IVF newbie...anyone else in the same boat?

[bluemoonday]

Hi - complete IVF novice here, feeling rather overwhelmed with the acronyms, the medication, the piles of paperwork and the mysterious timeline. I started buserelin injections on Friday (day 23 of my cycle)...still waiting for my period to arrive. Does anyone know if a late period (or no period at all), affects the date of your egg collection?

Hi Blue,

I've done IVF once already, I'm waiting to start my next cycle in a few days. I felt really overwhelmed and confused at first too. Don't worry you will quickly pick up the lingo and be an expert before you know it!

It's not unusual for buresulin to delay your period by a few days. I think I was about 5 days late. It will only delay EC in the sense that you won't start stimulation until you've had your period and a baseline scan that shows your ready for the next stage. That said stimulation can vary from 8-14 days typically depending on how you respond so it may be you only stimulate for a relatively short time. I think mine was 9 days.

I've seen a thread in infertilty for people having IVF and there is also a thread in conception called the egg buddies thread which I post on. It's a mixture of people who have just had treatment and those who are about to start. You would be very welcome on either thread. I would recommend joining one as I found it invaluable during treatment as everyone is really supportive and knowledgable.

I meant to say as well that I think it's unusual not to get your period if you are normally regular. I was worried about this when mine was late. My clinic asked me to call if it was over a week late and they would look at inducing a bleed by giving me an injection. It might be worth giving your clinic a ring just to put your mind at ease.

Hi blue,

I'm am too in the buserilin, been taking it for about 11 days now, so far no side effects apart from being tired which is good! My AF is due today, had a bit of spotting so il expecting it to start properly later or tommorow.

Did you speak to your clinic about your delayed AF?

Hi Happily, I think I've seen you about in conception/infertility. I'm glad to hear you've been getting on ok with the buresulin (I call it the devils juice) I had mood swings and hot sweats on it. It really didn't help that it was during the heat wave last summer

Once you start stimming everything will go really quickly so you are nearly there. Has your clinic given you advice on diet during stimming? Mine didn't tell me anything but luckily I learnt everything I needed to know on here. Try to drink 2-3 litres of water a day to reduce your risk of OHSS. You need lots of protein, I think about 65g a day so chicken, turkey, eggs, nuts etc. Try to eat 8-10 portions of fruit and veg and lots of people say to drink a litre of milk a day. All that is meant to help with egg quality. Sorry if you already know it all!

Good luck

I know, that's what I thought, once I start stimming etc it will go so fast. Kind of exciting in a way! You poor thing, I know I've been really lucky not having any side effects. What stage are you at now?

Thanks for the advice, I've already started drinking endless amounts of water and eating lots if fruit and veg. I also had the endo scratch and am having embryo monitoring. Im just going to try and stay relaxed now, knowing that I can't physically do anymore! X

Yep it sounds like you are doing everything you can. Unfortunately the rest is just up to chance/luck.

I had my first IVF in July last year. I got a BFP but sadly it didn't last. I didn't get any frosties as even though I got a good number of eggs they were poor quality. That was a bit of a shock as I'm relatively young and had a good AMH and AFC. We are unexplained as well. My consultant thinks I just didn't respond well to long protocol. So I'm hoping to start short protocol as soon as my AF shows up. I'm secretly really worried I've got duff eggs and it will never work

You sound very similar to me, we have a successful iui but it ended in miscarriage. We too are quite young and I'm afraid that the ivf will point out my eggs are rubbish!!! It's such a journey and it feels like there are so many hurdles to get through just to complete the ivf and then there's the waiting game!! Good luck with your short protocol :) x