IVF/ICSI/FET - any more for any more?

[jumpingjackhash]

Hi all, we're about to start FET following an unsuccessful round of ICSI last year (well, we got the bfp, but then I miscarried shortly after ). But... time to get back on the bike and go again...

Anyone else going through this?

That's really interesting, good knows what the Argc will do, really feeling like this'll be a waste of time :(
Need to get some positivity from somewhere :(

Zeebee I'm struggling with insomnia at the moment too. I struggle to get to sleep, then I keep just waking up during the night. I'm absolutely exhausted today, can hardly keep my eyes open at work

Sorry to hear it's bad news again Karbea but remember it only takes one. Some time off work might be just what you need. I should know, I've had a grand total of 13 weeks off over the last 8 months. Funny how now that I'm having IVF I'm coping ok at work Work is not as important as what you're going through now, you need to look after yourself

I think IVF is extra difficult because nothing is guaranteed. You can't guarantee that you'll take the drugs, everything will work and you'll have x amount of fertilised, good quality embryos and they'll be successfully transferred back in. It's so unpredictable.

Karbea It's really not a waste of time. First, it's really difficult to tell exactly how many follicles there are until day of egg collection. When you are sedated they can press down on your tummy to manipulate your ovaries better getting a proper look. On my last egg collection they got 16 eggs in total - 11 healthy - but the follicle count was only around 10. The follicles grow by 1 to 2 mm a day so in another three days they will be much bigger.

Next, blastocyst transfer has only been shown to be more successful in certain patient groups. I believe in patients under 37 on their first cycle of IVF live birth rates from a double day 2 transfer compared to a single day 5 transfer are similar, but they prefer to do a single day 5 transfer as the multiple birth rate is a lot lower reducing risk to mother and baby. Most centres won't consider a double day 5 transfer on your first cycle especially if you are NHS funded.

The jury is still out on whether day 5 transfers are really more successful after multiple failed attempts at IVF, and it's a question I'm going to ask at my review appointment. There's so many unknowns.

Another thing to remember is that the world's first IVF baby was the result of natural cycle IVF with just a single egg.

You still have a good chance with a day 2 transfer. It was only about 5 years ago that blastocyst transfer really took off. I believe that even today, not all centres undertake it - although could be wrong on that one.

Anyway, hope that puts your mind at ease. You have every chance of success!

Afternoon all,

A proper hello to Josie [waves]
Apologies for yesterday, I was caught in a moment (of stupid Grandpa dancing in my lounge)

zeebee I hadn't heard of that drink? So I Googled it...
Here is a Link if any of you are interested. It seems like a pretty full-packed fruit & veg, vitamin & mineral drink from Germany. Has anyone tried it?
Oh, and can you send me some of that good hair energy, as I seem to have woken up today resembling Worzel Gummidge

Jumping Can you beat 4 bars of Green & Blacks this week How I think I'll stay trim inside the confines of my stretchy jeans through all of this is beyond me. Good luck for the scan on Friday, only two more days...

Hi Lumili you and your dp deserve this , in fact, here you go...

Have it all x

Karbea I think staying off work and stress free is a good option if you can do it. I hope the increased dose works some magic for your next scan. Most people tend have a surge of growth in the last few days prior to EC, so fingers crossed

Hi Knackered, I guess I can understand why they do it that way then but it's sad to think that many couples could be entering into their 1st, 2nd and 3rd rounds with high expectations (and expenses) only to find out it was destined to fail for things outside of the knowledge or control. Seems unfair.
Do you know when your tests will be yet? Oh and yes, weight gain and chocolate addiction are a close associate of ART

I'm still a little overexcited about my drugs being delivered tomorrow and now I have started spotting (sorry if tmi), so I'm smiling lots.
Can it be? That I am happy for AF to arrive!?!? Gosh, it's been a while...
I'll probably be on here bitching and whining about needles soon, so while it lasts I'll post some

I hope you're all experiencing some sunshine today... Vit D is important for fertility x

lizziebennett we haven't contacted the clinic for our review appointment yet. To be honest we can't really face it..... after 3 failed IUI's and 3 failed IVF's we can imagine what they are likely to say to us!! I know we must book it though as we need to talk through what happened this cycle. The thought of not trying again feels me with dread!!!

Karbea sorry to hear that your scan didn't go well today, however you have 3 follicles so that is something, and as everyone always says you only need 1 good egg :) That's good of your doctor to sign you off work, at least you can focus on you now and not have to worry about work. My fingers are crossed for you.

Knackered how are things with you? Didn't you have your appointment with the clinic today? Sorry if I have got this date wrong. My DP and I are getting through one day at a time! I am off work at the moment, not sure if this is really doing me any good as all I appear to be doing is moping about!!

Carebear I hope your transfer went smoothly today, my fingers are crossed :)

hello to everybody else.

xxx

AngelFairy thank you for the wine, it is most definately needed :-) any idea when you will be starting the drugs? Good luck with it all x

Hi all, just a short post to say thank you so much for all your good wishes that meant a lot. Your good vibes worked, everything went smoothly. 2 defrosted and back on board. Will post properly tomorrow. X

That is great news carebear :)

Hey Lumili... I wish I could take some of your hurt away, and I know you're far more knowledgeable on this than I am, but our desires are the same.
Are you and your DP on the same page with regards to your next steps? x

My AF is officially due on Sat 17th, but I start Prostap on CD1.

Wow... That's brilliant Carebear x

Hi Angel as to whether my DP and I are on the same page with regards to the next step..... I am not sure really. It has been very hard for us both trying to talk about this cycle not working, with each other. We both said before this attempt, that it would be our last chance!! Now that is hasn't worked, it is not nice to think that...... x

Oooo two snowbears Care - that's lovely news. I'm sending loads of snuggly vibes for your baby bear box and shall be lurking... xxx

Karbea spotted your post - I only had three follicles but they gave me three eggs and then two lovely, beautiful embryos. I'm currently 20 week pg twins. It really does only take one egg so it's always worth staying positive x.

Lots of well wishes to all you other ladies on the thread - I know I cycled with some of you in the past.

Aww teds thank you for that, congratulations on your twins!!!

Hi teds so glad all going well for you great to get some inspiring news!
care wonderful news re your 2 on board! Fab!!

Hi Ladies,

Just checking in quickly.
Hope you are feeling ok today lumili. When it doesn't work out the future seems so bleak. Don't think too far ahead at the moment - although I know its really difficult not to. Thinking of you.

Hi Angel - I am doing a short protocol so I have had a one off shot of prostap and am now on gonal F - haven't really had much in the way of symptoms and less than when I did the long protocol .
I'm having a scan on Friday and bloods. Have you started on yours now? I'm a big Vitamin D fan for general health reasons- so I'm with you on that one - I am taking 2000 international units a day plus pregnacare -so about 2500iu.

Fingers crossed for you Carebear and brilliant news teds!

Lumili so sorry for your news. Give yourself time and space to grieve and do some lovely things together. Now is not the time to make new decisions. It has been a lot of heartbreak for you both. Hugs

Care great news stick lo stick

So sorry Lumili take the time you both need to grieve before deciding on what to do next

Carebear that's great news

I started stimming last night, I'm so used to one needle a night now it was wierd to have to gear myself up for ithe second one, my brain was like 'but you've just done it ' But it went as smoothly as it could, quite sore and uncomfortable and some lovely mottled reds to go with the various yellow and purple bruises but I'm now officially halfway through the needles!!

I'm waiting to go down for IVIG, looks like I'm going to get cetrotide (sp?) too. And having another blood test 2nd one of the day, joys of phase2 I guess they said from day 8 it's different. Sure is!

My cycle is going to work! But if it didn't I think it would be successful insomuch that the clinic would be able to learn and improve. If it's never going to work then I reckon we'd look to adopt.

Morning all,

Quick Question:
My drugs have arrived... is it only the Ovitrelle that needs to go in the fridge? It's the only one with a luminous sticker on?? I really don't want to spoil any...

Prostap says do not refrigerate, but does anyone know whether Merional requires the fridge, as it doesn't give any clues??

Thanks x Love x

Sorry angel I'm not on any of those drugs, I'm sure someone will help you :)

Sorry Angel I'm not on any of those either, but I know my pharmacy put the ones that needed to be in the fridge in a separate bag marked refrigerate' the rest weren't marked and didn't need to go in the fridge. I know that doesn't really help you! Ring your clinic and check, they'll know straight away

Hope your day has gone ok Karbea

Thanks guys, I have found out that it needs to be stored out of the fridge -phew, and yes, only one of the plastic bags was bound for the fridge

How's the stimming going Josie?

Karbea did they give you the Cetrotide today?

I've overcome shyness now Angel I just ask anything I need, I don't care if they think I'm stupid The ppor nurse when I had my appt to learn how to inject, she asked if I had any questions and I got out a notebook with everything scribbled in the back She was really good though, I think they're probably used to it

Teds Congratulations on your 20 week pregnancy and with twins, how fantastic :)

Raspberryjam Yes, when it doesn't work out the future does seem very bleak and it is very hard to pick yourself up again and be happy. However, we will get there. I hope your scan goes well tomorrow.

Bugsylugs you are right that my DP and I should do nice things together, however time is very tight for us due to the fact that I am working full time as well as studying for a Masters part time (I know I am mad!). However, we are off to the rugby at Twickenham on Saturday and as we are both rugby fans we are really looking forward to that :)

Josie Great news that you have started stimming now.

Lizziebennet I guess I do consider our first IVF as a failed cycle, however you are right - we know that we can get pregnant. It does in deed make our next decision much much harder. If we do decide that we can afford to try again (which I know we have to) does my DP try again. We know she can get pregnant and she is the one who has all the relevant tests and blood tests etc. The only problem being that she has endometriosis, which they did indicate on the last cycle that this may now be affecting her eggs. Or do I have a try, however there are also suggestions that I may have endo (although I do not know for sure) and it would be like starting from scratch as I have not gone through the process before and the clinic do not know how I will respond. Also, with me trying I am very worried that my DP will feel like she has let me down, she already feels like that and I don't want to make it any worse. Or do we give up and think about adoption... something which I am not sure about because not only may they have problems understanding hen they are older why they have 2 mums but at some point in their life we will have to tell them they are adopted, it may be too much for the child to take. There are all these ifs and buts, I just don't know what the answer is. Sorry, I know I am going on :)

Angel glad you spoke to your clinic about the medication, I bet you are loooking forward to using it :)

karbea I hope it went ok today.

xxx