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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

Anyone doing ivf at 40+

996 replies

lucieloos · 21/12/2019 22:52

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?

OP posts:
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12
Blondeshavemorefun · 28/12/2019 20:22

@twinkledag only you can decide

I had 4 failed cycles. The 5th was the only one that gave me my one and only bfp

Few on here have had 5/6 failures then worked on 7th

Tho obv no guarantee

twinkledag · 28/12/2019 20:34

I've had 8 transferred since 2016.

Our cycle in Reprofit ended as no transfer as the embryo was PGS tested and wasn't suitable for transfer.

twinkledag · 28/12/2019 20:35

We've only ever had 1 embryo PGS tested.

Original poster
lucieloos · 28/12/2019 21:11

@twinkledag have you been trying for second since 2016? Like blondes says only you can decide really but if you have the time and money I might try one or two more but it all depends on your personal circumstances. Maybe it might be good to set yourself an end point when you feel you might be able to walk away from it. For me if we were to try again we would do 2-3 more collections max and then no more.

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twinkledag · 28/12/2019 21:15

Hi lucie, yes we have been TTC #2 since August 2016! Closest we got was a miscarriage at 5 weeks-ish back in April last year.

Problem with all this IVF is it's not just a case of doing it, it's the emotional and financial investment and we've been knocked so badly from all these failed cycles. Feels like throwing money away.

Original poster
lucieloos · 28/12/2019 21:59

@twinkledag yes I know exactly what you mean. I felt the same doing the last couple of fets a few months back. I didn't think it would affect me but I really got dragged back in emotionally. I think the actual physical side of doing it is the easy bit but it really does take its toll emotionally and we are definitely feeling the pinch financially as well. To the point where it's a major factor to consider in whether we try for another or use the money to enjoy our time with the two we have.

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twinkledag · 28/12/2019 23:03

Exactly lucie,

Two of my cycles have been abroad so that's meant dragging DS to foreign countries to undertake these failed cycles and forgoing family 'fun' holidays. As you know Brno is not really a family holiday destination!

Original poster
lucieloos · 28/12/2019 23:18

@twinkledag yes we dragged our two to brno twice for the failed fets and it wasn't fun. We only stayed the one night. To be fair they were good as gold but everything is so much harder with 2 very young children and it was so much travelling for them over the course of 2 days. We said we wouldn't take them again as it's not fair on them. If we go ahead with anymore cycles then dh will come with me for the first one to do his part and after that I will go alone .

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twinkledag · 28/12/2019 23:38

@lucieloos - that was the reason why our latest cycle was in London. So much easier and less disruptive.

Original poster
lucieloos · 28/12/2019 23:45

@twinkledag yes we briefly discussed having any further treatment at our local clinic which is about 15 minutes drive away but what we spend on 2 cycles there would mean we could have a further extra round if we went abroad and I'm so using to dealing with reprofit now where I get free reign to email my doctor whenever I like and because I know how my body responds after so many rounds I basically just tell them what I want and they do it which I don't think they would do in the U.K. Also my local clinic doesn't do pgs testing which I really want to do and even if they did it would be very expensive compared to the price abroad so we have to persevere.

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twinkledag · 29/12/2019 08:21

Agree @lucie, Repro is so cheap!!

Oldandsad · 29/12/2019 09:13

@lucieloos, @twinkledag
Do you know what is the cut off age with OE at Reprofit? I checked their website but could not find this information.

Original poster
lucieloos · 29/12/2019 09:27

I think the maximum age they will treat overall is 48 but that's for donor embryos as well. I'm not sure what their cut off is for own eggs if they have one but know they won't recommend it over 45.

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Oldandsad · 29/12/2019 09:31

@lucieloos thank you. I also wrote to them. Not 45 yet, but very close. Had 1 transfer this month in the UK which did not work.

Original poster
lucieloos · 06/01/2020 09:44

How's everyone doing? I started back at work today. My first day back after over a years maternity 😩 I think it's definitely made me feel like I want a third but the thing I'm worried about is we could easily blow £10k (which we can't really afford and would have to go on a credit card) on a couple of rounds and the chances are still pretty slim that it will work. I think this is how dh feels as well. From the discussions we've had he has said yes he would like to have a third and if it was just a matter of deciding that and trying naturally and it happened then he would go for it but it's all the expense and stress as well for a slim chance which is basically how I feel too after totting up how much it would all cost. It worked out more than I thought.

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Blondeshavemorefun · 06/01/2020 14:08

Would you consider de?

Original poster
lucieloos · 06/01/2020 15:25

@Blondeshavemorefun no we wouldn't. We have 2 from own egg so would only really want another own egg.

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Blondeshavemorefun · 06/01/2020 16:48

No probs. Thoight ask as friends have

Then guess it’s a case of maybe ttc and seeing if happens v doing ivf and POSs failing And spending £10k +

Tho obv ivf can and does work but not guarantee

Original poster
lucieloos · 06/01/2020 18:13

Yes I don't think it will work for us ttc naturally unfortunately so it's just whether we take the plunge and spend the money or not.

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twinkledag · 06/01/2020 21:14

We were advised by our consultant to go away and try naturally for a while but we haven't even bothered! No point as we don't believe it will happen! So I get what you mean @lucieloos!

Original poster
lucieloos · 06/01/2020 21:20

@twinkledag yes there's no point it didn't work for us when we were a lot younger so I don't think it will now when people without fertility issues have something like a 3% chance per cycle at 40.

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twinkledag · 06/01/2020 21:43

Yep! I came off the pill 9 years ago! Ain't gonna happen now!

Leala20 · 06/01/2020 21:44

Such inspiring stories. This adds positivity and faith

Original poster
lucieloos · 30/01/2020 22:34

Anybody still here?

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Janefx40 · 31/01/2020 08:04

I'm here if you want me. Not currently much going on IVF wise tho we do have an appointment on 11th. Apparently you have to have one post birth before you can start anything again. We went to two different clinics because our second cycle was NHS. Can't get an appointment at the second clinic so we are going to the other one first while we wait.