First go at IVF

[Sw33t]

Hi everyone,

I'm just wondering what other people's experiences have been like for their first round of IVF. I initially wasn't going to be offered it on the NHS because my chances were so low (low AMH) but they've agreed to give me one shot at it (possibly more if they think I have more of a chance).

I started taking the injections and on my first and second scan I had one follicle but the lining was very thin. On my second scan I was told that they would maybe cancel this round of IVF and try the next month to see if I developed more follicles as they didn't want to waste a round. I had my third scan yesterday and the lining was still thin and the follicle had grown to 14mm. I was told by a different consultant that if the follicle grows to 17mm, they would consider egg collection but would possibly have to freeze the embryo (if I got that far) because my lining is too thin to implant. I don't know whether to suggest canceling this round and hope that there might be more follicles next round (I did have an influx of follicles last October due to high FSH levels). Has anyone had any experience of this? Also, is there any way of thickening the lining?

Thanks very much in advance xxx

[itwasalovelydreamwhileitlasted]

I think if you have very low AMH then you are only going to get maybe 1 or 2 maximum follicles anyway. I suppose it won't hurt this first time to cancel and try again but if the same happens next cycle then definitely just get the one

I have ok AMH and usually get 12-14 eggs but rubbish quality - I completely changed my protocol to go with natural modified IVF in January and only had 2 eggs and both were the best quality I'd ever had. I was given the option of cancelling (we are paying - but I stuck with my guns and held my nerve and I feel it paid off)

In terms of lining thickness I think they can give you estrogen to try and thicken it up? Not sure of natural ways to do it? X

[SpyroC]

I have low AMH for my age but they are hoping to get 5ish eggs (it's my 1st time too). As pp said if your AMH is lower it may be that getting one is good, I know some clinics will only do mild or natural ivf with low AMH. The consultant should have an idea whether or not 1 follicle is good for your AMH level. Another thing I would consider if I end up in a similar position in a few weeks is the fact that I lose nhs funding if I do egg collection and it doesn't work. In my area that would be it for nhs funding. It may be different where you are though. I hope everything goes well for you. Quality over quantity is what I keep reminding myself. X

[Sw33t]

Thanks @itwasalovelydreamwhileitlasted - I have my next appointment on Monday so I might suggest cancelling with the hope of getting more follicles the next month. I agree, if I only get one follicle next time, I'll definitely have to go with that. I might also ask about other stims that I could try - I've heard some people respond better to different types.

I'm taking Vitamin E to try to thicken my lining but I've also heard that estrogen tablets are meant to help so I'll ask about those too. I'm so pleased that I can get more information on mumsnet - the doctors are good but they don't always suggest possible solutions.

Yeah quality definitely seems to be better than quantity. Everyone's circumstances are different and the standard IVF treatment doesn't work for everyone. I think you need to change things to find the right treatment that works for you - it's just irritating how you have to go through a few rounds to find out which one works best. Wishing you the best of luck on your journey xxx

[Sw33t]

Thanks @SpyroC - I hope everything goes well for you too. It's weird, my AMH was fine this time last year but during my first couple of appointments at the fertility clinic they found that I had an under-active thyroid. I started taking thyroxine but then my periods stopped and they think that I have started an early menopause (I'm 31). My periods started again last October and I produced a lot of follicles that month but sadly wasn't ready to start treatment then. I'm just hoping that they give me more than one shot at it as another month could be different xxx

[EarlGreyT]

I think you should find out from your clinic what “counts” as a cycle as far as the NHS is concerned in your CCG. In mine it was reaching egg collection. But it’s possible that in your area, they could count a cycle as starting stims or reaching embryo transfer.

Given that you have limited (and possibly only 1) NHS funded cycle(s), if reaching egg collection is what they count as a cycle, I’d cancel now (before you get to egg collection) to see if you can get more follicles next time. If you have already hit the stage which meets the definition of what your CCG “count” as a cycle then you may as well continue this cycle as you have nothing to lose.

[Sw33t]

Thanks @EarlGreyT - egg collection counts as one cycle for me too. I had my app today and my lining was still thin and the follicle was still 14mm so no egg collection this time. I have a follow up app in a couple of weeks so fingers crossed they agree to try again.

@itwasalovelydreamwhileitlasted, what was the natural modified IVF that you tried? For my treatment, they didn't want to downregulate in case my system didn't start up again so I was just on Ovaleap and Fyremadel injections xxx

[itwasalovelydreamwhileitlasted]

@Sw33t
Sorry this cycle hasn't worked for you

My natural modified protocol was as follows
20mg tamoxifen tablets daily from cycle day 3
150ml bemfola every OTHER day from day 3
First round I had collection on cycle day 9 and got two eggs both top quality on day 3

Second cycle they upped it to daily 75ml Bemfola with 75ml luveris and I got 7 eggs with 2 top quality blastocysts frozen

This final cycle as we want to do a fresh transfer I'm not taking tamoxifen as it can thicken lining too much in my case as I always had good lining thickness anyway and will do 150ml bemfola from day 4

[Sw33t]

That's really positive @itwasalovelydreamwhileitlasted - fingers crossed for your transfer!

I didn't react well to my treatment plan at all - if anything, I felt like there was less activity in my ovaries than what there would have been if I hadn't taken the stims...

My follow up app is in a couple of weeks so I'm hoping that they suggest some alternative treatment plans. If I'm not offered another cycle, I might try going private xxx