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!

That's great @Janefx40 - sounds really positive and also pretty quick! I's so pleased for you :)

@lauradxoxo welcome! I also had my ET of a day 5 blast on Tuesday on my second round of ICSI! Our first round was unsuccessful (transferred an early blast and it didn't stick) so I'm afraid I have absolutely no idea of symptoms. But, I'm glad we can support each other through the torturous wait :) hugs xx

@Janefx40 sorry to hear about your misscarraige. TTC is so so tough :-( thank you so much I know it differs from person to person and you can drive yourself crazy symptom spotting!! I definitely think the 2WW is the hardest part of the process!

@beachbum85 ahhh same transfer day congrats on your successful transfer!! I was delighted to get to that stage! Aww I know it really is torturous isn’t it!! Only 3dp5dt and I’m sending myself crazy!! Have you noticed any symptoms yet or felt any different? Xx

@lauradxoxo huge congrats to you too! I was so, so happy too, and still am :) I am trying to keep myself calm with the Minful IVF app - it has some 2w meditations for a bit less than 5 pounds and the guy's voice is really soothing...
I feel a little bit of pain where I guess my right ovary would be, which I sometimes feel after ovulation, so that's a bit strange, and slightly sore boobs, which I'm guessing is the progesterone, but that's it. Nothing huge here! xx

Welcome @lauradxoxo I will agree with @janefx40 and say symptoms are a very difficult thing to gauge when you're also on progesterone which in itself causes symptoms. On my successful BFP round I had a whole heap of symptoms but that ended in miscarriage. On my second round BFN I had no symptoms. On my most recent third round, I had exactly the same symptoms as my BFP round but it ended up being BFN so there really is no way to tell. Try to keep yourself busy, the TWW is incredibly hard!

Amazing news from your consultation @janefx40 sounding super postive for you!

My consultation went much better than expected and I'm feeling more hopeful going forward. The clinic are going to put me on a lower dose of meds for our next fresh cycle to hopefully get a slower growth as I reacted so quick this time. The doctor also suggested some blood clotting tests?? For me to see if I have an implantation issue. Also some sperm tests, DNA fragmentation etc for DP which I was going to ask for anyway. I'm hoping they can find an underlying reason for our abnormal embryos despite them looking perfect. If they can, hopefully it'll be an easy fix. Either way I feel like we are being proactive and will probably start a new cycle in the new year!

@beachbum85i might try that actually! Anything to try keep me calm!! It just cos I feel literally nothing!! Like not even any side effects from the progesterone! I know it’s early at only 3dp5dt but I thought I would have Ben feel some slight twinges etc but nothing :(

@Bethpalmer20 I know your totally right and everyone’s bodies are different so some may get loads of symptoms others may have none. I’m sorry to hear you have had such a journey it’s so tough isn’t it! That sounds positive tho that your clinic are offering additional testing to try get to the bottom of embryo quality to hopefully help you have success next time. Hope my clinic does the same if I don’t get my BFP.

@Janefx40 great news from your consultation 👏🏻 x

@lauradxoxo I had twinges galore in my fresh cycle and then with my first FET I had nausea and ended up having a biochemical pregnancy and then my 2nd FET there I had every pain under the sun and serious nausea and a BFN. Really impossible to tell. Distraction is key during the TWW....easier said than done! Good luck 🤞🏻 x

@Bethpalmer20 That's good news they are doing more tests and so glad your feeling positive and ready to go again! My
Clinic don't offer any tests like that...only thing I think they do is the harmony test. My clinic is so restricted and they literally do the basics which is really frustrating x

@Bethpalmer20 I'm so glad the consultation was ok. That sounds like a great plan. If you're doing DNA frag test then do it as soon as you can because if there is a problem, it can take a few months to correct.

I'm not sure how far you've gone with It Starts with an Egg but you've got a good few months to prepare so could be worth looking at the supplements etc in there if you haven't already.

Xxx

That's great @Bethpalmer20 - glad to hear they proposed some additional investigations and you have a plan! :)
DNA frag test is on our to-do list if this cycle doesn't work as I've seen that WHO has recently added it to its list and lots of related stuff has been popping up on my Instagram.
Really hope they find something fixable xx

@lauradxoxo try it out and let me know what you think... For me, things get harder as the days go on so, as everyone said, it's best to try find some way to keep busy and distracted, hard as that always is! When is your OTD? xx

@beachbum85 and anyone else good at researching. If you find out anything about the ERA in your travels let me know. I'm not sure what to do because I'm so keen to get going but obviously want to do everything we can to give our embryos a chance. But I've had 2 successful implantions already so it's unlikely that I have an issue but things can change over time. Can't decide what to do!!

@beachbum85 @lauradxoxo I actually throw myself into Mumsnet during the 2WW. Maybe additionally join a more active thread than this so there are lots of people to follow? I know I am going to obsess 24/7 so it helps if I can obsess about other people's treatment and not just my own!!

@beachbum85 yeah I will definitely give that a try thank you! As I’m just finding it so hard tk relax! And like you every day is getting harder! I keep waking up each morning and hoping to feel “pregnant” but don’t feel any different lol. My OTD is Friday the 17th I’m pretty sure I won’t make it till then! When is yours?

@Janefx40 haha that’s such a good idea there is so many threads in here I could lose hours of time and hopefully make the wait go quicker! Are you having a FET? Xx

Hi @Janefx40! I don't know if you use Instagram but I really rare this account and they had a post about ERA: www.instagram.com/p/CPIz7Pnhysd/
You might also want to use the 'Ask the Expert' function in the Fertility Circle app... They have different experts every week and I've got some useful tips there.
I'll keep an eye out for anything else too :) xx

I also spend a lot of time on Mumsnet haha especially when I should be working!
@lauradxoxo here's another thread where there's a few of us in the 2ww:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/infertility/4259746-IVF-August-September-cycle-buddies

Some ladies have already tested, and others are going into ET and EC this week, so there's a lot happening :)

@beachbum85 I have just joined the fertility circle app and that Instagram you recommended! Thanks! X

You're very welcome @chocolate336 :) xx

Hello all! Had my scan yesterday and got the ok to start meds last night so full steam ahead for the back to back FET. Whoop whoop! Getting ready for the crazy to kick in as the hormones fire up. My husband said to me last night "goodbye lovely wife. I will remember you as you were" 😂😂👏🏻

@lauradxoxo welcome! Congrats on getting to the 2ww. I've done three transfers (first 2 successful pregnancies and one failed transfer trying for a third child last month). Sorry to say I had the same symptoms for all three (spotting, cramps, hot flashes & twinges) so, as infuriating as it is, my view is there is absolutely no way to tell other than a test on OTD. Sorry - I know that's so annoying. Hope it's a sticky one for you - our issue is also MF and we did ICSI. How are you doing today?

@Janefx40 glad the review was optimistic. Transfer next month is awesome news! Injections or sniffer for your meds? I've only done sniffer for the FETs.

@beachbum85 how are you feeling today? I quite like that mindful IVF app for a bit of chill - forgot that last time. Thanks for the reminder.

@Bethpalmer20 sounds like a good consultation. Pleased for you that they are being proactive - hopefully it will lead to some answers. What are next steps timing wise?

@Bobtat congratulations on having two successful rounds!! Sorry to here about your recent failed transfer do you have any Frosties?

I know it’s so hard not to symptom spot tho isn’t it!! When you have been trying to long and get to this stage you feel so close so literally any slight twinge gets you in a spin! I’m actually feeling like I have a bit of a cold today :( bad headache, runny nose and a bit shivery then hot flushes.

How are you doing today? @beachbum85

@Bobtat great news that you've started again so soon!! Yeahhhhh! Not so great that your husband thinks you're a crazy hormonal wife hahaha but once he's accepted it you should get him to do all the chores you don't want to

I'm well, thanks, I have a bit of cramping off and on and slightly sore boobs, but could be the progesterone... I have heard women saying that their immune system was low in early pregnancy and they felt a bit off, but I hope you feel better soon @lauradxoxo xx

@lauradxoxo thanks! Yes so my daughter was from our fresh cycle and we got 4 frosties. Son was first FET and just had failed FET so 2 left. Started another FET back to back yesterday so 🤞🏻🤞🏻 one of them will come good.

@beachbum85 to be fair, he's not wrong......

Medication is the worst. Plays tricks on you and no way to tell what's what!

It totally is @Bobtat! I find the progesterone the worst, but I've not had an FET yet, and either way they all seem to have their moments. Fingers crossed that the tricks will be few and far between for you xx

@Bobtat great news that you can start again! Keep us posted on your progress.

I'm probably going to do natural cycle FETs so no meds except progesterone. I've done that before and it was fine. It worked (except for the miscarriage but the transfer, implantation bit went fine) Dr said there wasn't any difference in outcome so think I'd rather do fewer drugs. Not made final decision yet tho.

@beachbum85 thanks for the recommendations. I have joined the fertile circle and asked my question so we'll see if anyone answers!!! Instagram was good too. Reality is that I already know the answer - the ERA may not be necessary but if I don't want to take any risks I will need to do it! Hmmmm

@Janefx40 you're very welcome! I hope you get some answers or confirmation of what you're thinking. If it's just 1 month delay and not extremely expensive, I suppose you'll be more at ease having done it and knowing you eliminated all possible doubts. Having said that, it's an extra thing when you've both already been a lot... When do you need to make a decision?

Either way it's great that you can go with natural cycles and, ERA or not, you'll soon be there xx

Hey @lauradxoxo how are you doing? I hope your cold symptoms have passed and you're coping ok with the wait! xx

Hi @beachbum85 I’m hanging in there! I felt awful on Sunday night was up during the night with hot sweats then felt so rubbish yesterday just stayed in bed all day. I’ve woke up this morning feeling not too bad just seem to have a headache that too not go away. I’ve started to have mild on/off cramping hoping it’s just the progesterone and not AF on the way! I’m actually due on Thursday which is a day befor my OTD :(

How are you holding up? The wait is soo hard!! Xx