IVF Feb/March 2

[SpyroC]

A new thread to carry on supporting each other as the old one was full.

[confused107]

Hi all, I didn’t realise there was a new thread! Just catching up on all the news and posts. Lots of mixed news. Best of luck to everyone heading for egg collection. My heart absolutely breaks for all of the bad news and the delays. The process is cruel enough as it is

Don’t give up @SpyroC. I had bad news too and was convinced it was over and in the end I had a C to go back in, which is actually better than I had last time

So, I’ve decided to come off the steroids. After last nights update I think it would be very silly to put myself in such a serious at risk group. It’s selfish of me to risk putting extra strain on the NHS. At the end of the day my infertility does not trump other serious illness. I know that this decision will torture me forever. Especially as it’s our last chance but know I have made the sensible decision. My OTD is a week today, though I am worried I have overdone it painting the decking at the weekend. Aching all over today but had to do something I was going mad!

[Rumtopf]

@SpyroC I'm so sorry to read that news. Fingers crossed for your transfer today and I hope the other 2 catch up.

[CarbsAndCheese]

Hi ladies,

Just had my day 5 update. 5 of the 7 embryos made it to blastocyst! 1 is poor quality so they won’t freeze it. Two are being frozen today and they are watching the other two to see if they expand more and can be frozen tomorrow. I’m so pleased for the two, never mind if the final number is 3 or 4! My NHS funding was for 1 fresh and 1 frozen so I’m guessing that will now be for 2 FETs? Hopefully there is a baby in amongst them.

Has anyone heard anything from their clinics about when FET might be possible? I told my husband that I hope he’s prepared that we are going to have to have sex again in the meantime! The response was not enthusiastic 😂

[confused107]

Finally I can see all the posts! Amazing news @Pinktruffle This gives us all hope at this very difficult time

[Pinktruffle]

Thank you @confused107. I called the hospital today and I have to go in and collect more Cyclogest (sending hubby) and I have a scan on 11th April so fingercrossed that goes well.

@SpyroC I'm so sorry to hear that, I have a friend that got pregnant with a very low grade embryo so there is still a chance it'll work. She has a healthy, happy, 8 year old boy now. There are also dietary changes and supplements that you can take to improve egg quality. Sending you lots of love xx

[Rumtopf]

@CarbsandCheese that's brilliant, very happy for you. Will they call you again tomorrow about the others?

We got 4 eggs today. All the other follicles were empty. The embryologist said they look good quality and mature so fingers crossed for good fertilisation.

[Pinktruffle]

Well done @rumtopf! Fingercrossed for a good fertilisation rate. If they are all a good size and look to be good quality, they should hopefully all fertilise

[ChatWithMe]

Good luck Rumtopf Hope at least 2 fertilise as my clinic said a 50% fertilisation rate is good.

I got my day 3 call. They said I'll find out day 5 on Wednesday if we get any blastocysts. There are 2 in the running (because they have 8 cells which is normal for day 3). The third one is a slow poke but they'll keep checking on it til Wednesday or Thursday I reckon.

I hate all the waiting involved in IVF but I'm still bloated (shout out to CarbsAndCheese! ;-)) with reduced mobility. Thought I was on the mend but I realised the bloat especially in the night time is variable not continually reducing like I thought...

[Robson13]

Hi everyone, I didn't realise there was a new thread so just catching up. Sounds like everyone has had a real mixed bag of news.
@CarbsAndCheese that's great news about the blastocysts
@rumtopf we got three eggs which I was disappointed with at the time but all three fertilised so fingers crossed for yours.
@SpyroC sorry to read your news. Hopefully the one they put in will grow well. When is your transfer date? I haven't heard anything from the hospital but think I might give them a call this afternoon to check on what's happening

[Robson13]

So egg transfer is still going ahead on Thurs although the nurse said they are leaving the decision to the patient. Just going to keep myself locked away so I don't risk catching the virus

[avocado2019]

hi @SpyroC I can understand how you feel. I've been there more than once. Our embies also have the same pattern, 5 or 6 on day 3 then only 1 on day 5. Have you done further sperm test other than the semen analysis? The consultant sent us to urologist to investigate sperm where we found out the high fragmentation. As from day 3 on it's the sperm dna that takes the drive. The test normally include DNA fragmentation, varicocele and probably infection. worthwhile to see a urologist. But the good news is that it is already a great achievement for embies to reach a blastocyst. A blasto is a blasto. The embryologist is very confident that they have equal chance of achieving pregnancy.

[luby89k]

@Rumtopf fingers crossed for fertilisation lovely! 4 is still a good number if they are good quality.

@CarbsAndCheese greats news on blasts!

@SpyroC sorry to hear the news but fingers crossed. I've heard lots of stories that lower grades still do well once popped back in x


Just had my final scan. Although i started with 19 follicles only 8 have grown. So fingers crossed they are all above 16 on Wednesday. Triggering this evening. Starting to get nervous for my EC
xx

[SpyroC]

Thanks @confused107 what grading system does your clinic use? Mines a-f. It's annoying because when I search for positive stories to cheer me up online it reads as though c is the lowest. Why can't they all agree on one system! I don't blame you for coming off the pred. It's so hard to know what to do.

Thanks @Rumtopf and well done on ec! 🤞🏻 for your 4. How many follicles did you have? I had quite a few that were empty I think.

That's great news on your 2 frosties @CarbsAndCheese . 🤞🏻 For our remaining 2. In our case she said it wasn't likely but you never know! Thanks for the info, I'm suspicious of egg quality due to endo.

Thanks @Pinktruffle . She said there's a 20% chance so 🤞🏻🤞🏻. I changed my diet in September and take supplements recommended in "it starts with an egg" so I dread to think what I'd of got if I hadn't!

That's good news @ChatWithMe I hope you're 2 keep going strong for you. X


Thanks @Robson13 do you mean egg collection or embryo transfer? My transfer was this morning.

The latest update was that the D grade was still progressing and there were signs it will become a C. The tww begins!

[SpyroC]

Sorry @avocado2019 (crosses post) thanks for the info. It's so deflating isn't it?! Ours dropped from day 4 to 5 which seems even weirder given the day 3 thing. Yes if this fails I think I'd push for further testing before starting a new round. When we were at the clinic they seemed more positive than on the phone. She did say that from 7 eggs it's not unusual to be left with only 3. It's just...it was all going so well and the quality nose dived! I like the "a blasto is a blasto" mantra! I will use this to comfort me.

[SpyroC]

Thanks @luby89k sorry I missed you too 🙈. Don't worry a lot of us had a lot of growth in the final 2 days so there's every chance some will catch up. I was nervous about ec too but I was pleasantly surprised with it. It was much better than I had anticipated. X

[confused107]

Hi @SpyroC I am with nurture and believe they use a-f which sounds like the same as yours. Looks like we both might end up with c's going back in!

I'm just waiting for them to call me back as work are pressuring me to go in and I want to know when my immune system is back to normal. I wasn't told to self isolate but I don't want to take unnecessary risks either

[avocado2019]

@SpyroC if you end up with 3 blasto tomorrow that is actually very good ratio! fingers crossed for you!

[Robson13]

@SpyroC ah I didn't realise you had the transfer this morning. Fingers crossed for you

[SpyroC]

@confused107 same clinic as me! Even not bring on pred surely, if possible, they should allow you to work home as we're pregnant until proven otherwise! The one I had put back was their grade D.

My two remaining embryos made good progress but not enough to freeze unfortunately. This was expected but I still felt sad. I could've had 2 put back yesterday but I listened to their warning about a twin pregnancy during a pandemic. I feel like I've let them (the embryos) down not letting another go back in. This whole process messes with your head!

[ChatWithMe]

Sorry to hear that SpyroC. Better than freezing and getting to transfer day then getting a call they didn't survive the thaw. That's what happened to my lower quality embryo last year. Also I've heard that if one embryo is better quality than the other and you put both back body focuses effort on poorly one which could negatively impact outcome of the best one. If it were me I would only ever put 1 back whether or not risk of CV. You made the right decision!

[confused107]

I'm with @ChatWithMe. @SpyroC you have totally made the right decision. We have all had to make unprecedented decisions due to unforeseen circumstances. We can only do the best we can while keeping ourselves and others safe. Rest up and I have everything crossed for positive news for you

I actually haven't told my work I'm having treatment for several reasons, though I will if I have no choice but to do so...

[Rumtopf]

@SpyroC of course you didn't let them down, but you're right this whole process messes with you completely. I'm so glad you've got one back on board!

Just had our call from the clinic. 3 out of 4 have fertilised! Apparently my lining was really thick and healthy too so I'm happy that seems to be good. Now they just have to keep on keeping on, but it's a good start.

[CarbsAndCheese]

@SpyroC I am rooting for your little blast and really hoping it is implanting right now! Remember that at times when it feels like there is no ‘right’ decision, it means there is also no wrong decision. Whatever you’ve chosen is right for you. For what it’s worth, I think you’ve made the right choice. I would not want to risk a potential twin pregnancy even at the best of times, never mind now. Or risk the lower quality one affecting the one who is in there getting snuggly at the moment.

I just got my update from the embryologist. They managed to freeze 3 day five blasts yesterday but the other 2 are not suitable for freezing. There’s a 5BA, a 4BB and a 3BB (my clinic grades 0-5 rather than 1-6 and A-C for the letters). I’m so delighted with this and really appreciate how lucky I am, especially having seen what lots of you have gone through. Now to wait for the corona storm to hopefully pass and the clinics to reopen!

I’ve kind of lost track with where everyone is at the moment. I think @confused107 And @SpyroC are in the two week wait? @Rumtopf And @chatwithme waiting for embryo report? @luby89k getting ready for egg collection tomorrow and @Robson13 planning for transfer on Thursday? Can everyone fill me in?!

[ChatWithMe]

Wow you're keeping good tabs CarbsAndCheese!

I'm just waiting for 2pm transfer tomorrow (or phone call with bad news eek!) They give me the embryos' progress report tomorrow.

Btw, my bloating seems to have gone mostly (whoop whoop)! day 4 post egg collection. Unfortunately, it's been replaced by period like pains (obviously not my period, just inflammation) so I've taken more paracetamol. I feel like I'm on my way to feeling like a normal human being. Progesterone is giving me lethargy and constipation however. Sigh... All worth it for the possibility of a baby.

Oh and that's a great update Rumtopf!

[Robson13]

Thanks @carbsandcheese. I was starting to get really lost. Good news about your blasts too.

@SpyroC I think you've made a wise decision to just put one embryo in and agree with what others have already said. My hospital don't offer the choice of more than one, for the reasons that others gave. Also one embryo has the potential to split into two naturally so can you imagine what might happen if both split! I know it's unlikely but still....

@Rumtopf it sounds like things are progressing well.

@confused107 I had told my manager about the treatment just so I could get out of work for appointments but I'm so glad I did now. They've told me to work from home for 12 weeks...I'm not sure if this is because of IVF or mild asthma. Either way, I didn't want to take any risks with catching the virus while in the middle of treatment.