Create fertility/ natural IVF - any experiences or success stories?

[closephine85]

Does anyone have any experiences with create fertility in London? We are looking at having Ivf early next year and after quite a bit of research I'm keen to go the natural route. There are no known issues with me, however DH has quite low numbers so I'm liking the idea of natural Ivf with icsi. Has anyone done this and had success?

It doesn't have to be create - open to suggestions of other clinics but I think it would have to be somewhere willing to do natural Ivf with icsi.

Thanks (aware I'm turning into a bit of a serial thread creator on here but it's the only place I get proper advice!)

euro huge congrats! delighted to hear you had such a brilliant result. Completely agree with you about ARGC - their bootcamp approach would definitely not be for me. Although even if I wanted to, they wouldn’t accept me as a patient anyway, because they don’t want to take on more difficult patients like me who might bugger their stats (they won’t let you cycle with them unless your FSH is below 10)

May I ask what made the Create approach more relaxed, in your experience? From what I’ve heard from the women who’ve cycled there, their experience seemed pretty much the same as doing a short protocol at any other clinic - same number of scans and bloods required etc. Be really interested to hear your POV.

Banana,
I've had 5 FETs at Create and I don't recognise the situation you describe at all.
All of mine started with a scan on day 5, then scans every other day with bloods to monitor LH levels, and then scans every day towards OV date. For all but one transfer, they triggered me with HCG because they believe that gives added lutal support and allowed for a more precise transfer time.
After trigger day, I also got daily updates from the embryologists on the progress of the embryos.

Regarding OHSS, Create take a very cautious approach, I suspect because they love to be able to say they've never had a patient with a moderate or severe case.

For fresh cycles, this means they monitor your oestrogen levels in blood tests, and if it goes over 8,000, you get a free free and FET.
For comparison, my best friend had a round at Lister and had levels of 11,000 at collection, and they went ahead with the fresh transfer. She ended up in A&E...

Others, including CRGH will also go ahead with fresh transfers at this level or charge you if you want to do a FET, which seems like malpractice to me, given the consequences to you and any potential pregnancy if you develop OHSSS

That's exactly what I would expect of any clinic sparechange, esp one which prided itself on mild stims. Hence why I was so shocked by what this poster described about her experience at Create! As I say, it's only one account and it's second hand so I have no way of verifying it whatsoever - hence why I said to take it with a pinch of salt.

But if it is true it certainly sounds like they weren't being too cautious about avoiding OHSS with this particular poster - I certainly wouldn't expect a patient to end up being given cabergoline because they were so dangerously hyperstimulated as it was, at a clinic that says it prides itself on gentle stims. Again, I have no proof, but this poster said she was on 150iu the whole way through, when my friend at NHS was dropped down to 75iu and coasted for several days as soon as her oestrogen levels started to rise and even hint at the possibility of hyper stimulating.

I was as shocked as you are by this account as it seems to go against everything Create claim they stand for. However given that so many people talk about being on doses of 300iu for a so called 'mild' stims cycle, I've become a little suspicious about their claims tbc, and didn't see any reason for this poster to be making up her story.

However I'm delighted you had such a great experience - that's brilliant to hear. I hope you had the result you'd hoped for after your 5 FETS?

I think 'mild stims' can be subjective depending on the individual circumstances.
The difference for me between Create and others was their objective. For me, it was to target 5-8 eggs at collection. Other clinics wanted 10+, and my best mate with similar AMH got 19 eggs (and ended up in hospital with OHSS)
For some women, they might need a dose of 300 to get to 4 or 5 eggs but that would be a mild dose compared to what they would be on to get 10 eggs, if that makes sense? I was on 125, and that was plenty..! God knows what state I would have been on if a clinic started me off on 200+ as was standard for many.

I've had 2 pregnancies from 5 transfers, so slightly better than their published stats for my age group.
Sadly neither resulted in a live birth, but crucially, both babies were chromosonally normal, which gives me confidence in their general ethos of mild IVF producing better eggs. Neither of my pregnancy losses was related to IVF - I've just been really bloody unlucky.
We are going back for another round with Create in a few weeks. We have looked at other clinics, including ARGC, but none convinced us they would be any better than Create, and were all several thousand more per round

I think it's me that bananafish mentioned
I didn't have the best time with my cycles (1 mild and 1 FET)
I sort of expected a possible freeze all with the mild cycle as it didn't go to plan. I had 14 days of stimms in the end (was told itd be 5-9 so was a bit surprised and at the time stressed) I have pcos and high amh
I felt dreadfully I'll though (i didn't have cabergoline though and my dose was lower than 150 I think that was another poster on same thread mentioned cycling at same time)
My dose was not changed as I had lots of follicles at differing sizes so they kept it the same (I was desperate for it to be lowered as i felt awful)

Appts generally ran on time and I didn't encounter any problems on the admin side.

In the end it was a freeze all. There was huge confusion about the grades and embryos frozen due to a bit of a language barrier with a couple of the embryologists but it was resolved in the end although I had a day or two of being devastated thinking I had less embryos frozen than I actually had

It cost a lot more than we thought. Due to the 14 days stimms it was a lot and so many blood tests it pushed the cost up quite a bit
The doctors were actually mostly really lovely but there was a barrier getting through to them

The OPK situation nearly finished me. I kept saying I needed more scans and it bloods to determine ovulation as the tests don't work well for me due to pcos
They would not bring my scan forward and there was a well between one scan and the next (day 7, 10 and then 17 and I was panicking) on day 17 there was a massive follicle and the doctor couldn't believe is not had a positive opk and I had to do one there and then which again was negative and she gave me a trigger inj to take that night.
I did get the surge that evening but it was stressful thinking i would miss it

I think though from reading and going on forums that all clinics have their problems and we are still with create as we do really like their approach, my problems trying to bring my scan forward and the opk issues was 95% trying to get past the receptionists to speak to a dr or nurse or get a callback as they kept saying 'do the tests and call us when you get the surge' and it was infuriating

The theatre care was amazing though and I can't fault that. I felt unwell after ec and et and that side of things seems very well run.
I also feel now(in a non hormonal and panicky state!) that there is an element of trial and error and at leat this cycle I can say to the dr last time she saw herself the opk wasn't reliable and I need more frequent scans or bloods so I'm trying to see the positive side

Sorry for long post !

Thanks waiting — it was indeed you whose story I was (mis)remembering - and thanks for correcting the bits where I’d mixed up your story with another poster, I figured I was almost certainly buggering some bits up!

I really hope that any kinks are ironed out with your next cycle - so much of this process is about learnings, so hope it stands you in good stead for your next FET

sparechange makes total sense when you explain it like that - thanks! Maybe you should write their website copy

I guess I just found it confusing to say that mild IVF produces better eggs than conventional IVF when it seemed their doses weren’t necessarily any different to other clinics. The main thing, as you say, is for any clinic, wherever you are, is to tailor an individual protocol that’s right for you, which it sounds like they did brilliantly for you.

I’m keeping everything crossed for your next round and hope that 2016 is your year xx

I think a lot of the problem with my cycle was the receptionists churning out the same "do the opk and call back when it detects your surge" and not believing me when I said opk are not reliable for me! It was frustrating and I was hormonal!

I'm hoping it is just about learnings. I think my first mild cycle was almost a trial to see how I responded to the drugs and the FeT failing I'm just putting down to bad luck. Im trying to be positive but it's so hard

I do believe in the clinic and their approach though and that's why we have stuck with them as something feels right there. I have to say I'm sick of the endless journeys there and back but I do feel well looked after this time

I recently completed a cycle at create St. Paul's. I was selected to have ICSI with mild stimulation. The known fertility problem was sperm morphology.
Anyway day after egg collection I was called to say none of the eggs had fertilised as the did standard IVF and not the agreed (and paid for!) ICSI!!

That is terrible Bubbles63, you definitely have comeback there surely because there will be a record of what you paid for, and someone has made that mistake. Am sorry you ve had to go through this

Thanks, yes I have my invoice which clearly shows the additional paid for ICSI. I have a follow up with them, although not hopeful they will have a justifiable reason for the fundamental mistake.

I am utterly horrified - you should write a letter of complaint to the HFEA. That is seriously bad practice!!! I can't believe they've put you through this

That is dreadful def complain. What an awful mistake

We had an issue with a consent form in our first cycle, they forgot to get dh to sigh to thaw his sample (he couldn't be there) and there was a huge panic at EC as they couldn't go ahead. He had to then come in (took three hours) and I was so stressed and worried it affected the eggs.
They are good there but the admin side I've noticed especially lately is hit and miss and it's very hard to speak to a doctor if you call in. The approach is good and staff great when you are actually there.
The big issue with embryologists I found was a language barrier. I spent first couple of days upset not sure how many embryos we had as couldn't understand them when they called.

Hope you get some answers bubble and they can offer help with this as it's terrible

Hi I'm just starting out with create and I'm terrified about OHSS. I suffer with panic attacks and I'm battling with my mind about the drugs and injections. I'm doing mild IVF 3 cycle package. Any support or success stories would be a massive help

I'm with create and just about to have ET after 3 cycles. If you are on the mild package you should be fine re: OHSS as the drug dosage is so low. Which consultant have you met? They are lovely and I'm sure you could call, and speak to them or one of the nurses to put your mind at rest

Hi All
First time posting...I have just had my first scan at Create Birmingham. They have recommended modified IVF . I'm 34 (trying for 6 years) and we have 'unexplained' infertility. Just wondered what the typical dosage of stims is and the name of the drug? The consultant recommended 150 (something) of stims. I ask because my sister had IVF and is the first person in my family to have breast cancer at 45 years old. My Dad has Stage 4 cancer too. Want to avoid increasing my possible risk, hence modified IVF rather than conventional.

Sorry for the long post! :-)

Hi thanks for your reply. I met with Dr Gurpreet Kalra and a lovely nurse called Linda. I start my first injection tomorrow! Hope your ET went well!

Good luck, tilly
Hope the injections are going well

Hi McGray I'm also on 150 and doing my first of my 3 cycle package. I'm just waiting for a call to see if I will pull the trigger today! I've got nothing but good comments about create and my fertility nurse at Bristol Linda kohan is a super star. She has made every nervous step for me stress free. I'm even mastering the injections which at the start of this journey seemed an impossible task. Good luck 🍀

I'm looking at create for mild ivf, would you guys say in general the costs are as advertised?

hello all

I would steer clear of Create, we had many issues there - very disorganised, admin was terrible, overcharged and many mistakes were made. I really wouldn't want you to waste money there and there are other clinics you could use. It has been a horror story for my husband and I and we are both still reeling from the shock of our experience there.

What was your experience Missellis? I ask because I sm going to be attending a patient information evening there soon.

Hi everyone, I was booked to go to the open day for Create in St Paul's today and did a bit of google checking prior to the app so discovered this old thread. Needless to say, we decided to not spend our time going there as I don't think it sounds like the place which would maximise our chances (42, history of unexplained secondary infertility, recurrent miscarriages including a late one/early stillbirth, with Hashimoto's autoimmune hypothyroidism)
Any thoughts from any of the other ladies who considered Create but went elsewhere? Especially from anyone over 40?
I hear a lot about ARCG and the Lister but there are also lots of other threads with horror stories about both....

Go to the fertility show and ask one of the experts who give lectures for their opinions on Create. I did and nobody had a good thing to say about them — apparently they use the same level of drugs as normal short or long protocols in other companies but without the results. If you want a milder cycle you can request your clinic puts you on a short protocol but at your age, unless you have pcos, you probably need the long to get as many mature eggs as possible.

I think I have read enough to convince myself that Create is probably not the best option for us. Although I am 42, I have been told by doctors here and in Greece that I have very good ovarian reserve for my age so perhaps a more aggressive approach would be best- just dreading the relentless cycle of blood tests, scans, doctors apps, £££ racking up like there's no tomorrow as we briefly went through this process in the past with a well known private reproductive immunologist and his "treatment plans" which resulted to a big fat nothing.
Just out of curiosity, when you say low ovarian reserve, what sort of figures are we discussing here? My last FSH was 5.7U/L and last E2 was 84 pmol/L, LH at 3.1 U/L. I have no idea how to interpret those stats though as my GP did not bother to elaborate. Does anyone else in this group from all the very knowledgeable ladies have any insight?