Preparing for IVF/FET post COVID-19

[C88M]

Like a lot of people my FET was cancelled just before transfer. So (after a few tears) I’ve decided to take the time to see what I can do naturally to give my body the best chance.

I know a lot of people recommend It starts with the egg but my issues are a very thin, slow to respond lining, even after 2 weeks of double dose oestrogen it was only 4.2mm. I know my lining can get to the right level with more drugs, as it did with IVF (very slowly), but want it give it a better starting point!

Any tips on what I can do, or supplements? Anyone else in a similar position waiting for IVF or FET?
What are you doing with the time?

@elleceedee 12 months would be so long I'm hoping that it's just because they have the figures for 12 months 20000, so it gives them a nice round headline figure. Hfea are still saying as soon as possible, hoping that's not 12 months!

I wish they would say with fertility that it would be at least x amount of months.

I would find that easier than limbo land we are in.

I'd like to join!
I was in the middle of stims when lockdown happened, but we managed to get 3 embryos in the freezer.
So now just waiting for FET.

But I actually know nothing about FET as I wasn't preparing for that! Do you usually take medication before?

Anyway, I'm just trying to get lots of exercise, and eat healthily - which would be fine if not for all the treats I have as well 🙈

@bunhead34 3 is a good number - but so frustrating! You get some time for your body to recover from the IVF (hopefully not too much time).

My FET was medicated I was on oestrogen tablets then they would’ve added 5 days of progesterone pessaries but my cycle was cancelled. It’s not as brutal as IVF as no stims/no needles just hormones.
I believe that you can have an unmedicated cycle though if you have a regular cycle and no lining issues (I have no cycle and a very thin lining so need drugs).

I would be eating healthily but have several Easter eggs . Not sure why the food most I like seem to be all high calorie haha

I read a tweet from HFEA saying they’re trying to do all they can to restart fertility treatments. Fingers crossed it’s sooner rather than later!

@bunhead34 I’ve had two FETs, but mines were medicated as I don’t really ovulate and my cycles are very irregular.
I was put on Progynova which is meant to put you in mini menopause (stop you from forming eggs) but it helps you thicken your lining. I then went for a scan between 10-12 day of my cycle to make sure my lining was thick enough. Once that’s confirmed I got booked in for my transfer and then they advise you when to start your pessaries. I was on Utrogestan three times a day.

Make sure you’re still taking folic acids!

Danish clinics are restarting and Australian clinics are discussing restarting soon. So fingers crossed it’s sooner than we think.

I’ve been taking folic acid, vit e and vit d but I’ve just bought a fertility supplement which has them all so will give that a go.

@bunhead34 hello.

@c88m I really hope its sooner rather than later.

I hate how everything is on hold I hate this virus.

Hello, tentatively bookmarking this page. I am currently going through what I believe is my fourth non viable pregnancy in under a year. I get pregnant easily but they all end in losses. I have a horrible feeling this one may be ectopic. Assuming this one isn't going to work out, we are probably going to stop TTC naturally and look at IVF in the autumn, so I'd be interested to follow this thread and see what other people are doing to prepare.

@peperethecat really sorry to hear that. Hopefully it isn’t and is a viable pregnancy. I had a miscarriage at 13 weeks in January and that was awful, 4 must be horrible. Have you had any recurrent miscarriage testing?

For me I’m trying to lose some weight - I’m an ok weight for IVF but figure the healthier the better. I’m also doing self fertility massage and yoga, and taking a fertility supplement plus vit e, royal jelly and another one I can’t remember the name of but helps regulate oestrogen.

Australia are restarting ivf from 27th April -
www.pm.gov.au/media/update-coronavirus-measures-210420

They are including it in their first round of surgeries to restart.

@C88M This really is encouraging news! IVF has been covered in the news a fair bit lately, hopefully this could be one of the first treatments that would restart. Keeping positive!

Hello Ladies, I heard Czech Republic opens for locals already and hoping to open to foreigners June

Oh wow that's encouraging

I think it being included in the first round of restarts is particularly encouraging. There has been a lot in news so hopefully that will mean they restart as soon as it’s safe to.

Interesting about Czech Republic too I hadn’t seen that.

I’ve just read Dare to Dream by Izzy Jude about her journey through IVF and miscarriage, I enjoyed it. I’d recommend to people who like that sort of thing.

Hi all, can I join? Had our first cycle cancelled after a very long road to get there, which was gutting. Very encouraged to see other countries restarting, though I think we’re still a good month or so away at least from any lockdown stuff being lifted.

@AlwaysWaitingIVF I’d agree there I think there will be an extension on top of the three weeks. I’m not sure they can keep everything cancelled for much longer without a massive backlog - I.e my smear test has been cancelled they will have a few months of these to catch up on!
How are you coping with the wait?

How’s everyone else doing?

@C88M yes I know what you mean - I think once the Nightingale hospitals are up and running then we might see some things being restarted - fingers crossed!

The wait is going okay, I'm a firm believer in not getting stressed about stuff that's out of my control... most of the time anyway (of course I have the occasional meltdown!!). This board is always a comfort to see others in similar situations. Main concern now is how long until all my bloods run out of validity, as some are only 3 months, some are a year etc. Some of my tests were done a very long time ago so not sure if they will need re-doing. Has anyone has any info about that?

Is anyone doing anything extra or different to try prepare/maintain themselves to be ready to go?

hey @C88M i was due to start by 3rd / 2nd FET but thats has been put on hold. im like you i have a slow lining, and only just got over 7mm on the last FET with meds to help, plus i took baby aspirin dr recommended to me plus pom juice, brazil nuts, selenium and l arginine. I did the same in the first cycle bar the drugs and lining was still pretty sluggish but they didnt measure me so i was pissed about that.

Also there are some good you tube videos for fertility yoga to help increase blood flow x

Can anyone recommend anything for lead up to FET. I have PCOS and just hoping that if I try and get myself healthier and take some form of supplements that might boost our chances of success x

@MrsLouB I think I’m going to ask about aspirin next time I don’t think it does any harm. I hate nuts but I’m taking l’argine. I’m also eating beetroot I’ve heard that helps. My lining got there in ivf but took a while.

@jodesxx from my research being a heathy weight and low carbs help (I’m not good at low sugar and carb, carbs are my favourite ). I’m also taking proceive fertility, royal jelly, vit d. I think stress management is key too so I’m doing yoga some days.

@C88M yeah i would ask one of our consultants was the one who said i recommend this for you as you have trouble implanting it seems, and then also with the lining thickness it does not harm x

My clinic recommended for me to take 75mg of aspirin from day 2 of my FET cycles. I'm not convinced it really does anything but they said it does no harm to take it.

@AlwaysWaitingIVF I'm in a similar position with my tests etc, I have a feeling some will need updating but I have no idea of time scales and annoyingly we have had a big tidy up of the spare room and I can't find all my IVF paperwork at the moment!

Feeling really down tonight. A good friend announced her pregnancy today. Our daughters were born within days of each other and we've always said how lovely it would be to have our second children at the same time. I know I'm so lucky to have DD and I don't usually compare myself with others in this way but I feel so jealous of her pregnancy and burst into tears when I saw the photos of the scan picture. It's also set off a weird train of thought that now there's going to be such a big age gap between DD and any future sibling (silly thing to worry about in the grand scheme of things, I know, but that's what my brain is focusing on) and it's making me so sad for DD.

Hope everyone is doing well. Sorry to post such a negative post but I just don't feel I can talk to anyone in real life about this as it just makes me sound really bitter that I can't be happy for my friend and I hate that about myself.

Saw an Instagram post this morning. It’s really positive news! Such for ‘YourFertilityJourney’ on Instagram to see the whole post. I’m not sure what it means for hospital clinics but I’m guessing it’s the same procedure for them?

Wow thank you for sharing. Great news for those who had it suspended and I hope the same will follow soon with those waiting

Hopefully clinics will issue updates soon.

I posted last night on the Coronavirus and fertility clinics thread:

I've just heard from my clinic in Spain that they are reopening on Monday.
Obviously I can't turn up there myself on Monday, but it's good to hear they are starting again.
They will have fewer patients than usual as they are cleaning consultation rooms between patients and taking temperature before admittance, spacing appointment times so people aren't in the waiting room together.