TTC for 18 months or more. Moving onto iui/ivf/icsi.

[lucieloos]

We have relocated from the conception board where we were previously chatting under the thread 'ttc for 10 months or more'. A lot of us are now long term ttc-ers and are going through infertility treatment or looking to take steps in this direction so we feel this might be a more suitable home for us!

Feel free to stop by and say hi and hopefully we can share the journey together and make it a little easier along the way!

Welcome Lozza, sorry to see you here but everyone is great.

I tested today 5dp5dt and bfn. I know it's very early and I got a bfn on my bfp cycle on this day so I know it's not completely over but I really, really don't feel it's worked. I have a day off tomorrow and Wednesday so will do a couple more then and that should be it then. I need to stay on the progesterone for longer though as I want to try and time my fet to be over a weekend so DH can come. Any more symptoms banana?

Banana, I don't think the cramping will necessarily just be the progesterone. It is perfect timing for implantation so could be a good sign. So sorry for the pain without your meds. That must be hard to deal with. Hope it eases off soon.

Welcome Lozza, these women really are fab.

Fingers crossed for everyone :-)

Banana with you on the acne this month, it's everywhere... Face, hairline, back, chest!

Welcome Lozza, these women really are fab.

Fingers crossed for everyone :-)

Banana with you on the acne this month, it's everywhere... Face, hairline, back, chest!

Welcome Lozza!

Lucie still hoping for you - it's still early and isn't every pregnancy different? There's still hope.

Banana I'm sorry to hear you're suffering with pain and also acne! I get that too - horrible big painful under the skin ones!

No news from me. Not even sure when AF is due since the injectibles, not temping or used OPKs this month. I'm on cd24 though (normal cycle is about 33 days) and scan was two weeks ago so I'm guessing something will happen by the end of this week!

Had some brown spotting on and off last week - on cd16 and then on cd19-21. Guessing it's all the hormones going mad from the injectibles. Bought some regular sized tampons in anticipation of a period with normal flow for a change after my lining made it to 7.6mm at the scan! Might have even been thicker after that!

Hi all, sorry I've been AWOL again at such an important time - things have been a bit difficult in RL.

Lucie, I am so sorry that it was a BFN this morning lovely, I really do hope that it is too early but I remember how awful I felt with a BFN at the same stage. This journey sucks!

So glad everything has gone well for you Banana, sorry to hear about the pain though, good that your DH remembers that it eased up last time. Can't be too long until you test now - FX!

Friend, congratulations on your BFP, great to know that they can happen naturally after all this time.

Thinking of everyone on here x x

Thanks trixie, lovely to hear from you. The bfn is disappointing and it would be nice if it changed but in a way I'm used to it now. I'm not devastated it's just frustrating and annoying. I've had my protocol through for the fet so I'm all set to go with that if needs be. We would be looking to transfer around 14-15 October.

Maple, the spotting is unusual isn't it. Might have been a bit of break through bleeding or something when you ovulated. Would be great if it was implantation though!

Lucie I'm not holding my breath for implantation and actually I would be a bit scared of multiples if I had a bfp, even though we have abstained as instructed! I think it was likely from ovulation as you say!

Hi all, huge thanks everyone. I thought all I needed to see was a BFP, but I've got really bad fear and anxiety now as well as really bad cramps, so i'm a bit worried.

Banana, sorry about the pain, just what you need hey! I hope you and Lucie get some good news over the weekend. Fingers crossed for yoy both and everyone else too.

I hope you all don't mind me sticking around, I still don't feel like I belong on any other groups. x

Welcome Lozza, sorry you find yourself here but this is a great place for support and advice!

I'm keeping my fingers crossed for everyone, hope your all doing ok

Welcome Lozza.

That sounds horrible Banana. I hope the pain is worth it this time round.

Stay as long as you want Friends. After all my experiences it is going to be a long time before I find a BFP in any way connected to having a baby.

I am so tired at the moment. I just want to get into bed for a weekend and not get up. Fat chance of that happening any time soon.

Brenna, I know how you feel! I was 'on the road' yesterday and had already been feeling shattered that just tipped me over into a full on couch potato last night!

14-15 October isn't far away at all Lucie! (if you don't get a BFP which I'm hoping you do obviously!) I've just had AF after a 36 day cycle so if I keep having long cycles I'll be looking at transfer in December at this rate.

Friends, lots of the BFP ladies talk about bad cramping, the little embryo will be busy burrowing in, it must be worrying though.

I know it's very early on compared to all of you but I've finally made my GP appointment - 1st one they could give me was in 2 weeks time (I didn't think that was too bad by most of today's standards as I said it wasn't urgent but the receptionist was very apologetic!). I know it doesn't sound like much but it's a start - I'm such a workaholic normally so it meant a lot to DH. Feeling a mixture of excitement & nerves - I know I have issues but hoping it's only what I know already and there's not anything else to add in to the mix!

Hoping you are all well - fingers crossed for FETs, implantation and BFPs for you all xx

www.annalsofepidemiology.org/article/S1047-2797%2816%2930240-X/pdf

Interesting article. It is kind of hard to avoid any stress, but i have been feeling for a while that the months when we have managed to conceive were the months when there was no major changes in our lives and when we have been more relaxed.

Still crossing my fingers for you Lucie. I'm sorry about the bfn but hope it turns positive over the next few days.

Good luck banana, fingers crossed for you too!

Sorry you're feeling low Trixie. I've been that way too and have started therapy last week. Going again tomorrow and have had a jokey rant with my friend about us both being infertile (her secondary, but she's still a comfort to me). It helps to get it out somehow and I feel marginally calmer today.

Lozza, well done on making the appointment. Do you know whether you ovulate on your own with pcos? Or are you starting at the very beginning with investigations? You're lucky you're still v young so hopefully you'll get your bfp soon.

Waves to everyone else, hope you're all doing well considering

I am rooting for you both Lucie and Banana x

Thinking of you lucie and banana

So lots to think about after the icsi chat.

Generally embryologist seems very positive and says she anticipates a 70-80% fertilisation rate. With icsi we may also loose some anyway with the process too. Slight increase in risk of "minor" birth defects - webbed fingers being the biggest!

She suggests that a possible explanation for our failure to fertilise may be a thick "shell" on the egg. If this looks thick when they do the icsi or if the eggs are oval the suggest doing assisted hatching on day 3.

Having the time lapse camera and the feeling is if there are a couple of front runners on d3 they are inclined to put back then as they are keen to make sure I get to transfer. If loads all looking similar then carry on to blast. If have a d3 they would suggest having 2 back. Apparently this will increase risk of fraternal twins (need to check percentages) but higher order multiples from this low risk. If day 5 and assisted hatching then def only one blast if top quality because of risk of multiples.

They seem positive but I can't get rid of the niggle that it's all going to go tits up again. I also asked what she would suggest if we don't get good embryos/fertilisation this time and she said she would feel that they had reached the end of what the could offer me at that clinic.

I guess I'm now really hanging onto this oval thing/thick shell being our reason for not conceiving. After all M's sample is fine and we know I'm ovulating and as of last August when I conceived and had the MC I had at least 1 patent tube. So what if the boys swimmers just can't get in or anything the does fertilise can't hatch? Would be nice to have an explanation, especially if it's something that can be overcome.

Any thoughts?

star I've never had regular cycles - they range from 32 days to 60+. I got investigated and diagnosed with PCOS when I was 20 due to very irregular periods. I've never had investigations with regards to ovulating etc though so this will all be a first for me. I did start trying to track my BBT but i'm a shift worker and it got a bit too confusing for me (or I would be so tired I would forget to do it!!)! Because I know I have PCOS I always knew (despite me being such a workaholic) that it was important not to leave starting a family too late.

Good luck to banana and lucie

beanhunter its got to be helpful if you know the reason/cause of a problem to help to find a solution. It sounds like your embryologist knows what she's talking about - and if she's positive you need to be positive too! Fingers crossed for you xx

Friends, hope you're ok, cramps are normal but I know what you mean about the fear and anxiety. It doesn't really get any easier after you've got the bfp does it.

Trixie, hope this next cycle is a little shorter for you so that you can get your frosties on board ASAP!

Lozza, well done on making the gps appt. It will be here in no time and then you can start the ball rolling.

Bean, we've always done really well with icsi and got 96% fertilisation rate from all our cycles combined. There was only one egg that hasn't fertilised which was from this most recent round. Hopefully you will do just as well.

Banana, hope all is going well with you!

Afm, well I just can't keep it to myself any longer! I tested yesterday which was 6dp5dt and a faint line came up almost straight away! I've tested again this morning and it's quite a bit darker so looks like it's BFP from me!!!!! Utterly terrified after last time and I haven't even told dh yet as wanted to double check again today as it was really hard on him as well last time but I will probably tell him this evening. Obviously don't want to broadcast it all over the place before I've told him but I just had to tell someone. I really couldn't believe my eyes as its been the most boring 1ww ever. My only symptoms were tiredness, really full heavy boobs which I never get which were also sore, very grumpy and pms, a few very mild cramps and a very slight metallic taste on a couple of occasions. Just hope this one is here to stay!

Lucie I've got tears in my eyes..... So pleased for you. Hoping and praying it sticks tight. Xxxx

Banana - hope you are ok. X

Aww thank you so much Boris! It really has been such a surprise! Praying it sticks x

Excellent news Luicie! Xxx

Cautious congratulations lucie x

Eeek! Lucie, this is wonderful news x