ABC IVF thread continued

[StarryHannah]

Our other thread is now full so thought I would start this one to continue the chat.

@Beaglemum91 I'm waiting for my period so I can start meds for FET so that is really helpful information about the embryo transfer process. Thank you. Did you have your partner on Facetime or anything for it?

@Icsi2021 so excited for you xxx

@Hopeful1234567 welcome back! I'm afraid I don't have any experience of transfers. I'm also going to be having a FET hopefully next month. I would have thought as long as you're using the progesterone pessaries you won't get your period. Can you call the clinic to tell them you're worried and get some reassurance? I'm sure it will be fine, though I know it's so hard not to get anxious about something at every stage. Good luck for Thursday, I'm sure it will all be fine!

Did anyone feel so daunted after the initial consultation? The consultant went through everything, she was very thorough - showed me the needles I'd be using, went into detail about the process and talked about all possible scenarios. She recommended ICSI because of DH's sperm count and as I have loads of follicles, I'm guessing a freeze all will be likely, so the cost is looking astronomical and I'm wishing with every fibre of my being that we somehow conceive naturally because I'm terrified now!! I just want to cry 😭 whose idea was this again?? 😭😭

@Hoping4baby21 I agree that it could be implantation bleeding, if so, you could get a faint +ve on a HPT if you're willing to test. But enjoy your break first for sure, and if you do get a +ve on your test date, then it'll be a lovely end to your time away.

@kittyfantastico21 aren't you a lucky one! Sounds like everything went beautifully for you! Congrats on finishing your injections, now all that's left to do is relax and wait for the exciting bit to happen! Treating yourself is a very good idea, so have fun with that!

@Hopeful1234567 good luck with your FET on Thursday! Definitely speak with the clinic, they will know what the best thing to do is but I'm sure you're in good hands so none of your embryos will be wasted.

@Hopeful1234567 I'm on my first transfer and it was a fresh one so I'm really not sure I'm afraid. As the others have suggested I would speak to your clinic if you are unsure. What meds have you been on this entire time?

@unCliche I did feel overwhelmed afterwards, I totally understand why you would or how you would it is a lot to take in. I found I just needed to talk through the reasons why I was doing it and settle that. Questions like is this really what we have to do, am I rushing it etc etc. But once I ran through the whys, the stats that suggest now is better than later, the impact of waiting longer on my mental health etc that overwhelmed settled. If you have anyone in real life you have told I'd give them a call and talk through it. That is what I did and it really helped. She helped remind me why I had gone down this path. It's totally normal and I think it will settle.

Also on price, I think once you get the positive it could have cost you the earth and it would be worth it. But of course you have to do why is best for your personal situation.

I'm tempted to test but also dread a negative test so I'm preferring in some ways being in limbo. I just wonder what if it's just my period trying to come and not actual implantation bleeding. But I also don't want a clinical phone call or tell me no either.

@kittyfantastico21 hope your treating yourself already in this time in between now and transfer!

@kittyfantastico21 @unCliche @Hoping4baby21
Thankyou so much to you all for replying. I have contacted the clinic for reassurance so just going with it on Thursday and seeing what happens. I’m an over thinker anyway so probably didn’t help me when the consultant said my lining is preparing for my period but then said I could have a transfer so walked out feeling confused.

@uncliche my partner and I had ICIS, had a phone call on egg collection day to tell us we needed it with no warning. The clinic never made it aware from my partners sperm test that he had a borderline count. Luckily, we ended up with 4 embryos which have been frozen. X

@unCliche I'm sorry you're feeling overwhelmed, it's definitely a lot to process! I found it helped a bit to break it down into steps, like getting the medication arranged, then the injections, then egg collection etc and during each step I tried to only focus on that stage and not think too much beyond it (easier said than done!), so my initial aim was just to make it through the injections, and then to get some eggs collected, then to have some fertilised etc. It was good to feel like I'd achieved something at the end of each step - I'm a person who likes to tick things off lists! It seems like a really big and daunting process but once you get started it all goes quite quickly and the daily injections become normal and no big deal, and then EC is over before you know it. I can't comment on the rest of the process yet but I know the TWW will probably be the worst bit! I hope you can do something nice and relaxed this evening to take your mind off it all.

@Hopeful1234567 I hope the clinic will be reassuring and you can do some things to help yourself destress for the next couple of days.

@Hoping4baby21 well done getting through the TWW so far!

Thanks ladies, I've made the smart decision to ignore that IVF exists and I feel much better. Now I need to figure out how to take the next steps to actually book in the treatment consultation but I'd rather keep my head buried in the sand for a while longer. I'm obviously a little chicken! 🐔

@Hoping4baby21 thinking of you today! Good luck 🤞🤞🤞

No luck for me, tested this morning at 9DP5DT transfer and a BFN. Blood test is tomorrow. Hope you guys have better luck, fingers crossed for you all 🤞🏽

@Hoping4baby21 I'm really sorry to hear that. I hope you and your husband can take good care of each other after this news and you can plan some self-care and nice things. Sending you lots of hugs and we're still here for you if you want to chat x

@unCliche glad you're feeling better! I think it's normal to feel daunted and to have doubts creep in when it all starts getting real. Just take it one step at a time and remember that you can always change your mind. Get the consultation booked in when you can and then try to put it out of your mind until the day. Then that'll be the first step done!

@Hoping4baby21 oh love 😔 I'm so sorry. Sending lots of hugs your way. However, I'll still have my fingers crossed for your bloods tomorrow. We're always here for you so take your time to do whatever you need to do to get to a good head space 💕

Thanks @kittyfantastico21, I'm in the process of collating all the test results they need so that's something to focus on for now. I'll sort out my TSH test and DH's SA and take it from there. Still hoping for a spontaneous conception 😁

@Hoping4baby21 so sorry to hear this. Thinking of you. Really hoping with every finger crossed for your blood test tomorrow. Xx

I hope it’s okay to join. I’ve just been reading through this thread, and very glad I found it. Im so sorry to those who it hasn’t worked for this time round and wishing the best of luck to those going through the process now🤞🏼
I had my baseline scan at the Wimbledon clinic today, and my follicle count was only 12, I was a bit shocked, when I went for a fertility MOT back in Oct last year I was on 19. I know it fluctuates monthly but 12 is not what you want when ABC only accept over 12. Has anyone had 12 follicles on their baseline? And if so what was the outcome? Im speaking with the consultant next week and gave them my MOT results from 9months ago so I’m really hoping they factor that in too. I’m also doing my AHM blood test tomorrow so I’m praying that’s at a level they accept. Stupidly I really thought my numbers wouldn’t be an issue, you’d think I’d know by now the TTC game doesn't play fair xx

Welcome @Clapham4 - glad you've been finding the thread helpful! I'm crossing my fingers for you that you'll get a good result from your AMH test. I don't know very much about AFC/AMH but you're right that AFC can fluctuate month-to-month, so maybe the AMH will show that another month you might be likely to have more. My AFC was 17 at my baseline scan so I can't really help with your question, but hopefully as yours was 12, not under 12, they will still accept you as a patient. I hope the consultation next week will go well and you'll be accepted!

@Hoping4baby21 sending you lots of hugs for the result of your blood test today, I know it must be hard to go through that just after a negative test at home.

Hi all, hoping you all don't mind me jumping on this thread. I've been following for a while and crossing my fingers for everyone! I have my initial appointment at Wimbledon on 22nd and I'm slightly alarmed by the AFC requirement - I didn't know this was a thing, I thought as long as my AMH is above 12 and I meet the age and BMI criteria I would be accepted?! My last AFC in September was quite a lot above this so maybe I shouldn't worry, but I will likely be in the back half of my luteal phase so I'm a bit concerned!

@lawandgin welcome! I think I got confused - it says on their website that AMH has to be above 12, not AFC. I actually have no idea how the two numbers relate to each other - so apologies if I added to your worries! They didn't measure my AMH as my AFC was fine. I was CD27 (of a bit of a longer cycle) when I had my baseline scan. If your last AFC was good then I'm sure you'll be fine!

As you and @Clapham4 are both going to the Wimbledon clinic, I just want to add that I've had an excellent experience there so far - all of the clinical staff have been great and so kind and I felt really well looked after throughout EC and the recovery days afterwards (they called me every day for a few days to check in on how I was recovering).

Thanks @kittyfantastico21 that is reassuring 😊 My AMH was 26 and AFC 35 (which I was actually worried was really high!) So fingers crossed there hasn't been too much of a drop off. I guess I'm just worried because when I had those tests previously I had been off the pill 6 months but hadn't had a proper period, so I wonder if they were representative? I'll find out soon enough! I see.you had a great EC/embryo outcome, which is so positive! Can I ask why you are doing a FET? We have male factor and need to do surgical sperm retrieval so I'm thinking about the timings and whether a FET makes sense...

@lawandgin I was originally planning for a fresh transfer. I'm having a FET because I was at risk of OHSS, which only became apparent half way through treatment when my oestrogen went too high (my AFC was 17 so before treatment they said I was not at high risk of OHSS but I guess these things happen. I've since read that being under 35 and low BMI can be risk factors too, not just PCOS/high follicle numbers). I was upset about having to wait at first but now I'm glad because it took my body 4 days to feel back to normal after EC (so maybe I did get very mild OHSS) so I don't think I'd have been in a great space for ET on day 5! The clinic managed the potential OHSS really well and took steps like changing my trigger and prescribing more medication for after EC to help my body calm down and while it was frustrating at the time, I know it was for the best and has given me the chance to do ET when my body is in the best state to receive the embryo.

With an AFC of 35 you may be in line for a FET for that reason anyway, although as you say those numbers may be related to coming off the pill. But definitely discuss that and the sperm retrieval issue with the clinic at your consultation - I'm sure they'll be able to advise on timings.

Thanks @kittyfantastico21 great to hear the Wimbledon clinic have been so good!
Yep @lawandgin you’ll be fine then, if you’re AFC is over 12 they don’t check AMH levels, but as I’m borderline for their criteria I have to check it. I did the blood test today and should know in about a week. I’ve done 2 blood test and one round of acupuncture in 4 days and feel like a pin cushion but that’s probably nothing in comparison to the IVF drugs😂

Can I ask too how people prepare for IVF? Fully no alcohol etc? Any tips would be fab! X

Oh I see @Clapham4 that makes sense, thank you! Fingers crossed on the AMH, I'm no expert but I would think with an AFC of 12 it should be fine. To answer your question, I'm not stopping drinking completely for now, but massively cutting down to a couple of glasses of wine per week. I'm already taking folic avid, vitamins C & D and ubiquinol and I have decaf coffee and tea. Apart from that just trying to maintain a healthy diet and keep stress levels down, but that's easier said than done, especially as I have quite a stressful job!

@kittyfantastico21 thanks for sharing and I did assume I might be in line for a FET so at least it won't be a surprise! I think what you've said about recovery time makes sense too. It's great that the clinic handled it so well, it's really reassuring to hear

@lawandgin I’m doing the same. I was going to cut alcohol altogether (i don’t even recognise myself anymore!) but I think a few glasses now and again will be fine. We’ve a few celebrations this summer too that it would be nice to have a drink for. Xx

@Clapham4 I did cut out alcohol completely and switched to decaf tea a month or two before starting treatment (but it was much easier to avoid social drinking occasions in April/May because of Covid restrictions). I take folic acid and vitamin D and in terms of diet the main thing I did was increase protein. I tried to eat fewer crisps/biscuits/processed things too. And drank more water. No idea whether any of it had any effect - I’m having IVF because I’m in a same sex couple so I have never tried ‘naturally’ to get pregnant so no way to know whether my food/drink changes had any impact on eggs/embryos.

Thanks @kittyfantastico21 I think I’ll nurse a drink at the 2 events I have I mind. One is my work summer social that I’ll have to go and if I don’t drink the rumour mill will start 🙄 so I’ll nurse a few and once everyone is drunk they won’t notice 😬 I’ve cancelled on most other plans we had so I don’t even have to go and pretend, it’s draining!

My best friend will be trying IVF with her wife in the next year or so will be exciting to see how you get on 🤞🏼 Xx

Just thought I’d give you an update. Had my FET on Thursday all went well. Apparently the embryo transferred had hatched when thawed out and I had slightly brown discharge the day after transfer but most likely due to the procedure. I don’t have any symptoms apart from my usual teenage face of spots before my period normally comes so trying not to over think it 🙈.

Wishing you all the luck for a sticky one @Hopeful1234567

When do you have to test? 💕

@Clapham4
Aww Thankyou! A week today supposed to have a blood test. Hope all works out for you! I didn’t do anything for prepare for IVF but did take folic acid and vitamin d before I started xxx

@Hopeful1234567 congrats on your transfer! Wishing you lots of luck and a speedy and calm wait until the test!

@Clapham4 I think a few drinks here or there won't really make any difference. That's exciting about your friend. Hopefully by that point you'll have had a successful experience to share with her!