IVF - egg collection June (starting down regulation in May)

[Luz192]

Hi ladies, would be great to chat to anyone who is about to start down regulation, in prep for stims later in the month and egg collection early June.

I start Norethisterone tomorrow. Will be at UCLH/CRGH, first ever IVF. We have MFI.

Mostly terrified of the needles! I have this irrational fear that I could puncture an organ - someone tell me that's not possible?! lol

@Luz192 @Aim2912 @Ofpalestsilver Thank you so much for your messages. Indeed it has been tough. Trying to keep positive for the FET but worried that I will have the same outcome; neither of my embryos were tested for aneuploidy. We might go for a fresh IVF cycle as I turn 40 in the next two weeks, but not sure if I am ready mentally and physically for another cycle yet. What I have decided is it will be last one and if there are no euploid embryos after that, I will happily accept the egg donation route. Good luck with everything, ladies!

@Luz192 i used cyclogest at my last clinic, but this time I've been given utrogestran, crinone gel (similar to the cyclogest) and lentogest injections. Think I might get very moody with all these!
Hope it goes well for you next week! My acupuncturist told me to eat warm food, like soups to help the lining, and avoid cold things. May help?

@Fabsco I really do hope it happens for you. You have a plan, which is good start to getting back on it.

@Ofpalestsilver glad to hear little bab is doing well. Hopefully the sickness eases through the 2nd trimester.

@Ofpalestsilver sorry to hear about the sickness! It must be really tough - nausea is the worst, and I can't imagine it everyday. Must be hard to function properly! But at least there's a bigger purpose and hopefully it does ease off soon.

@Fabsco stay positive! It's great that you are accepting of the 'what's next' scenario if this doesn't work - however it happens, you will become a mama and that's the most important thing. I don't know if it's possible, but if you can, maybe take a weekend away or something to help recharge and then you might feel like you're ready mentally to proceed with either a FET or fresh cycle? Sometimes a few days break does the world of good! (says me who hasn't been on holiday in 2 years, and really struggling haha)

@Aim2912 wow - did they say why so many? or are they just trying to cover all bases? I've not heard of the Lentogest injection before. I'm sure once you get into the rhythm of things, it will be ok. Good tip re: the warm foods - I did make some soup the other day, and I bought some bone broth but haven't managed to heat it and drink it yet lol - the weather's been reasonably nice so doesn't feel like bone broth weather, but I will whip that out in the next few days. I've been drinking a lot of raspberry leaf and nettle tea which supposedly helps, and my lining so far is looking good, so that's positive! I'm hoping today they detect ovulation - they've already seen my LH surge on the blood tests, and it seems like I've been close to ovulating the past couple of days. Today would be day 14, but they have called it Day 13 (I think as I started my period at 4pm, so a bit late in the day). So should be anytime now.

@Luz192 yeh i think a combination of covering all bases and because i had a MC with a natural conception. i do trust my consultant as everything he advised so far has gone well for me, just a little nervous.

that great, looks like your right on track! not too long now, bet you both excited and nervous!

@Fabsco so sorry to hear this, I hope you are looking after yourself and sending virtual hugs your way!

@Luz192 @Aim2912 @Ofpalestsilver thank you for all checking in...currently on norithisterone with injections starting on the 10th October and EC hopefully on 20th!

@Ofpalestsilver so glad things are progressing well for you, apart from the sickness!

@Luz192 @Aim2912 are you getting ready for FET soon? Wishing you both all the best! 😍

@Coops0406 good to hear from you, your not to far off from my timings. im currently on the norithisterone and started buserelin today. expecting my FET to be 3rd week of October if everything goes to plan!
hopefully this round goes better for you.

@Coops0406 Thank you for your kind words. Indeed I am trying to eat healthily, do exercise, and do everything I can to recover from this madness that is IVF!

I am booked in for transfer on Sunday!

@Aim2912 will you be on blood thinners for your transfer too?
@Coops0406 exciting - so soon now! Positive vibes for round 2 :)

@Luz192 yay!!! hope everything goes smoothly for you on Sunday. have got some time booked off after?
not sure if i asked you before, are you putting back one or two?

does the clinic call you to let you know the thawing went ok?

yes i have been given inhixa injections which is for stopping blood clots and thins the blood. ln my first ivf i was given asprin. :S

@Aim2912 Yes I have 2 weeks off work now, whoop! Though we're quite busy with house renovations, so will be kept occupied with planning for that (none of the physical work!).

I'm putting back in one as it's first transfer for me. How about you -will you do one or two?

They haven't said anything about calling me on Sunday to advise on thawing - I think I would just find out once I'm there. or maybe they'd call if there was anything to inform me off, but they've just asked me to come to the clinic 30 mins before transfer.

@Aim2912 that's great! I'll come and check on here nearer the time to see how you are 🥰

@Luz192 thank you! I hope it all goes well on Sunday, will be thinking of you ❤️

@Fabsco that's the only thing you can do, stay positive and keep looking after yourself well 🥰

@Luz192 that's great. Time off and a project to keep you mind of things.

I'm going to put back one as well. Wanted to do two but my consultant advised against it.

All the best for sunday. Il pray it goes well. X

@Luz192 hope the transfer went well yesterday. :)

@Aim2912 thank you! All went smoothly... now the countdown begins! Hope your prep is all going well too.

@Luz192 thats brilliant! Hope the next few weeks go quickly and smoothly for you! Baby dust all over!
As for me waiting for AF to start.

@Luz192 hope your 2 ww is going ok..how are you feeling. when is test day for you?

@Aim2912 unfortunately a failed transfer for me. Testing date would have been this weekend, but as I was on a natural cycle, I already got my period on Monday (exactly the day it was due), and negative tests :( really sad. Not sure what to do next - just try another transfer directly. PGS test the remaining embryos. Run additional testing on myself. sighh

Your transfer must be coming up in the next week or so? Hope all goes well!

@Luz192 im so so sorry, :( i hope you are looking after your self and recovering ok.
i know its hard and sucks big time! it may be that this one just didn't stick, on the positive side you have more frozen and when the time is right, you can get back at to a FET. PGS is one option, and/or a medicated cycle. see what your consultant says.

i still got 2 weeks to transfer, they have tentatively put in the 20th for now.

@Luz192 so so sorry to hear this, sending you lots of virtual hugs. Look after yourself and let the emotions come...when you're ready to think about it again at least you have some frozen embryos left and get all the information you need to make your decision to progress forward 🥰

@Aim2912 good luck for yours! You will be having your transfer when I'll hopefully be having my egg collection again! Will be thinking of you! I'm starting stims this Sunday if AF arrives! 🤞🏾

@Coops0406 thank you. Hope this round of stimming goes well! Do let us know how it goes. Hopefully your transfer won't be too long after mine....that's if i get there!

@Aim2912 thanks so much! Will keep you updated...i think I'm supposed to be on a freeze all round so if we're lucky enough to get more than 1 this time it's probably looking likely to be January for transfer. I'm sure you will get there 🥰

@Coops0406 Thank you so much! I'm trying to take it easy and do all the blood tests I can until our next cycle. Our old clinic did not recommend any further tests and was happy to continue to do the same protocol until one of the embryos sticks. :( We are considering treatment with another clinic that has offered me all sorts of tests: karyotyping, DNA fragmentation, immunes, ERA, etc. I feel more confident going into a FET or a new fresh cycle after having those done.

Good luck to all the ladies in this thread!

@Fabsco you definitely have to feel comfortable and confident wherever you are. I changed consultant and location, still with Care fertility, but the original consultant seemed to have no empathy during our failed cycle review. Feel so much better having moved. Maybe let the clinic know what tests others have suggested and ask them what their reasons are for not doing them...my new consultant said to us, when any consultant recommends or doesn't recommend something, ask what are their scientific reasons behind it! So we did it to him when he suggested a different protocol and he explained so well! 🤣

Just a little update on our side, I've been on the higher dose of stims (450 ovaleap) and had a day 6 scan yesterday. So much better than the last round!! 😃 There are 7 follicles over 10mm which should get up to the right size and some smaller ones which may or may not. So next scan on Monday and they'll decide whether to continue stims for a couple of days if the smaller ones are very nearly there, or go in for EC on Wednesday! I know this is just the first hurdle of many, but we can have a relaxing weekend knowing the stims are working this time 🥰

@Aim2912 are you still aiming for next Wednesday 20th for transfer?

@Luz192 I hope you are doing okay. I've been thinking of you a lot and send you lots of love 💕 when do you have your review?

@Ofpalestsilver @Luan82 how are you doing? Hope you are feeling good and things progressing well 😊

@Coops0406 it's so lovely to hear from you ! I'm pleased that the stims are going well, it can make all the difference with a new consultant, we're all good here - I'm 20 weeks on Friday and growing nicely, had a few scans and a private scan to ease my mind but bean seems quite happy and content every time!! - though very chilled !! I'm wishing you all the luck in the world for this cycle - and your little embabies!! ♥️xxx

@Coops0406 Thank you for your reply and all the best in your cycle! I was also on Ovaleap on my last cycle and found it easier to administrate than Menopur. Seven follicles is a great result and hopefully the other small ones will catch up.

Our old clinic takes a very conservative stance to treatment, which might work for some patients but not for us. For instance, conventional IVF was used in our first cycle and as a result none of my nine eggs were fertilised. Doctors in other clinics that I have spoken to thought that it was bizarre to perform conventional IVF with eggs coming from a woman over 38 as they naturally harden with age. One doctor even said that it seems that my old clinic is 'stuck in the 90s'. :(

After my miscarriage in August, the clinic offered a FET cycle but didn't recommend any tests, I then asked if there were any tests that I can do independently (!) and they gave me the name of a doctor who is specialised on recurrent miscarriage. I am doing some tests with this doctor and told my old clinic that I would rather wait for the results to come back before starting new treatment with them. Their response was simply: 'sure, but in most cases the results come back normal'. I mean, how do they know? I know other patients doing IVF with them that have had three, four failed transfers and weren't advised to do any tests. The approach is the same: 'we'll keep transferring the embryos until one sticks'. It breaks my heart because, in some cases, they can have thrombophilia or a genetic mutation which are causing implantation failures, but our clinic won't test them for those.

Our new clinic recommended all these tests upfront to rule out any genetic or immune issues before the next cycle. I feel more confident with their approach, especially because so many tests that they had recommended were also suggested by the recurrent miscarriage specialist that I had seen before. Anyway, sorry for the rant, but a big lesson for me is that the closest clinic isn't necessarily the best one and we shouldn't settle on a clinic for convenience.

Best of luck with egg collection and please let us know how it went!