IVF/FET October/November 21

[2021babyhope]

I think I'm a bit early on some of the other threads so starting one for October/November 😊

1st fresh cycle in august ended in CP.

Booked for follow up consultation 30th September so hopefully I'll be able to transfer late October early November 🤞🏼

5 frozen blasts. Hoping to transfer 2 this time round but I'm not sure they'll let me 😬

@lauradxoxo of course! 😊 welcome!

Sorry to hear about your first cycle 🥺 so good that you've got some Frosties though! Makes such a difference!

I think (from what I've read) from start of AF to transfer its about 7 weeks on a medicated cycle.

I'm not 100% sure how clinics decide on which type you do, sometimes can come down to availability I think! 😊

When's your consultation to go through it? X

@Tinyhappypeople ah we were super close in timings last time! I had transfer on 10th aug!

The whole process is so emotional it can definitely get overwhelming so feel free to dip in and out to suit 🖤

I couldn't get a follow up consultation until the 30th sept so I doubt I'll start until mid October now which is when my next period will be.

Fortunately I had a normal one after our chemical so hoping they'll let me start on my next one!

Oh bless you 🥺 there's so much to think about! I know it's hard but I found it easier to take it one stage at a time - broke it down into sections and found it more manageable!

Hi @2021babyhope and thank you! I know it’s so heartbreaking when it doesn’t work isn’t it 🥲 although I’m very grateful for my Frosties!!

I’m not sure when my consultation will be I only got my BFN on Friday. I was really hoping to start on my next cycle which will be mid October. Do they not let you until start until you’ve had consultation for you know?

Was your last cycle fresh or frozen? Xxxx

Hi everyone 👋 my FET meds are coming today 😬 I'm 6dpo, so af should be here by next Wednesday / Thursday. Feel like it's not really happening, but maybe when my meds are here, it will feel more real. I'm quite anxious, I think it's because of what happened last time I'm trying not to get too hopeful.

I'm sorry about your bfn @lauradxoxo ❤️ I hope you can get in quickly. My review discussed what happened and I needed additional tests before planning my FET, but as soon as my results were back, I booked to see my consultant for my protocol and then had a nurse appointment scheduled to order my meds, so it did take a few weeks, but it has gone quickly.

Not long until your appointment @2021babyhope 🤞

How is everyone else @TheSnufflet @Tiredandobsessed @Giraffe971 @Littleblue80 @Tinyhappypeople @theotherfossilsister

@VenusStarr I’m really sorry to hear about your chemical. I know it’s so hard to remain hopeful in the same I’m never been pregnant so I get myself so anxious that maybe I can’t. Just need to try and relax and stay as positive as we can though! That’s great your about to start is that the estrogen tablets?

Does someone normally call to arrange your consultation? Or is it just a letter they send out?Xxxx

Thank you @lauradxoxo

With my clinic, I called them to see book a review - I'm with Create, so there's a call centre style approach but they can see the doctor availability. For this FET, they booked my doctor consultation and also a nurse review for a couple of weeks later as they knew we wanted to start for my October cycle. But every clinic has a different approach I think. But there's no harm in calling to see.

Yes, I'll start estrogen on cd2 and then hopefully transfer will be around cd16. I did a mock cycle in August and that's what day I had my biopsy on, hoping my lining plays ball 🤞

I think I'll try some visualisation. I'm doing some brief mindfulness every day and luckily have got telephone counselling support, got a session next week, so hoping that will help too x

Hi all, hoping I can join you though my plans are a bit tentative at the moment.

This will be my third cycle, and I'm doing this solo. My first cycle at 41 got 12 eggs which I was really pleased with. I only have one ovary, but my AMH was 9 so I seem to have decent ovarian reserve. Fertilisation was quite poor but I got two blasts, a 5AA transferred fresh (BFN) and a 4BB. I decided to do another collection given my age and got 18 eggs next time, 5 blasts (5AA, 5BB, 4AA, 4AB, 3BA). It was freeze-all because of my age. First FET was 5AA (BFN), second 4AA (sadly a chemical) and then 4AB (BFN).

When I did the 4AB transfer I found out the 5BB they tried to thaw first didn't survive, and the 4BB they froze from the first cycle wasn't actually viable and shouldn't have been frozen. So I went down to one left, a 3BA.

Have decided to do another collection, as I'm now 42 and time is against me. Plan is to do two collections and then PGS everything, but playing it by ear to see how the first goes.

@Littleblue80 it's amazing that you got 2 euploids - did you do anything in terms of diet/lifestyle/supplements? I didn't PGS after either cycle so can only assume my failures were down to aneuploid embryos, though can't be sure. My chemical suggests implantation is possible for me...

Will catch up on everyone's progress...

Should have said freeze-all was due to OHSS risk not my age! Age on the brain...

@2021babyhope No specific plans through yet, the consultant just said to ring the nurses on CD1 and they'll sort everything for me to start on CD21. Does that sound right?

@VenusStarr We've come away for a few days as I was struggling to think of anything else at home, however I would of been 20weeks today if we didn't have a MC so that's playing on mind now. It's all so overwhelming & consuming isn't it? It's so unfair that it's so difficult for some of us.
How are you feeling? x

@lucymills1234 I’m so sorry that those transfers weren’t successful and the chemical pregnancy too, so much to go through, I hope you’re doing ok. I think with your numbers, I would go PGT-a too, some people say with smaller numbers (as was my case) it’s not worth it, but I know the pain of miscarriage and BFNs so to me it was worth it, I was on melatonin, dhea, coq10 600mg, and I take my fertility box it is a vitamin drink with high omega 3 support. I did this for about 6 weeks before egg collection but have been on multivitamins for what seems like ever!

@VenusStarr did you get your meds? So are you starting tomorrow, so exciting!!

@Tiredandobsessed what a journey you’ve had, sorry to hear about your MMC and sending every ounce of baby dust your way!

@lauradxoxo my medicated cycle starts day 21 (5th Oct) with burselin and then fematab on day 2 of the next cycle .. and then transfer 3 weeks later.. it’s a long un!! They seem to differ case by case though.

@Tinyhappypeople I know how you feel, I think we all think of the worst case scenario to protect ourselves but all it does is make us worry more, the chances are very, very slim so try to put it out of your mind, you’ve done amazingly well to get to this point so you’re doing brilliantly 💪💪

@Littleblue80 Thanks so much for the info, really useful to know what other people are trying. I've been taking a preconception vitamin (Proceive) constantly since about Feb. Since the end of August when I knew a fresh cycle was looking likely I've taken 400mg Ubiquinol (version of CoQ10) plus I've succumbed to the 'It Starts with the Egg' regime and take most of the supplements recommended there - I think EC will be early November so I'll have had a good 8 weeks on them. Not currently taking melatonin or DHEA - did you do any tests before you added the DHEA? I've never heard of My Fertility, I will google it! Before my previous two cycles I just took a prenatal and CoQ10 - I had longer on it before my second cycle, not sure if that made a difference.

I didn't do PGT-a for my first few cycles and now wish I had - going through so many failed transfers has cost me a lot of emotional stress, money and most worryingly, time. Lots of luck with your upcoming transfer!

@VenusStarr sorry to hear about your chemical. I had one on my third transfer (after two BFNs) and could hardly believe it when I got that magic line... to have it taken away again feels unbelievably cruel, however much you think you've moderated your hopes.

@Tiredandobsessed I hope your time away helps, I find being at home sometimes really claustrophobic, especially now I'm working from home.
I'm sorry that you're struggling, it's really tough thinking about where you should be when you lose a pregnancy ❤️

My meds came @Littleblue80 I'm 7dpo today, so will start next week on cd2 with progynova, luckily I'm not doing down regulation. Feels a bit more real now and I'm happy knowing I've got everything I need to get going.

Thank you @lucymills1234 I'm sorry for your loss ❤️ sadly it wasn't my first loss. I have had recurrent losses over our 4 years ttc, this was my first ivf one. We initially struggled to conceive but then did but couldn't stay pregnant and then after my 4th just couldn't get pregnant again. I'm on a kitchen sink protocol with full immune meds as well.
It's really difficult to manage hope, in my last round I felt really good, until I didn't. This time, I can't allow myself to get excited or feel hopeful.
Best wishes for this egg collection. I took 400mg of ubiquinol leading up to my egg collection and we got 3 top quality embryos (only 3 fertilised out of 7). We've not tested them as we haven't got many but might look at embryo banking if our 2 frosties don't work out.

Hope everyone is OK today x

Hi all,

Please can I join? I had my first NHS funded cycle in July/aug which sadly ended with a BFN. I had quite a traumatic experience with egg collection and had to be hospitalised due to pain and internal bleeding, the doctor had trouble finding my ovary?! . 8 eggs were collected and 5 made it to day 5. I had one put in and I have 4 Frosties so will start the FET process when my period starts next month!

Me and my partner are keeping IVF a secret from family and friends, so I’ve been stalking all these mumsnet threads for comfort! I’m 30 and have never been pregnant before despite being sexually active since I was 17. Not even a hint of a pregnancy ever! Really hoping our time will be soon!

Hoping it’s ok to join, I’ve had two cycles so far - first one was a freeze all due to OHSS and we got 22 eggs, only 2 blasts which were both FET BFNs.
Second cycle this summer I got 12 eggs, 5 fertilised and 3 blasts - one fresh transfer 5AA failed.
Ive been recommended to transfer two in Oct/Nov - one 5AB and one 5BC. Feeling nervous as this is our last shout before going abroad and we are also scared about twins but obvs twins better than no baby.
My clinic doesn’t do steroids or intra lipids and they are extremely negative about ERA/EMMA etc.
I feel a bit out at sea as we have had three failed transfers so far and I feel we should change something.

Hi everyone

I had my teach, bloods and baseline scan today. Hoping to start my noristorene mid October as I have a wedding end of October that I don’t want to miss through isolation. I’m doing a fresh short protocol.

This is my 2nd IVF cycle I had 4 transfers last cycle, two miscarriages, one chemical and one failed. Hoping for better luck this time around!! I have issues with thin lining, I’m hoping that if it’s thin this time they will let me change to a freeze all so I can get my lining up!

Hope everyone is doing okay

I started downregging yesterday, this time round no trepidation, just 'oh great, this shit again'. Although I am going to have to learn to be brave and do them myself this round as my partner is going to be away a few nights and I can't just ask randomers to do it for me!

The main issue I'm having right now is trying to lose enough weight to stay within the NHS 30 BMI limit before my first weigh-in in approximately a month. When I got my calendar through, I was bang-on 30 BMI as I may have eaten precisely all my feelings after the first round failed. I'm now at 29, but I'd really like to get down a bit further before stims start. The thing that's worrying me is so much information out there says dieting/restricting before a round can impact your eggs in both quantity and quality - but I really don't have a choice unless I want to have my funded round both cancelled and taken away last time I put on two kilos from the start of stims to egg collection so I'd really like a bit of a buffer. Doing all low-carb, fasting, no alcohol, logging everything in MFP, trying to get enough exercise in etc. Can anyone else relate?

Thanks @VenusStarr and so sorry to hear you've had such a rough ride of it. Hope is so hard to manage, you need some of it to keep going but you always feel you have to ground yourself at the same time. It's a tightrope. I had great quality blasts and my hopes were raised, but as I've worked through them with BFNs and a chemical that hope has dramatically ebbed away. I really hope you have success with one of your FETs.

@Pippa91 that's a great number of blasts you have, lots of luck with your transfer.

@Gensola Hi, I am sure I've seen you on other threads. Sorry you've not had success yet. Have your clinic suggested doing anything like a thrombophilia screen, or are they negative about that as well? It's an easy blood test (though not cheap - never is) and might be something you could consider after three failed transfers?

@Mancbear88 two miscarriages and a chemical from 4 transfers is tough going, hope you're coping. Fingers crossed for your next round and for a good lining this time.

@TheSnufflet Welcome - I can't help on the BMI front I'm afraid but I would have thought the key to a pre-IVF diet will be gradual weight loss rather than anything sudden which might 'shock' your body. I realise that's so much easier said than done when you're against the clock. Lots of luck.

Hi, I hope it's okay to join...I started a thread for September/October but only just found this one. I will slowly make my way through all the posts.

We're currently on our 2nd round after a very poor response to our only nhs funded cycle back in June...I'm 39 with an AMH of 20.8 and was expected to have a very high amount of follicles...but only had 4 which produced 2 mature eggs last round, with one making it to day 5 and put back in, but unfortunately didn't want to stay.

Having been delayed in September due to a cyst on my ovary, we are finally starting again! I've been on norithisterone for just over a week and got one more week to go, then stims start on 10th October 😃 super excited to get going again! This time I'm on 450 ovaleap in the hope my very stubborn follicles can be stimulated to grow! 🤞🏾

I recognise a couple of names on here from a june thread @VenusStarr and @TheSnufflet so it's nice to be able to continue the next part of the journey with you too 😊

Hey guys!
Hope you don't mind me joining. I was in the September FET but had my second scan to check lining again and is still not thick enough so now have my next scan on Friday which is now leading me into October. This is my last cycle on the NHS so after a missed miscarriage and 2 BFN my gynaecologist is allowing me to put 2 in so I'm hoping this time at least one will stick around.
I recognise a some names here I believe I was in the July/August thread and a few more before then.
How's everyone doing?

I'm sorry you had that 'oh shit' feeling @TheSnufflet I've been grappling with that on and off the last week, almost like dread starting our FET, but I can't stand another month of getting nowhere. Hope you're OK today.
I had good intentions of eating better, exercising more (not massively high intensity, just getting moving daily), but not been great. My bmi is hovering around 30, "luckily" 🤔 we used our nhs funding on our fresh cycle, so this FET is self funded and they've not mentioned weighing me again. My clinic are quite relaxed, thankfully! Try not to put too much pressure on yourself, if it helps to track things, that's good but if it's stressing you out, it's not that helpful ❤️

Thank you @lucymills1234 I hope we both get positive news 🤞 I went for lunch with my friends on the weekend which was tough as one has a 15 month old, who she brought (been together less time than we've been ttc) but the others all have much older children and we're saying they couldn't do the baby thing again etc etc and I just felt left out.

Hello again @Coops0406 I'm sorry it's taken you a while to get going again, but good news that you can start very soon :)

Hi @Alexm06 I recognise your name too. I think we could have put 2 back if we wanted, but we only have 2 left so decided to just do one. Fingers crossed for your scan on Friday 🤞

I'm sorry for your losses ❤️ @Mancbear88 I have recurrent losses, have you done any additional tests? My protocol includes clexane and aspirin - will you be on those? I think clexane is supposed to help with implantation and aspirin is good for blood flow.

Hope everyone is OK xx

@VenusStarr we have 3 left but because it's our last NHS go we opted for 2. I'm guessing we will lose one in defrost as we did last time so if this doesn't work we want to start a fresh at a new clinic.
Have you started treatment yet?

@lucymills1234 I remember you from other threads too!
My clinic are quite negative about most interventions - he said I could have the blood tests but there was a tiny chance they’d show anything. We will definitely get them done if we have to go abroad for cycle 3 but he convinced me that we aren’t outside what he’d consider normal just yet and that it was worth trying again with two embryos this time and more progesterone.
We are working towards a medicated FET towards the end of October.

@Mancbear88 I remember you from other threads too. I’m sorry to hear you have had such a tough time, and I hope we both get good news soon!

Hi all, hope everyone is OK this evening. Sorry to read about how tough some of your journeys have been so far.

Sorry for not keeping up... I did what I did on the thread I joined on my 1st round- posted once, got overwhelmed and then disappeared . I will try harder this time!

I started my period yesterday after impatiently waiting most of last week. So made the call to the clinic today and have spoken to the nurse and the embryologist to start getting things in place for my FET. I start the lovely buserelin on day 21 but not really sure of timings after that, just waiting for my treatment plan etc. I've been so restless and wound up since the calls and no idea why, but pacing around and not being able to concentrate was a big theme in my cycle over the summer! Any ideas of what to do for distraction/ relaxation would be welcome... thinking I might invest in a jigsaw!

Has anyone been offered lubion injections but only 2-3 times a week?? When I had my follow up with the consultant I mentioned maybe increasing progesterone as I had a full bleed while still on the crinone gels (and at that point also had light positives on home tests). She said I could have injections twice a week or every other day and that it was basically my choice, but when I mentioned this to the nurse she seemed confused as this wouldn't give a steady release of progesterone. The nurse is going to speak to the consultant again to clarify.

@lucymills1234 - unfortunately the 'shock and awe' method is all I've got for the time being; my clinic sent this over and I quote:

"NHS Patient – you will be weighed during your treatment. If your BMI goes above 30, at any stage, then your treatment will be cancelled as this will be in breach of the NHS contact. This will also count towards your entitlement."

So very little wiggle room unfortunately

@VenusStarr it's so strange that suddenly the weight limit doesn't matter anymore as soon as you're paying privately isn't it 🤔 although I don't want to sound ungrateful, it's amazing that I get two rounds when some people don't get any. I totally get what you mean about the combo of dread but also needing to get on with it in case you're going nowhere. I suppose I could have delayed my cycle until I'm at ten stone again, but with Christmas in the way and even more sodding waiting involved - and my eggs not getting any younger - I don't think I could bear it..

@Coops0406 (waves) we're practically AMH twins! And I got a much lower than expected number of follicles as well. I hope the higher dose this time works for the both of us

@Tinyhappypeople As far as I know my clinic doesn't do Lubion at all, only offering Cyclogest or Crinone... I have seen the results of a new clinical trial recently that shows that daily vaginal pessaries + intramuscular progesterone every three days had the same live birth outcomes as daily intramuscular progesterone - maybe that's why they've suggested it?