IVF April 2023 - looking for buddies!

[Triselly]

Anyone out there starting/continuing IVF treatment next month (April 2023)?

I’m 36, first time everything, and due to start stims early April. Wondering if there are others who might like a thread to chat/vent?

If you’re out there and in a similar position, let me know!

@CR7 thank you for your imput, i do really, really appreciate it. Its so hard and i really hope it works out for you this time.

@Flowerlover010 and for you too xx and everyone else on this feed.

We are all in it together x

@Flowerlover010 did they give you any info on the pgta to take away? I can screen shot mine and post it here if you'd like. No pressure x

@cr7 they didnt tell me anything i didnt already know from reading my own research thats why i was annoyed i was forced to have it. But at no point ever had they told us its another 2 months before you can get an appointment. I find the communication so bad.

My advise to anyone starting IVF is ask everything at the start and keep pushing and asking until everything is clear. Trouble is you get lumbered with so much info and decisions to make and they just leave u to it. I have no friends to talk to about it coz no ones gone through it so i only have you guys! Its truely the loneliest place ive ever been.

Yes id be interested to see your info, thank you.

@SaraSS I’m at the same place on my TTC journey- wishing you all the luck.
Im also keen to see the journey of the fab people on this thread.
its so insightful.

@Flowerlover010 We have had two miscarriages so far but have decided against the genetic testing now that we're doing IVF. Our consultant said that it probably wasn't worth it as our miscarriages were likely down to bad luck rather than anything else. It's also worth pointing out that it's not an exact science.

@TheBirdintheCave i totally agree with you and understand but i was lucky enough to have my last miscarriage genetically tested and it came back abnormal and was the cause for the miscarriage so for me, PGTA does make more sense but i also know what you mean regarding trying ivf which is something i havent done yet. Its a really hard one to call. Do u mind me asking how old you are? Im 37 and that plays a role in it too, the older you get the more chance of abnormals. Despite mine and my husband both having completely normal testing ourselves. My brain hurts its so hard to decide.

@TheBirdintheCave @Flowerlover010 both of you are absolutely right in what you're saying. It's not an exact science, there is room for error with the genetic testing and there's a case for both sides. I can totally understand why pgta is not for everyone and why clinics will suggest to some people to use it and others not to.

For me at the age of 41 when I went through duo stim last year, it made perfect sense. For others who are younger / with a different history, it isn't the right course of action. Everyone is different. It was just right for me x

Can I ask what the PGTA testing is? I'm new to this, due to have a consultation in a few weeks so trying to make sure I know what to ask.
I'm 33, DP is 36, I've had a MC with a previous partner in 2011, which they did test but I have no idea what the outcome was as I didn't understand it back then and wasn't TTC.
Is this testing something I should be looking at too?

@Flowerlover010 I'm 36 :) I had two MMCs last year after a normal pregnancy with my son in 2020. We've now gone down the IVF route purely due to age as we feel like we're running out of time.

@SaraSS It's genetic testing of embryos after they're created via ICSI or IVF. It involves a freeze all meaning you have to wait longer for an embryo transfer which is another thing that put us off as we felt we've been waiting so long already. As CR7 said above, it won't be applicable to everyone and I don't think it's something that would be suggested in your case based on what you've said :)

@SaraSS basically pgta is genetic testing xx

If a blastocyst gets to day five you have the option of getting it tested for chromosomal abnormalities at an additional cost. As we get older, embryo abnormality percentages get higher. If you have genetic testing done you have to have a frozen transfer as there is a wait time for the results to come through I will attach the paperwork I was given at Create as @Flowerlover010 asked me to post it also xx

Hey ladies!

Hope it's ok if I join this thread - I'm on another April one too. I'm wondering if anybody else is on long protocol with down reg? I can't seem to find anybody else on this protocol 😅
I started down reg yesterday. Feeling a bit nauseous today but apart from that I'm ok.

Our issue is that my husband has obstructive azoospermia (the sperm can't get out due to a blockage) so we need ICSI. He has already had a surgical sperm retrieval and his sperm is frozen ready to use.

Hope everyone's doing ok 😊

@SaraSS @Flowerlover010 info on pgta. As we mentioned it does carry its own risks and it's not for everyone and is expensive. We sent seven embryos for genetic testing and three came back normal.

It will only let me attach three of the four pages so I'll post the last page separately. Hopefully they will come out in the right order

@Flowerlover010 @SaraSS got a feeling you can't read them. Defo look blurry to me on here but they are high quality on my phone :-/

I'll copy and paste the summation page.

Benefits of PGT-A
PGT-A testing can help identify the embryo with the best chance of developing into a baby. PGT-A testing can't change the number of viable embryos available for transfer but, by transferring only those that have the usual number of chromosomes, the time taken to establish a pregnancy can be shorter and the misery offailed cycles and risks of miscarriage can be reduced.
Where patients have undergone multiple rounds of IF and have no explanation for the treatment failure, PGT-A testing can sometimes provide answers and help with decisions about future treatment options.
CARE's own data shows that by performing PGT-A and transferring euploid embryos clinical pregnancy rates (CPR) are increased. In the year to 30 September 2019 CPR per embryo transfer a cross patients of all ages following PGT-A was 49% compared with 38% in non PGT-A cycles.?
PGT-A and blastocyst biopsy - things to consider
Although PGT-A testing methods are generally very accurate, the test may miss an abnormality or detect one that isn't there. It is estimated that PGT-A testing will result in a false positive or false negative result in 3% of cases. In the case of a false positive, an embryo that may have implanted and developed may be discarded. In the case of a false negative, an embryo with more or fewer than 46 chromosomes may be transferred.
For this reason, PGT-A testing can't guarantee that an embryo that is transferred has a normal number of chromosomes or won't miscarry. Where your obstetrician thinks it's indicated, CARE recommends you consider additional prenatal testing even after PGT-A.
CARE will not usu ally transfer aneuploid embryos and can never transfer aneuploid embryos where a euploid is available.
Using PGT-A may mean you have fewer embryos available to use in treatment or for freezing to use in future treatment.
There is a possible but unquantified risk that removing cells from an embryo may damage it and prevent it from developing. However, the first births following embryo biopsy for genetic screening were reported in 1990 and since then, thousands of children have been born, and health risks following embryo biopsy have not been identified as different from IVF/ICSI pregnancies in general.

Hi @lemons44 ! 😬

@Flowerlover010 @SaraSS following genetic testing and some other investigations, Care have told me that my chances of a live birth have gone from 9% to 60%. This is down to many factors not just PGTA but mainly because of. Everyone's percentages will be different down to lots of factors but for me personally in my circumstances and with my history it was a no brainer x

@lemons44 welcome aboard xx

@CR7 thank you so much for that!
I couldn't see the attachments so thank you for copying and pasting!
It's really fascinating the science behind it and I hope it works for you. Amazing how much it changes the percentage in your circumstances.

@SaraSS exactly xx really different for everyone and a good clinic will not try to flog you stuff you don't need. It absolutely isn't for everyone xx

Hey @lemons44 !
I have just been through ICSI for the same reason - hubby also has OA, ICSU resulted in 4 embryos by day 6 but had to freeze all as I over reacted to stims so just waiting to do FET now - but any questions you have feel free to ask as it is still very fresh in my mind 😅

Hi@lemons44 I think we might have briefly spoken on the Wish you'd known about IVF thread? Very happy to have you here!

@CR7 Thank you for the genetic testing info- knowing a bit more about it is really helpful xx

Thanks for the welcome 😁

Wow that's amazing @HopefulHead so happy you've got 4 embryos! I love hearing success stories for OA, it gives me hope!

Just had my second burserelin injection for down regulation and honestly I am not enjoying it so far 😩 it's giving me muscle aches and tiredness like when you get the flu or covid, and nausea too. I can cope if it stays at this level but I'm just hoping it doesn't get any worse.

Hope everyone else is going ok!

@lemons44 well done getting buserelin. My clinic couldn't get so I'm on prostap. One big injection instead of daily. Easier but less room for manoeuvre xx

Morning @lemons44
@Triselly @HopefulHead @SaraSS @TheBirdintheCave @Flowerlover010 @charja100 @BandyButter83 @RunningOnHope and anyone else I may have missed. How are you all today xx

I'm cold. Need to get some new slipper socks 😂 It's my husband's birthday tomorrow so hoping for a slow day at work (I work from home) so that I can write his card and wrap his present.