abc IVF experience sharing - 2021/2022

[Millymillymillymillymilly]

Hey everyone,

I've benefited so much from the last 2 abc ivf threads that I thought I'd start a new one and hopefully can contribute back to the community.

I'm 33 years old, AFC around 24 (based on the initial treatment scan) and the reason we are doing IVF is due to male infertility issues (morphology lower than 4%) and irregular ovulation. We are undergoing treatment at the Harley Street branch.

Here's my treatment timeline so far:

09/11 Tue - Bemfola injection 125
10/11 Wed - Bemfola injection 125
11/11 Thu - Bemfola injection 125
12/11 Fri - Bemfola injection 125 + 1st scan
13/11 Sat - Bemfola injection 125
14/11 Sun - Bemfola injection 125 + Cetrotide injection
15/11 Mon - Bemfola injection 125 + Cetrotide injection +2nd scan
16/11 Tue - Bemfola injection 125 + Cetrotide injection
17/11 Wed - Cetrotide injection + 3rd scan + Ovitrelle injection (exact timing TBC)

After my 3rd scan today, the nurse said I didn't have to do anymore injections apart from morning Cetrotide shot and the Ovitrelle which someone from the Create clinic will call and let me know when to inject as it needs to fit into their egg retrieval appointments (I still haven't received the call and my scan was at 08.30 this morning).

My follicles' growth was as below:

1st scan
11 < 6mm
10 10 mm

2nd scan
2 < 6mm
12

@Carolineanne I don't believe they do at abc.:) Good luck!

Hey everyone, just wanted to update you all. I've got a positive outcome from my NHS round. I'm currently 8dpt 5dt and have tested positive since 4dpt :) (naughty I know!)

One thing I think may help for those who are at doing treatment at abc is to see if your lining changes during stimming (e.g gets thinner). This round with CRGH was a frozen transfer due to my lining changed from 14mm to 13mm/12mm and even though it was still thick enough, the consultant said it meant the lining is not stable hence it may not be a good time for transfer. Then I checked my chart from abc and I saw my lining did get thinner during stimming with abc and no one flagged this as a potential issue.

Obviously I can't say for sure this was the reason that it worked this round because protocol and drugs were all different between abc and CRGH but the fact that one picked up the instability and one didn't is a bit of a concern to me. Therefore, I'd suggest you ladies to keep an eye out on your lining (even if it's still thick enough to transfer!)

Hope everyone is well!

@Millymillymillymillymilly Congratulations!!!! So delighted for you. Thanks for the good advice. My lining was going up from scan to scan but I'll make sure I find out what it is when I have my transfer on Tuesday based on your experience x

[quote Millymillymillymillymilly]@Carolineanne I don't believe they do at abc.:) Good luck![/quote]
Thank you ! Starting the process on 23rd March when period comes ! How bad are the injections for anyone who has done it ? Hoping to only have to do one round ( please god!) has anyone got any good tips on what to eat or things to do during the process to increase chances of pregnancy ? I have a 2 year old naturally but have had 3 early miscarriages back to back so hoping ivf will just get me one more pregnancy and then will never have to deal with this again ! Secondary infertility like all infertility really sucks . Will def ask about the lining that’s a really good tip. Best of luck ladies ❤️

Hi everyone! Congrats @Millymillymillymillymilly that is amazing news!!! So happy for you! Thanks for tip on lining!

@Mazzaroo2022 i really hope you're getting on ok!

So unfortunately mine failed, had to take some time off to process things as I started spotting 2 days before my test date so I was already prepared for the negative outcome and then had a 7 day long AF to top it off. I have my follow up with the Dr this Friday to find out more, but to be honest with the way my cycle went I wasn't very hopeful. I feel like it just started off badly just because of how i responded to the meds.

With that being said I still have 1 frostie, which we can do a FET for hopefully but I have a lot of questions for my follow up as I wasn't told anything regarding my lining, or progesterone levels etc during the whole process. And having started spotting despite being on progesterone, I can only think that my levels weren't high enough to begin with.

Does anyone know the timeline for FET? And the meds they use? Is it a medicated cycle?

I understand the first one is always a bit of trial and error but just wondering if anyone knows how flexible ABC are with their treatments? Like would they add additional meds if necessary? Or are they quite stuck on 'mild ivf' ? I'm contemplating whether to move clinics or try again. I'd rather pay for more meds/blood tests if I needed it than just trying another mild cycle and hoping for the best.

@Carolineanne the injections really aren't that bad at all honestly. The Bemfola is a prefilled pen which is tiny and it just feels like a scratch. The cetrotide is fiddly to make up but its fine too. OH did all my injections for me - i used an icepack before and after to prevent pain/bruising!

Good luck to you all!

@star2022 I'm so sorry, I was wondering how you got on. One in the freezer though so fingers crossed that one is meant to be.

I got off to a great start but unfortunately it all went downhill today. I got 12 eggs which I was delighted with, 8 fertilised, and in day 3 5 of them were normal 6 cells or above. So I went in for my 5 day transfer this morning thinking I'd surely have 2 of the 5 make it to blastocysts. Unfortunately, none of them did. 1 of them was a morula, so a day 4 even though it was day 5. They transferred this and said they would keep the rest until day 6 in case they catch up... But I don't have much hope. During the transfer I asked about my lining and I was told it gets thicker and thicker and they don't measure it at this point. It really annoyed me as if there is a problem it may not! I feel like I should have pushed more.

I've already made a plan to push for my NHS round next as most likely this round will be unsuccessful. I think now having realised injections are the easy bit that I would be happy doing the long protocol. I had 4 eggs massively ahead of the rest so I think long might suit me better and get more eggs. I'm not sure ABC would change much in their protocol and I'd be keen to try something different next time, so hopefully the NHS will finally come through.

Thanks Star and Mazzaroo (I’m no longer getting the notification email hence sorry for the late reply!)

@star2022 I’m sorry to hear that. It’s never pleasant to have to experience that. At least you still have a frostie and that may be the one for you! Fingers crossed! I find FET a lot easier! I think at abc they do a medicated cycle as it’s easier to control? So normally the process is they will first suppress your ovary with injections (no getting away from that I’m afraid) and then medication in pills or patches to get your lining to thicken then afterwards once it’s thick enough, they add progesterone into to the mix to make your lining receptive and ready to implant. If you were to implant a 3 day embryo, you will only take 3 days worth of progesterone and 5 day embryo 5 days of progesterone. FET is around 6 weeks. Unfortunately I can’t tell you the exact process at abc as I’ve had my FET elsewhere but hopefully it can be used as a ref! (I wasn’t told my lining either at abc, I had to look at that piece of paper where they track the follicles, right below it tells you the lining thickness and if you noticed number going down it’s not good but you shouldn’t experience this with a FET as you’re building your lining from scratch and you’re not stimming!) Good luck on your next one!

@Mazzaroo2022 sorry to hear it’s not going as expected but you still have embryos though so you are definitely in the game! abc don’t actively tell you the lining, like I mentioned to Star, you will need to look at that piece of paper that they give you during stimming and below there’s your lining. How are you feeling after your transfer? I was in bed pretty much all the time and light walking around the house but did not leave the house for 4 days LOL, might be excessive but it may have contributed to the success. I’d definitely push for the NHS around as well, there’s no reason not to! Even to have as a back up. Even tho we still had embryos with abc, we decided to go for another full cycle because we want to increase our chances plus we want more than 1 child! And the outcome was good! The protocol I did was definitely long but not as long as expected. I had drugs that made sure my period came at a certain time so it’s easier for the hospital to manage the resources. Good luck and hope you get a BFP x

@Mazzaroo2022. So sorry its not going as planned but like Milly said you're still in with a chance! Really do hope it works for you try and stay positive! And like you said you may be able to get in with the NHS. I rang mine last week and they've told me there's a huge back log of appointments, so even though my HSG was in Nov, they're saying my follow up appointment won't be till at least MAY! WTH. Glad I went private now.

Thanks @Millymillymillymillymilly thats super helpful! I do have a frostie but the grade isn't as great as the one that was transferred so i'm literally in a pickle and not sure what to do. But like i said i have my follow up Friday so will see what the Dr says. I feel like I would rather have a medicated cycle as my body is obviously not doing what its meant to naturally lol so i'd rather be on meds. I don't even mind the injections now, I just want a proper protocol where they check everything thoroughly.

I didn't have a paper given where they track follicles? But maybe that's because everything was so rushed for me in terms of egg collection being booked so quickly. I will ask on Friday to see what it was but like you said maybe frozen is better as they have more control over the process. Sounds like what i need! Although I got my peak today so I'm secretly hoping for a bfp naturally 😂

Hope your pregnancy is going well, did you try anything in your 2ww like pomegranate juice? or brazil nuts etc? Wishing you a happy and healthy 9 months! Thanks for creating this thread x

@star2022 Thanks for your kind words! It’s easy to get caught up with grades but you gotta think of it as a beauty pageant. It’s only the looks doesn’t mean anything! The embryo might look amazing but has a massive genetic flaw whereas the lesser looking ones give you the perfect baby! So you still got a massive chance!!! Don’t give up hope yet :) Also fingers crossed for a natural! We can always have right?

You think you’d be happy when you know you’re pregnant but then the next obstacle comes up, is it going to stay, is it going to have a heartbeat, will it be viable. I think there’s so many levels to this and I feel like I’m nowhere to the top yet. But can only be positive and carry on right? I’m just trying to stay calm and be positive but I know we are not out of the woods yet…

I’m 12dpt 5dt at the moment, having cramps here and there, feel nauseous at times, can’t eat as much as I used to and A LOT OF GAS 🤣 Need to give the nurse my test result on the OTD then will the scan be booked for 2-3 weeks’ time, so it’s the waiting game again!!!

I didn’t do anything particularly special this time (I ate pineapples last time) but before the transfer I used hot water bottles on my stomach and feet (never put hot water bottle post transfer!!!) to get the blood circulation going, tried to wear socks all the time and rested at home for 4 days and didn’t go anywhere.

Fingers crossed for you! (maybe ask abc to give you follicle tracking chart, they should have that on file!!!)

Congratulations @Millymillymillymillymilly !

I wrote a few weeks ago so just wanted to give you all an update that my 7 week scan showed a heartbeat. So my 3bb made it and no symptoms clearly means nothing :)

Best of luck to everyone on their journeys and i hope you all have success with your fresh/frozen transfers.

Hello, think I may have been on another thread with some of you. Hope everyone's cycles are going okay and congrats to the girls I read where successful.
I spoke to a patient co ordinator today to pay deposit etc and book in our treatment consultant this is furthest I have gone after 3 baseline scans to date!
Planning to have cycle in May as moving home next month so thought may be too much at once.
I have a small c section scar defect with persistent fluid had to have an MRI with nhs to assess size etc and found their to be no fluid accumulation post natural ovulation so ABC have finally given me the okay to go ahead with a cycle. Though not without making me aware that I really don't have a high chance and if fluid is persistent it will be a freeze all on transfer day.
I have done loads of research on studies etc on internet other countries everything and surgery is the overall fix for this issue. I am on the nhs waiting list now for a lap-hytroscopy- niche repair and a adesiolysis surgery but could but over a year wait and worried about my fertility afterwards as possible have to have endometriosis removed and more.
I have asked ABC to please "aspirate" the fluid on collection day and possibly again and pray that is stays away!
Very nervous for worrying about risking money for such low chance but I have read success stories with this method!
I hope everyone's cycles are going well.

I've missed quite a bit! I don't seem to be getting notifications for the thread anymore.

Congratulations @Millymillymillymillymilly , that's fantastic news! Hope the rest of your journey runs smoothly for you x

@star2022 I'm sorry to hear about your cycle, i hope you're doing ok, I've been thinking of you. I was sort of similar to you in that I was spotting before my test date despite being on progesterone, I fetched this up with the nurse afterward and she said 'that's interesting' but that was that. As you said first one is often a 'trial' if you like, hope you have better luck next time x

Thanks for the tips @Millymillymillymillymilly hope you're getting on ok!? @friendlyBadger that gives me so much hope! Congrats!!!

@waitingmyturn how are you getting on now? Any next steps? Was thinking of you too as i know you had the spotting too.

I am officially starting a FET with my one and only remaining frostie this weekend when AF arrives, I've asked for additional progesterone this time so will be on lubion injections as well as the pessaries. They have actually been really helpful and anything I've asked them, they've been quite flexible with which is great.

Wishing you all the best for your cycles! I will update this thread again when i get the chance!

@star2022 I'm doing ok thank you, had to put off last month as me and my husband both had Covid, still not 100%, we've got 3 weeks before AF shows and we can try again on the new meds 🤞🏼

I'm glad they've listened and worked with you, that's promising! I've got everything crossed for you. Keep us posted ☺️

@star2022 that’s great news! I’m glad they’ve added medication too. Are they going to test your progesterone level before your transfer? If not, you can ask just to ensure you have an adequate amount before you do the transfer!

I’m ok. Thanks for asking. Had my first scan today and heard the heartbeat too. Was a very touching moment :)

Best of luck! Hope all goes well for you!

May I join? I’ve just started taking my bemfola injections, I’m on day 3. I’m going it alone as a single mother by choice so I have to do my own injections but so far they’ve been ok! I have everything crossed for everyone.

Hey i am happy to join this group I have done my treatment with abc , had my embro transfer on Monday my blood test is tomorrow,I had day 3 transfer with 10 cell ,but itried to test at home my test is all negative,so iam so stressed hope miracle will happen tomorrow

Fingers crossed you get your miracle @Sheks!

Im going back tomorrow to see how my follicles are getting on. I’ve had 5 injections now but I don’t feel any different. There were a few growing yesterday but they were small….

Hi all, sorry its been a while but thought I'd update everyone in case anyone has been following my journey.

I began my FET at the start of this month after my failed fresh transfer in Feb- started with Progynova 3 times a day and by day 9 I had my first scan. My lining was looking juicy at 10.5mm so they told me to start on my Utrogestan pessaries 2 days after and my transfer was booked for the following week.

I was told at my initial consultation I would be able to start on Lubion injections in addition to the pessaries but at my day 9 scan appointment, the Dr was reluctant to prescribe them! I was really quite upset and explained to the nurse, that i would just feel better being on them as I know my body and I just had a feeling I wasn't feeling any effects of progesterone lately and as this was my last embryo, I had my hopes up for a better cycle this time.

Anyway, reluctantly the Dr agreed for me to have a progesterone blood test on transfer day and to take it from there.

Transfer happened on day 17, my frostie thawed perfectly and I had it transferred. On the afternoon I had my blood test results back and my levels did come back on the lower side at 26. I think they like it to be over 30 but I've also read some clinics use 50 as their baseline. I was told to start Lubion the same evening urgently.

I am now in my 2WW, but I hope this helps others reading to go with your gut feeling and to push for things. Part of me wishes I pushed further as I was worried I started the Lubion too late and having low progesterone on transfer day would impact implantation, but they reassured me that it works quickly so fingers crossed.

I'm hoping that this is the answer to my struggles with infertility.

Good luck to you all and any newbies who have joined :)

@Millymillymillymillymilly ahh hearing the heartbeat must have been a surreal feeling! I'm so so happy for you!!

@waitingmyturn sorry to hear you had covid, hope you've now recovered. You must be starting your next cycle soon if not already?! Wishing you all the best!

My result came negative today ididnt have any hope because the embryology told me it’s a risk and she is not sure if iam going to get pregnant,ithink abc they always do day 3 transfer because they know it’s low chances of getting pregnant then you can pay a gain for second round.. but I thank God I still have some 2 embro on freezer iwas thinking to try another clinic with my embro ..Iam feeling so depressed at the moment

Iwish you all the best 🙏🏽🙏🏽

@Millymillymillymillymilly super glad everything's going well for you, you must be so excited!

@star2022 thank you! How are you doing? We're waiting until my period in May to try again, my chest has taken a while to settle and even though it probably wouldn't have affected it, I didn't want to take any risk, financially this is probably going to be our last attempt for a while so I'd rather give it my best shot!

I'll be honest, im so nervous about it this time around and the longer I've waited the more nervous im getting, I think it was all such a blow last time with me ending up with nothing at all that im already trying to prepare for it.

Hope everyone else is doing ok x

Hope everyone is getting along ok!

I had my second scan on Friday, up to 19 follicles but all quite small (none over 10mm)

My estrogen levels were over 1200 (the Dr didn’t give the units of this but seemed pleased) and my lining is coming along nicely so it might just be me.

Since then though I have definitely started to feel a bit tender in my abdomen and a lot more bloated so hopefully things are progressing! I start my cetrotide tonight! But worried about this one as I’m a SMBC so will have to inject myself and make it up and have heard it can be stingy!

trying not to pin all my hopes on this round but it is so hard. I had complex atypical hyperplasia so may need a hysterectomy sooner rather than later despite being early 30s so it’s a a little anxiety inducing!

Hi Miily,

what supplement did you use?

I am currently at abc as well.
20 eggs collected
15 fertilised
Got a call this morning about grading
They said only 5 are doing well and out of it is 1 which they suggested should be frozen.

I wanted a fresh transfer but they advised due to the number of eggs I got, I might develop mild ohss, so they recommended FET which is in few weeks.

Been in quite a lot of pain for the last 3 days, although reducing gradually, I was asked to take cetrotfide for another 5 days with some antibiotics and 5mg follic acid.

I wasn’t so happy when just 5 was developing well, but I keep hope alive and remain positive. Can anyone recommend what to do before my FET please?