When to decide on IVF

Oh London. That's hard. Maybe they'll be extra angelic today and both sleep at the same time so you can crawl back to bed for a while.

I have everything crossed for you!

Hello all,
We have been ttc for a year now and seeing a specialist for 6 months. I just turned 39 and Dh is 38. After taking the hormones for a few cycles, we tried IUI once and failed so decided to go ahead with IVF. I started taking the pill and am waiting for day 2/3 of my cycle to go back to our doc and get going.

I have to agree with Nbelle (congrats to you!) that once we made the decision we started to relax and I am actually looking forward to the whole process and having some degree of control. I may be deluded, I may rue these words, but I'm trying to hang on to this delicious feeling of positivity for a while!

It's surprisingly disturbing to read that both of you feel strongly that my treatment so far has been awful. It sort of validates how I'm feeling which makes it a bit more worrying.

I hope I haven't come to my conclusion too late to do something about it.

London - I've been following your fabulous progress from afar; although your girls must be such hard work, you must be very, very pleased you have them (they're gorgeous . Your bed rest did sound as dull as ditchwater though .

Thank you for linking to that site - I hadn't found it before and am trawling through it to dig out as much information as possible. There's a lot there.

Attila - I don't know why they haven't tested my DH. We've both asked the question, and each time they've said that because we've had 3 chem pgs in the last 18 months, it's not necessary. We will ensure it's done before we see Mr Dooley.

I haven't been given Metformin, only Clomid. And the consultant said when she gave it to me that she thought it might not work because of my BMI but that in view of my age, I might as well give it a try. The Clomid is on a repeat prescription for 12 months and I have to go back to the consult 6 months into treatment.

It does deeply worry me that I have no idea what's going on inside me. I do know it bloody hurts though. And the fibroid is painful and ensures I have v heavy periods - I am going through 2 whopper pads and the most absorbent tampons I can find in an hour. Every month. It's very debilitating.

She did say that removing the fibroid would be dangerous - it may result in an emergency hysterectomy because of it's position. She also said it would leave massive scarring which would be likely to affect my fertility. It seemed like a no win situation to be honest.

It's astonishing how much clarity I am gaining from writing all this down. It is very quickly focusing my mind

daisydot,

I would have to concur with LondonLottie and would just state that in my view your treatment to date has been absolutely bloody dire and I have certainly read some awful stories. Yours is one of the worst I have come across. Talk about being fobbed off.

It is vitally important that the three of you can work as a team. I would certainly suggest you give up on this previous unit and take yourselves elsewhere.

Not testing your man to date - why on earth have they not done this?. Again appalling.

BTW if you have PCOS and associated insulin resistance (were you given Metformin?) as well there is no way they should have given you 12 months supply of clomid without monitoring of any sort. You have no way of knowing whether its working or not if no monitoring is done and it may well not be working. Apart from anything else some PCOSers who take clomid can become resistant to it so no amount of clomid would work (clomid can raise levels of LH which many PCOSers have an excess of to start with). It should be always given with a degree of caution to PCOSers as a whole.

The fibroid too warrants further treatment.

IVF for PCOSers too should only be tried when all other avenues of treatment have been exhausted. Due to the possible risks of ovarian overstimulation it should be considered very carefully.

london - you have a fabulous memory! Am so impressed.

You're right. I am going to have to take this further than I have. My treatment to date (apart from the MRI and prescriptions) has been self led and private but even so, it's not good enough.

I need to find out more about Michael Dooley - I think he's the best person locally (Somerset/Dorset/Wiltshire) - but he also works at The Lister, King Edward VII and on Harley Street which gives me hope he knows what he's doing .

It does feel as though we're very much on our own with this - and while I know I something is happening with the Clomid because I am having pretty much every side-effect listed and can feel my poor old ovaries going bananas - I am not sure it's actually going to fix our problem.

And don't worry about sounding bossy. It's more help than you know. Especially to hear someone else say our treatment isn't up to scratch.

We had DH's first with the GP although they weren't very helpful with reading the results

If you do have it at least you will know either way and you can rule things out

Let me know how you get on

I know. We've asked for it too. It's ridiculous. They say that with 3 chem pgs, it's not necessary.

Maybe we should have another crack at asking the GP - she's been pretty good so far apart from on this.

Hi Daisydotandgertie If you can get DH to see his/your GP then he can get tested at any point. The sooner the better really - depending on the results it could save you 9 more months of clomid. I'm surprised that after all the tests you have already had that they haven't suggested DH has an analysis

I'd like to join too - I'm in the same boat.

I'm trying to decide whether or not to abandon my current treatment and book myself in for self funded IVF.

I'm just 41 and have been TTC for about 18 months. I have been referred to a specialist and have had all the relevant blood tests, a hysteroscopy, an MRI and a couple of ultrasounds.

They've found a large fibroid (8cm across in the wall of my uterus), but but say it won't interfere with fertility. They've found no actual cause of infertility but have said that I have a higher BMI than they'd like and that I am quite old. My hormone levels are OK, but have shown I have PCOS and insulin resistance. I'm currently on a 12 month course of Clomid at 100mgs on days 2 - 5.

I am in the middle of month 3 and finding it very hard. I have had no monitoring at all - and worry I could be sitting here for 6 months, taking these powerful pills and having no idea whether or not they're having any impact. I am temping, which I know is not too accurate with PCOS, but it's giving me the illusion of a little control.

My DH hasn't been tested which I find almost unbelievable.

Just before I found this thread, I booked an appointment with Michael Dooley - apparently he's good at fertility. Has anyone heard of him?

Actually, typing this out has clarified my thoughts somewhat. I don't have long. I can't just sit here and do nothing.

Hi Everyone hope you don't mind me joining the thread we have started our first cycle of IVF after TTC 4 & 1/2 yrs and am on day three with Buserelin and Gonal F first blood test to see if they are working this Friday.

NBelle that is fantastic news!!!!

Pumpkinjoy we tried a number of different things before having our IVF treatment and we also have unexplained fertility. We are currently in the process of our first cycle and i have actually found this one more emotional then the previous stages (i think it is mainly to do with knowing that there are no more steps after this). We found that we were able to go on the waiting list for NHS funding and continue with other options such as clomid with ovitrelle injections, they didn't offer IUI because it has the same success rate. We were also told that the waiting list was anywhere from 6 months - 2 years. The appointment date for our first consultation came through within 3 weeks with our apt date within 3 months - which is no time at all considering how long we have been TTC.

DuelingFanjo how are you finding the injections? I find that it's more of a challenge mentally having to do them then it actually is physically doing them

Can I ask if anyone is using a West London Hospital for their IVF cycle?

Just an update from me. Did the test this morning and got my BFP, we are delighted. I have a big smiley face, people at work are going to think I am mad

Good luck to everyone else.

I'm going for my first consultation at a private clinic in a few weeks. Already have a DS aged 4, so going private our only option for IVF. We've been TTC for over 3 years, so frustrating while friends have all had 2nd and some even 3rd DCs in that time. My initial blood tests ok (though my FSH was only tested recently when i'd decided to go for IVF), DHs swimmers had slightly more 'abnormal forms' than normal. I was offered clomid on NHS, tried it, didn't work but that was all they could offer me. Am now a bit concerned about my day 2 FSH level: it was 12.5 (LH 6.7) the normal range is indicated as

Hi Pumpkinjoy, I didn't feel to bad when I was on the stims, I was a little uncomfortable and had a full feeling in the ovary region but nothing that would stop you doing your daily activities. I completely understand what you mean about your life being on hold and trying to make plans. Just now I appreciating lazy weekends as if all goes well they will be a thing of the past.

Good luck for next week DuelingFanjo, don't worry too much about the injections. I had one of those injection pens which were really easy to use, the first one my husband gave me but I had to do the second one myself as he was away, then after that I did them ALL myself. The thought of it is worst than the actual injection, you hardly feel it at all.

Still feeling ok, actually feel a little too ok...maybe a little too normal still have too wait a week.

I will keep you posted with any news.

hi there pumpkinjoy

my treatment starts next week, that's when I start the injections anyway. Am getting more scared by the day.

I've been eating really healthily, making sure I get lots of protein etc

Thanks DuelingFanjo, if you have any questions feel free to ask, I'm not shy

good luck NBelle I am starting IVF soon, your post was very helpful.

Just a little word of caution re the blastocyst transfer story - success rates are usually quoted as higher, and they are per embryo replaced, but per cycle started this is not the case, as not everyone will get embryos which grow to blastocyst. I'd be guided by your clinic on this, as they should only use it for couples who make lots of good quality embryos, otherwise there is a vey high risk that you'll go through everything and have no embryos suitable for transfer (and therefor zero chance of getting pregnant). Not all clinics offer it, either. There are some nice stories but it is not the be-all and end-all of IVF.

Here is my story, I am almost 34, DH is 31. We were trying for a year without success (TTC for 2 years in total) so we went and had some test done, nothing came back except that my husband had slightly slow swimmers but as he was recovering from a flu we put it down to that.

The next step was that we were prescribed clomid for 4 months, I stopped after three as just knew it wasn't working and so began our IVF journey.

First tests at IVF clinic revealed my husbands swimmers were still slightly slow but good quality and plenty of them so they decided on IVF as opposed to ICSI.

TTC is such a roller coaster of emotions when month after month AF arrives with annoying regularity but once we decided on the IVF path I felt like a weight was lifted from my shoulders and I could pass the burden onto someone else I completely relaxed about TTC.

I am currently on the dreaded two week wait after our first IVF attempt, I am due to test next Thursday. The process went well and we had 1 egg implanted (Clinic policy) which was described as "perfect" by the consultant and we have two more in the freezer for future attempts.

To be honest I found the whole process quite therapeutic as we were given a timetable of what drugs to take on specific days and times and it somehow felt we were back in control and actually taking charge of the situation and I know that this is our first attempt but I am so much calmer than I was say this time last year trying naturally.
The staff at the clinic were brilliant and so kind and helpful I have not felt stressed at all due to their professionalism. I was also lucky that I didn't suffer too much side effects of the drugs other than being very tired in the lead up to the egg collection and being terribly bloated and putting on 7lb due to the water retention, but if that is the cross I have to bear to get pregnant then so be it.

I would recommend going straight for IVF, I didn't think the process was anywhere near as bad as I had imagined.

Hope that helps and good luck

Blastocyst is a 5 day old embryo, it's at the point where the embryo is getting ready for implantation.

See also here: www.hfea.gov.uk/blastocyst-transfer.html

Basically, not all fertilised eggs will survive to implantation, for reasons that went over my head when the consultant explained it. But those that are going to die, will usually die within the first 1 - 4 days.

By taking an egg to "blast" you can be more confident it is healthy and they apparently survive the freeze/thaw process better too.

The worst risk is that none of the eggs survive to "blastocyst" stage.

I'm looking forward to embarrassing my DS with his first girlfriend by showing her the "5-day old" picture