Waiting for IVF now

[Craftyginger]

Hi all, new to this but we have just been referred for IVF and none of my friends in same situation. Looking for a support and to be a support through what we have to come. I'm 33 been trying for 2 years now. Be great to have some chats with people in the same situation. X

Hi Craftyginger (again!) I'm in the same boat! Am happy to provide support here!

I'm 32, husband is 41 and his sperm analysis wasn't great so we have been referred to the fertility clinic in our area. We've been trying on and off for 2 years (actively trying for the last year). None of my friends are in this situation either, my best friend is currently pregnant which is difficult-ish!

Hi Elektra83 we have only just been referred so have around a 3 month wait before funding is confirmed. Feel like counting every day! I think we become over sensitive at this time cause I feel like everyone is getting pregnant or has children/babies everywhere I go, even every TV programme I watch seem to be having babies grrr just makes it even harder.

If you can afford it I would highly recommend having acupuncture. From now if possible. Acupuncture has been shown through clinical trials to improve the success rates of IVF. It also improves stress levels, regulate menustration and improve the attrition process (the development of the egg before collection). If you can't afford it, see if you clinic does it, or just have acupuncture pre and post implantation within 24 hours.

Look around at different acupuncturists as some don't have experience in fertility, and some charge a lot more then others!

Good luck to you, I was in your situation but thankfully it worked and DD is sitting next to me in bed now watching TV! My advice is to write down your questions before each hospital visit so that you don't forget, and to celebrate each successful step in the process. My clinic staff were so supportive and it was great to think there was this whole team of people helping me to achieve my goal. Try to build on some relaxing time too, we always went for a nice meal on our appointment days. Mine didn't work first time which was heartbreaking but the doctors learnt from my responses to the drugs and altered my dosage for the next time. I hope that you get a positive outcome soon

Thanks Treaclepot and ilikesweetpeas great to hear success stories and advice. We know a lot about where we have been referred and is an amazing place with great success rates so fingers crossed??

Just wanted to wish you luck with your IVF experience. I just had my first round and it sadly failed. When I do it again, there's a couple of things I'[ll do differently - including going away during the TWW, as I never want to be counting the minutes again, it was excruciating!

Just a word about acupuncture - it has not been shown to make a statistically significant difference to IVF outcomes, and medical guidelines state that there is currently no evidence that it helps. Some studies have shown that it can reduce stress, and stress reduction helps, but there are just as effective and cheaper ways to do that (walking, meditation, etc). I just wanted to say that as I spent over a year hand-wringing and beating myself up over whether I should be doing it or not, and felt a huge amount of pressure to spend money on it, and it caused a lot of stress. If you want to do it, enjoy it and can afford it, then do it by all means. But if you don't want to, that is absolutely fine. It won't affect your chances (and I think acupuncturists are being pretty irresponsible by telling people it will - the fertility market makes up a large chunk of their earning potential, in most cases).

Good luck!

Hi craftyginger I'm also in the same situation (34, ttc for over 2 years) but right in the middle of ivf - hopefully I'll be having my best blastocyst put back tomorrow.

There is a fab thread in conception - a group that calls themselves the berries - you should check it out. I've found the support amazing and newbies always welcome! We've had lots of grads recently so we're a bit thin on the ground, come on over! Good luck with your next steps.

Thanks merricat it's lovely to have everyone's advice but I'm not a believer in acupuncture myself and at the mo just waiting for the advice my clinic gives us and stick with that. Trying to walk more and snack less to get my BMI down over the next few weeks. Best of luck with your next round sorry to hear the first round was not a success but all good things come to those of us who have to wait(we are all Hoping hey) x

Ooo thanks Tigerdog will take a look today. So lovely to have all the support of people going through the same situation can't beat it to make you feel less alone!

I'm so glad I discovered Mumsnet as I found the first year of ttc very lonely - all my friends were pregnant or had just had babies and I didn't feel like I could talk about it at all. I've also found the help during ivf invaluable - lots of knowledge and experience to draw on.

Healthy eating and acupuncture have made me feel like I'm doing something that will help me get pregnant. Whether or not the acu helps I'm not sure, but I go because I love my lady, and the time spent relaxing and talking openly about ttc is invaluable to me.

Anyway, Pop on over! The thread title might seem like gobbledygook but trust me, you'll soon pick it up!

Hey ladies does anyone know if when given meds before IVF they also give ovulation tests? I'm unsure if I ovulate on the correct date as my bloods couldn't be re-done before we got referred and having had a few irregular periods I'm being paranoid about this. Would they need to ensure they have my correct ovulation date or do they just take my eggs even if I'm not ovulating on that day?