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?

@Delectable I'm afraid I don't know much about cycling abroad but you will find loads of threads (old and more recent) about this on Mumsnet. A friend of mine is with IVI who have clinics overseas but a London base for tests. They're happy but are using donor eggs so I don't know about their egg collection protocols.

I've just had a bloody positive ovulation test on CD11! If my body is behaving that will mean a 25/26 day cycle bringing out fresh cycle forwards to 30 Dec IF we get DPs sperm fragmentation test back that fast. Last month I had a short luteal phase so if that happens it will be even quicker.

We did the deed last night but DP struggles with the pressure. No way he's going to be able to do it again today. He doesn't have issues at other times but the whole unsexy, planned TTC thing gets the better of him. Not that it really matters but you always hope that you'll be that person who gets pregnant before starting a cycle (like @lucieloos !!!)

@Unicorn9 I like your wider OPK strips. Looks much clearer. I use the CB digitals because I was never sure when I got a positive with the strips.

@Anxiousbuthopeful not sure if it matters how much you have had to drink but it definitely matters how long you have held in your urine. I always use first morning urine if I can. If not I hold it in for 4-5 hours before testing. I generally find any less and I don't get accurate results.

Xxx

@Janefx40 you're right. My hubs is sometimes delayed cos of the pressure during ovulation.

So after a failed IUI I’m torn between trying IUI again of going to IVF. At 41 time is really running out. Anyone had success at IUI?

Hi @Suepeggy honest opinion ? I think it’s a waste of time , especially at 41. I looked at it and saw the success rates especially for our age and they were pretty bad x

I’m thinking of trying IVF because I think I’ll regret it if I don’t. I had 5 follicles for IUI so at least I know I responded to the drugs.

Hi all,

I haven’t posted on here for a while as been taking a break from all things ivf while I wait to start the fet in jan. I had my hysteroscopy which was all clear so that’s clearly not the issue.

Hope everyone is getting on ok.

Hi ladies,

Is it ok for me to join this thread? I’m a complete newbie and not sure of the etiquette so please do feel free to keep me right.

I’m 42 and this is my 2nd ivf cycle. First one sadly failed at 40. This round has so far gone better and I had my transfer on Wednesday with my best graded 5day blastocyst. My test is Boxing Day and I have to do at home as clinic closed then I’ve to go in on 29th for blood test. Trying hard not to get paranoid but feel v crampy today. Going to be a long few days.

I’m doing this alone so be nice to share in this over40 journey. There’s so much negativity around our age group when allowed all we want is positivity and hope. WIshing you all lots of both x

Hi @Redredstar42 welcome. Glad this round has gone better for you. Very exciting about the transfer. I had my daughter when I was nearly 42 (through IVF) so it's not all misery aged over 40.

Cramps could be a good sign. I've been pregnant twice (once successfully and once later ended in miscarriage) and both times I had cramps about 3 days after transfer. I think it was implantation though lots of people would say it's not possible to feel anything that small (they're probably right but I still believe I felt it!!). With all the extra progesterone, cramps are normal anyway.

Are you bubbled up with anyone over Christmas?

Hi @mouse40 I'm quite new so may not have been around when you were here before! Glad your hysteroscopy was clear. I know we sometimes hope for an answer but overall it's better if there's nothing glaringly wrong!!

When in Jan will you start your FET?

@Janefx40 thanks so much for the reply and the welcome and the reassurance on the cramps. First round I didn't google anything or join any forums and this time I've been opposite!

Yes I'm blessed to have a beautiful loving supportive family who are all supporting me in this and we're very close. Well, as close as we can be during this covid. So I shouldn't have said I'm alone, far from it but what I meant is that I'm not doing this ivf journey with the support of a partner, so it's nice to read all the stories and advice on here x

@Redredstar42 I’ve been pregnant a few times and period cramps have happened with every single pregnancy! My first and only successful pregnancy I didn’t realise I was pregnant ( oh how I wish I could go back to that ignorant blissful time ) I had cramps so bad I was taking painkillers thinking af was around the corner . They are both the same pains . Wishing you a lot of luck x

Hope everyone is doing ok, i know it's difficult week ahead for many reasons this time of year, on top of this awful Covid business.

Thought i'd post back with some encouraging news on here for us over 40s, as my second freeze all cycle resulted in 6 blasts from 11 eggs! I have 9 now in the freezer. As i'm doing PGS after my next/3rd cycle, i'm still very worried that none will be normal, but i can't complain so far.

I keep reading that low dose aspirin is given during FET to help implantation...has anyone had an alternative to this or not had it at all? I don't usually take aspirin related meds as i'm asthmatic, but worried this will impact on my FET success.

@IslandStars that is AMAZING !!! Congrats, that gives you a really good chance with pgs ! Did you do anything different this cycle?
I took aspirin but only after bfp . In fact , I seem to have an unfussy uterus ( fall pregnant every two months ) but I could not fall pregnant on aspirin , the cycle I stopped I fell pregnant again . I don’t know why that is but I won’t want aspirin For my fet . I don’t have diagnosed sticky blood or anything .
Hope everyone else is doing okay ? I’m cycling again next month , sticking with argc as crgh wanted war and peace to even go to consultation - sent me pages of forms which I only completed before I actually did ivf with argc . I found it bizarre when you haven’t even agreed to cycle !

@Sunshinelove8 Thank you, I’ve been very lucky so far, just have to hope that doesn’t run out for the PGS! I didn’t do anything different, so will be interesting to see what I get in my final cycle and whether it varies again.

Thanks for the info on the aspirin, glad it doesn’t appear to be crucial to success.

Good luck with your cycle next month, sounds like it was worth sticking with argc, nobody needs piles of admin to worry about on top of everything else!

@IslandStars do you have a lot of antral follicles ? I only ever have 7 so always advised to do full stimms , the clinic doesn’t think mild stimms will work for me. I only got 7 eggs collected last time on max stimms , so guess they’re right x

@Sunshinelove8 Mine was 8 or 9 I think, but I suppose small differences like that may count once you’re over 40. It’s all very individual though, seems as though you’re on the right protocol for you.

@IslandStars I’d love to get that many blasts , I only got 2 last time . One was a bad one , one good. With as many as you have you’re bound to have more than one normal 👍🏻
I would try mild but at 10 k a cycle at argc I’m too scared to try anything different ...
lovely going into Christmas with those number of blasts , happy Christmas ❤️

Hello all, I am likely to start again around NYE. Different protocol this time. Bit concerned as my baseline scan shows 3 AF and 5 “microfollicles”. Does anyone know what they are and whether they turn into AF?

@Anxiousbuthopeful I'm afraid I don't know about micro follicles - hopefully they will turn into something good.

@IslandStars amazing result. So great to have 9 in the freezer.

@Sunshinelove8 good to have made a decision on clinics at least.

I'm a bit overwhelmed here. We've just had DPs sperm fragmentation results back and it's pretty bleak reading. He is miles outside the fertile range on all parameters even for doing ICSI. Just feeling quite winded - he is, as usual, silent on the subject and is just plowing on with work. I'm nearly 44 tho - it's not as tho we have time to wait. I'm worried he won't even try and that's it for us now.

Feeling gutted tbh

@Janefx40 Sorry the results were disappointing. Yet another hurdle isn't it...have they said if it's still ok to try ICSI or is it ruled out completely?

@Anxiousbuthopeful i haven't heard of microfollicles before. I guess they just have less potential to grow enough to produce an egg. A change of protocol could help though. Hope it goes well. Looks like there is a few of us starting again soon.

@Sunshinelove8 Thank you, i really hope i can get a normal one like you and ideally another as a backup. Have a lovely Christmas too!

@IslandStars thank you. We had the tests at a different clinic so am waiting to hear what ARGC want to do. I think they will say that there is no point in proceeding until things have improved. They may refer us to a specialist but with time running out for me too, it's not too promising. I guess I need to wait and see what they say.

🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼 for some nice healthy embryos for you xxx

@Janefx40 sorry to hear. But they do amazing things and pick out the one single good sperm, perhaps all is not lost. And thank you @IslandStars - yes, I think that may be what they are. I am doing oestrogen priming, has anyone tried that?

@Anxiousbuthopeful I did estrogen priming a few times I'm sure it helped my numbers.

@Janefx40 was it fragmentation that was bad or the other things such as motility, count etc? Icsi can normally select good ones.

@Anxiousbuthopeful I don’t know sorry - have you chatted to your clinic to see their opinion On the micro follicles?
@Janefx40 sorry to read this , surprised argc didn’t pick this up or recommend it ? Did they say anything was unusual on the last cycle with the sperm ? Can sperm visually look ok but not be ? I’m hoping they can give you some positivity when you speak to them ❤️