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!

@janefx40 I definitely feel that and I'm so glad this thread has helped you too. This journey would have been a million times harder without the support and advice from you ladies. I really do appreciate it. I want to see you all get the results you so badly deserve so I'll hang around to see that 🤞 wishing you all the very best xx

My apologies if I got this wrong @janefx40 but is it you that is doing PGS testing? I feel like this is something we may need to look into in the future after a miscarriage and 2 unsuccessful rounds of what looked like perfect embryos. Our clinic won't offer this though, they said they don't agree with it. I'm not sure if I should start going research and looking elsewhere?

@Bethpalmer20 so sorry to hear this. I guess you will need to speak to your consultant and ask them what options you have re changing protocol/add ons and whether a donor cycle is an option? I'm currently waiting for our appointment to see if we can change anything next cycle. I'm with you re - I would go through this as many times as we can afford with donor(s) to start our family. For me it's a case of trying any combination to get there, think it deft hits my partner harder each unsuccessful cycle than myself.

Thank you @helene2019 it seems to be a mfi issue for us. I'm in my mid 20s so eggs are as good as they can be. A donor sperm cycle would be a strict no from my partner which I can understand.. I'm willing to try absolutely anything but I respect his decision not to want to continue, as heartbreaking as that would be for me :(

@Bethpalmer20 I'm beyond sorry to hear that! It's brutal. Take it One day at a time My clinic also don't provide the PGS testing. We are super lucky in that we got 6 embryos. First one we used in fresh cycle failed, first FET resulted in a biochemical pregnancy and then second FET has just failed. My clinic say...just need to keep going until one sticks...easy for them to say! So we now have 3 frozen embryos left. And I almost feel like I would maybe be putting myself through more Trauma when maybe they aren't viable. The clinic have told me they are good quality and I can only hope they will give me my miracle. Do you have a clinic near you that do the testing. What reasons do your clinic give for not doing it? X

@Bethpalmer20 yes we are testing our embryos. I don't think I would have done it if I was younger but at 44 our chances of failure/miscarriage are so overwhelming and DP would never have agreed to do more than 2 cycles. It made sense for us because it meant we could get a batch of embryos and see if any are viable. However there is a risk of false results or that embryos labelled as non-viable could have corrected themselves in utero and always a risk that an embryo might have done better inside the womb on a day 3 transfer than waiting to develop to a blastocyst for in a lab and being frozen/thawed etc. So in different circumstances I probably wouldn't have risked our embryos by testing.

@Janefx40 I'm so glad you posted that. Got more info from your post than my clinic. I see why they aren't so keen to test under certain circumstances....my clinic constantly say to me 'I'm young'. But as you say...different circumstance. X

@chocolate336 yes, so easy for them to say! Especially when there is never any guarantee of a successful outcome, how many times do you keep going hoping that one sticks?! I'm so desperate to be a mum but this is so mentally draining. So badly wish I had a crystal ball so I knew whether to just accept defeat or not.. I think nearest clinic that does pgs testing would be one in London (I'm in the south east) so not too far. They said they don't agree with it as its not 100% accurate so you can potentially end up throwing away perfectly good embryos, which I understand, but I do suspect we have an underlying genetic issue for 3 perfectly good looking embryos to be unsuccessful and it would be nice to have them tested and get the all clear..x

Basically exactly what @janefx40 said. Its such a difficult decision to make. I'm so desperate for answers and want to feel like I'm being as proactive as possible :( x

@Bethpalmer20 I totally understand. My clinic are so relaxed about it all...obviously because they are doing it day in day out and it's their job! I had my review recently after my second failed FET...said they aren't going to change anything and just continue. They would use my highest quality embryo first and if that didn't work they would put my last two in together. We are taking a break though to try get into a better place mentally before we go again. My positive mind set is running out with each go and I'm almost scared to go again because failure is so so hard as you well know unfortunately. Have you a review date? X

@chocolate336 totally relate to the positivity running out. I was so postive on my first go, naively thought it'd be a breeze. This 3rd round has just sucked the life out of me. I think we will take a break too, I've neglected myself and my health because I have been so absorbed with the ivf and I definitely need to get back to a good mental state before going again (if DP comes round to it). They haven't mentioned a review and I never had one on the previous rounds but I'm going to email tomorrow and request one. If they don't plan to change anything then I may start thinking about changing clinic. Which I'm hesitant to do as I'm comfortable where I am but I need to feel like we are trying absolutely everything rather than just taking the same approach again.. X

@Bethpalmer20 It's such a tough and brutal process! Yeah your so right....look after yourself and get in a better place....get that strength back! IVF has taken over my life for the last two years...never mind a pandemic lol! Deffo request a review and see what they say! No harm in researching other clinics to see....this is a massive thing in your life so do what's right for you and what makes you feel
Better xo

I'm so, so sorry @Bethpalmer20 - that's so heartbreaking for you and your partner. I hope you've managed to support each other and spoil yourselves a bit throughout the day... A break sounds like a good idea to grieve these losses, find your feet again and be able to think of the way forward.
At our clinic (NHS) you have to specifically request a review... I know that many women have said that speaking to the clinic's counsellors has really helped too, so you might want to think about that if you haven't.
Sending you lots and lots of love xx

@beachbum85 did you get your Day 3 update yesterday? Hope it was ok x

@Janefx40 I did, thanks, and it was good :) all 6 embryos were still developing, with 4 top quality ones and 2 average ones. Keeping everything tightly crossed that we'll have at least one good blast tomorrow!

Oh that's great news. Remind me, are you going for a fresh transfer or FET?

Thanks so much @beachbum85 and amazing news on your embryos fighting hard, I'm routing for you xx

Thanks so much @Janefx40 and @Bethpalmer20 xx
Fresh transfer tomorrow at 11am if everything goes to plan!

@beachbum85 good luck tomorrow with both the update and the transfer! Xxx

Thank you so much @Janefx40 xx

ET went really smoothly and we have a 4BB on board! It was a much better experience than last time round and I'm so relieved and feeling calm and positive :) we have 4 early blasts that they'll monitor until tomorrow to see if any will make it to freeze but, even if not, this is better than I expected!

Thank you again for your support and well wishes especially over this week - I really appreciate it xx

Amazing @beachbum85 so so happy for you! I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for a BFP! X

Great news @beachbum85 congrats on the transfer and fingers crossed some more make freezing.

I just received an email now saying my test results are back. I asked them to email and set up a call when the results were back rather than just ringing. I'm sitting in the car by some old garages at the back of our house because my DD fell asleep in the car and our driveway is in full sun. I can't believe I'm about to find out if DD is going to be an only child. I feel a bit numb and a bit nervous. And my heart is beating very very fast.

Deep breaths @Janefx40! Impossible to stay calm, I'm sure, but 100% behind you and hoping for great news. Sending you lots and lots of love xx

@beachbum85 I'm so pleased for you. Also I hope there's good news re frosties tomorrow.

@Janefx40 I have everything crossed for you!

We have our review this week with our consultant to see if we have any hope after so many failed cycles.

Did they say when they'll be calling you? I'm thinking of you xx