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

Amazing news, Beaky! That is a great fertilisation rate! Was that ICSI?

So when is the transfer? Are you going for day 5?

Thanks. Conventional IVF I think spare, that's what they said they would do, but it was dh who spoke to them so I didn't get to ask my list of questions! We are booked in for day 3 unless they want to delay til day 5 if they can't ascertain which are the best.

That's brilliant beaky! FX for the beakryos!

Just a quick one to say great news beaky and minx. Pom-poms at the ready to cheer on the embies!

Good luck today happy!

Ugh, so depressed to be at work

Fab fertilisation Beaky and Minx. I'm imagining that there was some sort of competition in the incubator last night as who could "score" the most. My mind has also run riot in that your future babies meet, fall in love and when people ask how they met, they could say they knew each other from conception!

spare good luck for EC tomorrow! That came around quick!

beaky and minx congrats on your most excellent fertilization rates, great news! Loving the beakryos too! Looks like you might be on for another berry meet up at MT too! Loving gillster’s love at first conception scenario too….

happy how did you get on today? Did the fc shed any light on the bleeding?

I’m feeling a bit down after yesterday. I really want another chance, but I’m not sure how this round can be saved, as all the signs are that my system is pretty much shut down right now. I’ve read kuma’s posts up thread, and it looks like I’m in a similar boat. It’s so hard to walk away when I was pregnant less than 6 months ago, but my ovaries don’t seem to care much about that…

Woohoo well done Minx I think it's so nice for us to know that they've got this far, although I know there's time yet also just to say, they were fine with me transferring 2 last time but I only had two, either way I think they will let you if you really push because of your "issues". I will be wanting two back as I'm usually a low responder.

Tiger work is totally shit. Hope you are ok though.

Gosh Gillster calm your mind! hope all is well with you.

Sesame would you maybe cancel if there's no progress and try again in a couple of months? Things do change monthly as I know you will know, and maybe with the supplements there may be a difference? Big hug and hand to hold for the time being.

Rain how are you doing? Are you back to work?

Just popping on quickly to say excellent job on fertilisation to minx and beaky and good luck for EC tomorrow spare!

Loving Gillster's scenario

Sesame I really hope something can still happen for you this cycle. It's just a rollercoaster of one anxious time after another

Just booked in for the blood tests - next Monday. Should get the results by the end of September and then be able to start long protocol mid October...

Great news from MT Beaky and Minx. Fx for lots of embie development.
Not great news for me from the FC. 1 follie at 17mm, one at 10 and 4 at 7mm. Lining was ok at 7+ mm but it's usually well over 10mm by this stage. It was up to us whether to cancel or go ahead with EC. If we cancel it doesn't count towards our 2 attempts plus we can start again next cycle. So it was a no brainer really. Cycle cancelled and we start again in about 2 weeks but with antagonist protocol this time. I'm a little disappointed but it's not that long to wait and at least we get another 2 attempts. I've also had my AMH done again as it's been over 18 months since the last one so maybe that will shed some light.
Sesame sending a huge hug. It's really shite isn't it? I got 11 mature eggs at my last cycle in Feb and now I can't even muster up more than 1 decent follie! Hope you're ok Hun x

Hey Berries - and Sesame, in particular. I've not been following the thread really since my last cycle was cancelled but popped in today as I know lots had been happening.

Sesame - I'm not really sure of your circumstances although have glanced back over the thread a little. Deciding to give up is very, very difficult. Since my last cycle was cancelled I had another really long cycle, but last month and this month seem to be back to 'normal'. I'm hoping to have a last go at a natural cycle this month, if something else like cysts or polyps don't get in the way. I've had a couple of days of midcycle spotting this month though which I hadn't had since I had two polyps removed last year. I'm 41 in a couple of months and I don't want to continue past then... but we'll see. Anyway, sending some positive thoughts your way. Don't feel you have to give up before you are ready. x

Happy sorry your scan wasn't better news. I suppose at lest you keep your NHS goes but how frustrating for you. Big hug.

Barking great news that you're booked in for your tests, I hope everything goes smoothly so that you can get going on your next IVF round soon.

Sesame how are you feeling tonight? I'm staying hopeful for you. Big hug though.

Waves at kuma fx all is well so that you can get your cycle underway.

Happy I'm sorry to hear this cycle didn't work out (but v. impressed this doesn't impact your two NHS goes). Was this cycle a long protocol / down regging cycle, vs your others? It seems odd to have gone from such a good response to relatively poor.

I haven't got very far in deciding what to do at this end. However, I just called the embryology folk and had a very long and lovely chat with one of the scientists there (in fact, she turned out to be the one involved in my first EC). I wanted to ask about the quality of my first cycle (short) vs the two long protocols, given AliG was so adamant it wasn't as good, yet everyone said the first blasto was 'beautiful'. Apparently the 1 blasto from the first cycle was very nice, a '2:1'. But the problem was that the other 6 fertilised eggs didn't make it much past the 3rd day. roughly half were good at day 3 but by day 5 they had all arrested /fragmented and stopped growing by day 6.

Whereas apparently for the 2 long protocol cycles where we ended up with 1 2:1 and 32:3, I think nearly all of the fertilised eggs made it to blastocyst stage, they just weren't good enough quality to transfer - but they were still growing on day 5 or 6. So she echoed AliG and said if it was just about embryology she would probably recommend down-regging again given more embyros continued to develop. She did, however, also say that she's seen people with exactly the same protocols come out with very different results from one cycle to the next, so it's still a guessing game! In fact we both went around in circles!

She asked if we were considering the PGD, and we chatted about that a bit - she understood that if I'm only getting 1 or 2 embryos it makes sense not to have bothered to do the testing. But also said that they have recently started (literally since my last go) to be able to do testing on Day 5 itself. So we can wait until day 5 and just test the ones that are suitable (so bringing the cost down vs testing them at day 3). The results aren't available for 4weeks or so but you can still do a fresh transfer if you like and freeze any others - then at least you have some info after the fact.

I mentioned that we were both keen to do a freeze all cycle and she said that has slightly better stats (at their clinic anyway), so would recommend it - she said that most people just don't want to wait and want the embryo put back straight away. Given my body's crazy cycles following all the hormones each time, I'd much rather wait a couple of months and do a FET.

So... I'm now leaning a bit more towards sticking with my current clinic. Just coz the embryologist was so nice! The trouble is I may kick myself if I don't try the Prof's suggestions - particularly for the luteal support. Maybe its something I can ask AliG to do - but annoyingly she doesn't let you email her (unlike the Prof) so I can't easily put in more requests without having to fork out for another appointment.

The embryologist said that if money and emotions allow, she would recommend to continue trying as I was producing nice looking embryos, so she thinks it's a numbers game. But do you think they actually ever tell anyone to give up?

Oh and I thought of another difference between the two - AliG is keen on another scratch/biopsy (yuck) whereas the Prof wasn't convinced it does anything so wouldn't choose to do that.

Do you think if I'm doing a freeze-all they could do the scratch while I'm all drugged up during the EC? I really don't fancy the idea of having it done again while I'm awake. (not sure I'm convinced it does much either to be frank.. but suspect that's just coz nothing has worked for me yet of course)

Good luck for ec today Spare!

Smidge that's a lot of info for you to take in, tricky decision time. Why don't you ask if you can talk to one of the professors embryologists and explain what you've just told us then see what they have to say re lp v sp. that way youve heard all view points and can make an informed decision.

Sorry had to post early as had to get off the train! Anyway Sesame I just wanted to see how you are today?

Also has anyone found themselves to be really bloated after ec? If so is it normal? I feel like a balloon that needs a pin in it!

Just coming around from EC
They got 15, which is odd considering I only had 10 follies showing on my last scan. I suspect a couple of those will be too big and over mature so our fertilisation rate will be crap for 15 but ok for 10, if that makes sense.
They couldn't get to my left ovary so had to go through my cervix, so I'm quite sore but hopefully will feel better soon.
Sesame, th scratch has to be done early on in your cycle so not sure if they can do it during EC? Worth asking though.

Sorry, that was do Smidge, not sesame

Re PGD, are they testing for a specific condition, or do you mean PGS fo chromosomal normality? We looked into it, and it was going to be over £3k for up to 8 embryos, so not a cheap option. The doc said for us is that the other option is to do DET and let your body do the sorting instead.

Well done Spare but going through the cervix sounds painful! Fx that Barry works his magic tonight and you have an excellent fertilisation rate for that haul are you freezing or transferring this cycle?

Nice work spare although owch to them having to go via the cervix. Hope you're not feeling too bad and will be sending lots of positive fertilisation vibes your way. Maybe given beaky's success with the Spice Girls we should add them to the playlist!

beaky I felt bloated after EC for a good few days. Only really yesterday that i've felt 'comfortable' again. Are you constipated at all? GA can slow things down there too so if you are you can get this stuff called Lactulose which is safe to use to help things move along. Or eat a ton of prunes!

kuma lovely to see you! Really hope you get to go ahead with the natural cycle this month and that it is your ticket out of here.

Back to work today after a week off. Still finding it v. difficult to concentrate but not sure how much of that is down to having a week of not using my brain for much at all! Was fascinated to learn this AM that despite feeling quite podgy at the moment after a week of being extremely lazy and eating a lot of cake etc., I've apparently LOST 1.5lbs over the last week. Those follies must've been preetttty heavy!

happy really sorry you had to cancel your cycle. But it’s a good thing that this won’t count towards your NHS gos and you can start again so soon. It’s funny that short agonist didn’t work so well for you this time. I think lucie wasn’t so happy with it either, and it's not exactly my favourite right now. Hopefully you’ll be set up for a much better egg count on a different protocol.

barking glad you’re booked in for the bloods. Mid-October isn’t too far off for getting your cycle underway, and it would be good to be as informed as possible beforehand.

smidge there’s an interesting blog called fertility lab insider, which is written from an embryologist’s point of view. Maybe there’s stuff there that might help with your choice. E.g. this article which talks about what makes a good IVF programme. I think it’s not just the consultant and choice of protocol that can make a difference, but also a good embryology team, and consistent high standards in the lab.

spare 15 eggs, that’s an amazing show. Hope you feel better soon and fingers crossed for some a good fertilization news

beaky bloating after ec, yes between the HCG and the knock-out meds it’s pretty normal. Comfy, elastic clothes are your friend like the fat clothes I’ve been hanging on to in case I ever get pregnant

rain yes, them very heavy follies , I’ve also randomly lost about 5lb since my fortnight on the pill (which is also why I can tell I'm not responding to stims), IVF drugs really plays havoc with your body.

kuma thank you so much for dropping in and for sharing your thoughts with me. I’m really sorry your cycle was cancelled, but glad it looks like you are gearing up for another natural cycle soon. I’ve had multiple IVF cycles as I am ttc without a dp, but I have my own fertility challenges as poor responder with extremely low AMH and crap eggs. I’ve only ever managed 3 transfers, but one was a bfp then mc. When I first started, I hadn’t planned on continuing past my 40th. And I still don’t feel ready to give up.

Thanks for being here for me berries, it really helps . I am feeling a bit better today, although things are a bit up and down at the moment. I got a bit more sleep last night, and there’s still 2 more days more before I’m next at the fc. I don’t feel like my body’s kicking into action either, but we will have to wait and see.

Phew. This thread’s getting very full berries. Do you think the next clusterdiff is going to kick off while we’re still on this one, or at the start of the next?

sesame hope you are feeling a bit brighter today, horrible (and exhausting) having all the ups and downs.

happy sorry to hear you have to cancel this cycle, like others have said, really good news that it doesn't count as one of your 2 try's.

barking good to see how's your head, after all the research and decision making...it all gets totally overwhelming sometimes doesn't it...whenever I start researching anything, I just end up down the rabbit hole, and go round, and round in circles (I am indecisive at the best of times.

smidge hope you are a bit closer to deciding who to go with. its so much to take in and then decide, isn't it.

spare your haul of 15 sounds good (although the cervix comment did make me wince a bit) hope you coped with it all okay.

beaky/minx - really good to hear things are going well for you both.

rain hope you are well, and work not doing your head in too much.

kuma - hi don't think we've crossed paths, since I joined the thread.

tiger and anyone else I have forgotten, hope you are doing okay.

as for me, af arrived this morning, so thats 2 months worth of clomid, with no success. doesn't feel quite so bad as last month, as wasn't convincing myself this month, that every symptom was a possible early pregnancy one. still gutting though, regardless.

onto cycle 3 on clomid...

clem, I'm really sorry af got you. Fingers crossed that it's third time lucky for you though.

minx I've just laughed out loud at your description from the corner of my office. I'm sure you'll be ok. I think it only matters on transfer day, as they probably don't want to have to scrape all the crap out the way before sticking the embryo back in. But check with the clinic if you're not sure.