Oct/Nov IVF, ICSI & FET - Let's do this!

[Marmite83]

Hi all

I recently had a mmc from my first IVF cycle and am waiting for AF to appear (probably 3-4 weeks away) so we can do FET. I think we'll probably go for a natural cycle but am waiting for some information from my clinic to make a final decision. Had follow up consultation yesterday and will be having nurse consultation in the next couple of weeks hopefully. If anyone is happy to share their FET experiences I'd love to hear them. A little worried that a natural cycle might be the wrong choice. Anyway, if anyone fancies joining me for some support then join the thread.

I'm so sorry @FinallytakingtheplungewithIVF, hope you have something nice planned for the weekend

So so sorry @FinallytakingtheplungewithIVF many of us have unfortunately been where you are - I have - and it never gets easier.. take care of yourself.

@itwasalovelydreamwhileitlasted good luck! I admit I don't know a lot about genetic testing as we haven't done it yet... sounds tough. Did you find it useful knowledge? Would the other option be doing a fresh cycle retrieval again?

Thanks everyone! Went for the blood test jist waiting for the bad news to be confirmed I will be enjoying some wine this weekend!

@sometimesalways
PGS was always our last resort test but after 5 miscarriages we felt like we hadn't got answers from anything else (all other tests came back normal)

Im sort of glad we did it......at least we know now for definitely that there clearly is an issue genetically as well as with the quality of my eggs

We could do another fresh round and if this was my first cycle i probably would but as this is our second and our savings fast running out we ll do the transfer - I don't think another fresh cycle would give us that different an outcome to be honest

Sorry the results weren't great @itwasalovelydreamwhileitlasted (I missed your update last night, sorry). If you were to do another fresh cycle is there anything they can do to help? Fingers crossed for the transfer next month.

Sending you a virtual hug @FinallytakingtheplungewithIVF

As for me, I'm still waiting to depart 'limbotown'. Opks are still barely visible, I had some ewcm a few days ago so hoped ovulation was imminent but no sign. I finish my antibiotics tomorrow so hopefully they will have sorted whatever was causing the pain. Just feel like I can't move forward from the mmc until af appears and we can start the FET cycle. Could be weeks yet

@itwasalovelydreamwhileitlasted I’m sorry your results weren’t completely clear cut but I agree that it’s worth transferring. In your situation I think I also would have gone down the PGS route but bear in mind it’s still not completely proven so this transfer still stands a chance.

4dp5dt here and not feeling any different to normal. I have sore boobs but pretty sure that’s a progesterone side effect as they were on transfer day too. At least that gives me one less symptom to try and spot.

Hi all, I've been a stalker on this thread for a few days so thought I'd pipe up and say hello
A couple of familiar users @FinallytakingtheplungewithIVF and @itwasalovelydreamwhileitlasted from July ish when we did our fresh cycle.

I'm on 4dp5dt of our 2nd natural FET, 5AB blast transferred Monday under U/S, I'm not on any meds at all so relying on my body...had the AF cramps for a few days, but most significant I guess is lower back ache and bloating. I can't even blame the drugs so it might all be in my head

Really trying hard to abstain from testing too early but I'm a very impatient person!!!!

@Maggie9000
Hello! Sounds promising your end....when are you going to test?

@Marmite83
I don't think doing a fresh cycle will change anything to be honest. Both of my cycles have been short protocol mild stim and actually I had a lower fertilisation rate this time than I did on first cycle 9 months earlier despite doing everything "right" in terms of diet acupuncture and highest dose of conception supplements. Maybe I did egg collection too close to the surgery I had for my ectopic who knows (it was around 8 weeks post surgery)

Looking at my PGS results my mosaic is only very low level mosaic (11%) so am actually pretty happy with that given my history

And looking back over the costs doing PGS
actually only cost an extra £1350 compared to first cycle but saved us a similar amount had we not done it and done two transfers (one pretty much guaranteed to fail) so if I do end up doing another cycle I probably would PGS again

@Marmite83 all that waiting after a MC is so cruel, I remember just wanting to get on with the next cycle so desperately.

@Betsyboo87 and @Maggie9000 when will you test, not long now. How are you feeling?

@itwasalovelydreamwhileitlasted I had a few mosaics but they were complex so still no good to transfer. Yours sound like they have a chance. When are you planning on transfering?

I'm currently in the annoying waiting for af stage that could be anytime this week as Buserelin does seem to delay it 3/4days or might not this time? Who knows? I've not had any cramps so I don't think it will be today or tomorrow. I just want to get on with this cycle.

I hope the rest of you are getting on ok? I'm struggling to take my mind off IVF, even with a crazy busy job and a busy hobby/side project my head is constantly thinking about this transfer.

@LillyLeaf waiting is so annoying! I am trying really hard not to think about ivf at all. Had my baseline scan on Friday and scans booked to track ovulation from Thursday this week - if my cycle is as always then I expect to ovulate over the w/e and transfer should be next week at some point. This natural cycle feels v quick yet I still feel impatient

Also nervous about the 'natural' element as haven't done it before without meds

Good luck to those in the 2ww! Hang in there and try not to test early (easier said than done I know)

My FET meds arrived today and there's a lot! But some are extras due to the miscarriages. I actually like doing injections so that's a good thing because I'll have plenty. I'll only start with patches and continue with Buserelin after baseline, then start prednisolone, then start lubion, crinone and lnjixa around mid cycle. I'm so ready for this now. I wish I knew when af will arrive, I hate not knowing.

@sometimesalways that's exciting that transfer will be next week. I think natural is great for some people but for me after 2 MCs I have no trust in my body anymore even though I ovulated each month and had regular cycles, the trust has gone. I've always thought I had a progesterone issue as my luteal phase was only 10 days max and often less so I do like having the extra support. But this will be the most meds I'll be taking so I'm not sure how I'll feel with them.

Slightly more obvious line on the opk this morning so really hoping that I'll get a positive soon, then at least I'll have some idea when to expect af (although I'd be perfectly happy for af to rock up now!

Great news that you've started the process @sometimesalways and exciting that transfer will hopefully be next week. I'm nervous about the natural element too because I really don't trust my body but I'm still desperate to get started. Hopefully you'll have a very positive experience. Are you going to be having a trigger shot?

That sounds like a lot of medication @LillyLeaf but good that you're doing everything you can to increase the chances of a positive outcome. I have only experienced Inhixa and Crinone from your list and I'll be using Crinone again this cycle along with Buserelin (as a trigger) and lubion (I think). Hope af arrives soon for both of us!

@LillyLeaf I have regular cycles although short ones - 25-26 days. my luteal phase is pretty stable at 14 days so I think that's ok. I do have autoimmune issues though and I decided not to take steroids for this cycle so that's why I am nervous regarding natural cycle!
I was on SO many meds for my last (failed) cycle and I don't think my body coped well with the high dosages. I was on lower doses (and no steroids) with my previous (successful) cycle but that was NHS funded and I think they tend to go for fewer meds if possible. Now I go private and I think my current clinic is all about as much drugs as possible so it's quite a change.

I won't have a trigger shot @Marmite83 But I will have lubion, cyclones and inhixa from ovulation so it's not exactly 'natural'. But as natural as my clinic will do. There seem to be so many different approaches with different clinics.. it's very hard o decide what's best, especially since they tend to put a lot of the decisions to us and I am not a medical professional! Some times I feel we just choose blindly on instinct and who knows if we get it right...

And hurrah @Marmite83 re:ovulation line! It's close now x

I know what you mean @sometimesalways, I'm doing a 'natural cycle' but will be taking a trigger shot and then using Crinone twice each day and Gonasi (a couple of times) post transfer, so not entirely natural. I do sometimes wish they would tell me what to do rather than giving me the choice, I just don't think I have enough knowledge to make the best decision. I'm slightly terrified I'll do another opk later today and it will have gone again but fingers crossed it gets darker. Going to hold my pee for as long as poss before doing it.

@LillyLeaf
My mosaic is Only low level and a monosomy 11 - I think we'll transfer mid November assuming period arrives on time - I joined a couple of FB mosaic groups and learnt loads even though transferring mosaics much more common in the USA it seems

@LillyLeaf that’s exciting that your meds arrived! I also don’t mind injections and I would take them over these pessaries any day. Hopefully you will be starting soon

@Marmite83 fingers crossed for your opk being darker. I hated the uncertainty of knowing when af would be here

@sometimesalways i have found my fet much easier as it was as was closer to natural than the ivf cycle. I feel healthier and less stressed which can only be a benefit to the treatment. From what I’ve read, the stats for natural are as good as medicated if you cycles are regular.

I’m now 7dpt and have absolutely no symptoms. We’ll test on 9dpt so I can be prepared for the blood test results on 10dpt. The weekend was the hardest but I’m enjoying the feeling that I could be pregnant so I’m petrified of testing. I want to hold onto the dream for as long as possible....

I know exactly what you mean @Betsyboo87 re: not wanting to test. And no symptoms means nothing at this stage - I had no symptoms with my DS's pregnancy... no nausea, breast soreness, nothing.. good luck!

And yes I do feel healthier with the natural cycle, it's true. Here's hoping it will make a difference

Blimey, I seem to have a very medicated FET planned. Start on 1st Nov but transfer won't be until week of 9th Dec at the earliest..... so could potentially have a very good or bad xmas.

NHS cycle but have been prescribed both lubion and cyclogest which I'm pleased about as I'm convinced my lining (or lack of) is the issue.

Confirmed with the clinic that there really is an issue with buserelin supply so trying not to get too excited, as I won't be starting if we can't get any.

That sounds like a long process @Anaesthetist83 but hopefully you'll get a lovely little Christmas miracle at the end of it.

How are you feeling @Betsyboo87, good luck for tomorrow!

I'm currently cd30. Opk wasn't any darker this morning, (or yesterday afternoon). So fed up of feeling like I'm in limbo.

@Marmite83 hang in there! I completely understand the frustration though..

Are you planning to do anything to help thicken your lining naturally by the way? I was (over)thinking the natural cycle thing again last night and realised I have no idea if my lining gets thick enough on its own... I wondered f there's anything I can eat or do to help it if it doesn't. I'd hate for my cycle to be cancelled because of that.

So much for trying not to think of ivf right ha

@sometimesalways, I've been taking Proxeed as it was recommended by my consultant. It's not cheap but it's supposed to be good for egg quality and implantation apparently. I think if my scans show a thin lining then I'll ask the clinic if there's something I can take to help. I have read that regular light exercise is important to improve blood flow and reducing caffeine helps too. If you know of anything else I'm all ears.

@Marmite83 which OPK's are you using? I ask because I was using internet cheapies from CD10, and it was only by chance that I used my clearblue digital on CD13 and got a smiley face because the cheapies never had a dark line (as it should for a positive). I'll try and upload a picture, which has the internet cheapie on CD14 (the one on CD13 went in the bin as it was showing negative although digi said otherwise) and two digital sticks, one CD13 and one CD14 both of which gave a solid smiley despite the lines being off. I hope my rambling is helpful rather than worrying

@Betsyboo87 good luck for tomorrow.

So following a completely natural FET done under ultrasound, I think I'm pregnant.... have been getting +HPT since 6dp5dt. Goes without saying I'm very cautious, but my FET cycles were much more pleasant than my ICSI cycles

Congratulations @Maggie9000, that definitely looks like a positive to me. And thank you for the opk info. I normslly use the Clearblue advanced but knew this could be a long cycle so have been using the cheapies. My left boob has been sore since yesterday and I'm feeling a few twinges around my left ovary plus a small amount of ewcm so hoping ovulation is on its way

@Maggie9000 congratulations! The last three all look positive to me. How are you feeling? Do you have a blood test with the clinic booked? I’m sure it feels very surreal but I hope you can relax and enjoy it.

I’m starting to feel a little tense about testing tomorrow but it’s partly to do with not being able to find a FRER in any of the shops! Currently on the bus into town...