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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

Fertility Appointments and Beyond: Electric Boogaloo

888 replies

thislittlebird · 20/08/2022 13:54

Hit capacity on the old thread, will tag you in!

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Particularprick · 09/02/2023 17:46

@ththislittlebird I'm sorry, I don't have any advice but that seems a lot to consider! I really do think so much of this is down to luck, or lack thereof

Kay00 · 08/02/2023 22:18

@thislittlebird that's a difficult one, and I obviously can't decide for you, but if it were me I think I'd push to get a cycle done before you have the tooth extractions/varicocele removed/stomach investigations. But then my eggs are at the rubbish end of the scale so feel like any extra age isn't helping. Whatever you choose it sounds you'll be taking a bit of a break from the IVF for a while soon, and that might be liberating whilst you focus on improving your health x

JeanieJ · 08/02/2023 14:31

@thislittlebird it sounds like you have a lot to think about.

I can only speak to the varicocele stuff. We were told that ideally you need to wait 6-9 months post embolisation to see optimum results. So ideally you'd want to get it done in the next month or so for a Sept ICSI cycle.

I know there's alot to weigh up and the sperm is only one piece of the puzzle.

xx

Original poster
thislittlebird · 07/02/2023 20:40

@Kay00 I’ve heard meriofert is better for older women so I’ll probably be on some of it next time.

So we have a weird situation. DH had a wisdom tooth out and the resulting fever and bad sperm seem to have ruined our November cycle. We have another paid for, it's now been over 3 months since then and we got and SA back and DH's sperm numbers are very good but as usual motility and vitality are low, morphology is normal. We need to do another DNA fragmentation test and we've asked our clinic if they can do a private test and assess the movement of the sperm because they were only "occasionally twitching" in November. We want to know if any are moving forward.

DH now needs another wisdom tooth out, and maybe a varicocele removed. He's booked in for the tooth at the end of Feb but if he goes ahead with it that potentially takes us until September when we can try again and I'm 40 in May. I'll assume the varicocele embolisation would be even later than Feb.

I need to get some NK cells tests done, and I need to probably take myself to urgent care to assess an ongoing stomach pain (maybe gallstones, unclear). I have a GP appointment for this that's two weeks away but it's only a phone call and I don't really want to wait to find out what's going on what with ivf timing to consider, it's already been off and on for weeks as it is.

But if my tests at urgent care are ok and his sperm DNA and movement are ok, do you think it makes sense to do the paid for round before the tooth and possible varicocele embolisation? Both of those will set us back months and months, and we haven't even had the varicocele scan letter through yet. We managed to make 4 good quality embryos on our first round and only one didn't survive the thaw, our second round went to shit because of the fever afaik.

I don't want to rush into things, although we would make sure to test his sperm before the cycle this time, and I might have meds for immune issues, who nows. I don't know how I can just sit here doing nothing until September knowing I'm wasting crucial months, it's very confusing.

OP posts:
Kay00 · 04/02/2023 23:48

@thislittlebird you're right, I think it is just like throwing a dice. Gonal F is a synthetic drug, and the Meriofert I took in my first two cycles is a natural drug. I don't think the doctor thought there would be much difference, just it was worth a try.

I think if you moved to Cornwall your closest clinics would be Plymouth CRGW (which I'm considering), and Exeter, which I have already used. I can't see that either so immune screening 🫤 you could call and ask I guess.

Original poster
thislittlebird · 03/02/2023 12:52

*facebook? My brain just defaulted to that for some reason. I meant on Instagram, but same company so 🤷‍♀️

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Original poster
thislittlebird · 03/02/2023 12:08

@Particularprick I’m worried about how long the nhs will take but Guys assured us it isn’t a long wait because the fellows get to train on these sorts of procedures so hopefully that will be true. We’ll chase the scan next week and see what the next SA says.

What clinic are you leaning towards? The london women’s clinic do seem pretty reasonable, they keep plugging their ads at me on Facebook.

@Kay00 Did your clinics discuss any extras? Like immunes etc. I’m not sure everyone does them. I really want to move but worried about losing access to the London clinics, because there’s so many. Although Create is one I’m considering for the future and I know they’re in Bristol. It’s all just so far away from Cornwall, so I can’t see us moving until we give up on it all. It’s frustrating.

Whats the synthetic and what’s the natural? I feel like Menopur (?) is natural and Gonal F is artificial. Seems like sound advice to not have transferred that last one.

Fewer eggs meant worse quality for me so far. It all seems like throwing a dice, and at my age and with his sperm the more the better. I’m hoping the higher dose meds do the trick but if they don’t the next attempt will probably be lower dose meds because I will have tried higher doses twice now.

Got a pregnancy announcement today. Just feel like it’ll never work for us tbh. Seems like something that happens to other people. I wish we could try again sooner but we can’t. Autumn seems realistic at this stage, feel like I need to try to pretend none of this is happening because the waiting is so hard.

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Kay00 · 02/02/2023 13:30

Hi ladies! How are you all?

I'm also between clinics. I had a chat with the new clinic in Plymouth recently and it was interesting how little they would change my protocol from my current clinic in Exeter.

Essentially they would give me the same doses, but maybe try a synthetic medicine instead of a natural one. They would use the same trigger too. They would give me more progesterone to better support my LP though which is good. They also said that they wouldn't have fresh transferred my only day 5 embryo in my last cycle because I was already bleeding and clearly my hormones weren't in the right place to accept an embryo.

Interestingly the doctor said he didn't think less eggs means better quality. He said our bodies prepare 1000s of eggs for ovulation each month, but only one makes it and the rest are discarded. All they do with IVF is make more of those eggs available. So he wasn't concerned about my 20+ eggs collected.

He also said that with my low doses I'm essentially on IVF lite which means both clinics are costing me be about the same.

I have a follow up appointment with the Exeter clinic on 28th Feb, so I'll make a decision in early March.

JeanieJ · 02/02/2023 10:10

@thislittlebird that is good about his tests.
How long do you think you'll need to wait for his scan & potential embolisation?

@Particularprick my DH got his embolisation in September. Dr Ramsay said we should start seeing results in as little as 4 months, but usually around the 6 month mark.

We'll be at around 6 months by the time he needs to provide his sample for the cycle.

We did a standard SA in early Jan & his morphology dropped (was normal before). We haven't retested for the DNA frag, but it was 37% before the embolisation. DH wants to think of the SA test as a blip ...and maybe he's right? He's always more optimistic than me.
We're rolling the dice with this ICSI cycle coming up for sure ... I'm very scared we won't get any embryos.

xx

Particularprick · 02/02/2023 00:13

@thithislittlebird I'm sorry. But it is good news. And great news the NHS can do the op for your DP. It can't hurt and could make a great difference.
Thank you for your thoughts on The Lister

Original poster
thislittlebird · 01/02/2023 20:29

DH’s hormone tests results came back. They’re all normal. I should be pleased, but it feels like another avenue with a potential solution in it shut off to us.

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Original poster
thislittlebird · 01/02/2023 14:04

@Particularprick we also might have mentioned the £6k with Ramsay. NHS said they’ll remove DH’s, he’s waiting for a scan and apparently it won’t be a long wait because it’s a teaching hospital. Either way, I’m not sure if it’ll help and may just set us back further. Not sure what to think really. I’m so tired of it all and feeling like there’s no end. I’m feeling more resigned to this not ever working for us, and like you I can’t see us using donors.

For me the lister was expensive enough and I couldn’t have justified the more pricey ones. I had seen them before and liked a particular doctor but she retired. I like my current doctor too, I just think the biggest issue is us and our gametes and bodies now and not the clinic, if that makes sense. Unfortunately our last round went badly, that was our first lister one and I think it was a shock to us and them. They basically followed the “winning” formula the nhs used for us where we got a few embryos but bumped up the dose for my meds, added in clexane and antibiotics and it was dire (not because of the additions). I don’t know if higher doses will be the answer for me with the next Lister round tbh, but that’s the route all clinics except Create will take, especially at our age. DH’s sperm is a huge hurdle for us right now and I don’t see an end point where it improves. He needs a wisdom tooth out, he possibly needs a varicocele op. We’re looking at autumn before we can try again probably.

Allow about £1500-2000 for drugs I’d say. I didn’t find the Lister pharmacy that much more expensive than the cheaper suppliers tbh.

We can’t afford to move either with IVF. Also can’t justify leaving London where the clinics are. I’m fed up.

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Particularprick · 01/02/2023 12:45

Oh gosh @jeaniej that is such a lot of money. How long ago was it? Hopefully you will see improvement soon.

@thislittlebird can I ask why you chose The Lister? Had a chat with Access and am still no clearer on which clinic to choose.
How much are you estimating as add on costs - drugs etc.

DP is stressing out hugely re money. Feels like it's IVF or house move for us and if we come out of this with no baby, no money and we still can't move... Stressful!

JeanieJ · 31/01/2023 19:30

@Particularprick welcome back. I'm sorry you're still on this journey & I hope the consultation with Access Fertility goes well.
Ugh, it was probably me with the expensive embolisation - ours cost £6k 🤢 haven't seen any improvements yet.

xx

Particularprick · 31/01/2023 14:09

@ththislittlebird I'm so sorry to read you're having such a tough time. One round can seem to take months and months and sounds like you have other stuff going on too. I would definitely push for ADs if you can take them while doing IVF. I do wonder for myself sometimes how far I will go with it all before I make peace with the simple bad luck of not having children. I certainly won't keep going and going and have ruled out donor eggs and sperm so I guess I have that limit anyway.

My DP had the op on his testicle a long time ago now (two years? I've lost track). I came back to recommend where he'd had it done - think someone was quoted an awful lot more than we paid after seeing Ramsey. It did improve things.

Have a chat with Access Fertility tomorrow. Don't know what the conditions are and what to tell them/not to tell them, like I've had two miscarriages with previous partners etc.

Will try and keep up with the thread!

Wishing you good luck as you approach your next cycle @jeaniej

JeanieJ · 30/01/2023 21:07

This reply has been withdrawn

Withdrawn at poster's request

Original poster
thislittlebird · 30/01/2023 14:12

Hey @Particularprick, how are you?

I’m in the same boat, but not 40 until May and we got the multicycle package with the Lister.

What’s the latest on the varicocele embolisation for you? We are waiting for a scan for DH.

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Particularprick · 30/01/2023 13:00

Hello all. How are you?? I'm back again with a new name! Last round in August time. Had a break until now and have only posted sporadically here answering questions about varicocele embolizations.

I'm looking at Access Fertility now but have no idea which London clinic to go with. If anyone has any recommendations I'm all ears!! www.mumsnet.com/talk/infertility/4731703-which-access-fertility-clinic-in-london-for-40yr-old-me

Will have a read of the thread and catch up.

Original poster
thislittlebird · 27/01/2023 16:43

@beckyCarlos I’m sure if his sperm are fine then the balls are too 😭. I’m no doctor but that’s probably a key sign. The medichecks kit arrived, hopefully his hormones will be ok.

Sorry your cycle is cancelled, but I know exactly what you mean. There’s always another hurdle, there’s never an end to any of this in sight. I’m not convinced I’m very strong anymore, it’s ground me down. Between ivf, infertility and my other health issues that started around the same time as ttc, I feel so exhausted. Ended up having an argument with my GP surgery today after they cut me off and then refused me an appointment for antibiotics despite the fact I’d done the 8am call bullshit. I’m just over it all. Might get myself a private GP since I’ve had to go private for so many other things at this stage.

@JeanieJ yeah I’ve heard that about setraline too. I just want to feel better, I think I’m going to push for it. It’s not like I’m going to conceive naturally any time soon, probably never, naturally or otherwise, so there’s not really any risk.

Like others have said, I really wouldn’t worry about morphology. It’s not a big deal really, as long as they’re moving and it sounds like are.

@Kay00 keep us posted on Tuesday’s appointment.

I had to take my passport photo today and it made me cry. I look older, I look like my mother and I don’t feel like I’m young enough for this ivf game now tbh. It’s all so exhausting and we have no hope of anything working when DH hasn’t even had the tests and procedures he needs.

OP posts:
Kay00 · 26/01/2023 23:13

@JeanieJ my OH had 0% for morphology on our most recent IVF round and they were still able to successfully fertilise 15 eggs, so I don't think it's too big an issue. It's interesting what you say about high DNA fragmentation being indicated by low morphology... I think I need to persuade my OH to get this test done.

@beckyCarlos sorry your cycle was cancelled... But it's good that you'll be starting again in a couple of weeks (assuming you don't get pregnant in the meantime) ☺️ and with a good strategy!

My current clinic still haven't booked in my follow up appointment with the consultant. Although I have sent an email in advance with questions I want answered (thanks for the tip @thislittlebird ). In the meantime I have an appointment with a new clinic on Tuesday... I'm intrigued as to what they will say!

beckyCarlos · 26/01/2023 21:09

@JeanieJ thats disappointing, but they're basically miracle workers with ICSI, and they can pick the best, swimmiest, sperm to fertilise with!

Our cycle is cancelled, I'm just over the progesterone level, so probably ovulating today. We are, naturally, going to have sex anyway just in case but the last 1234847372 times havent done it yet so dont have too much hope 🤣 good news is we can start prepping with oestrogen as soon as I bleed, and I'll be having fyremadel for 8 days to make sure I dont ovulate, so 🤞 for Feb cycle!

JeanieJ · 26/01/2023 19:54

@Anonbaby oops sorry!

I'm just disappointed, but I think we'll crack on. My husband is convinced this is a blip, but he's always an optimist - one of us needs to be 🙄

My drugs teach is in 2 weeks & my cycle starts in about 3.5 weeks 😬

Trying not to pin all my hopes on one round working.

Anonbaby · 26/01/2023 16:31

@JeanieJ thanks although that was a few years ago. We have secondary infertility so have been TTC again for 2 years now. I can’t help with the DNA fragmentation as we never had that done but definitely did achieve a pregnancy with low morphology. Our most recent SA was low on every measure but previous ones have been fine and we have two children so we don’t really know what’s going on, if it is MFI, if it’s not. We are just in limbo debating IVF at the moment.

I’m sure you’ll get where you need to through ICSI. I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you xx

JeanieJ · 26/01/2023 16:22

Thanks @Anonbaby - that's hopeful and congrats on your BFP 😵‍💫
The thing is that he had High DNA frag which we got the varicocele embolisation for in Sept, in theory the damage should be dropping now.
Low morphology is an indicator for high dna fragmentation, so we're just upset about it.
They said we should just still crack on with ICSI.
I just don't know how this happened 🤷🏻

Anonbaby · 26/01/2023 15:08

@JeanieJ just jumping on this thread but we had a SA with 2% morphology and it was repeated after 6 weeks and it was 6% but we got pregnant between these two tests so I wouldn’t get too down on the morphology as it does fluctuate. However, I guess it depends on the rest of the measures too x