IVF January/February 2021? continued

[hopefully21]

I just set this up as we reached the limit in the other one.

Just after I sent that last message I went to the bathroom and noticed a bit of spotting. So I’ve emailed my clinic and waiting for a call back. Could be implantation, I don’t know... feeling like I might be out for this round.

@Folklore9074 that could still be implantation bleeding, you can have it at 6wks even. Rest up and keep an eye on it

I had no symptoms other than slight cramping and a hint of pink about a week after transfer and I got a positive last week. I had some slight spotting Sunday and yesterday and have had cramps for a good few days now but also tiredness and nausea. However today the spotting which has stopped has become more of a light bleeding. Waiting for a call back from the clinic but am worried that at 5 and a half weeks this isn’t going to work out.

I'm sorry @MF1981 really hoping it does work out for you but I know you'll be worried sick
xxx

@MF1981 sorry to hear what you are going through. Sounds awful. I’ve got my fingers crossed for you.

Clinic got back in touch. Not really said anything I didn’t expect. Spotting isn’t always bad news, monitor symptoms, keep taking meds and test on Friday... which seems a very long way away.

@MF1981 so sorry to hear that, it’s very stressful. Hope the clinic will do a scan or blood test for you. Bleeding isn’t always bad news, really hope it’s a good outcome for you.

Thanks guys. Clinic said to just monitor it (as if I can get away from it!) and that I could test again in a couple of days if it’ll reassure me but otherwise to wait for my scan unless it gets any worse.

@MF1981 sorry to hear you are having a mini scare, I have everything crossed for you ❤️

I’ve been quiet because I have a tendency to compare and panic 🙈 I’m 18dp5dt with BFP last Monday, worrying over a lack of symptoms - the fear never ends does it! Other than bloating and slightly tingling boobage not much is happening. I have a scan in a weeks time and I’m looking forward to having something more concrete to hold onto 🤞🏻 I’ve been thinking about you all and hope you’re all doing the best you can be x

Thanks @cher1981. I’m 19dp5dt - we can’t win can we?! Worry when we have symptoms and worry when we don’t! Your scan is quite early compared to mine - mine is 26th Feb and the nurse today said they can’t scan me any earlier.

Hi ladies. Firstly congratulations to all of you who have you BFP and secondly praying for those who are PUPO that you get your BFP.

Unfortunately I had my test yesterday and my third round has left me with a BFN. We have been a mix of emotions on what to do next, we are going for 1 more cycle but i was wondering if some of you could help with some issues I have with the NHS part. (I would like to add that I am not criticising the treatment, and cannot fault the people we have dealt with)

I have noticed on this threat and a few others during my first and second cycle that a lot of people seem to be getting blood tests to check hormone levels, progesterone levels and other things which I still cannot think off the top of my head. I suffer from PCOS, which I only found out during my first ever scan (the ovaries had cysts on them) no other investigation around this. The only blood test i had was prior to my first cycle which was the checking for HIV. I have had absolutely no other blood tests or hormone checks throughout cycles 1-3. My question is to those who have went through this process with the NHS. Is this usual not to have any investigation or checks and just go through the process? I feel a little let down that I have not been checked to find out if I was taking enough progesterone for example, this last cycle we had the best quality embryo we had ever had but it didn't stick and I know other people on here have said this (progesterone) has been checked and told to increase dose to help support it sticking.
Again this is no slating of the NHS at all, I just need to know if iys best to go elsewhere or stick with them for the 4th and absolute final attempt.
Sorry this is so long and I know everyone has different experiences I just do not know who to ask as I am feeling quite alone with this. (DH tries his best bless him)

Sorry that was supposed to be thread not threat

I’m so sorry about your result @hopeful182. My clinic don’t test progesterone levels, although you can request it and pay £50. But I had a blood test at each scan during stims to check oestradiol levels and that result had a bearing on what doses I took and when my egg collection was. Also it was an indicator of ohss hence why I ended up with a freeze all last round. Hope that helps.

Sorry to hear a few are worried, awaiting symptoms, having scares, especially @hopefully21 for BFN 😢 I have PCOS, the clinic told me to purchase Inofolic (2 sachets per day) and I believe it’s really helped me with my results. You need it in your system for 3 months.. plus more folic which is good 👍

For me, yesterday was unexpectedly AF day and boy did it come heavy! What a pain, I’m 11 days early! I need to call clinic today to now see where that puts me with implantation given I’m still 11 or so days from getting PGT-A results 😩

Bet I’ll have to now wait for next AF and implantation in around 6wks! 😡 Dates if successful could be a Christmas baby 👶🙈

@hopeful182 so sorry for your BFN.

I’m NHS and the tests I got were:

• After first GP visit, a day 21 blood test to check ovulation
• At first hospital visit a TV scan to look at ovaries and womb lining
• After first hospital visit, a hycosy to check tubes were clear
• Because of my endo symptoms a laparoscopy that confirmed endometriosis.
• 2 months before treatment was meant to start, the HIV and hep b test, an AMH test and high vaginal swab
• During fresh cycle of treatment, scans to check number of follicles and blood tests to check estradiol in case of OHSS.

My clinic don’t test progesterone and if you get pregnant they don’t do a beta blood test they just ask you to do an HPT.

@hopeful182 I have estrogen tested during stims to make sure it doesn’t go too high (to avoid OHSS) and to make sure the progesterone also doesn’t suddenly increase too early (when it does it modifies the structure of the endometrium making it less receptive to an embryo). I was told it needs to stay below 5 before ovulation. Then I have progesterone and estrogen tested again on 2dp5dt to check the levels are where they should be (not too low). I reckon these are important steps and you should request them on your next cycle.

@hopeful182 sorry forgot to add: I would especially do this as PCOS can mess with your hormone levels

I’m 5dp5dt today and suddenly feeling really low. I was awake at 5.30am and my mind kept imagining looking at a negative test and going over all the things I’d have to do if I test and it’s negative, like tell my boss and ask for more time for more treatment, tell my parents, tell the hospital. It just kept going round and round in my head even though I kept trying to tell myself not to think that way and I couldn’t get back to sleep at all. Then my progesterone pessary seemed to melt a lot in my hands and hurt going in and something must have gone wrong because it started leaking back out even as I was lying down after inserting it. I feel super sad and like I just want to lie in bed and cry but I have so much on at work including a meeting that I’ll somehow need to get through.

I can get very low on my period so I wonder if it’s the effects of the drugs causing this. I told DH how I feel and he immediately asked if I tested and when I said no he suggested it must be things I’m Googling so I feel like it’s my fault I feel so down.

I actually have no real urge to test any more as I feel like there’s no point and it’s hopeless anyway.

Sorry for such a depressing rant I just don’t feel I have anyone else to talk to.

@kikisparks these hormones do weird things to us - I think I’ve cried at least once a day over the last week or so and I mean proper sobs. Progesterone mimics pms symptoms so that could be why you’re feeling this way. Try and visual a positive result and maybe do some meditation as that helped me a lot during treatment?

@kikisparks I know exactly how you feel...I also woke up before dawn this morning and spent hours mulling my next steps if this is negative. I have also more or less convinced myself it will be, hence holding out on testing until OTD. I can’t bear to have a succession of horrible BFN’s and then have to cope with work and get through the day after that. I would rather get all the bad news on one single day... but I am also aware the hormones are messing with me. Luckily we get to stop them immediately after a BFN. Should make coping easier...

@MF1981 I have never had my oesriadiol levels checked at all during the 3 cycles.

@IVFat43 oh I think I will get some of those inofolic sachets, it can't hurt. By the way good luck with the clinic, I hope you can go ahead with implantation sooner rather than later.

@kikisparks again no blood tests to check ovulation and I've never had a AMH test either. Thanks for that I am going to query this.

@Tarsette not once have my bloods been taken to test estrogen diluting stims, I was on the short protocol but this is still over 10-14 days of injections. I never realised if the progesterone levels go too high it can modify the structure of the endometrium making it less receptive! I wonder why this hasn't been tested considering 5 embryos have been implanted and have never been able to stick. I hope you don't mind me asking, was yours through the NHS?

Last question ladies and then I will leave you all be. I am a bit stuck on whether to stay with current clinic, who still know more about me and the reactions I have had, or completely change to a new one. What do you think? I know this is our decision but it would be good to know some opinions. For information,This is definetly our last go at this as I cannot keep going through IVF as I don't want this to consume us as a couple and also the financial cost and the possible mental health cost.
Again thank you all for reading this. X

Hi @kikisparks I'm sorry you're feeling like this, it's totally natural though and because you have so much on your mind your brain is waking you up and not letting you get back to sleep. I know exactly what that's like the going round and round and round. Do you have any tactics you use when you feel low that you could use for this? Mine are: walking, meditating, painting my nails, watching a programme i've watched a million times like modern family or desperate housewives. I'd also give yourself a little something to look forward to - what about a nice takeaway or a posh ready meal? xxx

@kikisparks I’m sorry to hear you’re feeling like this, it sounds like the meds and process are really affecting you, I felt like this at a similar stage after the transfer as well. Sending you hugs.

@hopeful182 I’m in a similar position to you, It was my OTD yesterday and I got a BFN, I wasn’t surprised by this as I tested throughout the 2ww. Deep down I know there is something wrong, while I could go down the trial and error route, which seems to be how a lot of clinics like to progress, I’m not willing to do the exact same thing over and over and expect a different result. Statistically at my stage I could just be unlucky, but I ended up with 9 blasts from my fresh cycle, half of them 1,1. I cannot see how I have never ever got a BFP when trying naturally with such high quality embryos. I have spent a lot of time looking into implantation failure, the definition varies but is usually defined as 2-4 unsuccessful transfers. This is the best article I have found that goes through all the tests and management options:

www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1472648313004756

My 7 remaining frosties are now being PGT-A tested, at least that way I know I’m not putting something back that has no chance of success. I’m also hoping to have an ERA (this involves going through a mock FET but instead of a transfer they take a sample of the endometrium and test it and come back with how the timing of the progesterone may need to be adjusted), the other thing I’m hoping to have is a scratch. If you’re planning one more transfer, then I would say look into the options and set yourself up for the highest chance of success.

@Gardenlady543 thank you so much for this. It is exactly how I feel, it seems as though it has just been do the same and expecting the different result, which is the definition of insanity. I am going to read that article and when I have my consultation explain that I have to do things differently for my best chance. I have read about the scratch and I am willing to do or throw everything at this final stage. X x wish you all the luck in the world with your process. X

@hopeful182 I started a thread last week about this, specifically about PGT-A and something that really struck me was another mumsnet user who said:

‘there's a growing divide between a school of thought that goes "keep transferring until an embryo sticks", which is what the finance packages and HFEA's approach is largely based on, and "do all relevant tests at an early stage with the goal of maximising the chance of success in the quickest timeframe".‘

The HFEA traffic light system assesses whether tests are likely to improve chances of a live birth, so things like PGT-A don’t get a high grading, because while it can shorten the time to success, it doesn’t increase the chance of success. For me the impact of putting my body through cycles physically and mentally and then getting nothing but sadness at the end, is enough to put me off the trial and error approach. I’m with access fertility so I could save money by having a transfer every other month, and when I run out I get another fresh cycle to collect more, but at what cost to my mental health? I’m not due to speak to my specialist until 5th March, but hopefully she will be in agreement for the next steps moving forward.

@IVFat43 your embryo transfer should be 6 days after your LH surge, so AF coming early may just mean you get to go sooner! Mine will be on day 18 of my cycle, if that helps?