IVF June 2017

[Avocadosmoothie]

Hello, is anyone due to start IVF In June? My consultant has put me forward to start IVF, my next appointment is April 26th and if I start on long protocol I would start stimms late May and egg retrieval would be mid June. Would love to hear from someone on the same path!

So sorry to hear that Vox, awful timing, sending you best wishes.
Avocado, my progesterone ran out 3 days before my blood test was due, although I was already getting negatives so I was tempted to stop but didn't, just in case ... AF only came on the evening of my test date (and it hurts!), but I would definitely have stopped the progesterone if I'd got it before then, awful stuff! My clinic confirmed my BFN on Friday although I already knew and had had time to process it. Waiting for their review meeting on Tuesday when they'll let us know the next steps, but we'll most likely try FET on next cycle.

Ok, I've decided to stop with the pessaries despite the nurse telling me not to. I'm not really in the mood and want to let me body relax a bit anyway.

Scottish, when is your FET cycle due to start?

So sorry Scott
Avocado, I'm day 22 today. I've booked myself in for an endometrial scratch on Wednesday. My AF will likely come around 10 days from now, and I'll start on day 2 with the estradiol. So about 11 days time! Actually panicking slightly, still need to get quotes for my drugs and order them. I'm with a clinic abroad so I arrange everything myself, for example scratch is nothing to do with them, I just checked they're happy with me having one. Wish time would slow down!

Hi Scottish, how did the scratch go?

Hi! I've had to change my appointment to Monday since I ovulated so late. It's meant to be done on day 21, this cycle my day 30 will be equivalent of day 21 i.e 7 days after ovulation. Are you having a scratch? Remember if you are you're not allowed to try naturally this month. When's your follow up appointment? Xx

Ah! No I'm not having one this time. Would definitely consider it if I need to do another FET. Would be interested to hear how it goes! My appt is going to be end of the month/early aug. My period would ordinarily be due around aug 7 so praying I get my appt before then. Just waiting for the letter to arrive. We've definitely decided to do just one embryo this time. I'm not sure we'd ever elect for 2. We'll, probably depends how desperate we get....!

Yes I'd also worry about two, I've heard that if one is better quality, the poorer quality one can risk the success of the better one, if that makes sense. So you could lose both when one may have worked. But in the end, it is all random with a heck of a lot of luck!! Fingers crossed your appointment comes through quickly. My follow-up consisted of me emailing when I got a negative at 9dp5dt and telling them I was doing a FET in August, and them replying to say ok here's your prescription!! 😁

Hope everyone else is well x

@avocadosmoothie @Scottishgirl85 - we decided against more than single embryo transfer because (a) we don't want more than 1 child or the health risk to me/babies that goes with twin pregnancy, (b) transferring 2 embryos doesn't increase chance of success by much anyway (less than 5%?).

My cycle appears back to normal already . Am currently CD11, 2nd day of "high fertility" as per OPK, so ovulation should be Sat/Sun (CD14/15). I have appointment with consultant this afternoon. I think clinic will propose natural cycle FET as my cycle is unproblematic. However, I think we have to wait one more month for FET. Am hoping this might NOT be the case crosses fingers

Hi blueberry! Is your clinic open at he weekend? I have v regular cycles usually and ovulate but my clinic suggested medicated in case dates fall over a weekend in which case the cycle would need to be postponed. They also said I would need to come in most days in the second week of the cycle for blood tests whereas there are far fewer appointments needed for medicated. Just something to think about. I was set on natural until the weekend timings occurred to me!

@avocadosmoothie - yes they are. They would have even done egg collection on Saturday if needed (it wasn't in the end). This was one of the reasons a friend recommended the clinic as she said they make decisions based on what's best for each individual patient not clinic schedule.

I saw consultant this afternoon and he is happy to do natural cycle FET next week ! Scan today showed all is as it should be for this point in the cycle, although ovulation probably later than I thought; more like Monday based on follicle size today. I have to keep on with OPKs and go back for scans tomorrow and Monday to monitor cycle progress. The only drugs I will have to take are progesterone pessaries.

After being quite relaxed throughout the IVF process (less stressful than 1 year of failing TTC by the end of it!) so far, now I start to feel a bit nervous .

Blueberry that's exciting! What day will your transfer be? Are you going to transfer one or two embryos? Sorry, I can't remember how many you have!

Scottish, hope the scratch goes well, let us know how it was! Will you start on the medication next week?

My appt is aug 2nd. Period would be due aug 8th normally but going to start ovulation tests next week to see what's going on!

@avocadosmoothie - transfer will be 5 days after ovulation, but still waiting to ovulate . Scan this morning revealed big fat follicle & 9mm womb lining , so consultant thinks ovulation any day now. I need to keep using OPKs until they show LH surge, then inform clinic. Will transfer only 1 embryo (we have 3 frozen blastocysts), as we don't want more than 1 baby or health risks of twin pregnancy.

Hope your next appointment goes well. I think medicated FET cycles have their advantages over natural cycles as clinic can control everything better, rather than relying on nature, which can misbehave! Luckily my cycle is quite normal, clinic is 20 mins from my office (so I can work round appointments by coming in early, leaving later etc), and they do FET on best day for patient even if it's at the weekend.

Good luck blueberry!!
Scratch over and done with. Highly unpleasant, more like scraping than a scratch! But overall not too bad and wouldn't be put off doing it again if it comes to it.
Fingers crossed you'll get the go ahead at your appointment avocado!
Don't think I'll join August thread. To be honest I find it hard to keep track of everyone! Going for laid back approach this time, ha will see how that pans out! 😁
Hope everyone else doing well!

@Scottishgirl85 - I've heard of endometrial scratch, but my clinic never mentioned it. Was there a particular reason you were advised to do it? Hope it helps anyway

My update: I finally got LH surge on Clearblue gizmo so FET date can be arranged. I think clinic will consider tomorrow as day of ovulation, so transfer will be 5 days later i.e. next Tuesday (aaahhh!!!)

That's exciting blueberry, was the surge any later or sooner than normal?

I don't want to join an Aug thread either Scottish!

Hello ladies. I hope you don't mind me gatecrashing your forum! It's been lovely to read all your stories and realise I am not alone. I've recently been told that for my age I have low AMH. Only having just turned 31 this was a shock and difficult to hear! My partners little swimmers are fine and as far as we are aware so far, it's just the AMH that we have to contend with. The low AMH is no reflection on egg quality just quantity and so there is every chance that we could conceive naturally but must be mindful that I do not have as much time as We'd have thought for my age...which sucks!
Anyway, we have been advised (privately) that if natural conception doesn't happen within the next few months that we should consider ivf asap...
I've started the ball rolling and am awaiting a NHS gyno appointment, however I am concerned of the waiting times and so feel like the best option may be private.

Obviously, like most people cost is an issue and quite frankly I'm reluctant to hand over my hard earned cash to uk private clinics who are clearly making huge profits at the expense of desperate people. I have therefore been exploring the idea of going abroad, particularly Reprofit clinic in Czech Rep. scottishgirl Ive been reading your comments with much interest and was routing for you to get your positive! Sorry it didn't happen this time round, wishing you all the best for august!!!
I'd love to ask you a few questions about your experience in going to reorofit if you don't mind?

Thanks all...congratulations to those who have received their positives and good luck to those still on their journey xxxxx

Hi brolly! Of course, feel free to ask anything you like on here or private message. Xx

Thanks for replying...very kind of you, I'll try not to bombard you too much!

I'm Just am interested to hear your general view on travelling abroad for ivf. I'm well travelled and so the idea of organising the trips , getting on a plane, going to a new place etc does not phase me and so would not cause additional stress. Do you think the travelling involved could have a negative on the chances of being successful after transfer? I'm sure it wouldn't as they would advise you not to travel straight after.
They only reason I ask is because when I travel abroad my cycles seem to go off course by a few days when usually they are bang on 31 days?
Is a 7/8 day stay plenty of time to have the procedure (using own eggs)? I'm limited for holiday leave until April and if unsuccessful naturally by December I want to go for ivf In January , but could only manage a 7/8 day trip max (including weekend)?

Thanks for your help.it means a lot after feeling quite alone these past few weeks xxx

Hi brolly, I had same worries about flying, that somehow it could affect success. But it really doesn't, our doctor said we could go straight to airport after transfer! You need 7 days absolute minimum. Fly day before egg collection, then egg collection is day 0 and transfer is day 5. I'll be honest knowing when to book flights is quite stressful and hard to predict. You only get definite date of egg collection a few days before. We booked 9 days so had a bit of flexibility. The direct flight to Brno was already fully booked so we flew to Prague and got the train to Brno. Vienna also has good train links. So it's just a case of seeing what flights are still available. The cost saving even once last minute flights and hotels are factured is amazing, so worth bit of stress booking flights! The clinic is really excellent. We were very happy despite the outcome. x

Any pointers on private clinics for ICSI treatment in London and approximate prices would be super helpful?

@Barnacles2020 - I would highly recommend Care London; great attention to detail and they don't sugar coat anything. I'm 41 with only slighly above average (for age) AMH & AFC. My 1st egg collection resulted in 7 mature eggs all of which fertilised via ICSI & 3 embryos made it to day 5 (blastocyst). DP only had impaired motility (no issue with count or morphology) & it wasn't that bad (Consultant said natural conception wasn't impossible, but unlikely). They also schedule things to suit the patient e.g. do egg collection or embryo transfer at the weekends, whereas not all clinics do.

Care may not be the cheapest clinic I think, but not most expensive either. We paid for 2x ISCI cycles up-front (via finance company Access Fertility whom Care work with) for £9500. That covers everything except medication, which can be as much as £2k per cycle. If you pay things as you go, it may cost more per cycle, but less if you only need 1 cycle and you've paid up-front for 2 (if we're successful in cycle 1, there's no refund). Care price list: www.carefertility.com/costs/costs-of-ivf-and-fertility-treatment/

Embryo transfer this afternoon . Clinic just called to say embryo has thawed nicely (so still two others left). Am not stressed, but have an open mind. Short of doing something stupid (sky-diving? taking drugs?), the outcome is already decided (embryo either good enough or isn't).

Of course I'm taking all recommended precautions eg have quit alcohol, cut caffeine down to 1 decaf tea per day, no soft cheese etc. Will ask advice on exercise (I run, cycle & do yoga normally). I'll also be taking progesterone pessaries, so am expecting very bad skin as my own natural progesterone is quite efficient at causing minor breakouts anyway! #pizzaface

I'll have to test (assuming no AF) 12 days after ET, so Saturday 5 August. I hope I remain calm over next 12 days!

Thank you xx

CD25, DPO7, 3 days past 5 day FET. Consultant advised me not to run, cycle or do yoga for 2 weeks , but brisk walking is OK. Walked in to work (45 minutes) yesterday. No symptoms that can't be progesterone related (tender boobs, acne, mild cramps etc) so genuinely no clue if BFP on cards or not. Am managing to remain calm I think because there's nothing I can do right now to change the outcome and currently no way to tell either way.

AF due next Tues (CD30, DPO12), so if nothing by Weds, I might start to believe BFP could happen . OTD is Friday at the clinic, but I reckon if no AF by Thursday (CD32, DPO14; my luteal phase is consistently 11-12 days), I'll be tempted to do HPT.

Hi everyone, just popping in to wish everyone the best with their pregnancies and ttc journeys. It's been lovely to talk to a nice bunch of ladies through a difficult time. Good luck everyone for the future.

All the best blueberry you're almost ready to test!

Xx