Assisted Conception (and all the bits in between) volume 7

Italian we're having treatment in Leeds, because we live on an island where they cannot do fertility treatment. We can have the first stage here though, and just go across for egg collection and transfer.

Hi, have now spoken to consultant. The issue is his count was bad before (done locally) but not THAT bad. With being due to start a cycle next week it's terrible timing. It seems that there is a difference of opinion between the embryologist and the clinicians. The embryologist it turns out is fine with that sample and thinks he can do ICSI no problem. The consultant had decided they couldn't, but as the embryologists are the experts who actually do the magic so to speak, I trust them! To be on the safe side, DH is still going to go over next week to freeze a sample, so as to keep both sides happy. It'll only cost another £500 do that with flights and fees Ah well, who needs heating, and clothes, and food...

tortie so sorry for your pain and lack of fertilization. I hope you can recover well for a 2nd attempt - and it is good they are allowing you to cycle again with egg share.

ellen - the good thing with ICSI is that they can take the individual good sperm and use them, so the fact there is a high morphology issue should not be an issue - as 1million sperm is a lot when you will not have 1 million eggs to fertilise. We had ICSI too, sadly did not implant but the fertilisation worked. They told us 60% fertilisation of eggs was average with ICSI. Has you dh taken any supplements to help sperm - my dh was told to take a variety of things (in one supplement, menevit, or separately) and it improved a lot. We waited to do ICSI for a few months for his sperm to improve -as every 3 months sperm is new!! It worked for us. All the best.

Hello Ladies! I am totally gatecrashing your thread but I really need some help. Long story short we are due to start ICSI imminently but DH has just had another SA at the clinic we are going to use and it's catastrophic 1 million count, 13% motility and 0% morphology. We have been told that he needs to freeze a back up sample next week, but I don't understand what it means. Can they do ICSI with abnormally shaped sperm? If so, why does he need the back up? Surely samples all given within a month period are all going to be pretty much the same? Has anyone esle done ICSI with such low numbers?

tametortie- Oh you poor love! What an absolute nightmare! I hope you feel better soon, get lots of rest and TLC from DH, and hopefully the docs will be able to figure out what's next.

Italian- Sorry you're having a crap time. I think it's the waiting that drives us crazy, and gives us way too much time to think, and second guess, and question. But you know in your heart what you want, and what's important to you. Feel better soon, have a relaxing and resful holiday, and know that we're behind you, rooting for you, no matter what...

scrummy- Thanks for the well wishes! This is by no means the end of my visits to ARGC. I'm in every other day for blood tests to check my progesterone and hcg levels. They'll do my six week scan, and then a scan a week until I'm twelve weeks. After that, they'll want me in once a month to do a full blood count. When they get you pregnant, they want you to stay that way!

AFM, my levels went from 252 Sunday to 384 Monday, then up to 899 on Wednesday, so everything is looking good. I didn't need intralipids, which means my NK cells are lower, which is excellent. Back in tomorrow for more bloods...

I hope everyone gets their BFPs this year!!

hello um i have not posted on here before i had miscarriage last month and dont even know is we should have another child due to my medical problems which are many doctors advise against of course but it i think it just because they do not want to deal with the pregnancy they have stated that fact flat out we my husband and i would really like to just have one child together i just dont know if its to much or not

scrummy i think I'm going to lobby mnhq for a bun/cake emoticon. Biscuits just don't cut it in this context!

Italian it sounds like that holiday couldn't come early enough for you. Have you got any special treats lined up for yourself? Why not book a facial/massage/spa-day/girly lunch - whatever normally brings calm and a bit of happiness into your life. I can't even imagine how you've felt through this journey of yours but I know from your posts and other people's comments that you are a very resourceful and giving person and have helped many others overcome their low days/periods. Maybe a bit of me time is what you need?

I've got some good news in that my HSG showed everything was normal (apart from slightly lopsided uterus, but we won't dwell on detail) Will start chasing hospital for cancellation Appt today.

beginnings thanks for the feedback on Lister. I suspect I wi go with ARGC (if need be) purely because they are closer...we'll see. Loved you 'bun in the oven' story

lissy I realise I havent posted since the clinic confirmed your BFP. Do you still need to continue to visit them and if so, for how long? Do they do the first scan or will leave that for NHS to pick up? Hope you're walking on cloud nine

Hi to everyone else. Will catch up proper over the weekend.

Hi all,

just wanted to give virtual hugs to Italian and Tortie (and a virtual lettuce leaf).

Italian I'm so sorry you are feeling fed-up and down. Is the work thing just a busy time or are there other things going on. Do you want me to run over any of your colleagues, just in a minor injury kind of way?
What is being done about your thyroid issues. I have read it can cause huge delays to AF if left untreated?

Tortie that sounds like a horrific ordeal, poor you. I'm glad they know what caused the pain and hopefully learnt from it. It is better to know than have one of those mysterious pains.
So sad about the eggs, but it sounds as if they are working on a solution for you. I can't remember if you did anything special diet or supplement-wise but there are quite a few supplements which seem to improve egg quality.
Take it easy though, you have been through the mill.

Oh Italian I just spotted your last post. I'm so sorry. I "knew" as well last week but it still is horrid. Fingers crossed for the next time, and that it's soon.

Here here Lucy! I completely agree with you. italian you say you have resolved any issues you might have had so I hope that helps to deal with comments like that. When I found out about my low amh, I started to think about how I would tell any child about egg, or indeed sperm, donation. The conclusion I came to, albeit simplistic, was that making a baby is a bit like making a cake. You need the right ingredients but that just results in a bowl of ingredients. In order to make the cake, you need an oven at the right temperature, to keep an eye on it, and to look after it until it's actually a cake. So, it may be possible that we don't have all the right ingredients, and therefore some incredibly generous person helped out, but we still made the cake! I feel the same way about surrogacy, some ladies have a problem and need a bit of a hand with the baking! As lucylookout said, I'm just trying to tell you that I support you too! I imagine that most people have never really considered this properly and make off the cuff remarks without really thinking it through.

tametortie my word you have been through it. I do hope you're feeling better and get some answers soon. I should know more about the DHEA that lucy mentioned at the end of next week and will post back soon.

Hope everyone else is having a good day.

Italian, I'm sorry to hear you are sad and stressed. You've been through a lot over the last 6 years and these last few months must be dragging for you, but try to stay positive. You will be matched to a kind lady soon and your treatment will start. Did the person you were talking to know you were having egg donor IVF? I think not from your post, so just put it down to somebody's not unkind, just uninformed opinion. It's strange how when some options close for us (i.e. being able to have a child naturally) our brain and emotions are able to grow, envelop and absorb a concept that would never have occurred to us before, and it becomes normal and acceptable to us (IVF, DEIVF etc). Also, I don't want to over simplify things, but there seems to be such a discrepancy in how society views egg donors v. sperm donors. I mean I know that egg collection is more invasive, but if both acts are entered into altruistically and the donor isn't being exploited why is using an egg donor a bigger deal than using a sperm donor (which people barely bat an eyelid at anymore)? It just seems to be very unfair and I would like to see an opinion shift. Sorry, I'm rambling. I hope I'm making sense. I'm just trying to tell you I support you!

Tametortie what an awful experience you've had. I'm so sorry. I'm glad the nicked bowel pain is better (ouch). Are your clinic able to tell you more about the possible problem with the eggs? We have talked a little about DHEA on here while you've been away. It's meant to help egg quality (and reduce FSH while increasing AMH). Have your clinic talked about it? It might be worthwhile asking them if they think it might be suitable for you.

Oh and the pain after ec was a 'nicked' bowel- have had lots of pain, antibiotics and bleeding but all sorted now- feel top of the world

Hello all, sorry I haven't been on here to update you all- it's been a tough few weeks sorry for no individual posts, just wanna update then I'll be back "properly".....

About 4 weeks ago we got to the stage of egg collection, all looking good. Went in for the op, came out in absolute agony (sorry for those of you having ec soon), not tummy ache or cramping, sharp stabbing pains up my bum sorry guys!!! Nurses were baffled and apparently, dh says I was hanging off the bed screaming. I have trouble with my bowels anyway as have a bowel adhesion from endo but this was horrendous. Finally got pain under control, went home, threw up all day- it was grim. We got 9 eggs, 4 for us and 5 for recipient and this kept us going.

Call from embryologist came the next day, really bad news, the worst news- no fertilization from all 9 eggs.

So it seems we have an egg issue- not sure what.

We are allowed to donate again but we have to be paired with a couple who need icsi as we will too.

It's all been a lot to take in but will be back soon for another go x

Love to all XXXXXXX

And congrats to lissy xxxx

Hi. Thanks for asking, the six grams a day of antibiotics seems to be doing their job. Voice returning but not very loud.

Rowing yay! It's all going the right way. Just hang on a bit longer and once you're back to zero you can stop the drugs and start to feel human again.

Beginnings I thought Bridesmaids was hysterical. I literally cried with laughter. I went with a girl friend but reckon DH would have liked it too, I can see it appealing to his base sense of humour!

Lissy it all sounds great. Do you have any symptoms yet? Maybe it's hard to tell with the drugs. All fab news though

Italian hope you're bearing up OK. Waiting is difficult anyway, and the last few weeks of waiting always seem to drag the most. It won't be long now, I'm sure you'll get that call any time now (and it won't be you on the other end of the line !)

Keziah I hope the tonsils are better and that you're on the mend.

Hello to everyone else.

I'm fine. Got a busy few weeks coming up. Settling DS into a new nursery and I'm going to see Dirty Dancing in the theatre tomorrow. I can't wait. The film and more especially the soundtrack featured very heavily in my teens [wanders off singing 'and I've had the time of my liiiiife']

Hi all,
sorry just dashing on but Lissy Woohoo! Hooray to stop that nasty medicine.
Italian end of September/beginning of October, as have to allow 3 months from the methotrexate.

Just got bloods back down to 108!!!! Yiiiipppeeeeee! It was 404 last Tuesday, so that is a big old drop. Completely pooped though! Holiday next week so a chance to chill.