With an accompanying commentary by Univ. Prof. Dr. Herbert Zech:
Klettermaxi and Klettermax (the German word "klettern" means to climb)
A common thing we often hear from couples is:
"In our case it is just
implantation, that fails, everything else worked out every now and then."
Supposing that several attempts with
embryo transfer on day 2 have been performed, you should consider the following:
It is an essential part of this "Implantation-story" by Mag. Karl-Heinz Brandt that failed pregnancy after embryo transfer should not be dismissed merely as an “implantation problem”. In most of the cases it is only the inner strength of the best embryo that will result in a viable pregnancy. In order to be able to determine which actually is the embryo having the best chances of success it makes perfect sense to choose those providing ideal conditions for implantation. Currently,
choosing the best blastocysts is by far the best method to succeed.
I hope you will enjoy this “implantation story”.
Cordially, yours Univ. Prof. Dr. Herbert Zech
An Implantation story
The
incubator opens up. Klettermax, who had been blissfully sleeping in his petri-dish is now gently nudging Klettermaxi who was taking a nap: “Here we go, that’s what I think!”
And right then they can see a multicolored small tube floating towards them. The peaceful life in the petri-dish has come to an end and whoosh they are sliding into the transparent tunnel of the small tube.
Klettermaxi asks anxiously, “what are they going to do to us?” And Klettermax answers, “I happened to overhear something about implantation…”. “Oh yeah,” Klettermaxi interrupts him, “I remember that they were talking about bringing us back to the place where we used to live as little egg-cells.“
“This was where we used to play ‘Who is the biggest in this castle?’ and you were always one step ahead of me, “ Klettermax remembers.
“But what happened to our little friend who was always singing that “mock-song”: Ha, ha, I am the champion? I haven’t seen her for ages.”
Well, Klettermaxi, she experienced what had already happened to many other posers: She ran out of breath….”
“Ah, and that’s why it is our turn today,” Klettermaxi concluded sharply.
At this moment the two of them are experiencing something that they have in common with all other living beings. They have to learn that the nicest conversation may come to an abrupt end in the case of overwhelming external events. A firm voice that is unknown to them orders: “Transfer!” and suddenly it gets dark around them. Driven by invisible powers they are sliding through the multicolored tube and are transported to another world as yet unknown to them. However, the smell and cosy warmth of this new world seem strangely familiar to them.
Klettermaxi who is at a loss, whispers: “Where are we?” “No idea, I only know that the petri dishes and small tubes are no longer there and suddenly it feels damp and cotton-like.“
“Do you know what I think?” Klettermaxi says, now sounding very solemn and lending a serious tone to her words. “Up to now, the grownups have made our beds, shown us around and fed us, but from now on it is our job to take care of ourselves in this damp and cotton-like room. Probably we are supposed to follow the call of our forefathers, struggle to find a place in this new world, settle down with a feeling of security and comfort and growing up big and strong.” “Yesterday I was wondering what our small gripper fingers are supposed to be for – they might indeed be very useful to us now.” muses Klettermax.
He then checks out right away how it feels to grasp at the damp and cotton-like lining of the womb gathering his first experiences with slipping, entangling , propping himself up with the help of one little gripper finger while using the second one to get a firm hold. This encouraged Klettermaxi to strive for finding “her” place in this uterine cavity.
In the heat of the battle, the two of them do not notice that the damp and cotton-like matter (meanwhile having become as thick as an eiderdown) is getting actively involved in the process. The cotton-like matter starts producing webs and catching-nets in order to support the two of them in their climbing practice.
The “audience” in the outside world is unfortunately (or luckily?) not allowed to watch and will only learn in due course whether Klettermaxi and Klettermax had managed to conquer their place, settled down in the right spot and whether the cotton-like matter had been helpful to them. This “audience” doesn’t even notice to what extent Mother Nature had equipped our little “freeclimbers” with more or less strong gripper fingers and what natural ability and skill had been given to them to make dexterous use of these gripper fingers.
It is only upon closer inspection that one can see whether Klettermaxi or Klettermax are carrying a little backpack interfering with their struggle to get a firm hold. Little backpacks containing heavy loads, “serious” phrases such as: “This time it has to work out!” Such a backpack can also be filled with “secret missions” by grownups, like the wish that the “child” should take over a special part or should even assume specific tasks in these adults’ lives. Such expectations may be too heavy a burden on our little “freeclimbers”.
Such backpacks compromising our little climbers’ need for freedom often have the effect that the gripper fingers can’t get hold. This is particularly true given that Mother Nature hasn’t actually equipped them with real freeclimbing skills.
Time and time again we, as the “audience”, have to wait and see if Klettermaxi and Klettermax have got what it takes. Experience has shown that those which are the most beautiful in the beginning won’t necessarily win the race. By the way, just like in real life rather plain everyday people can make hallmark achievements due to their inner strength. “Still waters run deep” the saying goes.
Dear readers, we do not know whether your “freeclimbers” are such “still waters”…?