Jan/Feb IVF/ICSI/FET here we go...

[sometimesalways]

Hello, starting a new thread for those of us starting a new cycle after the holidays.

My background: one successful round of ivf a few years back resulted in my lovely DS and now trying for a second. We are about to go for round 3, following 1 bfn and 1 mc.

At the moment I am waiting for af to appear. Seem to be about to ovulate according to opk. So guessing should expect af in about 2 weeks time.

Going for natural FET with progesterone support. The question for me is whether to add steroids too. A little scared of long terms risks so we will see...

@Russkispy @itwasalovelydreamwhileitlasted @Christabelle89
I remember from previous threads you were doing, or thinking of doing another round in Jan?

Everybody welcome to join, wherever you are on your journey. It's a tough business, keeping company helps. Good luck!

Good luck @Cisco2 ! 🤞🤞🤞🤞
Are you in any extra progesterone or completely med-free? My clinic still gives progesterone support for the natural cycle and also inhixa so I guess it's not entirely natural, just much 'lighter' than fully medicated

Thank you @mincedpea so great to hear you're doing well. Good luck on the scan! You too @itwasalovelydreamwhileitlasted sounds like you're about to get a couple more good quality ones

Still waiting here but dtd during ovulation in the meantime. I mean, that's hoping against hope as I have NEVER got a bfp without ivf but I read somewhere that you are more likely to get pregnant within 3 months of a mc so there you have it. In the meantime starting to plan for ivf, try and clear diary from trips etc (I have a bit of travel for work and it's always tricky!)

@luby89k I think the natural cycle is meant to be more unpredictable and not suited to everyone. You need to have regular cycles and be ovulating for example, and it still might need to get cancelled due to hormonal fluctuations. So I think the nhs might feel fully controlled medicated option is better for consistency? I don't know actually!

Hello ladies

Hope you're all well and feeling positive!

@Russkispy any update on your transfer date?

@Sarab2020 i hear you. I really think the 2ww is a form of extreme torture. At the end of it either all your dreams will come through or not! It's awful! Hopefully you get good news!

@luby89k I'm feeling tired and scatty with the prognova. I'm getting random pains and am definitely cranky! I think i felt better when i added the progesterone the last time!? The whole thing is just stressful isn't it?
@Cisco2 how is your 2ww going?

@itwasalovelydreamwhileitlasted

@mincedpea hope you're doing ok waiting for that scan!

@sometimesalways i hope your travel for work doesn't complicate your cycle!

@russkispy any update on your transfer date.

So i had another scan today. Way better news with a good lining of 10.6. The transfer will take place next Tuesday at 11.15. I'm starting my steroids and lubion tomorrow. I have acupuncture booked in for the afternoon. It's all go!

So on Valentine's day i fly to my family in Ireland leaving my oh behind for 5 nights. So we'll have to test then slightly early. I'll be leaving him and getting on a plane after the pregnancy test! Hopefully going to my parents in a happy mood!

Hope it's ok to jump on here!

Started our first round on Monday. Will be having ICSI due to MFI. On antagonistic protocol as I have PCOS. Had the first scan on Monday now waiting for Friday. It's all quite daunting and not sure what to expect really!

Do you normally get side effects from the injections? What point do these start?

My partner is being brill and has done all my injections so far for me. How have others dealt with doing them? I just can't face doing it myself at the moment.

I usually go to gym/swim 4-5 times a week and not sure whether I should be stopping this or not.

Hi, would I be ok to join you guys? I had my FET today so now in the dreaded waiting period until 10th Feb.

@Sarab2020 Test day is next Tuesday not long to go now! have you been tempted to test?!

@mincedpea good to hear all is going well. And good luck with your scan.

@sometimesalways I'm completely medicine free unless I get a bfp then they give me those lovely(!) pessaries. Good idea to dtd during ovulation - like you said you just never know!!

@Ging78 that's a great lining. Good luck for the scan next week not long to go

Welcome @jodesxx! my partner did every single one of my injections - it really helped!

Welcome @KE2017! I had my FET on so test day is next Sat..can't come sooner!

Yesterday I felt really tired and a little nauseous most of the morning thankfully it wore and I feel much better waking up this morning. Resting up these next few days and trying not to look into every symptom as a sign for something (proving much harder than i thought!)

Hope I haven't missed anyone, How is everyone else doing?

@Cisco2 totally tempted to do a test, doesn't help when they're just sitting in the bathroom cabinet. So far resisted the urge but not sure for how long 😂

Thank you for welcoming me. I feel like I've got extra pressure on me this time as we were lucky enough that our first round of icsi resulted in my nearly 18 month old boy. The frosty used this time was from that same cycle. I've been feeling a little achy since the transfer though and not sure if that is a good or a bad sign. X

@Ging78 AF is not here yet hence not definite day for transfer. But hoping AF turns up today/tomorrow 🤞🏻

@KE2017 welcome and hopefully there's a good news at the end of tww 🤞🏻

@Cisco2 also hoping there's BFP for you!

@Sarab2020 hope you resist temptation 

@sometimesalways my cycle buddy, glad you got proactive around DTD. When I had OV just now, also thought of DTD but was petrified as last time it happened I miscarried in early stage and that cycle I meant to have donor egg transfer. And now we still have 11 DE frosties, I'm kind of scared to try naturally

Thank you for the scan luck ladies. I have started to become a bit paranoid about an early scan as it'll be transvaginal. I'm obviously used to dildocam, but it can't disturb the little pea right?

@sometimesalways Good work on DTD, you never know, plus I've read that sometimes IVF is more successful when there's sperm up there. To be fair, I read all sorts of nonsense so take that with a pinch of salt!

@Russkispy Waiting for AF feels like 90% of IVF. Hope she appears soon.

Welcome @KE2017, how was your FET? Hope you're feeling good today. Fingers crossed the TWW is easy on you. Great to hear your first round was successful and you got your little boy, I love hearing positive stories!

Welcome too @jodesxx! My partner also did all my injections, I am a total needle phobe. But I think a lot of people do end up managing to do them themselves. Are you going to have to start doing them on your own? I work out a lot too, but eased off a bit during treatment just because I didn't want to exert myself too much plus I was a bit sore from the injections and after egg collection. They tell you not to swim for a couple of weeks after egg collection and also after transfer, I think for infection reasons. But my consultant let me swim after a week since this most recent transfer just because I get a lot of relaxation from swimming and it stops me going too mad. Gym wise, I think you can continue your normal routine but just be a bit careful about lifting heaving things. There was a good thread on the pregnancy boards about working out whilst pregnant, which I found useful. I'll try and find it, it should come up when you Google.

@Cisco2 You seem remarkably calm, not long to go now! I tried not to symptom spot, which was actually pretty easy as I didn't have any symptoms. It's so easy to see them everywhere though.

@Sarab2020 Haha tests within arm's reach, danger! Keep resisting!

@Ging78 Fingers crossed you get to go to your parents with good news. It will probably be nice to be with them and their distractions after all of this waiting anyway.

Thank you @mincedpea. Transfer was fine. Apparently frosty was 90% cells intact. Just worrying a bit that I've been a bit achy and cramping since. This is going to be a looooong wait.

@jodesxx I did all but two of my injections both for my icsi a couple of years ago and for my FET over the last few weeks. Just remember you are working towards an end goal. I also found pinching a handful of flesh and then slowly putting the needle into it a lot less stressful and less bruising than the 'quick stab, get it over and done with method'. Only reason I didn't do those couple were because my husband wanted to have a go. X

@mincedpea I've not found my clinic very helpful in what I can and can't do etc. So I'm just googling which is making me a bit paranoid! I'm back tomorrow so will ask the question then. I'm finding I need to keep busy this week to stop thinking about it all.

@KE2017 it's not so much that it hurts or anything as not found that bad, it's just the thought. I may try at the weekend when I start morning injections.

This wait feels like it's taking forever already....

Morning - cycle day 6 scan today (day 3 of stimming drugs) quite a few follicles but they haven't grown much since Wednesday 😢
The largest on is 11mm the rest 6-8mm which means they've only grown 2mm in 2 days instead of 4mm which they looking for.
Feeling a bit despondent - they've given me 75ml of Luveris to start taking from tonight so hopefully that will help things grow by the time of the next scan on Monday

@itwasalovelydreamwhileitlasted oh sorry to hear that but hey that's what the meds are there for! Hopefully they will do the trick, don't worry, it sounds like there's still some time for them to develop? I actually don't know (can't remember? Or never asked) what would be an ideal size for them?

@mincedpea don't worry, early scans are not harmful at all, they don't actually physically reach the womb I believe, just sort of project to it so the technician can receive a picture. Well done for hanging in there! Waiting is the hardest bit with ivf. Scan day will be here in no time

@itwasalovelydreamwhileitlasted I was the same today. Had my second scan (last one was monday) and they've grown but not quite enough to start me on the second injection (centronide I think). They didn't seem too concerned as it's still quite early on and only on my fifth injection tonight. Back Monday so hopefully all good then.

Was told to take it easy but had an incredibly stressful/busy day at work. Literally home and feel like going to sleep already! Thank goodness it's the weekend!

@jodesxx
That's quite a gap between scans?
Having spent far too much time on google and also looking at my follicle size from the last 3 cycles I'm less worried than I was. Tonight will only be my 4th stim injection

Clinic have rung this evening to change my Bemfola to 75ml and add in 75ml Luveris and then start cetrotide on Sunday so hopefully by Monday things will have grown a bit

I'm not going for lots of follicles - last month it was just two but at the moment just one is leading the pack.

It's amazing how different results can be month to month!

@itwasalovelydreamwhileitlasted this is my first cycle so not sure! I've got another one Monday then Wednesday then will see then. It's just this first week they have had the gap. It was quite nice as this morning was 8.30 and worked well with work but it he rest are like 11.30 which is annoying but hey ho!

When are they thinking you will have your egg collection? Originally they thought I would have mine next sat but wondering if it will be a couple days later now

Hey all can I join?

Started my first FET today which is from the same batch as a fresh ICSI that resulted in my DS. We tried for 6 years before that before trying clomid in which one round ended up with a mmc and then were eventually referred for ivf. I have PCOS, underactive thyroid and we also had issues with my husbands sperm so ICSI was the only option.

Day 1 started today so I've taken progynova and fyremadel injection. I don't know about anyone else who is doing this for a second time but I feel really apprehensive and have an overwhelming feeling that it won't work?! Mainly because I read that from a batch of embryos it's likely only a few will work and I feel that we have played that card already. I also feel that I've been blessed with my DS so why should I be able to have another? Even though I would absolutely love to and can't imagine anything else I'm concerned I will get worked up in making sure I give him a sibling and what if I fail.

Does anyone have any experience or read that people have had more than one success from the same batch? We can't afford to go through ICSI again so this is the last hope.

Baby dust to all 💜

@jodesxx
All my scans are 730am so luckily don't clash with work 😬 - last month my egg collection was cycle day 12 which would be next Thursday but I think I'll be a couple of days later this time so Friday at the earliest or maybe Saturday

@Hufflepuff1

I think we are in a very very similar situation.

We had ICSI and were very lucky as our first round resulted in our son. We hadn't tried clomid though as they didn't think it would stand a chance due to how bad my PCOS was and my husbands low sperm count.

Our little boy is coming up to 18months old now. I really want him to have a sibling but just have a feeling this FET won't work as we've already been so blessed to have our son.

My FET was on Wednesday so I'm in the waiting period now.

Magic fairy dust for you and everyone else in this group. X

@KE2017
Oh yes definitely similar, my boy is 2 and a half though, I left it a bit longer as he's been having some health issues but he's a lot better now.

How many frosties did you have left? We've got two left, they were okish in quality but we all know its not about that. I guess this time we know what we would potentially miss out on and there's another little being who would be just as if not more disappointed :(

How did the thawing process go for you? Did they remain similar quality as to when they were first frozen? The process itself seems less daunting in terms of medication this time too.

Hi @Hufflepuff1

We have another 4 Frosties in the freezer. The thaw of the one we've used this time apparently was really good with 90% cells intact (apparently 50% is the level considered viable - at the hospital we used anyway).

I had quite a long period on buserelin injections this time (about 6 weeks). Now the transfer has been done I'm on metformin (due to having PCOS apparently I have to take this until 6-7 weeks pregnant), progynova (which I have to stay on until 12 weeks pregnant) and cyclogest (again until 12 weeks).

Bit concerned as I've been getting a few achy/ crampy pains since the transfer. My tummy has been a bit iffy since the transfer too. Last night I woke up feeling sick but I can only assume that's completely unrelated.

This wait feels like it is taking forever though as my testing day is 10th Feb.

@KE2017 that sounds really positive if you ask me. I read a positive story of a woman who developed her morning sickness on the way home from her transfer so I hope everything you feeling is a good sign. You only have 10 days to go but the tww is the longest time ever, hope it goes fast for you.

I remember last time I got cramping like ur describing so let's hope that's little bean firmly implanting.

They didn't suggest metformin for my pcos I guess it depends how you ur pcos is. I tested early last time (7dpt) with a first response pregnancy test so I know I won't be able to wait this time either.

Did you (or anyone else here) have fyremadel injections? If so how did you find them?

Hi, fingers crossed on the cramps. To be honest I don't remember getting them last time and I tested early then as I thought I might be as I was throwing up. Turned out I was pregnant and that was the joyful start of the most wonderful hyperemesis gravadium. 😢🤮Hoping I might luck out and not end up with that again if I'm lucky enough to get pregnant again. X