ICSI- when should we start?

[passmetheginbottle]

Had the news yesterday that my DH and I are very unlikely to ever be able to conceive naturally due to male infertility. I'm devastated but in a weird way feel a bit relieved that we have an explanation as to why it hasn't happened in five years of trying. We have been put on the waiting list for an appointment with the consultant on the 14th May and after that it should be all systems go. However, I am so confused as two weeks ago, after months and months of slogging away on an access course I have been offered a place at university locally. I have always wanted to be a nurse and due to the fact that children were not appearing as I envisaged decided to go for it. Would I be mad to consider having ICSI (we have been told this is what we will be having) at the same time as studying FT at Uni? I am beside myself trying to decide what to do for the best; I desperately want to get on with ICSI and could always take a year out of Uni if I was lucky enough to get pregnant, but I am aware that this journey is going to be both physically and emotionally exhausting so am I being ridiculous to even consider it? I don't really want to reject my place at Uni as I have worked so hard to get in, deferring for a year isn't an option- I would have to re-apply and there is no guarantee I will get in again. However, the thought of delaying ICSI until I finish my degree in three years time breaks my heart.

Any advice or experience from anyone would be most helpful and appreciated. Thank you x

I haven't been in your exact situation but ours was quite similar. We've recently had our first round of ICSI, having been TTC for 3.5 years. Until Aug 2014 I had been a mature student for 4 years, in a field quite similar to yours. In that time we had 3 rounds of monitored clomid (a bit pointless given DHs count but there was a 2 year wait for IVF in our area) which actually involved a similar number of scans to my short protocol IVF. Having done it when working FT and when a student on a full on course I can say the latter was easier.

Do a bit of research into what you'd be entitled to on mat leave (I would have still got my NHS bursary).

Hadn't finished there!

Also see whether if you have a year off starting in the middle of the academic year If you can go back where you left off or whether you'd have to repeat the year.

Let me know if you've more questions.

Thank you so much for your advice.....I feel really alone at the moment and so confused about it all. It's really reassuring to know that you found it easier when you were a FT student as oppose to working FT. How did you find ICSI physically?

I found it surprisingly fine! The clomid was much worse - all the night sweats and insomnia. No side effects at all from my short protocol. I only really needed one day off work for egg collection, but was completely fine by the afternoon. In fact I was so fine I went for a 10k run the next morning. The most difficult thing has been the 3 weeks since testing - we got a BFP but have been plagued with bleeding and pain so aren't very hopeful about this one sticking.

Whilst work were good, I felt terribly about leaving colleagues in the lurch. Ultimately when you're a student you're only really a spare pair of hands, but I've felt really guilty about abandoning my patients and co workers.

When can you test to find out? I wish you all the best of luck and thank you so much for the info x

Does anyone else have any advice?

I was working FT when I had ICSI. Only needed one day off for egg collection. Embryo transfer was done at the weekend and I could get all my bloods and scans done before work. Like pp, I had very few physical side effects, just a bit of nausea. It can be tough emotionally, esp during the 2ww, but different people respond in different ways - having a supportive partner will help.

If you postpone ICSI until you have finished at uni, I can't imagine it will be any easier when you are working full time. You may also find it useful to have your study to occupy your thoughts and your time so you don't worry so much about what is happening with the ICSI - I was glad that I was busy.

Hi

I am in the middle of our ICSI cycle just now. A few things:

Are you sure it will be 'all systems go' after 14th May? It varies from area to area but where I live it was 19 months from GP referral to ivf starting with lots of hospital appointments in between... I hope you won't have the same wait but you should be aware that even once you are on the waiting list it might be a while.

I am on the short protocol and it was all ok until egg collection. I felt a bit rubbish before (bloated, tired, fed up of injecting) but nothing terrible and managed to work. After egg collection I certainly did not feel ok by the afternoon, and am still off work four days later. I have developed mild OHSS and am now measuring my fluid intake and output (nice!) and injecting heparin daily. It's a bit of a lottery - some people will develop OHSS or some other complication and others won't. The egg collection is surgery though, with a sedative (I was knocked completely out by it) and all the shenanigans that accompany surgery. I find it amazing that two posters on here felt so well afterwards, although that's great. Hopefully you will fall into their camp! Even before the OHSS developed I was lethargic and pretty tender.

The ICSI itself won't make any difference to how the cycle is run for you - the difference all goes on behind the scenes. From your perspective it is really pretty similar to IVF. It will cost more if you are paying for it privately though.

I work full time and have found it ok - I told my boss though and she has been very supportive thankfully. I've used sick leave for hospital appointments, post surgery etc but plan to use annual leave for post transfer. You don't have to be off, but I have a very stressful job so I'd rather not be in if I can help it. Do you have a summer holiday at university? Could you possibly schedule your treatment to be over the holidays?

Good luck

Personally I would do ICSIand the course. So keep options open - as things may not be ready to "go" the day of your consultation and sadly first attempts do not always work. As often have to do fewmore tests, learn how to do injections and wait for a cycle before start so June at earliest i would have guessed? And Uni will have holiday times and days you are not in 8-5 at times which may help of you are successful and get a Bfp early summer.

If you've been trying for five years then I would be doing ICSI sooner rather than later if I were you, although you may be younger than me!

As others have said, it might be easier to fit round a uni course than job commitments, especially if it can be done partly during uni holidays. Different people have different side effects but you'll find that you'll just endure them whatever else is going on in your life! I personally was fine in my fresh cycle with no side effects although egg collection was uncomfortable and the sedative made me feel ill briefly but I was fine the next day and embryo transfer was fine. I worked full time during the cycle and juggling my work diary was by far the hardest part. I am currently nearing the end of a frozen embryo cycle whilst working part time, looking after toddler DD the other days and orchestrating a house sale & purchase - things are definitely harder this time round but probably more emotionally than physically.

Good luck whatever you decide! There's lots of support on MN for your journey!

I was back at work the next day after EC. Working FT. A few hours off at a time fior a week or so for the scans etc.
Physically its fine , emotionally very difficult.
Pregnancy is much harder (for me) physically than the ivf. So tired i would fall asleep in a chair around 9pm.
I would go ahead and do the course. It can take several rounds ivf to work. Though i think it could be tough studying with a newborn.