Anyone starting egg donation July/August?

[Leala20]

We maybe starting our egg donation treatment (first time) July/August and I thought maybe there’s anyone here that would like to join me. Ive found this forum very useful and supportive and thought I would reach out as I cannot believe it is so soon and getting a bit nervous. We had a year of rollercoaster of trying for many years to being finally told my amh is too low and I wouldn’t qualify for IVF. We did our research and found DCN very useful and are really excited about it.

ok so 2nd beta on 15dp5dt went up to 460 from 104 on 12dp5dt. I asked LWC if i can do a third beta just to reassure myself but they said just wait until a scan later on.
@Cleozeta I agree once you have been through a couple of pregnancy scares cant really relax. Just have to try and relax and concentrate on other things for now
@Russkispy congratulations on your scan.
@Leala20 thanks for your encouragement.. you always come across as very calm.
@Cafeambllet where did you go on holiday? hope it was somewhere nice
@sharpster1 @ksusha20 @SB2005 how is it going? hope you are well
I took the day off just one week into starting my new job just in case we got bad news yesterday.. for us IVF and fertility survivors it feels like a never ending journey.

@Russkispy Congrats on hitting another milestone successfully :)
Do you know who you are having ?
@ tikha HCG has been rising - that’s great!

It has been mad with work this week. WFH makes you work more. And I get outside only on weekend.
We are going to Italy next Friday. At least that’s a plan if no 14 self isolation rules introduced last minute.

@tikha , numbers doubled which is a good sign! I'd have asked for the 3rd beta. Maybe you can do it privately before the scan?! When is it?

@ksusha20 our embryo was PGS-Ed before transfer and my doc told me the gender just before the transfer! We're expecting a baby boy! I already have a DD who is 3 now she's my OE and conceived with IUI using my DH's sperm and it worked from the first time.

@Russkispy my scan is on the 2nd of September. I can do another beta but wondering when. Should I do on 18DP5DT i.e. this Saturday or wait a bit longer? I can get it done privately anyway. My worry is if it is not rising am going to panic and then going to have hassle the clinic.

@tikha HCG is rising every 48 hours. And it's more than doubled it's all good news. See how you feel or just wait for the scan 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻

You can do these clearblue digital tests that shows the weeks as well, if you want. They are calculating weeks based on beta. Of course it’s not the same as blood test but for me it was working fine.
I’m sure time will fly and you will get your confirmation pregnancy scan :)

@ Russkispy ah lovely. Your DD must be excited :)
In UK it’s prohibited to disclosure sex of the baby when they do the test on embryo.

@ksusha20 yes, am aware of a few countries it's illegal to disclose the gender including here. My doc never told me before when we PGD my own embryos. But this time she asked me if I wanted to know and I was taken aback but wanted to know. Maybe because she knew it was my last pregnancy/baby. I'm glad she told me anyway.

@Russkispy thank you for sharing I hope to get to this stage one day. Do you have a name already? When are you due?
@tikha very happy for you, hcg doubling nicely! It must be so exciting!

@Cleozeta is this the last weekend before your transfer?
@Cafeambllet I have had a followup app this week and was told it can happen that good quality embryo doesn’t implant. They didn’t advise testing as there are potential risks and was told as it’s first time I should try again, I am to get some blood tests next week and due nurse appointment. There’s implantation clinic and the inspection of cycle and lining could last 2 months. It’s an option that I can consider but was encouraged to take tests and try again and maybe test progesterone level on transfer day. I am not 100% sure yet, she looked at my blood results from last year and said unless any major change occurred I wouldn’t have issues with progesterone or prolactin. Has anyone had this sort of investigation for a couple of cycles?

@tikha sounds like your levels are raising nicely, fingers crossed for you!

@Leala20 yes last weekend for me, off to Manchester tomorrow! Eek! Is it normal to have panicky second thoughts?!

Hi ladies,

Mind if I join?
We have just sent off our paperwork for a donor to be found. We are with Wessex fertility. I am 45 and partner is 43.
Nervous, excited, scared !!!
Be nice to chat to someone going through the same...
I have been given hrt to take from day 1 of next period and if that doesn't arrive in 2 weeks to take it anyway - low AMH and high fsh means natural conception very unlikely.
Xx

@Russkispy congratulations on your scan! A boy and a girl - how lovely! I’m so happy for you 😊
@tikha Fantastic news about your Beta! I am keeping everything crossed for you. I was in the Costa Brava - not far from home.
@Leala20 That’s similar to what my dr told me - the embryo might look good but might have something wrong with it or might just not implant for unknown reasons. I’m waiting on my thrombophilia results still and I have to contact the clinic in September.
@Cleozeta How exciting! I think it’s normal to be nervous. I had a bit of a wobbly a few days before my transfer too. I have my fingers crossed for you!
@Pingupp welcome!

Hi everyone, jumping onto your thread
I'm at an earlier stage than you all I think, I haven't begun treatment yet. I've had some preliminary tests done which showed low (almost non-existent) AMH so natural conception isn't possible and I'm happy to have decided to use donor eggs.
At the moment I'm researching and trying to decide where to go for the process. I went to LWC for an open day but was not sure.
For me, the cost is a worry. It seems to be in the region of £10K for one cycle, does that sound about right? I'm prepared for it not working on the first try.
I'm 43 now and keen to get going.

@Leala20 I dont know enough about this to give informed advice..But did they say what they would do if the the second transfer failed? Have they checked your thyroid and vitamin D. Perhaps its better to ask these question including about ERA testing to the bigger infertility group to get broader range of experience. For this transfer, they did my progesterone levels when I transferred and also get me supplementary progesterone injections. I thought this was a standard thing. In terms of PGS testing, I agree if there are only two left, better just to transfer them instead of risking damaging them but it would best to optimize the implantation environment. Ultimately one would have to go with the expert opinion.
@Cleozeta it is totally normal.. I have second thoughts and anxieties every day.. hard to discuss them outside this group though.
@WantToBeMum welcome. For LWC its 12000 pounds if you go with 10 instead of 6 eggs. If they have an odd number they will also include the extra one potentially.
@Pingupp welcome

@Leala20 best of luck to you for next week
@Pingupp welcome to the group :)
I have read a lot about AMH. Low AMH signifies low ovarian reserve, which means that you will hit menopause probably sooner than someone who has higher AMH at your age. They give lower success with IVF as well because with low AMH you most likely will produce less eggs. But Low AMH does not really decrease your chance to conceive naturally (you just need one good egg with natural conception). The age (assuming no other issues) really a driver here for natural conception and live birth. Because the % of abnormal eggs is around 85 % at early 40s I believe.
if your partner does not have any fertility issues, I think you always have a chance to get pregnant while waiting for a donor egg :)

@WantToBeMum welcome to the group :)
I also went to LWC for open day but was not convinced either. But they have the largest donor database.
Instead we opted for the clinic who is newish in UK (IVI London). They have just started donor program last year but the clinic is trying to get connection with their IVI Portugal and egg bank in Ukraine. So in several months they will be in better position than now.
if for you is not critical anonymous or not and traveling is not an issue (even with COVID 19 it is an issue), then IVI Spain I heard are very good. they have thousands of donors and you can get matched quick.
Donor program is very expensive (esp in UK) because there is a cost of marketing and recruiting of donors. I dont think it is possible to find something less than 10K in London. But abroad is much cheaper. In Ukraine is very cheap and fertility clinics are very good. But again with Covid 19 , traveling is comlicated.

@ksusha20 thanks - you are right. Just takes one... chris has had his sperm test and that that all same back fine.
I went for the scan to check my womb etc and tubes and the lady doing the scan showed that I had just or was just about to ovulate. I haven't had a period since Dec so that was a pleasant surprise. Whether or not it works this month is now a waiting game. I think I am 8 days past ovulation.

@Pingupp and @WantToBeMum welcome to the group!
I have very low amh for my age and was also told this is the reason for my ‘infertility’. I read it only takes an egg and changed my supplements and in lockdown when waiting for ivf with donor eggs I fell pregnant first time ever but it ended up as chemical. We reached a stage we cannot wait any longer and thus went for egg donor as chances are higher. We chose LWC due to the accessibility and I liked one nurse
@tikha thank you that’s useful I will do more googling. The blood test next week will check thyroid too.
On a separate note, saw this article today and sounds very interesting. Not sure if you’ve heard about the potential peri and menopause reversal
www.newscientist.com/article/2251489-menopausal-woman-gives-birth-after-blood-plasma-injection-in-ovaries/

I don’t think they have enough data to show it improved egg quality and this is what matters but it’s positive science is moving and there’s signs and maybe our children one day will have more improved chances.

@Leala20 I suppose we keep trying until donor is found. You never know....
What diet changes has everyone made? I am cutting down on my prosecco and eating more fish. Got my pre conception vitamins to take. I also had my thyroid levels checked as on thyroxine for under active thyroid and levels are ok at the moment. I know if I were to be lucky enough to fall pregnant that would need to be closely monitored.
I am so impatient - will need to learn to chill a bit !!!

@Pingupp I conceived 3 times with high FSH and low AMH, none of them worked out though sadly. Its all to do with egg quality as we get older.

@WantToBeMum we have paid 10k for multi cycle (2 cycles) at Manchester Fertility. I am actually much closer to London, but the cost and extensive frozen donor bank led me to choose to travel.

@Leala20 interesting article. I did so much over the last few years to try and reverse things, I managed to sort out my cycle, and symptoms, but it unfortunately didn't help egg quality. I really hope this new breakthrough does!

Does anyone know if the donors are tested for potential genetic issues before donating?

@Cleozeta
Bless you - 3 times, that's tough.
Re the genetic testing - that is a good question. I am not sure, I will ask my lady on Monday. She is going to get lots of questions from me when things progress.
I'll let you know if I find out.

@Pingupp my diet is more or less healthy. I always ate tons of fruits, veggies and fish. I drink alcohol once in a blue moon. But I have a weakness with sweets :) Meaning I like to have my morning and the only one coffee with a biscuit or two. I know sugar is probably the worst for hormones:(
I take CQ10 600 mg if its ubiquinone or less if its ubiquinol and other vitamins (I read the book "It starts with the egg"). After 4 tries of IVF, 1 stillbirth, being almost 44 with DH having fertility issues, roughly one month from IVF with a donor egg, I still have this naive belief I can get pregnant natural and have live birth.

Scientists are getting better in understanding genetics and I am sure they will discover on how to influence DNA to reverse/slow aging process.
But in my opinion what they need to do in the immediate term is to educate young girls and encourage them to freeze their eggs.
Majority of clients at fertility clinics are there due to age. Average age of the patients is around 39 yrs. I wish I knew more about IVF process 10 years ago. Because I was never in the rush to motherhood , always thought I would fall pregnant at first try. And in case of problems, I would do IVF (I thought IVF is a guaranteed solution :)

@ksusha20
I will look up cq10.
Fingers crossed it works for you naturally but if not - hope the donor route is successful.
Sounds like you have had a really bad journey
:-(