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

Not long to go now @loulamay!
I’ve had a voicemail this morning to say a letter’s arrived for me but my uncle died yesterday morning so I’m at my parents and can’t pick it up until Monday. Need to keep myself distracted this weekend!

Clinic said yes! Trying to get through on the phone now to see what happens next

Great news @Sunbird24! Let us know when you get started!

Bad news from my side - 6 week scan showed an empty uterus so the embryo looks like it implanted enough to give a low positive hcg but then didn't develop further. Sad news but trying to stay positive and glad we actually fell pregnant as that's the furthest we've ever got!

Dr wants to try again next cycle with the same medication but also put me on Clexane (not sure if it's called that in the UK) which is a blood-thinner and can help with implantation and immunological issues. Willing to give anything a shot! He also said as we have 6 embryos left that if we want to put 2 back next time we can. I think we will...

Oh @loulamay I'm so so sorry. It must be so hard to have the initial excitement and then have it taken away. I'm glad you're feeling positive and that the doctor is happy to get going again next cycle.

I had clexane for my cycle too, my clinic use it as standard I think, like you said it's supposed to support implantation. It's a horrible needle, quite thick, but definitely worth it!!

Good idea to put two in next time. I think if I had a couple of failed cycles I'd do exactly the same.
Thinking of you! Xxx

Thanks @Gabbbbbbby - so nice to have this forum as we hadn't really told anyone and here I can gab away to complete strangers which is so cathartic!

Just heard from my bloods result that my HcG has gone down to 10 which is a relief because that means no ectopic, phew.

I am honestly more annoyed/frustrated than sad. I'm so ready for this - bring it on baby! As my partner said though, we'll be parents for the rest of our lives, so what's another month or two of trying. And we are lucky to have 6 good embryos left.

Onwards and upwards ;-) (and wine and sushi) x

So sorry yours hasn’t worked out this time @loulamay, hopefully actually getting pregnant has given your body a bit of a kick start and it will do everything right next time! It’s great that you’ve got enough embryos to put 2 in, everything crossed for a positive outcome for you.

I’m going to order my sperm tonight, no idea when I’ll actually get to get started properly but I’ve found the perfect donor and don’t want to miss out...

He’s coming up as unavailable now - was fine at lunchtime! 😭

@loulamay so sorry that it didn't work this time but love how positive you are for next cycle your body will be ready now this month 💪 I have everything crossed for you🤞🏼🤞🏼
@Sunbird24 were you able to get the donor sperm you wanted or is he still unavailable?
@Gabbbbbbby mine OH morphology wasn't great but my fertility doctor wasn't worried about it at all and said that it could have just been a bad sample. But in my own head I feel like that's our issue!!

Little update from me I had my lap and dye Monday and I don't have Endometriosis and my tubes were clear he said I'm a mystery to him why I haven't got pregnant! I asked could we do IUI next cycle but he wants me to try this cycle which is cycle 20 and if I get AF in aug then to ring him and we will set everything up for IUI for sept! That's 2 more cycles trying! He seems to be very positive that it will happen after the laparoscopy he said that sometimes there could be mucus stuck in the tubes and when they do the dye test it flushes it out. I'm trying to be positive but after 20 cycles I'm finding it hard!!

@BFP2020 yeah, when we got our results showing everything normal for me and very poor morphology for DH I obviously did loads of research and realised that morphology is pretty inconclusive in terms of fertility. I guess cos you only need one 'good' sperm to get through. But our consultant seemed pretty sure that was why I wasn't getting pregnant. She gave us 3 months do try naturally and for DH to stop drinking, cycling, hot baths etc and when that made no difference to his results she advised icsi. I've had quite a few chemical pregnancies as well when trying naturally, and she said she couldn't say for sure but that could be down to an irregular sperm fertilising an egg and becoming an unviable embryo. Who knows!! But I'm glad we went straight for the icsi as it was the quickest option I think.

Good that your results seem to be positive!

Fingers crossed for you @BFP2020, and at least you have a set endpoint if it doesn’t work.

I got the donor I wanted, cost me £1400 though. Just waiting for the clinic to let me know what my next step with them is, they’re meant to be calling me back but if I don’t hear soon I’ll call them. Told my boss as well now, he was surprisingly supportive!

www.healthline.com/health/guide-prepare-for-ivf
I found this, don’t know if it might be worth a read for anyone else?

how is everyone? We had our first consultation today so if we go ahead we will be starting treament next month. So excited and nervous at same time x

@Whilstwewait how was the consultation? Have you got a start date?
I’m 4 days into down regulation, getting used to injecting myself now but sure I’ll be sick of it before I have to add the second jab!