First cycle of IVF - buddies please!

[LS2020]

Hi everyone,

Been on the conception boards a fair bit but this is first time on the infertility section.
Bit of background - 28 and been TTC for two years for first child. Had one miscarriage about 10 months ago at 5 weeks. Had all our fertility checks and no major issues have been identified. Consultant suggested IVF for us so we are currently in that process.
Nurse consultation is 2nd July and then hoping it’s not long after then!

Looking for some buddies to keep me going through it all as hate all kinds of hospital things and to stop me over thinking about!

Thanks for taking the time to read 😊

@tmc2021 thank you ❤️ Yeah it’s just a waiting game now!
Although I’m thinking on and don’t understand why they don’t just do me a day 3 transfer? Might ring up tomorrow and ask. Just rang and think they’ve all gone home for the day 😂

@LS2020 yes ring up remember this is your cycle so ask an tell them to be truthful with you on what they think is best x

@tmc2021 read the sheet they gave me when I was discharged Monday and it says on that they like to leave them completely untouched until day 5 and don’t really check on them til then :/ seems a bit pointless to have paid for the time lapse in that case :/

@LS2020 I had time lapse it was really good xx

@tmc2021 what makes you say that? Did you find it helpful for picking an embryo?

@LS2020 no they chose best quality but I had up dates on day 2 day 3 am day 5 to see how embryo was doing because they can check without disturbing them so you can get more up dates. It just eased my mind really cause I'd go insane not knowing xx

@LS2020 I am sending all positive thoughts your way. I am willing your little embryo to keep on going!

@Novavee I'm so pleased you have your start date it sight. It must be a relief!

@CatMarina I'm hoping the TWW passes fairly quickly without too much stress

@dogmam hoping AF shows up for you soon.

I'm waiting on AF to start treatment. Should be Friday, but I've had PMT symptoms for about 5 days now. The older I get the worse the days leading up to AF get. I never used to have any issues, but since my late 30s and now that I'm in my 40s the whole cycle just seems so intense. Ah well, worth it if the IVF works!

@tmc2021 ah, don’t think I will be getting any updates! They said they’d be in touch Friday and only before if it’s bad news but yeah I did find really annoying that we’ve paid for it and doesn’t seem to produce any more information!

@Bryterlayter1 good luck ❤️ Those few days before AF are the worst! Do you think it’s from a TTC focus? I swear I never had sore boobs etc before I started the TTC journey 😂

@Bryterlayter1 although did you both try any turkey baster donor sperm or go straight to IVF?

I swear this progesterone is the worst bit, I react so much to it PMS wise 😓

@LS2020 No, we've gone straight to IVF because of my age. IUI doesn't have a very good success rate for the over 40s. We didn't try any DIY at home with a literal turkey baster. If you want to use donor sperm where the donor has signed away parental rights, you need to go through a clinic, sperm banks won't send to home addressed, only licensed clinics. I know people who have done the at home route with a donor they met through online informal donor groups, but that has it's complexities, as in these scenarios the donor could legallly claim to be the father. So yeah, TTC when one of you don't have both sets of gametes, gets more complex.

@Bryterlayter1 what an insane amount of hoops! I think the people I know from other threads has just done the home route. I guess it’s their for your and your little ones protection but still. You’re covered by NHS funding right?

Some semi good news - clinic no longer offer day 3 transfer, pain! But they said the egg survived the night and is now a 4 cell so right where they should be. Annoyed I don’t get a daily update now 😂

@LS2020- no NHS funding. It's quite hard to get NHS funding for same sex couples. In my area you need to have paid for 6 IUIs privately before they will consider funding. Each IUI is about £2000 with meds and sperm is about £800-£1000 a round, so 6 rounds of IUI with sperm is about £18000, it was easier to go straight to privately funded IVF. Also, my CCG has an age cut off of 38 (we started when I was 38 but we wouldn't be able to get in all the IUIs in time anyway).

I get the rationale though, I don't necessarily have a fertility issue, just no sperm so IVF isn't a neccesity. It's tough though, I wish there were more affordable routes. I've paid £11,000 already for pretests (about £1200), 2 vials of sperm (£2300) and an access fertility package for up to 2 rounds with unlimited FETs (until a live birth) (£7600) and still need to pay for meds each round as those aren't covered under acces fertility plan. Not cheap!

@Bryterlayter1 I know but you deserve the same opportunities as a hetro couple. I can semi see the rationale but I think your IUI should be at least partial paid for as everyone deserves the right to a family and it’s not really like there’s something else you can be doing. How frustrating. I know, it does make me glad we’re not in America but I’m not convinced this process needs to be as expensive as it is. I’m an accountant so I fully understand covering overheads and expensive staff time but even if part subsidised and then it’s means tested for families who really can’t afford, at least opens it up and makes it fair. I would have happily paid something as know I’m privileged with the route we have but similar, to do 3 on our own, would wipe us out totally.
I remember once seeing that some people play lottery for IVF and that was heartbreaking at the time before I even had TTC issues.

This waiting around is horrendous 😩 how is this worse than the injections?!

Oh @LS2020, I’m sorry it’s so difficult. The lack of control about the whole process is so frustrating.

@Bryterlayter1 bet you can't wait for this cycle to start so you can get started with treatment! Have you got all your meds ready?

@LS2020 aw bless you, it really is horrendous waiting to hear from the embryologist. Great that your little one is dividing how it should be though. When is your day 5 update? Hope you're feeling much better following EC x

@LS2020 the waiting is the worst part!!!! I’m petrified of how I will react and cope with a negative result but I’m still trying to be positive. Such a hard balance. Not long until day 5 now 🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼

Things seem to have settled down with the cyclogest progesterone pessaries thank god! Don’t feel dizzy maybe just a bit if the sedation and new meds together made me a little un well.

@Novavee aw bet you are pleased to have dates finally, it's happening! No injections with my FET, just the oestrogen tablets which will be 2mg three times a day, from the beginning of AF, then after the embryo transfer 2x cyclogest pessaries a day until test date if it's positive then continue the pessaries until 12 weeks.

@CatMarina how are you doing? When is test day?! @hopingfor test day must be very soon for you too? Hope you're ok x

@Girlwholifts @Ally0400 @tmc2021 hope you 3 pregnant ladies are all doing well! Has the news sunk in yet? Have you told your families?

@dogmam next Friday! And counting! So scared!! Hope you’re well? X

@LS2020 i'm happy for you that your embaby is where it should be at this stage. Waiting for news must be so difficult but they probably think it's best not to disturb it until day 5.

@Bryterlayter1 @dogmam thanks, I'm finally able to relax. Having a plan in place and dates to look forward to just made it all real. So far it's been something i kept chasing and the goalpost kept being moved. After two years finally being able to actually do something gives me some control back.

@Bryterlayter1 I actually preferred the injections as at least you’re doing something 😂

@dogmam I think it’s Saturday morning so still a wait. They’ll call tomorrow to book me in so I might pester at that point. Yes thank you, bleeding all stopped Tuesday thankfully. How are you feeling to start? Assume no sign of AF?

@CatMarina I know, I feel like we’ll be so lucky to get to Saturday so then to then have the whatever percentage chance of it implanting is very stressful! Not long til test day now for you :) glad to hear the progesterone symptoms have got better. I was struggling yesterday but agree it feels better today so maybe or just the mental toll of it all. Keep rested ❤️

Ahh @Novavee I really hope it goes well and time passes quickly! I maintain to start felt like forever but the last 3 weeks have been insanely quick.

Hi ladies ❤️
So lovely to catch up on the news! Huge positive vibes being sent to anyone testing soon. Also for the ones who are starting meds soon, can’t believe how quick the time has gone!

All good here thanks @dogmam, tbh because there is no sign of a bump or anything I forget I’m pregnant 🤣 No we haven’t told anyone. All our family know we are having IVF but not that we started months ago. We didnt want the questions incase it was negative. We are waiting for the 12 week scan to tell them all 😍
Hope you’re doing well? X

@dogmam OTD is Sunday.... I can't believe how slow this week has been! I'm still symptom spotting only thing is dizziness which I'm not sure is from the hormone tablets. How are you keep!

Great to hear the positive vibes from everyone!

@hopingfor oh my gosh can’t believe it’s Sunday for you! Only Saturday to get through as Friday is here, keep positive ☺️
Dizziness is a good symptom! I had a bit on progesterone but mines faded now and someone on another thread had the same as me so if you’re still feeling it could be positive ❤️ I had a 5 week miscarriage so I know I’m going to symptom spotting like crazy. My first thing I got was the nausea and boobs. Now my boobs hurt like crazy on progesterone so I will ignore that but probs be trying to smell random things to make me sick 😂

Finding it really odd that admin team are going to call today to book me in tomorrow but I won’t find out if the embryo made it til the call tomorrow - surely they may as well just book me in tomorrow if they need me in?!