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Original poster

First time trying IVF... anyone want to keep me company?!

113 replies

loulamay · 11/05/2020 13:40

Hi all,

Few quick facts - partner and I are both just into our 40s, have been TTC for a year with no luck. He has a slightly low sperm count at just under 16 million and I have a past history of PCOS, although according to my Dr, am producing an amazing number of eggs for a woman my age (in fact interestingly he talked to me about recent studies that may show that women with PCOS may have a delayed reduction in fertility in line with age: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4447787/).

We have had one unsuccessful IUI and have decided to move onto IVF to try and take advantage of the fact that my ovarian reserve still looks good. I also froze my eggs when I was 36, before I met DP, so we will probably fertilise them at the same time as only that we collect from this cycle.

Feeling a huge mixture of nervousness and excitement, especially during these crazy COVID times, and wondered if anyone was in the same boat and starting IVF now? I am on day 2 of my cycle and had my first Gonal F 300 injection this morning - 5 more days of that and my Dr wants to see me for my first scan.

L

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Sunbird24 · 07/09/2020 23:05

@Whilstwewait how was the consultation? Have you got a start date?
I’m 4 days into down regulation, getting used to injecting myself now but sure I’ll be sick of it before I have to add the second jab!

Whilstwewait · 21/08/2020 17:33

how is everyone? We had our first consultation today so if we go ahead we will be starting treament next month. So excited and nervous at same time x

Sunbird24 · 26/07/2020 20:35

www.healthline.com/health/guide-prepare-for-ivf
I found this, don’t know if it might be worth a read for anyone else?

Sunbird24 · 24/07/2020 09:13

Fingers crossed for you @BFP2020, and at least you have a set endpoint if it doesn’t work.

I got the donor I wanted, cost me £1400 though. Just waiting for the clinic to let me know what my next step with them is, they’re meant to be calling me back but if I don’t hear soon I’ll call them. Told my boss as well now, he was surprisingly supportive!

Gabbbbbbby · 24/07/2020 09:11

@BFP2020 yeah, when we got our results showing everything normal for me and very poor morphology for DH I obviously did loads of research and realised that morphology is pretty inconclusive in terms of fertility. I guess cos you only need one 'good' sperm to get through. But our consultant seemed pretty sure that was why I wasn't getting pregnant. She gave us 3 months do try naturally and for DH to stop drinking, cycling, hot baths etc and when that made no difference to his results she advised icsi. I've had quite a few chemical pregnancies as well when trying naturally, and she said she couldn't say for sure but that could be down to an irregular sperm fertilising an egg and becoming an unviable embryo. Who knows!! But I'm glad we went straight for the icsi as it was the quickest option I think.

Good that your results seem to be positive!

BFP2020 · 24/07/2020 09:01

@loulamay so sorry that it didn't work this time but love how positive you are for next cycle your body will be ready now this month 💪 I have everything crossed for you🤞🏼🤞🏼
@Sunbird24 were you able to get the donor sperm you wanted or is he still unavailable?
@Gabbbbbbby mine OH morphology wasn't great but my fertility doctor wasn't worried about it at all and said that it could have just been a bad sample. But in my own head I feel like that's our issue!!

Little update from me I had my lap and dye Monday and I don't have Endometriosis and my tubes were clear he said I'm a mystery to him why I haven't got pregnant! I asked could we do IUI next cycle but he wants me to try this cycle which is cycle 20 and if I get AF in aug then to ring him and we will set everything up for IUI for sept! That's 2 more cycles trying! He seems to be very positive that it will happen after the laparoscopy he said that sometimes there could be mucus stuck in the tubes and when they do the dye test it flushes it out. I'm trying to be positive but after 20 cycles I'm finding it hard!!

Sunbird24 · 21/07/2020 20:50

He’s coming up as unavailable now - was fine at lunchtime! 😭

Sunbird24 · 21/07/2020 18:34

So sorry yours hasn’t worked out this time @loulamay, hopefully actually getting pregnant has given your body a bit of a kick start and it will do everything right next time! It’s great that you’ve got enough embryos to put 2 in, everything crossed for a positive outcome for you.

I’m going to order my sperm tonight, no idea when I’ll actually get to get started properly but I’ve found the perfect donor and don’t want to miss out...

Original poster
loulamay · 21/07/2020 15:25

Thanks @Gabbbbbbby - so nice to have this forum as we hadn't really told anyone and here I can gab away to complete strangers which is so cathartic!

Just heard from my bloods result that my HcG has gone down to 10 which is a relief because that means no ectopic, phew.

I am honestly more annoyed/frustrated than sad. I'm so ready for this - bring it on baby! As my partner said though, we'll be parents for the rest of our lives, so what's another month or two of trying. And we are lucky to have 6 good embryos left.

Onwards and upwards ;-) (and wine and sushi) x

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Gabbbbbbby · 21/07/2020 15:04

Oh @loulamay I'm so so sorry. It must be so hard to have the initial excitement and then have it taken away. I'm glad you're feeling positive and that the doctor is happy to get going again next cycle.

I had clexane for my cycle too, my clinic use it as standard I think, like you said it's supposed to support implantation. It's a horrible needle, quite thick, but definitely worth it!!

Good idea to put two in next time. I think if I had a couple of failed cycles I'd do exactly the same.
Thinking of you! Xxx

Original poster
loulamay · 21/07/2020 14:44

Great news @Sunbird24! Let us know when you get started!

Bad news from my side - 6 week scan showed an empty uterus so the embryo looks like it implanted enough to give a low positive hcg but then didn't develop further. Sad news but trying to stay positive and glad we actually fell pregnant as that's the furthest we've ever got!

Dr wants to try again next cycle with the same medication but also put me on Clexane (not sure if it's called that in the UK) which is a blood-thinner and can help with implantation and immunological issues. Willing to give anything a shot! He also said as we have 6 embryos left that if we want to put 2 back next time we can. I think we will...

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Sunbird24 · 20/07/2020 15:18

Clinic said yes! Trying to get through on the phone now to see what happens next

Sunbird24 · 17/07/2020 15:13

Not long to go now @loulamay!
I’ve had a voicemail this morning to say a letter’s arrived for me but my uncle died yesterday morning so I’m at my parents and can’t pick it up until Monday. Need to keep myself distracted this weekend!

Gabbbbbbby · 15/07/2020 12:13

@Eeeekim40thisyear I was worried about work too, I'm a teacher so not much wriggle room in terms of having days off in term time etc. We managed fine. There were only two days I needed a full day off for, the egg retrieval day and the transfer day which was 5 days later. The two weeks leading up to egg retrieval day were a bit tricky as I had to have daily blood tests at the clinic (normally you'll only have every other day though), but it was just a very quick test which they did before work. So you should be fine. Good luck!

@loulamay hope you're still doing well!!

Original poster
loulamay · 15/07/2020 11:43

Welcome @Eeeekim40thisyear (I also turned 40 in February! join the club).

If IUI isn't viable then you'll go on a medicated cycle (depending on if you get periods etc) with hormone injections to stimulate egg production. Various scans along the way (and possibly blood tests) will show how your ovaries are responding to the drugs, but the goal is to produce a nice number of eggs so that you can have retrieved (they control the ovulation with more injections) and then hopefully have those eggs fertilised and transferred.

Depending on how many are collected, you may have more that you can keep in the freezer for the future. My clinic transfers what are called '5-day blastocysts' which is basically the fertilised embryo after 5 days growing in the lab.

Your consultant should be able to explain everything but hope that helps in a simple way. Feel free to ask any questions.

I'm in South Africa so not sure about waiting times etc in the UK.

Let us know how you get on x

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Eeeekim40thisyear · 13/07/2020 18:53

Good luck ladies. I'm hoping to start ivf next month but wondered if someone can explain the process to me? I was hoping for iui but recent tests have shown problems so now awaiting a call with consultant to discuss next steps.
I'm really worried about the impact it will have on work - I've only just gone back after nearly 3 months off due to Covid. Are clinics accommodating with times & days or is it really specific? Sorry for all the questions!

Whilstwewait · 13/07/2020 18:21

@loulamay looks really strong. Congrats

@bfp2020 at my clinic an IUI is £800 so not bad at all. Not sure if any extra costs on top x

Sunbird24 · 13/07/2020 13:00

@loulamay no denying that’s a positive! Hope the next week goes quickly for you

Gabbbbbbby · 13/07/2020 12:01

@loulamay I think that test looks really good! Good idea about not testing any more, I think agonising about line darkness is so stressful and inaccurate anyway. The test is definitely showing that you're pregnant, so that's great 😁😁😁
@BFP2020 I'm not sure about IUI sorry, we went straight for icsi as my husband's semen analysis showed v v poor morphology.

Original poster
loulamay · 13/07/2020 11:42

Hi @BFP2020! I'm doing well thank you, hanging in there! I have my first scan a week tomorrow. Have had a bit of cramping/pulling which my GP says is either round ligament pain or just because of the increased blood flow to the uterus, but no other symptoms really.

Have posted my test from this morning - which is 14dp5dt and my very faint positive from a week ago. Today's isn't even that dark really but I don't think I'm going to test again until my scan! It's too stressful haha Smile

I'm afraid I am in South Africa where the costs are probably quite different to the UK. They might be similar to Europe however. I think we ended up paying around £3000 for everything from the appointments to drugs to surgery for egg retrieval and then the transfers. The other girls on here might have a better idea of costs in the UK! Or depending on your situation would you be eligible for anything free on the NHS?

First time trying IVF... anyone want to keep me company?!
First time trying IVF... anyone want to keep me company?!
OP posts:
BFP2020 · 13/07/2020 10:58

@loulamay How you doing? I love seeing positive tests if you want to post some pics and we can see them getting darker each day. What day is officially 14 days? Can I ask you how much the injections and stuff came to for the IUI month? They told me it can be quite expenisve?

Original poster
loulamay · 10/07/2020 17:50

It's a rollercoaster! Great that you're progressing though.

I'm going to spend the weekend dog walking, reading, cooking and might throw in some retail therapy. It's all such a waiting game!

OP posts:
Sunbird24 · 10/07/2020 15:05

I think I’ve found my perfect donor, but I’m still waiting for the ok from the clinic so I’m really anxious he won’t be available by the time they say yes. This whole thing is full of stress isn’t it? Is there any kind of project you can set yourself to try and keep your mind occupied?

Original poster
loulamay · 10/07/2020 12:31

Not in any way. Took a test this morning and I think it's darker but I really need to step away! I'm just making myself worried. Going to wait until the official two-week mark and take one more that morning, then wait until my scan. I think. Jeez.

Argh. Sometimes I wish I didn't want this so much.

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Sunbird24 · 10/07/2020 12:24

How are you doing @loulamay? Are you managing to avoid the temptation?