Anyone doing ivf at 40+

[lucieloos]

We're considering doing a couple more rounds of ivf at 40.5 years old. We have 2 children already but still feel someone is missing.

Is anyone else starting or already having treatment at 40+ and would like to share the journey?

Hi @Anxiousbuthopeful wishing you lots of luck for tomorrow. I always used to stress about follicle numbers too but in the end it didn't make that much difference to the number available for transfer. So I could have lots of good follicles and collect 8 eggs, all fertilise and still have only 1-2 blasts to transfer or on my last occasion I had only 2 follicles and 2 eggs but still one good blast for testing so try not to get too caught up on follicles numbers. The lead one or two are normally the best anyway.

We had the scan today and all looking good so far. Measuring a day ahead and saw the heartbeat. Got to book in the nipt test for a couple of weeks time now which is the one that really scares me.

Oh my god so exciting! I am so pleased for you @lucieloos

One more quick q. Did you get declining results from IVF as you did more and more cycles, or is the distribution a bit random?

No the distribution was random although I did see a decline from my last round when I was 37 to my next round at 40 but I still got a decent blast for testing.

Hi! So scan didn’t go so well, 2 decent follicles on the right (still small, 4-5mm) and three micro on the left. Doctor says I am behind and to add Meropur to the mix already. Does that sound like a good idea? First time for me...

@lucieloos congratulations ! fingers crossed for more lovely scans ahead 💚 I started stim today , my fsh was nice and low last month but it’s up to 9 😖 I think one higher and argc would not have cycled me. Had a very stressful week wonder if that caused it to raise. Just feeling like it’s not the best start but have to go with it in case stats just get worse . @Anxiousbuthopeful good luck sorry I can’t advise as a newbie!

@Anxiousbuthopeful yes menopur can sometimes give them a little boost. They are still all really small at the moment so may be time to recruit others.

@Sunshinelove8 good luck hope you get some good results!

I hope so @lucieloos! Will keep you posted. And @Sunshinelove8 keeping my fingers crossed for you!

Lastly, has anyone done immunological exams? I was wondering whether it might be worth giving them a try

Immune tests you mean ? I did , my immunes were slightly raised and I had intralipids last pregnancy. Were they worth it .. hmmm . I guess if they had been super high it would have indicated a problem , I went for every test going to figure out why I was having recurrent mcs. I’m pretty certain it was age related egg issues now which I reckon yours is probably too. They are expensive too - about £600.
Not sure if this is what you meant?

@Anxiousbuthopeful I didn't have the test but my clinic gave me the treatments just incase as they said they wouldn't do any harm. So steroids, clexane, aspirin and intralipids.

Thanks!

@lucieloos or any of the old hands - has anyone had a good cycle after a slow start? I am feeling a bit stressed...

@Anxiousbuthopeful what day were you on at your last scan? It might just be that you need to stimm a bit longer but it might also be the cycle that I spoke about where you get less eggs but the lead one or two are just as good and you get a similar outcome even if you had gotten a couple more.

I am on day 5 of the stimulation phase...

@Anxiousbuthopeful yes that's really early! Hopefully by your next scan they should have picked up a bit more.

Hi @Anxiousbuthopeful I can’t be much help but I haven’t had a first scan before day 8 so it sounds early days to me. Don’t lose hope yet.
When I did my first round in July 2017 I just injected 300 iu gonal f but this round in Feb I had 300 iu gonal f and 75 iu menopur and I got more blastocysts this time. Everything crossed for you.

@lucieloos fab news!! All going well!

Hi, can I join you? I am 42, had egg retrieval yesterday for 1st cycle of ICSI and got 14 eggs after nine days of stims, luckily I have an amazing AMH. 12 were mature and 8 have fertilised well they have told us today - now waiting to see if any make it to 5 days, transfer booked for Saturday so 🤞.

Hi @dragonfly1978 - it looks like a brilliant cycle! Fingers crossed for you. Let us know how the transfer goes.

Yes @dragonfly1978 those are amazing numbers. There must be a good one or several in there!

@Badgerismyname @Anxiousbuthopeful thanks both, will keep you posted! Where are you both in the process at the moment?

Hi @dragonfly1978 - I am on cycle 3. In both the first two I had 4 fertilized embryos put back in on day 3, first time I miscarried at 7 weeks and then I had a chemical pregnancy. This cycle I seem to have a poorer response and I am very stressed about it but trying to stay positive. Also 42 but with terrible numbers

@Anxiousbuthopeful am so sorry to hear about your losses 😥. I know I am lucky to have a great AMH - the fertility clinic said it is like a 20 year olds, our issue is with the sperm so we had ICSI. I have never had any kind of fertility treatment before so this is all very new!!! It's good they let you put 4 back in at day 3, I am arguing to put 2 or 3 back in at day 5 and they seem really against it - think I will be insisting on at least two if I am lucky enough to have two to put back. It's hard making the decision on my own though as my husband is allowed to be there so when I arrive and they tell me I will have to decide on my own!

Hello all, had second scan. 6 follicles between 9 and 5mm. Bit slow for day 8 of stimms I think (usually more like 15-10mm) but am grateful that something seems to be happening. It looks like I will need to go on for longer though, and with higher doses of Meropur. Does anyone know whether that deteriorates egg quality or in some way affects the results? Thank you!

Hi @dragonfly1978 - how did ET go?! And any news from @Sunshinelove8? I had a scan this morning, looking a bit better with 3 good-sized follicles and 3 smaller ones which I hope will catch up...