Infertility investigations/IVF in Scotland

[justbeingelle]

Just thought I'd start a thread for those who are undergoing infertility investigations/IVF in Scotland because it seems as though it can vary from the rest of the UK.

DH and I have been TTC since June 2018. Started investigations around July 2019. I have a large ovarian cyst which will be removed, hopefully after Christmas. Getting a laparoscopy and dye to check tubes too. I have very regular periods and I am ovulating. DH has a low sperm count, but the ones he has are good quality. Still awaiting results from ultrasounds, genetic tests etc so still feel like we're at the beginning of our journey. This is our first time TTC and we've not had a hint of a BFP.

Anyone else?

@nextweek the beginning of December, so hopefully will be lettered soon :)

Hi @willithappen chaperone is totally up to you, I don't remember being asked if I wanted one but I wouldn't have felt I needed one, just my personal preference though.

Hi girls, hope you don't mind me joining, I started IVF at Ninewells on Friday, so today is day 4 of stimulation. If anyone has any questions or any of you are in the same sort of timeline please let me know!

I have never had a BFP, so rather curious whether IVf is going to work for us or not... Feels like it's been taking forever to get here and I have not been taking the waiting well, but everyone kept reminding me this is a waiting game and have to be patient..

@Lily999 hi, we have our post screening appointment this week(almost missed it as I thought it was next week🙈) how long after this are we likely to start?we are having icsi but I'm assuming it's similar. Good luck👍🏻

@Lily999 Wishing you all the best for your treatment. It's good to have someone on here further on in the journey. Do you have a diagnosed fertility problem? How is stimulation going?
Also, thanks so much to the person who suggested the Royal IVF Facebook group. I bit the bullet and joined. Scary, but it's been helpful so far! Xx

@Lily999 Hi, hope everything is going ok for you so far, wishing you lots of luck! I've never had a bfp either and we have MFI so getting ICSI but just recently on the wait list so it'll be a while before we start

Good morning @Mrsmch123, @NG9876 and @nextweek! Thank you for the good wishes, I am on day 5 of stimulation and still no major side effects. Was a bit tense last night, but wasn't worse than an average PMS. This morning started the second injection so from now on I will have one in the morning and one in the evening, feels like we are getting closer. First scan is tomorrow morning at Ninewells and I am sooo curious to find out what is going on in there.
We have mild MFI the motility was 33% instead of 40%, so it's not too bad and he is taking supplements. Whether we get IVF or ICSI it will be decided on the day of egg collection depending on his sample (it can change a lot apparently). So they will examine the sample and decide which way to do fertilisation.
From the first screening appointment (when they take both of your bloods) you will start treatment within 3months time as the blood results are only valid for three months (lucky us :) ) this should give you some sort of time frame.
We had our screening appointment on the 25th of November, then received the blood results back on the 6th of December and the information pack via post on the 16th of Dec. It said I need to call them on the first day of my January cycle and go for a scan. So basically I had one cycle after the screening appointment when the arrangements took place then the start of my next cycle is actually this one when I am getting the treatment so it wasn't too bad.
Got my period on the 15th last Wednesday, called them and got an appointment for Friday, day 3 of the cycle. Had a scan and they check 2 things: if your lining is ok to start and whether you have any cysts.
If all clear you get the meds to take home with you and start injections right away on that day. Showed us how to administer the drugs (very simple) and also gave us an appointment for the fist scan that will be tomorrow morning.
This is where we are at the moment :)

Thanks for the info @Lily999 Wow, it sounds like it all goes pretty quick once you've had your screening appointment! My husband has poor morphology and a low count so we'll definitely be getting ICSI.
I'm a bit squeamish with medical procedures, needles etc so I'm feeling a bit apprehensive about that side of things, but needs must!

Ha! Believe it or not I was absolutely terrified of needles, can't even watch it on the screen. However I found out it is completely different than when they take blood from me. First of all getting a needle into your blood vessel is so much worse, plus here you are in control and trust me it makes a massive difference.
I am not looking forward to egg collection as then they do stab me on my hand, but these injections are totally fine.
Oh, I see, at least you know it will be ICSI I assume it can be better to have all these sorted and decided beforehand.

That makes me feel a bit better @Lily999 When it comes to getting blood taken or injections in blood vessels I ask the nurse/Dr to make sure I don't see anything and then I just talk incessantly to distract myself haha!

I do the same thing @nextweek! I have never looked and I always make the nurse aware of that then start talking about literally anything that comes to mind just to distract myself! They are so nice btw completely supporting my nonsense and are very understanding :)
You will be fine, this is one of the things you shall cross off your worry list! Trust me there will be plenty of other stuff to be anxious about (forgive me for not sugarcoating it).

Not been on in a while and just catching up. Sometimes I just need a break from everything 😔

@willithappen there must be something in the water as I am also 3/4 days late this month. So frustrating as there’s always that part of you that wonders if it’s your month and then it starts 😔

@NG9876 we are the exact same with regards to the waiting list. Hoping it goes in quick and we get called back April/May time. Also been watching deadwater fell and it does feel a bit difficult seeing the IVF bit. Brings it all home that it will be us soon

@Lily999 Thanks for all the info. My fingers are well and truly crossed for you! @scotgirl1, I'm hoping for then too. Sometimes you do need a break. I feel it's all I ever think about xx

Hello Ladies,
Can I join you? I've just noticed there is a Scottish thread. I'm having a frozen embryo transfer on Friday at Glasgow royal from my 2009 cycle. My first round was successful and resulted in our beautiful nearly 10 yr old DD.

@MelAndShoe there is a wee tea room. I never use the maternity entrance, I go via the basement entrance and you follow the black arrows on wall towards clinic and you pass the tea room on the way.

Wishing all you ladies luck on your journeys x

Welcome @candycornlover That's great to hear that you've already had success with your DD, wishing you lots of luck with your next transfer!

@Lily999 no need to sugarcoat at all, I'd rather be prepared for the reality of it. I think all the waiting makes it worse, too much time to overthink things!

Hiya Girls!
So we had our first scan on day 6. I have 14 follicles, but they are all small for now. The biggest one was 10mm. Nurse said it is completely normal and I might grow more at this stage she also added sometimes they only do a day 8 scan so not even looking at the ovaries this early so there is nothing to worry about as I am responding and 14 is a great number at this stage. Lining is nice just how it should be she said.
I feel a little bit disappointed as we didn't have any "numbers" to come away with as they are small. They did not change my dose so we will see what happens on Friday, have to go back the same time early morning. She said we will then have to go back over the weekend for another scan and hopefully I will be ready for EC next week.
I still have zero symptoms apart from feeling bloated and sometimes I feel an odd pain around the ovaries, but nothing else to report. Good to know I am responding, but would be even better to feel it. more :)

@Lily999 thanks for the update on time frames👍🏻 Glad everything is going to plan for you.Please keep us updated. We go tomorrow to find out our protocol😀

@Lily999 Thank you for sharing your experience here, I am with Ninewells as well and find it useful.
What time do they book in your scans? How early in the morning?

@Lily999 that all sounds positive, fingers crossed everything looks good on your scan on Friday! Thanks for keeping us updated, it's really helpful to hear from someone going through the process.
@Mrsmch123 Good luck with your appointment

Hiya! No problem, I can give you updates so you will know what is coming your way :)
So, day 7 of stimms today, I still have no side effects apart from being bloated most of the time. Hoping tomorrow morning they will tell us the follicles got bigger, but trying to manage my expectations as I would expect to feel them by now... I normally ovulate on day 17-18 of my cycle, this could be the reason of them not growing that fast, who knows?
@Pinecone88 the scans need to be in the morning, we got 8:40 so far for both yesterday and tomorrow. We live quite far away so it takes us 2,5 hours of driving to attend a 4 minute scan that is a bit funny, but so it goes...

@Lily999 thank you for sharing, it's helpful to know how things will go. Wishing you lots and lots of luck!

@Scotgirl1 welcome back, it can be so rough, sometimes you just need a break for your own mental health - I've done the same in the past.

Welcome @candycornlover 😊

Hi ladies so we have our protocol🥳!just need to phone at next period and hope that there is space😬then is all go from there.....

Great news @mrsmch123! Is it the short or the long one? When is your period due?

I don't know🙈🤦🏻‍♀️They never said. It's protocol 7??im due the 4th so not that long. Hoping there is space😬