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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.

Original poster

Ivf and side effects

28 replies

Stillhopingstillhere · 08/08/2013 17:44

I am trying to accept that we will never conceive naturally. It has hit me hard this month as I did think perhaps I might be pregnant...irrationally I know. But I've tested with a first response ( due on tues) and negative.

I am trying to resign myself to Ivf but I am worried about the side effects. I don't feel very reassured by the doctor I've seen. I was unable to take the combined pill as it caused terrible migraines and they took me off it because they said I was at risk of having a stroke. I mentioned this to my consultant and he didn't seem concerned. How can it be dangerous for me to take the pill but ok for me to have Ivf?

Anyway, I just wondered if people could tell me, honestly, what the side effects have been and how they've managed.
I was kind of wondering about natural Ivf but I know your chances are a lot less as you only have one egg. I'm 31 by the way and according to all the tests fertile. It is dh who has the issue, his sperm count is good but they all swim the wrong way.

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Hi there - this thread is a little old. [[https://www.mumsnet.com/conception/ivf
If you want to find out about IVF, we’ve got more information here]]. MNHQ

OP posts:
thesaurusgirl · 08/08/2013 18:11

Four of my good friends have had IVF and none has suffered significant side effects.

Keep away from Google. Women who have uncomplicated medical treatment of any kind tend not to post about it on the internet so you only get the dramas online and that can give you a very false impression of treatment.

Original poster
Stillhopingstillhere · 08/08/2013 17:59

Thank you, that is reassuring. Dr google is definitely not my friend!
How many attempts did you have if you don't mind me asking?

I also know it probably won't happen first time, if at all. Dh is a bit of an optimist, well he says optimist I say he's unrealistic. He appears to think I take a few pills, we nip to the clinic and nine months later there's the baby. I keep quoting the odds to him (dr gave us about 35% with icsi) and they aren't great. On the other hand at the moment they're basically nil so it is an improvement!

OP posts:
YoniMitchell · 08/08/2013 17:55

Hi there, we've done IVF (long protocol) and frozen embryo transfer and I can honestly say the side-effects were pretty minimal ime, although everyone is different.

The down-reg drug (nasal spray in my case) was fine, the stimming drugs (injections) were a doddle to do and the only side effect I had was a little bloating. Then there's the progesterone (pessaries) which were OK, but a bit grim to use (panty liners will become your friend!) and they're the only ones I really noticed in terms of side effects, as I was a bit constipated and bloated - both eased with decent diet and drinking about 3l of water a day.

You may feel a bit tired, but I really don't remember feeling anything too bad or concerning.

On FET I foung the oestrogen wasn't great on our first go - I would feel quite sick and had a few headaches. But on our second go I felt fine again - even though the drugs were exactly the same! Then you have the delightful progesterone pessaries again!

While certain drugs are needed at various stages, there are different kinds of each so talk to your consultant about those available to you.

Once you get started on the process it's pretty quick too, so I don't recall being on any particular drug for a long time - certainly not long enough for any of the effects to really bother me to the extent I wished we weren't doing it. However the FET was certainly more challenging physically.

I'd say talk to your consultant about your concerns but don't worry that you'll necessarily have any or many side effects.

I must also point out that for me it was entirely worth it - I'm now 17wks pg following the last FET Smile Good luck!

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