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 how stimming can be difficult. I just want to reassure you that on the cycle I got pregnant I was not responding too well at first. I had to have my meds increased and then I did better. A lot can happen before the retrieval. Good luck

@Longgame21
Hi. I’m just reading your post about immature eggs. I have the same/similar issue. I’ve been recommended the dual trigger this time.

@IslandStars

Good luck for your retrieval and transfer. I have to travel quite a distance for scans and blood tests. I’m hoping I will respond ok. I’m pleased you’re doing well. I know it can be a stressful process. My retrieval is possibly next Thursday 18th.

I just thought I would provide an update as to how I have been faring. I am now at CRGH, I am doing back to back egg freezing cycles to try and collect as many eggs as possible for my IVF treatments and hopefully embryo banking.

Round 1 ARGC - 6 eggs - 1 fertilised!!! - BFN
Round 2 [Egg freezing] CRGH - 5 eggs - 4 mature and frozen
Round 3 [Egg freezing] CRGH - currently underway

I am willing to do as many cycles as I need to find my golden egg.

@Ivfhoper
Good luck. I’m also do embryo batching for my second baby. Due to male factor infertility and now my age, we are doing IVF IMSI again. How many cycles are you planning for? I’m stimming on cycle one, but can only afford 3 cycles maximum.

@2021ivfagain

Thank you for your kind words. I am not sure how many cycles I am planning for yet - as many as I need I suppose?

As this is my attempt for my first child I am putting my all into it.

@2021ivfagain what was your amh? My amh is low but I just turned 33 years old.

@Ivfhoper

Hi. I completely understand. I had my first baby at 39. My amh is 16, but I’m 40 and my husband has poor morphology so this can affect the number of blastocysts we get. My doctor has recommended two cycles but I’m planning for 3 just in case. I’m on short protocol this time with dual trigger so hoping I respond ok. Good luck

@Ivfhoper

I think you have a really good chance as you have age on your side. When are you having your retrieval?

@Janefx40

How’s the preparation going for your transfer? Hope things are going well.

I’m on day 6 today and started stimming on Sunday. I’m a bit worried as I’ve only got 8 follicles so far and will be taking cetrotide on Friday. I’m worried that I might not have many blastocysts.

Did your number of follicles change each cycle and each time you had a scan?

Hi @2021ivfagain sorry I've not posted on this thread for a while but I've been following.

Yes all fine. Had my test results back today from my Era, Emma, Alice and NK biopsies. A few minor issues that we can treat but nothing major. Can't start my transfer cycle until after Christmas as clinic is bloody closing for a while and I'm going to miss their cut off for transfer before they close.

Try not to worry too much about numbers - I know it's hard and I'm a hypocrite because I always want lots too! But it really is about quality. I had 6 eggs one cycle but only one fertilised and I had 6 in another and 4 fertilised (and produced one of my euploids).

The number of follicles can change a little after an early scan but ideally you want follicles that are vaguely similar sizes so if you get more you would want them to have caught up size-wise.

But anyway 8 is great!!! Sounds like it is all going really well x

@Janefx40
Thanks for your reply. This feels like my worst cycle so far! I’m hoping now that I get close to 8 eggs but that does not also match up.

Yes. I was supposed to be doing back to back cycles but can’t because of the clinic breaking up early for Christmas. I’m planning on another cycle in January. I have been really stressed lately with care issues relating to my mum and dad and wondering if I’ll get any normals.

What protocol did you have? Did your consultant make changes based on the results of your cycle? Nurses say every cycle is different, but it seems like I did better with the long protocol.

It’s good they are being thorough. I know you wanted to get started but it’s good they are identifying potential issues beforehand.

@2021ivfagain sorry about your Mum and Dad. Hope things work out ok.

Which clinic are you? I'm at CRGH and was really frustrated that they didn't tell me they were closing for longer than usual this Christmas. I understand they have to close sometimes but why don't they actually tell patients in advance so we can plan around it. I could have timed my periods to get a transfer in before Christmas if they'd told me. I just feel fed up with how ignored we are as patients. I don't think clinics have a clue how traumatic IVF is for patients (and I don't think they care). Ok rant over!

After our first egg banking cycle (we only had one embryo frozen at day 3) I asked about switching protocols. My follicles had all been really different sizes that wasn't typical for me and I was sure that impacted fertilisation. He didn't want to do a long protocol but he added in some extra noresthisterone and some estrogen and reduced the HGH. I've no idea if it helped but my next 2 cycles were better - that could have just been luck though

Xxx

@2021ivfagain oh and don't stress about the stress! It won't and can't impact your egg quality. Egg quality (in terms of euploids) is determined about 3 months in advance so stress won't make any difference.

Xxx

@2021ivfagain Thank you for your kind words and reassurance, I just need to find those golden eggs.

@Janefx40 - I am at CRGH too and they didn't tell me that they will be closed this December from 15th - 31st - it was randomly sprung on me - I had made all my arrangements based on them being open. Annoyed.

@2021ivfagain @Janefx40

There is a new medicine on the block which supposedly improves egg count and egg quality - it's called Elonva. I am going to ask my doctor about this medicine.

Also I found a couple of online pharmacies that sell our meds for cheaper - www.ivfpharmacy.com and www.ivfsmart.com - we can get our medicines with a prescription and it's all legitimate and genuine medication. The first company is based in Israel and the second is in the US.

Hi @Ivfhoper they're not listing any drugs that I've used other than cetrotide and I'm not sure that is cheaper. If you are at CRGH now then I've found Pharmasure who they use to be the cheapest I've experienced. It's also way less stressful not to shop around. It just gets delivered to your door!

How is your current cycle going?

@2021ivfagain I wrote to the head nurse and politely expressed my frustration and said I thought they needed to notify patients in advance. I was dismissed (of course) with a message saying that all patients were being notified by their Consultant or Nurse. I wrote back saying "well I wasn't notified".

I'm still so cross!!!!!

@Janefx40 thank you - my cycle is going well, I am feeling well. I'm on 450IU a day but generally feel well.

In terms of the cheap meds - ww.ivfsmart.com sell Fostimon for $24 - which is £17.91p which is much cheaper than Pharmasure where it's £23. That's a £5.09 saving. I am going through 3 vials of Fostimon a day. I stim for 12/13 days - that's already a £198.51 saving for me on Fostimon.

I think they also have Meriofert or they can make it available - overall I stand to save approximately £390 - £400 per cycle on the medication.

The Certrotide is more expensive - so better off buying that from Pharmasure.

@Ivfhoper
Hi. I saved a lot of money by getting most of my medication at my local hospital. I saved about £1000. It was stressful though as there was a delay but as I did IVF before I tried to get them as soon as possible.

I’m taking 225iu meriofert and 225iu fostimon each day.

Have you had two retrievals at CRGH?

My amh was tested recently and it was good but I’m wondering whether my cycle this time is right for me or whether my age is now affecting things. Has anyone done estrogen priming when downregulated? I think I’m just now a slow responder.

@2021ivfagain

Which hospital did you get the medication from if you don't mind me asking? I don't mind doing a bit of leg work if it means I'll save £1K

I have had one retrieval at CRGH. My first round was at ARGC. If you scroll back in the messages you will see what they did to me.

@Janefx40

Thanks for all your messages. I’m not always getting an alert email. Sorry for delay. Yes my Dad’s stroke last year has taken its toll on the family and Christmas now is not the same. Two -three months ago I was constantly contacting ambulances, nurses and doctors as my Dad’s health is getting worse. Plus my mum’s had falls in between.

I really hope I can have a second child but my husband worries it might be too much for him at his age.

I’m also with CRGH. I had success with my son but I was 38 then.

I know the Christmas closure is frustrating but I’m wondering whether January might be better. The only issue is my cycle can’t be back to back. Do you think that will affect my January cycle?

@Janefx40
Did you do estrogen priming?

@Ivfhoper

Hi. Well I live in Plymouth so it’s the hospital at Derriford. It’s miles away from my clinic in London, but I needed to go to the best one. London is the best place for IVF clinics. Things do work out expensive though. They do have to order things in.

When is your retrieval? Good luck

@2021ivfagain to be honest I think it is probably better not to do back to back. Giving your body a rest seems good to me. Some Clinics insist on breaks in between though I was happy to do back to back because of timing and my age.

I don't think I've done estrogen priming. I'm not sure what it is. I did take some estrogen during my last 2 egg collections for about a week. I've always done short protocols so don't know if that makes a difference.

I'm so sorry about your Dad and your Mum having falls too. It must be so stressful on top of IVF too. I like Plymouth. My Aunt lives in Saltash.

@Ivfhoper great that you can save so much. I didn't see the Fostimon when I looked. Personally I've gone in phases of running around getting cheaper meds and taking the easy route and getting it delivered!

@2021ivfagain thank you for sharing that info. My retrieval is on 20.11.21 or maybe 21.11.21 depending on how I fare. Good luck with your cycle. You are travelling a long way to the clinic.

@Janefx40 - My Dr at CRGH said back to back cycles are okay for me because I have a low ovarian reserve. Maybe she would advise differently if my reserve was higher. It is a race against the clock for me.

The meds from ivfsmart are delivered to my home too - but just need to order 10 days in advance. My protocol is pretty much always - highest stims so I know what to order in advance.