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?

@lucymills1234 Thanks, i got 3 blasts from the first round which i was obviously very happy with, but then somehow got 6 from the second round, so don't know what to expect this time! They are mostly good grades, four of them are 5BB. I do have some CC grades, which clinic are not suggesting for PGS at this stage as they have less cells, so probably not the best basis to test on.

Clinic suggested i'd have more success with banking, not that i have fertility problems other than age, but to be honest, i think i have over achieved what me or the clinic expected at this point! It all hinders on the PGS though, so i don't want my luck to run out yet!

I think you're doing the right thing to have another fresh round, kind of wish i wasn't on a 3 cycle package now, i'm just feeling really impatient today as my period is 5 days late again!

Thank you @IslandStars for responding. I have also been looking into immunes testing which is so expensive. Just don't know what the best thing to do is.

Ps 9 blasts is amazing! 🎉

@IslandStars fingers crossed you can get going soon. Waiting around is a pain. I'll start down-reg at the end of this month and am counting the days.

It definitely sounds like you've over-achieved! I was pleased with my no of eggs then despondent at the low fertilisation rate, so the wait to see if I had any blasts was awful. I think you can feel confident that whatever happens third time round, 9 frozen blasts is incredible.

Trying not to second guess what might happen on the next try is so hard! You can know all the stats but still, the unpredictable nature of IVF can be really cruel.

Hello there. Just a quick update from me. The three embryos are now at day 3 and still progressing. Wasn’t told more than that. Let’s see what happens at day 5!

Good luck @Anxiousbuthopeful 😌

So one of the embryos has turned into a blast today (day 5) and been frozen. The other two are still progressing, with one looking better than the other. Am hoping for a day 6 blast too. Are they much less likely to be euploid? Does anyone know?

@Anxiousbuthopeful thank you for updates. So good to hear positive news. Are you embryo banking?

I’m 41 due to start first IVF at last next month due to COVID and now need a hysteroscopy due to possible polyp.

Hi@Suepeggy! Yes, I am. I don’t produce many blasts per cycle (1-2) and I am 42, but I am giving this my best shot! Best of luck for your hysterescopy.

Anxiousbuthopeful I had 1 day 5 embryo and 2 day 6s and all 3 came back euploid...

Ps I am 42

That’s wonderful and so encouraging to hear, thank you @Unicorn9. How is everything progressing with you? All on track?

Anxiousbuthopeful we shall see. I had the 6+0 scan and it came back 3.3mm which I think is on the small side but there was a heart beat but now I’m on pred im not sure. My bust is no longer firm and full so I’m not sure. I have another scan on Thursday... Good luck for tomorrow!

@Anxiousbuthopeful I am not 100% sure, but from what I was told by my clinic there's not a firm link between blast quality and chromosomal normality (or irregularity). It's obviously better that a blast develops than not but it's not a predictor. I had a 5AA blast transferred (fresh) but got a BFN sadly. I'm 41. That's my only experience so far.

It's really hard at the stage you're at as you really want some predictor of success... You've got a 5 day blast and two others still in contention so that's great!

Hello @Unicorn9 - it must be nerve wracking. And @lucymills1234, yes it is horrid isn’t it. My other two embryos arrested overnight apparently so got one this cycle. That makes two in the freezer. Not sure whether to go ahead and transfer next month or to try to do another round and see whether I can get one more.

@Anxiousbuthopeful Sorry the other two didn't make it, glad you have two in the freezer though, at least it makes the cycles worthwhile to get something. Are you planning on testing these two?

@Unicorn9 Good luck for Thursday, hope everything works out.

@IslandStars, no testing for me. With such low numbers I don’t think it is worthwhile...

@Unicorn9, yes - fingers crossed for Thursday.

Hello to all the new peeps on this thread.

I’m just catching up with it all. Work is super busy and been burying my head in the sand somewhat waiting for this fet with my 6 day 4bb. Am now waiting for period to start this week.

@Unicorn9 keeping everything crossed that things keep going well.

I can’t remember who was asking about 6 day blasts but my consultant told me that they are the same in terms of quality as 5 day but are less likely to survive the thaw process compared to a day 5 blast. I’m wondering whether our day 6 will thaw ok. I’m planning on going straight into a fresh after that but we have had so many cancelled cycles due to poor response I’m not overly hopeful we will make a blast. Will have to see

Hope everyone else is doing ok. Will catch up properly once I get going with this cycle.

Thanks for the answers! One more quick question from me. Do you think it is ok to do cycles back to back if they are freeze all?

@Anxiousbuthopeful I did back to back fresh (5 rounds). The consultant told me there was no physical reason why you can’t the only reason to take a break is personal choice/psychological reasons.

Are you thinking of doing some freeze all banking? I’m considering that after my last fresh in this package.

I’m having my first phone appointment with the clinic tomorrow after ttc for 11 months. I’m 45 he’s 43 so hoping we’ve not left this too late! I had a MC in my 30’s which put me off trying for a while. I’d love to follow you guys through your journeys and swap stories! I’m sure I’ll have loads of questions!

Hello@LCAlways, welcome! Keep us posted. And @mouse40 - yes, am doing freeze all cycles, two done so far with two blasts in the freezer. Disappointing results but could be worse I suppose...

Thank you for all the luck. I am really worried I guess but time will tell.

Morning ladies. Pls can I join? I’ve got my first ever IVF starting this month. Short protocol. Two weeks of contraception pills first. Am 39 with AMH 2.5 and FSH 11. I have a son who’s 20 month- all easy and straight forward with him. Can’t get preggers second time. They could only find 6 follicles total when I had my I tail scan. Looks like I’m going to have to work super hard for an embryo.

Nervous but excited to get going. Anyone else have a low follicle count with success?

Hi @RichmondLady1981 welcome.

I have always had a low follicle count at base line scan but it hasn’t really equated to embryo production. For example one month when I had 9 we had to cancel the cycle as none of them grew. Another month I had 3 which all contained eggs and all made embryos. I don’t think it matters too much as it can vary month to month.

I’m just heading into round 8 for my only fet transfer. Baseline scan on Monday.

Where are you cycling?