Secondary infertility and IVF

[Ailz]

Hi everyone, I am a 31 year old mum of a 3 year old and have been ttc for nearly 2 years to no avail and i am now going down the IVF route. I have no problems that they can find. no polyps, no fibroids, bloods fine, sperm of dh fine, eggs (follicles) very good, no blockages, uterus good, Had scans, HSG (x-rays)and they show no problems.
Now with IVF on the way I am wondering what my chances of conceiving are. does anyone have any advice or success stories or of course the negative stories are necessary too really! Thanks

[Ailz]

bump - had to! no patience!

[Ailz]

bump

[Ailz]

just bumping and waiting

[Ailz]

anyone?

[CurryMaid]

I'm sorry, no advice at all.

Have you tried infertilitynetwork?

[Caitni]

Hi Ailz

I'm on my first IVF treatment, ttc #1, so can't really help with the secondary infertility but didn't want to ignore your post!

I'm assuming that you're interested in your chances of carrying a pregnancy rather than conceiving (since that's where the embryologists come in!)? My IVF consultant (I'm at the Lister) stresses that the chances of a live birth depends on the individual, so it's hard to speak in general terms of percentage likelihood of success. There are so many factors (eg response to the stimulating drugs, number of eggs mature enough to fertilise, whether you can get the embryos to blastocyst, etc) that she has reminded us that it takes on average 3 cycles to be sucessful (some clinics even offer three cycle packages). IVF is amazing, especially when you're told it's your only realistic chance of having a child, and the success rates improve every year, but it's still a bit of a lottery as to whether it works or not.

I'm in a similar situation (bar having a child already lol) in that I'm also 31 and have been told that everything looks good with me (our diagnosis is male factor so we'll be having ICSI). Maternal age is a big factor and that's on our side. I'm also going to a wonderful acupuncturist experienced in treating women going through IVF, as acupuncture pre- and post-embryo transfer is one of the few things studies have shown helps with pregancy rates. So far it's also helping me keep calm about the whole thing.

You're welcome to join us on the assisted conception thread (see here) as there are lots of women who've been up and down the IVF rollercoaster and have lots of experiences. I've also found www.fertilityfriends.co.uk to be invaluable as a source of information.

I wish you all the best with the IVF.

Caitni
xx

[Ailz]

Thanks Caitni and Currymaid. yes i suppose i just want someone to tell me that it will all work out in the end! Yes the age is on our side and the fact that i already have a child and can carry one to term. I will check out the assisted conception thread and Fertility Friend.
Thanks again and good luck with your ivf! x

[Vimston]

Hi Ailz
Wanted to reply as your story really touched a nerve - in fact my story was exactly the same as yours. Absolutely no issues biologically, already had a three year old & had been trying for 2 years. I felt like no-one quite got it because I already had one child etc etc - I also had some personal guilt thinking why is my beautiful boy not enough!!! Anyway to cut a very long story short, I started IVF and was at the very beginning, just having their routine scans done and I think because they took the stress and pressure away by telling me there was something they could do, I immediately relaxed and then.....conceived naturally the following month. Apparently this happens quite a bit - I was told at my clinic and my dd was born just under a year ago. I really wanted to share with you an optomistic story because it can happen and fingers crossed it will for you. All the best xxx

[Caitni]

Hi Ailz

I really didn't want to sound negative in my last post! I think it's important to be positive and have faith in your body iykwim. Hope's gotten me through the endless cycles of not conceiving so hope is carrying us through the IVF as well .

[Ailz]

Thanks guys
Caitni, no you didnt sound negative at all, just realistic, which i think I am too. I have put all my hopes into this, but i did that with every step of this process too: clomid, herbalist, tests and now ivf. I think i will be positive until it happens! You have to keep on hoping! It makes me sad when i read about all those women who really feel so hopeless.
Vimston it seems there are a lot of us out there and yes my gyne consultant told me that as i was leaving his office: a huge number of women conceive when they make up their minds to do ivf! it is a lovely story, thanks for sharing! x

[summermagic]

Hi Ailz

I am also a mum to a lovely three year old and have been trying for a second for nearly a year and a half. I have polycistic ovaries and had a laparoscopy and my ovaries drilled last month which I hope will help with my irregular ovulation. We're going to give it one last stab at the natural route before trying IVF in August.

I know exactly how you feel and I really respect your determination to stay positive. There are lots of stories about people who takes years to concieve again after a first but get there in the end. I too tried clomid but to no avail so fingers crossed IVF will bring us some more luck.

Come on over to the assisted conception thread as Caitni says. they're all lovely and really supportive and knowledgable and I think if you look through the old posts you'll find some successful stories of IVF with secondary infertility. Plus there have been a run of BFPs on there recently so it will belp with your positivity.

[Ailz]

Thanks summermagic! I find it amazing that every woman with secondary infertility seems to have a 3 year old child! amazing! something about that age. see you on assisted fertility!

[piprabbit]

Hi Ailz,
I'd been trying for a couple of years after DD was born when it all went wrong (Sept 2006) ... I had an ectopic, and during the surgery was diagnosed with endometrosis - both tubes blocked. Had a further operation to try and clear the tube that was left after the ectopic, but no go.... Afer a few months break to get over all this, we decided to go down the IVF route and began treatment in July 2007. We were very lucky and got pregnant first time - my DS is now 13 months old. Funnily enough DD was 3yrs while we were going through IVF. Your chances as a 31 year old are much better then mine were at 37, and (as you say) having a child already kind of proves that we're not hopeless cases . Good Luck.