Starting IVF/ICSI this month - anyone want to join the journey?

[Rumplestrumpet]

After over 2.5 years TTC, we're FINALLY about to start our fertility treatment this month (ICSI). My nurse and husband forbade me from chats and forums, but after following MN threads over recent years I think it would be a great help to share the experience with those going through the same thing.

Anyone else want to share the joys/terrors of belly injections, hormonal madness and a series of medical professionals poking around your nether regions?! And, of course, hopefully a BFP at the end of it all

gcerron - well done on 4.
Call clinic back and ask the questions you want. They won't mind.
I only did one cycle myself and mine got to day 5, but I don't think it's negative thing at all that they put them back on day 3. I don't know enough to give opinions though. I've read loads of positive 3 day stories here. Loads
Give them a bell and hope you are feeling ok from EC.

Wow, I am stunned Allchat !! Just gobsmacked ! That is truly fabulous news! Whether it was the IVF meds, the accupuncture, or just mother nature working her miracles, I am so so happy for you. Take some deep breaths. It probably won't feel real for a while. But relax and enjoy it!

Gcerron - I think Allchat is right, just ask your clinic. I was regularly calling and emailing my medical team throughout the treatment and they were very understanding. Best of luck!

gcerron I've not started yet but nurse at our clinic says we won't know if we'll have day 3 or 5 transfer until they see how embryos are growing. its basically the decision of the embryologist for me. different clinics have different policies so maybe for your age/stats day3 is the norm but I agree u should call and ask.

Allchat I am definately booking up for the acupuncture now! Congratulations this is great news! So pleased for you x

On a selfish note it has made me feel better about our situation as we are unexplained too and even though I haven't even started down regging yet (hopefully Friday) I have let my mind wander to what if it doesn't work terrority and have to keep reminding myself it could happen naturally still!

xxx

Thank you girls Allchat and Rumple I am going to call now then because in my clinic you can't have a close approach with one doctor or nurse, every time you go there's a new doctor or nurse that do the follow up, however I will call them and I hope the receptionist will let me talk with someone in charge. Every time I try to talk with some doctor it seems that I am trying to contact the PM of the UK hehe!! let's see.

Rumples - I can't tell you how stunned I was. I just walked round the house for about 10 mins holding it against all the windows to double check. It's fucking insane (apologies for swearing).

angoga the number of times I've been on MN over the last 18 months or so looking at other peoples lines and wishing and praying it was me. It's hard and I'm not going to go all gushy and be like it will happen for you. I never thought I wouldn't have another baby, it was just the length of time it would take that scared me. It is draining and only now after the failed ivf the cracks were starting to show for me. I was feeling really down, spent all weekend fighting and crying with Dh over unimportant things. The last month has been sad and stressful. Considering we've had sunshine, sex packed holidays during our ttc journey when I thought we'd cracked it so many times, the month I conceived was the shitest month ever.
For you - stay positive but I think it's important to have a pinch of reality. Doesn't stop you hoping and praying though.

It's bloody luck (and maybe the acupuncture!!??)
x

Me too allchat you can't help it, we have been ttc for over 3 years now and it seems like forever now we are finally nearly there with starting IVF/ICSI (we have had to pay for treatment as my husband has kids from a previous marriage) and although I am excited I do still have the pinch of reality as you say that it might not.

But as you say I am keeping positive, eating well, trying to keep as relaxed as possible so who knows.................plus booking up the acupunture this afternoon! Lol!

If only I could have a drink I would raise a glass to you tonight! x

Thank you lily the embriologist called me back and explained that usually they wait until D5 when there are more embryos, so they wait more to select the best, however at this stage my embryos look really well and tomorrow they can say the number of cells on each one and there is a good chance that on Wed they are going ahead with the ET. Saying that I began with acupuncture in D6 of gonal-f, I had a second acupuncture session before the EC and my third one will be tomorrow!! Fingers crossed!! And lots of praying.

OMG AllChat !!!!

What an amazing, amazing piece of good news to hear, I'm absolutely delighted for you - you must be on cloud 9! How are you feeling?

To answer the question, none of my other embryos really made it to Blast 'proper' stage and the embryologists didn't think it worth freezing them. The two I had transferred were top quality (the 'lesser' of the two had got its act together a bit by the time they actually did the transfer)

It's given me a bit of a reality check tbh, at day 3, 5 were 'textbook perfect' with perfect division and no fragmentation at all the sixth was not very far behind the them in terms of quality - even then only 2 made it to blast stage - feel a bit deflated about that, I was sure I'd have frosties too...

Can I ask what is probably a stupid question please? If the success rate for Blast transfer is around 50% (as my clinic have advised me it is) is that per Blast transferred or per cycle?

The clinic said that the 'success rate' was the same whether you transferred one or two blasts, but surely that means over 2 cycles?

So does each individual blast transferred have a 50/50 chance of creating a pregnancy? (assuming they are of similar quality?)

(can anybody tell I am clutching at straws a bit here? )

hey hen. i know it's crazy news isn't it. I'm a wreak actually. Got a positive on a super drug test this morning (not with first urine), so I bought a digi today so i'll retest in morning. I'm too nervous to be on Cloud 9. Was gearing myself up for frozen cycle.

I don't know all this science behind embryo cells and blasts I'm afraid. I think the % depends on age and other factors. But if I were you I'd most definitely walk into the next 2 weeks thinking it's 50/50 chance. I think that is the most sensible. If they told you it was 80% chance it wouldn't really be any different would it, because there is still the 20% it could fail? What I'm trying to say is that I think you should ignore the odds because you will drive yourself mad and it doesn't really help. It's like the whole testing early thing. It's pointless. You need to remain focused and positive, but have that dose or reality in the back of your mind.

Btw - when I went for my follow up consultation, I found out the 2 they froze caught up on day 6 and were actually better quality than the fresh one they put it. Doesn't matter now, but god, I'm so glad I didn't know that when I was in 2ww.

x

Well I'm on day 11 the injections have been completely fine up until now but spoke to the nurse today and was told I'm not using the whole belly area and not to use the alcohol wipes in the cetrotide which should mean I don't bruise/bleed anymore which started today. Very lucky in that I have a lot of follicles, I think 10 on one and 12 on the other side the majority are around 11-14mm and 3 that are close to 19mm and we are having another scan on wed with potential EC on Friday. Hubby went to Doctors and he has a chest infection so now on antibiotics, was really worried that it would affect his Sample but clinic confirmed won't be an issue.

Am trying to eat lots of protein inc cheese, nuts, meat, yogurt. Also drinking a litre of milk and 2 Ltrs of water, clinic said that a litre of milk and water is fine but as I've had no side affects from the drugs what so ever I'm keeping this up.

They explained to me that one follicle produces one egg and they grow between .25 and 2mm per day.

It's been amazing seeing them go from nothing to now quite large potential eggs feeling really positive and am so excited when I go for my scans.

I hope everyone else's cycles go well and am sending you all positive thoughts!!

Hen, I have never made it to where you are now to research success rates for single versus two blast transfer. The mind on overtime while all you can do is sit and twiddle your thumbs begins! I am sorry to hear that your other embryos didn't make it. From what I have read, a lot tend to make it to day 3 and then they start to fall off between day 3 and 5. Kinda gives me some reassurance that this is normal - was starting to see you as some sort of wonder woman embryo producer and feeling my IVF results are pathetic compared to yours and my IVF will never work.

lil well done on your 43/23 carb/protein effort! I know some think this is a bit obsessive and if it's not for everyone that's fine. But for us, it seems to help us feel like we are doing something pro-active. I am stimming now so really going hard on this diet while the follicles are actually growing - hopefully! Will find out at scan tomorrow.

whittle, what amazing scan results - that's heaps of follicles!!!! I can only dream of having that many.

gcerron, glad you got some reassurance from your clinic. From what I have read, the embryos will always do better in the uterus rather than in the worlds best culture medium. So if they have lots of embryos, they let them grow to day 5 to pick the strongest, but with 4, they will transfer at day 3 so they have the best chance of surviving and becoming your BFP.

allchat - amazing!!!! I too have heard of women getting a natural BFP after a failed IVF. This hasn't worked in our case after our previous 8 IVF's sadly, so I guess it depends on what the cause is. Whatever your cause, who cares now - YOU'RE PREGNANT!!!!

Thanks shell. You are super strong x

Thanks allchat. Sincerely wishing you happiness from here on in.

Hen, this seems to be what you are looking for. I found a study here giving statistics for success with one versus two embryos:

The cumulative pregnancy rate per patient after transfer of fresh and frozen embryos was 47.3% in the one embryo transfer group and 58.6% in the two embryo transfer group.

The article is actually trying to promote the idea of a one embryo transfer to reduce the chance of twins, saying that one embryo doesn't decrease the success rate too much. However, all I read is that transferring two embryos increases the success rate. Even if it doesn't double it, it's an increase and I will take the higher odds with two embryos!

Thanks shell I wasn't sure if that's good or not. The nurse did say that it's not guaranteed that all follicles contain an egg so worrying a bit but it's all out of my hands now am just enjoying an injection free day also trying really hard not to panic about tomorrow's EC

Nothing to panic about Whittle - it's really straight forward. And with plenty of follies it's fine if they don't all have eggs.

Interesting research on the 1 vs 2 embryos - my clinic claimed that, with their new improved defrosting system, if you've got 2 good blasts then the chances were higher just transferring one at a time. But that gives you a slightly lower chance the first time. In any case they refuse point blank to transfer 2 blasts for anyone under 40 - they are very anti- multiple births. So it wasn't really an option for me anyway. At the end of the day, statistics only tell you so much - it really is about luck too. So good luck to you all, I'm rooting for you!

Interesting to read your post Rumple about the two being put back as that is what they have said they will do with me on day 5 of blasto at my clinic because I am 38...? Perhaps different clinics have different rules.

I am worried about the multiple births because they are doing this but am guided by my consultant so have to go with his advice, will obvs find out more at my next appointment.

Wish this damn period would show its face so I can get started! x

Quick questions guys…sorry bit tmi - but I'm sure you won't mind.
My discharge is yellowy. It's like this before my period. Makes me worry and think this may turn into chemical and my AF might show up.
I have some progesterone pessaries left from IVF. Do you think I should use them? could it help? It couldn't make it worse could it?
Thanks x

allchat have you spoken to your clinic since getting your BFP? Maybe give them a call and see what they think?

Yes, they were completely disinterested. I called them hoping maybe they'd offer to do bloods to check levels and a early scan. Nurse was bit abrupt and just said I wasn't under their care and it was natural pregnancy and so I have to go to docs. She did say congratulations at the end though.
What do you reckon about the pessaries?

God that's terrible you would think as you were gearing up for another round that they would be more helpful. I'm really not sure on the pessaries as you don't want to do anything that you shouldn't maybe call your doctor and see what they think just to be safe

If it helps my friend even had spotting when she was pregnant and has now got 3 beautiful healthy children x

Speaking to a doctor is a nightmare unless it's an emergency.
I've posted on pregnancy board too, so hoping someone might put my mind at rest. I know people who have bleed and I'm not even bleeding. It's just discoloured which makes me shit myself that Af will come, just late.
This bloody roller-coster never stops!

allchat I know its difficult but don't panic. progesterone fuels AF symptoms as well as pg symptoms so you will notice similarities. fwiw I would consider the pessaries but no it until I'd done loads of googling to check the risks. even bleeding can be nothing but the little emby settling in. try and stay calm. the worry never ends does it!