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Conception

When's the best time to get pregnant? Use our interactive ovulation calculator to work out when you're most fertile and most likely to conceive.

Anyone else about to start IVF?

997 replies

gardenpixie · 04/03/2011 11:47

DH and I have our first IVF consultation in a couple of weeks and I just wondered if there was anyone out there who was in the same position?

We've had loads of tests done already so the Dr says we may well be able to start the treatment cycle sometime next month or early May.

We've been TTC #1 for 3yrs now and I am on cycle 5 of clomid so will continue with that until I start the IVF drugs. There are no obvious medical reasons why we haven't conceived naturally, just a case of unexplained infertility, I guess.

I know the odds of getting pg still aren't great but I am really excited about the fact that IVF even exists (isn't amazing what they can do?) and, although I am a bit apprehensive of everything it will involve, I am thrilled to be given the chance to see if it might work for us.

I would love to hear from anyone with any advice or who is in the same boat,

thanks for reading Grin

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Teds77 · 05/05/2011 10:45

Morning lovely ladies Grin

carebear hope all went well with the sniffing this morning, thinking of you.

womanly also have my fingers and toes crossed. I'm hoping this will be a lucky thread for all of us.

kool we're 'male factor' too. I think DH fnds this hard but he is being absolutely, fabulously wonderful which is why I love him so [gushing emoticon] I think garden is right about the open evening - our GP was pretty clear that we'd need ICSI so I feel pretty well researched and happy to just get on with stuff (as long as Guys feel the same I suppose!)

Having spoken to Guys earlier in the week about needing to fill out paperwork and there being no appointments until June I got home last night to find I have an appointment the week after next!! It's from Gynocology and says I might have to have a pre-op assessment on the same day. Am confused, scared and happy all at once Confused Shock Hmm.

gardenpixie · 04/05/2011 22:51

womanly I still have my fingers and toes crossed for you that you won't need more iui as a bfp will show up soon. Especially as you are doing Easter fertility homework by dedicating yourself to chocolate eating! I've just done a big old stretch of it myself!

carebear great to hear from you and wow about the sniffing starting tomorrow - amazing! I will be thinking of you tomorrow morning Grin

Waves and fertility chocolate all round

Xxx

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CareBear1 · 04/05/2011 19:58

Sorry, meant to say also high to Luck and anyone else viewing this,

CareBear1 · 04/05/2011 19:54

Hi Garden and Womanly, and huge welcome to Kool and Teds. Sorry haven't posted since last week was away for the long weekend. Kool and Teds funny that you guys, Garden and I are all at Guys all starting about the same time. I wonder if we will end up passing each other in the waiting room without knowing!

Garden and Womanly, sorry this month didn't show up the BFP and sorry you've both had some down days. Know exactly how you feel, the luteal phase always makes me feel the same, like my body is crying too! I'm really happy about our new team though created on this thread though and hoping we can help each other through it - as DH keeps saying 'looks like things are finally starting to go our way' (though he might mean the football!) Wink Womanly how do you feel about doing a second cycle of IUI, is it any better or worse knowing what to expect this time?

Kool and Teds we were first referred in November from our usual hospital, Jan and Feb was doing some of the tests needed again via hospital and GP, then there was a bit of a hoo-ha about funding (outcome is we've got it for 1 cycle). We went for first appointment early april I think. We didn't go to an info evening, and on the day of our 1st appt we saw 4 seperate people, including pre-op assessment and got given all the sniffing and injection drugs. They were really helpful and knowledgable but also helped explain things with really simple analogies which was helpful for DH Grin.

And tomorrow I start sniffing on the down regs!! aah, scary. really hope it isn't like clomid was. I started to read the side effects in the pamphlet that came with it and swiftly put it back down again!

Garden I love the comment about the introduction being over champagne and canapes!! I am going to remember that. I also keep remembering one of your earlier posts about 'what a lovely time of year to have treatment'! It surely is.

so think of me at approx 07.30 tomorrow as i will be standing over a plastic bottle with a big nozzle with DH saying 'are you ready'. Feel like I'm about to do a massive bungee jump. Hmm

womanlytales · 04/05/2011 16:46

garden love your message about diving in chocolate head first - LOL, I am doing more than my due of that, for sure Blush I am day 30 so day 32 is Friday. I feel all the signs of AF (reinforced by DH) so I do not think this cycle is it... The good news is that my nurse got back to me and DH is picking up my prescription as I type.. :D so waiting for AF to come and then get started with the second IUI cycle :) The doctors who reviewed my first cycle have kept everythign as-is.. so here's to round two when that comes.

gardenpixie · 04/05/2011 11:39

kool that is frustrating for you ... but don't worry, it shouldn't delay your appt or treatment. I know it all sounds very regimented but when we had our appt, the consultant said that they like people to have been to an info evening before starting treatment but it's not an absolute necessity as you can always discuss any questions with your consultant.

I think it's really for people who need to decide between IUI and IVF; and for those who don't know anything at all about the process. Needless to say when we went, I didn't find out anything new at all as I'd done loads of research but DH found the whole thing fascinating and very informative Grin

They should be able to go ahead and schedule your appt for the first available one regardless

xx

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koolforcats · 04/05/2011 10:25

sorry pixie x posts! We must have been on the phone to guy's at the same time, glad you had more luck than me! V excited for you Grin
teds I meant to say we'll prob be at the same patient evening Smile

koolforcats · 04/05/2011 10:22

Sorry me again! I'm a bit frustrated! I followed your example teds and called Guy's to chase things up and basically found out that nothing has been done with our paperwork yet.....grrrrr. She said the next patient info evening isn't until June. There is one one tonight and I pleaded to go but she said it's full and there is only one a month. I was almost tempted to point out that there is also only one AF a month but I figured I should stay friendly Smile I'm usually a fairly patient person but this seems to be turning me into a child who wants to stamp her feet! Angry

gardenpixie · 04/05/2011 10:19

Kool the two consultants I've seen said that trying naturally (you are right, it is very last season) only gives you a 15% chance per cycle even if everything is working OK!

Loving "may the 4th be with you" Grin

So I just called Guys and I am going in for blood tests tomorrow and I have to call them on Monday to sort out a time to discuss drugs and timings etc. Eeeeeeeeeek!

Hope everyone is well this morning Smile xxx

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koolforcats · 04/05/2011 09:00

Ooh, May the 4th be with you! Grin

koolforcats · 04/05/2011 08:44

Great news gardenpixie! Bring on the baby pixies! Smile. I'm sure your consultant was more accurate with the stats, btw. The way I look at it, even when attempting to conceive naturally (pah! So 2010!) apparently there's only a 25% chance of it working, so I think this is definitely the way forward Grin. This is going to be our year ladies Smile

Teds - a good question and not at all nosey! We already know that our issue is male factor (I just don't like the expression at all as it implies someone is to 'blame' which sounds really mean to me) so that's why I just got the referral without having had the tests yet. Coincidentally though I was found to have severe endometriosis and ovarian cysts so recently had a laparoscopy to sort it out so I could well have had an issue too. That's another reason why I'm so keen to get started as the endo can come back Angry

Erm....I'm a bit conscious that since I've joined the thread I've bombarded it somewhat....sorry to existing people on the thread .

gardenpixie · 03/05/2011 23:55

Teds you are late home from work! Here, have a quick Wine to help you get to sleep Wink

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Teds77 · 03/05/2011 23:47

gardenpixie kooforcats am just home from work after a VERY long day but just wanted to quickly post to say thanks so much for the lovely welcome and all the info.

koolforcats (sorry if being dim) but is there any reason why you haven't had the day 3 tests before going to Guys? I got the impression from my GP that she wouldn't refer me to an acu unless the tests gave a reason for her to do so. Sorry if that sounds nosey/insensitive Blush but just wouldn't want you paying out unnecessarily - though I'm starting to realise quite how much this ivf malarky is going to cost us so maybe paying for the odd test here or there will soon seem like peanuts!

Also sorry to hear about your DD Sad x

gardenpixie · 03/05/2011 23:21

Oooooooooh, sorry, me again ... AF just started so will be starting the ivf drugs 21 days from tomorrow! Eeeeeek! Grin

Sorry, will stop excessive posting now! Xxx

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gardenpixie · 03/05/2011 21:09

I think I might go with the odds my consultant gave me as they are a bit higher! Interesting though Smile

Xxx

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koolforcats · 03/05/2011 20:28

Oops I did that wrong....it's here

koolforcats · 03/05/2011 20:26

If you'd prefer the link to the calculator without the article it's here.

koolforcats · 03/05/2011 20:23

Online calculator article here. This is the article about it where you can find the link.

Of course we must be careful about stats.....but my attitude to them is to only like them and believe them if they're in my favour Smile so make sure you do the same. If they're not good, they can't be true! Wink

koolforcats · 03/05/2011 20:16

Yay, I'm loving the glass half full attitude....let's make it a Wine Grin

Right, I'm def going to get my tests done privately. And guy's are cool with that?

I'll try to find that link (scurries off, nibbling a creme egg....)

gardenpixie · 03/05/2011 19:06

Hi Kool I reckon it's definitely worth getting the LH/FSH tests done privately if you can before your appt - I wish I had! I'd already be on the down regs if I had.

Medicentre in Victoria station do them. I can't remember the exact cost but it's not astronomical ...

What is the ivf calculator?

I know what you mean about someone else taking charge. That's what I am really looking forward to. I am so exhausted by constantly thinking about which day I'm on, when I need to DTD and then spending the 2WW wondering if we did it at the right time, whether we did it often enough / too often, when exactly I ov'd, whether or not I lay down for long enough afterwards etc etc etc ...

Sorry to hear June was your DD Sad

But depending on when in June you get your appt, you might be pg by the end of next month.

Smile
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koolforcats · 03/05/2011 19:00

Well done for phoning! June?! Oh that sounds so far away, I think I'll phone them tomorrow too then! I was dreading June anyway as it was my dd Sad. I guess though if I'm being glass half full, it'd be a good start for a new beginning. One of the things I'm looking forward to is having someone else in control of my fertility. It's so hard that something seemingly so natural can be so difficult so now I'm ready for someone else to be in charge of it Smile. I might get my cd3 tests done somewhere too then as that's in about a month for me which might be a bit close for the guy's appointment....
I found a good, apparently reliable ivf calculator. Will try to find it if anyone is interested?

gardenpixie · 03/05/2011 18:51

PS Kool I meant to say, it would have been rude to turn down the Lindt bunny. After all, Easter was a pagan fertility festival so I think we all owe it to ourselves to jump into the chocolate head first Grin

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gardenpixie · 03/05/2011 18:49

Welcome Teds Smile

I'm not sure if ours has been a typical experience but we got details of our info evening and first appt all through at the same time. Guys hold info evenings once a month so they try to get you on one before your appt but don't seem to mind if it's just after.

Our first appt was with a consultant who went through DH and my medical history. Then DH had to give a sperm sample and have a blood test; and I had an internal scan to check my uterus and ovaries. I've had a million of these done now but they still wanted an up to date one.

I needed an up to date LH / FSH test so had to wait until my next CD3 (which I hope will be this Friday).

They will also check DH and me for Hep B and C and HIV; and they check women for rubella immunity.

Assuming all those are fine, you are given a drugs and appointment schedule that starts on the first CD21 after you've been given the go ahead. Most of the scans and appts are then with the nurses (the consultants do the collection and embryo transfers but not the monitoring - although they keep an eye on the scans once they've been done)

I have PCO so I am going to have to go in for scans at least every other day during the stimulating phase but I think most women just have two or three scans during the 12 / 14 days you need to take them.

You're then given instructions on when to take an LH trigger injection and 24 / 36 hrs after that, they collect the eggs and DH's contribution. Guys does this under sedation so you don't need to stay overnight although DH will need to be around to pick you up and make sure you get home.

After that they let the eggs rest over night and then introduce them to the sperm (I like to think of this being done over champagne and canapes Grin ) ... and then it's a waiting game to see how many fertilise. If two fertilise, they transfer both on the second day after egg collection, if more than two fertilise, they wait to see which ones progress faster and either transfer the two best ones on the third day after collection or wait until the fifth day when hopefully you'll have one or more blastocysts (by this stage there is a 50% chance of pregnancy).

They prefer to transfer one blastocyst if the woman has a high chance of falling pg but can transfer two if that's what you want.

Does that help? Sorry it's a bit of a ramble.

Do you know what cycle day your appt fall on? If you wanted to speed things up, you could make sure all your blood tests have been done within the last 6 months (although it sounds like they have) and then you can hit the ground running, so to speak!

You might well be starting the drugs on the first CD21 after your appt so although it might seem a long way away, they move quickly once you're in the system.

FWIW I had loads of blood tests done (thyroid, triglycerides, etc etc) when I was seeing a consultant who put me on clomid but the people at Guys don't worry too much about anything other than the basics simply because they control all the relevant hormones throughout the process and during the first trimester of pregnancy so they were very disinterested in most of my results!

Do shout if I've missed anything out and sorry for such a long post. I am hoping AF will start tomorrow so we might all be starting at the same time.

Carebear have you started the downregs yet?

Luck how are you doing? Hope you're well.

Womanly I am keeping my fingers tightly crossed that AF hasn't started yet and that you get a BFP before starting on the FSH again Grin

Sorry for mammoth post ladies! Love to everyone xxx

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Teds77 · 03/05/2011 17:03

Thanks koolforcats you was inspired to get on the phone and Guys say the paperwork should be with us any day and that they are currently booking appointments for June. That does seem ages away but I must learn to be less impatient!

My doctor did my day 3 tests and as the hospital didn't do one of the thyroid analyses (a box didn't get ticked) I had them all done again the following month. She also arranged for DH to have a SA done.

I'm trying to be healthy so shall be avoiding Sainsburys... Grin

koolforcats · 03/05/2011 16:07

Hi Teds77!

I only just joined this thread a couple of days ago so even though I'm guys too, gardenpixie is probably the best person to let you know about timings etc. If I were you I'd get on the phone to them to chase up. I think they've got a good rep in terms of treatment but they're not always good at answering the phone (according to other threads I've read). We're probably at the same point. It's a fine line isn't it - I'm keen not to be pushy and keep calling but I really want to get on with it Hmm. Did you have your day 3 tests there or somewhere else? I've not had them yet.

Thanks gardenpixie for the info. I don't think we'll bother paying to see the same person, their reputation sounds pretty good after all. I think our pct funds a cycle but we might fund a cycle while we're waiting.

In other news, I keep buying Easter eggs....it would surely have been rude to turn down a lindt bunny from Sainsbury's the other day - £5 reduced to £1.50? But of course! Grin

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