Yo yo!! Calling all Ladybros over 30 TTC #1. Join the Berries aboard the Charabanc of lurrrve. Bring real Champagne, from the actual Champagne region. No Colombian builders allowed.

[happylass]

The small print:

The Berries have strict entrance criteria: TTC #1 for 12 months+, over 30, NO instadiffers, must have a special pimping pot and absolutely no mention of baby dust/dancing. Not that we're fussy

Current passengers

WildflowerMarmalade 40 - TTC for three years. FET done in June with immune treatments - waiting for result... Six embryos in the freezer after two freeze all cycles.

Minx 35 in August - TTC 2 years. Stage 4 endometriosis, both tubes blocked, 1 buried ovary, IVF booking in appt in July, hoping to start IVF soon after

Smidge 39, TTC since Jan '13. Unexplained. IVF#1 Short protocol July '14 BFN, IVF#2 Nov'14 and IVF#3 Feb '15 both Long protocol BFNs. High NK cell immune treatment. Natural FET in June '15, awaiting result.

Happylass, 37, TTC since Aug 2012. 2 failed ICSI cycles and 1 failed FET. Hoping to start long awaited NHS cycles in late August provided pesky smear test is sorted by then.

Beaky 35, ttc coming up 3 yrs, 2x failed iui 1x long protocol ivf cancelled 1 BFN following IVF

Tigerdog, 34 (soon to be 35) TTC since Jan 2013. Unexplained. IVF#1 May 2015 resulted in a chemical pregnancy. Now transferring clinics in the hope of a second round of IVF on the NHS and considering an NK cells biopsy in July/August.

barkingtreefrog 36, ttc 3.5 years. clomid bfp summer 2013 then mc @7 weeks, iui bfp summer 2014 then mc @6 weeks. Factor V leiden thrombophilia diagnosed at the repeat mc clinic. IUI bfn Jan 2015, IVF bfn April/May 2015. Currently awaiting nk cells results before a FET possibly in August/September.

Lumen, 35, ttc since Nov 2011, unexplained, two IVF cycles in 2014, both bfns, waiting for lap&dye and results of numerous bloods, aiming for one last IVF cycle.

Kuma - 40. TTC 2.5 years. Low AMH high FSH - DH antisperm ABs. Failed IVF June 14 and March 15. Looking to change clinic and try another natural cycle in June 2015.

Lucieloos, 35, TTC 18 months, low AMH & sperm motility. 1st ICSI in Czech Republic in April BFN.

Rain, 33 ttc since March 2012. unexplained. mystery bfp oct 13, MMC Nov 13. NHS IVF starting in June

Wild, hope you are ok, like others have said I'm sure a bit of watery blood is normal and nothing to worry about.

Barking, really hope everything works itself out with your transfer and it's falls after the festival.

Hi to everyone else!

I have finally sorted out my treatment and the Czech doctor has agreed for me to try the short flare protocol that happy did. I am upping my dose of meds to 300iu from 250iu this time and will be introducing bravelle which is so much cheaper than gonal and which the UK Dr said would be better for me as it's less acidic than menopur and gonal and will help my follicles to grow more evenly. I'm still going to be having some gonal though as have a pen to use up from my last cancelled cycle. I have also asked to introduce menopur from day 7 as I have read that everybody needs some LH in their treatment to mature the eggs and it's normally present around this time in a natural cycle. So that's it. I'm glad I'm giving it a go but if I'm honest I really don't expect it to work. Im not sure why. I just have a feeling I'm in this for the long haul. I have pretty much decided that if it doesn't work then we will try embryo banking so I will have 2 or 3 egg collections and freeze the embryos from them and at the end I'm going to have them all tested to see which are viable and will then start having frozen transfers with them. It will be hard as it will take at least 6 months to collect them all but it seems the sensible thing to do as maybe I would have some left over for a sibling and then I won't have to worry about egg quality deteriorating a few years down the line.

Glad you've got a treatment plan you're happy with Lucie, when will that start?

I'd be really interested in prof lucie's interpretation of the letter I got from my consultant after I chased up the results from the second biopsy:

The lab also looked at the cells and how the hormone changes are reflected in the tissue and whether or not this corresponded to the stage of your cycle. Your biopsy was performed about 7 days after ovulation, the biopsy showed an effect which is about 4-5 days after ovulation. Therefore, the cells were lagging a few days behind the expected date, however, I do not see this as a problem and it is not uncommon. This is easily overcome during the process of IVF by giving you the drugs which stimulate your hormones further.

It's not during the ivf I'm concerned about, I'm thinking that in a normal cycle, if my hormones are lagging behind post ov, then AF arrives 8 days after ov, there's no bloody chance of anything implanting. If this is my only problem though, would taking progesterone during a normal cycle be worth a try if I can persuade the consultant to prescribe some?
I've asked on the other place but I'm still pondering and any other opinions to add to the mix are welcome!
I could potentially have been 6 days after ov at the time of the biopsy, but that's still not 4-5 days...

Barking, I will be starting the flare protocol when my next af arrives towards the end of this month. If I am unsuccessful I will probably switch clinics and begin embryo banking around October.

Your biopsy results are interesting. Was it just to test for receptivity or did you also have nk cells tested? Have you ever tried having a frozen transfer rather than fresh? There is a growing amount of evidence to suggest that it is not the ideal time to transfer an embryo when your body is stressed and pumped full of stimms. I'm not an expert but I think if the cells lag behind by 2 or more days it would indicate that they are out of phase and would suggest a luteal phase defect which you would know anyway if your luteal phase is only 8 days. When you undergo IVF treatment you wouldn't have the luteal phase defect as you would be supplementing with progesterone from ovulation (egg collection) which would prevent this. I would also suggest trying estrogen supplements following transfer as this helps to maintain the lining especially for those like you (and me) who have short luteal phases. What day do you normally ovulate in your cycles? Is it early or late? One thing to be careful of if it is early is early lutenization which is the problem I have had. LH levels start to rise naturally and can occur earlier than normal in an IVF cycle. If this isn't controlled properly then it will alter the womb lining and it's window of receptivity and implantation failure will be inevitable which again is another reason why a frozen cycle may be better. It could be an idea to try embryo banking like I am going to later on in the year.

Anyway sorry for rambling. If you want to try naturally then I would think taking progesterone supplements and possibly estrogen from the time of ovulation would rectify your luteal phase defect and would mean your hormone levels would rise more in line with a normal cycle and therefore give you a better chance of success!

Thanks Lucie that's really interesting. I'm having a frozen embryo replacement this cycle in a natural cycle. I ovulate late (cd20-22) so they're scanning me from cd15 onwards. With my short lp I've always been concerned about my lining thickness but I don't have any basis for that. I'll be asking at each scan what it looks like as this will be the first time I'm having monitoring scans without taking drugs to stim! I'll be taking progesterone due to my luteal phase defect, but oestrogen has never been mentioned. Interestingly, it's not cyclogest this time, they've started using something else (can't remember the name). I'll definitely be asking about the oestrogen if my lining doesn't look ideal. Hopefully acupuncture will help the blood flow as well....

Just a quick message to say I hope everything is still ok Wild. Sounds as if it's quite normal from what others have said, but I still hate to think you might be facing the stress of knicker watch. Nobody should have to go through that!

I'm trying to pull together my notes into a sensible pack, and summarise the salient points into a little notebook to take with us on Wednesday for our freebie consultation with The Professor. Felt a bit more organised when I found MrSmidge's sperm test and my AMH (20.4) .

...then realised it's done nothing to help

Smidge, I've just been pulling together my old test results and things, ahead of our meeting with the potential new clinic. And then noticed on the website of the current clinic that they want ONE HUNDRED POUNDS to give you a copy of your notes!

I'm tempted to phone up and say my GP wants them, and see if they'll still charge me for them. What a pee-take!

barking Sounds like you've got a good plan there. Although you'll have you name barkingbaby after the headline act at the festival

lucie Good to hear you've got a new plan. I'm envisaging a super-camp FC giving it lots of flair!

minx LOVE the pic! We've been looking for a secret berry signal for a while. Maybe an index finger 'tasche is the way we recognise each other!

everyone else Hello! Hope your weeks are starting well

ONE HUNDRED POUNDS Spare ?! For information about yourself?! How the hell do they justify that?! I could see a £10 photocopying fee, for time taken etc, but that's just ridiculous.

smidge always nice to be organised for an appointment. At our appointment last week, discussing the frozen embryo replacement, DH asked if they needed anything from him or whether they still had a sample from last time. Bless. I told the nurse to ignore him as he didn't have a clue what he was talking about . She looked like she was about to patiently explain it all to him but I'd already given him the teacher look and he caught up... Oh dear. Between that and telling the consultant at one of our early infertility appointments he'd had a vasectomy (he meant circumcision) he's really making himself look super intelligent .

Hey ladybros berries, I'm a long time lurker on your thread and you guys have been a huge support to me. I've been desperately ttc no. 1, for 18 months, only thing is I don't have a dp, so have been in and out of fertility clinics all of this time. Anyway, it's been a difficult ride, and I wondered if you'd let me hang over here for a bit?

Hello sesame
There is always space for a new berry to come and hang with us

Hey, sparkle, come on in out of the rain and get comfy. It's been a while since anyone claimed a seat in here, what do you fancy? The hammock of hope? The chaise longue of limbo? The pouffe of possibility? I'm currently in the corner under the duvet of depression but I'll dig myself out soon.
So, , tell us your story, what have you tried so far? What are your plans next? .

Yo Ladybros. Apologies for the silence. I've been lurking but things are manic as we rapidly approach the end of term. On a sad note an uncle who I'm really close to passed away last week, funeral is tomorrow
Wild sorry to hear you've had a worrying time. Hope all is well now
Spare my private FC charges for copies of notes too. Can't remember how much but it definitely wasn't £100 - that seems extortionate!
Bless your DH Barking! I think I mentioned it before but last month I had major OV pain and said to DH 'Oh I think I'm ovulating' to which he replied "Is that good or bad?". He has literally learnt nothing in 3 years! Also intrigued to know what he meant by 'bad'
Got my smear done today and explained the situation to the nurse so she had a good old rummage. She was literally the least personable individual I've ever met though - think if I was younger or it was my first smear she'd have put me off for life!
Welcome Sesame. Hope your stay here will be short - what treatments have you had to date?
Hope everyone else is ok - thinking of those currently having treatment. Night all.

Aw, thanks girls
barking Loved your DH's comments, classic!
spare I got away with free sets of note, both times I tried it. It was really helpful to have copies of all the test results to hand when I changed clinics. Although I recently saw that my clinic now charges 50 quid for the privilege.

happy thanks for asking I've been doing lots of IVF, which turns out I'm officially crap at, I've had 2 bfns, a mc which I'm still coming to terms with, and 2 cycle cancellations, the last one just a few weeks ago.

I have to admit to being a little bit duvet of depression over here at the moment. Although today, I had a guy come round to give me a quote for a new bathroom. When he suggested a figure, I just thought wow, that actually sounds quite reasonable... compared with the price of an IVF cycle.

Oooh. I'm thinking of a new bathroom Sparkle, where are you getting yours from.

The work colleague who had a due within a couple of days of me had her baby at the weekend. Yay

It's a local plumber who's quoting me for it. It was a recommendation on facebook, and def one of the better uses of social media

v sorry about workplace baby celebrations pip

Pip Some of the cluster that you and I are in have started having theirs... I saw a photo on facebook yesterday

barking mminx Clearly the FC is reading this thread, because as of today, the cost for notes is £50! How weird is that?! It was definitely £100 when I looked at the weekend

Hope the stabbing is bearable mminx

happy sorry to hear about your uncle

smidge Good luck today

Ha Minx I requested the good old rummage! I had a smear back in March which came back as inconclusive as there weren't enough cells collected. I need an up to date smear to start my ICSI next month so told the nurse to make sure she collected as many cells as possible. Fx they get a result on this one as you have to wait 3 months in between each smear so it'll really bugger things up for us!

Hey ladybros! Back from hols and just about staying afloat at work so finally making some time to catch up with you lot.

wild I hope all is OK with you, let us know how you're getting on

lucie I am so impressed with how knowledgeable and in control you are. Do you have any sort of background that predisposes you to better understanding all this stuff, cos I find it all totally confusing!! Maybe it's just me being a bit hopeless and disorganised (much more likely!)

smidge good luck with the prof. tomorrow. Glad your clinic aren't charging you for the notes, some of these prices are ridiculous. It's YOUR flipping treatment, seems unreasonable to charge for a copy!!! Spare it wouldn't surprise me if professionals do read this thread, with people like lucie around they're probably learning a thing or two!

Welcome sesame, what was the reason for your cycle being cancelled if you don't mind me asking? I'm assuming/hoping you don't have any other medical conditions that will affect your chances? going it alone sounds like enough to be dealing with!

happy so sorry to hear about your uncle, I hope the funeral today goes well.

pip grrrr to colleague baby. Hope you're well otherwise, how are the mogs? (hoping I've remembered that correctly!)

barking we need a face-palm smiley here for useless DHs! MrP was fine verbally today but did embarass himself by getting all squeamish when I had to practise stabbing, the big baby.

So, I am finally, finally on the IVF YBR! . Long protocol, so will start stabbing Suprecur on Jul 30th (currently CD 5) and EC should be Aug 26th if all goes to plan (famous last words!). For those berries that had acu during IVF, when did you start/how often? I've had acu before (after the MC), I'd like to book some in for treatment, mainly because I found it supremely relaxing. Not sure if I should be trying to start again now or just do it around the key dates?

Raindrops, I have a bit of a science background but nothing that would help me with this really. I feel I need to learn about it though and give myself the best chance possible and I just feel more comfortable if I understand what is happening and can contribute to my treatment. Good luck with your next cycle.

Hi to everyone else will catch up tonight.

Eek happy really hope you get a nice clear result after all that!

Minx and rain good luck with the stabbing. It’s amazing how quick you get used to it.

I’m a poor responder with very low AMH. And although I was 38 when I started my journey, somewhere along the way I managed to turn 40. In the last cycle, they didn’t manage to get any eggs at collection. I always thought I would quit when I got to this point and move to donor. But I was pregnant only 3 months ago and felt like I had a real chance of having my own. I’ve just had a review meeting with my consultant and now need to decide what to do next. The temptation to just keep cycling and having more rolls of the die is a very strong one.

sesame Have they discussed natural cycle collections with you? A friend with very low AMH (0.8) is doing it at the moment and embryo banking, and it is going well for her...

Yo yo ladybros (love this!)

Wild how's things? Has the spotting gone away? Been thinking of you and crossing my fingers, toes, legs well not quite, I am on holiday but you get the jist.

Sesame welcome, it sounds like you've had a major tough time what did the consultant day in your most recent app? I'm a fellow very low amh'er (1.1) and poor responder too are you at a uk clinic? My follow up is next week after failed sp IVF. These ladybros are second to none for support.

Barking I hope things work out date wise, fx.

Lucie when will you start? Sounds like you have a good new plan.

Tiger & Nolly hello, are you both ok? You've been v quiet lately.

Spare was this the friend you mentioned to me? How is she getting on?

Sorry to hear about the birth announcement Pip that's shit

Rain woohoo to getting started finally! You've waited long enough hey!

Minx well done on your injections! I can't remember when I had my bleed but it was light and short as usual you'll be in for your first scan before you know it! Although nothing about IVF seems fast ever.

Hi to everyone, sorry if I've missed anyone it's tricky posting here, the hotel IVF is also a poor responder

Beaky, yes it is and I've just remembered that I was going to ask her for her protocol for you. I'll try and get it this week.
Her first two cycles went well and they got 2 follies from each one and I think now have 3 blasts. Then they had to cancel 2, then she had a really long (45 day) cycle so were in limbo but are now having their third cycle with collection v soon.
Then she will have a month off and they'll do the transfers, I think.

Hey Ladybros! I haven't really had any more bleeding. Just a bit of brown blood on the old Crinone gel. Which is good. But I am feeling all paranoid and crazy because all pg symptoms have stopped. So there's that. I've also got a head cold and feeling pretty rubbish and a bit down. Been working log hours so just lolling on the sofa now. Scan is on Friday so we will see.

Welcome Sparkle, sounds like you have been through a fair bit IVF wise. Hope we can offer support.

Sorry about the baby announcements Pip and Spare. That is tough to see.

All the men's funny comments have made me laugh. Barking I bet the consultant thought he'd solved all your problems when DH told him he'd had a vasectomy.