IVF cycle buddies June/July

[Hobbes39]

Hi! I'm hoping that this is 3rd time lucky for us... due to start process for my first Frozen transfer in June, with the actual transfer being in July... anyone want to join me on the journey? We have 2 unsuccessful fresh cycles behind us, and I have this one single little embryo from the last cycle sitting in the freezer waiting for me. It's a 3BB and all my hopes are pinned on it being the one!
We have unexplained secondary infertility, have a DS who will be 4 in August, and I've just turned 40, so time isn't on our side... so I'm now waiting for my period to start (due in about 10-14 days, although my cycles are mucked up since our ivf failed in April)... but once it comes i will be down regged to them do transfer early July I think! Fingers crossed we get lucky this time...!

[Hobbes39]

Also, if you are pinching your skin when you put the injection in, remember to let go of the pinch before you take it out! I did that a few times and wondered why I had some leakage ! X

[Pyjamas81]

Ah thanks Hobbes! Come to think of it there may have been a slight angle so will take extra care tomorrow!

[Nigeltufnellover]

Hey pyjamas, I often get bits of blood - I find the buserelin worse for that, but maybe it's because I'm half asleep when I do it! Also the nurse said once you've got to zero hold it in place for 10seconds, not sure if that helps?
I'm feeling a bit better today thanks, still not 100% but rang the hospital and they said it wouldn't be the gonal f causing it, so more than likely a migraine or a virus or something.
Hopefully should be good soon. Glad to know it's not the drugs!

[elleceedee]

Hi ladies, can I join? I'm having embryo transfer number four next week (previous cycles have resulted in one BFN and two miscarriages). Feeling nervous!

[Pyjamas81]

Glad you're feeling a bit better Nigel 👍🏼** Hope whatever it is clears up soon!

And hello Elle **

Just had my first scan and bloods post starting drugs and they told me I'm responding well (on day 6 of stimming) 😃 5 follicles of good size on the right, 4 smaller ones on left but they will grow. They told me to add the second injection (cetrotide) tonight (eep) and am back in for my next scan/bloods on Monday. I've had no real side effects so far (was worried nothing was happening!). Do those follicles numbers sound about right? I have low AMH, so I guess I'm happy at least something is happening!

[79Karen]

Hi Elle how's everything going for you this cycle?

[geeup]

Pjs - sounds like great numbers to me!!

[79Karen]

Quick question, towards the end of the down reg phase, did any of you start getting really achy ovaries? My whole abdomen area just feels achy, especially when I go to the loo or just tense though muscles.

[79Karen]

*those

[Nigeltufnellover]

Hey pyjamas glad to hear they say you're responding well, have no idea on the numbers as a total newb, but it all sounds very positive.
Karen I didn't get that feeling on the buserelin, but everyone's different. Hope it's not too painful, and that it passes soon.
Hi Elle! Good luck for next week xx

[Hobbes39]

Pyjamas - those numbers sound good for a first scan - you have more follicles than I did either time at that stage! My understanding of the numbers is that they really look for at least 3 in total, up to around 15-20. Any less and there's a chance they might not trigger you, and more and you might hyper stimulate. You e got a nice number in the middle, so that's great! You usually get an egg a follicle, but sometimes they can be empty sometimes there can be more follicles they haven't seen, but generally if you have 9 follicles you'll probably get around 9 eggs xxx

[Pyjamas81]

Thanks so much for the reassurance! I am pleased with how today went - my lower AMH means I was hardly expecting anything, so I was pleasantly surprised!

[Ozzyboo]

Thanks for the explanation in baby aspirin Hobbes.. as I've never even been lucky enough to ever even get pregnant I'm assuming these won't benefit me!

Achy ovaries is very normal Karen! Your ovaries are very swollen at the min, you may feel you need to go for a wee more as well as their is less room for your bladder! I remember feeling quite tender when I went for a wee also

[Pyjamas81]

Right - just did first cetrotide injection and it was so much harder! And I missed one of the things in the instructions - it says once the needle is in, you need to gently pull back the plunger to check there's no blood. I totally didn't do this! I just stuck the needle in and pushed down the plunger. Is that very wrong? And when I took out the needle and pushed again just to check there was nothing there - a couple of drops came out (even though I had pushed the plunger all the way down) - did I waste any? Why can't it just be a nice simple pen?!

[GirlcalledJames]

Pyjamas, I have normal AMH and fewer follicles that you so it sounds like a great result.
Hobbes, our clinic says to expect at least 10% loss at each stage, so with ten follicles expect max. 9 oocyctes, max. 8 fertilized embryos and max. 7 making it to 5 days. Don't know if thats a general thing or based on their experience though.
I have EC on Monday and triggered last night so whatever happens no more injections for a while. Luckily my office is closed for a bank holiday so I don't even need to take a day off.

[Hopes2bmom]

Hello pyjamas that's a good count ! Fingers crossed for you!

Girlcalledjames, good luck to you!

Welcome Elle, good luck to you too!!

Hope all are doing good with the injections.

I'm having trigger tonight, idk but having a weird feel , hope everything goes well.

[Goodluckjonathan76]

Thanks GirlcalledJames, that is reassuring! Will try to bear that in mind but still find it hard not to worry. In fact, I am still 50/50 as to whether we will do IVF this month. We've decided it's now or never but just not sure I want to take the plunge. We are now deciding whether to do IVF or whether to just see if it happens naturally, which it probably won't.

Pyjamas, those numbers look perfect! You don't want too many or too few. Do you mind me asking what dosage of gonal F you were on as our AMHs weren't too dissimilar. My dose for IVF will be 225 merional and 225 fostimon which seems like a huge amount. Thanks for the advice re the cetrotide jab. Glad all is going well so far. xx

[GirlcalledJames]

Good luck, Hopes.

[Goodluckjonathan76]

Also, can anyone tell me what happens at egg transfer? Is it basically just sedation then they go through the vagina with a needle (sounds worse when put like that!)

[Pyjamas81]

Ah thanks ladies - very reassuring! Next scan is tomorrow morning - fingers crossed.

Am on 300 gonal-f goodluck and .25 Cetrotide, those are all the meds until trigger shot and progesterone bum bullets!

It's general anaesthetic for egg collection at my clinic - which is fine by me!!

[Pyjamas81]

Oh sorry just saw yo said transfer not collection! My clinic said they just do it with no sedation - not looking forward to that.

[Ozzyboo]

There was no sedation for ET for me.. it's over quite quickly and doesn't hurt. Just a little uncomfortable like a smear..

[Goodluckjonathan76]

Sorry, I did mean egg collection, not transfer!

[Hobbes39]

Good luck girlcalledjames with your egg collection! I think that may we'll be the standard they say - yes - in fact each time I've had egg collection they have been playing down chances. Both times I had 5 decent sized follicles total - but first time I got 4 eggs, 2nd time I got 7 which I think must have been due to smaller follicles catching up at the last minute! I actually think the stats for the next few stages aren't actually as good as just a 10% drop off rate generally, but obviously that will vary hugely with your reasons for needing ivf - i.e. If you need it because you have a structural problem then your chances of all being good once you've got the eggs out are bound to be higher than someone with MF or egg issues.
Good luck for Monday! X

[Fox23]

Hopes, your big moment is approaching! Good luck!!!