Abc IVF

[computersaysso]

Has anyone recently had IVF with abc IVF? They have approved me for a frozen cycle only at the moment.
Do you know if they are only doing frozen cycles in light of the pandemic.
We have mainly chosen them due to low cost. I appreciate that the low cost means cut backs in certain areas, but I'm often waiting for 1-1.5 hours on the phone to speak to a central phone line for all branches.
It's tricky as I know that IVF is really down to the individuals body response, but I still feel that decisions made by doctors about medication doses etc are important.
Keen to hear about others experiences.

@MochaTea thank you so much. Its so nice to know an average of what other people have experienced to just have a general idea.

@OfTwelve thanks for sharing that information. All of those costs are what I am trying to avoid. I have asked for Wimbledon and the nurse said that will be fine, so hopefully we can.

I was expecting to start my cetrotide tomorrow morning but I have just received a phone call asking me to start it now. X

@OfTwelve Thankyou for sharing. Do you mind me asking have you had your FET yet? It is reassuring to know that they monitor every step on the way. I’ve decided I’m going try and chill and trust the process, I’m worrying about things that haven’t even happened 🤦🏼‍♀️

@RMC224
Yes I had my fet, about 6 weeks after egg collection. Right now I'm 9weeks +5 days pregnant. So it went to plan so far. I think it can seem really frustrating, but a short wait is much better than potentially getting really ill. Which of you're pregnant can complicate the pregnancy too.

@OfTwelve 😊congratulations!!
Thank you this has really put my mind at ease.x

@OfTwelve Thanks! Turns out it wasn't an issue at all today so I think I'm set :) And congratulations!! Very excited for you x

Hi everyone! New to all of this but so glad I found this discussion.
We have been ttc but knew before that we may have an issue on my husbands side and a recent SA confirmed the issue. He is American, here on a visa so we wouldn't be eligible for NHS funded so guessed we may as well get the process going and have decided on abcivf in Manchester! I know noone else who has been through IVF so its all so new to us and reading your experiences has been so calming and helpful. I have my initial scan on the 20th and consultation on the 24th and hoping to get started towards the end of December if that's realistic? I'm hoping to go via their egg sharing scheme as (fingers crossed) we believe I'm all okay. Has anyone been through the egg sharing process?
Good luck to everyone going through this at the moment!

Hi @Beaglemum91! Welcome :) I was on a fairly compressed timeline too and I think the timeline you're looking at is realistic, barring no other issues encountered along the way during the scan, and factoring in the timing of your period (as you can only start on your stims on day 2 of your period). The time between my initial consult and the start of my stims was about 3 weeks, and from treatment consultation (not the initial consult) and the start date of the stims was about 3 days. They were able to deliver the meds to me very quickly so I don't see a problem there for you.

In short, as long as you can clear all the other steps (eg. blood tests, treatment consultation, the digital forms) before your period starts, it shouldn't be a huge problem. Good luck! x

Hi @indigocloud, that sounds good! I'll come on my period tomorrow (all done before by scan) and then at the beginning and end of December as I'm every 27 days. I guessed the beginning of Dec would be a big quick and rushed so the end would be far more realistic so that all sounds good to me! I'm really hoping I have no issues, I'm 29 and until this year I was on the pill since 15 (not sure if that causes issues?). Since I came off the pill I'm regular as clockwork and ovulate every month so I'm hoping thats all good signs!

Welcome @Beaglemum91!
It’s so nice more people are joining in.

What do you mean by egg sharing? If your husband has low sperm count they will do an ICSI.
As pp said it’s all very quick. I had my exams and consultation and a week later had my
Meds with me, just had to wait for AF and my
Whole process of getting my period to egg embryo transfer was 16 days in total, it all goes by fast.

Thank you @MochaTea!

Egg sharing is where you go through the process but donate half of your eggs to someone who needs them. So in the process of helping yourself, you can also help someone else :)
We would need ICSI so would have that as an extra, his count is 2m/ml and 2% morphology so they told us at the SA consultation that we would need that.

With that timing I guess we could potentially go for the earlier cycle in December, but that would mean going through everything in the run up to and around Christmas so I think we'll look to start later in December instead and be able to relax a bit. It sounds like it goes pretty fast so I'm not too worried about starting a few weeks later!

Hi All,

This thread has been super helpful. I am right at the beginning of the journey, having my consultation next week. I know I meet the requirements and my (secondary) infertility is due to tubal factors.

I just wanted to ask, I understand there is no down regulation and therefore they work with your own cycle. Which day (roughly) do you start taking meds? And is your due date calculated in the same way i.e. from the first day of your last period?

Thanks
Tehreem

Welcome @edibletreats! I'm not sure on the due date question but you start on meds (you will often hear it called "stims" on this forum) on Day 2 of AF. And how long you are on those stims will vary, but for most people at abc (based on this forum's posts) it seems like it's generally 10-13 days. good luck x

Hey All,

I had a horrible day today and managed to fall over this morning, really hard, right on my bum! I have been really emotional all day and really upset that I may have damaged the embryo. Logically I know it’s probably fine, and I called ABC and they said no harm can be done at this stage by a fall................but I feel distraught 😢

@Poppies2020 I'm so sorry to hear you've had a dreadful day! For what it's worth, I think a big part of the mental aspect of navigating the IVF process is learning to forgive ourselves for mishaps that could've happened to anyone! You can't fault yourself for things that are just part and parcel of life (and I'm pretty clumsy, so I can relate on this point. Falling is par for the course). Besides, doing IVF is already such a brave thing for you to take on, so you're already giving this the best shot, and you can't be upset at yourself at all. These are tricky times for the body and mind; we can't be expected to do everything perfectly, so be kind to yourself. xx

@Poppies2020 I am sorry you are having a bad day. Its hard to seem rational when you put so much into something and you just want everything to go well. I feel that during this process my mind tends to always lean towards negative thoughts as my brain just wants to protect itself. I hope tomorrow is a better day for you. Xx

@indigocloud@HV88 Thank you
I do feel better today, apart from a bruised backside! 😬

I think I was just overly emotional yesterday and as I was at work all day after the fall, I couldn’t really let me emotions out.

I also had some exciting news, I have my early pregnancy scan booked for the 30th November! X

@MochaTea did you do any home tests yet? x

@indigocloud are you having your transfer today? If so, good luck and let us know how it goes xx

@Poppies2020 Glad to hear you're feeling better today! I think sometimes the Utrogestan (especially at the doses we're taking it at) also amplifies every emotion so not helping there. Anyway, glad you're past that :)

My transfer's tomorrow (eek!!) Will keep you all posted. x

@Poppies2020 glad to know you are feeling better and I am sure the embryo is safe. Oh wow, I feel anxiety now I can only imagine you waiting until the 30th for the scan haha
Is that when you are meant to be 8 weeks? I guess that is when they will tell you your due date?
How are you feeling symptoms wise?

I have done 2 tests so far, but I will only know for sure whether it worked or not on Friday when I go for the blood tests and they tell me the HCG levels. I know I sound very bleak but because of my miscarriage, I am afraid of getting my hopes up and then go through the same thing again. If this is 100% positive I'll have to do lots of meditation and acupuncture to get me through the 12 weeks scan.

Oh wow, sounds like everyone goes through an emotional rollercoaser!
Glad you feel better @Poppies2020! I think I would react the same way.

Do you all know if partners are allowed to go to appointments at ABCIVF? We're going to be going to Manchester and I'd really like him to be there through the process as much as he can. I think it will help him if he stays involved and it's also an hour and a half drive away and I think having him there will calm my nerves on the way!

Hi @Beaglemum91 no partners allowed at all =/

If you don't mind driving I did all the scans by myself so my husband didn't have to get any time off. My work is very relaxed ( and from home) so it was easy for me to get there for the 8am slot and back home in time for work.

My husband only came in to give the semen an hour after egg collection and again on embryo transfer as he was excited. They give you a photo of the embryo in place to show him, that's all.

I hate how they treat us hopeful moms to be and pregnant woman throughout this pandemic, especially first time moms. I really hope that by next year partners are allowed during scans and to be with us for more than just during labour.
sorry, rant off

sorry I say an hour after egg collection, but it was roughly an hour after I was taken to the theater - and as soon as he give it to the nurse, is back waiting in the car. For embryo transfer he was in the car the whole time.

Oh that's interesting! We had a different experience when doing the egg collection at London St Paul's. They told us to ensure that both my partner and I budgeted for 2-4 hours to be at the clinic, so he was with me from the very start, and was just waiting in our assigned bay for the entire time until we left. They seemed to want him there from start to end because when the embryologist and nurse relay info about medication, what to expect etc, they like to have both at hand.

In the end we were out of there in 2 hours. It just depends on how soon you feel comfortable to get up and go (and the nurse will definitely want to see that you've peed once to see that the kidneys are working fine).

But yeah, unfortunately the partner isn't allowed to be there for your regular scans and all.