Anyone starting IVF soon? Join me (2)

[purplemeggie]

I see we've filled up the thread and thought I'd better start another one. How's everyone doing?

Hi. I don't know if my previous message passed through. I have just found this forum and it is already helping me as I have just moved my first step on this road. Everything is new for me and I am deeply scared!

Hi Paola, Welcome!

I'm sorry, but I can't really offer you any advice, as I too have also only just started down this road, I'm here though, and if it makes you feel any better I am scared too.

My IVF cycle has just started and I feel so much more positive than I did only a few days ago. Somehow actually taking those first steps has been quite empowering. I hope you find the same.

I am just going out, but will check back later to see if you have replied - even if you just fancy a chat

Naty,

Thanks for your reply, makes sense with the blasts, but I would just rather not have to have further treatment...

(Why do I think I am going to look back on these words in the weeks/months to come and marvel at my own naivety? )

Battery this is your first scan, right? If so, it's your baseline scan. They should be able to see follicles, and those follicles will be the 'baseline' to calculate growth over the next few weeks. Good luck!

And welcome Paola!

Yes, baseline scan...so will the follicles already there just grow bigger, or will more follicles appear as I take the gonal f over the next 2 weeks?

Battery Thanks for your words! This night I could not sleep and did something I tell others not to do... I read in internet lots of post against and pro IVF....everything! And now I have a big mess in my mind!!! My bf expects me to be rational in a topic that is not rational at all! Mah!

Thanks bluemoonday!!!!!

Welcome Paoseo. I think we've all been there and done that with regards to internet researching and getting ourselves worked up. It just seems a natural part of the IVF process - because it is all the unknown and there is no guaranteed outcome, we just want to try to get answers. I'm about to embark on my 9th IVF attempt so I have been where you are at the start and wanting answers (and a glimmer of hope). I try to stay away from peoples opinions and read the factual things I can be doing to improve my odds. That seems to make me feel positive.

Fraz, I too have no idea what EEVA is! Can you enlighten me?

Battery, they say very generally that you can expect about half of the follicles that appear on a day 2 scan to produce a mature egg. But some women seem to have them grow at different rates so less are mature at egg collection, while others have follicles grow at more consistent rates so they get more mature eggs. And others very occasionally seem to get more eggs than their day 2 scan. I guess because at day 2, the follicles are very small at only 2-3mm so it's easy to miss a few on the scan. Hmm, so really what I am saying is that it could indicate how many eggs you get or it could be no indication at all! Am I right in remembering that you had a high AMH meaning your day 2 count will be high? So many people on this thread now I am losing track. Have to start making notes!

Blue, i have to thank you for your inspiration. I recall you saying you used to love running - and you happen to produce great embryos that make it all the way to day 5 and implant. I went for a walk with a girl last weekend who also used to run 5kms regularly and she got 6 eggs on her first IVF of which all 6 made it to day 5. So I figure there seems to be something to your fitness and the health/energy of egg cells. So on my days of work yesterday and today, despite the rain, I put on my runners and got out there. Well my run was more of a part jog part walk to catch my breath, but I'm sure it's still helping. So thank you. Let us know how you get on with your scan.

Shellster good to hear I have inspired you in some way...!! Using lampposts is a good way to start running. Run 2 lamppost distances, walk 1, run 3, walk 1, etc, until you get comfortable with it.

Not sure it has really helped me though, apart from mentally. I had a 3D scan yesterday and I'm pleased to report that the septum is very small and I don't need surgery. Yesterday was day 2 of my period so he said I could get started straight away....until he scanned my ovaries and saw 3 follicles on the left, none on the right. NOT a good baseline result given that I've had 8 on my last 2 cycles. Looks like I will be waiting until end of Nov before I get started again, he says it's not worth it this time around (given that I'm a poor responder).

Anyway not sure what is going on but let's hope my ovaries wake up a bit over the next few weeks and start popping out some follicles.

Glad to hear the septum is small and nothing to worry about. Gives me some reassurance as I assume mine is minor too since only one report from the many ultrasounds I have had done mention it. And since your Dr seems so thorough, if he thinks small means nothing to worry about, I feel relieved too.

So today (Monday here in Aus) is my CD9 and your CD4, meaning you are only 5 days behind me and we should be starting around the same time. Really nice to IVF with you who is also a 'poor responder' so I won't be jealous of you producing 3 times more eggs than me and visa versa. Sorry to hear you couldn't get started straight away though which is probably what you would have preferred. I hope the fact that your ovaries seem to go up and down - 5, then 8, now 3, shows it varies from month to month and helps you not panic while you wait this month as it seems like it will be up again next cycle.

Thanks for the tip on the jogging. I actually was doing what you suggest but with driveways instead of lamposts. Here's hoping it helps my embryos make it to day 5 next IVF.

Morning all!

This will have to be a quick post from me, but I had my scan this morning.

Lining good at 4mm, 6 follicles on one ovary and 4 on the other.

All looking good so far, but the doc also noted a Hemorrhagic cyst measuring 12 x 14mm on one ovary. He said that my clinic 'would probably be ok with that' but, largely thanks to Dr Google I am now terrified they will cancel my cycle for this month

Has anybody had any experience of this?

Thanks

No as ive never had a baseline scan. Though have seen posts in google with people with cysts , not sure they were haemrrhagic ones though.
I think the people did have cancelled cycles but yours could be different/smaller.
Just wondering if they did a blood test to see if its affecting levels of hormones?
Hopefully someone else can be more helpful

Hi battery I don't know a lot about ovarian cysts but I DO know that consulting Dr Google is the worst thing you can do in these situations! Try not to worry about it for now. It sounds as though your clinic may be ok with it. Cysts are pretty common and I'm sure they won't cancel your cycle unless they absolutely have to (and wouldn't you rather they did that anyway, to give yourself the best possible chance of everything working?).

Stay away from the internet! :)

Shellster good to hear we will be cycle buddies! My drugs were ordered today - I'm doing a short protocol so no downregging for me (first time!), and stimming with a combination of Menopur and Gonal F. What about you? In the meantime I'm chucking down the horse pills (pregnacare and CoQ10 600g) and trying to limit myself to 2 cups of tea a day. Not easy for a tea addict like myself....much harder than wine!

OK, panic over - have had call from clinic and cyst is no problem - I am taking my first shot of Gonal-f tonight. Actually quite calm and optimistic this evening*, but so so many hurdles to overcome first.

The clinic have also now reviewed DH's SA and we are having IMSI, rather than ICSI (assuming his swimmers don't massively get their acts together between now and EC date). It is ££££ but the success rates are quite dramatically better than standard ICSI so I think (hope) it will be worth it.

EEVA is Early Embryo Viability Assessment which I believe to be where they take time lapse photos of the embryo in the very early stages after fertilisation to give a better idea of which ones are going to make the distance. I believe the equipment required to do this is very expensive so only a few places offer it (my clinic doesn't). Frazoz So do they offer it at the Wessex?

I hope everyone else is well?

Blue That's frustrating news about your Follicle count, but that has to be good news that you don't require surgery on the septum? That would have probably set you back a lot further in your treatment?

Naty Do you mind if I ask why you have never had a baseline scan? I thought this was standard?

• This may or may not have anything to do with the Valium I had before my scan

Hi all, I'm also new to this so pls bear with me. I do already have a child with my partner but after 3 years of trying (I'm 39 next year) for a second we're now looking at the IVF option. I appreciate some people are trying for their first child, so pls don't think I'm greedy. I feel my family is incomplete and it's so hard when all our brothers have three children with their partners, especially when my daughter (she's 7) asks why she hasn't got a brother or sister.

We've had all the initial tests and scans and it appears we have unexplained infertility. All measures are 'as expected for my age'. Since we already have a child we have to pay for treatment and we have our first private appointment on 12 Dec, hopefully to start treatment soon after. The issue I have is that we can def only afford one cycle. I know the success rate for one cycle isn't great, especially at my age. So I then think what's the point trying just to be disappointed, but then I know I'd look back & regret not giving it a go.

Sorry for being so down and negative but I'm feeling sooo confused, (& AF arrived yesterday). Any wise and experienced words would be appreciated.

kaz
My dSis just had a baby at 38 (nearly39) via ivf in chile so it worth a go (it was her first cycle for DC2). She was actually more successful than me (i was unsuccessful at 34). Its somewhat luck, egg quality and what the actual fertility issue is. She was unexplained and ivf must get round whatever is wrong.

My clinic only do baseline for short protocol, but i have long protocol, which seems to be what they stick most people on.
On lp i down reg with a spray and 7 days of the pill i think this gets rid of all follicles then 2 weeks on that they do a blood test which tells them your hormones are off, i think maybe this would let them know of any cysts.

Meant to say i wish my clinic offered imsi, id definitely have tried it. In case my fertilisation issue is the sperm. (I think now its the eggs)
but as he has a count of 0.5mil finding the best few would really help.

Thanks Naty1. It's great to hear about your sister's success, but very sorry to hear your story. I know I'm very blessed to have my daughter.

Battery that's good news about the cyst - pleased to hear you have got started on the Gonal F. Now the fun starts!

Welcome Kaz - unexplained fertility is a common theme on these threads so don't worry about that too much. Definitely worth giving IVF a try and you might be one of the lucky ones where it works first time.

Hi everyone.

I am brand new to all of this and only decided in April this year that we would ttc. I have a 9yr DD from a previous relationship, back then I was very young and naive and had only been with the father for 4 months so I obviously conceived very quickly and accidentally, however, my daughter turned out to be the best accident ever to happen to me :) I never thought that I would have any more children after the break up of our relationship as my DD & I are especially close, couldnt imagine loving anybody as much as I love her, only of course I will. I had a copper coil for 7.5 years which has no effect on my cycle according to doc.Tried getting this removed for months but it got lost, and ended up with forceps taking it out in September.. ouchy!! Had a very heavy and long period (for me) immediately after & nothing since. I am now on CD41 and still havent ovulated. This is not unusual for me as I may only have AF max 5 times per year. Specialist told me that my chances are very slim and should check my BH as a precautionary measure. We checked BH and had devastating results - has a very low sperm count - that low that they are even unable to test morphology rates. I am struggling to come to terms with all of these blows and am emotionally ruined, which is probably adding to my struggles. I break down most days and have ruined by relationship with SIL as she announced PG day I found out :( she doesnt know how I feel but I can't even look at her. I feel guilty as I know it's wrong to feel like this.

But the thing I am really looking for help for is - I have an appointment to see my local private fertiility clinic but literally have no idea where to start. I think we will get straight into treatment as there doesnt seem to be any point in trying manually and if anything, I think my sanity may kill me if we don't. They will treat my but I really have no idea where IVF/ICSI/IUI comes into play, what will be suited for me. Will they insist on any other forms of medication/treatment before allowing me to go for IVF/ICSI/IUI

Just wondered if anybody had any tips for my first appointment or anything? Sorry about the essay and thank you in advance. Wishing you all lots of luck in your quests x

cant believe
They may want to repeat the sperm test as it can vary a lot.

I would look at vitamins for him.
We went with wellman conception. It didnt help us (count

Thanks naty

On answer to your q's, his tests have been private clinic and he has 1.7mil but only 18% I have had all blood tests and come back 'normal' but am not sure if AMH was included in that. Got GP appt so will ask. Taking all precautionary measures as you suggested above (he refuses to sit on bag of frozen peas haha)

Thank you for your reply & advice. Wishing you all the luck x

A warm welcome to you can't believe and Kaz.
Kaz, I hope 12th Dec comes around quickly for you.

So you will be into your next cycle by then and I hope you can start the one after.
I am 37 so not far behind you and feeling the same pressure that IVF needs to work.

cantbelieve, I am in Australia so not familiar with how your system works.
I would assume that if you are paying privately, you would have the option of deciding that you want to head straight to ICSI? Hopefully someone else can shed light on how your system works.

Blue, is there a reason you are not down regging this time? Do they think this will help your situation? As for me, I start estrogen on day 20 of my current cycle until day 3 of next cycle. I will take Puregon (pure FSH the same as Gonal F) and will be adding Leverus? which is pure LH once the lead follicle reaches around 13mm. My Dr said this mimics what happens in a natural cycle that the LH starts to rise as the follicle is maturing so it seems reassuring to me that this will produce the best results since this is what our body is naturally doing every cycle. Day 11 for me now and just counting down.

Hen, so you're getting in the swing of injections now and it's all starting to happen. When is your next scan to get an idea of how you are responding?

Hi all, just thought I'd join in. IVF feels like a lonely business! My story in a nutshell, TTC for five years, early ectopic in 2012 revealed previously undiagnosed stage 4 endometriosis (wondered what all that horrendous pain was year in year out!) had a year's wait for laparoscopy for that, then more tests, absurdly high AMH, v low FSH, thyroid problem, blood test results went missing etc, delay, delay, delay, by which point I was too old for treatment on NHS. Other half has OK but lazy sperms, so has been taking all recommended supplements, selenium and zinc and whatnot.

Now paying Wessex Fertility in Southampton privately for first IVF which has turned out to be a sound decision. All the daily Suprecur and Gonal-F stabs done (I've spent a lot of time crying at pictures of puppies and kittens); first scan on Monday this week looked promising, second scan this morning also looks good, 11 blobs, got thumbs up from the consultant for egg retrieval on Friday so trigger injection at 11pm tonight. Consultant has us down for IVF but might decide ICSI on the day. I don't dare hope that this works out, but I do!

Sending positive vibes and good wishes to you all xx