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!

@beachbum85 Ah that makes sense! Hope it’s going okay for you so far if you’ve started (and if not fingers crossed you get to soon!).
Scan was much better, some sleepy ones had caught up, so 7 in the running now - fingers crossed they’re better quality than last time (got one blast from 9). I’ve been booked in for collection Thursday so on the home stretch to more waiting…

@Purplemichelle My first scan first time most were pretty unremarkable and small, the growing seems to happen later.

@beachbum85 oh it wasn't nice it was very very intense cramps but then was alright after. Probably the most painful £350 I've spent haha.

My progynova is being delivered today ready for my period next week! It's all getting so close now.
How is everyone else doing?

Hello everyone, jumping on this thread but I don't think I know any of you from previous threads.

I started IVF 2 years ago and all of the regular posters on the thread I joined back then have given birth now or are in late stages of pregnancy! Sadly my journey has not been so successful as yet. In the past two years we've had 3 rounds on the NHS (long protocol with ICSI) and over the three rounds despite responding well we only had 1 embryo survive to 5 days. This was transferred - sadly resulting in a negative test.

Now we are doing the first of two rounds privately - trying a short protocol with different combinations of meds etc. Hoping this will make a difference and we will be lucky this cycle. 🤞

Hi everyone, new to this thread but thought I'd come and say hi! We had a cycle of IUI in May which was unsuccessful and then were going to continue with IUI but it was a couple of months until we could have our next appointment. As I work in a school we decided August would be a good month to give IVF a try as it has a better success rate. I'm also 36 this month and don't feel like time is my friend. Tried SI for the first time this month but I can feel AF on her way this morning so know it hasn't been successful. Will try SI again next cycle but also have consultant appointment next week to discuss IVF. Sorry if too many details!

Hello. I am also starting my first frozen transfer mid-July. Good luck to everyone in this cycle!

Feels very different this time (third cycle). Not as excited or positive, already thinking it will fail. I had two miscarriages and so the doctors are willing to allow me 2 embryo transfers instead of just 1. We have to make our decision by tonight to sign off on consents, and finding it hard to make a logical decision with my head.

My heart says go for it! Two of our best embryos have failed already, who's to say the lower quality will be any better?

...Do people think it is worth all the risks associated with twin pregnancies? Disabilities, cerebral palsy, birth defects? Women successfully have healthy twins all the time, right?

Hi @Helene2019 @ejefferinton @EasterBunny7

@ejefferinton I recognise you from the SI thread tho I'm not on there much these days. Switching to IVF sounds sensible to me - I'm not sure IUI has such good results

@EasterBunny7 welcome and I'm so sorry for your losses. That must have been so hard. I've always had multiple embryo transfers (usually 3) because I'm older so I've personally no issue with that as a concept but I was wondering if the clinic had done much investigating as to the causes of your miscarriages? Have the clinic adjusted your treatment at all to take this into account? If it was down to embryo quality then I would be inclined to do multiple transfers but if it is unknown then it might be worth asking what treatment they are considering to prevent miscarriage in future? You could even consider testing the embryos you have to see if they are healthy.

It's a lot to consider I know xxx

@EasterBunny7 by the way you be an sign the consents anyway while you make your decision. I don't think it commits you to actually doing it. Just means you have consented to transfer up to that many embryos I think. Double check rather than taking my word for it but that was my understanding x

@EasterBunny7 that should have said "you can sign the consents anyway"

Hi @Janefx40

Thanks for sharing your experience and your advice. That's 1-0 for two transfers.

I'll be honest, I was so eager to try again, I decided not to go ahead with testing the embryos , which would have led to a 6 month delay. I feel the world is just moving forward and leaving me behind.

I'm sorry that you've had so many transfers that did not go well. I wish you all the best in this cycle.

@EasterBunny7 thank you. I have actually had every result going: BFN, chemical, miscarriage but also a very healthy daughter so I count my blessings every day.

I understand about the testing and the delays. I've never done it. We were considering it this time (doing 2 or 3 embryo banking cycles) but doesn't look like we'll have enough embryos to be worth doing it. It only takes 2-3 weeks for the results to come back in our area, btw.

One thing I have learnt tho is that it is always worth asking what the clinic will do differently next time to prevent the same things happening.

Best of luck whatever you decide

Xxx

Hello 👋

It’s so nice to have this thread to refer to when going through IVF. Family and friends can offer support but this is different as we are all going through it and have past experiences with the highs and lows.

I had my second scan today and 2 of the follicles have disappeared?!! Has anyone experienced this? They are not growing very quickly, largest at only 8mm on day 10 of stims. Really hope the clinic don’t cancel my cycle. Trying to stay positive but today was a huge knock back for me mentally. Had a few tears.

Hi @Purplemichelle sorry the scan didn't go well. These things can be so stressful. Although it may seem worrying that they are small, hopefully the clinic can stim you for longer to see if they grow? When is your next scan?

Thanks @Janefx40 I’m hoping for this too. Next scan is Friday. I have meds until Friday and am guessing they will make a decision after that scan.

@Purplemichelle I've not had that before I'm my fresh cycle but I hope they start growing/catching up for you. I assume the clinic have said you will keep sticking, have they upped your meds at all?

What meds are you on?

@ejefferinton I think I would have made the switch as well with the success rates for IUI being what they are.

@EasterBunny7 I hear you on not being as positive. This is my first FET, first transfer was fresh and I feel like I'm just going through the motions. Used all m positivity on the first attempt. I know it was naive to put so much on our first go but I did and the come down was rough!

I would find the embryo decision tough as well but part of me thinks I would go for it. I'm not so sure of the risk statistics, but it all depends on your affinity for risk and if those stats seem ok for you or not.

@Helene2019 That must have been a hard journey. Finger crossed for you with this new protocol!

@hoping4baby21 thanks, me too. The nurse didn’t really tell me anything today. It took her ages to find my ovaries and was super uncomfortable. She said the clinic would call today with updated information. They just updated the portal with the same meds. I’m on 300 IU\L of Ovaleap and 150 IU/L of Menopur in the morning with 0.25mg of Fyremadel in the evening. They have said this is the max dose….

@Hoping4baby21 @Janefx40

So, I went for it and selected two! Had my information session with the nurse too and because they did not query my decision and were in fact very calm about it, it makes me think my personal stats for success might be slightly lower after the two miscarriages...

Anyone else in this group having two embryos placed back this cycle?

@EasterBunny7 I'm glad you made a decision and fingers crossed for you!

I'll just be having one. I don't think they would even let me do 2 due to my age and only have one failed transfer.

In the previous thread there were a few women who had a longer period of stimulation due to slow response, but they did catch up at the end. There was someone who used stims for 17 days @Purplemichelle.

@EasterBunny7, Also not me, but quite a few women had 2 embryos put back and became pregnant with 1 or 2 babies.

On a different note, what do you do with left meds? Can you donate them?
I have Suprecur Buserelin which I used only once (1ml) so 4,5ml is left.
It expires in October and I definitely will not use it. I just know these meds are so expensive, so would be horrible to let it go to waste.

Hi all hope you don't mind me joining in
I'm on my 3rd cycle had egg collection yesterday, got 7 eggs only 2 fertilised and she was giving 2 a bit longer to see if the fertilised. It proper disheartened me as I had more fertilise on other cycles.

My first cycle got a BFP but had early miss carriage and second cycle 5 fertilised and got 1 good embryo but nothing.

Any success stories with 2 embryos? Xx

Hi @Helene2019
I have Icsi I was disappointed today when they told me 2 had fertilised out of 7 they where still waiting on 2 to see if they did fertilise so I would have 4.

What's your experience?

I'm in private clinic on my 3rd cycle xx

Hi ladies!
Introducing myself for this thread.
I’m going for a FET of my partner’s embryo later this month.
I had a FET with a BFN last month. It just feels like everyone I know got pregnant first time with FET (irrational I know).
Also my girlfriend had two miscarriages earlier in the year with my embryos and it just feels like we might never get there.

Today is day 1 of my period so I’m going in for a scan tomorrow. I’m doing a natural cycle.
Look forward to getting to know you all x

@MaggieMoo86 it's horrible isn't it you feel like your stood still but everyone else is having baby's ect.

How many frozen have you got?

X

That’s exactly it.
We are in quite a good position as we have 9 in the freezer. There is a part of me that’s worried there is a genetic problem with all of them.

@tmc2021

Hi *@Helene2019* I have Icsi I was disappointed today when they told me 2 had fertilised out of 7 they where still waiting on 2 to see if they did fertilise so I would have 4.

What's your experience?

I'm in private clinic on my 3rd cycle xx

Hi @tmc2021 first round we had 13 eggs collected all mature, out of only 6 that fertilised with ICSCI, 4 survived night 1 and 1 made it to day 5 and was transferred. The other two cycles collected similar mature eggs but only 4 and 2 fertilised respectively with ICSCI and all arresting before day 3. All 3 protocols on the NHS were the same, no changes in meds. This time there are a number of changes, but if it doesn't work it's looking likely the only way forward for us will be through a donor.