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.

@IslandStars

Hi. I know what you mean. IVF is so stressful. I wish you all the best. You have a good chance of getting a good amount of blastocysts. Each retrieval is different.

I did a fresh transfer of two day 5 blastocysts at 38 and it worked. I did assisted hatching which made the difference for me. I found the fresh transfer a lot easier and would’ve done it this time but due to my age (40) and male factor we don’t get as many blastocysts.

Fresh transfers are more natural with your body. It’s also easier to build up your progesterone levels. I would also ask your clinic if they can check your progesterone level before transfer.

I’m doing short protocol and on norethisterone at present until 2nd November then I have to wait for a bleed. I then book my baseline scan so should be stimming beginning of November.

Good luck

@2021ivfagain Thanks for the encouragement. Even though my odds are much lower without a tested embryo, I’m hoping my body might be more receptive to a fresh transfer and at least it’s something different to try.

My Dr did mention they could check my progesterone levels before an FET, but not fresh, so I’ll ask them about that at the scans, thanks.

Good luck with your round, at least you can get it over with before any Xmas closures.

@IslandStars

Hi. The good thing is you have a good amount of blastocysts which works in your favour. There is a high chance you will have at least one embryo in one cycle. Have you discussed assisted hatching and transferring two day 5 blastocysts? If you transfer two, there is a greater chance of one sticking.

I’ve got another retrieval in January as well. I might have to do a third.

@2021ivfagain Not sure my clinic does assisted hatching. I’ve been thinking about a double transfer, not that my clinic would be happy with that, but as I’ve had 2 euploids fail, the chance of both sticking must be tiny!

Problem is I’m single, so affording twins would be an issue, I wouldn’t be able to reduce my hours as much as if I had 1, plus relying on family for support would be harder with 2. On top of all the health risks…there always so much to consider

Hopefully you can get your rounds done quite quickly, I know it’s frustrating to bank, but fingers crossed, worth it in the end.

@IslandStars

Hi. At 38, I was told the chances of both my blastocysts sticking were very slim. Transferring two day 5 blastocysts just increases your chances of one sticking.

In fact, my clinic recommend transferring 3 day 5 blastocysts after 40 if not PGS tested, but I probably would struggle to get 3 blastocysts in one round.

I understand about childcare issues. Both my parents are disabled and my mother in law is older, so I look after my son most of the time. I work from home but have to juggle a lot!

It might not be so important for you to do assisted hatching but for me I think it helped. You mature a lot more eggs so that’s a really good sign.

Hello everyone!

I’m just heading into the Lister now for a scan. Looking like egg collection will be Wednesday or Thursday this week - wish me luck! Nearly didn’t start this cycle due to a possible cyst on my baseline scan and then had a really heavy cold last week - fortunately not COVID. There are always curve balls, aren’t there?!

@2021ivfagain hope this cycle goes well for you!

@IslandStars have been thinking about you. Best of luck for this cycle too.

Hope everyone else is doing ok xx

Hello @Longgame21 Thank you, looks like I’ll be about a week behind you! Good luck for your scan and EC this week, have they said how many eggs to expect roughly?

So many colds about at the moment and I’m having to go into the office quite a lot, so it’s a nightmare trying to avoid all the germs!

Hello lovely, I think around 8, which is consistent with last time. As long as they are nice and mature, that’s definitely important!

It really is a nightmare with germs, although I don’t think the cases are too bad in London. Just need to try to be as careful as possible!

@Longgame21 That's a really good number, hopefully lots of decent quality eggs too.

@IslandStars

Are you starting stims soon? I’ve been on norethisterone for 12 days. I felt really tired this time around. Also, trying to avoid the germs at present as I’m waiting to have my baseline scan.

Good luck with the stimming.

@Longgame21

Thank you for your words of encouragement. I’m finding things so much more difficult this time around with the added stresses. I sometimes panic about my age and think perhaps at 40 I should forget about it.

My husband has had a cold and now my 11 month old son seems to be having it. I’m washing my hands constantly!

As for cysts, I had a cyst a month before I became pregnant with my son during IVF. Cysts do disappear.

Good luck with stimming.

@SarahK2000

Hi. How’s it all going? Do you have more tests? Did you say you will be transferring in January?

I’m waiting for baseline scan so starting to worry about germs going around and how successful my cycle will be.

@2021ivfagain Thanks, i've done a few days of stims now. I have my day 6 scan tomorrow, so hoping the follicles are going in the right direction. Down regging must be tough, i don't know how you do it, i barely have patience for short protocol!

Sometimes IVF does get in your head more and make you panic about time/age/finances etc. I find by the end of stims i'm often feeling more emotional through the hormones.

@Longgame21 and @IslandStars good luck with your egg collections and cycles 😊
@2021ivfagain good luck with your cycle too. I hope you are all managing to stay away from germs. I am avoiding working in the office and sticking to home. thank you for asking how I am. I just got off the Northisterone to repeat my ERA, ALICE etc quartet biopsy - should have a baseline scan next week. And also have been on antibiotics and probiotics for endometriosis. Let’s see what the results bring this time and then hopefully will head to an embryo transfer in January.

@SarahK2000 Thank you. Day 6 scan was a bit mixed today. Dr has suggested cycle may have to be cancelled as 1 follicle is way ahead and the main group is behind. All depends on my day 8 scan. Am just a bit confused as i've had this in most cycles, always 1 or 2 follicles racing away, but i've never been told i may have to cancel before. Hoping the Dr was just being a bit negative/cautious and that things look better on Saturday.

Good you’re still WFH, makes things so much easier. Hope your biopsies go well, it will be good to start the new year with everything place and set up for transfer.

@IslandStars I hope the day 8 scan goes well tomorrow and the rest of the follicles have caught up. Typically in my cycles they tended to forgo 1 or 2 lead follicles for a larger number behind. Hope it’s the same case for you. 🤞 it’s always so nerve wracking in the build up to egg collections. I feel for you.

Hi all,

@islandstars good luck with your scan this morning. I had this happen to me when my Dr upped my drugs and I had 3 lead follicles only. We decided to abandon, which was hard and bloody expensive to be honest. I obviously respond better to a lower dose. Really hope it goes ok this morning, but if you do have to abandon it doesn’t mean you won’t respond on another round.

Thank you so much @SarahK2000, got 10 eggs, but only 4 were mature, which I am really frustrated about to be honest. 3 fertilised, so keeping everything cross for them. Going to bring up with the clinic about the immature eggs.

Hope everyone else ok xx

@SarahK2000 @Longgame21 Thanks ladies, good to know things can change. My scan today showed improvement, so I am responding, just a bit slower. Dr doesn’t recommend cancelling, as I’ll hopefully have 7 follicles. The big one has gone crazy and will be too mature! On my last cycle in January, I had 7 eggs, 6 fertilised and I got 4 blasts, so Dr is leaning towards quality rather than lots of eggs. 3 follicles are already mature enough, I just need 4 to grow more until Monday. Been so long since I cycled I’d forgotten all the ups & downs of this part!

@longgame21 10 eggs was a really good start. Understand being disappointed with 4, but Dr today has really banged on about quality to me. In my first round I got 11 eggs, only 5 were mature and I got 3 blasts! Hope yours will follow the same.

So pleased you are on track for egg collection - bet you are relieved!

@Longgame21 fingers crossed for the 3 that have fertilised to make it all the way. As @IslandStars says it’s quality that matters. Am glad @IslandStars that your egg collection looks to be proceeding. Are you both heading towards fresh blastocyst transfers or frozen ones? keeping everything crossed for you guys 😊

@Longgame21 @SarahK2000 Thanks ladies. I’m hoping to do a fresh transfer. So far my estrogen levels are ok. If I have a couple more to freeze, then I’ll probably PGS, but if it’s just one to freeze I won’t bother. At this rate I just really need 1 to transfer as main priority.

@IslandStars happy for you that your cycle continues. And fingers crossed 🤞🏽 for you with your transfer.

Wish u all good luck ladies❤️

Keeping everything crossed for you @IslandStars

@IslandStars
Hi. I’m really sorry for the delay in replying. There’s been a lot more stress this time around. I’m doing short protocol this time but still have to take norethisterone before stimming in preparation month to control period.

@SarahK2000
Hi. I think working from home is good. I do that too, but I’m finding it stressful having to change my teaching sessions to go to the clinic appointments. I’m mostly self-employed so it’s stressful.

It seems like it’s been a long process for you. Good luck with the preparation month.