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?

@Jigglywobbly Fantastic news Sunshine, I can’t believe after everything you’ve been through, it was an IUI which worked! I know you’ll feel anxious for a long time, but you’ve come really far now, hope the rest of the pregnancy is happy and healthy (6 x Cyclogest sounds like a nightmare though lol).

@lucymills1234 @Anxiousbuthopeful Good luck with your upcoming transfers, let’s have some more positive news on this thread.

I know it’s so random. My dh was trying to convince me not to do it as he was afraid it would be another mmc as we hadn’t tested anything via pgs. We had one hour to do the iui and had a 5 min conversation on phone while he was telling me we should just leave it. It’s madness.
I hardly had any follicles this round (half as many as previous round) the doctor told me she’d seen women with one follicle get one embryo and have a baby. I kept thinking about that, it helped me keep going.
You all have a good chance with your remaining embryos. It’s scary but we have to feel the fear and do it all anyway don’t we? We are strong ladies x

Thanks @IslandStars :) Hope your wait for next steps isn't dragging too badly.

My FET was fine so I'm now back in the dreaded 2WW. This is my third transfer so I should know by now to blame any physical signs on the progesterone - symptom spotting did me no favours in earlier transfers. Trying to keep reminding myself that. Not that I've noticed much - a bit of bloating, a few twinges here and there. Probably all digestion-related!

When I had the review with a consultant after my last BFN she asked if I'd ever had spotting/bleeding during the 2WW (as a sign of implantation rather than early period). She seemed to view the fact I hadn't as a negative thing, which threw me a bit as I thought only some people had spotting. Anyway, since I've had none so far it's making me think this time hasn't worked either... can only wait and hope

Hi @lucymills1234, my first IVF fresh transfer I had no spotting but it did implant. I really think nothing to worry about on that front. Mine only got to 7-8 weeks but that was a separate issue, I hope all will be well for you!

@lucymills1234 Good luck, really hope this 2WW flies by! I think I’ll be very dubious about symptoms next time, I had a few which could easily have indicated a BFP, but were just due to progesterone in the end.

Bit annoying that the consultant mentioned lack of spotting and put that doubt in your mind, as I’ve read that only around 25% of women experience this with a BFP, so not as common as people think.

I’ve got my consultation to discuss hysteroscopy next week. The wait is stressful, but am just trying to convince myself that it might be the help I need for implantation. Trying to roll with punches in this journey, but easier said than done!

Hi @IslandStars I hope your consultation goes well. Are you doing the hysteroscopy privately? The wait is frustrating, but if it could make a difference to implantation, I imagine it's ultimately faster (and less expensive) than another fresh round of treatment. If only we all had the IVF crystal ball that let us see how things would pan out!

Yes, it was frustrating to get that reaction about the lack of implantation bleeding as I'd also understood that it was far from a universal experience. Like you I had some 'symptoms' after my previous two transfers which must have been progesterone, so I am trying my best to ignore everything this time.

Saying that, I'm 9dp5dt today and have that slightly crampy pre-period feeling which is putting me on edge. I didn't bleed early with either previous round though so fingers crossed. Falling asleep at the laptop today so maybe an extra-early night will help the time until OTD go faster!

Hello @lucymills1234 - thinking of you and hoping it goes wonderfully!

@lucymills1234 Good luck for OTD, you’ve done so well not to test! The fatigue could be a good sign, it’s so hard to tell. I don’t think I will test very early next time, but my clinic do bloods at 9dp5dt, so I’ll test a day before just to prepare myself.

My hysteroscopy will be done privately. Clinic have been quite reasonable with the price compared to some private hospitals, I just have to hope the wait will be worth it, I’m desperate to avoid another fresh round as I have no idea what my ovarian reserve is like now.

Hello, I’m hopefully starting 3 rounds of egg collection from next week. Create in Wilmslow.

@lucymills1234 wishing you much luck. Ive nc but been on here previously.
I’ve been pregnant 6x in total and only had spotting once and that was one bit of blood. I’m a proper checker each time I went to the ladies/ white underwear etc. Don’t let that comment worry you. Wishing you 🙏

Ps with every pregnancy I get period cramps too and when I’m not pregnant also so have found that doesn’t mean anything. Unless that’s just me

Hi @lucymills1234 - was OTD today? Have everything crossed for you.

Hi @Anxiousbuthopeful @Garbagepailgal @IslandStars Thanks all for your messages.

I was 8dp5dt yesterday not 9... I was counting it wrong So only 9dp today. My clinic tells you to do a FRER at home on 11dp. Since I've had it in my head for a few days that I test tomorrow I may let myself do it then, a day early... not decided yet! I would think the result at 10dp should be conclusive.

Thanks for the reassurance about lack of spotting and the cramps. Still getting some cramping but no sign of any period bleeding. Sorry for the TMI but I have noticed when putting the pessaries in that my cervix has dropped much lower now though, and it's hard - if pregnant it's meant to be high and soft. I told myself I wasn't going to symptom spot but in the last 24 hours I've lost my resolve!

All in all, I think I'm on track for another BFN but know that expecting it isn't going to soften the blow :(

@IslandStars @Anxiousbuthopeful I caved and tested this morning. It had been in my head and I even woke up super early thinking 'test day' so I bit the bullet.

I do have a second line on the FRER so a positive result! It's not the strongest line which is a bit of a concern, though it could be because I had a big glass of water only a few hours before testing. I called the clinic because to cut a long story short, they had first given me Tuesday as a test date... I asked why it was 9dp5dt and not 11 as with previous cycles and they said they made a mistake it should be 11dp5dt but I could test on day 9 if I liked. So I felt like I could call with the result today. They were not worried about a faint line but said I can test again in a few days if I want to reassure myself. I think I am paranoid about a chemical. Anyway I am booked in for a scan in 3 weeks.

I am really grateful to have got a BFP and further than I've made it before. But at the same time nervous as hell about whether things will work out, especially because I am having quite a lot of stomach cramps. I don't want to sound negative, it's a weird balance of hope / keeping feet on the ground 'just in case'...

Hurrah @lucymills1234! Congratulations!

@lucymills1234 That’s fantastic news, congratulations! Am so happy for you. I can see the worry doesn’t stop with a BFP though sadly, think the whole journey through to birth is just extra anxious when you’ve been through IVF.

I’ve heard some people do get darker lines in evening rather than FMU and clinics never seem too fussed on line darkness anyway. When you mentioned feeling tired early in the week I did wonder if that was a good sign, as so many of the cramping type symptoms can be due to the pessaries. Not long to go until your scan, although I’m sure it will drag for you!

My hysteroscopy is now booked for mid August, which means I can FET early September. They agreed on a natural cycle this time to avoid estrogen. I do have a scan booked for next week, just in the hope the polyps may have gone away by themselves, then I could get going again sooner.

@Anxiousbuthopeful How’s things with you?

@Woodcottage1 Good luck for next week, hope your 3 cycles go well. Are you doing PGS?

@lucymills1234 that’s fantastic news! My first frers were always so light. I went to clinic and beta was like 10 or something she’s like you’re hardly pregnant. They got dark quick though, those Hcgs rise fast.
It’s a waiting game now! Stay sticky bean x

@islandstars - eek. I am a little stressed. Supposed to do FET on natural cycle but slow-growing oocyte and endometrium

@Anxiousbuthopeful Will they give you more time? Hope it’s not cancelled. I’ve never done a natural cycle before.

@IslandStars I hope so! I don’t understand what’s going on, also why this is happening. I have a scan tomorrow, hoping for good news

@Anxiousbuthopeful best of luck

Hello Ladies
I'm new to the space.
Just started my IVF journey at 44. Any advice and tips would be helpful.
Wishing you all Love and Light

Hello @Abbk ! Welcome! So my cycle did get cancelled, which isn’t too bad as it gives me a little more time to get my head round things. But it was cancelled because my cycle was wonky, with slow-growing follicle, low-ish estrogen and quite high LH. Doctor says an odd cycle or so is normal at my age and that it doesn’t mean the next one will be crap too, but I always dread the beginning of peri….

@Abbk Welcome, are you doing mild/short protocol? Not sure about any tips, I’ve done 3 rounds and still get stressed by it all! I find the waiting for news/updates the hardest, but the actual rounds themselves I found ok. First one left me quite emotional as I wasn’t used to the hormonal surges.