IVF July/August 2021

[Bethpalmer20]

Hi everyone.

I couldn't find a thread for ivf cycles July/August 2021 so I hope it's OK to start one. I was on the March/April thread for my fresh cycle and it was so nice to have support from others going through the same thing.

My fresh cycle was successful but unfortunately I miscarried at 8 weeks pregnant. We are start a frozen cycle with one of our 2 frozen embryos. Aiming to start tablets around the 10th July with the hope of transfer towards the end of July.

Would love to know if anyone else is in the same boat or has any tips!

Hi All,

I'm wondering if i can jump in here as you seem like a lovely active group and I could do with some advice.

I've just had egg retrieval from my 2nd round, 1st round we had 4 embryos after day 5 but none were viable. This round, they retrieved 10 eggs but 6 have come back as low quality, and only 1 had fertilised fully by Day 1 (another 1 was looking like it might fertilise properly but they couldn't tell yet). Waiting to here tomorrow if we have any survivors.

My hopes are rock bottom, i've kinda written this round off already as I don't want to pin all my hopes on 1. I've been reading posts on other forums about low egg quality and how to improve it. Any help / advice on how to get through these next few days or improve egg quality would be so good to hear.
My period before this cycle was super late, so I didn't think it was going to come and drank freely at a hen do, then lo and behold it came the next day so now i'm worried that that caused the low egg quality.

Sorry, long self-involved post.

To all those on here going through IVF, i wish you all the luck in the world.

Hey @EHK98, don’t worry about the hen do — one night of drinking definitely won’t cause low egg quality! In fact my fertility consultant told me that frankly speaking, nothing makes any difference to egg quality but age. The eggs are already there; you’re not making new ones.

As for only having one egg — I only have one too this round, so I know the feeling. Fingers crossed for yours!

Hi @Hoping4baby21, thanks for adding me to the list!! :)

I started meds on the 17th July and I am on the 9th day of stimms. This time I am using ovaleap and menopur (first time it was only menopur). The response this time is not much better than the first one, there are around 12 follicles I think. Expected collection day on Wednesday 28th.

I have been reading some posts (apologies for not being very active as my work has been also very busy during these past weeks and I am tired, bloated and angry all the time, like all of us I know ).

I think nothing we may or may not do will make any difference in the results, this is a matter of pure luck and keep trying

Thanks @girljulian! Good luck for your transfer tomorrow!

Sending love to all. Hope the TWW is going as quickly as possible for those there, @Purplemichelle we were on the same drugs.

12 follicles sounds promising @AnitaB83. I was on Menopur and Ovaleap this time round and found it more uncomfortable than just Ovaleap.

Hi @EHK98 don't worry about the hen do. Yes it's true that age is the biggest factor and nothing is going to turn back the clock. However, the bible on supplements/lifestyle for IVF is called It Starts with an Egg so that is where to start if you want to learn more about doing what you can to improve egg quality. It talks about diet and supplements too. Your eggs start developing 3 months ahead of ovulation so a drink just before you started the round won't have mattered. Best of luck with your embryo. It could be perfect!!

@AnitaB83 best of luck with the process.it's a hard place to be but it can have amazing results too

Xxx

@EHK98 the Menopur is a stingy one for sure. I was bloated every evening after the injections. The stims made me bloated and emotional and the progesterone is just making me achy and crampy. It’s such an ordeal but like everyone has said, if the cycle works, it’ll be the best feeling in the world. And if it doesn’t work, the clinic should be able to work out what went wrong and change things for the next round if you decide to go for another one.

12 follicles is fab! I only had 6 and was such a slow responder, had to do stims for 17 days. They collected 2 and only one fertilised which was transferred on 21.07. As there is no way of knowing if it has worked, I think this is what makes the TWW the worst. You have no appointments at the clinic and no progress reports. Just torture.

Good luck with your next scan and EC. X

@EHK98 sorry totally misread the follicles! It’s been a long day!!

Haha, no worries @Purplemichelle! Menopur was definitely stingy, and the needles seemed really blunt!

Thanks @Janefx40 for the advice. I saw the it starts with an egg book on a low egg quality forum so definitely going to check it out. Just wished the clinic had given me more hearty advice instead of "start folic acid and vitamin d"

@Janefx40 good luck for your EC tomorrow! I hope the pain has subsided in the meantime and you managed to have a calmer day than yd! I'll be thinking of you...

@girljulian great to hear and good luck for tomorrow!!

@AnitaB83 sorry you're not feeling great but 12 follicles sounds really promising and I'm wishing you the best of luck that this round will be better

@EHK98 sorry to hear things aren't going as you hoped :( everything crossed for good news tomorrow! In any case though, as everyone said, surely the one night of drinking made no difference to your egg quality... it takes months. Our clinic was not v forthcoming with advice either and just said folic acid and Vit D too... must be the standard advice

@XjustagirlX and @2021babyhope glad you've started and your injections were fine in the end!
@Csparkles good luck with adding the second one tomorrow!

@Purplemichelle and @Hoping4baby21 I'm sorry the tww is so hard... I definitely thought it was the worst part of all.
I still haven't started again but thanks @MaggieMoo86 for the testing advice. Last time I waited till OTD but I was thinking of testing early this time to soften the blow.. but I like your thinking of enjoying it whilst we can so I'm definitely going to rethink that! And thanks @Janefx40 for sharing that daily testing was worse emotionally... I thought it might be easier somehow... again, will rethink!

The support here is brilliant, thank you. I'm now 10 days into my downreg and awaiting a scan before I start progesterone etc to get lining ready for FET. I feel so nervous. Last chance for us, just one little frozen embryo. This is so hard, isn't it?

Silly question - am I OK to still drink coffee during this downreg? I am finding it so hard to sleep that in the mornings I'm like a zombie without coffee.

@SerendipitySunshine I'm afraid I don't know about coffee as I've never downregged and have been caffeine-free for years anyway (unrelated to IVF). Hopefully someone else can answer that one

@beachbum85 just do whatever feels right to you test-wise when you get there. I think the 2WW is hard either way. We're used to being able to get information at the touch of a button - coping with not knowing is very hard. Best of luck

Xxx

Oh and we had 12 eggs collected which is great but I expect at least 4 of those were from small follicles so won't expect much from them.

As always I love the sedation so quite enjoy an Egg Collection

X

That's great news @Janefx40! Fingers crossed as many as possible make it through.

Sedation is lovely but i don't think i got enough, the after EC pain was unbearable! Still bloated 3 days later and need to pee more.

We had our call and the 2nd egg fertilised so we have 2 embryos atm! 2nd isn't as strong as the 1st, but it was happy news.

Hope everyone is doing well today. Hope you aren't feeling too sore @AnitaB83 in these last few days before EC.

Hey everyone, I'm just catching up! The last week has been hectic with work, I'm just winding down now ready for transfer day tomorrow and some much needed time off!

Huge congratulations @itstime1 so lovely to see you finally get those 2 lines! Keeping everything crossed for you to have a healthy pregnancy!

Transfer is booked in for tomorrow afternoon, I surprisingly feel super relaxed about it this time! Aside from the fact the clinic told me they would only call me the day before if the embryos hadn't survived the thaw and they just called me... Needless to say I panicked but they were just asking for consent to go forward with the thaw thank goodness!

Everything going well apart from that. Although the lubion injections are something else. I've been alternating sides but my stomach is so so sore. I never had this with 3x injections everyday for my fresh transfer!

Hope everyone else is doing well!

@Bethpalmer20 not long now!! I also still feel quite relaxed about it all this time round which is good I guess hopefully will be the same in the TWW but I doubt it haha.

Had my scan today and my lining is now thick enough! So now I'm booked in for transfer on Monday which feel like soo far away. I also have a follicle growing which they said is unusual but said with transfer Monday it will be fine if I did ovulate so that's good. Now just to start the dreaded pessaries on Wednesday!

Hope all is going well and ladies aren't finding the injections too bad!

@alexm06 Amazing news about your lining! It's all very exciting. Look at us super chilled... We will reassess that in the TWW😁😂 I haven't found the pessaries too bad this time round.. Last time I was on the 3x a day one's (not convinient for work). This time it's just morning and evening.

Do keep me updated with your progress! I'm sure the week will fly by for you ❤️

@Bethpalmer20 good luck for your transfer tomorrow! Enjoy your time off have you got anything nice planned?

@Alexm06 how interesting that is a few people I have heard of on a medicated fet with a follicle that might or did ovulate. Glad you lining is now thick and ready and best of luck for Monday. I felt quite chill in lead up to transfer but trying to keep a level head around transfer that is proving more difficult!

@Janefx40 that's great for 12 eggs!

Hi everyone

We are going through our second cycle after the successful birth of our DD 2 years ago with a fresh cycle.

We are now currently on your second cycle but with the long protocol to increase the number of eggs.
Previously used gonal f and now on menopur with downregularion

We are on day 5 of menopur and have a blood test tomroow. And scan on Friday.

First successful cycle seems like such a long time ago and this time round we feel so much more nervous and worried.

The process and drugs used this time around are different but we hope this will help us retrieve more eggs.

We should be on egg collection next week and the wait it unbearable to say the least.

Anyone else here on menopur after Downregularion.?

Thanks all

Hi guys I hope you don't mind me joining @beachbum85 recommended this post.

I currently had my scan after 7 days of stims. They said i have 8 follicles on one side and 1 on the other. They said they are around 8mm at the moment. How did u all get on at this stage? I have another scan in 2 days.

Hi again @PurpleUnicorn01 :)
My first scan last time was Day 9, but what I can say is that I had several follicles grow from smaller than 10mm on Day 9 to 11-12mm on Day 11 and then they were mature on egg collection on Day 15... a lot happens towards the end of stims so don't worry (although I know it's impossible not to)

Hi @manny33 lovely to hear of your success at your first round, but I'm sorry about the wait and worry... it's all so nerve-wrecking :( I'm also on long protocol to increase the number of eggs, but Gonal F not Menopur and I haven't started this round yet. Good luck for your blood test tomorrow!

@Alexm06 glad you've got your transfer booked in! And that's you're nice and relaxed :)
And you too @Bethpalmer20 :) good luck with your transfer tomorrow! Ugh that sore tummy doesn't sound good at all... can you maybe inject on your thighs instead or somewhere else?

@EHK98 I'm so glad you've got another embryo in the mix! I hope you feel better soon xx

Thanks @Janefx40 and 12 eggs is amazing! I hope those little 4 make it too! Yes, sedation is amazing isn't it... the part of the process I'm looking forward to the most

@SerendipitySunshine I'm sorry I don't drink coffee either so no advice here from me, but good luck with your scan - when will that be?

Thanks @hoping4baby21 Nothing special planned, think I'm just going to make the most of relaxing, I have a lot of Netflix to catch up on! Official test day is my birthday too. Hoping for the best gift ever!

Hey @manny33 best of luck for your cycle. It's a great sign that you have a DD from doing ivf previously! I found my fresh cycle really stressful but try to stay calm and keep yourself busy. Your clinic will know what's best for you, think positive ❤️

Thanks @beachbum85 I hadn't even thought about injecting in the thigh, I might ask my clinic about that tomorrow! I think you have to inject for 12 weeks (assuming you're pregnant) not sure I could handle that!

Hi all,

Sorry I haven’t got much energy to go back and comment individually on everyone’s posts, but just wanted to say I’ve read them all and thinking of everyone! This is a really helpful thread.

I had my blastocyst transferred today — it was an excellent quality embryo, apparently, so that’s hopeful given that it’s the only one we got. And now: TWW!!

@girljulian welcome to the TWW crew!

@Bethpalmer20 oh I hope you get the best news on your birthday!

Welcome to the new joiners!

Many thanks @beachbum85, @EHK98, @Janefx40 and all for your encouragement! Egg collection will be on Wednesday and will have the trigger shot today at 10:30pm. I just look forward to Wednesday to get rid of this extra pounds of liquid/gas/volume around abdominal area, so bloated.

@Bethpalmer20, I had a strong allergic reaction to lubion in the last cycle and this time I won't be using injected progesterone, only pessaries. It was really bad, the injection sites became incredibly swollen, hard, with local cellulitis, I even had a temperature. The doctors and nurses said that they had never seen such a reaction. So be careful!!

Fingers crossed for all of you in your TWW and good luck with stims, egg collections, transfers coming up!!!