38yrs old. Just started IVF. Stage 4 endo. Success stories please.

Lulu89x · 24/12/2024 10:46

Hi! Didn't want to read and run. Sorry nobody has responded to your post yet. I guess this time of year is quite busy for most! My friend started IVF at 37. I won't lie and say it was smooth sailing for her as it did take four years but she does have a happy and healthy three year old now!

worldwidetravel2017 · 30/05/2025 00:42

RoseWinter · 23/12/2024 00:44

Hey all,

I'm struggling to sleep so thought I'd start a thread for spreading positive vibes for anyone mature ladies like me who have just started their IVF journeys. Feel free to share where you're at in your process

I'm really in need of some success stories to bring my hope and faith back.

I'm on my 18th day of down regulation injections (Buserelin) and surprisingly it's not that bad at all. I'm quite petite and I don't feel the needle go in at all. I've luckily had no side affects either. I have my 2nd monitoring scan next week where the clinic will let me know whether I'm ready to start stimulating or not and I have no idea exactly how long I will need to stimulate for when I finally get round to that part of the process.

I had specialist surgery 18 months ago to remove stage 4 endo, and endometriomas from both ovaries. So, everything is now back in working order and back in its rightful place bar one blocked fallopian tube.

We are NHS funded and have been referred to a fantastic private clinic.

I'll post another update at some point but yeah, looking for that hope for a woman my age or older because I've been feeling pretty low that I'm having to go through this.

Thanks in advance and if you're on this journey with me, I'm happy for you to share where you're at with everything.

Speak soon

RW x

Hey - old thread but just wondering how things went ?

Found your thread when searching burserlin

Original poster

RoseWinter · 30/05/2025 18:13

worldwidetravel2017 · 30/05/2025 00:42

Hey - old thread but just wondering how things went ?

Found your thread when searching burserlin

Show quote history

Hey,

So, I must have found updating my journey on here too much as it waa complicated. I went on to stimulation and was on the highest dose possible of Meriofert so couldn't be given any more. But my body didn't respond very well to it at all. They expected for me to have at least 8 to 12 follicles, but I only had 3 growing, and 1 growing really well. They pressed me to continue with my stimulation japs so I did. Nothing changed and I had just the 3 follicles still. Again, I was pressed to do my trigger shot and have a retrieval done. I now believe this was because they needed me to start my treatment before my 39th birthday (I started IVF treatment the month of my birthday) and they class 1 complete round of NHS funded IVF AFTER you've had egg retrieval. Anyway... Those 3 follicles contained an egg each and only 1 fertilised and luckily that very 1 made it to blastocyst. I was told that one was a high quality embreyo and again I was pressed to have a 5 day fresh transfer, so I did. The 2 week wait was agonising. I had a lot of anxiety but I caved and tested 5 days earlier than I should have and against all odds I was so surprised to find I was pregnant. I didn't tell my partner until after though on official test day. We were so happy but stayed grounded because we needed a viability scan. We had to wait 2 weeks more for a viability scan.

At 6 weeks and 4 days we had our viability scan, there was no heartbeat. There was a sac and a yolk scan. There was also the beginnings of a fetal pole but there was no heartveat detected which they should have seen.

We had another scan a week later at our EPAU as that's where I was referred to to be given care for the next steps. The next scan showed more growth but no heartbeat. They wanted to give the baby chance to grow to rule out that there was no life... So they booked me in for another scan for 2 weeks after. 4 days before that scan on Monday 24th Feb, I miscarried naturally at home.

We are back to trying naturally but the hope has totally gone. We won't be doing IVF again.

OP posts:

worldwidetravel2017 · 30/05/2025 18:18

RoseWinter · 30/05/2025 18:13

Hey,

So, I must have found updating my journey on here too much as it waa complicated. I went on to stimulation and was on the highest dose possible of Meriofert so couldn't be given any more. But my body didn't respond very well to it at all. They expected for me to have at least 8 to 12 follicles, but I only had 3 growing, and 1 growing really well. They pressed me to continue with my stimulation japs so I did. Nothing changed and I had just the 3 follicles still. Again, I was pressed to do my trigger shot and have a retrieval done. I now believe this was because they needed me to start my treatment before my 39th birthday (I started IVF treatment the month of my birthday) and they class 1 complete round of NHS funded IVF AFTER you've had egg retrieval. Anyway... Those 3 follicles contained an egg each and only 1 fertilised and luckily that very 1 made it to blastocyst. I was told that one was a high quality embreyo and again I was pressed to have a 5 day fresh transfer, so I did. The 2 week wait was agonising. I had a lot of anxiety but I caved and tested 5 days earlier than I should have and against all odds I was so surprised to find I was pregnant. I didn't tell my partner until after though on official test day. We were so happy but stayed grounded because we needed a viability scan. We had to wait 2 weeks more for a viability scan.

At 6 weeks and 4 days we had our viability scan, there was no heartbeat. There was a sac and a yolk scan. There was also the beginnings of a fetal pole but there was no heartveat detected which they should have seen.

We had another scan a week later at our EPAU as that's where I was referred to to be given care for the next steps. The next scan showed more growth but no heartbeat. They wanted to give the baby chance to grow to rule out that there was no life... So they booked me in for another scan for 2 weeks after. 4 days before that scan on Monday 24th Feb, I miscarried naturally at home.

We are back to trying naturally but the hope has totally gone. We won't be doing IVF again.

Show quote history

So sorry to hear of your journey :(

Original poster

RoseWinter · 30/05/2025 18:25

worldwidetravel2017 · 30/05/2025 18:18

So sorry to hear of your journey :(

Show quote history

It's ok. I have come to some level of peace though it wasn't long ago.

Trying to find hope in that my body did manage to get pregnant, but lets be honest, that really doesn't mean much does it? Many women get pregnant and lose reoccurrently. I remember the IVF clinic trying to get me through the door to start my treatment in a hurry because it wouldn't be free after my 39th birthday. It all felt so rushed, they wanted me to take my jabs on holiday with me in October but I asked for a start date when I got back. After the miscarriage I was told "we are the experts in getting you pregnant and we've achieved that regardless of the outcome" when I rang to ask questions for clarity and support.

I was 8 weeks 4 days when I had the miscarriage. Now 39 and trying to get back to normal.

OP posts:

Vivienne1000 · 30/05/2025 18:30

My boss is just about to have a baby at 46.
she has been trying for years. Good luck and all the very best x

worldwidetravel2017 · 30/05/2025 18:35

RoseWinter · 30/05/2025 18:25

It's ok. I have come to some level of peace though it wasn't long ago.

Trying to find hope in that my body did manage to get pregnant, but lets be honest, that really doesn't mean much does it? Many women get pregnant and lose reoccurrently. I remember the IVF clinic trying to get me through the door to start my treatment in a hurry because it wouldn't be free after my 39th birthday. It all felt so rushed, they wanted me to take my jabs on holiday with me in October but I asked for a start date when I got back. After the miscarriage I was told "we are the experts in getting you pregnant and we've achieved that regardless of the outcome" when I rang to ask questions for clarity and support.

I was 8 weeks 4 days when I had the miscarriage. Now 39 and trying to get back to normal.

Show quote history

After the miscarriage I was told "we are the experts in getting you pregnant and we've achieved that regardless of the outcome

^ thats SO bad.

My clinic have apologised to me a few times as theyve made a few errors - mainly admin but yeah..

worldwidetravel2017 · 30/05/2025 18:36

My friend is 47

She just had her ivf miracle with donor eggs / double donor baby

She had, had 5 failed rounds of private ivf.

Its tricky as the older we get - the higher miscarriage risk - and the more eggs are abnormal

We did pgta testing
4 of the 6 were goners / pgta abnornal / aneuploids

worldwidetravel2017 · 30/05/2025 18:39

RoseWinter · 30/05/2025 18:13

Hey,

So, I must have found updating my journey on here too much as it waa complicated. I went on to stimulation and was on the highest dose possible of Meriofert so couldn't be given any more. But my body didn't respond very well to it at all. They expected for me to have at least 8 to 12 follicles, but I only had 3 growing, and 1 growing really well. They pressed me to continue with my stimulation japs so I did. Nothing changed and I had just the 3 follicles still. Again, I was pressed to do my trigger shot and have a retrieval done. I now believe this was because they needed me to start my treatment before my 39th birthday (I started IVF treatment the month of my birthday) and they class 1 complete round of NHS funded IVF AFTER you've had egg retrieval. Anyway... Those 3 follicles contained an egg each and only 1 fertilised and luckily that very 1 made it to blastocyst. I was told that one was a high quality embreyo and again I was pressed to have a 5 day fresh transfer, so I did. The 2 week wait was agonising. I had a lot of anxiety but I caved and tested 5 days earlier than I should have and against all odds I was so surprised to find I was pregnant. I didn't tell my partner until after though on official test day. We were so happy but stayed grounded because we needed a viability scan. We had to wait 2 weeks more for a viability scan.

At 6 weeks and 4 days we had our viability scan, there was no heartbeat. There was a sac and a yolk scan. There was also the beginnings of a fetal pole but there was no heartveat detected which they should have seen.

We had another scan a week later at our EPAU as that's where I was referred to to be given care for the next steps. The next scan showed more growth but no heartbeat. They wanted to give the baby chance to grow to rule out that there was no life... So they booked me in for another scan for 2 weeks after. 4 days before that scan on Monday 24th Feb, I miscarried naturally at home.

We are back to trying naturally but the hope has totally gone. We won't be doing IVF again.

Show quote history

Assuming you didnt pgta test ?

Makes me wonder - as it sounds like they rushed u - as to what theyd of said if u had asked to pgta test

worldwidetravel2017 · 30/05/2025 18:40

I beat myself up about my 2023 miscarriage
But i was already 36 - nearly 37 then

Now - after an egg retrieval at 38.25 - i realise how many eggs are abnormal by this age

worldwidetravel2017 · 30/05/2025 18:41

If you have luck naturally - just make sure you get progesterone etc because as ive learnt this year - when we are over 35 - our progesterone declines a lot

Original poster

RoseWinter · 30/05/2025 18:45

worldwidetravel2017 · 30/05/2025 18:35

After the miscarriage I was told "we are the experts in getting you pregnant and we've achieved that regardless of the outcome

^ thats SO bad.

My clinic have apologised to me a few times as theyve made a few errors - mainly admin but yeah..

Show quote history

I suppose they're only human and things don't always go smoothly with admin stuff but it's good they took accountability and apologised.

My nurse from the IVF clinic had stayed in touch and said I could contact whenever I needed so I did but then when the EPAU took over I was lead by them and didn't really need to speak with the IVF clinic after. Like the nurse said to me, they got me pregnant and there's nothing more they could do unless I wanted to pay for another round. So, for a week or two I didn't speak to my IVF nurse. In that time, I miscarried and she tried to call me a few times but I was a bit zombied out so she called my partner and I had a chat with. She wanted to check in with how I was feeling. I told her I miscarried naturally at home and she said "Brilliant!" then quickly followed up with "it's good that your body was able to naturally do what it's meant to do when the pregnancy isn't viable" none of it was brilliant or good. It was 9 hours of the worst pain I think I've ever experienced.

Sorry to offload. I realise I hadn't updated at all so I think I'm having a case of verbal diahorreah.

My NHS gynae did say that once IVF is over I'd get dumped back to the NHS. That well and truly happened.

I've found support through Tommy's and Facebook groups though and the community are so so welcoming, supportive and understanding.

OP posts:

LividRah · 30/05/2025 18:49

I'm so sorry to hear what's happened.

I had 4 IVF miscarriages and it's just too much to bear.

Look after yourself and best of luck with whatever comes next.

Original poster

RoseWinter · 30/05/2025 18:50

worldwidetravel2017 · 30/05/2025 18:39

Assuming you didnt pgta test ?

Makes me wonder - as it sounds like they rushed u - as to what theyd of said if u had asked to pgta test

Show quote history

I didn't PGTA test no, and they said it wasn't worth doing that because in the end I only had 1 high quality embreyo and PGTA testing could negatively affect the embreyo so as it was my only shot, they went ahead with a 5 day fresh transfer.

I've been supplementing on all the good egg quality improving tablets that has cost me a fortune and the day of my miscarriage another batch of progesterone was delivered to me, literally during my miscarriage! so I have it ready to go if I am lucky enough to fall pregnant naturally. I know it's not impossible but in my case it's going to be pretty difficult to concieve I think. I don't know, the world works in mysterious ways.

OP posts:

Original poster

RoseWinter · 30/05/2025 18:52

LividRah · 30/05/2025 18:49

I'm so sorry to hear what's happened.

I had 4 IVF miscarriages and it's just too much to bear.

Look after yourself and best of luck with whatever comes next.

I'm so sorry to hear of your losses. Going through that cruel, horrible sh*t 4 times, I cant even imagine. The way it floored me with grief the past 3 months has been difficult as it is. Going through it 4 times, just wow. I'm sending you all the love and healing. x

OP posts:

LividRah · 30/05/2025 18:56

RoseWinter · 30/05/2025 18:52

I'm so sorry to hear of your losses. Going through that cruel, horrible sh*t 4 times, I cant even imagine. The way it floored me with grief the past 3 months has been difficult as it is. Going through it 4 times, just wow. I'm sending you all the love and healing. x

Show quote history

Thank you. I honestly thought I might die of it at some times.

Not what you want to hear rn but my story DID have an unexpected happy ending. I used to read them on here and think "bullshit, as if that could ever happen to me." I KNEW i was never going to be a mum. But eventually it did happen and it sounds awful but it was worth all the pain. I was 40.

So don't give up until you want to.

worldwidetravel2017 · 30/05/2025 18:56

RoseWinter · 30/05/2025 18:45

I suppose they're only human and things don't always go smoothly with admin stuff but it's good they took accountability and apologised.

My nurse from the IVF clinic had stayed in touch and said I could contact whenever I needed so I did but then when the EPAU took over I was lead by them and didn't really need to speak with the IVF clinic after. Like the nurse said to me, they got me pregnant and there's nothing more they could do unless I wanted to pay for another round. So, for a week or two I didn't speak to my IVF nurse. In that time, I miscarried and she tried to call me a few times but I was a bit zombied out so she called my partner and I had a chat with. She wanted to check in with how I was feeling. I told her I miscarried naturally at home and she said "Brilliant!" then quickly followed up with "it's good that your body was able to naturally do what it's meant to do when the pregnancy isn't viable" none of it was brilliant or good. It was 9 hours of the worst pain I think I've ever experienced.

Sorry to offload. I realise I hadn't updated at all so I think I'm having a case of verbal diahorreah.

My NHS gynae did say that once IVF is over I'd get dumped back to the NHS. That well and truly happened.

I've found support through Tommy's and Facebook groups though and the community are so so welcoming, supportive and understanding.

Show quote history

Feel free to offload
I get the pain of miscarriage - weve been there

We also took support from tommys
And fundraised 4 them

Have u heard of the worst girl gang ever ?
They are also a godsend.

So sorry the nurse responded that way

worldwidetravel2017 · 30/05/2025 19:02

RoseWinter · 30/05/2025 18:50

I didn't PGTA test no, and they said it wasn't worth doing that because in the end I only had 1 high quality embreyo and PGTA testing could negatively affect the embreyo so as it was my only shot, they went ahead with a 5 day fresh transfer.

I've been supplementing on all the good egg quality improving tablets that has cost me a fortune and the day of my miscarriage another batch of progesterone was delivered to me, literally during my miscarriage! so I have it ready to go if I am lucky enough to fall pregnant naturally. I know it's not impossible but in my case it's going to be pretty difficult to concieve I think. I don't know, the world works in mysterious ways.

Show quote history

Your nhs gp could test
feretin
b12
Crp
Blood clotting speed
prolactin
Thyroid
vit d

My consultant worked out my blood clots too fast as one of my many likely issues

Sorry if i over looked - dya knw your amh ?

I rave about hertility health
150 gbp a shot
But ive used them twice.

I dont mean to minimise anything and i really hope it doesn't come accross like that , age / egg quality likely played a role

I mean we were told our 6 blastocysts were all top quality
But 4 were pgta abnornal
1 pgta normal
And 1 low mosaic

Its been financially costly
We are very lucky my OH work cover 15k towards ivf
But as angry as i was to learn 4 were abnormal... pgta reduces ( but doesn't exclude ) miscarriage risk

worldwidetravel2017 · 30/05/2025 19:03

LividRah · 30/05/2025 18:49

I'm so sorry to hear what's happened.

I had 4 IVF miscarriages and it's just too much to bear.

Look after yourself and best of luck with whatever comes next.

So sorry to hear of your losses and pain

Original poster

RoseWinter · 30/05/2025 22:04

Thank you for sharing your experience with me @LividRah I really appreciate it. Did your unexpected turn happen naturally or through IVF? xx

OP posts: