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

@lucymills1234 it was a transfer of 2 x 5 days blasts (4AA and 4BC). It really sounds like a lot for you to be deciding on your own. IVF is tough and I hope you have support mechanisms in place to help you though.

@lucymills1234 How are you feeling about things today? It’s a lot to weight up. If overseas clinics are not massively cheaper, I’d probably stay here for convenience. I had to pay for my 3 cycle package up front. My clinic do offer finance options, but I’ve not looked into it to know what the interest rates are. The package is good in that you kind of get 1 round almost for free, but it’s time consuming, especially adding the PGS wait into the mix and you just never know what will happen. My 2 euploids, as grateful as I am for them, came in round 2, so the final cycle was a waste of time!

I’m not sure how I’m feeling about the transfer. Think I’m spending more time worrying about what to do if it’s negative and how I will cope, rather than being hopeful. I suppose after a failure, you lose the initial optimism.

@Bryterlayter1 Hope you’re feeling ok and managing the horrible wait! Did you have to persuade the clinic to transfer 2, or were they quite open to it?

How are you all feeling? @lucymills1234 have you taken a decision? I am also not sure what to do next. IVF chances at 43 as so terrible, statistically. And in two years of trying I have only had two chemical pregnancies without IVF. My doctor wants to do a lap to see whether anything is interfering with natural conception, I am feeling really despondent about my chances.

Hi ladies, I had my day 8 scan today. Lining is 7.2mm, bit disappointed it’s not more, but I know it should keep thickening and I’m not using estrogen. I really want at least 8mm as it’s my last embryo. Scan did show triple layer though, so that’s good. I’m back again on day 10 and doing OPKs in the meantime.

@Anxiousbuthopeful It’s frustrating they are only looking at a lap at this late stage, but I know it’s quite a big procedure, so a lot to consider. Is there any reason to suspect problems though, given most of our embryos are abnormal at our age and therefore less likely to carry to term?

Dear @IslandStars - I know, it is a bit of a late-stage intervention. But there is no real reason to suspect anything might be wrong so was reluctant to do one at all. Have just run out of ideas, really, and hoping it might help with a natural conception.

@Anxiousbuthopeful Understand, it’s really trial and error. If it does help, at least you can keep trying naturally, even if you have to call time on IVF at some point.

Thanks @Bryterlayter1 - support is lacking, sadly!

@Anxiousbuthopeful I guess it depends on whether you have the appetite (and money) to go through more IVF? If so, then whether you could look at any alternative routes - donor eggs (I know and understand many people aren't keen) or I even saw a clinic in Spain that lets you 'adopt' embryos from people who've done IVF and don't use all of their blastocysts. It's a bit like adopting, but from a blastocyst stage. There are no easy answers, as you know, so it really comes down to how much you are prepared to do...

@IslandStars that sounds like a good lining at day 8. Fingers crossed for you that day 10 is thicker and you're ready to go soon.

@lucymills1234 Thank you, day 10 scan today and I’ve reached 8.9mm, so transfer is planned for Wednesday. I start the implantation meds tonight.

I’m also triggering with Ovitrelle, just to confirm ovulation as my OPK was negative this morning, but my dominant follicle is ready. Will keep in mind what you said about hcg staying in my system if I test early! It’ll be day 7 or 8 before I cave in I think.

I’ve read about donor embryos, not sure if that’s the same as adopting embryos. It’s a complicated area to think to think about.

@IslandStars 8.9mm is very good, hope you are looking forward to transfer.

The clinic I saw had embryos from younger couples who'd gone through IVF but not used all their embryos. Couples can sign them over to the clinic who offer them for embryo adoption. The cost was about €3.5k, so less than the egg donor route. As you say, it's a complicated area.

Hi everyone. I'm over 40 (turn 42 in about a month) and have just started my second cycle. The first cycle produced 3 embryos which were all transferred (!!!) but none stuck.

I'm at a clinic out in Doha (stuck here for work) and am not a huge fan of the dr I'm with but because of Covid it's easier to try one more round of IVF here.

I've feeling a bit more hormonal this time round and am worried it's because I'm not doing the injections at the same time each day (I'm on night shift right now which makes it tricky). I hope it won't affect our chances but since I can't change this, I'm try not to worry about it.

It's crappy doing IVF abroad and far from family and friends (and husband, who's work means he travels a lot), but nice to meet you all on here

BFN today. I have paid for another cycle through access, so at least I have another opportunity.

@noopsie sorry to hear you are having to do IVF when you are far from home and family. I can imagine that must be stressful. Hoping for the best for you!

I'm so sorry @Bryterlayter1

Hi @noopsie welcome to the board. I'm sorry to hear that your first cycle didn't work out. Where are you in your second cycle? Are you doing long or short protocol? I hope it's going as smoothly as possible for you.

Depending on which injections you mean, I think a bit of leeway in timing shouldn't be an issue. If you're an hour or so either way I doubt it's a problem (though am no Dr!). I think the trigger is the only one with very precise timing. It must be rough being in a different country doing IVF, hopefully your husband will be there for the egg collection and transfer? Although I'm in the UK I'm doing IVF solo and don't have any support from family (or really from friends) so I do understand it's tough to feel alone.

@Bryterlayter1 I'm so sorry it was a BFN for you. Do you have a follow up booked to discuss the last cycle before you go into the next one? Sorry if you already explained your treatment, but did you feel the cycle had gone ok overall?

@Bryterlayter1 Sorry it didn’t work out, it’s good you’ve got another cycle ready to go. Hope your review meeting is helpful and you can make any changes necessary to protocol.

@noopsie Welcome, I hope you have success in future. 3 embryos for transfer is a huge number, not heard of that many before. Must be so tough doing all this living abroad, IVF is isolating enough as it is.

@SerendipitySunshine How are you getting along?

Thanks so much - going for my 7-week scan at 4pm so a bit nervous, but OK other than that. Still a bit in shock about it all really, as I had a big bleed so thought it was all over then.

@SerendipitySunshine Oh exciting it’s today! Good luck, will be thinking of you, can imagine it’s been a very stressful time.

@SerendipitySunshine how did you get on? I really hope all looked great.

@IslandStars good luck for the transfer tomorrow, hopefully this is the one.

Thanks so much @IslandStars and @lucymills1234 there was a heartbeat and all looks OK so I feel so much better now. Thanks for your kind wishes.

That's great @SerendipitySunshine, congratulations :) It must be such a rush to see and hear that on a scan after a long road to get there.

@SerendipitySunshine Fantastic, so happy everything is on course, congratulations!

@lucymills1234 Thank you, hope I get some sleep tonight!

Hi ladies, just a quick one to say transfer went well and I now have my little 6BB back with me. Bloods in 9 days time, but will do a frer on 7 days to prepare.

Great news @IslandStars - how are you feeling?

Thank you @SerendipitySunshine I’m feeling quite good and relaxed. Last time round the magnitude of the day got the better of me and I got quite stressed and had a terrible migraine. Trying to believe I’ve done all I can at this stage and the rest will be down to that bit of luck that will all need.

Hope you’ve had a more relaxing day after such a big moment yesterday.

@lucymills1234 the first cycle was short protocol 300 iu meriofert, but that got reduced down to 75 meriofert on day 12. My oestradiol was over 15000 on day 13 so had buserelin as trigger instead of ovitrelle. They collected 11 eggs, 5 fertilised normally, had 2 blasts which both were transfered. A 3rd blast made it on day 6, but poor quality so didn't get frozen. Have follow up with consultant tomorrow, hopefully lower dose of meriofert (or similar) next time. I did not do well on the stimms. I couldn't sleep, felt itchy all day, honestly was like being on adderall (I'm guessing).

@SerendipitySunshine how wonderful for you! So glad you got to hear the heartbeat.

@IslandStars best of luck! Fingers crossed for you.

Congrats on your transfer @IslandStars I hope the 2WW passes quickly and smoothly for you. Fingers crossed.

@Bryterlayter1 I did long rather than short protocol but your numbers sound quite similar to mine - first cycle I had 300ui Ovaleap daily and got 12 eggs, what I thought was two blasts (later revised to 1) plus another which like yours wasn't good enough to freeze. They didn't do any blood tests during stims though so I have no idea of oestradiol levels. They may want to keep you on the same dose for round 2 as the 300ui worked in getting a good number of eggs (except for the oestradiol levels) but if you struggled with them maybe there's a different injection they could try you with? Obviously they are the experts but it seems there can be a tendency with clinics to stick with what they know so I hope they are helpful and sympathetic to the challenges you had.

My second round was again 300ui Ovaleap but I stimmed for less time - 11 days instead of 13 - as my follicles grew faster. I got 18 eggs second time, 5 blasts. It sounds like you have a good ovarian reserve, so it's the usual issue of finding that 'normal' egg. When are you thinking to go again? Best of luck with your consultation.