#Pregnancy My First IVF Experience at Huayu

Huayu = Pregnancy. That was my first impression when I searched online for Huayu— and I really liked it!

Before going to Huayu, I never thought I would do IVF. I was quite resistant to the idea, thinking of it as a painful and expensive journey. Moreover, my pre-pregnancy test results were quite good (even though I was already 39). My AMH was 5.2, and the doctor said I could conceive naturally. I initially booked a consultation at Huayu just to inquire about IUI because at 39, I didn’t want to wait any longer. I wanted to be proactive and see what other tests I could do, and since Huayu was close to my office, I made an appointment for a consultation.

At first, I clearly stated that I wanted to inquire about the IUI process. The consultant patiently explained both the IUI and IVF procedures and costs. Then I met with Dr. Hsu, who immediately suggested that I go straight to IVF due to my age (almost 40). Although my AMH was high, egg quality is entirely age-related. He advised me to act while I still had a good egg reserve to improve the chances of success. I didn’t expect such a direct recommendation at first and tried to bring the topic back to IUI. But when the doctor asked how many children I wanted and I answered, “two,” he recommended creating and freezing embryos now. That way, after having the first child, I could use the stored embryos later without going through another egg retrieval cycle. This advice really resonated with me. I had heard of freezing eggs, but this was the first time I learned about embryo freezing. I began to appreciate IVF technology more — the ability to check chromosomes in advance and prepare embryos for future use.

I quickly decided to proceed with IVF. Following the doctor’s advice, I first scheduled a fallopian tube exam at Dr. Hsu’s clinic at Wan Fang Hospital. During the exam, they also did a hysteroscopy and discovered a polyp. The doctor said it could be removed during the egg retrieval procedure. The fallopian tube check was to rule out hydrosalpinx (which could affect the embryo environment), and the report came back clear. I reported to Huayu on the third day of my next menstrual cycle to begin the treatment.

In short, the process involved: transvaginal ultrasound, blood tests, receiving medication, and stimulation injections. I learned earlier that if I was scared to inject myself, I could have the nurse do it for me — which made me like Huayu even more! I stored all my injections at Huayu and went there after work daily for the shots. This reduced my anxiety about self-injecting. On days Huayu was closed, I could go to their partnered OBGYN clinic nearby, and they even helped deliver my medication there. So thoughtful! When it was time for the trigger shot (the scariest part), it happened to be on a Saturday night at 10 PM when both clinics were closed. They arranged for a nurse at the nursing facility attached to the clinic to give me the shot. I then confirmed via LINE that the injection was done on time. On Monday, I checked in for egg retrieval and polyp removal surgery. I woke up and it was all done — the doctor said they retrieved 24 eggs.

The next day, I received a LINE message from Huayu about the fertilization results. Of the 24 eggs retrieved, 17 were mature, and 13 successfully fertilized. We had pre-decided to biopsy 10 embryos, but due to budget reasons, only sent 3 for chromosome testing (PGS).

During the embryo culture period, the embryologist would call to update me on the division status. If there were abnormalities with pronuclei development, they would ask again whether to biopsy. By Day 5, we had 4 embryos; by Day 6, 6 more — all 10 were frozen. Of those, 9 were biopsied (one had only one pronucleus, so we skipped it). On Day 6, they also informed me of embryo quality grades. The PGS report would take about 2 weeks.

While waiting for the PGS results, Huayu called me back in regarding my polyp pathology. The doctor explained that abnormal cells were found and suspected to be precancerous. I had to treat this issue before implantation. He referred me to Dr. Wu at Wan Fang Hospital and said he could communicate directly with him if needed.

That same day, we also received the PGS results: among the 3 embryos sent, 1 was normal, 1 abnormal, and 1 mosaic. The doctor reassured me that we had at least one viable embryo and now just had to focus on treating the abnormal cells.

I quickly scheduled a visit with Dr. Wu, who, besides practicing OBGYN, also specializes in oncology. After reviewing my biopsy, which showed atypical cells, he prescribed 3 months of medication. During that time, I would stop menstruating to let the endometrium rest and reduce hormonal stimulation. After 3 months, I’d be reassessed to see if the abnormal cells had disappeared. He warned that if left untreated, this could progress into a precancerous condition.

I diligently took my medication for 3 months. Right before the scheduled hysteroscopy, my period unexpectedly came, and I panicked. Thankfully, the bleeding lightened, and the surgery could proceed. Afterward, I felt weaker than expected. At the follow-up, Dr. Wu told me they had removed another polyp, which surprised me — how did it grow back so fast? Fortunately, the biopsy showed no abnormalities this time, meaning the atypical cells were gone. I could now return to Huayu and resume my IVF treatment.

I informed Dr. Hsu and planned to return on the first day of my next period. But after the surgery, I experienced continuous spotting that didn’t stop even with hemostatic medication. About 20 days later, I had another period — despite still taking meds. Unsure whether it was a real cycle, I decided to return to Huayu early and discuss the next steps. I quickly scheduled a consultation, but by the next day, the bleeding had already stopped.

Dr. Hsu confirmed via ultrasound that I was indeed on Day 1 and asked if I wanted to start the implantation cycle. It felt sudden — but yes, I was finally ready! However, my CA125 level had been consistently high (possibly due to endometriosis), so I needed to take GnRH agonist (Leuprorelin) injections to suppress inflammation and rest the uterus. I also did immune and thyroid bloodwork that day and got my first injection. Even after the shot, I still had periods. The next month, the doctor suggested a second shot to fully suppress ovulation. Another CA125 blood test was done the same day.

Another month passed. A hysteroscopy showed that the uterine lining was still a bit red, even though my CA125 was now normal. The doctor said it still wasn’t ideal, so I received a third Leuprorelin shot and was prescribed antibiotics. I also started taking probiotic supplements for gynecological health.

Three months later, the doctor said we could finally start building the endometrium. I had blood drawn to check hormones and was prescribed 7 days of Estrofem (estrogen) and 5 days of antibiotics. A week later, the lining still wasn’t optimal, so estrogen dosage was increased for 3 more days. When I returned, the lining measured 1 cm, but the signature “triple stripe” hadn’t appeared. Still, the doctor said we could proceed.

I received a huge batch of medications. The protocol was quite complex. I was told to come back on a specified day at 11:00 AM for a progesterone injection (Proluton) to mark the “luteal phase shift.” Medication timings were adjusted accordingly. Some drugs, like Kuaiyunlong and “small white pills,” were added after the shift. Turns out, “luteal shift” refers to ovulation day, and the embryo transfer was scheduled 5 days later at 1:30 PM.

(Medications included Estrofem, Burinex, Consulon, Detai Long, Kuaiyunlong, and oral/suppository Youjietong)

I followed the regimen strictly, and finally, the transfer day arrived. After checking in, I was told to fill my bladder, then inform the staff when ready. It was hard to hold it in! The embryologist showed me a photo of my thawed embryo and said it had divided well. After a nurse reviewed post-transfer care instructions, I went in for the transfer — bladder painfully full. The speculum was uncomfortable, as usual. The doctor used ultrasound guidance to place the catheter and showed me the embryo on screen. Once done, I received a symbolic pair of gold “shovels” and candy — a warm gesture indicating the start of motherhood.

After the embryo transfer, I had to lie down for 15 minutes. Those 15 minutes felt like torture because I was dying to pee and couldn’t hold it any longer—it was so painful! But I obediently waited. Finally, time was up, and I had to change clothes before heading to the restroom. When I finally got there, I felt like crying from relief.

After the transfer, I continued taking the same medications as before. I picked up my prescriptions and received a long-acting progesterone oil injection before heading home to rest. Fourteen days later, I returned to Huayu for the pregnancy test (blood test in the morning, results available in the afternoon).

The wait for the results felt endless. I took two days off to rest after the transfer and then returned to work as usual. I kept reading online forums and watching shows. For the first two days, I felt a bit bloated and heavy in the lower abdomen, but after that, I didn’t feel much. My heart rate stayed high, and I would sweat at night. I took two probiotics each morning and night to combat the near-UTI feeling from the suppositories, and they helped a lot.

Initially, I planned to wait for the official test day, but I couldn’t help myself and tested early. On day 9, I saw a faint second line and was thrilled! I continued testing daily, and the line kept getting darker.

On the official test day, my blood hCG level was 2184. The doctor said the number looked great. The following week (week 6), I went back for an ultrasound to check the implantation site. The doctor confirmed the embryo had implanted in the correct spot—exactly where he placed it—and we could see the yolk sac forming. The week after that was the heartbeat scan. But two days before the scan, I woke up and saw a lot of blood when I wiped—just like the start of a period. I used three tissues and they were soaked in blood! I panicked.

Luckily, it was a Saturday, and Huayu had morning clinic hours. I quickly called through LINE to explain what happened. The staff instructed me to lie down immediately and had my family go to Huayu to pick up an injection. Dr. Hsu later called to check on me and prescribed daily progesterone injections. All I could do was lie still until the bleeding stopped. Two days later, after the bleeding had stopped, I returned to the clinic for a follow-up.

I had been lying down nonstop for two full days—even eating while lying in bed. The only time I got up was to use the bathroom. My back and waist were sore from so much bed rest. The bright red bleeding gradually turned brown and slowly lessened. On Monday, I took one more day off just to ease back into movement at home. When all seemed fine, I returned to work the next day.

Two days later (week 7), I returned for a check-up. The doctor said the baby was doing great and we could hear the heartbeat, which reassured me a lot. He gave me a medical certificate recommending bed rest for a week, but since I felt okay, I didn’t take more time off. I continued taking medication and had daily progesterone shots. I also stopped taking the nighttime oral medication Youjietong since it made it hard to sleep. The doctor said it was fine to just continue with suppositories.

One week later (week 8), the ultrasound showed the baby had started to take shape and had a normal heartbeat. However, I sometimes woke up in the middle of the night with abdominal pain. The doctor adjusted my medication, adding another progesterone shot at night, so I was getting two per day—morning and night. He also reduced my daytime oral medications, leaving only Detailong, while I continued with suppositories to maintain the pregnancy. He also reminded me to rest as much as possible.

Another week passed (week 9), and the ultrasound showed the baby was still growing well. There was a small area of bleeding (I had seen some brown discharge), so the doctor asked me to rest at home for three days to avoid further bleeding. Actually, the doctor gave me a medical note each week so I could take time off to rest at home if needed. I usually took one day off per week and rested completely on weekends.

From the beginning of the transfer process, I received a long-acting progesterone oil shot at every follow-up. By the third shot, the skin on my butt started itching badly—I scratched it until it became irritated. I asked the doctor for a topical cream and he said to stop the oil shots and switch to water-based injections. I continued with oral medication, injections, and suppositories.

At week 10, I returned for another appointment. This time, the doctor used an abdominal ultrasound instead of transvaginal. The baby’s heartbeat was strong and everything looked great. Then the doctor surprised me by saying, “You’ve graduated! Starting next week, you can go to an outside OB-GYN for prenatal check-ups.” He added that he would continue to support me throughout the pregnancy and to message him anytime via LINE. He said, “When your baby is born, bring them back to Huayu!” I took a graduation photo with the doctor and received my “graduation certificate.” It all felt so sudden—but I was overjoyed!

During my time at Huayu, I felt completely at ease. The consultants were professional, the nurses were kind, and Dr. Hsu’s decisions and treatment plans were always reliable. Just follow his instructions and everything will be fine. I succeeded on my very first embryo transfer! When I’m ready for baby number two, I’ll definitely return to Huayu!