IVF - bit of advice please...

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Hi,

I'm about to embark on ivf next cycle and rather than hunt around online and read things about ivf that I'd probably rather not know, I thought I'd get more direct thoughts here.

So, just a tiny bit of background….I have a 6 year old who I conceived easily and quickly. This time round not easy. Hubby went for sperm tests. Came back bad and got referred to Guys and they basically said the count and morphology was so bad the chance of conceiving was slim to none. They told us ivf only option and sent us away with info and price list telling us to get in touch with ACU ourselves. BTW, I have regular periods. Nothing on scan and bloods all fine.

Got appointment at ACU. Hubby had sperm test done again and the results came back whilst we were there. Normal. We were shocked. They couldn't explain it but said they would still advise ivf based on the previous reading. We agreed to go away and try again for 3/4 months. We did that and nothing has happened and I can feel the clock ticking.

Now though I'm starting to wonder if enough investigations were done on me? If nothing came up on scan, then is that reason to believe I'm ok? Could there be something else wrong that maybe they didn't think was worth looking at because from the first set of results they assumed we hadn't conceived because of poor sperm. I'm just worrying that I'm going to spend a huge amount of money and it not work not because of fate, but because there may be something wrong with my pipes or something….

I'm obviously going to talk this through when I go in before the start of treatment, but I'm having to order drugs now.

Any thoughts appreciated.

Thanks

Hello, thanks for posting as we have recently got a bad sperm test results back for my DH, so it is reassuring to hear it can improve.

How long have you guys been trying? Up to a year is normal and my friend took 30 cycles to conceive naturally when doctor's could find nothing wrong with her or her husband.

I don't really understand why they would say you should still go for IVF if his second sperm test was normal.

What were the two sets of results by the way? My DH got 7 million concentration and 100% abnormal. We are hoping this improves at his next test!

There is a specific infertility chat section on here. You'd probably be better off posting in there re IVF as there will be lots of people going through it and that have had the tests and so on.

Good luck xx

Hi. I'm 35. We're at around 16 cycles. Having a 6 yr old already is putting pressure on us too because the gap is already big.

I'll find out the other infertility section here. Cheers.

We are in a similar position.
Easily conceived 5 year old (first cycle) now on cycle 23 of ttc dc 2.

I felt as soon as I had dc1 that we wouldn't have any more (don't know why) and we went for tests after only two months ttc. Dh has high count, very low everything else.
I ovulate every 28 days have had bloods etc. apparently all fine.

Two rounds of failed ivf icsi later and still no dc, we are now looking at using donor embryos. I don't know if my eggs are crap too or not but icsi isn't getting round whatever is wrong with us. We can't afford any more time nor money on cycles which won't work.
I'm 31.

Dh's sample has only ever marginally improved though. Last time count was good, motility borderline but morphology has only ever been 2% at best.

I personally don't think anything will work for us given how strong my feeling is that I won't get pregnant again. It's certainly been proven right thus far.

It might be worth your dh having another test? It may be that his sperm quality is variable.

Hi. Sorry to hear about your failed attempts. I thought they can tell you about your egg quality though during the process? Did you ever get to the embryo transfer stage?

It's sad you have such a strong feeling that you won't have a second. Hope you can keep trying and get there in the end.

31 is still very young and you have lots of baby making years ahead so don't lose hope.

Yes, the embryos were slowish. We got to transfer but only a day 3. They said it could be an egg or a sperm problem as even the best of dh's sperm are a bit strange apparently.

I don't think anything will work for us, I can't shake this strong feeling off. Like intuition I think.

Will your dh have a further repeat test?

Another sperm test hasn't been offered but I'm not sure it would do much good? If its bad it would obviously make me more at ease that ivf is the right route, but if it were good I may buckle and just keep trying and hoping and praying.

Have you ever thought about adoption? If you really can't be hopeful about having another child yourself, which I'm sure you can in time, then maybe different routes. I still think 31 is so young. There are women 10 yrs plus your age still having children.

We've been told they do 3 sperm tests, each 3 months apart before they can say whether or not the sperm is what is causing the issue. So my DH has had one which is bad, but it's possible it was a one off bad one or caused by illness etc. e'll have his second one in October.

and by 'they', I mean the NHS in Cornwall.

Mmmm. I suppose it differs all over the country. All medical professionals (and I've actually only had 3 appointments in total) were just like you can keep trying and get older in the meantime or you can bite the bullet and go for ivf whilst the success rates are higher when you're younger.

I suppose so, but on the other hand it's pretty gruelling from what I hear and it's obviously expensive! Tough call. Either way I hope it works out for you and you get your BFP soon.

Personally, I'm not even sure I'll do IVF if we don't get a BFP naturally. I think we may just have to accept that we won't be parents and enjoy a different lifestyle. Not sure. I'm planning to give it at least another year before thinking about that properly.

The ivf was ok actually although I only had short protocol. The difficult bit was paying £5k and getting a bfn at the end of it whilst everyone else I know pops out babies left right and centre.

Sorry it didn't work out for you butterflies

Good to hear it's not too gruelling a process. I have only ever heard terrible things about it, so nice to have some balance.

I've heard some really positive stories and my visit at ACU was very reassuring and they treated me lovely and gently. I'd be on the short cycle too, so in my head I'm thinking if only have to endure it for a month.

Only really two weeks.
The procedure was fine. I'd keep trying if a) we could afford it and b) I thought there was any point.

Ah butterflies. The finances are a worry. I've heard that you should sort of prepare yourself for 3 rounds, but financially that's crippling.

So sorry your one shot didn't work out. Must be heartbreaking, but you no matter how shit it is now you don't know what the next few years will bring.

I've had two goes so so far we've spent £10k.
I don't know if I can bring myself to spend anymore because of my gut instinct being so strong.

When we had our first round the clinic were really positive because of us already having had a pregnancy. They gave us really high odds (for ivf). But right from the start I've said nothing will work, it's been dh pushing to try it.

For any of those reading thread. I spoke to doc from ACU she said that they'd done all the tests needed for ivf process. She said that even if I did go for Hycosy that would only possibly increase chances of natural conception, but would not affect outcome of ivf. So I sort of found my answer. She said in her opinion we were doing to right thing to move forward with ivf.

Butterflies. Hope you find a resolution