Fertility Clinic Appointments and Beyond..

[dogmam]

New thread for us to continue our fertility clinic appointment progress...

Some of us are waiting for initial appointments, some are having tests and some are starting treatment!

@dogmam I want to join that network. I know you mentioned it before but what's the fb group called again? Those talks sound really interesting.

@Kay00 exciting times and I bet you can't wait for the scan.

I've had really tender boobs this cycle which is new for me so did a hcg test. I waited too long and saw a line which I thought might be an evap but wasn't sure. Did a frer this morning and it was a bfn

I can feel AF will be coming soon and so I will soon start my Gonal F. Slightly nervous about self injecting because the needles are not small!!

@thislittlebird I'm taking Clomid days 2 to 6. I took my first 50mg tablet today and had zero side effects which is good 😊

@tillybabs is this your last cycle before the Gonal F injections then? Eek!

@beckycarlos good luck tomorrow!

Hi 😊 Any room for a newbie?
I've been catching up on this thread for a while and just found and starting on the previous one so thought I'd say hi.

I went to gp in Aug after 6 months ttc #1 (DH and I both 38). Referred to fertility clinic straight away because of age and sent for day 21 bloods. First attempt didn't show O but I was pretty sure I hadn't anyway after covid jab (same happened after first). Just waiting for results of 2nd. Referral appointment came through for Feb which feels like forever away as time is not on my side - I'm 39 in a couple of months.

Have number for DH to book SA but not asked him to do that yet - felt like what's the point if I'm not ovulating. My gp seemed a bit clueless (at one point she actually said to me "You probably know more than I do" when I said I'd read a book about conception to stop the painful explanation about when to DTD - or "get together" as she put it 🤦‍♀️) and I know of others on different threads who've had more extensive tests from gp but don't know what is standard. I've seen that some of you have been for private fertility MOT and wondered where you went to find out where to go? I've only managed to find info on private ivf which isn't where we're at just yet. I'm in NW England if that helps.

Going to ask for progesterone level when I get test results back later today but don't really know what is good. Feels like I'm at the start of a really scary journey and have very little idea what I'm getting into or what I need to ask for/about.

Any advice greatly appreciated as I know most of you have been there and seen it all already x

Hi @Eli707 you are in the same boat as me...I've been hovering for a while too! I was referred last Oct but didn't get seen till March time. SA was first to rule any sperms issues out, I had an internal ultrasound in July and now doing 2 months of day 21 bloods. Like you my cycle has been affected by my covid jag so ovulation not detected last month by bloods but the could have been done at the wrong time due to my cycle. Once they have determined if I'm ovulating or not they said I'll get meds if I'm not and if I am it would be unexplained and move on to ivf. I need to lose weight though as my bmi is a bit above 30. Its all so stressful isn't it 😓 I'm in Scotland and I think the waiting list for ivf is very long up here at the moment x

@Kay00 that's great that you've had no side effects.

Yes so I've received my medication and I will start on CD2. I can tell AF is on the way.

Actually, AF for me sometimes starts as light or spotting on day 1 then full blown day 2. Do I class the spotting or light period as day 1?

@Eli707 welcome! I didn't go private and was referred quite quickly to NHS due to my age and everything has moved quite quickly for me. Sorry I can't answer your questions about going private. Im 40 and last night I panicked realising I'm 41 in 4 months time. This year has gone so fast and we've been trying for over a year.

So it looks like I'm spotting today, AF arriving a couple days early. But if I don't get a proper flow, would I class tomorrow as CD1?

@dogmam just keep taking the progesterone and then they want me to test. Twice. I do not like testing whatsoever, but need to do it next Friday and next Sunday for the clinic.

@Kay00 no side effects is great, fingers crossed!

@Tillybabs good luck with the injections. Did the spotting start when you woke up? I thought they classes day 1 as full bleeding but I’m not 100%. I know they say it’s the first day you wake up with it, rather than say it starting midday.

@Eli707 welcome aboard! I’m 38 too. Great that they referred you straight away though, even if February feels a while away.

Definitely get your DH tested too. I’m likely not ovulating regularly but DH also has sperm quality issues. If it comes back with issues you have a few months to try to improve it. You might get pregnant before the clinic appointment but just in case you don’t it’s worth knowing what you’re dealing with. I’m in London so I’m not sure what’s in your area but most private fertility clinics will do a fertility MOT (some nhs hospitals here also have a private fertility wing, like Guys and Kings, so your big teaching hospitals might offer the same), search for their price lists and it usually has them on there. I found getting the private tests really helpful, told me what I was dealing with way before getting to the point of the ivf referral. I did my AMH test and scan with Care in London back in February, I know they have lots of clinics around the country.

Your doctor sounds knowledgable 🤨. My GP was rubbish too. If you can get her to do a day 3 test that’s worthwhile (they’re supposed to do it but not all do, including my own). Fingers crossed your progesterone is ok but there’s a lot of info online fortunately.

@Small1607 hi! The waiting really does suck and it’s all so inconsistent across the country. How long have you guys been trying?

@thislittlebird I hate testing too. Fingers crossed for you!

I had spotting from this morning. I will give them a call and see what they say

@Tillybabs I think Day 1 is full bleeding before noon. So if you are spotting in the evening then it is next day.

@Eli707 @Small1607 Hi both! I haven't joined long here neither welcome! It's just nice to have someone to talk to and share experience. The waiting truly sucks but you just got to trust NHS doing the best they can. (altho most of the time not and don't be afraid to ask questions and chase up on the phone relentlessly)

Funny my GP said the same thing @Eli707 She was clueless and just ordered SA and D21 blood test and wash hands with it. She couldn't figure out how to book me for the transvaginal scan and I had to explain to her I need one (facepalm). But now I am finally referred to the fertility clinic I hope everything is on the right track.

@thislittlebird I didn't get a D3 blood test till I speak to the fertility clinic. Altho I am not entirely sure what it is for lol.
Hope all is going ok with your meds.

@Eli707 definitely get going on the SA. For us it took three months to get it scheduled and to get the results back so you wouldn't want any more delays at this stage. Besides, if there's anything wrong you'd have time to try and improve it by the time you get to the Feb appointment.

@Small1607 @eli707 hi both! Would 100% echo what others have said, get going on the SA - we had to have 2, had to wait 6 weeks for appointments and then 2 weeks for results, so was 16 weeks before we knew anything! Id also echo not being afraid to ask questions and ask for clarification on processes, timescales etc. It is so not in my nature to (feel like I'm) make a nuisance of myself but it'll put your mind at rest and get things moving x x

@thislittlebird two years now (minus a few months off here and there for different reasons) I got referred after a year last August but because of Covid-19/Xmas lockdown it was this year by the time I got seen due to NHS restricting services. Over 35 now too so hoping age and time trying speeds them up a bit 🤦‍♀️

Hi, girls my English it’s not perfect so sorry for mistakes…
We trying for a baby 6 years we failed on IVF also we had IUI but still any miracle not happening for us
I been for all those treatments in my country we just came back to UK
Again as we have job there ( me and my husband )
i have pcos my husband bad sperm shape we want to try luck in the UK maybe try again with clomid or IUI
But the question is
I have to ask my gp if he recommends me to the fertility centre or it is dome fertility centre in ( bradford - leeds) or yorkshire
Which make me an appointment without any recommendations from my gp?

Hi @Jazlyi 😊 if you're wanting NHS funded treatment you need to be referred by your GP, but if you're funding yourself you can approach any of the clinics and they'll see you without a referral x

I hope everyone is getting on ok! We had a good call with the consutlant earlier, partner needs a few more tests but they can be done concurrently with our treatment (as my ovaries are prematurely aged, what a joy! I'll open the early menopause can of worms at a later date!)

Hes referring us for IVF with ICSI immediately. Its 4-6 weeks wait for a nurse consultation and then its all systems go... i know IVF doesnt give us any guarantees, but I feel like we finally know what were dealing with, and we have enough of my eggs and his sperm to give us a chance, and that feels good. Scary. But good.

Love and positive thoughts for you all x

@Jazlyi I second what Becky said!

@thislittlebird how are you feeling?

@dogmam when is OTD? Must be soon!

@beckyCarlos brilliant progress for you! I've got my appointment in 6 weeks so we could be going through with it at similar times!

@juno231 it would be amazing to have a buddy! I'm on cloud 9 now but will be a bag of nerves as I get the appointment through and the date approaches! X

Hi girls. Today was official test day.. and it was positive!! I can't believe it, doesn't feel real. Obviously being the paranoid idiot infertility makes you, I'm desperate to test again tomorrow because the line was much fainter than the control line.. but deffinetly two lines!

Picked up extra eastrogen tablets and progesterone from the clinic today and 7 week scan booked in 3 weeks time!

I've been freaking out since my FET waiting for test day so need to have a good read through to look at everyone's updates etc but good luck everyone for upcoming appointments etc xx

Aw yes @dogmam!!!!!!!!! So chuffed for you!! Everything is crossed that you have a smooth ride! X

Amazing news @dogmam! Can’t even imagine trying to get my head around a bfp. Must be weird af. Are estrogen tablets common? I only hear them mentioned sometimes.

I got my nhs letter yesterday confirmed and they’re putting me on 150 gonal f. My AMH was 31.6 so I’m a little concerned not all those 38 follicles have eggs in (I’ve had higher AMH before with lower AFC) and I’m really hoping they’ll be quick to adjust my dosage if I’m not responding.

@beckyCarlos thanks so much!! Xx we had ICSI too so good luck with your appointment!

@thislittlebird thank you so much! And honestly, that was/is exactly how I feel, never ever seen a bfp before and I almost can't accept it now. Feels too good to be true. I haven't cried happy tears or anything like you'd imagine, just feel like something's going to go wrong.

Estrogen is needed for a frozen embryo transfer, you take them from the start of your cycle so it builds your lining really thick to make it a good environment for the embryo to implant.

I tested again this morning and doesn't look like the line is any darker than yesterday, convinced it isn't going work out but all I can do is wait and see.

@dogmam congratulations that's amazing news! Praying your bean sticks.

@beckyCarlos sounds like everything will soon be moving quickly for you. I bet you can't wait

I started Gonal F today. I'm on a 225 dosage. I definitely don't think I can self inject

@Tillybabs can I ask what your AMH is? Considering we aren’t dissimilar ages and I’ll be on 150 gonal f. My AMH at the time was 31.6 and my afc was 38. I am really not happy about self injecting. When we went for the appointment the doctor initially said I’ll be on TWO injections per day???? But I think that was when she was planning max doses, I’m not certain though, it was all very confusing and she was saying morning and evening and drawing a diagram. My mind went into panic mode because I’d planned for DH to do the injections.

I really don’t feel like I’ve ovulated 😔. I know I was given the trigger injection but I’ve had no ovulation signs whatsoever and it’s currently approx 4dpo. A couple of months ago I had sore boobs and I assume I ovulated that month. It’s a little depressing not to feel any symptoms from the progesterone, feels like nothing is working or going on.

@dogmam fingers crossed it works out. I think id be the same tbh. I’m not a happy tears kinda person, I’m more a ‘shit, omg, what next’ and I can’t imagine I’ll be able to enjoy it if I ever do get a bfp.

Do you know how thick they like it to be?

@thislittlebird my amh was 17.7. I don't actually know my afc, will ask when I go on Monday.

Did you take your bbt at all to see if you had a temp rise?

Without that it's hard to tell for definite. I don't get get post ovulation signs really which is why I started temping