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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

abc IVF experience sharing - 2021/2022

208 replies

Millymillymillymillymilly · 17/11/2021 12:58

Hey everyone,

I've benefited so much from the last 2 abc ivf threads that I thought I'd start a new one and hopefully can contribute back to the community.

I'm 33 years old, AFC around 24 (based on the initial treatment scan) and the reason we are doing IVF is due to male infertility issues (morphology lower than 4%) and irregular ovulation. We are undergoing treatment at the Harley Street branch.

Here's my treatment timeline so far:

09/11 Tue - Bemfola injection 125
10/11 Wed - Bemfola injection 125
11/11 Thu - Bemfola injection 125
12/11 Fri - Bemfola injection 125 + 1st scan
13/11 Sat - Bemfola injection 125
14/11 Sun - Bemfola injection 125 + Cetrotide injection
15/11 Mon - Bemfola injection 125 + Cetrotide injection +2nd scan
16/11 Tue - Bemfola injection 125 + Cetrotide injection
17/11 Wed - Cetrotide injection + 3rd scan + Ovitrelle injection (exact timing TBC)

After my 3rd scan today, the nurse said I didn't have to do anymore injections apart from morning Cetrotide shot and the Ovitrelle which someone from the Create clinic will call and let me know when to inject as it needs to fit into their egg retrieval appointments (I still haven't received the call and my scan was at 08.30 this morning).

My follicles' growth was as below:

1st scan
11 < 6mm
10 10 mm

2nd scan
2 < 6mm
12

OP posts:
LondonladyTTC · 20/11/2021 12:24

Thats brilliant news @Millymillymillymillymilly , so far so good! 9 is an amazing number, fingers crossed you have lots which make it to day 5. Do you plan to freeze any left over? Thanks for the summary of the process, really helpful to know what to expect. Fingers crossed for Monday, please keep us posted.

DH is on the stag do this weekend so I am treating myself to the most relaxing weekend I can. I have booked in for some reflexology as heard that it can help fertility and if not, at least it will be relaxing!

Original poster
Millymillymillymillymilly · 20/11/2021 11:30

Update:

29/11 Friday

I had my egg collection at Create (St Paul’s) at 10am. Everything went relatively smoothly. (For those who wants to drive there, make sure you leave ample time finding parking. Husband had to drive around for a while to find a pay and display bay).

Once we were there at Create, we were taken to a small private space where I undressed and changed into the hospital gown. The nurses then double checked information, height and weight and ask some medical questions. Someone came and collected my husband as he was providing sample that day too. Then they took me into theatre and confirmed my details and my husband’s before putting me to sleep and began the collection.

Then they woke me up (I believe it was hard for the nurse to wake me up as I was so groggy and heard someone repeating my name over and over again) and gave me a cup of sweet tea (I normally don’t have sugar in my tea but that cuppa tasted amazing!!!) and biscuits.

It was all a bit of a blur here because I was just so tired and wanted to go back to sleep. But the embryologist came and said they collected 11 eggs in total but they don’t know whether they are mature or not. So I should receive a phone call the next day to let me know. The nurse then came and checked my blood pressure and asked me to go to the loo and reminded me the things I needed to do when I got home.

20/11 Sat

Got the call from the embryologist at around 11am. He told us out of the 11 eggs collected, 9 were mature and all 9 fertilised as well so they will go for a day 5 fresh transfer.

My husband and I are so chuffed. However, we know this is only the beginning as we need to wait till Monday for the D3 update and then Tuesday they will let us know what time we will be doing the fresh transfer. Fingers crossed we have some embryos that make it to day 5!

OP posts:
Original poster
Millymillymillymillymilly · 17/11/2021 17:59

@LondonladyTTC

I totally agree with you!!!! It's so draining this whole TTC whilst everyone else around is getting pregnant left right and centre! I'm also trying to get a new job at the moment too - maybe I'm too crazy? My company has a pretty good maternity package but at the same time I want that level up... It is really hard to make decisions when you don't have that clarity! I just want to get pregnant!!!

I'm also on the NHS waiting list and its been more than 1 year now and I haven't even got my treatment consultation yet! So, doing private now and if it doesn't succeed, hopefully NHS will line up nicely for the 2nd try.

You can look into supplements for yourself too. I'm taking inositol, Q10, vitamin D and preconception vitamins. Since you're starting in Jan, you have enough time to start taking supplements (sorry, you might already!) I found 'It Starts with the Egg' by Rebecca Fett a good read. I believe a lot of people on Mumsnet recommended it too!

OP posts:
LondonladyTTC · 17/11/2021 16:07

@FlyOnTheWall89 We have been trying for 19 months but onto 25th cycle as mine are so short- I have a luteal phase defect. My DH had a sperm analysis around 5 months ago. It was also one of the things needed before a GP could refer (I put my name down for an NHS fertility clinic before looking into ABC but it is all taking so long!). Like @Millymillymillymillymilly we did not expect it to be bad as he is fit and healthy! We are both 32, so know we technically have time on our side but TTC is so draining. I'm not even pregnant and I feel it is impacting my career and life choices! Can't wait to have some clarity.

My DH has also been on proxeed since the analysis apparently it does wonders for sperm!

We are on detox mode from now until January 

I will be with you in spirit throughout your treatment @Millymillymillymillymilly !!!

Original poster
Millymillymillymillymilly · 17/11/2021 14:57

Thanks @FlyOnTheWall89! Fingers crossed!

We were trying on and off for more than 2 years. I only suggested to my husband to do a sperm test just to rule things out and because it's less invasive for a man to do fertility tests (compared to what we have to go through). I didn't expect him to have any issue. He's healthy, fit and eats well, and me on the other hand, not so healthy, unfit and eats TOO WELL Grin with irregular periods (ranging from 33 day cycles to 6 months ones). So, we were both very surprised when his report came out.

OP posts:
FlyOnTheWall89 · 17/11/2021 14:36

Hi @Millymillymillymillymilly @LondonladyTTC, I’m commenting so I get notified and can follow.

Did your husbands / partners have any reason to think they would have low morphology? How long were you trying before you had some tests done?

Wishing you the best of luck and keeping everything crossed for a continued positive experience x

Original poster
Millymillymillymillymilly · 17/11/2021 14:30

Hello @LondonladyTTC

Nice to meet you! Yes, feel free to observe till Jan! I've been observing for months on the other abc threads :D

Yes, I definitely think it's a good idea to detox after two stags. It's hard doing IVF whilst having other social commitments!

My other half hasn't been drinking for a while and is taking supplements such as proxeed. One thing that the nurse did mention to us in our initial consultation is that protein powder has a detrimental effect to sperm quality. Husband is big on exercise, so having to give up protein shakes was a big deal... (currently supplementing it with egg whites and turkey breasts - but there's only so much you can stomach!)

We will be doing ICSI too! Hopefully I will have some good updates to share!

OP posts:
LondonladyTTC · 17/11/2021 14:17

Hi @Millymillymillymillymilly I will be doing IVF at ABC Harley Street so would love to join, although mine won't start until January so may be a bit more of an observer! I was meant to start with my cycle on 24th November but DH has two stag dos this month, and we realised it would be better to wait and have time for a detox before starting treatment to give us the best chances! DH also has