TTC & IVF

[Chlo1995]

Hi all!

So today I had a call with the fertility clinic we’ve been under and found out I have PCOS but all my hormone levels and everything else are spot on.

The nurse suggested we would be best going through IVF which was a big thing for me and I’m nervous about the process and it was one I wasn’t really keen on, but seems like our only option as partners semen analysis came back perfect (the smug look on his face was priceless🙄😂)

I’m under the impression there will be daily injections I have to do and just wanting to know if they’re as bad as I think they’ll be? I’m massively nervous about needles and have a hard time even going to the doctor for any injections😂

I just want to know what everyone else’s experiences were like going down the IVF route and what I should be expecting?

Thank you if you even read this, I rambled on quite a bit😂x

Hi @Chlo1995 ,
currently been going through IVF for the last year, 2 fresh cycles and 1 FET.
In my case, injections were only required on the 2 fresh cycles and it was nowhere near as bad as I expected, in fact after the first 2 days it didn’t bother me at all. I kept telling myself the end result will be worth it (still waiting for that result).
People do react differently to the meds/injections so I was one of the lucky ones not to experience any pain or side effects. However, the constant mental strain is something else, that affected me more than any medication/injection ever could.
Good luck on your journey, hope all goes to plan x

For me the daily injections we not that bad, it was the emotional side of it that was harder to cope with, and I had a relatively smooth ride, my first round of IVF was successful, and then my first frozen embryo transfer worked for baby number 2. I have PCOS and opted not to down reg, which meant fewer injections and I felt it was the less physically demanding option (although swelling up with masses of eggs was not pleasant regardless!) Wishing you all the best and hope it goes smoothly for you x

Hi @SH998

Thanks for the reply!
I'm feeling really nervous about it but hoping I will only have to go through it once (I know there’s a chance it’ll be more than once but I’m trying to keep positive about it😂) my mum is training to be a nurse and has done all her injections training so has said she will do them for me if I’m unable to do it myself which is a massive help!

I'm definitely trying to be in the mindset of the end result and know I’ll appreciate and love my baby so much more after the journey we’ve been on to get there

Hoping you get your end result soon!🤞🏼x

@RoseLarkin thank you!

I am worrying about the emotional side but I’m trying to think of the last 2 years also where we had negative after negative and hoping that in the end we will get the best result

I almost felt like a weight was lifted knowing that now we’re getting somewhere x

I found some of the needles really bad and some barely noticeable. I think/thought I had a high pain tolerance generally so different ones affect different people in different ways. I didn't find the emotional aspect of IVF hard as some people do. I super produced eggs (45) on very very low doses of hormones so my ovaries were the size of grapefruit and I was very uncomfortable and miserable at the end of stims - that was 12 days total.

@Chlo1995 I know what you mean about feeling like a weight being lifted, I definitely felt like that too! Like finally I had an actual chance after years getting nowhere, I think I was just also terrified of it not working, but I know after years of frustration it felt like a positive step so tried as much as I could to focus on that, and it sounds like you're going into it with that mindset.

@Chlo1995 your post sounds like me!! I was so anxious about doing IVF so much so I put it off for years!! I HATE needles and the thought of the injections just put me off. The first night of injections it took me 2.5 hours lying on the bed with me crying and not letting DH give me them. Anyways fast forward I have just come through my first cycle and I used Emla cream to numb the injection area so I ended up not feeling a single injection - I don’t know what I would have done without it! The phone call updates after the retrieval was so much worse for me. I did a freeze all cycle as I was over stimulated and won’t have my FET for another 4 weeks. In all honesty it wasn’t as bad as I had made it out in my head. Good luck - you’ve got this!

We haven't had IVF ourselves but my sister in law has, she was scared of needles but the joy she had about being one step closer to having a baby out-weighted the negatives!
My niece is 1 and a half now!

@Want2bmom Honestly, I’ve been absolutely terrified of it but the more I’m now coming round to the idea I’m not so worried, I’ve been watching videos through my clinics website and they’ve been really helpful for me, I almost felt excited😂 I just keep thinking that in the end, when everything is done we’ll hopefully have our own little baby and it will of all been worth it! I’ve to lose a few lbs first so won’t be in touch with the clinic for another 11/12 weeks but I’m definitely keeping positive!x