Anyone doing IVF in Jan 24? I need a buddy!!

[Valentina1985]

I am doing my 3rd round of IVF.. now at ARGC.. 4th day of stimulation. ARGC is very different from the other rounds. I dont have any idea of the reason for the change in medication they prescribe each day or what they are finding out in all the scans and blood tests. Can anyone please enlighten me?

We’re having our results on Monday through a phone consultation. Not sure what happens next though regarding ivf. We did all our tests back at the beginning of September last year. So perhaps it won’t be long until we start our first round? Not entirely sure what they’re going to say on Monday yet. @Valentina1985

HI @SlinkMcSlink . Are you at ARGC as well? Is this your first round? Which results are you referring to?

This is all new to me so I’m not aware of any terminology. We had tests done (internal examination, bloods) plus all the standard tests women have to do- I can’t remember their names. Also, it was back in September. My husband has provided sperm samples. I think it’s a consultation to give us the options of ‘our plan’ so to speak from the results of the tests.

I’m under the women’s hospital in Liverpool. @Valentina1985
There has to be something up with us as we have been trying for nearly 2 years now.

Hi @Valentina1985, I'm not starting my IVF treatment until the beginning of March (this will be my first round), but I'd love to follow your progress and hear how your 3rd round goes, so please keep me updated!
I'm not sure what ARGC means (to be honest I don't know most of the terminology used in this forum as I'm new to it, but hopefully won't take me long to get it). Is that a different treatment or just a different clinic?

I am very nervous about IVF- I'm very excited about it but also aware that probabilities are not too high for me (I'm 36yo and low ovarian reserve).

I haven't even had my appointment with the nurse to explain injections etc. I have that appointment soon and hopefully I'll learn more about the process but looking forward to hearing from you too and your experience!

@SlinkMcSlink after that phone consultation you'll get an appointment with your clinic consultant to explain the process and do all the paperwork (I had that appointment just last week and it was about 6 weeks after I had the phone consultation appointment you're having soon). Did they find any issues that explain your infertility? All my results came back fine, so it's unexplained infertility but they still offered me NHS funded IVF treatment 😊 I can't wait to start my first round which will be at the beginning of March.

@mlruirod thanks for that information! Although knowing my luck, it will probably be longer than a 6 week wait. From the first test to the phone consultation was traditionally 12 weeks but we were told in clinic to give it up to 17 weeks before contacting. It will be just over 19 weeks until we finally have the phone consultation tomorrow.

It sounds so stupid to say but I feel so old at 35 compared to all these other women. I know I’m not old at all. In fact I’m often mistaken for much younger than I am which is lovely but it’s sent me into a spiral that it won’t happen! So ridiculous I know.

@Valentina1985 i don’t know what ARGC is? Is it a fertility clinic. I’m going to Google it now.

Ooooh it is a clinic! Apologised I’m not in London. I’m in Liverpool but it’s always nice to chat to others going through similar experiences.

Hi @SlinkMcSlink . Yes, that’s a clinic! I have just moved to this one after frustration with my 2 cycles at Chelsea & Westminster. I - unfortunately - have a lot of experience with syringes and medication - so feel free to ask. Less about the NHS process as I have done all private because I have twins from another IVF 10 years ago!! Heh

@SlinkMcSlink I understand, it feels like the process takes forever, but once you have your appointment tomorrow you'll see how quickly things progress!
It's been actually a year now since my GP started the referral- it took very long for me to get my first appointment with the hospital (I'm in Sheffield) in which they explain you'll have to do an HSG test etc, then they kept cancelling and rescheduling my tests! It was very frustrating, But since I had that telephone appointment to discuss results and see what treatment they were going to offer, things seem to be moving fast!
My kast appointment was face to face and we decided a date to start the treatment. I can't start my IVF until March as my next period is in 2 weeks so the consultant said there wasn't enough time to get everything sorted (appointment with nurse to explain injections etc) so I'll have to wait another month.

Sorry I'm typing so much! It's actually really nice to have someone to share this with who is going through the same. I'm new to this and no-one close to me have had to do it so it feels a bit lonely if that makes sense?

I totally get you about the age, I've always felt so young and now I'm panicking thinking I'm getting too old for this, but hopefully the treatment will improve our chances 🤞🤞
I feel very lucky in a sense as I have been offered 3 ivf cycles by the NHS.

Please let me know how your appointment goes tomorrow. Good luck!

This is all so lonely ! Your partner won’t understand, your family, your friends, Co-workers… it feels it’s you and your body only. My husband keeps asking when he needs to be ready…. And I have been doing blood tests, scans, pills and injections every day without knowing if any of this will take us anywhere…
sorry for the drama!

Well I’ll be thinking of you both over the next few weeks and hope it all goes positively! I’m taking myself out for a little afternoon coffee/cake and relax and hoping that tomorrow goes straight forward. I’ll update tomorrow night.

I know about the loneliness though! Neither of our families know because they will make it about them. My boss knows and has been supportive. She agrees that if we want to keep it private for now then she can make things up for appointments for me so others don’t ask.

What about you two? Do your families know? Work? I get some people like to share the journey but that’s not us.

Hi there.
no, nobody knows. Only my husband. My mom will say I don’t need another kid now that mine are 10… and I am afraid of the added pressure with work and friends.. it is already very disappointing if you only need to tell yourself…

My family and friends know and they are very supportive, but unfortunately I live far away from them (I'm from Spain but been living in the UK for 13 years now) so I don't share with them as much as I'd like to. My closest friends here know too, I find it easier to share it as I have been quite sad and emotional, mainly after my miscarriage, and talking to them has really helped me, but also I'm a very open person. However, my partner has not shared it with anyone yet as he finds difficult to talk about his private life in general

@Valentina1985 I'm sorry to hear that, it's a very difficult journey to also be scrutinised by other people... at least we have this sites where to share same worries, concerns and problems 😊

So we’ve just got off the phone for our appointment. We’ve both come back clear and have unexplained fertility apparently. The only tiny thing was that I have a really tiny cyst on my left ovary that is not dangerous. It’s so tiny she said that it can barely be seen. I don’t have any effects either so that’s good.

She’s applying for our IVF funding which is up to 6 weeks and in the meantime we have to keep trying. Luckily we’re both healthy weights/ don’t smoke etc. Still feel a bit helpless as there’s no reason why not but my husband says he feels like a weight has been lifted that we’re both healthy otherwise.

Hey @Valentina1985 there's an infertility ivf forum on here , you could try posting in there aswell and there's a always a support thread going on there.

Wishing you lots of luck.
Ivf is incredibly tough physical and emotionally, you have my support

@mlruirod don't feel discouraged. I'm 38 and pregnant with my first. We only had 3 eggs and all were deemed low grade and unlikely to implant. Even when the odds are against you , it can happen

@SlinkMcSlink that's great news! We are also facing unexplained infertility but I find it quite difficult as there is nothing obviously wrong that we can try to 'fix'. I hope you'll get your next appointment soon 🤞

@MoonIightDreamer thank you for the encouragement 😊 really appreciate hearing this positive stories. I also got many good advice from other women in this forum abiut what supplements to take to improve egg quality so hopefully I can increase my chances 🤞

@mlruirod we also got only 3 mature eggs and only 2 fertilized… how many did you transfer and when?
I am also 38…

Sorry this was for @MoonIightDreamer … my bad….