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

Hello, all. We are looking for an IVF clinic who are good for older women in London/Surrey and surrounding areas. We have Unexplained Infertility.

Our first two IVF cycles failed. I am 42 and have good AMH level (22). I responded well to the meds. I had fertility acupuncture. Following the fertilisation, all goes downhill as embryo qualities are not good at all.

(protocols were same for both cycles)
First cycle- 9 eggs, 6 fertilized, 2 poor quality blastocysts, day 5 transfer, and chemical
Second cycle- 12 eggs, 9 fertilized, 2 poor quality blastocysts, day 5 transfer and BFN

This would be our final round of IVF, so I do not want to leave any stone unturned. Clinic recommendations would be appreciated, as well as any tips on what else we can do to improve our chances.

Hi all,

I've lurked on this page for ages. I'm 43 and 8 months (know these months matter) and I'm hoping to finally start IVF soon with donor sperm. I've got 5 eggs frozen from when I was 40 but not overly hopeful of them defrosting and fertilising. Going to do a fresh round too.

.My amh was 5.5 a year ago so suspect it's much much lower now. I know everyone is on here as they've not had success, but I'm just wondering if there's any encouragement at all.

To make matters worse I'm obese (I exercise a few times a week but eat too much). I've been on ubiqunol for a couple of years in prep - the pandemic really did a number on my wellbeing and I couldn't get things ready but I'm desperate to start now, consent forms signed etc.

I'm kicking myself for leaving it so late but I always thought I'd meet the right man.

@LT103 I "know" you from Scottish thread, gutted you're still in limbo and don't have better news yet. Hope you get good news next week x

Ps sorry for shit paragraphing!

Hi @Serendipity24 I've recently had a few consultations with London clinics because were also moving for our 4th and final round of ivf (own egg at least). I was also focused on clinics that have a lot of over-40s patients. The two that suggested the most interesting alternatives to my previous clinic were Argc and lister. Lister recommend what they say is a more effective (and more expensive) stims protocol for over-40s and they also told me to start taking DHEA (25 3x per day). I can't remember the name of the stims, but I can find it for you if you're interested. Otherwise, lister sounded not much different to what I had done before. Argc have very impressive success rates and a much more intensive process, personalised medication based on daily bloods etc. they also suggest multiple transfers early on (ie 2 on day 2) and then also potentially another one on day 5 (so 3 in total). This is probably why their per cycle success rates are so high. They're also much more expensive because of all the testing and also they encourage immune testing and potentially treatment as well. As this is our last round, I'm feeling more prepared to throw everything at it and just suck up the cost, but before I had my consult with them I was dead set on the lister. It also depends how close you live to London because if I didn't work just down the road from Argc there's no way I could manage the daily (potentially 2x a day) tests/scans that they require during stims.

@LouScot that's great that you have some frozen eggs from when you were 40! Fingers crossed there are some good ones in there. There are so many unknowns in life plans, don't beat yourself up for not trying when you were younger : there are so many reasons we tell ourselves why it is not the right time...

Thanks so much @99pctpractice for such detailed reply. I have heard of both ARGC and Lister but was not aware of such details e.g. ARGC's multiple transfers on day 2 and 5. The cost is obviously a factor but like you we are also thinking whether we should just go ahead given it's the last one for us. For me ARGC would be 1 hour 15 minutes commute. But I plan to take time off of work, so doable. Lots to consider.

Hi everyone,

Welcome @Serendipity24 ! I hope you find this thread useful. I'm not having treatment in London so I don't know much about clinics there. Reading your history, am I right in understanding that you transferred both of your 2 5day blasts on each round? I see the first transfer was a chemical - I've had a chemical also (single blast transfer) and my clinic took that as a positive sign that implantation was possible. Yours may view it positively too, and focus more on the bit running up to transfer than after transfer, if that makes sense? I should say though that I've had 4 transfers since, all BFN, so I'm not 100% convinced I don't have implantation issues.

Your % of blasts to fertilisation looks roughly average to my untrained eye. On the quality point, again I've had lots of AA/AB/BA transfers fail so please know quality isn't everything! But I totally understand feeling disheartened. Have your clinic looked at possible sperm DNA fragmentation? I've read that can impact blast quality (I'm single using a donor so haven't looked into this further).

Lots of people recommend following the supplement suggestions in It Starts with the Egg. Personally, I did that for the 3 months before my third EC and it made no difference - actually it was my lowest fertilisation rate yet, though that may have been coincidental. I have taken Co-Q10 since I started IVF (except during TWWs) and also a good prenatal, Vit D and Omega 3/6. Impossible to say what if any difference they make.

My clinic has said if I did another EC (debatable if I will if this FET fails) they'd try me on Meriofert, which according to some is better for egg quality. Annoying that they never suggested that before! You might want to ask about that.

Lots of luck and keep us posted!

@LouScot I remember you from a while ago on this thread, good to hear that you're now getting started. It's great that you have some 40-year old eggs frozen; fingers crossed for the thaw going ok. Likewise hopefully the Co-Q10 has been getting your eggs nice and ready for collection. What are your timescales?

After my scan last week that showed my lining wasn't ready to book in FET I've been continuing on the progynova. I hope the next scan will show an improvement. I'm so aware of the passing of time and can't help feeling that every delay takes me further away from ever having a baby. I rationally know I should focus on this upcoming transfer, and the final blast left in the freezer (though poor quality), but I've got so used to failure now that I keep thinking ahead to what I do if they fail. Or as my mind keeps thinking, when they fail :(

Thanks @lucymills1234 ! Sorry it has taken me a while to reply.

You are right, both 5 day blasts were transferred in each round. I think the clinic was very quick to rule out any implantation issues because of the chemical in the first round. I am also not convinced that I don't have implantation issues, especially since the chemical was the only faint positive test result I ever got.

I was on Fostimon and Meriofert for both my cycles. I also took CoQ10 for 5 months before the second cycle. But given no noticeable improvement in egg quality, I am questioning taking it again going forward as the Phama Nord CoQ10 are not cheap. I did not take any extra Vitamin D or Omega 3/6, as I thought the prenatal would cover them all. Will look into that. I also took prenatal probiotic, which greatly helped with constipation during TWW in the second cycle, if not anything else.

@lucymills1234 not sure if you remember me Lucy, but I took a break last year after one egg collection and have two more to do and am currently on day 4 of stims. Just got up to date with what’s happened, and I’m so emotionally invested in your battle. Can you be put on steroids for the next transfer? I was for both my transfers in cyprus, suspected autoimmune issues. This battle is the pits. So happy to hear you’re still still fighting it and I hope @IslandStars is ok xx

@Serendipity24 I have a friend that got pregnant at 42 at Kings Fertility. If you can get an appointment with the lead consultant there apparently he is amazing. My friend had fertility issues for a long time and had IVF elsewhere previously… and somehow the clinic managed to work a miracle. Hope that helps. I’ve also been told that the average age of birth in London is 38!

I am 47 y.o. and going through my first FET. Wish me luck! I need some!

@Tryingat47 lots of luck - is the embryo from one of your eggs or a donor?

@LouScot thank you! Donor eggs

Thanks @mooneagle. It's encouraging to hear positive experiences of others, though I know everyone's case is different.

Best of luck @Tryingat47. The first one is a big learning curve, hope your finding it ok x

@Woodcottage1 thank you!!! Finding it too stressful, it triggers my little obsessions.

I’m currently waiting to try again on my next cycle. Fingers crossed for us all!!

Best of luck❤️. We will get there in the end.

hi everyone, first post on this thread. I hope it's ok to join you ladies. i'm 43 i'm trying to get my act together to find a clinic to have a cycle. I low reserve and hardly get any eggs max 3 but only one or two fertilise.

I am told when you have low numbers - best put them back quickly let them mature inside. The lab is never as good.

No one tells you how lonely this journey will be. Men can never truly understand this

goodluck to everyone on here xxx wishing you all BFP everytime x😚

@Tryingat47 age is just a number.

interestingly all these celebrities seem to achieve a pregnancy or two after the age of 40!

@Woodcottage1 is cyprus good for ivf? expensive?

@Hopeful199 if you don't mind me asking, what's a mock cycle?

@facevalue I keep getting told by my clinic that 1 good egg is all you need.. fingers crossed that’s the case. I’m waiting for the AF to start so I can get on with my next cycle.

It is super lonely and sad. I never realised what a terrible journey it is but then I feel it will be all worth it if I can get a little baba at the end.

Hi @facevalue

Hope you are OK. Yes it can feel lonely 😞

My husband is really supportive, but its just not the same when it is your body going through it all and i think the emotional connection (and toll) is much stronger for women in most cases.

I have had 3 failed rounds (1 Fresh and 2 Frozen) so they have suggested I do an EndomeTrio which is essentially ERA, EMMA and ALICE testing combined. I do a full cycle to the same timeline and with progesterone and oestrogen but rather than a transfer they take a biopsy and check for the optimal transfer window, any hidden infection and microbial environment. HEFA flags it as amber or red i think but basically because there isn't enough research to say whether it makes a difference.

I only have one left in the freezer before I am heading back to stims again so just want to check there is nothing else going on before I use the last one.

Basically i dont know what else to do, but following the same protocol and getting the same result feels like a complete waste of time, money and emotion!

I personally really really recommend cyprus, it’s much cheaper and I enjoyed the experience of doing ivf on a sun lounger. Irrespective start the process asap as the first go is a massive learning curve. Tells you so much about your situation regarding egg quality, how your body responds to drugs, follicles etc. you’ll also be likely stressed by the whole weird experience and much more chilled out about future ones. Just make sure your on supplements from the book ‘it starts with an egg’. The great thing about cyprus is they throw everything at it, I was put on steroids etc.

@Hopeful199 going to look into this now. Thank you for filling us in x