TTC for 18 months or more. Moving onto IUI/IVF/ICSI -part 2

[bluebird3]

We have relocated from the conception board where we were previously chatting under the thread 'ttc for 10 months or more'. A lot of us are now long term ttc-ers and are going through infertility treatment or looking to take steps in this direction so we feel this might be a more suitable home for us!

Feel free to stop by and say hi and hopefully we can share the journey together and make it a little easier along the way!

Hi everyone. Shall we recap for anyone new who joins?

I'm Blue
Age 30
Ttc #1
Cycle 23
No BFPs ever.
MFI (low count) and some anovulatory cycles

Starting IVF with ICSI on 8th Feb (give or take a day) have signed up for an endometrial scratch clinical trail, so will be having that done in a couple weeks.

Well done blue good spot, i never even realised we were nearly out of thread!!!

Me: Hope
Age 32
TTC # 1 for 4 years
No BFP's ever
Male Factor
First round of ICSI Dec 16 failed
Due to start second round of ICSI end of Feb.

maple glad the bloods went ok, i always bruise too its rubbish! Yes all we seem to do is wait, you get past one thing and wait for the next!

Xx

Did they give you any idea why it failed hope? Or will that all be in the report. Not too much longer now, but hopefully there are no hang ups.

gee I missed the radio on MFI. Anything interesting?

rosie that sounds crazy yesterday. Dh has had to do 3 SAs and they've all been at the hospital...so no crazy runs for us. My dh has the opposite issue...too high a volume (bleh) so the concentration is low. I always wonder, If there aren't many sperm in it...what the hell is?!

maple I haven't heard of the DSIS before. If you don't mind me asking...why are you having it done?

It should all be in the report blue they said everything about the cycle gets put in it and they will use all that info to decide on how to proceed with the next one. I guess if theres no reason they will just do the same thing.
Thats why i want it to come so we can talk to the consultant, just feel in limbo at the moment! I like to have a plan!

Xx

Thanks for the new thread Blue.

I'm Gee.
Age 34
Ttc #1
Cycle 21
No bfps ever
MFI (low morphology)

Waiting for my letter to confirm when our first NHS IVF appointment is - clinic said I should get this week. Guessing I'll cycle in March. Really want to pay for the scratch if I can but not sure if NHS will offer me that.

Radio programme was interesting. I was expecting it to just discuss MFI but it was actually an interesting insight into just how hard men find infertility emotionally and the impact on their "manhood". Going to bring it up with DH tonight...

Hi Ladies,

For a while i have been looking at these infertility conversations. I have always been quite reserved on posting as i didnt really want to admit to my self that I belonged on this page. But unfortunately i dont seem to have any bairn's (Children) yet. I got married with the intention of having lots of children (about 5) And thought because im still quite young it would just happen... I was naive.

Myself and my husband have been trying for two years now . We are unexplained. Honestly i could cry seeing how long some of the ladies on here have been trying its Heartbreaking.

Further info:
Previous Misscarige 1 (I was a typical 16year old "" in love"") and just took the misscarige as a sign that my body wasnt formed completely.
It was then that i decided to wait untill i was married /house/career etc.
I have been with my husband now for many years and was very dissapointed after the 12 month mark when everyone started to ask when we were going to have kids.

TTC 2 Years

Tests : Semen Analysis (Apparently my husband has superhuman sperm) Zero problems there.
Pregesterone : Apparently fine
Endoscopy (Previous results fine)
Ultrasound Results fine

Upcoming Tube Xray? And if that comes back all clear im getting put on the Waiting list for IVF. (Which i think is around a year NHS) But immediate if private.

I wanted to finally Introduce my self. Im sorry if i am on an incorrect thread.

I dont really know what the Abreviations are. If someone could be so kind .

Welcome thistle. I'm a newbie here too but everyone is lovely! And while it's really rubbish to have to go through this, it's nice to have ladies who know how you feel on here!

There is somewhere on mumsnet that tells you all the abbreviations-maybe someone else can help with a link?

To recap:
I'm 33, cycle 32 (!) with 2 early mc - one possibly eptopic according to my consultant. Starting IVF end of this month, unexplained infertility....

blue do you know whether you are in the 'scratch' group for your trial or have you not found out yet? I hope you are and I hope it works!

Welcome thistle sorry you find yourself here but everyone is lovely and helpful and we are always here when you need us xxx

Thanks for the new thread blue! Hope our lurkers and grads find us over here

I'm Maple
Age 30
TTC #1 for 2 years
No BFPs ever (was relieved I'm not the only one - sorry if that sounds mean but you know what I mean hopefully!)
Unexplained
Waiting on AFC tomorrow, dummy embryo transfer and 3DSIS thursday, patient info session on 27th, follow up with consultant on 2nd march before cycling feels like ages away!!

Hope I'm not looking forward to the bloods I'll have to have done every other day / daily when I start cycling - how often did you have to go in? Did you alternate arms?!

Blue for the 3DSIS I think it's part of my hospital's procedures / tests they do before IVF to check the uterine cavity... I wasn't given a specific reason - maybe because I'm unexplained too so just something else to check out?

Welcome thistle I'm sorry for your loss and also sorry you find yourself here - I was a bit nervous posting first time too! You'll pick up the abbreviations quickly I'm sure. Good luck with the tube check, when are you getting it done?

Thank you for the warm welcome Ladies!

It is horrible that we all find ourselves here. I wouldnt wish this on anyone.

Tea I wish you the best of luck with your IVF and i hope that you get some good news on the outcome.

Hope Thank you its nice to be able to talk to people in the same boat.

Maple The tube check is in Febuary. Although this might sound strange i hope they do find a blockage. So that hopefully then it could be fixed.

tea I had an appointment yesterday and I am in the scratch group. I'm really pleased as I think it should increase chances. When I told dh the first thing he said was 'don't get your hopes up.' Which sounds harsh but probably needed. I tend to get carried away thinking things are definitely 'meant to be' etc.

Welcome thistle. So sorry you find yourself here but at least you can find some support from others who are going through the same thing.

maple that's interesting. I was actually surprised that I didn't have more tests and they went straight to IVF. I had 2 blood test rounds on day 3 &21. Dh had 2 SA. I had an internal scan. Then DH had a trial sperm wash but results weren't goods enough for IUI so they said IVF. It's been quick here (Yorkshire). I was referred by gp in September. We had my first appointment at fertility clinic mid November. Will be starting IVF in Feb.

Blue glad you are in the scratch group! I've been seeing the clinic for almost a year now (from first consultation)! In that time I've had the usual blood tests, hycosy, DH had second SA, I've had 3 IUI's (one with clomid, 2 with menopur) plus one cancelled iui (overstimulated).

Now they want bloods redone (AMH, oestradiol, LH, FSH and thyroid), the dummy transfer and 3DSIS and for DH they want a semen culture (different to SA). Also the patient information session I have to go to and another AFC.

I wish we hadn't bothered with the IUIs but I don't think I had a choice! I was lucky I suppose to be seen so quickly and referred when I think normally you have to be trying for 2 years first.

Thistle I know what you mean about wanting something to be the cause - I'm still unexplained unfortunately!

Hello ladies,
Thanks for the new thread blue!

I'm Star, 36, ttc 2 years, no BFPs EVER :(, mfi but fibroids too, starting first ivf right now!

Been off for a while, getting married and on holiday, but just caught up with you all. Welcome to all newbies and good luck to everyone about to start treatment, hope the waiting isn't too crazy.

I'm just starting my first ivf cycle in the NHS. I've been on the pill for 3 weeks (last one this morning) and started my first down reg injection (buserelin) this morning. It was fine. I've not really been thinking too much about things, and have been drinking and eating crap as normal, so I'm not really in a "my body is a temple for ivf" frame. But that works for me as I end up getting so sad and worked up when I think about it too much. Will do this injection for about 3 weeks before stimmimg.

DH (that feels weird!) did a new SA this week and hoping that a year on proxeed has improved things so we can do normal ivf rather than icsi.

Blue, I'm also in the NHS scratch study and got randomised into the scratch group, which I'm pleased about. There was also an acupuncture study at my clinic but I wasn't eligible for that because of my fibroids. Scratch booked for 26 Jan.

I had a really long 8 day period and have been light bleeding ever since. Am just blindly assuming it won't mean anything and haven't mentioned it to the clinic. Eek!

Hey star. Good to see you here (if that's not weird!). Congrats on the wedding and hope you had a wonderful day. Good luck with the injections. I hope I'm not too far behind you - so bored waiting for my first appt!

maple i had to have blood tests every other day but only once i started stimms not during down reg. They just took it from which ever arm they could as it is always tricky to find my veins!
I know what you mean about not being the only one to have never had a BFP ever, sometimes you feel like its just you and its weirdly comforting to know that its not! Theres quite a few of us here in that boat so we are in good company!

star great news that you have started your first cycle and congratulations on the wedding! Fingers crossed theres more great news coming for mr and mrs star!

blue thats brilliant that you got in to the scratch group, hopefully it will give you a better chance.

Xxx

That's super about being in the scratch group blue! It's true that it doesn't guarantee anything but I think anything that increases chances of success, even a teeny bit, is something to be positive about.

Hi star. You'll have to let me know how the scratch goes. I think I should be having it a few days after you. Mine isn't booked in as they said to do opks till I ovulate, then ring the day I get a + and they will book it in 7-9 days later which should be around the 1st of February.

I agree with it being nice to know others who haven't had a Bfp either. I go back and forth between thinking at least I haven't had the pain of seeing the Bfp and then losing it, and then thinking..if I had a Bfp that didn't stick then I would at least know that I can get pregnant. But I think both ways suck and wouldn't wish long haul ttc on anyone.

Star! I have been thinking of you and wondering how you have been getting on! Congratulation on the wedding - hope you had an amazing day and enjoyed your holiday did DH help with the injection at all? Fingers crossed for his SA!

I might email about the scratch too - I've seen posters up but no one has mentioned it at all yet. Must remember to note down the email address when I'm in tomorrow!

I know what you mean about the bfp / lack of blue. And agree either way is crap! Why couldn't I be the ones who get pregnant just by DH glancing in my direction woe.

Hello everyone!

I'm Rosie
Age 27
TTC # 1 - lost count of how long!
Known PCOS - presumed it was all me but also have MFI - low morphology and motility and volume!
I thought I'd be going down the clomid/metformin route but apparently I ovulate anyway - so it turns out I'm straight in for ICSI! Was gutted - now accepted it and just want to get on with it! Just waiting for appointment to see the Consultant now!

Hope everyone is ok!

Congratulations star on your wedding! And good luck for your IVF! Hope injecting went well!

Good luck to everyone else! Just trying to catch up with all of your posts! Xx

Rosie for what it's worth I asked my consultant for clomid while I wait for IVF/ICSI even though I already ovulated fine. He said it wasn't usual but he gave me 6 months just to have a go incase of a miracle and to give my OHs dodgy swimmers an extra egg each month. Am on my 4th month at 50mg and nothing so far. I may use my 5th and 6th months supplies in one hit next month and do 100mg a day. Doubt it'll do anything but wanted to give it a shot.

Hey Rosie - do you know when to expect the appointment?

Just had my dummy transfer and 3DSIS - all fine / no polyps or fibroids and I didn't have any cramping which was good! Just waiting for my prescription of antibiotics and then plodding home.

Can't wait to get back my feet are wet and it's meant to snow later!!

Glad all went well today maple and I hope you didn't have to wait too long!

I spoke to a friend who knows stuff about infertility and she said there wouldn't be any point in clomid with my DHs SA results - really poor motility and morphology 2%. Plus they wouldn't want to over stimulate me - think my AMH is in the 80s! Who knows though? I'll ask a doctor properly when I see one!

Not sure when the appointment will be but apparently there's not a waiting list for NHS or private at the moment so hoping it's not too long! I like a plan and just still feels like the long waiting game in limbo!

maple glad everything went well today. 1 step closer. You should ask about the scratch. I wonder why they haven't mentioned it? Weird. I'm looking forward to doing it as i will need to start opking on Monday and the process will feel like it's starting. Cue longest 7ish weeks of my life!

rosie we never did clomid as we were also told no point...straight to ICSI! Don't see any harm in trying for a miracle if they will offer it.

gee have you had any side effects from clomid? I've heard mixed results.

No side effects except hot flushes in the 5 days when I take it. Understand it's pretty pointless taking it as we have poor morphology too (bet 1-3%) but I was desperate for something anything to try while I waited for ivf.