a message to all of those who are in the same situation or have possibly not been in our shoes yet. Hang in there. It starts to become routine and part of your lifestyle, and before you know it, your life without infertility seems like a speck in the far off distance.

If we could be assured that one…just one….IVF cycle worked, the IVF waiting game would be a little less stressful. But there are no guarantees so we keep playing the game until our day comes.