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

@LuckyNovember I have to freeze all cannot have a fresh transfer I think they test as they go for pgt I'll know more in the morning what grading embryo is ?? My pregnacare has already lots of vitamins but not sure if they are the right ones ? I have seen that ubiquinine is good for egg quality as well as DHEA but that's prescription only?

Ah ok... sorry i never looked in to testing, I guess they thaw them to test then refreshes, and thaw again to transfer... I'd ask their advice if they think the embryo has a good chance of surviving the process? It would be too tragic to have an embryo test normal but then not make it to transfer 😬

Yep, ubiquinol is the stronger form of ubiquinone, I've been taking that a lot. I asked my doc for DHEA and she told me it wasn't for me as it was only used in cases of diminished reserve (I'm just plain old 😉), I got some anyway form my sister who lives in the US and took a small dose (25) before my first cycle. I don't think it helped, so I stopped ahead of this cycle... will find out next week if the quality got any worse as a result!

I think you can order it online if you want it, but obviously better to ask your clinic ...

Me too I think my old age and my endo hasn't helped my poor old ovaries so I'll take anything I can trying to eat healthy ha I g super smoothies for breakfast salad for lunch and carbs on an evening bit these last few days if it doesn't move I eat it !! I think they test before freezing then freeze . I'll have a million questions tomorrow for the embryologist ...: just praying I have some good news

Everything is crossed for you tomorrow @Pinklady81

Yes @LuckyNovember we are aligned again! As it say….. fingers crossed it is good news for both of us this time!!! 🤞🏻

If it all goes well my test date will basically be bang on my 40th birthday…… could make it the best or worst birthday yet! 😬

Hello

I've been lurking for a while as I just had a mc. Planning on starting a new cycle in April which is exciting / nerve wracking. I'm going to ask my clinic about potentially doing a duostim cycle, as I have heard it can have good results for people with low ovarian reserve and I think this round (my third) may be our last (at least with my own eggs).

@Cherry35 I'm so sorry for your losses. All fingers crossed for this cycle - it sounds like you have had a brutal time of it.

@Pinklady81 I had one not very good quality blastocyst pgt tested on my last round. They told me that the processes are now so much better that even with a 3BA embryo they were confident it would survive the thaw process so we went ahead with it. They take a biopsy of the embryo for the test before freezing, so there's only one thaw that it has to make it through. I was confident in the embryologist and they told me that it was ok and I wanted the certainty of knowing that the embryo was genetically normal before transfer. On my first round I had two blastocysts transferred and was so heartbroken when i had a bfn that I couldn't face the trauma of another 2ww with the glimmer of hope of being pregnant and then not being, or having another mc. I found it much easier to find out with a call from the clinic that it wasn't going to happen because the blast wasn't genetically ok. But it is all down to how you think you'll feel about it (it's also not a cheap decision...). Good luck for tomorrow!

@LuckyNovember

I'm glad you're feeling better now. Even I've done all fertility treatments for 3.5 years now (Started with ovulation induction and IUI's) it doesn't get easier. Last 2 stim cycles have been very bad. In November 2021 had only 2 follicles large enough so I cancelled it, had a FET which ended in MMC in January. Then in Feb had 7 follicles only 1 egg collected.

Now the issue is they said they couldn't find the follicles and ovaries. I'm overweight but that had never been an issue before, I've had the same weight all this time. So Dr thinks I may have been constipated which I'm always are so not sure how this will go. I will have to use an enema before EC to avoid that which I've never used. So I'm very stressed this time and have been dieting.

Accupuncture and anti oxidants have helped my husband improve his sperm.

Hopefully your journey is shorter than mine .

@Hopeful199

What type of test you have on your birthday?

@99pctpractice

Hi there,

How many stim cycles have you had with the same clinic? I would try with a different clinic before going with donor eggs. I saw a big difference when I changed clinics.

If I get more embies it will be the first time we do PGT testing. Me too, I prefer to know before transfer to avoid a MC but hopefully will have a fresh transfer (untested). Don't want to wait more time.

I've never heard of duo stim? Is it when they mix your stim medicine? Using a primer?

Have you heard of Ovarian Rejuvenation or Stem Cell Therapy? It's for low ovarian reserve. I want to find more info about it. Apparently it helps to stimulate ovaries and get more follicles.

Hi @Cherry35 - I have had 2 stim cycles. Yes, it's definitely on my mind to change clinics to see if that makes a difference. I signed up for a 3 cycle package at my current clinic and I really like them (the care is fantastic) but if this one doesn't work out I'll definitely look at different clinics.

I listened to a podcast about PRP ovarian rejuvenation yesterday so yes it's definitely also on my mind!! I have been trying to find out some more information on it but I can't find anywhere in the uk that offers it. I'm going to ask about it at my scan later today and have got in touch with a clinic in Madrid that offers it too. Have you been able to find any uk clinics fhat offer it?

Duostim is where after your first ec you move straight onto another stimulation, during your luteal phase. So it's basically two stim cycles during one cycle. Apparently it can have good results for people with low ovarian reserve, so I really hope my clinic will let me give it a go.

What is a primer?

I know what you mean about not wanting to waste more time. If we only have one embryo this time again, I might think about putting the embryo back in and let nature determine what happens vs pgt testing. Especially if the embryo already looks poor quality so it feels unlikely that it'll progress....

Ps @Cherry35 they almost always have an issue finding my left ovary as it's hidden behind my bowel. They have warned me that they might not be able to access some follicles before during ec because of the risk of piercing the bowel with the needle. They haven't offered me an enema before but it's not a bad idea to try to make it easier for them to access the ovaries and i might suggest that myself for my next round!!

When is your ec expected to be?

@Hopeful199 your birthday would be a great day to get good news!!!
My first EC would have been the day before my 40th and I was so thrilled with the idea of my 39 year old eggs falling on 37-39 statistics, alas the pre-treatment was a disaster and everything ended up delayed by 2 months 🤦🏻‍♀️ So happy for you and your young eggs 🤩

Thanks @Cherry35 ! Like was said, I think the missing ovaries are just anatomy (nothing to do with weight), I've been paranoid at every scan since I read somewhere that your bowel can obscure the view, especially if it's over-full!! Enema sounds like it would probably be worth it, I left my dignity aside in this process months ago 😂

I never heard of ovarian rejuvination! @99pctpractice do you remember the name of the podcast? Sounds very interesting 👵🏻

AFM had my last scan this morning, EC on Friday... should be 4-8 eggs, obviously hoping for the higher end of that 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻All going well, transfer Monday or Wednesday next week ⭐️

@LuckyNovember great that you have so many follicles lined up! All fingers crossed for a successful ec on Friday!!

The podcast is "40 and infertile". I'm really finding it useful - it's us based so some of the issues are a bit different, but great to find a podcast that is really focused on ageing eggs!

That title is simply perfect @99pctpractice 🤣 I'll look it up as fast as my geriatric fingers can type 😉

@Hopeful199 just got a message that - all going well and we go to transfer - out OTD will be DH's birthday 😂

@LuckyNovember that is so so weird! please let these be good omens for us 🙏🏻

I also looked up a potential due date (which I know is highly ridiculous!!) and that would be OHs birthday!! 👀 Really hope it is the universe trying to send a sign that the timing is right!!!!

I can feel a cold coming today and paranoid about covid! I have tested though and negative so hopefully just a sniffle. 7pm bedtime to try and kick it ready for Monday!!!!! Argh!

Grade 1 embryo they've said growing quite quickly with 12 cells so freeze today or wait until day 5 until blastocyst stage? Xx

That's super news @Pinklady81 🙌🏻 I would keep it to day 5: I know that's really nerve wracking, it if it can't make it to day 5 in culture, it probably wouldn't make it in the womb anyway, and better to know now than be pinning your hopes on a frostie ❄️ Sounds like you got a good one though!!

@99pctpractice

I'm in Australia, but I like this blog so have been watching it often. I thought in Europe Ovarian Rejuvenation was more common, in my city only a couple of clinics offer it; haven't met or chatted with anyone who has had it. Not sure of success rate but willing to try a consultation about it if this stim cycle doesn't have good results.

Definitely try a new clinic. I already have my next clinic planned . Primer is when you use a medicine/hormone before CD1 and it's suppose to "wake up" new/more follicles. I think it's better to transfer that embryo and hopefully is the chosen one that gives you the BFP.

@Pinklady81

They usually test them fresh before freezing. After freezing is possible to test but it has more risk since they have to thaw them tyen freeze again. Best wishes for your embie .

@LuckyNovember

You made me laugh when you said "you left your dignity aside". I know, that's why I'm so nervous about it but this process is so gruelling. Before IVF I had never had an internal scan and now I've had over a 100 I think. You think you would get used to but I can't. It'always hard but no choice but to keep going.

We will be cycle buddies, my EC is on Monday. Hopefully we both get great results.

@Pinklady81 can they test the embryo at day 3? I thought they needed to wait until blastocyst stage, in which case wouldn't you need to wait until day 5? Be worth asking them when they test as that could help you make a decision.

They've definitely said day 5 for testing but wanted to know if I wanted to skip testing and freeze today I've opted to wait and see what happens at day 5 she said lots of embryos don't make it to day 5 in my age group ...:

Hello everyone me again ...: waiting for call about day 5 update tomorrow are the odds okay if embryo is graded as top quality on day 3 reaching blastocyst? Also this week after egg collection my body doesn't feel my own come out in spots rash still from injection sites and cold sore ! I don't feel me at all anyone else felt like this it's my first cycle so all very new to me any advice / tips welcome

@pinklady81 this is anecdotal but I had 3 top quality day 3 embryos and by day 5 i had 2 that had turned into good quality blasts.

My last EC I felt really bad for about a week afterwards. Recovery times vary. If you have concerns I'd suggest talking to your clinic . IVF is so hard on the body.

Stims part wasn't too bad just exhausted but this week I feel rubbish no energy still and feel disconnected in some way from my body. Thanks for the help I am trying to keep busy and think positive

My clinic told me about 50% of good embryos on day 3 make it to blast, but they weren't specific on how many make good/bad/ugly quality 🤷🏻‍♀️ of my 4 mature eggs, all fertilised and made it to day 3, they all slowed down a bit after that and 3 made it to blast but only one of these was good enough quality for transfer... (I think we can do better this time 😎)

I found it was only once my period started that I got back on an even keel... with all the hormones and anxiety, I think you can't even know if you feel normal until you're at least a week post-EC!! Having said that, if you feel distinctly unwell, definitely call your clinic if it will put your mind at ease...

Hope you get good news tomorrow 🧡🧡🧡

Hello @LuckyNovember thank you I think because it's my only embryo I'm clinging onto anything but embryologist said it's a fast grower so maybe good or bad ... I don't feel unwell more just really emotional spots I look drained everyone had said but that's part of the ride I suppose . Xx