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Conception

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IVF Risks

9 replies

luckyjames · 18/05/2011 11:56

I would just like to hear from people who have undergone IVF treatment, what are the risks, how stressful was the whole experience? I am currently considering it but also considering using ovulation drugs e.g Clomid in a last attempt of conceiving more naturally. Has anyone tried Clomid, did it work? What are the risks for the babies conceived by IVF?

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DuelingFanjo · 18/05/2011 12:02

Hi there.

I had clomid and IVF. Are you ovulating normally? If so don't waste time on clomid.

I found IVF quie easy although the injections were something I dreaded. I got used to that fairly quickly but did get to a point half way through when I was bruised and fed up.

The drugs were ok (I was on a high dose) but I did feel bloated.

Egg collection was painless and the embryo transfer was really easy.

I got pregnant which obviously made the whole process seem worthwhile.

I will post more later, just wanted to respond before I go out.

I think there's very little risk for the baby.

luckyjames · 18/05/2011 12:07

Hi, DuelingFanjo. Many thanks for the prompt reply. How long did you try Clomid for? I have Polycystic ovaries therefore i don't ovulate regularly which is why they suggested it. I would prefer to try Clomid than undergo IVF but was concerned about time as my son is nearly 4 already.

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Kewcumber · 18/05/2011 12:10

CLomid is generally extremely succesful for PCOS. IVF was gut wrenchingly exhausting in my case so would defintiely try CLomid first. I didn;t get pregnant on either so am not biased either way!

DuelingFanjo · 18/05/2011 21:42

I'm back :)
I had clomid for around 6 months but was ovulating normally and felt that the 6 months were wasted and I should have had IVF earlier. I personally feel that Clomid is a drug for people who are not ovulating and is a bit of a waste of time for people who are doing ok on their own, if you see what I mean. My diagnosis was 'unexplained infertility'.

Kewcumber is right though, Clomid can help.

I think my IVF experience may have been easier than it is for some people as I didn't suffer too much. I found injecting myself scary but the side-effects non-existant. My SIL also had IVF and I know she suffered badly.

Have you tried the fertility friends forum? I found it really helpful. Hopefully there will be oter replies to this thread too. I know there's a long running assisted conception thread here too which may help. :)

Luminary · 19/05/2011 09:17

I, personally, found the angsting about whether or not to do IVF, far harder than actually doing it. Once the decision was made, it was fairly plain sailing. Injections were not really that bad, I didn't feel particularly hormone-y or bloated, the EC went fine (knocked out, so not bad at all), and the ET only a little uncomfortable. As far as I know, there are no proven risks to a IVF baby (apart from any risks that multiples would face, if you end up with a multible pregnancy).

What I did find, though, and what I didn't expect, was how disconnected I would feel with the resultant pregnancy. I don't know if this was due to the 3 years of unexplained IF or to having to resort to something as de-personalised as IVF, but it really affected me badly. I couldn't get excited about the pregnancy (I spent the whole time not really believing it had worked and thinking it could end any time), and it affected how I bonded with my son. It's not something I'd ever heard anyone talking about (how hard it would be to have a successful IVF cycle - I mean, who really wants to complain about that), but it would have been useful to know that it was a possibility.

If you have PCOS, and clomid is a good bet for you, I'd maybe give that a shot for a few months. Set a limit of, say, three cycles, and then at least you know you've given the low interverntion approach a shot. We didn't try anything before we went straight to IVF (there were reasons), but I sort of wish we'd tried something else first.

Kewcumber · 19/05/2011 10:39

Yes I'm sure IVF does depend on how ou react to it. I found it very draining emotionally - my hormones went completely haywire and I'm not generally a homronal person. I had OHSS quite badly (which you will be at a higher risk of with PCOS like me) though not enough to be hospitalised which was hugely uncomfortable and required daily hosital visits. INjections pre ET were fine but I needed injectible projestone daily afetrards which is intramuscular and the consistency of engine oil.

Having said all of that I don't regret it even though it didn't work - but in teh light of all that I think you would be nuts not to try clomid first, its just a couple of tablets! And I seem to recall it has something like a 85% success rate for women with PCOS

emmaloupolman · 19/05/2011 18:07

I have been on clomid for 3 months i have pcos and i am currently on cd40 and had a blood test 2day 2 c if i am pg

womanlytales · 20/05/2011 13:05

I have PCOS and problems ovulating. I was on CLomid and it did not help me ovulate. It also made me very dry - IE - no CM. I am now on IUI where I take fsh injections. The experience is much much better than Clomid was for me - but no bfp yet.

luckyjames · 23/05/2011 14:18

Thank you everyone for you replies. I have just triedan ovulation kit and was positive so hopefully it will happen naturally. Good luck x

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