First time trying IVF... anyone want to keep me company?!

[loulamay]

Hi all,

Few quick facts - partner and I are both just into our 40s, have been TTC for a year with no luck. He has a slightly low sperm count at just under 16 million and I have a past history of PCOS, although according to my Dr, am producing an amazing number of eggs for a woman my age (in fact interestingly he talked to me about recent studies that may show that women with PCOS may have a delayed reduction in fertility in line with age: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4447787/).

We have had one unsuccessful IUI and have decided to move onto IVF to try and take advantage of the fact that my ovarian reserve still looks good. I also froze my eggs when I was 36, before I met DP, so we will probably fertilise them at the same time as only that we collect from this cycle.

Feeling a huge mixture of nervousness and excitement, especially during these crazy COVID times, and wondered if anyone was in the same boat and starting IVF now? I am on day 2 of my cycle and had my first Gonal F 300 injection this morning - 5 more days of that and my Dr wants to see me for my first scan.

L

I meant endometritis instead of endometriosis

I'm so sorry to hear that @loulamay. It sounds like you're dealing with it really well, and it's positive that you've got so many tries left.

Enjoy that wine, you definitely deserve it!

@loulamay aw sorry to hear that but as you say you have plenty of embryos left and not too long until your next go. Xxx

How are you doing ladies? I am getting ready for our next attempt - was on Femera (not sure if the brand name will be the same in the UK) for 5 days after my period (which was so heavy) and got a second scan tomorrow to check endo lining and follicles. I wasn't sure how it would work but with the 5 day embryos they basically wait for you to ovulate (we're going to see if I will ovulate naturally, if not, do a trigger injection) and then transfer will be 5 days later.

I feel like I've been totally doing everything wrong since the first failure - drinking too much wine with friends and not enough water or exercise! Oh well!

@Eggling have you started your injections yet?

@loulamay it's great you can get going again so soon! Yes, I'm on day 9 of injections today, trigger shot Saturday night and egg collection Monday. Waiting for a call with my blood test results to see if we can do a fresh transfer or will need to freeze as my ovaries are reacting a bit too enthusiastically so they're worried about OHSS. The injections haven't been too bad though to be honest, although I'll enjoy a day off being stabbed on Sunday!

Are you doing any injections then this this time around (except maybe the trigger)? I'm not sure how FET works, will have to do some reading as that might be the way we're headed!

Oooh getting close! OHSS can be tricky but in my mind at least that means potentially lots of eggs!

No injections so far - I ovulate on my own and haven't had any problems with thickness of endometrium so Dr said we could do it as naturally as possible. After doing some reading I'm actually glad about that, I think I might have had slight OHSS and they say it can put a stress on the body and potentially hamper implantation so if you do end up doing a freeze-all then that's no bad thing. I definitely feel like my body needed some time to recover!

Also discussed single or double embryo transfer with him and we are going for another single this time round.

Glad it's all getting going again @loulamay and that you didn't have to wait too long to try again. I'll be following your journey with interest because next time I will be doing FET too and I'm not really sure what that involves! Sounds like you're doing it as naturally as possible which sounds good.

Ah, did you manage to convince hubby? Good for you!

So far compared to the egg retrieval process it's been a breeze - no injections, just the follicle boost with the Femera tablets and one scan. I realise I am lucky though with the fact that I do produce eggs and ovulate.

I almost wonder (and have read some studies on this) if the freeze-all thing is the way to go so that you get a break from all the hormones and stress of the IVF before embryo transfer. My bloating and fatigue after the egg retrieval was horrible. But I'm no Doctor

When are you thinking of getting started?

That sounds perfect! Really got to give your body the chance to recover. I over stimulated with the IVF and they collected 33 eggs I think. I looked more pregnant then than I did when I was 12 weeks along! How are you feeling?

Yes, my husband understands now and we're on the same page! My baby is only 8months, so I think I'll probably start thinking about FET cycle in the spring. I'm keen to have them close together!

If your egg collection was today @Eggling then I hope all went well and you've got your feet up!

Had my last scan today - without having to do injections, this has been a walk in the park. Dr is happy with my endometrium thickness and because I tend to ovulate late into my cycle, he has given me a trigger shot to do tonight and then FET next Monday just so we're a bit more in control. Also starting back on estrogen and progesterone tablets from Wednesday onwards.

Just a little update from me!

Oh wow that all seems to be going really smoothly @loulamay fingers crossed it continues to go well for you!

I had egg collection today, they got 21 eggs and DH's sperm results were all in the normal range which was a surprise as his previous tests have had 0% morphology. I'm not too sore, and feel a bit less bloated than last night which was nice. Just have to see how things go with fertilisation and development this week, plus clarify the plan moving forwards as it's definitely freeze all for us.

@loulamay it's good it's all going smoothly so far! @Eggling that's really positive! 21 is a good number and that's great about your husband's sperm too. Let us know how fertilisation goes!

Fingers crossed for both of you - I'll be thinking of you both! X

@Eggling @loulamay how are you both getting on? I was brave today and made first steps for initial consultation I feel so much stronger and ready for it compared to last month. We have official hit the 12 months of TTC now x

Hi @Whilstwewait well done on sorting the initial consultation! If it's any reassurance I've felt the process generally fine - emotionally up and down but for me it's been better in some ways than fruitlessly TTC every month as at least I'm doing something if you know what I mean?

We ended up with 4 frozen embryos and hoping to transfer in August all being well. My clinic likes 2 bleeds so I'm hoping my withdrawal bleed arrives soon then I'll be taking norithisterone to bring on another in a few weeks. I've been a bit fed up the past couple of days as it feels like being back in limbo with the waiting!

Hi all!

Well done for taking the first step @Whilstwewait! I agree with @Eggling that it felt better to be actually taking charge a bit rather than just waiting around wondering what was going on so good for you.

I've had my first FET transfer and am in the dreaded wait until I can do my beta blood test. Am on estrogen and progesterone tablets which have a few side effects - had a pretty emotional day earlier in the week and also just want to eat everything in sight for some reason, but other than that I feel good!

Trying to keep busy this weekend and get a mani/go for a walk/see some friends to take my mind off things, but I must say that this time round without the effects of the egg retrieval it's been so much less stressful. Half wondering if we should have done a freeze all too but there we are.

@eggling - fab news on your embryos! How are you feeling now? Has the OHSS gone?

Ah @loulamay that's exciting! Fingers crossed for a sticky embryo 🤞🤞 I'm not looking forward to the estrogen and progesterone tablets, pretty sure I'll be crazy for a few days!

I feel fine now, OHSS has all gone I think. I actually never felt terrible, just bloated and sore. I'm just impatient for my period now so I can get onto the next cycle and countdown! It's annoying that my clinic wants two periods before a frozen cycle.

@loulamay aw ive got everything crossed for you. Really hope its your month and glad you're feeling ok xx

@Eggling it must be strange getting excited for a period for a change. August will be here before we know it. Im still feeling good. I did get my bloods back from doctors though and although satisfactory by FSH was slightly higher than the normal range at 9.8 . So google made me stress. I really do need to just wait and trust the experts now as google doesn't help and I can do anything about it anyway. Best of luck to you for transfer xx

Got some light cramping again this time which feels much like last time - so annoying not to know what it is because it could equally be implantation cramping - and no bleeding or spotting yet. Beta next week. The suspense!

I've been looking online for statistics related to the number of embryo transfers before success, but all I can really find is the IVF rates of success, with most of them showing stats on 'number of cycles' before success. That doesn't really tell me anything about the number of eggs retrieved or embryos that were frozen. Has anyone else managed to find anything that is more related to FET success over multiple tries?

PS. distracting myself went really well up until this afternoon...

@loulamay it's so frustrating that symptoms of early pregnancy and AF are basically the same - really not good for stress levels! Hopefully it's implantation cramps and your embryo is nestling in nicely 🤞🤞

I've not really found much of use on FET statistics despite lots of googling! I just get loads of articles comparing frozen and fresh cycles.

I've started my period today, so hopefully will hear from the clinic soon with when to take my norithisterone. Hoping for next cycle in 4 weeks so transfer in about 6!

Hi ladies, hope everyone is doing ok! I’m still waiting for the go-ahead from Care for my first attempt, had blood tests and compulsory session with counsellor and it all seems pretty positive so far.

Great news! (weird that we should be celebrating AF haha). Interesting that they want you to have a two-cycle gap - did they say why?

I think it's just their policy for everyone, I'm not sure why though. How are you feeling today?

hi girls - got my beta blood test back yesterday and it's positive... I am 8dp5dt (look at me with my lingo) but HCG number is pretty low, so Dr wants me to do another blood test again tomorrow!

From my ridiculous Googling the consensus seems to be that a) it's pretty early to test and b) as long as the HCG numbers go up then it shouldn't matter that they start low.

Seriously - excuse my French but this whole thing is just a head f**k!

@Gabbbbbbby I think you only tested 2 weeks after your transfer right?

Hey! How confusing for you... My clinic were very strict on only testing 2 weeks after the transfer, and I just did a home test, which was then confirmed with a blood test.
It's so early for you, I don't know really what they hope to gain by testing now... Cos as you've realised, HCG results will most likely be inconclusive at this stage. I think don't get downhearted, I've done a bit of reading and it seems like early HCG levels are sooooo variable in the early stages. In a week or so hopefully you'll have a more concrete result.

I'm sorry it's so confusing!! I bet you don't know how to feel. Xxx