Embryo Banking Support Thread / PGS wait

[ForeverAintEnough]

Hi all, I’ve just name changed but I’ve been on here loads and chatting to many of you under different user names ( irrational fear of being outed!). I wondered if there was interest in a ‘no transfer happening’ group? So those doing embryo banking or PGS or whatever.

I’ve just done one round of embryo banking and found the normal threads difficult with discussion of hoping for a Christmas pregnancies etc.

We are unfortunately taking the long way round with 3 rounds and no transfer. It looks like my first transfer might not be until June 2021.

If anyone wants to jump on feel free!

About us: Me 34, DH 36, TTC 3 years. Both male and female issues. x3 rounds of IVF all failed. Moved clinic to Lister for 3 rounds of embryo banking and PGS. One round of embryo banking just finished with x3 blasts sent off for PGS testing.

Dear @IslandStars

I know it is very tough now. It is probably hard to see the positives. But you have a lot of things going for you. You have a good ovarian reserve. You were able to produce two euploid embryos. This is amazing - I would love to be able to produce two euploids - that would be a dream come true.

In terms of the silent endo - it is a leading cause of implantation failure reported in the US. It is not always checked out here. I think potentially you can approach the NHS and ask them for an investigative procedure?

I follow a number of American IVF patients like ourselves. In the US there is a greater emphasis on checking the uterus etc intensively before a euploid transfer.

You are strong, you are capable and you are loved. I pray you find the right way forward for yourself xxx

As for ARGC - I would not go back even if they offered me a free cycle. I think their standards have gone down a lot. I am not sure their stats are correct because they move patients about between 3/4 clinics and push around paper files from one building to another? I don't even know which clinic my stats will come under! They moved me on the day of transfer from one building to another in my gown! Look at their Google reviews - all the recent ones are negative - I noticed they have been either getting previous successful patients to post reviews NOW - which is rather strange or the positive reviews are outright fake.

But if you want to give them a go - please don't be put off by my experience - other people have had positive experiences there.

Sending a tonne of love your way x

@Ivfhoper Thanks so much, very kind of you to give me this encouragement and advice. I am hoping I will be in a better frame of mind after my review.

I could approach my GP for endo investigations, but with Covid, my surgery has become a nightmare and the wait for referral would be too long. It’s a shame in this country everything is trial and error. Potential health issues aren’t investigated until after so many failures.

Dear @IslandStars

You are right, here it is all trial and error. I am at the start of my journey with one cycle behind me. I have spent time researching other women's experiences because I feel like the treatment here is broad-brush. I am an intelligent woman as I practise as a Barrister but these doctors were treating me like a pathetic idiot - they would not answer simple questions or tell me not to worry about things - which then became a big worry.

I feel like we have to advocate very hard for ourselves because our doctors whilst they care - just have too many patients and details to recall.

I am an activist lawyer - I hope when I am at the other end of this journey, I want to set up a proper online website with comprehensive information and checklists for our fellow IVF patients.

Because IVF is a sea of information - it is so hard to reach the shore - we need all the help we can get from the outset - there are so many things to consider - but if they were considered from the outset a lot of heartache and expense would be saved.

@Ivfhoper I will help with your website!! I've done 7 rounds of IVF at 3 clinics. I've done fresh cycles, FETs, embryo banking. I've had every result possible, been on umpteen forums and listened to hundreds of other women going through it. I reckon there's a few things we could share.

Actually we should pitch this to Mumsnet. They should co-produce a guide with us all!

@SarahK2000

Yes I don’t drive so I needed my passport but only found out the week of my original appointment which was in September. I also got married 6 years ago so my passport which expired was also in my maiden name. It’s a legal requirement apparently to have photo ID. It was so stressful.

Hello. I’m new to the group and joined this week. I had my consultation on Wednesday and due to age and mfi I’m doing batching with PGS testing. I’m on short protocol now due to age. My ovarian reserve is 16 which I’ve been told is good for my age. I also had my DHEA levels tested and they are in normal range. I’ve never been on DHEA and already have a son via IVF IMSI. Can I just ask if others with a similar age of 40 and AMH are not taking DHEA like me? I’m so worried as I’m just doing two cycles. Thanks

Hi ladies,
Decided I’ll do one last round, but am planning on a fresh transfer, as I’ve never done one before and I’ll only PGS the rest if I get enough embryos to make it worthwhile.

Consultant review was very good and the whole senior management team have reviewed my case. They checked all previous scans, tests and my hysteroscopy notes and can see no underlying health issues, so it comes down to me being very unlucky and falling on the 40% side of a euploid not working. Basically IVF can only do so much and the rest is down to nature.

I’m less fixated on stats now and Dr has said as I have a good ovarian reserve for my age, it would be worth another round. My expectations are low, I’ve been really deflated by past failures, but for peace of mind, I want to have one last go, just so I have no regrets.

@2021ivfagain welcome, good luck with your banking. I don’t know my AMH, but I have about 9 - 12 follicles. Which generally produce 10 eggs per round and a few embryos, so considered good for my age of late 42. I’ve never taken DHEA, it wasn’t mentioned by my clinic.

@IslandStars

That was good your consultation went well. I think the fact your ovarian reserve is good does help a lot.

I did a fresh transfer last time at 38 and it worked. It was my second cycle. We did assisted hatching, IMSI due to husband’s morphology and the fact that icsi was not successful for us for the first cycle. I was on the long protocol that time and also took wheatgrass during stims. I also took hgh zomacton. I did feel that I was oversuppressed and that was probably as I decided to take too much wheatgrass. I did, however, end up with 2 day 5 blastocysts which I transferred and one stuck. That is now my 10 month old boy.

I did think of doing another fresh transfer and more cycles with Access Fertility but after 39 they only offer a two cycle package. They do not offer batching. I wish I’d had more frozen from my cycle from when I was 38.

@IslandStars glad the review was helpful. Yes no regrets is always my aim (if we can't get a baby). It sounds fairly hopeful too. Did you do immune testing already? Sorry not to remember.

@2021ivfagain welcome. Your AMH sounds good. Mine was around 13 at age 40 which was also ok. Best to steer we'll clear of DHEA if you are in range. It's a powerful drug and can have a really negative effect if not needed. I've been on several threads about it. For me it was great but I was below the normal range. I know 40 seems scarily old when you are there - I remember that well. But in IVF terms it really isn't old at all. Best of luck with it all. Xxx

@IslandStars

Do you mind me asking your protocol for the frozen transfer? The reason I ask is if you did another FET again the natural FET might be better. Also, the fresh transfer from an implantation issue is sometimes easier to achieve as progesterone increases more easily.

Thanks ladies @Janefx40 I had a basic immune protocol last time, Prednisolone plus clexane, but I’ve not done the full immune testing.

@2021ivfagain I’ve done one medicated FET and one natural, so unfortunately no gain there as both BFN. I felt better in the natural though, so would prefer that again. I’m hoping my body might be more receptive to a fresh transfer, but it wasn’t possible before as I was doing PGS.

@IslandStars

That was good you felt better with natural FET. Did you have the ERA? I did respond better with a fresh transfer.

I’m a bit worried that my clinic are no longer using steroids in the stimming process. They said it’s due to covid but some clinics are still using lower doses. I’m really pleased with my clinic and think they’re really good but I’m just worried about the absence of steroids this time. What are others experiencing in IVF now? Thanks

@2021ivfagain No ERA, but I had extra progesterone in the form of Lubion injections before and after transfer, so in effect my levels were high enough.

I had Prednisolone, but probably won’t next time. Clinic said there is very little evidence for it, except in known immune issues, of which the percentage of women who actually have immune problems is very small. I’m back working in a busy office and on public transport now, so not sure i’d take the steroids again without an obvious need, given they didn’t make a difference last time. You could ask for low dose/baby aspirin as a less risky alternative.

@IslandStars I am glad your review appointment went well. I wish you the best of luck for your fresh transfer and really hope that’s the lucky blastocyst that forms a healthy baby for you.
on the Prednisolone you mentioned - my consultant said she was minded to add that to my FET protocol this time. When did you start taking it and is it meant to continue into pregnancy (if a pregnancy happens!)? I can push to work at home if needed but my husband works in a hospital and GP setting so is quite exposed - albeit triple jabbed now.

@IslandStars

Yes. I understand. There’s so much to think about during covid. Did you take the steroids during stimming before retrieval? Or did you take the steroids to prepare for your transfer? Thanks so much for your help.

Sarahk2000

It sounds like they are reviewing your protocol a lot for your next FET which is good. Did you take steroids during your stimming for each retrieval? IVF has changed a lot since I last did it due to covid. Last time I was given dexamethasone steroid during stimming as I was doing a fresh transfer. I’m starting to panic a lot. I know it’s silly.

@Janefx40

Thank you for your encouraging words. IVF is so hard. I’m just finding it different this time around. Have you gone through the batching stages?

Thank you @SarahK2000 @2021ivfagain I took Prednisolone for my FET on the day I started progesterone pessaries. I had 2 in the morning and 2 in the evening, 5mg each for the first 4 days, then reduced to 1 x AM, 1x PM until my pregnancy test. I would have finished the packet if positive, but my clinic did not want to prescribe for longer as there is a small risk of birth defects. I think if I had a known immune issue, they would have weighed up the risks, as I know other clinics prescribe through to 10/12 weeks.

@IslandStars I have just caught up and am so so sorry to hear your news. Have been thinking of you. It’s great that your follow up went well, and that you have a plan.

Out of interest have you considered changing sperm (I think I recall that you are not in a relationship)? I realise of course that this may not be an option for you for a number of reasons, but I got wildly different results with two different donors: one was much much better with me than the other. Anyway, just an idea.

Thanks @Shamoo I’ve been thinking of this too actually. Difficult to decide, as I did get embryos each round, so I don’t want to jeopardise that. I presume my egg quality/euploid rate is mostly down to age, but I could check with the embryology team whether they think I should switch donors.

@Islandstars

I am happy to hear that your review went well.

I had my baseline scan at the clinic today and have been given the go ahead to start stimulation. I am feeling far more relaxed than last time.

I wish all of you well.

@Ivfhoper I was at CRGH this morning too!!! If only I'd known, we could have said hello...although of course that then breaks the anonymity of a forum!

Glad it went well. Yes CRGH is a calmer place. Do you start injections tonight?

Ps I think you said you were at CRGH. Sorry if I got that wrong x

@2021ivfagain no I didn’t have it in my stimming cycles, maybe because all frozen ones. After a failed FET, my consultant is thinking of adding it in this time for my next transfer. I have 2 remaining PGS tested embryos that are 6B-B- / one a day 6 and one a day 5. I don’t have much hope but let’s see if either of them work. I don’t intend to pursue IVF further after this if they don’t. I have been in cycles since November last year and really want to move on with my life as the emotional toll has been a little much. I turned 41 this year and have an AMH of 20 so could keep trying but I can’t face any more cycles after the 6 in a row I have had (1 the mock one for ERA etc). I have my next consultation on the 18th let’s see what all the test results show.

@SarahK2000
Thanks. I understand now that I wouldn’t take steroids when batching but have never done embryo banking before.

Do you find out what the ERA showed up at your next consultation?

I think you have a lot of positives. Amh is good. You still have two normals. I think when PGS testing occurs grading is less important.

When I got pregnant with my son at 38, I had two untested day 5 blastocysts transferred. I had assisted hatching. One was b+b+ and the other was b-b- but I don’t know which one was my son. I was told both are good grades.

I think it’s tough that c grade embryos are not frozen.

I can understand how you’re feeling. I’m stressed as I remember how difficult it was. I question a lot more than I used to as I’m worried about it all. I’ve been told that I just need two cycles back to back but I want to have one more just in case I don’t get many blastocysts. We’re having to do IMSI due to male factor which worked well last time.

I read a review of a 42 year old who did batching with 2 cycles. She had diminished ovarian reserve and did two cycles. She had two blastocysts to PGS and ended up being successful with just one being normal. It can happen.

Good luck with your consultation. I’m sure they have a good plan for your frozen protocol.