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Original poster

To wonder why IVF is often referred to as 'gruelling'

186 replies

daysayso · 26/09/2022 14:41

This post isn't to undermine anyone who thinks it's tough but I'm asking because I am considering it in the coming months and despite doing research I can't see what makes it so tough?

Im not saying it isn't tough btw but genuinely wanting to know what makes it so hard?

Im not talking about the emotional aspect of it and the possibility of it not working as I know about that but the logistics of it - is it painful? Ignoring the emotional aspect what makes it so hard?

Thanks in advanced

OP posts:
Milkand2sugarsplease · 27/09/2022 15:01

Oh and the waiting game is hard too. I was 22 when had my first Investigations and 28 when my son arrived after my first fresh cycle. The ivf process once I started isn't long (in the scheme of things) but the waiting time to get to start seemed endless.

Waiting for a letter to confirm an appointment would be arranged, then waiting for the letter telling me when that appointment would be, then waiting for that appointment to come round. Then waiting for a letter telling me there'd be another appointment coming and waiting for that appointment letter then waiting for that appointment..... over and over and over.

Milkand2sugarsplease · 27/09/2022 15:02

@OttersMayHaveShiftedInTransit I said exactly the same things about having a student.
Ended up with half the NHS staff in my delivery in the end.... 😂

OttersMayHaveShiftedInTransit · 27/09/2022 15:41

Ended up with half the NHS staff in my delivery in the end...

Me too thanks to a crash emergency section. Good job my pregnancy was easy because conception and delivery were both bloody nightmares!

Parishcouncil · 27/09/2022 17:29

For me personally, the most gruelling part was trying to get through to naive ignorant people who failed to believe just how extreme the emotional, physical and financial trauma of it all was that I was experiencing with no guarantee at the end, all for something they achieved with no effort.

Hotandbothereds · 27/09/2022 17:39

Parishcouncil · 27/09/2022 17:29

For me personally, the most gruelling part was trying to get through to naive ignorant people who failed to believe just how extreme the emotional, physical and financial trauma of it all was that I was experiencing with no guarantee at the end, all for something they achieved with no effort.

Also the people who assume that ivf always just works, when for a lot of people it doesn’t.

Snugglemonkey · 28/09/2022 08:14

KimberleyClark · 27/09/2022 09:52

I do worry though about people as mentioned who have been doing it for 10 years and spent £100k. I don’t think that’s healthy and I find it shocking that medical professionals are still willing to take their money.

Part of me totally understands that, but then this is us probably (I never count up the money) and we are finally finished (hopefully!) as I am due in 9 weeks with my second child. It certainly isn't great, but the alternative is unbearable.

Franca123 · 28/09/2022 11:52

I had sedation for the egg collection and it was actually quite nice. But I was very

SwordToFlamethrower · 28/09/2022 12:02

candycaneframe · 26/09/2022 17:41

@Gensola

The irony calling out the op for lack of empathy

IVF isn't hard for some people, so I can understand why the OP is wondering about the process and looking for real life comments around whether it's gruelling

Also you don't need to be dramatic, 'you get embryos, you then have a painful and embarrassing embryo transfer process where a dry speculum is forced up your vagina, and a nurse presses down on your full bladder to give the Doctor a sight of your womb' this is definitely not normal, I'm sorry if you went through this but to claim it's part of the process is not accurate.

GTF

KimberleyClark · 28/09/2022 12:05

It was shit for me. Everything that could go wrong did and no baby. But I accept it’s not like that for everyone.

Parishcouncil · 28/09/2022 13:23

@LegoFiends I did and it was the cycle that worked. Happy to be PM’d.

LegoFiends · 29/09/2022 08:51

Parishcouncil · 28/09/2022 13:23

@LegoFiends I did and it was the cycle that worked. Happy to be PM’d.

@Parishcouncil I think you meant to write to someone else, I’m long done with IVF (successfully :-) )

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