October IVF

[Dinky06]

Hi ladies, I’ve been through all of my fertility screening tests etc and am due to start my first and hopefully only round of IVF (positive vibes ) soon. I’m looking to share my hopes, experiences and tips and provide support to anyone else expecting to start a cycle soon. The more the merrier!

@Sunbird24 congratulations!

@Lolly2020 sorry to hear that news, but the embryos are definitely better being put back into their natural environment, so they will be getting the best chances. I keep my fingers crossed for you

@Dinky06 and @Tara8 thank you for your kind wishes. They've doubled my dose of oestrogen and I have another scan tomorrow, but don't hold much optimism based on last months outcome. Im very fortunate to have a lot of embryos in the freezer so I just wish they would risk it and transfer one even though the odds would be very very low

@Sunbird24 huge congrats to you!

@Lolly2020 try to stay positive. There’s still a chance - they wouldn’t put any of them back if they were too poor in terms of quality.

I’ve had my follow up call this morning. They said there was only one mature follicle on the day of egg collection and they tried their best but couldn’t get an egg which does sometimes happen.

They’ve given me the option of trying again with the maximum dose of Meriofert (450IU) but said they don’t usually see a vast difference in terms of response between the two doses. We’re still funded for another go as we didn’t get any eggs to blastocyst stage. They said in theory they’re happy to try again anyway as I’m under 35.

He also mentioned the possibility of donor eggs which statistically should give a 50% higher chance of having a baby. I just don’t know what I feel about donor eggs though.

It’s not something you ever think about but at the moment my main thought is that I’d be potentially depriving DP of having his biological child if I decided I couldn’t do it.

I guess we have to throw ourselves into doing everything we can for the next cycle and then decide our options going forward if it’s unsuccessful.

Right, so scan today says follicles are ready apparently - around 20. Have been swapped onto a different trigger for 12am (eek!) It’s suprecur verses overtrelle (Overtrelle was waiting in my fridge - think it has an expiry date on it so not sure what to do with that - bit of a waste). Must say, the Suprecur in a normal syringe looks a little less scary. So last Merifert and Fyremadel today (hopefully forever!).

They’re also getting me to take Progynova after retrieval along with cyclogest, steroids, clexane, 75mg asprin. Something to do with preventing OHSS.

Thinking of having a nice facial tomorrow to help me relax - that’s ok right?

Bug hug to everyone.

Sounds like you deserve it @Lindyloolou! Definitely do something nice for yourself

I just want to say thank you so much ladies for your replies and words of encouragement this morning. Your messages helped me so much ❤. I now have 2 embryos on board and although they are poor quality I still have hope!

@Sunbird24 congratulations!! That's so exciting!

@ivfjourney5 good luck with the scan tomorrow!

@Lindyloolou I hope the egg retrieval goes well!

@Lightningrain I think throwing everything at the next cycle sounds like a good idea. Its such a roller coaster this journey!

@Lightningrain it's so hard isn't it. I can't remember your full story but there are things you can try. I'm going to give myself 1 more round if this one doesn't work and then revaluate. I know a couple of people who have used donor eggs but I'm not sure I could do it. Hopefully neither of us will have to cross that bridge.

@Lindyloolou I can't see any reason why not 

@Lolly2020 I gave everything crossed for you. I had quality issues both times and I can assure you the internet is full of people with positive stories. As others have said they wouldn't put them back if there was no hope. X

You are all way ahead of me. I have a scan tomorrow that will hopefully confirm down regulation. I'm more nervous this time as I had some cysts last time so hopefully they are no more.

Good luck @SpyroC xx

@SpyroC basically this was my first go but they didn’t expect a great response due to low AFC and AMH (25th centile for my age). I’m not sure how many NHS tries we get if we don’t get to blastocyst stage. I assume there must be a limit. I’d be tempted to try a few before considering donor eggs but I really need to keep the option at the back of my mind and see if I can come round to the idea. I was horrified at the thought of IVF at all when I booked in for my initial appointment with the GP so I suppose your thoughts do change. How many rounds have you done so far?

A big fat GOOD LUCK to
@ivfjourney5
@Lolly2020
@SpyroC
IVF is definitely a marathon not a sprint!

@Lightningrain I understand what you mean and think that
@Lolly2020 was spot on when she said to throw everything at the next cycle. You just never know. I've been dipping in and out of a book called The Trying Game by Amy Klein which you may find a helpful resource.

How is everyone feeling post ET? I'm struggling with separating medicine side effects from possible early pregnancy symptoms which also feel like general PMS signs too. Why do they all have to feel the same??? My boobs ache and my pelvic area feels very tender. And I'm still bloated! Does anyone else feel like this? I'm not due to test until the 29th but have had a day of being very demotivated trying to do anything other than think about when I can test.

Lots of love and hugs to all xxx

@Lightningrain yes you definitely change your way of thinking over time. It's a good idea to have it at the back your mind. I have a low AMH/afc for my age too (AMH 5 afc 8 at 31 😔) but fortunately I respond better than they would expect (6 & 7 eggs from 12 plus follicles). This is my 3rd round. Round 2 was a bfp but unfortunately it was a probable ectopic. As horrible as that was it has given me hope that ivf can work for us. Have you read it starts with an egg? It might be of interest to you. X

@Dinky06 the ivf tww is pure torture! The first few days I found nice, "the hopeful stage" and then comes the hyper aware overthink everything week, I wish we could sleep through it!

@Dinky06 I had my EC last Tuesday, and today is my first day without pain, but weirdly one of my more bloated days. So could still be EC symptoms ... but maybe not!

(I mean for you -- my is definitely EC symptoms as I'm doing a freeze all!)

@SpyroC and @Dinky06 thanks for the recommendations on books. I actually considered buying it starts with the egg a few months ago but decided there was already too much of a minefield in terms of diet, supplements etc from what I’d researched online. I didn’t want to get bogged down with any more new ideas. I think they might help with the mindset side of things however now that I’ve started this process so worth a look.

@SpyroC my figures are slightly lower than yours but I’m 33. I know what you mean about the ectopic - it gives you the confirmation that you can get pregnant. Best of luck to you this time x

Thanks @mayihavesomecakeplease - sadly the medication I am still on all have bloating as side effects! It's the achy boobs that feel worse though!

How is everyone doing today? I feel more focused today which is good :) Was feeling a bit flat by the end of yesterday. 8 days now until I test...

Sending love and hugs xxx

@Tara8 good luck with your test tomorrow!
Is anyone else testing this week?

@Lolly2020 hope you’re feeling ok after your transfer?

Thanks @Sunbird24 I'm feeling a bit better today. The transfer was fine....apart from them running 2 hours late and me having a full bladder that whole time 😬. It was really quick and easy though once they started. The eggs they put back were poor though. One had 4 cells and one had 5 cells when they like them to be 8 cells. They were also graded poor quality.... I've also been looking into improving egg quality in case I do need another go....does anyone take coQ10? I asked my clinic about it months ago but they said there was no evidence of it working so I didnt bother. Anyway I still haven't given up hope on this cycle. Test date 3rd Nov.

Hope everyone's doing ok.

@Lolly2020 I took ubiquinol from about May, same time as I started the prenatal vitamins, and started ivf in September so had been on both for a good 5 months by the time EC happened. I can’t say whether or not that made any difference to the quality of my eggs but it can’t have hurt. It’s one of the recommendations in It Starts With The Egg.

@Lolly2020 awww yay for getting through the transfer especially with that wait time!! Hope you have your feet up this eve.

On the subject of supplements, I have only been taking a prenatal supplement.

@Sunbird24 will you be retesting? I'm trying to avoid taking any tests before the 29th but I did count my stash of tests earlier and I have a few! So tempting...

Good luck for tomorrow @Tara8 - sending love and luck xxx

Pretty sure that's a negative...no squinting required 😂

Wishing every better results than here x

I'm so sorry @Tara8 ❤❤

@Tara8 awwww I'm so sorry. Wish there was something more I could say. Hope you're able to spend the day in a gentle way and can treat yourself. Sending love and hugs ❤️

Hi ladies, I’m new to all this and this is my first ever post, I’m currently day 2 of my 10 day wait! I should know better, this is my 7th time but it really doesn’t get any easier or go any quicker! good luck to everyone on this rollercoaster ride, hopefully we will all see BFP soon
@Tara8 I’m so sorry, I once got told it’s all a numbers game (didn’t help me at the time) it took me 7 embryos later to get my DD xxx

@Jewel2110 welcome to the group! You're in good company :) Do you mind my asking how come you have a 10 day wait? I had my transfer on Thurs 15 and have been told to not do a home test until Thurs 29. I feel like I was totally unprepared for how mentally draining the TWW is. I'm working but so distracted most of the time!

Hi @Dinky06 thank you for your welcome x
I had 2 5 day blastocysts transferred, I think because they are day 5 I takes the wait down to 10 days, I test 29th too!! Although I know I wont make it to the weekend, send you so much luck!! Are you feeling anything? Xxx

@Jewel2110 jinx - I had two day 5 embryos transferred as well. My boobs are tender and I've had mild twinges / a full feeling in the pelvic area but I'm on heaps of progesterone all of which comes with the warning that it causes those exact side effects so I can't say I feel pregnant as it could also very well be PMS as well! I've also spent an unhealthy amount of time googling how I should be feeling which has been very unhelpful.

I had a miscarriage last year and before I discovered I was pregnant I didn't have any early signs. My period was two days late by the time I took a test and my boobs had started to ache but only on the day I took the test. I had thought it meant my period was on the way so the positive test was a real shock!