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Infertility

Our Infertility Support forum is a space to connect with others in the same position, discuss causes, treatment and IVF, and share infertility stories of hope and success.

Original poster

October ICSI/IVF

576 replies

NS05 · 09/09/2019 20:13

Hi all,

I have never written a post on here but thought it may be nice to get a thread going for anyone about to start ICSI/IVF. I am 28 and have been ttc for almost a year and have recently found out my husband has a very low sperm count (2 million) and ICSI is our only option. I was sure for so long something must be wrong with me so to find out it was him was a complete shock and I think we are both still adjusting. Fortunately we are able to go private and have my appointment to get the ball rolling on Wednesday. I have had a (all clear) and all of the bloods already so hoping we can get cracking next month so I am eager to get started. Everything is apparently fine with me apart from very mild pcos which I have been told shouldn’t effect my chances! I am still very anxious about the whole situation and just praying that the process will be successful.

If anyone has any tips or is in the same boat feel free to join!

OP posts:
Thread gallery
8
Youngatheart00 · 01/10/2019 21:41

Good luck with your egg collection tomorrow!

siananigans · 02/10/2019 10:04

@Youngatheart00 Thank you!
All done, I'm on my way home now. 14 eggs collected! One benefit of PCOS, lots of follicles!

impatientmammy · 02/10/2019 10:06

Ahhh yay @siananigans how you feeling? X

siananigans · 02/10/2019 10:12

@impatientmammy Like when you wake up after the best alcohol fuelled sleep ever, but without the hangover! 😂

impatientmammy · 02/10/2019 10:48

@siananigans I've taken this to mean still drunk 😂😂 x

Youngatheart00 · 02/10/2019 22:16

14 eggs! Wow! Hope the recovery is smooth

Thund4rcat · 03/10/2019 10:51

Currently have bad period pains and heavy period. Let's hope this is the last one I'll have for a long time! 🤞

Youngatheart00 · 03/10/2019 18:34

Just has my medication delivered, I start down regging on Tuesday. All seems very real now!

impatientmammy · 03/10/2019 19:38

Sooo exciting @Youngatheart00 !!! How long do you down reg for? It's not part of my protocol x

Original poster
NS05 · 03/10/2019 21:47

I just started my period today- first time I've actually been happy about it! I'll start in a couple of days- so nervous but excited to get going!!!

OP posts:
Youngatheart00 · 03/10/2019 22:02

Just over 2 weeks, then I go for a scan. I guess at that point they’ll either tell me to carry on with the tablets or move to the stim injections. I’m apprehensive but actually keen to get started, after thinking about this, and then being on a wait list, for so long!

How do they know when to start you on stims without the down ref? So many different options I guess.

impatientmammy · 04/10/2019 07:49

I start stims cd2 @Youngatheart00 I'm doing mild ivf so it works in line with your natural cycle x

Youngatheart00 · 04/10/2019 08:53

Oh I see - I do find it fascinating how many options there are.

Sightly nervous about the amount of drugs I’m about to onboard onto my system but trying to rationalise that most of them are hormones my body will produce naturally, I’m just forcing the matter!

candycornlover · 04/10/2019 18:15

Hello everyone 👋🏻

I'm about to start IVF again for the second time with my frozen embryos. I had IVF in January 2009 and had a bad case of OHSS after 28 eggs were retrieved and resulted in 15 embryos. All were frozen to allow me time to recover. I went back in June 2009 for a FET with one 3 day old embryo and was successful and had my gorgeous now 9yr old DD.
So my remaining 11 embryos are ready and waiting for me to start later this month... I'm so nervous after such a long time (over ten years) and just feel I was so lucky last time with all the eggs, embryos and then my gorgeous girl, that I won't be so lucky this time. This will be my third DC I also have a 16yr old DS.
I know my circumstances are unusual but have been browsing the boards as everything seems to have changed since I did it last!

Original poster
NS05 · 04/10/2019 19:11

Welcome @candycornlover I'm having my first baseline scan tomorrow! First ever cycle so super nervous but am trying to stay calm! That's so good that you were successful and I'm sure your body will react well again!

OP posts:
Naughtyboob · 04/10/2019 19:53

Hi all, do you mind if I join? Im 35 and 've just had egg collection for my first round of IVF, we are trying to keep it to ourselves as we've been trying for 6 years and 5 of those I was battling breast cancer so I don't want to get anyone's hopes up or feel the pressure of family waiting for us to get pregnant. I have PCOS and my egg collection was Wednesday just gone, we had 43 eggs collected, 33 were viable and 20 fertilised. From the reaction at the clinic that's quite high? I have to wait until Tuesday now to see how many make it to be frozen, is anyone else in a similar boat? How many eggs usually make it? Good luck to everyone xxx

siananigans · 04/10/2019 21:53

@Naughtyboob wow! 43, I thought my 14 was a lot of eggs!
I got the call yesterday to say that 13 of our 14 fertilised, they'll call me tomorrow to say how many have developed and all being well my transfer will be on Monday.
I've been feeling quite delicate today and yesterday, the only way I can describe the discomfort is like the feeling of bad trapped wind crossed with the feeling when you've got a really full bladder! I spoke to one of the docs this afternoon and he said what I described sounded completely normal.
How have you been feeling since Wednesday @Naughtyboob?

Naughtyboob · 04/10/2019 22:28

Hi @siananigans! Ive been feeling same as you, cramps and windy, I went in today for a scan to make sure it wasn't OHSS with me having so many eggs but they said my ovaries were still huge so it's just That! 14 is a good number, especially as 13 have fertilised!! High numbers can mean lower quality and I've already lost over half! Have you taken any time off work? I've been off just over a week now as I struggled with the drugs the last few days and had sickness and really bad pains in my tummy, hoping I will be ok for Monday. I'm not having a transfer for about 6 weeks they said with me being high risk, to be honest I'm kind of glad as I still feel really worn out from it all!! Saying that it seems as though it's taking forever to get to Tuesday so I will know how many embryos I have left!!

siananigans · 04/10/2019 22:40

@naughtyboob I don't normally work thurs/Fri anyway and I've got tomwo weeks holiday now so it's all worked out quite well.
I was struggling a bit at work at the beginning of the week because my ovaries felt so heavy but other than that I've been OK, no sickness or anything.
Sounds like a good idea for you to have a few weeks to recover, you'll feel much better for your transfer.

siananigans · 04/10/2019 23:19

*two weeks holiday

Original poster
NS05 · 06/10/2019 08:01

Hey all started injections yesterday! Second one today- actually much better than I thought it would be! How is everyone doing??

OP posts:
Youngatheart00 · 06/10/2019 09:13

That’s good to know about the injections, did you do it yourself? I think for my the anticipation will be worse than the actual shot!

I’m enjoying my last drug-free weekend for a while!

Naughtyboob · 06/10/2019 09:38

Morning all, I found an ice pack on the injection site for 10 minutes first really worked and didn't feel the needle at all. I did get numbing cream from doctors which was good but had to be put on at least an hour before, so that was no good for every day depending on what I was doing

Original poster
NS05 · 06/10/2019 10:05

My husband did it for me and honestly it was the tiniest pinch! I'm going to make him to it for me as I prefer not to watch! I'm just going to take one day at a time but they said egg collection should be on the 18th which feels so soon! Are either of you guys doing genetic testing? They told me at their clinic it gives you an 85 percent chance instead of 65 but I'm still not sure whether to spend the extra money as it is quite costly?

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Youngatheart00 · 06/10/2019 11:39

Ice pack sounds like a good idea. My meds get delivered on Tuesday so I’ll be taking a look at what they’ve sent me!

Not doing genetic testing - I’m at an NHS clinic so don’t get that option. Sometimes I’m a bit suspicious about these “add ons” - unless there is a known genetic abnormality in your or partner’s history - def do your independent research first before deciding.