IVF in Feb/March 2020?

[waitingforarainbow]

Hello! I'm just wondering whether there are others starting their IVF journey in Feb/March 2020.

I am dealing with secondary infertility (male factor) and we have been TTC#2 for 16 months. We conceived naturally by some miracle back in July, but sadly had an early miscarriage (my third in total). We're now waiting to start ICSI IVF in early February.

Would love to hear from others doing the same. x

Hi everyone, hope I can join here. We suffer from MFI, have been TTC for last 3 years 😕I'm currently waiting for PGS results from an ICSI cycle. Quite worried about what my chances are of a normal embryo at my age of 40.
I'm also considering starting another cycle to harvest some more embryos as i feel my chances of using my own eggs will start to diminish quite drastically in the next few years.
So still unsure about exactly what the next step will be until I get PGS result through.

Hello @41trying! I'm starting my first round of IVF (ICSI) soon.

About cycles of ordinary trying, salpingectomy, 8 of follicle tracking with gonal f, 3 chemical pregnancies, found out I have antiphospholipid syndrome and now on to IVF and innohep.

How about you?

Just done my first injection, feel a bit like I’m going to pass out but I’m sure it will get better as the days go on! 🙄

Any seasoned IVF’ers do you tend to get a bit of swelling under the skin where the fluid initially goes in? Over the last 10 mins it has gone down gradually but at first it was quite hard and swollen!

I’m cycle day 3, going in to clinic on day 9 of injections for first follicle check scan, then go from there!

@SpyroC, if I remember my concentration signing they just go over everything in extra detail confirming signing forms again and bloods if needed.
@Embri, if you pinch skin hard inject and dont let go, inject keep needle in for 5 secs, remove slowly, then release skin, you should be fine. Think I am an injection pro now lol.
@ValidUser, I have a review appointment tomorrow, I am self funded so thought my last would be my last, just dont think I can give up yet. I abandoned cycle, 2 EC short protocol no transfer, last cycle had transfer BFN.

@41trying that's really hard. I'm planning for a few goes at this, because even though we have good sperm on our side, DH has type 1 diabetes and apparently they'll be less proficient at fertilising. And I have tubal and clotting factors and an AMH more suited to a woman ten years my senior (but not actively low).

I'm in Ireland so self funded too. I've saved enough for 3 cycles. It's about €4900 for a cycle of ICSI, and thankfully the meds are capped at €134.

I'm also very, very lucky to be a doctor. I have gynae friends who are great for advice and support, and I knew to get an early HSG because I had a vague recollection of my appendix having been stuck to my right fallopian tube.

I've two close friends going through IVF too.

So trying to be positive but not delusional. Definitely overthinking as I tend to do. Gobbling up my coenzyme q10 in the weeks preceding the cycle.

@Embri I've only been on gonal f and cetrotide. Cetrotide definitely left a little bump.

I've given all sorts of people all sorts of jabs over the years, and sometimes the fluid accumulates before dispersing, and then being absorbed, especially if you're injecting close to a millilitre or more.

Make sure you're actually getting it under the skin and not into it. Into it is waaay more painful, though, so you'd likely know all about it.

@ValidUser, mine roughly 5k per cycle but meds for long protocol are 1.5k which I a joke to be fair. Other cycles I just took folic acid and vit d, today i brought q10, see if it makes any difference.

Welcome Dia12 good luck finding out your pgs results. How many more days do you have to wait?

Wow 134 for meds is amazing Valid User!

Wow 134 for meds? My Menopor was over £1400 on its own. Think we are looking at it being close to £8k for this standard IVF cycle with all of our 'optional extras', though we will get £750 back if we have nothing to freeze (it's unlikely we will) so I have mentally spent that on flights somewhere hot!

Thanks for the warm welcome @ChatWithMe. I expect results in another 10days time, haven't been given an exact date. In limbo until then, really finding the waiting difficult.

Have you had your iui?

Yes last IUI done thank goodness. Onwards and upwards! Hope you keep busy next 10 days or so Dia12

Afternoon all!
We have been for out follow up and even though I had a AMH of 20 and AFC of 11, they didnt match up to response of drugs and only 3 eggs collected. They will change drugs still with DR on day 21 this month and has recommended Q10 to start taking straight away.
Suppose now is another waiting game for a few weeks

Did they give you any ideas of what they think could be the reason for the small number of eggs collected?

Although AFC and AMH can give an idea of a woman's fertility, they both can vary from cycle to cycle and basing protocols on these is an in exact science. Unfortunately ivf cycles are no where as personalised as they could be.
But at least any subsequent cycles should be built on what they do know about you. Do know what dosage of stimulation drugs they will use this time?

Hi @ValidUser another Irish girl here! What clinic did you go for?

@confused107 it’ll cost us around €7-8k too for each round so that’s weird it’s the same if your costs are £7k ish if most of that includes drugs! Who knows how they price it!!!

@UncleBrynsfishingtrip @ChatWithMe @CarbsAndCheese he had a bad tackle in sport! Typical though as he’s been playing for years with no injury now it happens right before we start again. Luckily I’ve told my family and a few friends and they’re all very supportive so I’ll be sending around a message once we know the dates for egg collection / embryo transfer and see who can take us. They’ve all offered to take time off work but I said we just don’t know when until nearer the time so it’s all a bit up in the air!

Re vitamin d. I take the Zita west ivf prep pack and it comes with a vitamin d spray.

My period is due in 13 says so then stating short protocol. Eek! I wanted DH to do the injections as I really struggled last time so hoping I’ll manage ok now he’s out of action!

Embri - I remember you from the MFI thread waves glad you’ve gotten started sorry to hear the injection was bad. I had a cup of tea and square of dark chocolate waiting for me after each one so maybe something like that will help!

@unclebryn I’m also obsessed with looking stuff up. Even though I know everything I need to know for this cycle. I don’t know how to switch it off!

@Dia12, they cant say for sure, they did say about my previous c sections.
They are going to use DR as normal state day 21 then Gornal F 450 for 7 days then another cant remember what they called it at 375. I will know more when he sends protocol through.

Hope everyone is doing well! I’ve just done my second menopur. All ok at the mo. Had a headache today but might be unrelated. Back to the clinic on Monday for first progress scan!

@Crumpets124 I'm with Nik Purandare in Galway and Merrion in Dublin. They have good success rates and Nik has looked after me from the surgery onwards.

How about you and what's your story to date?

I’m with Sims now. First round with Merrion failed and they didn’t seem to have anything more to offer for round 2 bar more of the same so we moved to Sims. We’ve severe male factor and they are a lot more proactive and seem more in line with the UK. Merrion nurses were lovely though and couldn’t fault the process at all. So you’ll be in good hands.

When are you starting your round? Long protocol? It sounds like you have been through the mill a bit with all your pre ivf treatments. We tried naturally for 6 months but as I have a gynaecological issue I self referred to fertility clinic then. Turns out that my issue wouldn’t stop pregnancy (but may cause issues with a pregnancy unfortunately) but my DH has severe MFI. It took about 7 months of tests and waiting on appointments till our first ivf. Then another year between then and now due to bad advice from our Merrion consultant, moving clinic and a procedure for my DH! Planning to do back to back (or as close as possible) cycles this year as I’m turning 34 in a few months.

What’s your plan?

@Crumpets124 one round of this, mainly because Nik is taking care of it all and he's great. Short protocol. (I'm 30 with an AMH of 12 - the evidence seems to back this up). Gonal F 250 and cetrotide. I seem to respond ok. One time we got about 5 big follicles on 125.

I was lucky to request a HSG after 4 months and that detected the main problem (childhood peritonitis caused massive hydrosalpinx).

If that doesn't work, going to Waterstone in Cork. He has very good success rates.

Then will reassess. Sims sound good, but they seem to want a lot of their tests redone on site. I've heard mixed reviews about the staff. Still thinking about it all.

How are you doing?

I’ll let you know how we get on with SIMS although with male issues I guess the only experience would be difference. We didn’t have to get any tests done with them as ours were all recent so didn’t need to do them on site. It sounds like you’ve a good plan in place!

My AMH is 17 and I was given 150 of Gonal f and had 7 follicles which they said was a poor response so Sims are putting me on 250 so hoping to get more. I’m also doing short protocol. Our embryos all collapsed by Day 5 which is apparently more sperm issues so we’re also doing surgical sperm removal. Fingers crossed.

@Crumpets124 are you doing ICSI? We are.

@ValidUser yes ICSI with SSR.

Just had my injection teach this morning and I’ve come away feeling bad about it all. Basically the nurse wasn’t supportive or encouraging and I told her how I felt. Not like me at all to be brave and explain to someone however manner and tone were not good at all.

Onwards and upwards I suppose at least the injections can now start! I do the first ones on 20th Feb x

I had mine yesterday and it went well. She showed me how to inject just in case they deliver injections. It made me cringe a bit but I think I'll be able to do it. It's not good that they made you feel bad about it. They know how hard this process is. I get people have bad days but when dealing with patients you'd think they'd put a front on! (That's what I have to do in my job). Don't let it put you of. As you say onwards and upwards! It'll be good for us getting started soon. X

@Crumpets124 best of luck with it all. Let me know how SIMS is.

I looked up the Merrion vs Waterstone rates, and in terms of success at 8 weeks and live birth they're pretty much the same. So I think I'll do 2 with Merrion and then reevaluate.

@UncleBrynsfishingtrip bedside manner is so important. As a doctor it still amazes me how many of us (as healthcare professionals in general) lack it.