Anyone doing IVF at 40+ pt 2

[lucymills1234]

Setting up a new thread as the old one was nearly at the limit.

@Anxiousbuthopeful
@Islandstars
@Woodcottage1
@Unicorn9
@SerenditySunshine

Greetings @Nessylink and really hope this move will mark the start of your success journey!

Going through all this I'm SO convinced that young men should visit urologists the way we get smear tests... for years I was so conscious of "the deadline" and when we started seriously trying when I was now-or-never-38, it still had never occurred to me that the challenge could be on DH side... (Covid didn't help) but by the time we knew that the issue was MFI I was half way through 39 and fast becoming problematic as well... I'm convinced that if men had the same level of awareness we would have gone straight to ICSI at least 2 years ago with better chances 🤷🏻‍♀️

I'm definitely not the first person to have this epiphany during ivf 🤦🏻‍♀️... anyway, ever onwards and upwards...

Wish you all a fab weekend not thinking about TTC 😊

Hello! I haven't been on here for a while as we decided to have a break after our second ivf cycle...just wondering, for those who have had ivf before, did it really mess up your cycle? I had 2 long cycles since my last round (34 and 38 days) and decided for the first time this cycle to use the poas ovulation stick thingies. On a normal cycle, I would have ovulated yesterday, but no sign of a smiley face yet so think this is going to be a long cycle too. Just wondering if I can put it down to post-ivf or if i should start being paranoid about perimenopause?!?

Wishing everyone lots of luck who is in the middle of the process at the moment!! Fingers crossed for abundant egg collections and bfps at the end of 2wws!!

@99pctpractice, yes my cycles were a bit messed up, a bit longer if I recall correctly?

@Nessylink, welcome-sorry you’re here but a lovely group of ladies for kindness and support. When will you travel to Spain?

@LuckyNovember, it does manke you wonder why we don’t do more screening. I also wonder about the Royals, so they have to do any testing prior to marriage?

@lucymills1234, thank you for the reminder. I’m trying to remember “so far so good” and not letting my head get too far ahead of things.

I have a big update today-I had a positive FRER this morning. I’m a bit shocked as I was so convinced this cycle hadn’t worked. And hard to feel excited after having had two miscarriages and an ectopic. But feeling pleased nonetheless. Just reminding myself one step at a time.

Wow @BegoniaGal7 That's spectacular!! Congratulations!!! And I love how you took time to respond to everyone first before dropping that MASSIVE piece of good news 🤣

And I should say, I know it's hard to believe that good news is really good news, but do try to enjoy it, this can be the one... so far so good!! 🧡

Thanks @BegoniaGal7 and congratulations!!! That's brilliant news - all fingers crossed it is onwards and upwards for you now!!

@BegoniaGal7 massive congratulations!! So good to hear good news after all the battles we have been through.

@99pctpractice, my cycles were all a bit longer just after EC too. They normalised after about 3 months. Now, 9 months after last EC they actually seem to be shorter than they used to be for me, now sure what's going on there . I also just heard that covid vaccine has been found to mess with cycles in some studies ...

@LuckyNovember, I agree, my DH had 2 varicoceles he never knew about & he didn't realise it could affect fertility - so wish he'd have gotten a regular exam and would've been told!

@BegoniaGal7 forgot to say heading to Spain later this comint week, can't wait to get the ball rolling again after a long wait.

Thank you everyone. We are chuffed and I’m trying to stay positive whilst keeping my head out of the clouds.

@Nessylink, good luck in Spain this week. I hope you can make a bit of a holiday out of the trip? Please let us know how you get on.

Crossing my fingers and toes for everyone else right now.

Hi ladies,

Could I join? Hope to find some emotional support here.

Some background of me below.

I am in my mid forties, struggling to conceive my first baby. Embarked on ivf journey in
2019, retrieved some embryos. Transferred one and fetus had faint heartbeat at 10 weeks, resulting in a miscarriage. Tried another transfer in 2021, I was very hopeful that this pregnancy would work. Sadly, my baby lost its heartbeat at week 6, resulting another missed miscarriage. No biopsy of the fetus was performed as my gynae deemed the fetus was chromosome abnormal due to my maternal age. Waiting for my menses to come to reset my body hormones.

Trying naturally seems impossible for me now as all my reserves will be chromosome abnormal, unlikely to have a healthy pregnancy. This is what I found from Google. I can only rely on the rest of my embryos but I am hesitant to try for another transfer. I am so terrified of another loss.

This journey is so hard! Really feel like giving up at times.

Hi @joyceline, Sounds like you've had a very rough journey, poor thing it must have been heartbreaking to go through that twice 💜

It's my first time doing IVF, so I'm not an expert and I'm sure there are people here who know more about this than me. If you still have embryos, I think they can screen them before transfer to increase the chance of having one that is healthy, and I'm surprised your doctor hasn't given you some constructive advise after two MMC 😔

Until you get some better medical advice, I wouldn't give up on the remaining embryos yet, I think it can be a good sign that 2/2 implanted, just maybe unlucky with the 2 that were picked.... how many do you have left? It only takes one and any one of them could really be the one 😊 I read somewhere that instead of looking at overall statistics, it's easier to think that each embryo is 50:50, it is or it isn't your baby, and 50:50 is not bad odds after all!!

@joyceline, I'm so sorry to hear about your losses. How heartbreaking to get to close twice, but then have it fall to pieces each time.
Although I don't have the same story of miscarriages, I'm in a similar spot and can understand the weight on your shoulders: We our still childless after 3 stim rounds of IVF with PGT-A testing and after 38 eggs collected, only 1 of our 7 blastocyst was normal - and that normal one was in the very first round. Our normal embie didn't survive the thaw when we were going for transfer.
We were floored that at my age of 41 our embryos were so abnormal already and weren't sure whether to go again - and it did take the fun out of TTC naturally, I will admit.
Our clinic was starting to lead the conversation with us to donor egg, but I pushed for another round of tests and we discovered that my AMH is actually still pretty good at 16.7, but that my husband had really high DNA fragmentation (49%)! So, while my age didn't help, it could be that the sperm was causing just as many issues, and that donor egg wouldn't necessarily fix the problem. DH just had a varicocele embolised last week, which will now unfortunately take a few months to take effect, but we are looking at going abroad to Spain for a couple rounds of IVF with some sperm sorting techniques that aren't offered here in Ireland. We will probably continue with PGT-A since we wouldn't want many transfers in a row which are doomed to fail because of abnormalities.

Statistically, odds aren't great for us at our age, but every one of us is different and I would recommend getting a second opinion by doing a consult with another clinic to see how they interpret the tests & results so far and if they can recommend anything differently for you.

Morning all,

@Nessylink welcome! I hope you have better luck with the Spanish clinic - which one are you using, if it's ok to ask? I have had 5 transfers so far, one of those a chemical, and in hindsight I probably should've done batched collections and PGS-tested, but that's hindsight for you...

@BegoniaGal7 congratulations!! I can completely understand the nervousness (I had a chemical before). But today you are pregnant and that's amazing :)

@joyceline welcome and so sorry to hear you've had such a rough time. The stats are brutal and yes, in mid-forties the odds of a PGS-normal embryo are much lower. It's not impossible, but it's that much harder to find the golden egg. I think a lot of clinics will push donor eggs on you if you don't already have some embryos in freeze you can try transferring. But ultimately it's your choice so do what feels right to you.

I had another stims scan on Friday. They saw 15 follicles this time with a few over 20mm, most over 13mm so I am hoping for around 12 total with any luck. I'm in for EC later today. I've had a really variable fertilisation rate and last round I had a good number of embryos in the running right up until day 4 then a big drop off to day 5, so I am trying to be hopeful but not assume anything, positive or negative. It's a hard line to tread!

@lucymills1234 great that you have so many followers. Best Wishes for the EC

@lucymills1234 I meant follicles not followers

Congrats on the follicles @lucymills1234

@joyceline - so sorry you have had a difficult time. Lots of lovely ladies here to support you through the next stage of your journey.

I had my first ever transfer today! It was a 4AA and a couple for the freezer. I only had 7 eggs so really pleased and grateful. Feels surreal. Keep talking to my tummy willing it to stick!!

@lucymills1234, congrats, that’s a great number! Sending good fertilisation vibes your way.

@Hopeful199, congrats on being PUPO! How are you feeling? When is your test day?

@joyceline: welcome and sorry for your losses. We had two miscarriages and an ectopic. It is so painful. I’m not at all an expert but I thought they could do PGT testing before a freeze only?

@Nessylink: good luck in Spain this week, fingers crossed you find a good fit with the clinic.

Thanks @BegoniaGal7

I feel ok, surprisingly calm. My house has been filled with covid the last week so very nearly looked like it might not all happen. Thankfully I stayed negative so they let me continue with a sample from hubby.

Test date is 18th but DH is going away that day so we’re going to do it on 17th. I’m already nervous! But definitely not going to test before

@lucymills1234 thanks, we are checking out 2 clinics in Madrid that we liked in phone & online interactions so far - hoping we can finally choose one once we see them in person. Looking at IVF Spain Madrid (fmrly Procreatec) & Tambre. Hope your follicles cooperate - sounds like a solid number!

@Hopeful199 so excited for your first transfer! And a couple frosties too, that wonderful! Wishing you a sticky one!!

Hi everyone.

Have you room for one more? I just read the whole thread. I will be 41 in August and we will be starting our first IVF cycle at the end of this month. We have a 2.5 year old conceived naturally but having ‘bad luck’ this time round. I am currently on the final cycle of OII. In the last 12 months we have had 2 MMC and 2 chemical pregnancies, the last at the beginning of this month. This month we will add in heparin should I get a positive.
I received my protocol and contraceptive pill in the post this morning. It’s a short protocol. I have high AMH and high AFC. I had a follicle tracking scan this morning for the OII cycle and she counted 23 on the right ovary and 20 on the left. I do not have PCOS/PCO. I have no idea what to expect, super anxious about the meds and messing up. At the consultation she mentioned OHSS and that does not seem pleasant at all and we may end up with a freeze all if we are lucky.

You women truly are warriors.

Hi @Hopefull1981
What a terrible year you've had, I really hope this is your turning point 😊

I think there's something about starting the cycle that feels good, like you're an active participant and somehow taking control again; I hope it will go well for you this time!

Big congrats on transfer @LuckyNovember and everything crossed for you.

Welcome @Hopefull1981 - sorry to be daft but what is Oll? Hope you have better luck this time round, you’re due some.

I’m going to paste the update I put in another thread - sorry, but I feel too sad to write it out twice!

I’m feeling incredibly sad and deflated. I had EC on Monday and 12 eggs were collected which seemed promising. I haven’t felt the best since, but I don’t think it’s OHSS.

But I lost all hope when I got my fertilisation update this morning. Although 10 of the 12 fertilised, only 3 did so normally. 4 are really abnormal and completely out of the running. Another 3 fertilised abnormally but have shown development signs so they could, in theory, get to day 5. But realistically my chances sit with the 3 normally fertilised which feels like a tremendous disappointment after the EC numbers.

Rationally I know that some people would be delighted with 3, that it only takes 1 etc etc etc. But I can’t help but feel devastated at the drop, and realistically at my age (42) I’ll be lucky if anything gets to transfer.

Apparently the abnormal fertilisations aren’t a sign of age or quality, just too many sperm have got to the eggs at once. I was thinking this would be my last round and if it is this would be such a frustrating way to go out.

Trying to retain some hope but I am really really struggling. Seem to have a lot of bloating still as well and (TMI) needing to wee a lot & urgently - wondering if somethings going on.

Sorry for the moan but I had been really hoping after all the sh*t up to this point (5 transfers, 4 BFN, 1 chemical, clinic issues) I might be due for some better luck. Gutted that doesn’t seem to be the case…

@lucymills1234, I’m sorry you’re feeling so down. It is so disappointing when the numbers don’t go as you’ve planned and hoped, especially after so many attempts. Crossing my fingers that one of these three will bring you the success you hope for.

Are you planning to do a fresh transfer or freeze all and do embryo banking? Do you reckon fertilisation rates would be better with ICSI?

Hi all,
Just seen this thread - I've just had my first FET today at the grand age of 41.
Had a fresh cycle back in July but unfortunately miscarried at 7 weeks.

Thanks @BegoniaGal7. I was hoping for fresh transfer but I know chances are low that there will be anything to transfer or freeze. They said they’d not necessarily recommend ICSI but will ask again at a later point. I’ll get another update tomorrow and have to hope against all the odds there will be something still in the running. It’s an agonising wait.