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?

@firefly37 I didn't do embryo banking as such - that wasn't my plan to start with. But my first cycle only got two blasts so when the fresh transfer failed I decided to do another full cycle rather than use the only blast in the freezer. The fact I was not far off my 42nd birthday was the reason.

@IslandStars I like the idea of a golden egg! I keep seeing different stats about how many eggs are usually 'normal' at this age - I've read 1 in 7 and 25%, amongst other figures. But from 7 blasts you'd hope there was one normal - and hopefully not one of the ones already used that didn't implant.

@Raspberryswirls I didn't do the ERA testing. My clinic didn't rate it, but I know that's only one opinion. I did natural FETs so just tracked ovulation and started cyclogest a few days before transfer. My clinic doesn't do any bloods to check your progesterone levels (during full cycles or FETs) which I've always wondered about... but I've not bled whilst on the cyclogest at any point.

I started bleeding on Weds but though it's more than spotting at no point yet has it been full flow, and my periods are usually on the heavier side. The clinic said it's just my body adjusting but it seems weird. I think I'd mentally braced myself for a proper bleed as a sign my body was back to being ready to go again, but it's not working out that way.

Thank you, I’ve decided against it this time x

I’ve decided against it. I’ve been reading up on fragmented embryos. Not sure it’s the right decision but not testing xx

So tomorrow is my first egg collection out of three that I’ve on, to do embryo banking. Decided against testing, but I might change my mind 🙈🙈
I’m doing mild ivf at create and have just two lead follicles. Doing mild ivf feels different from the one I did in cyprus, I don’t feel at all full or bloated like when I’ve done it previously. I’ll see what happens over the next few days x

Hello, just wanted to say when I was successful with my implantation feb 2020 aged 41 my clinic in cyprus put me on steroids. They didn’t explain it just did it. I feel like my cyprus clinic just did everything they could think of. I’ve never been pregnant, despite years of trying, no miscarriages, absolutely nothing. Before first transfer, I had a polyp on my lining which I had to have removed. I’ve since found out I have endometriosis. When I told create in Wilmslow that I had been put on steroids for my transfer prep, the consultant was surprised.

@Woodcottage1 How did your EC go? I’ve only had 1 failed transfer, but the embryo was euploid and since I only have 1 left, Create St Paul’s suggested steroids for my next FET.

@lucymills1234 How are you feeling? My bleed post BFN was normal and when i stopped meds midway through my last transfer due to the polyps, the bleed was also normal. I guess it shows how different hormones are during a chemical.

@IslandStars it all sounds rather similar to my experience and I really think this illustrates the differences of having ivf in the uk vs northern cyprus. My embryo banking in the uk is allowing me to see the differences between the two countries. Cyprus acts on the questions they ask you, ie have you ever been pregnant etc. They figured out I must have an autoimmune issue etc and just gave me medication such as steroids and luckily ivf round two stuck and is Arabella who is just short of 9 months. When I told my consultant in the uk, he was surprised. I’m continue with create in Wilmslow with the mild, but already considering going off to cyprus. The round of normal ivf is 2.5k plus drugs there.
My results this morning was two out of the three are mature and fertilised. She started talking about potentially freezing on day 3 which makes no sense. If they are looking poor they aren’t going to work so don’t freeze them on day 3.
Anyway best of luck @islandstars x

@IslandStars plus they gave me thyroid medication despite my readings being fine.

@Woodcottage1 The differences between clinics / countries is really frustrating, especially given that steroids in low doses for short term are not going to cause any harm and protocol does need to change after frequent BFN.

Great news on your eggs though. I agree, day 5 freezing would be best. I wasn’t given the option of day 3, but I did always have quite a few embryos in the running.

@IslandStars yep, it’s confusing. I think I’m going to have a battle getting them to agree steroids etc for a future transfer if I’m lucky. I’ve just tried to have a conversation to say if they aren’t looking good at day 3 they aren’t going to make it, so why are we freezing them. It feels like the uk offer a lot of false hope. In cyprus of my two aren’t looking great at day 3 they say they are gone, game over. Obviously praying mild has done what it should do and collected the best my one ovary could offer at the time 🙈🙈 I’ll see on day 3 🙈🙈

Hi all, hope you're not melting!

@Woodcottage1 I've only had treatment in the UK but definitely feels that they try first and then (possibly) add medications later. The more I hear about overseas treatment the more I wonder if it's a better option. Though when I was choosing a clinic I stuck to UK because of the Covid situation. My clinic are generally not hands on with treatment at all, it's very nurse-led rather than consultant led. I only meet a consultant after a failed transfer. If you know what works for you then I would definitely say keep asking for it, if for no other reason than that you'll feel you've done all you could.

@IslandStars not too much longer for you to wait!

I never got a proper bleed/flow. I had some bleeding on the Weds after stopping progesterone on the Sunday, but nowhere near a regular period. After five days of little more than spotting, it stopped. But last Friday (day 10 if you did call the first day of bleeding day 1), I did an ovulation test and got an LH surge result. So I'm working on the assumption that I'll get a very heavy period in a few weeks and that's when I'll lose the lining.

I have a consultation in a couple of days, finally. Really want to get the clinic view on this chemical (is it progress, or is that wishful thinking) and when I could transfer again. I hope that because I didn't get a full bleed straight after the chemical I don't have to wait another complete cycle. I know it wouldn't be the end of the world, but I am always so conscious of the months until I turn 43 ticking down.

@lucymills1234 Am counting down the days! Also praying my next period arrives in a day or so as the procedure in August is planned around this and the next one arriving on time. My OPKs arrived late so by the time I started testing, my surge had passed I think, so should arrive soon.

Hope your review goes well and you get to go again on the next cycle.

Just to update. Mild ivf at create. 3 eggs collected, I only have one ovary, and I’m 42. 2 eggs were mature, fertilised with icis, and incredibly heard today 2 x 5 day blastocysts. Feeling very grateful. I’m on the supplements in the book ‘it starts with an egg’ xx

Oh wow @Woodcottage1! I have started first day of stims again now, traditional rather than mild. Also on all the supplements. Turned 43 last week

Amazing @Anxiousbuthopeful I remember us chatting. Amazing that your on all the supplements. The effects from round 1 and 2 (with about just under 2 months of supplements) was crazy. Number 2 resulted in Arabella. This time I started taking supplements from April, but totally forgot to take them, I went days, sometimes weeks without them and then a couple of days I took them. I did it pretty much religiously for about 3 weeks. In total I probably did just short of less than 2 months worth of supplementing in about just about 4 months. What I’m trying to say is I thought I hadn’t done enough supplementing and I was going to see how the results differed to the next two egg collections. I’m on it for the supplements for the next couple of collections.
You’ve got this anxious but hopeful 👍👍👍👍👍 best of luck. Please don’t stress, try and enjoy the process, it’s pretty magical we’re able to have fertility treatment. Perhaps acupuncture if you are getting anxious. When it comes to implantation please be aware of inflammation etc, I think that’s my major problem and I’m worried that in the uk they don’t automatically medicate you for it, so just keep that in mind. Rooting for you xx

Hi @IslandStars is everything tracking on time for you? Waiting for things to happen is one of the most frustrating parts of IVF, I find.

@Woodcottage1 sounds like a great result for you, congrats! I only have one ovary as well! I've done two rounds so far but both traditional stims rather than mild. I got two blasts (5AA and 4BB) on my first round but from 12 eggs, so you've done really well! I wasn't on that many supplements then, Co-Q10 but only for about a month prior and folic acid.

I had a follow-up yesterday. I was told it's some kind of progress that I had a chemical following the latest FET as at least there was implantation this time. Advice was to do another scratch in this cycle, then transfer on the next and take Clexane again. We talked about steroids but I have another medical condition and turns out steroids would impact other meds.

I had an LH surge last Friday and am taking today as day 17, so the scratch is booked in for next week. But, for the last 2 days I've felt like I'm on the verge of my period starting. There's been a little bit of brown spotting but nothing more as yet, but physically it feels like any minute now. If it does start before the scratch, I'll have to wait to have a scratch in the following cycle and then an FET the one after that - so a full cycle's delay. Nothing I can do if it does happen, but really hoping that it doesn't!

@Anxiousbuthopeful good luck with the stims - when is your first monitoring scan?

@Woodcottage1 Fantastic news, that’s a great ratio to get 2 blasts, shows how lots of eggs are not always needed.

@Anxiousbuthopeful Good luck for your round and happy belated birthday! Am seeing more older ladies doing full stims now, does make me wonder...I’ve only ever done mild.

@lucymills1234 All on track thanks, procedure will be in a months time. I’m about do to a practice run of OPKs since I’ll be having a natural transfer next time. I went away on holiday for a week, which was lovely. Although I thought about IVF at times, it was a lot less than usual, so it was nice to have a week where my every thought wasn’t about fertility. That being said, have been on a downer since returning as I’ve had to cancel some events planned for later in the year due to my transfer in September (too risky with Covid still high) incase I do finally get a BFP. Am just battling with this whole putting your life on hold thing and wondering if it will ever happen for me. Sorry for the depressing tone!

Did the clinic say why they recommend the scratch again, take it they think it helped implantation? Hope you get to do it this cycle. The waiting is so hard.

@IslandStars your results are absolutely incredible regarding rates of blastocysts and normal embryos. The next transfer has to be the one, statistically it’s got to be. You’ve got to have lots of confidence about your situation, I know so many much younger women who can’t get to this stage and I’m so thankful that I’ve got blastocysts, even though statistically only 1 in 5 (or might be worse now) would be classed as normal though testing.
So this moves onto abnormal embryos, is anyone else reading the medical reports on success with them? It’s the reason I’ve not gone down testing this time as they won’t transfer abnormal embryos. There will be heartache as obviously statistically most of my embryos will be abnormal if they were tested, and consequently I understand what that means, I know the risks of miscarriage etc, and the loss of time going down this route. BUT what I’m reading from the states is pretty incredible. Just thought I’d mention it for the future x

@lucymills1234 thank you for the message x what I don’t get from the uk, is you tell your consultant that you’ve never naturally got pregnant and you’ve obviously got great eggs because you’ve got these quality blastocysts and they still do a wait and see before they medicate in case.
I’ve been reading up on the benefits of the supplements in the ‘starts with an egg book’ and interestingly loads help with anti inflammatory. Im hopeful that being on these supplements not only will help my egg quality but might help with a future transfer. Pretty petrified I’m going to have to battle for medication. I’m going to try and locate my cyprus protocol for transfer, but from memory it was blood thinning injections, aspirin as well from day of transfer, steroids, also was given medication for thyroid even though my reading was normal. I’ll try and find the protocol.

What I mean is it’s obvious if you’ve never been able to get pregnant despite proving you’ve got good eggs, then surely that suggests some type of auto immune issue so give us some medication to deal with it.

Dear @Woodcottage1, @IslandStars and @lucymills1234 - thanks for the support! This is my first cycle since turning 43 and statistically I am beyond the pale. But I figure I can’t get any younger and I may as well try what I can and see whether I can do it without stressing out too much. I am going for this as a “bonus round” as i have two frozen blasts from cycles last year that I want to transfer but couldn’t this month. Will be likely in September. First monitoring scan on Wednesday so fingers crossed and I’ll keep you all posted. Thanks so much for the support.

www.thecut.com/2017/09/ivf-abnormal-embryos-new-last-chance.html

@Anxiousbuthopeful🤞🤞🤞🤞

@Woodcottage1 I know about the abnormal embryos! My doctor in Milan was the first to write the Lancet article about how they self correct and he refuses to let me PGS test. And the CHR in NY actually transferred a bunch of abnormals and got decent pregnancy rates. I don’t think they were mosaic, either.

@Woodcottage1 … but then every other doctor I have ever spoken to says there is 98pc certainty with testing so, who knows. I personally don’t test as I only get one per round so what would be the point..