Anyone just started/about to start IVF? Join me for support.

[Shellster52]

Tomorrow will be day one of my cycle and I will start IVF for the third time.

I know there are already IVF threads, but there are so many people and it moves so fast. So I thought I would start one for women who just started IVF or are just about to start, so there is a smaller group and messages do not get overlooked. Hopefully this will help us feel supported and remain sane (and hopefully a bit calmer to help our odds?!)

About me: TTC just over two long years. Found out hubby has 100% abnormal sperm morphology. Move on to IVF. First IVF I discovered I am a poor responder and only had two mature follicles and one egg retrieved (they forgot the other!!!!). Embryo disintegrated before day two transfer. IVF 2 I did the estrogen priming protocol after reading it was good for poor responders, along with higher dose of injections. Got 5 eggs, 4 were mature and injected with sperm, 3 fertilised but one was abnormal. The reamining two embryos were at two cell stage on day two, but they like to see them at four cell stage by day two. Both transferred at day two. I read many stories of women having success with day two embryos still at two cell stage but BFN for me.

Have since been taking Aspirin in the hope that I get more eggs this round. Have also been taking DHEA in the hope that the embryo quality is improved, but with hubbys sperm issue and junk food habits, I wonder if he is largely responsible for poor embryo quality.

[Olive324]

Hi everyone,

Had my transfer today ( day 5). It seemed to go well and they said the quality was really good. This makes me think the problem might be with the implantation part of it rather than anything else. I suppose we shall wait and see. Anyway, am now joining you on the TWW. Sigh.........

[Shellster52]

Morning Olive

It sounds promising for you. I am no expert, but it would seem more likely that perhaps it was a problem with the sperm and egg getting together to begin with. Some women don't produce a lot of fertile EWCM and that can make it very difficult for the sperm to reach the egg or various other reasons. If you have normal cycles and healthy amount of blood flow, there is no logical reason why there should be a problem with implantation. Just how my mind sees it anyway. But maybe I shouldn't be getting your hopes up as I have had a BFN before with IVF and the fall is hard! Still, sounds very promising that it has made it all the way to day 5 where it is hatching out of it's shell and all it has to do is start implantation. Mine got transferred at day 2 so I have no idea how much further the embryo made it. We will all find out soon enough - although soon enough seems like an eternity away at the moment!

[eurochick]

It's great that embryo wuality is getting better each time.

My cycle history is:

#1, natural, 1 egg, 1 embryo, day 2 transfer of Grade 1 2 cell (mc)
#2 natural modified (some stimms), 4 eggs, 2 embryos, day 2 transfer of Grade 3 2 and 5 cell embryos (chem preg)
#3 natural, 1 egg, 1 embryo, day 3 transfer of 4 cell (chem preg)
#4 mild stimulation, 4 eggs, 3 embryos but only one made it to day 3, day 3 transfer of a 6 cell (outcome awaited...)

Good luck to all.

[eurochick]

wuality=quality!

[Shellster52]

So your first IVF embryo was two cells at day two and you got pregnant (but sadly mc). That is interesting because last IVf cycle, I had 2 embryos transferred on day two that were both two cells but neither of them took. I wonder if my problem then is my thin uterine lining because I only ever have a very light two day period. If that is the case, I won't have any luck this round despite a better quality embryo :(

So your embryo's seem a bit slow to divide but they are obviously continuing to divide and develop into blast inside you and attach for you to get a chemical. The doctor still puts this down to the egg quality?

Can I ask how soon you got your positive before your period came and shattered everything? Today is day 23 of my cycle and I am anxious to test so I can process and move on, but I don't want to spend a day in tears if it is a false negative because I am just too early.

[Shellster52]

Well Euro

After you giving a run down of your history, I thought it might be an idea to test early before my period arrives. That way, I could know if I at least got a chemical pregnancy and am any closer to success in IVF to help me make a decision about the next step. Today is CD23, 8 days after ER. Since charting, my cycles have always been short - anywhere between 24 and 27 days. So I plucked up the courage to do a test and got a big blank ugly white space where a faint pink line should appear. I told myself not to get depressed and that it could be too early to test, but still I was devastated. I have been so healthy up til this point but after that result, it was junk food for dinner.

Of course I could just be testing too early but after two years of infertility, you get used to knowing it is not looking good. I guess I will test again in a couple of days if my period hasn't arrived - that way I can let myself down gradually instead of one big blow when my period arrives.

I assume you tested early Euro to know you had a chem preg. How early did you test and get a positive?

[eurochick]

Yes, I do always test early.

My clinic does a blood test at 14dpEC. I have always got a (very faint) positive on a v. sensitive internet cheapie by 12dpEC at home.

I hope you were just too early. Fingers crossed!

[Shellster52]

That's reassuring that your very faint positive only came up at 12dpEC on a very sensitive test. My clinic is doing a blood test at 16 days past EC. Yesterday was only 8 dpEC for me so perhaps that is the reason.

The time is now 2.30am here. I woke up and had a definite feeling in my uterus. Obsessive me did another preg test and got another neg. No period in sight so I HOPE that this feeling is my baby implanting.

[eurochick]

I was still getting (very faint) positives from the trigger shot at 9dpEC so I wait until that has gone and then leave it a day or two to do a real test, hence settling on 12dpEC.

[Shellster52]

Okay, so Tuesday, 17th will be 12dpEC for you then if I have that right Euro.

My two pregnancy tests yesterday and today have both been a BFN so I know the trigger is definitely out of my system.

Based on all my previous cycles since I have been charting, my period could arrive any time between tomorrow (Saturday) and next Wednesday. So the next 5 days are going to be painstakingly long as I count down every hour that my period doesn't arrive.

Olive, haven't heard from you in a while. Everything okay? I guess there is no new news for you to report now - we are all just waiting!

[Olive324]

Hi shellster. Fine thanks. Yes, I'm in that phase where there is nothing to do but wait. I'm feeling for all of you that little bit in front of me at the moment. Its nail biting stuff. Fingers crossed for everyone.

[eurochick]

Yes, that's right. I'll be testing on Tuesday and have the clinic blood test on Thursday.

I find usual cycle length irrelevant during IVF as the drugs change everything (and for me the progesterone tends to keep my period away anyway).l

[Shellster52]

Well, nothing new to report. Just have this on my mind and need to have a chat so I can get it out of my system and move on with my day.

This time I just 'feel' like it has worked, but I don't know if that is just me wanting it so desperately. So I am going to come crashing down real hard if my period rocks up.

Based on my previous cycles, my period could arrive any time between today and Wednesday. It feels like a small victory that it hasn't arrived today, although you are probably right Euro that the progesterone might be keeping my period away rather than a pregnancy!

Planning to do a preg test Wed if AF has not arrived by then... that seems forever away!

Glad you are doing okay Olive. I think you are in with a real chance after having a fantastic day 5 embryo transferred. Because I had a day two transfer, I have no idea how far my embryo made it, but you know for sure your embryo was top quality and that means at day 5, it was probably already hatching out of it's shell so all it has to do is implant!

[Olive324]

Thanks for your positivity shellster. It does look good on paper but I wonder , if the embryo is not the issue, then maybe there is an issue with Implantation. Why haven't I ever got pregnant before ? Who knows. Trying not to get my hopes up too much. Like you, I fear the come down if it doesn't go well. A girl at work announced her pregnancy at work today. She only got married in the summer so it must have worked first time! A a a araragagah! I'm happy for her of course but I'm sure you know how it made me feel.
Anyway, it's good that your period hasn't started yet. I have to be honest, with all the drugs that have gone through my system lately I'm not sure when to expect mine. I think I will test next Friday if nothing has happened. That way, I can at least have a drink over Christmas ! I think you have tested a bit early so far. I have found a timeline thing online which says that after a 3 day transfer, the hsg will be strong enough to test 11 days after. ( it starts building up from day 8) . I don't think you are at that point yet are you?

[Shellster52]

Yes Olive, not a great time to deal with new pregnancies! I went out to dinner with a group of girls I haven't seen in about 10 months and one of them walks into the restaurant with a big belly!

So your timeline says HCG can be tested at 11 days? Would that be by blood test rather than a home test as I think it can be detected earlier in the blood? I am 11 days tomorrow - maybe I should get a blood test to put me out of my misery as my IVF clinic is not doing one for me until next Friday.

I have found a timeline too. According to mine, implantation is complete today and HCG starts to enter the blood stream tomorrow. It says HCG is strong enough to detect a pregnancy 14 days after ER. But your timeline says 11 days and I have read of other girls getting a faint positive as early as 8 days after? Maybe it all depends on the embryo and how fast it divides and how quickly it implants - all I know is I can't stand this anxious wait any more!

I like the Christmas drink idea. If I get a negative, I will certainly be drowning my sorrows this Christmas!

[Olive324]

Shellster, I think the time lines are the same. 11 days after the 3 day transfer so 14 days after ER. It starts building up 8days after 3day transfer. That would be today for you then. Still will probably be a little too early so I would probably wait a day or two. Keep thinking positive.

[Shellster52]

Oh, sorry my misunderstanding Olive. Somehow I thought you said 11 days after ER. Now I re - read what you wrote and you said 11 days after a day 3 transfer which as you say, is 14 days.

I read yesterday that only 25% of women get a positive home test 2 days before a missed period and only 40% of women one day before a missed period. It said a blood test can detect a preg 3-4 days before a home test.

I just spoke to a friend who just had her baby she conceived through IVF and she had her blood test 12 days after ER. Today is 12 days post ER so I think I am going to pluck up the courage to get a blood test today. If it is negative, I need to be able to process and move on before having to spend time with family at Christmas.

But I just 'feel' pregnant this time. I had some period type feeling in my abdomen in the early hours of the other morning but my period didn't come. And yesterday afternoon I had a 'fluttery' feeling. If this is all in my head, my mind is doing a really good job of getting my hopes up and I am going to come crashing down hard.

[eurochick]

shell this sounds like a really tough time for you. I'd say that you stand a good chance of seeing a second line on a POAS test at 12-13 dpEC with a sensitive test.

I don't know if you can see this if you are not a member (not sure if you are) but there are some interesting stats here as to when people tested positive with different tests (although many of the brands mentioned are American):

www.fertilityfriend.com/tg/galleryStats.php

[SarahFx]

The waiting must be awful Shellster but we are all rooting for you. Not long to go now!

[Olive324]

Hi shellster. You ok? Not heard from you in a while. Am now 6dp5dt. I am a coward. Not testing till Friday. Living in hope rather than bursting the bubble. Anyone had any good news?

[Shellster52]

Thanks for your concern Olive. It seems it is over for me yet again. I have had some spotting so my period is on it's way. I think I am going to step away from all this and try to actually do some things I enjoy after two years of focusing on TTC. Then next year it is back to the IVF diet and supplements for 3 months before I try IVF yet again.

I may not return here in my efforts to try and focus on other things so in case I don't, I wish you all the best and thank you so much for supporting me this IVF cycle :)

[Olive324]

Sorry to hear that shellster. I think you are right to take some time off. It is a really stressful process. Thinking of you and hope you are able to take your mind off it over Christmas.

[elvista]

Hi all. Sorry I've been AWOL. Trying to keep busy, not hard with Xmas concerts and plays, although having to help with cutesy nativity plays can sometimes be difficult at the moment.

Shellster, so sorry to hear that. I agree with Olive that it's probably best to take some time off. It's all really stressful and isolating. You know we're around if you want to talk. I wish you all the best.

Olive, I think we're around the same stage. I am 9dp3dt and have a blood test on Friday and results Friday afternoon. Trying to not poas as I'm most afraid of a false positive - even though that would be very unlikely. When is your clinic doing their blood test?

Eurochick all the best for Thursday.

Sending positive thoughts to you all.

[eurochick]

Hi all.

shell I hope you are able to have a good Christmas after all this.

I've caved and tested at home, and it was positive. Please don't congratulate me though - I've been here before and it did not end well, so I'm not celebrating this. I have my fingers crossed for a nice strong blood test result on Thursday. It was a little low last time we got this far, and that was the first hint we had that all may not be well. If I could be knocked out until this is all over, on way or the other, I would take that option!

[Olive324]

Hi elvista. My clinic has never mentioned a blood test! They just said to let them know the test results. I presume I am just meant to test myself. Still holding out till Friday.