July/August IVF/ICSI/FET

[TinyPaws]

Hi everyone,

Thought I'd start a thread for those of us undergoing fertility treatment in July/August.

I'm (hopefully) having a FET late July/early August, anyone else want to hop on this thread for the ride?

@TinyPaws so glad there’s no more bleeding for you, that’s good! After all you’ve been through it’s understandable but I really hope that Tuesday is a positive day - we’ll be waiting to hear all about it whatever happens.

DH has come back home tonight and it’s made all the difference with me feeling more positive about this. I have 2 embryos on board so I shall try just to enjoy that fact for the next 2 weeks.

@TinyPaws Oh it was horrific. I took 2 weeks off work and watched The Notebook with a roll of toilet roll beside me to mop up my tears. I googled extensively for misdiagnosed miscarriages and only came out of my funk when I discovered Oven Pride for cleaning my oven. The last miscarriage I had I took one day off for the ERPC and went straight back to work. You develop an immunity. I’m so glad there is no more bleeding for you, I have everything crossed that you get good news at the scan.

@TinyPaws I’ve got everything crossed for your viability scan on Tuesday. I really hope it’s good news and you see a lovely heartbeat. I know what it’s like when you’ve had dreadful news at a scan so I know how nerve wracking it is. Wishing you all the best.

@Dlpdep sorry you’ve got to wait so long for your review appointment but hopefully you can get going with a FET soon after. It looks like I’ll be doing a FET with my September period so maybe we’ll be cycling at the same time?

@Lola124 so pleased that you’ve got an embryo on board and two in the freezer - that’s great! How are you feeling? I’m terrible for symptom spotting and analysing every single twinge - I think period type pains are normal and could be a side effect of the medication or a pregnancy symptom so who knows really! Hope the 2ww flies by for you!

@Brambles7 great news that you’ve got two on board, sorry you didn’t have any to freeze but hopefully you’ll get a bfp this cycle. Wishing you all the best for the 2ww!

@Onisa7 I don’t have any words of wisdom about the lining but I would just put my trust in the clinic - they wouldn’t transfer if they didn’t think it was optimal timing. Good luck!

@facevalue Welcome and good luck for today! Let us know how you get on.

@Passionfruit20 @Peanut1980 @Marmite83 hope you’re all doing ok?

Sorry if I’ve missed anyone!

I’m still trying to figure out whether to push for another medicated FET with my September period (there’s been lots on the news about the oestrogen shortage - including progynova - which makes me nervous about this in case I can’t get hold of the medication up to 12 weeks of pregnancy) or go for a natural cycle but there seems to be two options with a natural cycle (both involving a trigger shot) - one with leterozole and one without (???). My clinic have said they all have similar success rates and so the choice is mine. I feel very confused!

@elleceedee oh it’s so frustrating isn’t it? You just want them to tell you what the best option is for you and success. Like how are you meant to know? Maybe you need to say that to them?

@TinyPaws I completely understand how anxious you must be about the scan. Maybe just read some positive pregnancy affirmations (Pinterest is good for that). Just to help put yourself in a good place mentally. Good luck for Tuesday.

@lola124 if I was experiencing period pains I would personally be feeling very positive. It’s all the stretching that goes on down there and I’ve had this with all my pregnancies. I have everything crossed for you 🤞🤞🤞

@dlpdep sorry you have to wait so long but on the positive side you have some time to get yourself into a good place physically and mentally. Good luck to you.

I’m feeling a bit miffed. I confirmed my BFN to my clinic on Friday morning through their client portal. It’s my usual way of communicating with them and usually hear back within a couple of hours... I’ve not heard anything from them. I’m actually on holiday at the moment but that wouldn’t stop any messages or calls getting through. Struggling not to feel like they’ve washed their hands with me as soon as our paid for cycles are up. It’s making me think like my husband, in that they’re just a business looking to close the next deal. I’ve always hated him talking like that and disagreed but I think I’m the one in the wrong. Anyway, when I get back I’ll call them. I’m guessing we’ll still have a review meeting with the consultant. I’m preparing myself for not doing anymore IVF. I feel a mid life crisis maybe looming. Boob job and Botox might be on the cards! 🙈

Hey @elleceedee I should be doing my next FET with my Sept period Too, expected probably around the 12-15th. So I might join you in the next round

I decided to go for natural with progesterone support after ET (it's standard for 'natural' protocol at my clinic I think). No leterozole mentioned. Just lubion and clexane. What is it for?

I decided to go for natural so this cycle is lighter on the drugs, but if it doesn't work I might go for medicated again next. Hopefully the Estrogen shortage will have cleared by then too (or hopefully I won't need one as I will get a bfp with my Sept cycle! Ha)

@TinyPaws I can imagine how you must feel. I would be feeling just as worried. Well, I am worrier, but I think ivf does that to you anyway, you start worrying about everything. But there's no reason to believe anything has gone wrong, really, bleeding doesn't mean anything bad necessarily. I will keep my fingers crossed for you! Please keep us posted.

@elleceedee @Dlpdep @sometimesalways (and everyone else!) May I join you for a September FET?! I followed part of what was going on as a lurker as did my first IVF cycle in July/August but felt a little behind most of you so didn’t ever join up. It resulted in a BFN so I am now waiting for my next period to do a FET as I luckily got 2 frozen ones from my cycle. I don’t know a lot about FET atm but know it’s easier (and cheaper!) so looking forward to getting going, think I’d be less eager to immediately start a fresh cycle!

@elleceedee you mentioned a worry about Oestrogen supply - is that a standard drug or is it for some other reason? Never thought about it but wondering if I should. Think I may have read previously that you take both (sorry if wrong on that!)

Such an emotional rollercoaster this journey and the more you read everyone’s stories the more you realise that even a BFP is far from the success story we are hoping for. Wishing you all the best in your journeys and hope to hear some more positives from everyone xx

@Jojo19834 welcome! And @Dlpdep I didn't realise you re Sept too, there's a few of us, isn't there. This process is never exactly easy so good to have company! Do you ladies have any sense re: dates yet?

@sometimesalways I have no idea what the letrozole is for (I misspelled it in my earlier post - ooops!), I’m sure my doctor must’ve told me but I can’t remember for the life of me. I’m going to ring them next week and clarify a few things... I’m going to make notes as they tell me things so I don’t forget! My period is due around the 20th I think so will be nice to be cycling at the same time!

@Jojo19834 hello! There’s a few of us that will be cycling in September/October now - welcome! Progynova (oestrogen) is used in medicated FET cycles to build up the womb lining ready for transfer.

@Peanut1980 sorry your clinic haven’t been in touch. Hope you are enjoying your holiday. God I’d love some Botox!

Letrozole is also known as femara. It’s an alternative to clomid but does the same thing.

I’d say i’ll actually be an Oct FET as my app is mid cycle in sept. We’ll see.

Thank you @Dlpdep I didn’t realise that. Do you know what the purpose of it is in a FET cycle?

Hope everyone is enjoying the long weekend x

@Peanut1980 I am so sorry to hear about your result. i'm sorry i havn't followed your detailed story. i had 4 cycles before - and when I had bfn my clinic never called me either. i suspect because it is obvious that i would be extremely emotional/ confused/ irrational and my body still clearing all the drugs etc. you would usually call them when you are ready to discuss further and have funds to chat / proceed with your next cycle. I usually grieve and try to recover and don't go into another cycle for 3 months at least. please try to focus on grieving and it is ok to be angry/ hurt /sad and cry. 😢

my last cycle in may i got bfp but a week later i bled ( looking back it hurt more than when i had bfn) so the body rejects the embryo if it wasn't a healthy one however shit it feels.

i prefer a bfn than a miscarriage or god forbid stillbirth or a very sick baby.

my glass is half full usually but with ivf i've always expected the worst

a huge hug and again i'm so sorry

@elleceedee thank you.

i went for the procedure and the scan showed only 2 follicles so 2 eggs but not keeping my hopes up- no idea if either would fertilise

i get the call tomorrow and i'm dreading it ( so having a large G&T now)

I absolutely need this to work 😫. i thought having already had one healthy baby and previous experience with ivf would mean i'm chilled about this - IM NOT.

miscarriage / chemical pregnancies / false bfp are heartbreaking

can i ask you ladies something please.

the embryologist asked me " oh by the way do you have any preferences whether day 3 or day 5 transfer if it fertilises tomorrow ?"

any one know or can share fro personal experience etc? i'm confused because i thought they would tell me not the other way around!

@facevalue I think it's probably best to just wait and see how they're doing at day 3 and go from there. If they're looking strong I'd be tempted to wait until day 5 but it all depends on the individual circumstances. I've got everything crossed for you that they both fertilise and you get two good looking embryos.

I'm good thank you @elleceedee, every day feels like a week buy getting there slowly. Currently 5+5 and scan is booked for Friday. Still don't really have any symptoms which concerns me but I keep reminding myself that the nausea only started at 6 weeks with my dd so there's no reason to think no symptoms yet is a bad sign.

@marmite83 Thank you so much

i didn't get any nausea or vomiting during my pregnancy before so don't worry about symptoms. i wish you all the best with the scan and positive thoughts please x if u can

Sorry I’ve been silent the last few days! Big hugs to everyone feeling rough at the moment and good vibes for those waiting for news.

@TinyPaws I think your scan is tomorrow? All the good thoughts that this is your first good scan.

I’ve basically been a zombie the last week (so, so tired, think 3 hour naps if I’m not at work). Which has made just coping with life a struggle, but apparently is common. I’m now 5+4 but my scan isn’t until 12 September! Ugh. I have emailed the clinic though as I’ve been having sharp abdominal pains on and off, which is, of course, freaking me out about an ectopic pregnancy. Really looking forward to the scan to hopefully confirm it’s not.

Good luck @TinyPaws tomorrow!

Sorry you’ve been having pains @Passionfruit20. Cant imagine how worrying that must be for you, I’m glad you’ve emailed the clinic. Hopefully they can reassure you or give you an earlier scan. I hope they’re just your uterus expanding to make room.
Big hugs to you, I hope your DH is looking after you.

Hi lady ladies. How's everyone feeling? Sorry for not being so present during this weekend but I've been trying to distract myself from the retrieval tomorrow morning. Trigger shot was yesterday and it was so good to have a day off from injections.

I hope all of you had the opportunity to treat yourselves in the sun this weekend. Here's to a great week for all of us.

@TinyPaws I hope all goes well today with your scan. massive hugs x

Good luck to @TinyPaws for your scan today!

@Onisa7 all the best for your retrieval today. Hope you get lots of eggs!

@facevalue my understanding is that it’s better to get to day 5 as they can be frozen and more likely to survive the thaw (could be wrong about this!). However I’ve read a lot online about women who have success with day 3 embryos too as they are back where they belong on a natural environment sooner. So annoying when the clinic give you a choice about something - they’re the bloody experts! If I were you I’d see what the embryos are doing on day three and ask for the clinics advice.

@Passionfruit20 I remember the early pregnancy tiredness well - it’s exhausting isn’t it?! Hope you’ve had lots of naps over the bank holiday! I really hope your clinic can fit you in for an earlier scan for a bit of reassurance. If the pain worsens could you contact your local EPU to be on the safe side?

Good luck for egg collection today @Enjoy the sedation and rest up after.

Good luck for your scan today @TinyPaws.

Thanks @facevalue. I’m going to call the clinic today to book my review with the consultant. Hopefully get it booked for a week Friday when my son is back at school. Juggling IVF over the summer holidays has been interesting 🙈

I still feel in limbo on our next steps. Don’t think I can get closure on this cycle until we’ve wrapped things up with the consultant.

@Onisa7 good luck today, let us know how you get on and please take it easy afterwards for a while

@TinyPaws hope the scan goes well, hope it’s your positive that you are after

As for me, my review is 11th and hopefully my cycle will start shortly after. I don’t know a lot about FET, I have 2 frozen so expecting to be ready to go next bleed?! Thanks for the update @elleceedee re the medicated FET, something to discuss on 11th

@facevalue did I miss your update? Did you get your call?

Sorry my message for egg collection was for @Onisa7. Not sure why it changed to @enjoy 🙈

@Jojo19834 hi. thanks for asking. after extensive reading and " the call" from the Embryologist. basically there's no difference in pregnancy rate or live births from Day3 or Day5 transfers. however the only advantage might be to ladies with many embryos so they can in theory select better ones on day5. I only have the two. so might just go for day3 and hope for the best.