ABC Infertility

[Bubblegum89]

Looking at potential IVF options and to stay with our current fertility clinic, we’re looking in the region of about £6k for IVF including medication. I have come across ABC in London a few times and I’ve also seen women on ttc/infertility fb groups talking about having their IVF done there.

I understand it’s known as “shoebox” IVF which is why it only costs £2500 including meds, scans etc. Which is amazing to be honest when you don’t have thousands and thousands to spare like we don’t. I was just wondering if anyone on here was considering going, is currently or has been through IVF with them and if they’re worth it? I feel like it may be a “too good to be true” situation but if it’s not, it would really be a step in the right direction for us money-wise

Just another update before I forget (more documenting for my own journey!)
Egg collection is Monday for us so we will be travelling to Manchester tomorrow and stopping over night because no one wants a sleepy car journey at 5:00am, everything so far has gone to text book, I'm so proud of my wife for being a total champ and so we have our last trigger shot at 8pm. However I'm always aware of a fall because I'm designed for everything to go well and then for it to fall apart! I wish OHSS wouldn't worry me so much, but it does. Our consultant didn't like to give a number of follicles as such incase we become disappointed come Monday but she reckons if she had to say then at least 6-8 minimum of good eggs for collection but said it could be more by Monday since our last scan yesterday.
Fresh Embryo transfer will be either Thursday/Friday/Saturday if all goes okay.

I'll update on the number of eggs on Monday. 0

Really hoping everyone is okay on their journeys so far!🍀✨

Does anyone know ABC's opening hours over Christmas? I know the labs are closed and no egg collection or transfers. But why about monitoring scans? I'm hoping we can go ahead with a FET next cycle. My period is late but think it will come any day now. Anyone else been given the go ahead to start with a view of having a transfer first week in Jan? Xx

Hello all
I just received the call from ABC advising my blood test was negative. It was my first try at the clinic and I’m devastated, although I wasn’t shocked as I knew deep down I wasn’t pregnant as I had none of the signs. They said they will arrange a follow up appointment with me in a week to explain the failure and how they can improve for the next try if I want to have one. I’ve been pregnant before with an ex partner but decided to have an abortion as timing wasn’t right. I don’t have any fertility problems but my husband has low morphology - my feelings flip from resentment towards him to guilt and extreme regret and hate towards myself for having that abortion in my previous relationship. Finding it so hard today. I just want to be pregnant and I know the first IVF try is usually not successful but I don’t know if I should give abc another try or opt for a more expensive clinic? Can anyone help and advise? Feeling so low today. Everyone I know is either pregnant or with a baby and I feel so happy for them all but then even more sad for myself. It’s so tiring feeling empty all the time. Sorry for the sad message. Hope you’re all well.

Hi @Ellecrown
So sorry to hear your transfer did not work.
Take some time to yourself and your feelings are normal and will subside with time
Do you have anyone to talk to? Friends? Family? Maybe counselling?

On a personal note, we found out my partner had low numbers /motility and morphology. We actually cancelled our cycle with abc as we thought we could try improve the chances by getting to make lifestyle changes. Stop smoking, lose weight, vitamins etc. Is there anything your husband can try to do to improve the numbers? Has he had any other tests beside sperm analysis?

Please don't beat yourself up over the past, sounds like you did the right thing for you at the time.

Look after yourself, all the best x

@Ellecrown
So sorry to hear this - my heart really goes out to you :(((

Was it a fresh transfer in your case?

I'm glad to hear that your ABC clinic actually said they'll have a follow up session with you and explain the failure and how they can improve on the next cycle. I was never told that by my ABC clinic so at least you've got more info to go on and hopefully it'll be better next round! In my case, it was literally one call to share that the blood test was negative, and then the very next call was just straight on to "here's what we're going to do next". There was zero reference to the my stats or data from the previous cycle, which I thought was a bit odd.

They also tried to push me onto the medicated FET route for the next cycle, but after doing my own research I came to the conclusion that natural FET was better (if what matters most to you is % of live births rather than the stats in between... personally I just don't care if I'm clinically pregnant at all if it doesn't translate to a live birth). I guess the medicated route makes their job easier since they can control things more, but I went with natural FET on my second cycle with them, and just got news earlier this week from the blood test that my HCG is high and that I'm pregnant! So don't lose hope yet! One step at a time xx

@Gfarm21 Thank you Gfarm21 your kind and reassuring words really have helped me try to find some peace in this sadness... cleaning strangely helps and I’m going to do some serious spring cleaning this weekend. I don’t really have a family and my friends are great but I hate speaking on the phone or video - this is the kind of conversation I want to have in person with lots of hugs and a bottle of wine... the downsides of going through pain in a pandemic. My husband is being operated on next week to remove his varicocele but the op doesn’t guarantee morphology will improve but at least it’s a step forwards to trying to conceive naturally although having sex is the last thing on my mind these days it just makes me feel horrible because I want to be pregnant and unfortunately don’t enjoy it anymore.
It’s really interesting to know you cancelled abc to try naturally with changing your lifestyle - how’s that going? I’m going to see a recommended doctor (dr mistry) based in Hampstead who has helped quite a few women get pregnant just through changing the diet - anything is worth a go! Good luck dear x

Hi there ! I hade a day 3 transfer but i am very worried about the diarrhea, it gets worse in the morning , lots of cramps in my stomach and feel very bloated. It started since next day of egg collection(5 days now) I dont know why its happening. Anyone experienced the same and had positive out come in the end ? Thank you xxx

Hello all,

Just wanted to share my positive experience hopefully to encourage you all!

We had our 5 day transfer just before Christmas, initially I was told it would be a freeze all due to collecting 16 eggs but I pushed for a fresh transfer so they gave me extra scans in the following days to check everything was ok. I had some free fluid initially so I had acupuncture straight after egg collection and every other day after that week and by my second scan the fluid Had gone and they were happy to allow me to transfer on day 5. I had a 5AA transferred back and had acupuncture before and after this. I then waited and got my first positive at 5dp5dt! It was the best Christmas present ever! I had spotting a few times early on which was nerve racking after experiencing a mmc before but luckily it was just the pessaries causing irritation and I'm now 20 weeks pregnant with our baby girl!

I'm so grateful to be here and I know how difficult this journey is, I just want to say advocate for yourself because you know your body best. I also managed to get 6 frozen embryos from this round which is incredible.

Wishing you all luck on your journeys x