IVF

Btw I used to think IVF is expensive but then we had to look into surrogacy since I can't keep a pregnancy and that is soooo much more so would give almost anything ( and ofcourse would have liked to carry my own baby myself otherwise too) to just do the normal IVF!

Hi! I did IVF twice recently. First time nov/dec 2010 and the second last summer . We're doing surrogacy in the US since I can't carry our second child without miscarrying ( had 10, reason not found). The first time ended in a miscarriage/ possible ectopic after a frozen cycle ( we transferred two both times ) but the second cycle (fresh cycle) worked even though I only had two embryos to use ( so none left in a freezer) ! Now our surrogate's almost 28w! I also had low hormone levels and egg count despite my age . I think I was given similar odds for a cycle to work as you but it did and I did respond and produce a few precious eggs both times even though the drs were quite pessimistic ! I was devastated to hear the numbers and shocked since still felt young and had no trouble of having my son a few years before or getting pregnant all the times I miscarried. I did how ever decide to try since I thought I would never be able not wonder about it . I thought I'd give it three goes and then move on to egg donation. I was on the short protocol so they worked with my natural cycle which is regular. I have to say I didn't really notice any side effects since feeling a bit unwell or moody etc I reckon I'm on and of anyway due to normal hormone cycles and a chronic ilness I have . In general it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be from what I heard . It's hard when you don't know at all what to expect when put in a new situation ! As others say I recommend taking it one step at a time and not getting overwhelmed by the whole process. It's perfectly doable. Obliviously the shots aren't fun and I really hate needles and you do feel like a pincushion by the end . My husband was my" nurse" and gave them all to me in the evenings which really helped ! Some of the time didn't feel a thing and other times it did hurt but it's over quickly. Maybe I didn't react as strongly to the drugs as some so might have been lucky in that sense. And running back and forward to the doctors for endles scans and bloods and the waiting for the result anxiously is torture . But it's just a few weeks of your life and you can get through it . I know several people that it's worked on the first or second go as well . For Some it's no help no matter if you do it 20 times...In total I think it took about two weeks to get ready for the retreaval which in the US is done under general anesthetisia but here I think it's done while being sedated. The retreaval was a bit scary ( hate general a.) but went well and I didn't have too horrible pain after it but some lower back and stomache pain for a day or two ( used heat pads they helped and normal painkillers) and didn't have bleeding at all really . No complications. The difference is that I didn't have the embryos transferred back to me but to our surrogate but that's meant to be much easier thing to do. Good luck with your cycle ! I'm sending you happy thoughts:)

I did the short protocol so after a month on the pill (which was bizzare) I started doing the injections of menopur. I found it so much easier to get my DH to prepare the injection and then me inject it. About halfway through I got quite stressed by it all but was then able to count down the days to egg collection.

Egg collection was fine, I don't think the sedatives they gave me worked as I was completely alert but it still wasn't painful.

I was on a very high dose of menopur as I was considered a poor responder but we had something like 6 eggs and I got pregnant the first time (son is now 13 months old). Definitely have a look on Fertilityfriends, it's such a supportive site.

I also did stuff like eat a high protein diet, eat wheatgrass and had acupuncture even though I am quite sceptical about stuff like that.

Second the question re long or short protocol? I have low reserves and had short protocol and worked first time!

Fertility Friends is a great site for info etc.

My doctor said that often the first round of IVF is simply a way to measure the body's reaction to injectables. I had two rounds of injectables before my actual cycle which was expensive but gave a very good idea of what dose to go for in the actual IVF cycle.

Do you know your starting dose of (menopur?) and how many antral follicles you have?

I am pregnant after our third round of IVF. My best advice would be to take it one step at a time and not project too much into the future.

Are you having IVF on the NHS, or are you paying for it yourself? If the latter, how many cycles have you signed up for?

Sorry to hear your Dr is being so negative - it's hard enough embarking on IVF!

Anyway, it really depends on your protocol. I'd expect you to be on a short protocol, if you have low egg reserves. This means you get your period and start stimulating your ovaries straight away. Is this the plan for you?

The long protocol involves downregging (shutting down your ovaries) from day 21 (although my clinic had me on the pill for a cycle first before downregging) and then stimming after about 2 weeks of downregging. The risk with low egg reserves is that the ovaries don't "wake up" after downregging, which is why the short protocol tends to be used in these cases.

Wrt low egg reserves, you should also look into Create as Geeta Nargund there works with "natural cycle" IVF which can be useful in low egg reserve cases.

In my experience, IVF was better than trying and failing to get pregnant naturally. I took the approach of getting over each hurdle rather than trying to get over the whole thing, eg get the ball rolling, start downregging, start stimming, go for scans etc. We did long protocol, had ICSI for male factor and I got pregnant first time (I had normal hormone levels but DH has low low sperm count).

I'd also recommend accupuncture, especially on the day of transfer (pre and post transfer). Try to find a practitioner who's worked with ladies doing IVF before.

Also, the fertility friends website has a huge range of information/experiences. I know you're already on the assisted conception thread on here (I'm a graduate of it and sometime lurker) so you've already "spoken" to a lot of experienced Mumsnetters. Fertility friends is great for finding women who've been at your particular clinic, who have the same hormone results as you etc etc.

I wish you the best of luck with it.