Anyone starting IVF soon? Join me.

[Shellster52]

After 3 full failed IVF's last year, I am about to embark on my second last attempt. I started an IVF thread during my last IVF, and everyone got pregnant but me. So I swore I wouldn't do that again this time. But I find myself wanting to chat with people going through what I am, so I am starting the thread again. Join me as I seem to be a BFP magnet!

Walter, not sure I am that strong. I think I continue on because I have no choice. If I quit, then I don't have a baby and am still upset, so the lesser of two evils is to try IVF again and so I just keep trying. At last it's stim time for you - it's all going to start happening now!

Waiting to hear how your embryo's survived the weekend Purple but no update yet. I am in Australia so I think we are half a day ahead of you. Is it rude to ask how old you are? Just curious so I can compare other womens age and number of eggs retrieved to my experience. And you're right - I'm not worried about needles. I have even taken my own blood for testing during past IVF's!

Carrie. I am sure your scan will put your mind at ease that you have not ovulated. I on the other hand am hoping I have ovulated! Today is CD14 and I have a feeling that my cycle is not back on track after taking drugs last cycle. I want to have a normal ovulating cycle before starting IVF. Going to get a day 18 blood test to see if I ovulated and if so, I start drugs on day 20 for IVF next cycle. If not, it's another long wait which I am unfortunately all too familiar with.

Transfer is done. We had one early blastocyst first thing this morning, so that one's safely tucked up inside now. There are two more which they described as "trying to form blastocysts", so they're going to have another look at them later today and tomorrow to see if they're suitable for freezing.
We ended up having the transfer done twice, because the naughty embryo stuck to the catheter and came out again. Apparently it doesn't affect its chances of success, so we just chose to be amused by it all!
When's the scan, Carrie? Keeping everything crossed for you - look - XX

Oh and Shellster - your message didn't pop up until I'd posted mine...I was just thinking of you and wondering how you are. Fingers, toes and everything else crossed that your cycle is back on track...pointless, I know, saying "try not to worry" - might as well say "try not to breathe for a bit..."

No, I don't mind at all. I'm 41.

Exciting purple!

Thanks for the reassurance everyone, you were right, everything looks good and I am ready to go with the stims. Start tomorrow night because of the bank holiday weekend and go in for another scan next tuesday. I have an endometrioma cyst and I wonder if that is what has been causing the pain? Been told not to worry about it though.

Congrats on the transfer purple, sounds like you have a very sticky embryo which can only be a good thing, when is your test date? Hope the time passes quickly for you.

I have my fingers crossed for you shellster, youve waited long enough, its time you had a bit of luck

Glad stims is going well walter, look forward to joining you tomorrow, let us now how you get on on weds

Not much longer to wait liquorice.

Thanks everyone. Test date is 25th April - and counting! We had a call from the clinic to say that one of the other embryos was suitable for freezing - so we now have one frostie - and there's one more that might be freezable tomorrow.
Carrie - exciting to be starting stims...the time will fly. What is the story with the endometrioma cyst? Is that what's been stopping you conceiving, or is just one of those added little delights you find along the way? Do they impact anything?
Shellster - sending positivity round the globe for you - here: +++++
Glad you're feeling better, Walter.
Liquorice - when's cd1 likely to be?

Excellent, hopefully you won't need frosty but it must be nice to have as a back up for any future dcs.

Cd1 should be next Friday.

I am going to ask a stupid question now... Why do I not have to do this down regging?!

Wow Purple. Now it's just a long wait! So one transferred, one frostie, another possible frostie. What happened to the other two embryo's. Sorry, I am a bugger for stats. Think it helps after failed IVFs to keep it statistical and know the odds and that I just have to get that one good egg. I remember you were a bit bummed that you only had 5. Amazing that they all fertilised. You are a shining example that it is quality over quantity. Good for poor responders like me to see.

Liquorice, don't want to seem like I'm ignoring you but I don't know the answer! I personally am not downregging either. I know that I am a poor responder and my ovaries don't bounce back quickly and respond to the meds after being suppressed with down regging. So I am instead taking estrogen from day 20 of cycle prior to IVF which keeps follicles all at the same size so they grow evenly for IVF. Maybe down regging isn't good for you at the other end of the spectrum with PCOS and too many follicles?

Thank you so much to everyone on here for your kind words and support. You're right Carrie... surely it's time I got a bit of luck!

Shellster - you make me laugh, because I'm just the same - I just have to know the stats and the reasons for things. The clinic kept all three of our remaining embryos in the culture medium until this morning, as they were still all showing signs last night that they might develop into viable blastocysts. We had a call from the clinic this morning to say that they hadn't changed overnight, so that's our lot. But we're really pleased with "one warm one and one cold one" as dh puts it.
You're right: I was pretty disappointed only to have five follicles and said so to the sonographer, who said "I'd much rather see five good-sized follicles than 20 2mm ones". And I think we're more in control of that, too, aren't we, because there are things you can eat and drink to help the quality, but you can't force your body to produce more eggs than it's got. Take heart: I'm sure it's going to be your turn very soon.
Liquorice - don't know - my clinic uses long protocol and short protocol and it depends on things like age and hormone profile. Maybe PCOS influences the decision as well? Why don't you ask? One of the good things about IVF, in my experience at least, is that they always seem happy to answer questions and spend time explaining - a luxury you don't always get on our poor overstretched NHS!

You are so right Purple. I can't influence the amount of follicles I make. That was very depressing at first. But it's even more important that what I do produce is good quality and there is research showing exactly what to eat to influence this. I guess I already knew this but somehow it seemed so reassuring to hear this logic put to me as you did. So thank you. And again, thank you for answering my nosy question! This is the longest wait from my experience. Up til now, you can get a scan or get a call from the clinic to get an update. But now you have no idea (except for the symptom spotting you will obsessively do until the 25th!)

Today is CD15. I am going to get a blood test on CD18 to see if I ovulated. If I have, I can start estrogen on day 20 in prep for IVF next cycle. I am sure I have not ovulated and my body is still recovering from IVF last cycle (after 32 cycles of trying, I know my body!). But I would hate to miss the opportunity if by some miracle I did ovulate, so no harm to get a blood test.

Purple, They have told me that an endometrioma can impair fertility but nobody is that sure why which is so unhelpful to me, I want reasons, they said it can affect everything from egg quality to implantation, so everything really, I am really hoping to get some answers with this first ivf, I think having some proper answers will help me to accept my own infertility.
Only 10 more days to go for you now, do you think you will test early?

Im not sure either liquorice, I think it must be an age and hormone level thing like someone else already said, im sure the drs will be doing whatever they think os best for you.

Absolutely no harm in getting a blood test Shellster, its good that you are so in tune with your body and confident enough to stand by what you believe in. I could do with some of that, I sometimes feel I dont question enough, think I will have to learn Iif this cycle fails.

I think you naturally will Cariebella. For your first IVF, it feels like something new so you have a renewed hope and just pray like crazy that it will work. If it doesn't then you start to get fed up with doctors and do a lot of research yourself and start asking more questions. Hopefully this is the answer for you and you never get to that stage!

I wish you all the world of luck, but I have to say it's quite depressing reading everyone else going ahead with IVf and growing eggs while I have to sit in a corner while my ovaries age and wait for my cycle to return to normal!

Shellster when is your blood test to determine if you have ov'd?

I can only imagine shellster, so nice of you to stay with us while you are waiting, you are stronger than you think. I do have a renewed hope right now but im trying to stay grounded, I know my chances are slim but after 7 yrs you cling to any bit of hope.
Menopur question - do you still refrigerate once mixed? My nurse never said and the leaflet says you dont need too? Had my first jab last night and it stung quite a bit for about 10 mins, maybe because its cold?

Shellster - completely echo what Carrie said...
Carrie - the only one I was told to keep in the fridge was the pregnyl trigger shot. When do you mix the Menopur? I just mixed mine one dose at a time, immediately before injecting, so there wouldn't have been any need to refrigerate between mixing and using it...

Thats strange purple.. I have mixed up a bottle and it should last about a week of doses. Was 1 bottle with the powder in and the 2 syringes of water. Confused now, are you on a higher dose maybe, im on 225ml which I think is quite low. Hows things going on the long wait? Hope you have a nice long easter weekend planned.

Maybe it's just a dosage thing. I was on 450 iu, which was three little bottles of powder, to one little bottle of saline - you get a bottle of saline for each bottle of powder in the packet, so I was left with loads of saline which I just gave back to the clinic.

Off to the mother-in-law's for the long weekend...used to be a bit of a chore, but she's mellowed with age. It's her birthday on Saturday, so it's got to be done.

Happy Easter, everyone x

liquorice i also have pcos, can i ask what you were on to decrease the chance of hyperstimulation?
I am on metformin and have been on long protocol.

Shellster - just wanted to say good luck for your blood test as I know you're several hours ahead and if I wait until tomorrow to say it, you may already have gone.
How long do you have to wait for the results? Here, you wait about a week for NHS blood tests, but the private clinics seem to be able to turn them around really quickly. Hope you don't have to wait for long and hope it's the result you need. Anyway, here's that finger-crossing emoticon for you XX

Hi Naty, I am on Metformin and short protocol. How are you finding it? Do you have any treatment dates booked in?

Shellster, I hope you get the results you need, I will be thinking of you.

Thank you so much for the well wishes Purple. It's so nice of you to be thinking of me when you are in your own whirlwind of infertility. Your NHS system sounds very slow. I took my own blood and had courier collect it at 10.30, and the result was ready at 4.10pm when I had my doctor appointment! I was so nervous in the doctors office. I was trying to console myself in prep for the bad news I was about to receive. The doctor gives me the result - 19.2! I can't believe it - I ovulated. Maybe keeping busy with studying for my nursing entrance exam has helped take my mind off things and allowed my body to return to normal? Whoa, suddenly I am starting estrogen tablets tomorrow ready for IVF AGAIN in just over a weeks time.

Well I just wanted to give you all this update because I have been letting you all know where I am at. But I have decided that this is the last I am going to post about my IVF. I started a thread during my Dec IVF and everyone got pregnant but me. I started this thread for my last IVF and I had to cancel. Seems impossible that what I type on this thread is somehow negatively impacting my IVF but I just decided not to put any pressure on myself by updating anyone this time around. I have extra hurdles to jump through than most people. There's still no guarantee IVF will go ahead if my day 2 scan doesn't show many follicles to grow.

Will still be interested in how you are all doing and chatting about your IVF. The sad fact is that about 1 in 4/5 IVF's are successful, meaning statistically a few women on here won't be pregnant this IVF. I have been through that and want to be here for you all :)

That's great news, Shellster and I wish you all the luck in the world with this round. Completely understand your feelings on this and I won't ask any questions about how you're doing, but I'm really really hoping that we hear some good news from you down the line. Sending all good wishes to Oz!

Off to sunny Dorset now for the long weekend - it's the back of beyond and there won't be much signal. Happy Easter everyone.

Well if you get this message before you leave Purple, have a lovely holiday. Worked out very well that you get the long weekend in your wait to help relax and pass the time.

Hi everyone! May I join in?! Hope everyone is well some good news on this thread although some not so, I'm about to start my first Ivf after 7 years of trying without even a hint of a bfp! Any way I started the contraceptive pill last night and am booked in to see the nurses the 1st of May to go through injections ECt and egg collection is pencilled in for the week beging the 27th may. Any Idear why you start birth control pills before the Ivf cycle , I have Pcos and presume I am on the long protocol . Thanks in advance :) xxxxxx

Hi, I'm pretty much on the same dates as you! Start down reg tommorow, stimming on 12th and all being well egg collection will be the same week as yours!

It's so exciting but nervous all at the same time. I'm very aware it could not work but after so much disappointment it's hard not to cling into that little bit of hope isn't it! X