IVF help!

[Questions2]

Hi all,

My story so far is that I’m 32 and we’ve been TTC for 2+ years. At the end of last year I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism and PCOS and referred to a fertility clinic. At our last appointment they referred for IVF although they believe we have good chances of conceiving naturally.

I have just had the call to schedule our first IVF appointment and it is sooner than expected and taken me by surprise so I could do with some help.

I feel like I have no idea of what that appointment will be like and what the aim of this is.

I would like an idea of timescales so that we can fully prepare ourselves for this. So for example if I have my first appointment (which I imagine is a consultation?) in July, how long will it be until I am looking at any potential pregnancy?

What are the stages of IVF. I’ve read about different short or long protocols but in truth I have no idea what these are or what determines which protocol you have.

When an egg is transferred and God willing you get a positive test how many weeks pregnant are you? Would this differ from a normal pregnancy?

Sorry if these seem like random or stupid questions!

Hi @questiins2
I can only speak from my own experience and I am due to start IVF at the end of this month.. once it was confirmed that we needed to have treatment, after having all the tests done, we have had two further appointments before we will actually start treatment. One was an 'implications' appointment, where it was confirmed what my protocol will be and a run through of the treatment, then the next appointment which was the following day was to sign the consent forms and again go through the plan and what protocol/drugs I will be on. I now have to ring them when AF starts and that's when I'll go in to pick up the injections etc and will start.

I am personally on a short protocol, i have a high AFC so am at risk of over stimulating, I have regular periods and ovulate as normal. So this will be approx 10 days of stims (daily injections that stimulate the ovaries to produce lots of eggs) but from day 5 I will also introduce a 2nd daily injection that prevents me from ovulating. During this time I will go to the clinic every few days for them to scan my ovaries to see how many follicles I have. Once they are happy with the number and size of the follicles, I will take a 'trigger shot' which is another injection which will make me ovulate in the coming days, this is timed so that egg collection can be done. Then obviously 5 days later I will go back for an embryo to be put back inside me then 9 days later I will test to see if it's worked. I think generally ladies with PCOS have long protocol so the whole process could take a lot longer but it will purely depend on how you are responding to the drugs and then obviously that will determine when you would get your outcome (hopefully bfp). Also with long protocol they tend to down regulate you which is basically stopping your normal cycle so they can start from fresh rather than on day 1 of your natural period.

I would highly recommend the website called The Duff , lots of really useful information in an easy to understand format !
Good luck with everything!

@dogmam
Thank you so much for your response and for sharing your experience, it is really helpful and much appreciated.

The website is also so useful thank you for the recommendation.

Wishing you the best of luck and hope you soon have your bfp xx

OP thank you for your asking those questions, I had similar ones in my head but didn't voice them and thank you to @dogmam for all the helpful info! Good luck to everyone!

Hello,

I'm hoping for a bit of advice, Im 41 with a AMH of 0.4. I have been in contact with clinics abroad that have given three different protocols.

1- clomid 150 and testosterone.
2- 300IU daily of Menopur
3- lomid 50mg x 3 pills per day
MERIOFERT 150IU or Menopure 150 iu ?
Folic acid 5mg per day
Melatonin 2mg per day at bed time

I have also had a call with TMC Healthcare who claim they can improve my AMH in 3 months

So I'm very confused by these options, the difference and if I should try TMC herbal therapy first

AMH is a indication of how many potential eggs you have left, I'd be very wary of any business claiming to improve this as we are born with all our eggs

How do they claim to improve your AMH?

They claim to improve AMH through herbal medicines
www.tcm-healthcare.co.uk/fertility-treatments/improve-amh

they have advised to hold of IVF for three months for their treatment but I'm worried about any delay due to my age.

very confused over the protocol options to be honest and desperate to get it right as I have increased my credit card limit and when its used I have no more funds