IVF March/April

[Noirberry19]

Is anyone starting ivf in March/April?
Have had confirmation today I will be starting treatment in March. Been prescribed norethisterone, which I have to take CD21 of my next period (due next week).

Congratulations @hopefulhel, hoping you get a lot fertilising and progressing well.

@PurpleUnicorn01 I am private but under a NHS hospital and they sent me paperwork re 1 or 2 embryos (can't remember it all). But in summary it said the HEFA don't reccomend 2 embryos in anyone under 37 on their first cycle. Over 37s and 2nd cycle onwards needs to be assessed based on embryo quality. When I asked about this my consultant said there is somw new evidence coming through now that having 2 embryos implanted where 1 is good quality and 1 not actually reduces success. Apparently if the poorer quality embryo doesn't make it it could cause the 2nd embryo to miscarry too. If you want I can send a pic of this paperwork when I get home.

@PurpleUnicorn01 only 1 embryo to transfer. They did say at one point they'd only transfer 2 if the second wasn't great quality, but too good to bin. However since then they have reverted back to saying only 1 will be transferred.

@hopefulhel such a good number!! Hope you're pleased. Fingers crossed for you for tomorrow. Bet you're so nervous/excited!

@hopefulhel great news! Time to relax now xx take care xx

@noirberry19 and @donimo

Yes that would be great to see the guidance on it.

I really hate waiting around lol

@PurpleUnicorn01 yes this is my first try at IVF. I haven’t started meds yet, I need to call on first day of AF then will start meds 21 days after from what understand and will have a consultation and pick up meds prior to that date.

It feels like a long way to go still, but I know we are almost there.

Hey, so we have our consenting appointment Friday with medication demos.

What questions did you guys ask? I have time for injections written down which I know they will tell us anyway but it's on my mind!! Anything else?

@ivfbabyf Woaw that's so great I hope it goes well. So its around 5 months from your initial referal until now, bet your so glad your on track now. Exciting times ahead.

Thanks everyone. My doctor said our next consultation is April 2nd and I should be in a position to do a FET that cycle if we get some embryos. Hoping for a positive outcome tomorrow and next Tuesday. The egg collection was straight forward this morning. I don't remember a thing and I am fine now (although that could be the painkillers). They reckon I have ohss so best to go with FET and let my body recover

@PurpleUnicorn01 I'm NHS. We get 1 round of drugs and 1 egg collection, but then we can we try with every embryo. So it's a great deal of they get plenty of eggs from me and they fertilise etc. Obviously not great if I produce many eggs / they don't fertilise well. It's different everywhere which is just so unfair.

@hopefulhel that's a great number of eggs, hope you've had a good rest this afternoon 💐

[quote CurbsideProphet]@PurpleUnicorn01 I'm NHS. We get 1 round of drugs and 1 egg collection, but then we can we try with every embryo. So it's a great deal of they get plenty of eggs from me and they fertilise etc. Obviously not great if I produce many eggs / they don't fertilise well. It's different everywhere which is just so unfair.[/quote]
Yes i think that is the same for Birmingham NHS in regards to 1 cycle and 1 egg retrieval, am I right in thinking they let you choose how many embryos they put back in? Or you get to freeze and use them later but they only put one back in?

@PurpleUnicorn01, attached is a photo of the guidance my clinic sent regarding single/multiple embryo transfer

@Donimo thank you so much. That is useful.

@6543336787gesgvjhg these are the list of questions I had, but to be honest the nurse had answered them all prior to me getting to that point.

1. The treatment plan, what medications, how to take, timeline with when to take medications and dates for scans, egg collection and transfers
2. Any reccomendation for best/cheapest place to buy meds
3. What to do if af is late prior to baseline scan
4. Options for add on treatments and to discuss these
5. Confirm isolation requirements and precautions for covid and discuss what happens if I catch covid during treatment
6. Confirm how to contact the clinic if concerned/questions

Hope this helps a little

@6543336787gesgvjhg I also asked which date ranges I'll need flexibility at work, of we should be taking any supplements, and a clarification around IVF vs ICSI because it wasn't clear to me which was being recommended in our case (it will be decided on the day, apparently).

It might just be us, but we've been struggling with lots of air in the syringe these days, so maybe asking how to avoid that would be useful - the nurse showed us but we had to go back to ask if there was a different way as it wasn't working for us.

@Donimo what did the nurse say about potentially late AF? I didn't even think of that!

@hopefulhel I hope you're getting a good rest :)

I also started my injections on the 23rd. My egg collection is not until the 5th of April. I am not having any side effects just yet and I’m not sure what to expect. It’s probably a good thing but I’m overthinking...

@beachbum85 the nurse said as long as it arrives before scan its ok but to call if not arrived prior to scan. However my scan is booked for first thing Monday so hopefully it will arrive before the weekend. She did say it will likely be late due to the bureselin

Hi @Itsjustme2021 glad you are getting on ok with the injections so far. Are you taking bureselin?

Thanks everyone. I went to bed for an hour and a half and had the nicest sleep. I think I was only asleep for an hour for the egg collection and recovery. I'll let ye all know tomorrow after I get the call from the embryologist.

[quote Donimo]@6543336787gesgvjhg these are the list of questions I had, but to be honest the nurse had answered them all prior to me getting to that point.

1. The treatment plan, what medications, how to take, timeline with when to take medications and dates for scans, egg collection and transfers
2. Any reccomendation for best/cheapest place to buy meds
3. What to do if af is late prior to baseline scan
4. Options for add on treatments and to discuss these
5. Confirm isolation requirements and precautions for covid and discuss what happens if I catch covid during treatment
6. Confirm how to contact the clinic if concerned/questions

Hope this helps a little[/quote] Thank you

[quote beachbum85]@6543336787gesgvjhg I also asked which date ranges I'll need flexibility at work, of we should be taking any supplements, and a clarification around IVF vs ICSI because it wasn't clear to me which was being recommended in our case (it will be decided on the day, apparently).

It might just be us, but we've been struggling with lots of air in the syringe these days, so maybe asking how to avoid that would be useful - the nurse showed us but we had to go back to ask if there was a different way as it wasn't working for us.

@Donimo what did the nurse say about potentially late AF? I didn't even think of that!

@hopefulhel I hope you're getting a good rest :)[/quote]
Thank you

Hiya every one
Yes @Donimo, I’m taking Buserelin. I’ll be taking it until 23rd of March which seems a bit longer than average, then I start taking Gonal F for another 10 days with a smaller dose of the Buserelin.
Myself & DH also decided not to speak to people about it, it feels like such a lonely journey.

So glad I found this forum. :)

Just got a call from the clinic. Out of the 16 eggs collected, 13 were mature. Of these 13, 11 were fertilized. She said a good result would be for a third of these to get to day 5/6. It's a waiting game now until Tuesday so hopefully we will get some to embryo stage

I'm on day 3 of stimulation taking menopur and bemfola.
I've been suffering from bad headaches - anyone else experienced this or it could be unrelated (maybe stress)?

@hopefulhel those sound like great results! Fingers crossed lots make it to day 5/6!