Assisted Conception and the bits inbetween

[soosy]

Welcome to the new thread I only hope I can link it to the old one

Swerve - thanks for sharing such fantastic news. It does just go to show you never know. Congratulations.

I have been a right crotchety grumpy pants today and this morning was the first morning where I had a false start getting the needle in, and had to take a deep breath and try again.

Rah makes a good point, where is everyone else up to at the mo. OAP is downregging too I think, but not sure where up to and I thought someone else was too.

Rah, not at all - I had my m/c (it was my 2nd) two years ago in October 2006. We then had a year off and had our 3rd cycle in September 2007. Like swerve we had a disastrous third cycle and ended up with only one viable embryo. That single embryo is now 14 weeks old and currently sleeping soundly in his cot.

A happy ending I never thought I'd achieve.

Swerve, many many congrats on your pg .

Nappy, sorry to hear you're feeling crap .

spongebrainbigpants - Fantastic news on your son. Its inspiring to know it does happen in the end and just to keep trying. Sending your DS big hugs and kisses.

Nappy - sorry your feeling pants I'm not looking forward to down reg again (I only did a couple of weeks before!, I'm a right wimp as well, so watch out for the self injecting dramas!)

Hope everyone else is OK..XX

Swerve Many congratulations - reallt for you
Rah Big hugs

I'm still in limbo trying to save the £££. Think it will be well into next year before we go again, but I'm still lurking on here.

swerve many congratulations & good wishes for your pg Well done you

RAH awww

apologies RAH should have been spongebrain . RAH good luck with your down reg.

Hope everyone else is well?

Hi guys,

I just wanted to pop in and ask you all some advice about assisted conception as DH and myself may be taking this route in the near future.

We have just got back from the GP, as we got the results from DH's sperm test back today. You may have seen some of my other posts, but DH had undescended testes at birth and had a corrective op at about 10 years old. We were worried it might affect fertility, however in speaking the GP today, he said it shouldn't be a problem, as they were partially descended and not still in the abdomen.

However, the actual results of the sperm test were not so good. The sample volume was fine, motility is low (30% - a normal range is 50 - 100%) and the normal sperm count was 0%.

This is clearly bad, but the doctor said he thought that the result was very very strange, as he has never seen a 0% for normal sperm.

Basically we discussed what the next steps are and DH is to repeat the test in about 2 months. He has to change to cotton boxers. The Doc said to keep TTC and see what these results come back with. Next steps if the results are the same will be a referral.

I guess I'm wondering if anyone can tell me what our options might be. I have no idea of what the NHS will help with, or what waiting lists for treatment are like. I also have no idea what private treatments cost.

Any help or advice would be great...

BSL x

BSL - how do you get no sperm with some motility? Makes no sense.

Anyway, this is me now really part of this thread. AF arrived yesterday (after 3 years still surprised ), and I have an appointment to go in for pre-treatment scan, practice egg retrieval (or possibly embryo transfer) and drugs tomorrow. Protocol here is to start D/R on day 23, so have 3 weeks to treat my body like a temple - once af is gone of course, self-medicating for that with cake at the moment.

I'm going to have a quick recap of the thread to see if I can work out where everyone is now that I think I finally understand how it all works - I've been lurking but very confused for a while.

Hi Rattling

I think that the results mean the are no normal sperm present, all have poor morphology...hence poor motility too, I guess. The GP did say he'd never seen no normal sperm present in a sample.

Anyhow, if anyone has any advice I'd be grateful. Otherwise I'll hop back out again - I know I'm gate-crashing.

BSL x

BSL - That makes more sense . We are heading for ICSI due to DH's poor samples. You (or rather DH) should get the analysis repeated to be sure it is correct - sperm seems very easily upset by slight illnesses etc.

On the last (of 6 )SA's DH finally produced a merely mediocre sample which was after a month or two in boxer shorts and limited hot baths - I'd previously force fed him vitamins to no effect, but his diet was pretty good anyway. Might be worthwhile if diet not so great (along with stopping smoking and reducing alcohol intake if that is an issue).

Thanks for the advice Rattling. My DH is also pretty healthy - doesn't smoke, doesn't drink much, no tea or coffee either. If anything he's underweight...could that be a factor?

Anyhow have you tried IUI at all? Or is this not an option?

Also if it's not too personal a question...are you guys going private for your treatment? I am thinking we might need to start saving quite a bit more than just enough to cover maternity leave!

BSL x

BSL, sorry to hear about your dh's results. As for your questions on whether the NHS will help and how much treatment costs - it depends on so many things. You could put in a call to your local PCT and ask what their policy on funded IVF is. Most PCTs have v strict criteria which almost nobody manages to meet - I think 75% of all IVF cycles nationally are paid for privately.

As for prices for private treatment, for ICSI you'd be looking at about £5,000 in most clinics, rising to nearer £8 - 10,000 somewhere like the ARGC.

The HFEA is a good starting point for finding out about your local clinics. If you can afford it, it might be worth getting your dh's sperm test redone via a private clinic to get a 2nd opinion, and at the same time get yourself checked out too.

HTH. Good luck.

Hi all:

Rattling it is just like the old temping thread over here!!!

BSL I agree get a retest, it is amazing the difference it can make. You might want to consider getting a private test done (about £125) as they are more accurate. Also if you want to go down the IVF route you will need a non-NHS clinc test anyway! (or at least we did) our results went up drastically from 5 mil to 10mil last time. But with low motility we were left with ICSI as our recommended option. It sounds like you will be in the same boat. Having said that, don't give up trying naturally as it can happen. Also I (and friend who is now pg with no 2) believe there is a link with motility and alcohol consumption.

as for me. I got over my grumpiness yesterday in the end and managed to shove needles in me this morning. I even had to do the puregon twice, as there was not enough left in the vial, so had to change vials and then use a new needle. My tummy looks like a pin cushion!! I am very very tired at the mo, almost early pg levels of tired!

Anyone else stimulating at the mo? OAP where are you???

Nappy, sorry x-posted!

Oh sorry BSL forgot to say. Our ICSI cycle is costing £6000 as we need the highest dose of the most expensive drug. If your blood tests are normal and the only issue is those swimmers, then it will probably be a lot less.

The best options for NHS care seem to be in Scotland.

Maybe we will rent our house and go up there for a year and see!! Cheaper than travelling to norway!

Nappy - can I just say Ha!! to the idea the best NHS option are here in Scotland. Actually I think you may be right if you exclude Edinburgh (where I am ).

I was supposed to be catching up with everyone, but instead I am here in a panic to talk about me! I went this morning for a pre-treatment scan, and dummy embryo transfer expecting to wait 3 weeks, downreg for 2 more then start stimms. Instead she saw 23 follicles on one ovary, 7 on the other so started me on the short protocol today, with egg collection planned within a fortnight!!

Can't really complain about things finally moving, but I don't know what is going on now, and what I should expect. I'm on 150iu of Puregon (I think). Drink lots of water, eat plenty of protein and keep my belly warm - is that the stage I'm at?

Hi guys,

Thanks so much for all the advice!!

Rattling - this is exciting for you!! I know I don't really know much about this, but to me it sounds like it's all happening. Good luck!

Spongebrainbigpants and Nappyvalley - I did mention to DH about having the re-test done privately...I think he wants to have a go at some lifestyle changes and underpant changes first. We will put a call in and see what we might have access to on the NHS. I suspect we will be looking at going private though. Thank goodness that we have some savings, even though there won't be much left to cover any mat leave!

Thank you all so much for your support and advice!! I really appreciate it as I was in such a state yesterday. If we end up going down the assisted route, I'd love to come back and join you (although, I also hope you'll all be PG and not here!!)

BSL x

Fingers crossed BSL it won't come to that. Remember that it take swimmers 3 months to be made and then they grow in the "nursery" before coming out the other end. That is why an illness 3 month ago can give you a bad result, but also that if you are making lifestyle changes don't bother retesting for 3-4 months to get a proper result.

rattling oooo how exciting we will be collecting etc at the same time. You are so lucky, I am on 400IU of puregon, which means I have to change cartridges nearly every other day!!!!which means a double injection every other day.

all those with more experience any advice on how I should look after myself? Other than drink tons of water and obviously continue with the folic acid. I have to say I am absolutely shattered. Luckily it is my afternoon off and DH has taken DS to a friends for a play date (both have daddy day care on Fridays). I have loads of admin to do but am going to try for a nap later!!

hi BSL, we were recommended some supplements that can help improve sperm quality - a good multivitamin plus separately L-Arginine and Acetyl-L-Carnitine. It takes about 3 months to make a difference but it seemed to.

Rah rah, I'm so sorry to hear your news.

Mowmi, again, i'm so sorry that your cycle didn't work. It is such a lottery.

happy weekend to you all.

Hey swerve, I think we can credit you with turning this thread around . . . congrats

Hello everyone...

Just popped in to say massive congratulations to swerve - so happy for you.

x

Hello everyone on the Assisted conception thread. Hope you don't mind me joining you - I am about to be referred to Bart's in London for IVF and was wondering if anyone had any experience and could help answer the following questions:

1. Any idea what the waiting list is like at the moment - has anyone been recently referred and received their dates?

1. Can I go private whilst I wait for my appointment to come around?

1. My consultant seemed to be trying to put me off Bart's - is that because everyone wants to go there, or is there some other reason? (My alternative was the Homerton)

Any responses gratefully received!

I don't know the answers to 1 and 3 but for 2 - I'd be careful, most NHS criteria include a clause that means having had private treatment rules you out of getting NHS funding. I'm not sure how it works once you're on a waiting list or even how it works in your PCT (eash one has different rules) but I know if we'd done that we'd have lost our NHS funding.

Thanks for that - I think it's bonkers if the NHS won't give treatment for those that want to try private as well - surely it takes the burden off the NHS, and increases the chances of success, as one's fertility isn't just gradually waning whilst awaiting NHS treatment!