Results are in

It is odd, to say this, but the miscarriage pathology results are good. The embryos were male and had trisomy 12, a genetic abnormality that causes miscarriage; embryos with this genetic profile aren't viable. This is good, because a) the fact that they were male ensures they were able to isolate the embryo's genetic material from my own, and b) this kind of trisomy is a one-time occurrence, more common among women of my advanced maternal age (36), but not a sign of any long-term problem.

My doctor is a dream -- smart, competent, warm, and nice -- and she remains quite optimistic about my chances. She still considers me a "great" candidate for IVF, and she also suspects that if I tried several more times with Femara and IUIs, I'd probably get pregnant again. I'm not exactly sure what I'll do next -- probably IVF. But I'm going to take at least the summer off. Still, I'll have a saline sonogram (to investigate the topography of my uterus) and a blood test in a few days. I'm hoping to get as much of the IVF prep out of the way now, so I can relax and not worry about it.

It's incredible to have a doctor who actually inquires after my well-being. And a relief to hear she's very supportive of me taking a break. Walking into that office today, I really didn't know what to expect; I felt there was a possibility I'd learn I would never have a baby. So to leave the office hearing the echoes of optimism in my head was quite a treat.