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.

@Lola245

Hi. I’m sorry your second cycle is not going so well. I know how you feel. It is still day 8 so a lot can happen. Are you taking hgh zomacton? The good thing is you’ve not got a lead follicle. As you have primed with progynova, this should also enhance the quality even if you might get less. I have been told that every cycle is different. The focus is quality.

It might be worth mentioning about the cysts. I had cysts when I did IVF before and got pregnant with my son. However, I was put on norethisterone for nearly 3 weeks to get rid of them before starting my cycle. I never did batching then. I did long protocol then and it did oversuppress my ovaries even then with much better fsh and good amh.

I wanted to move on and do back to back this time, but I was so fed up after my second round and lost so much sleep I had to take a short break. I’m planning on doing a cycle in April and then one straight after.

Good luck with this current cycle.

Sorry this is a whingy post but just about had enough atm.

Having a crap cycle this time around. Less than half the number of eggs than last time. Last time my small follicles caught up but not this time for some reason. With our drop off rate seems unlikely we will be left with anything. Plus OH has just tested positive for Covid.

Clinic has also picked up a lining issue which NHS told me was fine post miscarriage. Just feel like everything keeps going wrong. Anyone else with lining issues? Wondering if there is any point doing more IVF when may not be able to implant anything anyway.

Anyone else feel like they’ve just had enough of being shat on?

@InvisibleDreamer I'm so sorry this round is shit. We build ourselves up to these rounds and when things don't go well it is so frustrating.

I'm afraid I don't know much about linings although there are meds they can give if they are thin I think.

Sorry your DH has Covid. We've all had it this past week and it hasn't been much fun :(

What's next for this round? What day are you on?

@Janefx40 I’ve been told my lining is uneven so I’ve no idea what the treatment would be for that. I’ve been told I will need a hysteroscopy to investigate.

OH is ok now but I am worried about effect on sperm quality. Today is day 1 after egg collection, just missed a call from the clinic. They don’t usually call this early so am expecting bad news.

How are you doing?

@InvisibleDreamer have you had a hysteroscopy before? When can they do it?

I'm ok. Just having my second back-to-back early miscarriage. I feel like I'm doing one of those challenges where people do 3 marathons in 3 days. Had a chemical from our FET last month and now seem to have somehow got pregnant naturally for the first time ever which I only discovered when I started bleeding. Fun fun fun

@Janefx40 I'm so sorry about your two miscarriages! That is such bad luck and a lot to take on in a row. I'm so sorry. It is rather amazing that you got pregnant so quickly after the FET...and if you'd never fallen pregnant naturally before... but I imagine it's all just really confusing and devastating. Did CRGH have any advice after the chemical? When would you do another FET?

@InvisibleDreamer really sorry you've had a bad luck second round - it's so frustrating when there's no rhyme nor reason. I'm having a bad second round and so disappointed. Last time I we got 6 eggs, and ended up with 4 day 3 embryos. (So not amazing, but compared to this round, now seems good!) This time it looks like only 2 follicles are growing enough to produce mature eggs (there are 5 others, but all small and haven't grown much - and now I'm on day 12).

Has anyone here ever cancelled a cycle? I'm waiting to hear from CRGH this afternoon, and obviously I'd be really disappointed to cancel, but also wonder if there is a point in going through and paying for this round if we'd be lucky to end up with 2 fertilized eggs. I'm just terrified of getting a call next week that we've ended up with nothing after the cost of this cycle. But I know this is the rollercoaster...

Are most of you doing back-to-back cycles, or taking a month break in between? I like the speed of back-to-back, but my first cycle was much better, and this cycle I've had some cysts and fluid in my cavity which makes me wonder if my body needed a break.

And has anyone cancelled a cycle and converted it to IUI instead?

@Lola245 I'm so sorry about your cycle. I've never cancelled but I would consider it now. I had a cycle where my follicles were really uneven and I wish I had cancelled it. We got 6 eggs but only 1 fertilised - I think because the others were all either over or under cooked tho technically "mature".

I did back to back. Actually my middle cycle was my best so it could just be random. But if you want to take a break go for it.

Personally I have never done IUI because we were told the chances are no better than natural conception. But I guess it depends if you can get pregnant naturally and/or need some Sperm selection help! Do they select the sperm for IUI?

Sorry it's been crap ☹️ xxx

@Lola245
Hi. I’m sorry you’ve not had a good cycle. I felt I needed a short break after my second did not work out.

Can you get advice on whether you could cancel? With mine, I had 7 eggs but the fsh and stress from dhea messed up my stims and affected egg quality. You might be able to regain some money back, but it’s up to you. I know how difficult it is.

I’ve never done iui as my husband’s morphology was on the cusp of normal. It’s about the same chances as natural conception. It might be best to have a word with your consultant to guide you on your next steps. Good luck

@Janefx40 sorry to hear you are going through another one. Amazing you got pregnant naturally but also so devastating that it didn’t work out. That is a lot to take in.

I have to wait until after my final egg banking round before the hysteroscopy. I’ve not had one before but I’m not worried about the procedure itself. Had so much shoved up there during IVF it’s just another day at the office! Am going today for a OHSS scan, something they’ve never bothered with before even though my oestrogen was much higher on my previous 2 collections. Hopefully it’s not more bad news.

We have only 2 fertilised eggs from the 6 collected this time. We usually lose at least one before day 3 and 5 between day 3 & 5 so am not expecting they will make day 5. Am annoyed that my egg collection was a day earlier this round because my oestrogen levels were high yet they were less than last time. I think it’s because they had to do a blood test on a Saturday instead of Sunday because cycle fell over weekend whereas last time end of cycle was during week.

@InvisibleDreamer I guess you never know for sure whether embryos will make it. It can be random but I know what you mean about drop off. It definitely feels more secure when there are more in the running.

I've had a couple of hysteroscopies - both under sedation but I didn't bleed much after which is usually the sign that it wasn't too intrusive a procedure.

When is your last round of embryo banking

CRGH does not want to cancel since two follicles are good-sized (above 16mm). They haven't considered it, so I think I need to follow their advice. We had good conversion last time from egg to day 3 embryo, so I'm just going to cross my fingers that at least one becomes an embryo. It's just frustrating since I have almost the same number of follicles as last time, but most of them barely grew whereas last time it was pretty even. I hope Dr Saab will have some explanation for this or a suggestion for next time...

I wonder if we should insist that they culture however many day 3 embryos we end up with from round 1 and 2 to day 5 this time, so at least we know how many blasts we have going into our 3rd (and hopefully final) round. Otherwise I fear that after the next round it would just be a lot of bad news - losing the embryos between day 3 and 5, and then after PGS testing.

Has anyone decided to do 4 rounds of embryo banking before PGS testing? I don't even know if that's an option, and would obviously be really expensive. But I'm just wondering if my next round will be more like the good or bad round... sigh.

@InvisibleDreamer Sorry to hear that more didn't fertilise this time. Did your clinic have any ideas as to why? Will you go straight into your next round?

@Lola245
I know exactly how you feel. My first cycle I had 9 eggs, 8 mature and 7 day 3 embryos. Then in the second I had nothing to freeze. I am considering two more cycles just because my second did not work at all. I had two extremes.

In fact, my protocol changed completely due to my last round. I know this is really hard. The only advice I can give is to take it one step at a time.

Did you start a new supplement and continue taking it during stimulation phase? The only reason I ask is I took wheatgrass two years ago and during stims as did not know it can affect stims. Now I take it just before.

Your consultant might have a really good solution for you for next cycle. I have heard of people having two or three eggs and having a blast out of it.

Good luck for your retrieval.

@Janefx40
Hi. I’m sorry you’re having such a difficult time. I can’t imagine how hard the back to back miscarriages were. Were you already planning your FET?

I’m also worried about covid. My husband had face to face training for his job on Tuesday and the instructor, who was not wearing a face mask, just tested positive for covid! My husband’s not feeling too well. We’ve split the house in two: he’s living upstairs and I spend more time downstairs! We’ve had our jabs but I worry about my son who’s 15 months old and not vaccinated. Also, I’m starting my egg collection next month so hope everything is ok.

Anyway I hope your family are feeling better. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for a positive outcome for you.

My husband has tested positive for covid. I’m really worried because I’m planning on doing my next retrieval towards end of April. I’m so upset because my consultant doesn’t want me to wait too long for my next egg collection. He said it could be detrimental.

My concern is if I test positive as well I won’t be able to do another PCR test as it would be within 90 day period. Has anyone had any experience of this as at present I’m feeling like everything is stacked against me? Sorry for the moan but the passport delayed things, then Christmas, then a failed cycle and now my husband’s covid test.

@2021ivfagain I wouldn't worry if your next retrieval isn't until the end of April - unless I'm misunderstanding your concern? You shouldn't still test positive in a PCR test if you are fully recovered. I had covid the first week of January, then had to take a PCR test on day 6 of my first cycle (end of January) and it was fine. You are 5-6 weeks away from your next retrieval then you should be fine. Hope your husband is okay!

@Lola245

Thanks for your message. I’ve been really upset. I’m on cycle day 25 today, so next cycle is my preparation month. I’ve worked out that day 6 would be about 19th April based on 28 day cycle.

I was confused as I read you should not take another PCR test within 90 days as it could still read positive.

Did you find covid affected egg or sperm quality?

I hope you had a successful outcome this time around. Good luck for next cycle. Thanks again.

Hey guys I hope you are all holding up ok. A scan confirmed last week that my miscarriage seems to have passed naturally, which I am relieved about. But my pregnancy test is still positive despite being on 33 IU/l HCG last Tuesday. I wish I would get to 0 quickly. Emotionally at times I feel fine and am very teary and panicky about the future at other times, so am just riding through it.
@2021ivfagain sorry your husband caught covid. Hope he is feeling ok and you manage to avoid it. Timing wise though hopefully it won’t impact your next cycle. Good luck with it. Covid seems to be spreading a lot these days. I am back physically in the office after next week for the first time in 2 years. Am looking forward to being around people but not the risk of catching covid.
@InvisibleDreamer sorry your cycle wasn’t going so well. I hope you managed something out of it. Cycles seem very hit and miss. I had read about lining issues after miscarriages. I hope it’s something that rectifies following another period but I don’t know anything about it. Hysteroscopy under sedation was ok. I did bleed a fair bit after it for 12 days but I think it’s different for each person.
@Lola245 I really hope your cycle ended with some day 3s. In terms of me doing something different for my upcoming FET. I will speak to my consultant again on 30th March so let’s see what she says. From our last chat, I think she recommends going straight for another FET as soon as which realistically will be 2nd cycle after miscarriage as she wants to do a 3DSIS first. She was minded to add HCG into the lining (I think this may make any pregnancy tests difficult to be accurate), she was also going to add IVIG alongside intralipids and has asked me to do a thrombophilia blood panel. Let’s see - the final embryo is a day 6. 6B-B+ - am not sure how it will go. I keep thinking that with age 42 approaching in September and time running out whether to ask to have another egg collection and then transfer the frozen tested one on day 5 following that same round, but I know my husband is against any more rounds and won’t be happy at all if I try and pursue this and I am not sure my consultant would support it either. I also keep changing my mind thinking I need to be free of ivf to find some joy in life again.
@Janefx40 I hope you are recovering from your last miscarriage and covid ok. Hope your next FET goes well. I am speaking to a nutritionist tomorrow and also seeing an acupuncturist on Wednesday. Think it’s all distraction techniques to feel I did the best to prepare for the last round!
As usual wishing you all success with your rounds but more importantly peace of mind and contentment.

Hi @Sarahk20000 lovely to hear from you. Just for comparison, my Hcg was 29 last Monday and my pregnancy test was very faintly positive today. They told me to re-test after 10 days so I will try again on Thursday. Sorry you've been through so much.

It's very hard pursuing IVF without your partner's approval - as I well know. I have pushed us a long way and although it has answered my questions about whether we can have another baby, it has been very hard on DP and on our relationship.

Love to everyone else. Would be good to hear all of your updates xxx

@Lola245 we only had 4 mature eggs out of the 6 so having 2 fertilise isn’t too bad, would have expected 3 but every round is different. Our clinic always puts a break between rounds so next round will be mid April. I hope you had some success with your round we were lucky enough to get one embryo to blastocyst.

@2021ivfagain my OH has just had covid literally the week of egg collection, I am worried about next cycle too but from the (very limited) evidence I can find it seems to be more critical for egg quality than sperm quality if it has any effect at all.

@Sarahk20000 Yes luckily we got an embryo from this round so it wasn’t a complete loss. I will have a hysteroscopy in June if things haven’t settled by then but I’m just worrying now as to what could possibly be wrong. It can take some time for HCG to go to 0, I hope things settle down for you soon.

@InvisibleDreamer
Hi. I was doing ok but I think I’ve got it now! From what I’ve read, some studies say it can affect egg quality 6 months down the line but others say it affects cycles for the next 3 months. I think due to the contradictions there is not strong evidence either way. I think men’s sperm can be affected if he’s had a temperature. I’m hoping that as we’re triple jabbed everything will be ok.

I can’t wait 3 months as I’m getting older. I’m 41 in June.

Good luck with your next cycle.

@Janefx40 and @SarahK20000

Hi. I’m sorry you’re both going through this. I can’t imagine how difficult it would be to keep retesting.

I found acupuncture really good for mood, stress and anxiety.

I completely understand about IVF putting pressure on the relationship. It has caused a lot of stress in my relationship with my husband.

Good luck with your next FET.

Hi guys, just popping on re covid chat! I had covid and did an egg collection about a month and half later. All embryos arrested on day 2 which hadn’t happened before or since (we have male factor and in a poor responder). So for me it definitely affected egg quality. However I did bloods around then and my CRP was sky high, vitamin d low and iron low - all caused by covid as they were normal before and all normalised a few weeks later but it did affect my egg quality.

So if you were worried about going ahead/postponing I would get some bloods done once recovered to help with decision/give you peace of mind if all come back normal.

I did another cycle 3 months after that one and had a good round.

@Dochas12111
Problem is my consultant says if I wait months it could be detrimental due to age. What is CRP?

In terms of vitamin D, I’ve been taking 3800iu for some time and I have a lot of iron in my diet.

@Lola245
Hi. Just for comparison. You had a really good cycle after you had covid. Fertilisation rate was high wasn’t it? Thanks. Just need reassurance as I can’t delay for long. Age is a factor and it’s not on my side. Thanks

@2021ivfagain CRP is a measure of inflation in the body. It should be

^inflammation!!! Not inflation 🙈