abc IVF experience sharing - 2021/2022

Hello! I've just had a 3bb transferred into me on day 5 and feeling a bit worried about the grade! The doctor said it was good but i'm suspicious :( Also got a 5bc to freeze. Does anyone know much about grades? Did anyone have any luck with grades that weren't AA/AB/BA? Thanks

@Millymillymillymillymilly

Great news on the blast rate and fingers crossed for your FET! You have so many in the freezer, it only takes one!

I am trying to prepare myself for moving to CRGH and the thoughts of a lot more injections on the way. My DH is also really concerned about the down regulation process as it's basically putting me on temp menopause with lots of side effect. I am on the low side of BMI so don't have many injection sites unfortunately.

How many injections we will have to do for FET at CRGH? I also heard at CRGH, they constantly check E2 level during FET cycle and I don't think we have any blood test or injection for FET with ABC. What are the supplements you have been taking?

Hey everyone,

I am new to Mumsnet and can I join the chat please? Would be great to have your support and share our experience here. It's such a difficult process both mentally and physically.

We had a failed 1st cycle with ABC London last year and are just about to finish the 2nd cycle. I am 34, AFC 31, so have some PCO, low BMI so high risk of OHSS and had to freeze all with both cycles.

First cycle, 19 eggs collected, 15 mature, 14 fertilized with ICSI, 13 day 3 embryos and mostly grade 1 8 cells, and then told NONE of them made it through to blast on day 5/6. Transferred the only day 3 embryo they saved earlier on, chemical pregnancy. They said we have server male factor and recommended donor sperm.

2nd cycle with donor sperm, 14 eggs collected, only 6 fertilized with IVF, all 6 were grade 1 embryos on day 3, then again only 1 made to day 5 which is a 4CC. TBH I didn't have a great feeling from the start as the fertilization rate is low that usually indicates immature eggs and I don't have any 8 cells embryos this time. Should be arranging FET this week but I haven't and am not convinced it will stick at all.

So in total 33 eggs and out of 18 grade 1 day 3 embryos, only 1 4CC blastocyst!

I was told by Create up to day 3 is more egg issue and between day 4 and 5 is more sperm issue but our results from two cycles are not much different and still no good quality blastocyst even with perfect donor sperm. It says on Create's lab report to me below 35 years old, it's 40-60% blast rate and we are like 0-20%. They also told me at the beginning of the 2nd cycle that they wanted to reduce the number of eggs collected to improve the quality, though I did have fewer eggs this time, the quality is actually a lot worse than last time. So not sure if there is any actual science behind or I am just very unlucky......

@Millymillymillymillymilly

Do you mind I ask what do you think of CRGH so far? I actually had a consultation with their consultant after the 1st cycle for a 2nd opinion but decided to give ABC 2nd go since we decided to go with donor sperm ( I thought we are going to be an easy case but I am totally wrong!) CRGH has a lot more injections/medications and also have to down regulation before start stimulation while the process is a lot easier and shorter with ABC. Also heard we will have injections and blood tests even for FET. Plus the nurses at ABC are really nice.

With CRGH cycle, would you say the quality of blastocysts is better than the ones with ABC cycle?

@star2022 I think I was quite bloated quickly but I stopped noticing after the first few days, how's it going for you?

No still waiting frustratingly, I've phoned today and again been passed around 3 people (having to explain to each one why I'm having to phone back again) and told someone will phone me before next week, it's going on far too long now and trying to pin somebody down to talk to has been impossible, I'm devastated to say that as up-to the test date everyone had been brilliant, so welcoming and just the other end of the phone from me, since then has been a totally different story, it's an emotional time anyway but I'm really disappointed.

@waitingmyturn Hey I'm okay thank you! Started Bemfola yesterday got my OH to do it for me and bless he was great! I was worrying for nothing!

Just had my second one this evening and feeling quite bloated already - is this normal after just 2 injections?

Have you heard anything back yet?

Anyone else have any other updates this cycle? Hope you're all doing ok!

I'm ok thank you @star2022, still waiting (it's killing me), hopefully have our meeting by Friday.

How are you doing? Mine was 4 days late when I was due to start medication, typical isn't it!

@waitingmyturn how are you? hope you get some answers next week! I can imagine the wait must be torture! Don't worry I know what you mean as I've not told family and friends either (apart from 1 who had icsi last year) so it's nice to connect with people on here to rant and have someone to talk to!

@Monxxx I have unexplained infertility TTC for almost 2 years and this is my first ivf cycle with abc - so far everyone has been really friendly and thorough and i'm currently pleased with the process so far.

@Sazles99 how are you feeling? I wish i had more of an update for you all, but my body decided to play a cruel trick on me and AF came a week late!! So i'm officially starting injections tomorrow, and my first scan is booked in for friday morning. Taking each day as it comes now..started drinking more fluids, meditating & OH is being super cute making me relax and not stress. Trying to remain hopeful 🙏 although I have told and prepared myself that if it doesn't work this cycle, as long as i can get some frozen then that'll be more than enough and I'd be happy.

@Monxxx sorry to hear that.. I've found everyone at ABC to be really warm and empathetic throughout! I'm not sure if you can request copies of your scans, I never asked!

@waitingmyturn hope they come back to you soon with next steps, I've always found the 'not knowing' and waiting parts of this process the hardest!

Thank you @Sazles99, hope you're doing ok x

This was our first attempt, we're looking at trying again in March after we've had some time to process things and depending on what the consultant says at our follow up, I did get a call back today thankfully but because I'm between two clinics (Cardiff and Bristol) they have to have a meeting next week to discuss my cycle before they can come back to me with any insight. Hopefully I'll know more the end of next week.

In fairness I've never had this issue before, maybe it's just been a busy week!

Thanks for replying
It’s really frustrating I do have some small fibroids but as per doctors it shouldn’t be issue
I’m planning to go for ivf abc fertility just due to lower cost
I found their patient support team very cold
Can I request copy of my initial ultrasound scans that I did with them , ?

Hi all, thanks for all the kind wishes after my last message.

@waitingmyturn I'm so sorry it wasn't a better outcome for you 💔 was this your first try? Which clinic are you with? I'm at Harley street/St Pauls and have always gotten a call back when requested.. although they do sometimes take a couple of hours to get back to you.

@Monxxx welcome to the thread! I have unexplained infertility - no issues with me or my husband.

@Millymillymillymillymilly @star2022 & @Akter1984 hope you're all doing ok? x

Yeah maybe, I've never had this problem before either, who knows, here's to hoping for answers today.. or at least an appointment for another consultation!

How are you feeling?

@Millymillymillymillymilly thank you,

No I haven't, I genuinely can't get through to anyone, I've phoned 3 times and have been told each time that someone will call me back (I'm still waiting), I have emailed and again I was told someone will phone me back, I'll give it until dinner time today and I'll call again. It's all very frustrating

Hi I’m considering my ivf treatment with abc ivf
Anyone gone for ivf due to unexplained infertility?

@star2022 funnily enough me and my OH had the same conversation about whether the medication was enough for me, so they increased my dose of Bemfola by quite a bit two days before egg retrieval (14/1) because when my bloods were done on the 12th it came back that even though I had a number of large follicles my estrogen levels were less than 2000, from what I can remember the nurse said that's equivalent to just over 2 mature eggs, but by the time I had my egg retrieval 2 days later they had 17 eggs, 12 mature, the numbers weren't adding up to me from the conversations I'd had. I'm wondering if I've got something slightly hormonal going on, (I've been doing a lot of online research from what I can see AF proper flow shouldn't happen while still using progesterone and it did but I'll need to check this with the consultant), that being said I've pulled apart everything I did or didn't do to try and understand why I am where I am, hopefully I'll have more clarity after my consultation and we'll go from there. I think something will need to change with regards to mediation though for me.

Try not to worry about your cycle, I suppose it is just a numbers game and despite the outcome for me I'm still really pleased with the process and how I've been treated by all the people at abc, that's why if all goes well with the consultation and we can put together another plan I'd have no hesitation about using them again.

Thanks for listening to me rant, none of my family or friends know about my situation and I'm pretty sure I've talked my OH's ear off 😄

@waitingmyturn I am so sorry to hear that, I really hope you get some answers at your consultation and hopefully they're able to tell you if they can do anything different next time. I'm truly so sorry, get some rest and definitely taking some time to heal sounds like a good idea. I haven't even started the process yet but can see how how hard it is already.

Did they do blood tests at every scan? I read somewhere about checking progesterone levels and i'm beginning to get worried that maybe the meds aren't enough. I know my friend had so many more meds than what we get and I can't help but think (and google) whether mild ivf is enough.

Thank you @star2022, unfortunately not good news for us. I started spotting from 27th (despite still being on progesterone) and it was getting heavier and more frequent before AF made an arrival yesterday, I did a test anyway just incase but it was negative as I expected, feeling a little deflated as no Frosties for us either so feel like we completely lost this time. Waiting for a phone consultation with our consultant just to discuss this cycle and see what their thoughts are.

Whatever happens we're going to take this month off just to heal and take a break from the whole process and try again in March hopefully with a fresh mindset.

Finishers crossed for your cycle, excited to see how it goes for you 😊

@Millymillymillymillymilly sounds great so far, fingers crossed for you!

@waitingmyturn hope you're okay, was thinking of you yesterday!

@anditgoesonandon good luck!!

I'm waiting for AF to arrive now so I can start my injections, had meds delivered friday. Typical the one time I actually want it to arrive it's taking its time lol.

@Millymillymillymillymilly you know I've heard someone at the clinic I'm taking to, where they did their own protocol and got a rubbish result so like your friend she then got put on the first protocol and did better.

Yeah I was beyond shocked to go from 9 in cycle 1 and then get the call that we only had 1 blast in the next cycle. I hope it is the protocol and icsi that they insisted on for no reason and not me.

I will still go to the scan with abc next week and chat to them, at this point I think for my own peace of mind I need to repeat what I did in my first cycle and see what the result is.