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!

@Bethpalmer20 @beachbum85
Thank you for your kind words.

Good luck to everyone on their journey here please do keep us updated on your journey.

I will let you know how we get on with the blood test tomororo 🤞🏻

@Hoping4baby21 1st FET | start date: 26 July | progress started stims 😊

@Bethpalmer20 best of luck for transfer tomorrow. Hope it goes well. I'm not keen on Lubion but my previous clinic gave it as an alternative to Prontogest and believe me that is 1000x worse!! So I was always grateful for the Lubion despite the pain.

@Alexm06 glad your lining has done it's job. Good to have a date now.

@AnitaB83 good luck with the trigger. I always prepare it 10 mins early to be ready as I get super nervous about getting it wrong - in fact if you are reading this before you do it, go now!!!

Hi @manny33 I also have a DD from an earlier fresh cycle. There's no doubt that this time is easier for me in some ways emotionally because I already have her but then I also feel more pressure to try to give her a sibling so in other ways it is harder.

Congrats @girljulian on your transfer!

@Hoping4baby21 @Purplemichelle @MaggieMoo86 hope you're coping ok with the 2WW.

@PurpleUnicorn01 I had a day 6 scan and mine were all around that size. It's good that they are all similar sizes. You don't want any rushing off ahead really. The key thing will be how much they've grown at the next scan but overall even sizes is best because you can always stim for longer to make them bigger but if you get some larger ones then you end up having to trigger before the others have caught up. So it seems like a good position to me. I was scanned 3 days later and the follicles were then mostly between 10-13mm with one at 15mm. Let us know how you get on x

@Janefx40 that has made me feel so much better. Thank you x

Guys I’ve had a low day. Hit a brick wall emotionally. Was fighting back tears all day at work and when I got home I just cried and cried in front of my husband.

I just don’t feel like this cycle has worked. Just have a gut feeling. We have a small support network of family and friends who we have told about the IVF but it feels like so much pressure especially if this cycle doesn’t work.

Hubby was really good and calmed me down saying if it doesn’t work, we are enough. That made me cry more.

Sorry for the emotional outburst, it’s just been a really tough day. New day tomorrow.

@Purplemichelle im sorry to hear that. It is an emotional journey. We are all in the same boat. Sending you hugs. How many days before you can test?

Thanks @janefx40 and @anitab83 ❤️

@anitab83 that sounds like a terrible reaction and not the stress you need during your cycle! I will definitely keep an eye on it! Best of luck for your egg collection Wednesday, I'll be keeping everything crossed for you x

@purplemichelle Sorry you're feeling down. Remember to be kind to yourself, it really is an emotional journey. It's hard when things are completely out of our control and we can't change the outcome either way, you don't want to be too positive in case it doesn't work but you also don't want to be negative either. It's good to let it all out too. Chat to your husband about how you feel, don't keep it bottled up. I think sometimes it's harder for men to understand how emotionally hard it is so you can always pop on here to vent, we are all in the same boat and will support each other if we can ❤️

@girljulian congrats on your transfer and your excellent quality embryo :) wishing you a smooth and quick tww!

@Bethpalmer20 good luck again for today!

@Janefx40 I hope you get good news about fertilisation today 🤞🏻

@AnitaB83 glad you triggered and enjoy your med-free day today! And good luck for egg collection tomorrow - I'll be thinking of you :)

@53rds how was your first stim injection yd?

@Purplemichelle I'm really sorry you had a tough day yesterday - it is really hard and too much too keep inside sometimes... I hope the crying helped to release the tension in some way and you're feeling a bit better? There's no need to apologise for being emotional here! As @Bethpalmer20 said: we understand how difficult it is and are here when you need us... Big hug xx

Morning All! Hope you're all doing well.

@AnitaB83 hope the trigger shot went well and you're enjoying an injection free day!

@Purplemichelle i'm so sorry to hear yesterday was a low day. I hope today is a brighter day for you and a good cry has helped to relieve some tension. Your husband's right, you are enough and you a doing a fantastic job so far, be kind to yourself [heart].

@manny33 hope the blood test results are good news.

@Bethpalmer20 good luck for your transfer today.

Hope all the TWW's are coping and finding good distractions!

Hope you're recovering well @Janefx40. Did anyone else feel ovary pain for a few days after EC and an increased urge to pee more often? I don't feel like my bladder is emptying enough.

Oh @Purplemichelle I'm so sorry, your husband sounds very wise! I hope you're feeling better today.

@bethpalmer20 good luck!!

Is anyone else, by the way, still having really achey boobs a week after EC? My boobs feel like melons.

@girljulian not achey boobs, sensitive nipples definitely. Still getting slight ovary pain though :/

I think I caught all the updates if I missed anything or got it wrong let me know. If you want to be removed PM me and I will take you out.

@hoping4baby21 treatment: 1st FET cycle| start date: 10th July | progress: transfer 22nd July officially PUPO

@53rds treatment: Treatment: 1st FET | start date: 26 July | progress started stims

@2021babyhope treatment: fresh cycle | starts date 24th July | progress: started stims first scan soon

@MaggieMoo86 treatment FET | start date 8th July?? | progress transfer 23rd July - officially PUPO

@girljulian treatment: 1st fresh cycle | start date: 9th July | progress: Transferred officially PUPO

@beachbum85 treatment: 2nd fresh cycle | start date: 28th July | progress: meds at home and starting down regulation 28th July

@XjustagirlX treatment: fresh cycle | start date: 23rd July | Progress: started stims

@JeOrdaannnn Treatment: FET | start date: unknown | progress: transfer 8th July in TWW

@Alexm06 Treatment: FET | start date: 12th July | progress: awaiting confirmation of transfer date

@Csparkles Treatment: 1st Fresh cycle| start date: 23rd July Progress: started stims

@Bethpalmer20 Treatment: FET | start date: 10th July | Progress: Transfer 27th July

@JesHope345 treatment: 1st FET | start date: 30th June | Progress: unknown

@Lotusflower1990000 treatment: 1sr Fresh cycle | Start date: 28th July | progress: awaiting meds

@heywhatswrongwitu treatment: 1st FET | start date: 5th July: progress: awaiting transfer??

@Lolly2020 Treatment: 2nd fresh| start date: mid July? | Progress: unknown

@AnitaB83 Treatment: 2nd fresh | start date: 19th July | Progress triggered on, EC on Wed 28th July

@Purplemichelle Treatment: Fresh cycle | start date: 28th June | Progress: transfer 21.07 currently in TWW

@Janefx40 treatment: 2nd embryo banking cycle | start date: 13th July | progress: EC done, awaiting Embryo updates

BFP's:
@cannonball8726
@Itstime1

Wising everyone who recently transferred or who is waiting for embryo updates the very best of luck!

@girljulian I had sore boobs quite a while after EC must be all that estrogen or at least it is for me.

@Purplemichelle I'm so sorry you had a hard day, this journey is such a rollercoaster but your husband is right! Sending you all the baby dust and good vibes!

@Purplemichelle I hope you’re feeling a bit brighter today, the two week wait seems so hard, your husband sounds lovely.

I am reading everyone’s updates and wishing you all well

I’m feeling a bit tired and headachey today. I’m working until Friday then have the week off. I think working during stims might have been a mistake as I’m struggling a bit. A client was a bit arsey with me and I nearly cried. Trying to avoid sugar but very tempted to have a biscuit to get through the afternoon

Hi everyone! Latecomer here and wish I'd found you all sooner! My husband and I have been TTC since Oct 19 and have been on the IVF path since last year. Various things got in the way, including getting covid and a sudden big change in my menstrual cycle. We finally started our short protocol for a FET cycle on 9th July (ovaleap and fyremadel). I've been very lucky and had very few side affects, apart from stingy fyremadel, which seems to be pretty common.

EC was on Friday and they collected 23 eggs (lucky enough to have high AMH). 19 fertilised normally. Day 3 update yesterday was an embryologist I've not had before and she was quite vague and didn't give me any numbers or positive news, so now feeling quite downbeat about the Day 5 update tomorrow. Husband is very much in the camp of celebrate where you can, but I just can't do it. Getting sucked into enthusiasm of the first embryologist and nurse who burst in after EC to say they had 23 is all well and good but it makes me then feel really stupid two days later when the next embryologist is very non-committal and probably much more realistic. I mean, we can't get pregnant for a reason, right? Maybe it's an embryo development problem!

Sacked off work today to do some crochet and browse The Duff and kill some time before the embryo/blastocyst update tomorrow.

Anyway, sending hugs and strength and baby dust to you all!

Hey @CheesyBug! 19 fertilised eggs is amazing! I do think sometimes embryologists (and people in the fertility field in general) are very science minded and not terribly helpful in terms of saying what we want to hear, but the chances of all 19 not being excellent embryos is so slim as to be nonexistent. The usual attrition rate is nowhere near 50%, so worst case scenario you end up with 10 blastocysts, right? That's still a huge number of blastocysts!

I got two eggs and one fertilised abnormally so it was then all hanging on one. She's now on board. Think positive!

@girljulian Thank you for the positive thoughts! Yes, I feel almost guilty saying how many eggs fertilised, when so many people have so few. I've got everything crossed and I know we couldn't really have a better shot. If anything, I wish my first embryologist was a bit more scientific, but I suppose they so often have to give bad news, it makes a nice change to give good news. My husband at least enjoyed being told how "lovely" his sample was, even if the rest of the family didn't necessarily appreciate being relayed that piece of information.

One thing I'm constantly reminded of is how everyone's journey is different. So many reasons for ended up with IVF, the meds, the protocols, the errant things our bodies throw up at various points...

Everything crossed for you! How are you feeling?

Wow, @CheesyBug, what a great starting number! We are on the same days so both have Day 5 results tomorrow! Hopefully that embryologist will be more informative than the last one!

@CheesyBug that is a great number of eggs and a great fertilisation rate. Best of luck for your day 5 update. I found that I had to specifically ask for the info I wanted from the embryologist and then it was given. They didn't just offer it up.

Oh best of luck to you @EHK98! Hope you get good news. I've already been warned it'll probably be a late afternoon call to make sure they catch any late ones. Hopefully that will go by quickly enough...

Saw your post above. I'm feeling generally fine after my EC, only slightly tender nipples. Got period cramps and some nice red pimples on my chin, and some spotting today, but I've heard people get their period a week after the trigger shot I had (buserelin), so I imagine it's just my bleed coming.

@CheesyBug amazing numbers. Can I ask what was your amh number? Also are you waiting a month to transfer due to ohss risk?

My amh was 45 and I’m just curious if I will likely need to wait a month for transfer

Hi everyone thanks for your positive words today, first time I’ve managed to check this site.

Have had a better day today, well no crying at least!

Is anyone on here who’s had a successful cycle and can say anything about the TWW and any possible symptoms? I know everyone is different but it would be good to have something to cling onto!

@Purplemichelle I'm sorry you've been feeling low. This is a tough process and it takes it out on us. The only thing I would say about gut instincts is that on my first cycle I absolutely knew it had failed and I was right, on my second cycle I was even more certain it had failed but I was pregnant with my DD. Unfortunately there is nothing that can tell you whether it has worked or not other than a test at the end of the 2WW and that is super tough. Having said that and since you asked... cramping for me has been a good sign...and feeling like I'm about to come on...but that is different for everyone x

@EHK98 I'm feeling slightly twingey but not too bad overall. It's normal to feel it for a while though I think.

@girljulian the boobs could be the progesterone rather than anything to do with stims or EC?

@CheesyBug welcome. Congrats on getting so many fertilised but fingers crossed for tomorrow. As you said we are all here for different reasons and it can be very hard to believe it will work for you so I totally get why you are feeling anxious even though the numbers are good.

We had 7 out of 12 fertilise which is good. Now we just have to decide whether to do a third collection cycle or stop. We're never doing this again so it feels like a big decision x

Hi ! Can I please join this thread ?
I have just started my first IVF cycle. Started my down reg (buserelin) yesterday, hopefully starting stims (menopur) 18th august then egg collection 1st sept. (If all goes to plan!)
I have a high AMH so at risk of OHSS, so praying the cycle doesn't get cancelled, but of background, we are both 35, have been trying since April 19, were referred to Centre for Life in June 20, but with covid there were delays, I had an HSG scan back in April which confirmed I have a blocked tube, on the tube that's blocked I have good ovarian reserve and the tube that's not blocked I have low ovarian reserves.

I don't know anybody who has been through IVF so finding this group is likely to be invaluable to run things by ! Been so nervous about it and yesterday's injection was nerve wracking, but wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Sure I will be a pro by the end

I need to familiarise myself with where everyone is at ! Wishing you all lots of luck xx