Infertility investigations/IVF in Scotland - thread 3

[itsmschanandlerbong]

A thread for those of us undergoing infertility investigations or treatment in Scotland.

Thread 1 - www.mumsnet.com/Talk/infertility/3742246-infertility-investigations-ivf-in-scotland

Thread 2 - www.mumsnet.com/Talk/infertility/4138992-Infertility-investigations-IVF-in-Scotland-thread-2

@Wilsonicus Also I'd recommend looking at Access Fertility packages for helping you fund treatment.

I agree with everything that @2mumlife says! We’ve had to be on top of them, and although we’ve been generally lucky we had to keep communicating in order for things to go as they should. They are lovely and I agree Marco is nice (he did our transfer and our consultation). To be fair I think GRI is similar in terms of business, communication issues, etc.

@Wilsonicus I should say I've not had any dealings with other clinics. I'm just comparing to what I see others saying - a lot of clinics seem to have communication issues. Other clinics do baseline scans for every cycle (GCRM don't) and will test things like progesterone levels with GCRM won't.

What I would say is a massive benefit is GCRM does beta hcg test as standard - it means you know straight away if you're likely having a chemical pregnancy, and given how commons these are, having the beta hcg as standard and not having to argue for one / being denied one as I've seen others experience at other clinics is a definite bonus

Thanks so much for your replies, guys!

Hmm, the communication thing concerns me a little. I'm quite anxious about this process, so I do want to be fully informed at all times. I'll take on board what you lovely people have said and make sure I stay on top of them, communications wise.

I think our first consultation is with Marco. Timeline wise, is that the date that we'll get told what the treatment plan is? I'm super nervous about that, because I've heard others describe the doctors as quite blunt. I mean, I guess blunt is good as in we'll get all the facts!

@Wilsonicus They wont finalise a treatment plan until they've had the results of any testing needed.

Finally got call back. We had 3 embryos frozen yesterday, and 2 are at a lower grades. Feeling quite dissapointed with that to be honest as was really hoping for a bit more in terms of grades and number to freeze. So now the endless harassing them to let us get going with another FET begins...

@Kamiros I'm so sorry to hear that, that must be beyond disappointing. Sending big hugs ❤️

@Wilsonicus I'm with Glasgow Royal and have had no issues with them. From what I see from those who are with GCRM you do tend to get more monitoring appointments with the royal.

Maybe relevant for you too @Wilsonicus but @2mumlife do they never offer a fresh transfer? I've heard of so many people with them not getting offered a fresh transfer which blows my mind because potentially that would mean both of my cycles may not have been viable, as I've only ever had 1 embryo left which was suitable for fresh transfer, none suitable for freezing.

Sorry @2mumlife the tag below didn't work.

@itsmschanandlerbong My first IVF cycle (long protocol) I had a fresh transfer. I'm only on a freeze-all as they wont do a fresh transfer if you've had a buserelin trigger (antagonist protocol), as the implantation rates are lower.

@itsmschanandlerbong Personally I would have wanted them to give the option just to transfer anything that wasn't suitable for freezing to at least give embryos a chance, but I wasn't allowed that option.

Sorry to read this @Kamiros. I wouldn't want to keep stimming if I was bleeding, that doesn't sound right. You definitely need a break, I think a trip away is a great idea. Do you get to keep your cycle, as you didn't make it to EC?

@2mumlife congrats on 3 embryos in the freezer, that's a great result! Don't worry about the grading, they wouldn't have frozen them if they didn't think they were viable.

@Kitekat81 Statistically chances of the last 2 leading to a live birth a very low. Agreed with DP we'll do a single transfer of the good emrbyo, and if that doesn't work we'll do a double transfer of the last 2. Just feeling a bit low that we've only got 2 more attempts left now and then thats it. Its hard when you can see the cut off line looming closer.

Keep thinking I really need to change my name on here! It was made when I thought IVF would be our answer after all the failed IUIs, and really not sure I'm ever going to be a mum to be honest.

Sorry I know I'm on a downner, I've hideous PMS-like mood at the moment coming down off stims as well which doesn't help.

Sorry you're feeling down @2mumlife, I've been struggling with feelings of hopelessness recently as well now we're gearing up for cycle 3. We still just have our one day 3 embryo in the freezer from cycle 1, as we didn't get any embryos from cycle 2. I'm just praying we get another embryo in cycle 3 so we have 2 chances. If not then we'll be pinning all our hopes on our cycle 1 embryo.

Oh @2mumlife sorry you're feeling so down. 3 in the freezer is pretty decent but get what you say about the stats, and of course it doesn't change how you FEEL. You've been through a lot over the past fortnight or so, hope you can try to get some rest tonight and that things are a little brighter tomorrow.

I'm also in the "waiting for gcrm to be in touch" gang... I wish we had more options here!!

@Kitekat81 I'm genuinely in awe of anyone who can sustain the energy and positivity to do back to back cycles for embryo banking. I know I should be grateful for the 3 embryos we got this time. I just find it difficult when I have such a poor response compared to what clinic expects for my age, AMH etc. It just hits a lot of old wounds for me around not being good enough.

Had a long walk with DP to clear my head. I had a really bad down period after my first IVF round, and I can appreciate it's happening again with hormones completely out of whack, so I've realised I need to just shut up until the hormonal storm has passed. So for this evening I'm going to try laugh at my cat trying to fit into a box on Kleenex and read Harry Potter, because I could do with a bit more belief and magic!

@LouScot Thanks Lou. Haha yes it's annoying when you know it's not rational but you feel that way anyway!

Sorry you're also experiencing the wait. God I hate the wait. I've lost days just waiting for phone calls

Feeling better today. Period / "withdrawal bleed" has started this morning, so just a couple more days for the hormonal upheaval to level out again. Annoyed as GCRM have dragged their feet so it also means I wont get to go ahead with the transfer straight away, so another months delay for us. Just hoping my natural cycle isn't as stupidly long as it was after my first IVF...

I'm glad you're feeling better @2mumlife! The period after egg collection was very emotionally hard for me too!
My cycle after withdrawal bleed started was 33 days instead of my usual 27, so not much longer! Fingers crossed you don't have to wait too long for FET!

@GemmTryTTC I get quite bad PMS anyway, IVF just makes it mega. This time has been better than last time when I couldn't stop crying at least!

I went over 40 days on my cycle after IVF last time, so it could take forever. Review letter hilarious said they are "experiencing exceptionally high volume" so "hope" we can have a FET within 2 months. I wish they would just stop taking on more patients if they don't have capacity to treat the ones they already have!

Glad you are feeling better today @2mumlife. A silly cat and Harry Potter sounds like a great combination 😄

I'm feeling a bit better as well as I spoke to a doctor yesterday and he said there's no reason why we shouldn't try for a fresh transfer on our next cycle. Hopefully that will be with a new embryo we make this time, but if not we can defrost our cycle 1 embryo and try that one. So I'm excited and nervous about finally getting closer to the chance of a pregnancy.

Thanks everyone for your kind words, sorry people have been feeling down - this process takes it out of you.

So our access package means that it only counts as a cycle once you get to egg collection so we have another shot, just meds to pay for. GCRM say if this happens again though they don't recommend I continue with my own eggs- so def time to get my head round donor conception. I think I'm ok with it as having already had a mc I'm starting to worry about the implications of my old eggs even if we do conceive. We're heading to Fuerteventura this weekend for a week so I'll make plans after that.

Those who have had freeze all or canceled cycles any idea how long til I can expect a withdrawal bleed? Ironically I've not had any more bleeding since stopping meds. My womb lining was 6mm though so still a bit to come away.

@Kitekat81 That's exciting to have a plan in place :)

@Kamiros That's good this isn't going to count towards one of your cycles for Access Fertility. I'm day 8 post EC. I had some very light spotting yesterday I thought was start of withdrawl bleed, but now nothing. GCRM advised 7-14 days for the bleed on info I was given after the EC for the freeze-all. Week away sounds great, hope you have a good time.

@2mumlife Thanks - was hoping it would either be quick or wait until post holiday. Will be what it is though I suppose. Thanks.

@Kamiros a week in Fuerteventura sounds brilliant!

Donor egg is something I'm starting to contemplate as well. I'd started looking into some of the issues (anonymous vs non-anonymous etc) but then recently my sister made an incredibly generous offer that she would be willing to donate to us. She's only a couple of years younger than me so it might not make that big a difference (she'll be 37 next year when we might likely be considering it) but if she doesn't have DOR like I do then she might respond better to IVF. It's a wonderful offer but so much to think about, I don't like the idea of subjecting her to all the drugs and procedures that we are all putting ourselves through 😔 Hopefully we'll be successful with my eggs and won't need to go down that route! 🤞

Another BFN for me with first FET. Think we will take a break for a few months before looking to do another transfer, it’s just all so gruelling. Even just the idea of another IVF TWW actually makes me feel panicky. DH took this one quite badly too.

Holiday sounds ideal @Kamiros. Did you manage to book last minute or was that always the plan?