IVF October/November 2021

[TheSnufflet]

I can't see that anyone else has started one yet, so I thought I may as well!

Just got my calendar through today and will be downregging in three weeks time, starting stims in late October, with EC provisionally in early November. This is my second round, which will now be ICSI-only after my last one ended up with a total fertilisation failure

Anyone else on the same sort of timeframe?

@LivingonaPrayerandGin so I had acupuncture before and after my transfer on last round. I was struggling with the whole IVF experience, and tbh I didn't really enjoy or make the most of the acupuncture. It wasn't painful, it wasn't unpleasant, but I didn't enjoy it either, I couldn't relax, it was just something to do to increase chances. The round failed so clearly it's not a guarantee- but then what is within this delightful journey? I have just had my first acupuncture for this transfer, I have another 23rd, another 26th, then transfer is 29th and I have a session before and after that, then I have another 30th. We are going away on 1st, or tbh I would have had more during ttw. The lady that does mine is so calming. This last acupuncture was much different, I felt relaxed, and I took my headphone and I have a IVF hypnosis disc to listen to, the time flew by. I have had headaches since 19th. October then I started buserelin, but since acupuncture 17th November I haven't had a single headache :) over the next few sessions she's working on blood flow to the uterus, and trying to help with tiredness. I highly recommend :) it's a very strange experience, I struggle to believe things I cannot see, so it's weird putting my faith in this, but I am hoping as I don't have the stress of EC, and I'm not so emotionally worked up that the acupuncture and more chilled attitude may help with a successful round :) let me know how you get on with your acupuncture, would be great to see what others think too x

Hi all,
It's great to discover this forum. Best wishes to everyone going through a cycle this month!

I just had my first round (short protocol, freeze all) this month. It was all going well on day 3 after egg collection with 4 grade 1 embryos, but only one made it to 4Cb (and then only on day 6).

Does anyone know if this kind of drop off in quality is normal? I'm doing lots of reading, but it's quite confusing for a newbie.

@JP3264 welcome I think that sort of drop off is not uncommon, in my first cycle we had 7 embryos on day 3 and ended up with two average blastocysts on day 5. ❤️❤️

@LivingonaPrayerandGin

Yes, I’m really not looking forward to my first EC! Also a bit disappointed with this cycle after being unwell and not getting as many follicles as hoped.

I only had 7 days of stims and the trigger today, it seems very short and a bit of a waste of all those potential follicles that didn’t grow! But perhaps I’m worrying too much, I just hope the clinic know what they are doing!

@Gensola Thank you. I guess each round is different too. When the clinic called on day 6 they said there was one "good" blast, but in a later email it said poor so it feels really hard to judge how things are actually going.

@positivevibes had to search back for your update. Hopefully that one good egg is the one. I'm just hopeful for that one good one that makes it to day 5. Anxiously waiting for our embryo update today. X

Sorry I meant @PositiveeVibes
had to search back for your update. Hopefully that one good egg is the one. I'm just hopeful for that one good one that makes it to day 5. Anxiously waiting for our embryo update today. X

The app doesn't seem to let me see the names and then I spell them wrong when I try to type them apologies x

Best of luck to everyone waiting for embryo updates soon!

Day 3 update for me is looking promising as the 2 that they didn't expect to fertilize did so now have 10 embryos. They said they were all where they should be at this stage so no indication as to what grade etc. Just hoping some good ones make it to Monday for transfer day x

@Tiger86 that's brilliant!

@Tiger86 that is amazing news!

@Tiger86

That’s great news! A really good number.

Looks like we’ll both be busy on Monday as just had my first EC confirmed for then. Not sure if excited to hopefully get a few eggs banked or just excited it’s nearly over!

For those who have had EC before; how uncomfortable is the week after? And is the next period a bit of a nightmare? Have heard conflicting accounts!

@BlueSilver23 I wa little tender after and the next day off too. Was a little tender when walking about but went for a walk the next day and at the end of the walk felt much better so a good idea to get up and about I think. Then it is good just getting all the updates about the embryos. This bit has passed quickly. I think the next bit is going to be the worst waiting to find out if the whole thing has been worth it or not. I'm really hoping I am able to get some frosties as will feel like I have another chance. Hope you get a good number of eggs on Monday x 🤞

@BlueSilver23 I had pain for 2-3 days afterwards but tried to walk around a bit, and drink plenty!! Just got to take it easy! Wishing you all the best for Monday! X

@PositiveeVibes and @Tiger86 thank you both. do you mind me asking what sort of pain it is? Bloated period type pain or ‘I’ve just had something stuck up my cervix’ type pain?

@Tiger86 Sending lots of luck with getting some frosties your way!

@BlueSilver23 my pain was more in my sides so pain in the ovaries I guess so felt more like an ache on each side especially when getting up and walking. So no not period cramps or pain down below either definitely more in my sides for me. The bloating came afterwards with the progesterone. That has been the worst part for me but think my body is starting to get used to the extra progesterone now as not feeling so bad with it anymore.

@BlueSilver23 @Tiger86 that’s exactly how I felt! Deffo feeling the bloating now!!

@PositiveeVibes and @Tiger86 I feel like I can cope with bloating etc better than ‘down below’ pain! Just staying up for my buserelin shot later tonight when all I want to do is sleep! The fatigue is real….. and I feel like there is something happening, there is pain and niggles that hasn’t been there before like a period sort of pain. Just hoping the eggs hang on until Monday!

I am feeling so rough, just had to leave a friend’s birthday dinner as I’m so exhausted and feeling sick. Also on verge of tears for literally no reason. I don’t think these hormones agree with me at all. 🤪😵‍💫💀

Hi I had my egg collection on Friday and just wanted to find other people going through Ivf at the same time for chats xx

@Gensola hopefully all good signs for a bfp soon!!!
@Ivf1sttime welcome hope your embryos are developing well x
@PositiveeVibes good luck for your transfer today hope your embryos are doing well and may even have some to freeze? X

@Tiger86 thank you. I got 16 eggs collected they called yesterday and only 5 have fertilised get another phone call 2moro to see what's the latest xx

@ExhaustedPigeon1988 that sounds really interesting! I've not really looked into it at all to be honest, I'm just trying to plan things in over the month to distract/relax me as we're also moving house! Will definitely keep you posted. How often do they reccomend it? When's your transfer?

@BlueSilver23 wow that was quick! I've my day 7 scan on Weds but just assumed I'll be booked in for another scan a day or two later. Never occurred to me they might book me straight in for EC! Did they say why it wasn't worth letting some other follicles catch up? It's quality over quantity I know but curious! Also do you have to self isolate? Our clinic is advising isolating between EC and ET and I'm expecting it will start from the final scan - now bricking it will be from day 7 and I've planned to work the rest of the week 😅 good luck for tomorrow and keep us posted!

@Tiger86 great numbers! Fingers crossed for the next update!
@Ivf1sttime hello! I'm not as far along as you as yet but I know the drop off sounds scary but 5 is a great number from what I've read! Hope tomorrow brings more good news.

Hi @Ivf1sttime - I find the wait to see how the embryos developed the hardest part of the process. I hope those 5 keep going

Sorry you're feeling rough @Gensola. Not much longer to go now 🤞for a positive result for you

@BlueSilver23 bet you'reglad to be done with the injections 🤞lots of eggs tomorrow

@Tiger86 That's a great number of embryos for day 3 - hopefully you will have a few blastocysts tomorrow

@JP3264 I'm sorry you had that drop of after a promising day 3 update. I know how that feels as last time I went from 10 day 3 embryos (although only 4 were graded good) to 2 blastocysts - day 5 4BB and day 6 4BC) I googled A LOT to try to figure out the attrition and understand that on average 30 -50% of embryos developing on day 3 make it to blastocyst and sometimes people just get unlucky and fall on the wrong side of those stats - if you have 4 embryos, just one more making it to Blast would have put you at the top end of the stats. Lots of people seem to get better results in subsequent cycles without changing anything. Also people do have successes with the ones that make it, so hoping you do too

@ExhaustedPigeon1988 thanks for sharing about the acupuncture- I've been thinking about this for a while, just the added expense that's been putting me off!

Welcome back @firefly37 - good luck for this cycle

@PositiveeVibes Good luck for transfer today!

Hope you are getting on ok @want2bemum & @Reefy. Enjoy the time away @Reefy !