How many follicles did you produce during a letrozole/femara cycle?

[beansprout55]

How many follicles did you produce during a letrozole/femara cycle?

Wow, good response for your follicles @thislittlebird I did think your scan was today. I was given progynova when my lining was thin, 4 days later it was perfect. Thru might not leave you that long to check as your biggest follicle is close 🤞 (mine were still very small at that point).

Got my first lining scan tomorrow.

@VenusStarr yeah I seem to respond quite quickly to these meds, I’m hoping that bodes well for ivf? Which, following my upset thread yesterday, I’m thinking we may try to do a round of privately before Christmas closures kick in.

Clinic is getting me back in Friday morning but wants me to do OPKs in case I get a surge before then. If my lining is still thin they’ll give me some estrogen I think, but I’m hoping it’ll catch up a bit because it’s usually ok.

Is this for your FET?

Glad your clinic are on it @thislittlebird. I think I would have naturally ovulated on my letrozole cycle as I got a positive opk the same day as my trigger. 🤞 Hopefully your lining catches up, day 8 is still early

I think that sounds like a good plan. Is it the same clinic that you're doing this cycle with?

Yes, for my FET. I've not had as extreme symptoms this time on estrogen, in my mock cycle I had a lot of emotions and was very tired. I do feel tired but it's hard to compare!

@beansprout55 how are you getting on? X

@VenusStarr I’ll have to do OPKs a bit more this month. I normally don’t bother because they don’t work well but I’ll try. I naturally ovulate (if I do) at more like day 16-18.

It is the same clinic yeah, but it’s so pricey compared to the nhs clinic private arm. I’m a bit upset really. I never wanted to do it this way because the cost spirals. One ICSI + IMSI round is £6k, plus meds, and if we get any transfers it’s £1k per transfer. An access package is £10,800 for two rounds including all transfers...you can see where I’m going with this. This is why I wanted the nhs round to go first, I don’t see the point of paying for one round when it’s so pricey and I’ll get my nhs round so paying for two also seems silly.

How long do you have to go on it for? Do you get any symptoms on progesterone or just oestrogen? I’m always a bit worried by synthetic hormones because I get hormonal migraines and I’m worried they’ll cause them.

I think you'll ovulate earlier than that this time @thislittlebird, your biggest follicle is ready I think. If you've got any opks in the house try one today or tomorrow. My surge is really short so sometimes I miss it. Haven't done them for ages though.

The costs add up don't they? It's really difficult to know what to do for the best. This FET has cost us nearly £2k but I bought the meds through the clinic, I didn't want the hassle this time of shopping around. Plus I'm on lubion this time and apparently you don't get the needles when you do it on a private prescription and it felt too complicated!

I have had a lot of ewcm this week and a couple of times have felt like I'm going to ovulate, but my ovaries should be quiet, so hopefully not. I'm quite tired on the estrogen and mild headaches, although nothing today. I get bad bloating on progesterone, and I'll be on cyclogest and lubion, which I've not done together before. I'll also be on steroids so fully expecting to be wide awake but knackered all the time. I start blood thinners tomorrow too and last time my tummy was really bruised.

The whole thing is overwhelming when you write it all down x

@VenusStarr I didn’t get any positive OPKs or EWCM until after the trigger last time, but I’ll definitely do more OPKs this time. Undid do one today and it wasn’t positive. We’ll start dtd tonight I think, just in case.

Yeah the costs add up fast. All the extra tests and stuff annoy me too tbh. I just want a flat fee that includes everything, my clinic lists blast culture as a separate fee 🥴. We have saved knowing we’d likely need private but we’re not high earners, it’s a lot of money to find but we’ll keep saving. At least if a private round fails the NHS round will give us some costs respite.

I might shop around for meds but I’m not sure. Did you have long or short protocol? I’m a little confused how we will fit in a drugs teach and get meds this month if they say we can go ahead with a round. I won’t know the pregnancy test result until the start of my new cycle due on 29/10, so that’s confusing me a little right now. I have messaged my doctor to ask.

I didn’t take the FET med costs into account, what a fool. It’s all so much. I’m wondering if I’ll need Lubion too, I’m asking for a blood test this month to check my progesterone but asking the nurse about it today really confused her for some reason. . What do you mean they don’t give you needles? Sounds a bit odd...

What cycle day are you on now? Weird that you still get EWCM. Sounds like you’re on quite the cocktail and totally understanding that it’s overwhelming, sometimes it’s easier not to think about it. I was on prednisolone for my eczema outbreak (ongoing since 2019, I’m sure it’s ttc stress related) in March and April and I still have moon face, I find it really frustrating that it won’t go away completely.

Sorry I didn't come back yesterday @thislittlebird the last few days have been so busy.

How are you getting on, did you try an opk? Definitely a good idea to start dtd 🤞

We'd started saving when it looked like we were heading for ivf last year, spent most of it on our recurrent miscarriage testing though, so need to try and build it back up. It's good we get nhs support but I hate the postcode lottery. We got just the fresh cycle with transfer. Everything else is self funded now. I know someone who is able to have 3 full rounds including 6 transfers 🤯

You have to draw the lubion up, it's not prefilled, so you have to change the needles and I think you have to order them through the pharmacy, otherwise you'd just have the vials.

I'm cd8 today, first scan and my lining is 6.2mm. Wasn't really sure what to expect but I'm back on Monday and hoping my lining is thicker and triple layer so we can plan transfer. Bought beetroot today 🤭

I've got a moonface from prednisolone on and off the last 6 months. The nurses today were saying how complex I am and they've rarely seen someone with so many additional medications.

I did short protocol, 225 bemfola. With my low amh I was told to expect 1 or 2 fertilised and a day 3 transfer, so do feel lucky that we got 3 top quality blastocysts from that round.

@VenusStarr gosh you do take lots of meds. As I'm new to this I'm not sure about half of what you girls are saying but I'm sure I'll pick it all up soon enough!x 😂
What Opks' do you use @thislittlebird ?

I'm in jersey, so no NHS, so IVF would cost the earth with all the flights to and from a private clinic in the UK. We'd never afford it.

It's so rubbish here. I've only met the FS once for a 10 min chat and have been seeing a nurse since, I asked if I should be having a progesterone supplement as 7DPO I was only at 16 (I usually start spotting 5DPOish) - they said no, that would only be like "putting a plaster on the problem" - they want me to produce my own. She has also cancelled my progesterone test for Monday and is going on my GP one back in April which surprised me. I thought they would want to do one now I'm on letrozole? Next cycle she will give me a trigger shot, but I don't know how that will help and when I ask questions she kind of ignores them?! I ovulate on my own already, albeit late, my follicles aren't big enough sooner to be triggered? I don't really understand how a trigger shot will change anything and help my low progesterone? Maybe you girls can help me understand?

@VenusStarr ugh, we haven’t dtd at all which is super annoying. It’s just been a weird few days with husband on late shifts and I’ve been having an eye problem which seems to kick in right before bed and now I have a migraine but we need to try to dtd today despite that 😩

OPKs aren’t showing much at all, I’m going to try one when I get home though, and I forgot to do it yesterday.

That’s the thing, IVF is so expensive and all the other stuff around it just chips, chips, chips away at what you’ve saved. I’m hoping wr can do the one private round and then build it back up during the months waiting/doing nhs round.

Yeah don’t get me started on the postcode lottery. It’s horrible. Why does someone in another part of the UK get more treatment than others? It’s so unfair. I am grateful we get one round and three transfers. That feels like three attempts, and I’m bitter that it’s delayed so I’m having to consider paying through the nose for it instead.

Honestly it’s such a minefield and I’m dreading starting the ivf meds when we do, glad my husband is more handy than I am.

It must now be your cycle day 9, when do you get a lining update? I just had mine and it had gone from 6.4mm on day 8 to 10mm on day 10. I have one 24mm follicle and one 17mm one. Just waiting for a the nurse to go through the trigger etc.

Hate moon face. I have a small head and face and it’s really not doing much for me having an extra layer of face fat 😩

That’s a lot of stuff to be on, no wonder they say it’s complex.

@beansprout55 right now I’ve been using Sainsbury’s and One Step OPKs. I don’t find they work well for me as a general rule, so I can’t say much for them. I have a clear blue advanced monitor but the batteries died and I got sick of it not letting me test when I wanted to.

Oh you’re in jersey? How does that work, there’s no NHS?

That’s super unhelpful 😩. What if you can’t produce your own? I certainly don’t seem very able to.

I’ve not been told or asked to do day 21 tests but I’m going to request one from my private clinic this month.

Maybe they aren’t certain you’re ovulating so they’re giving the trigger a go? Do you temp to know you are?

How are you doing @thislittlebird? I get the shift balancing. Dh works shifts now (was made redundant after furlough - he used to have much better hours, better for ttc!) hope you have managed to dtd. I get migraines too 🙁 hope it's passed now.

I find the ivf meds / injecting OK. But I didn't have a complicated protocol. My bemfola was premade. Cetrotide is a bit fiddly. But I see some people having to mix vials up. I ended up doing all my own injections which I liked as I was in control. My dh told me he was afraid to do it so good job I was ok with it!

Good to hear about your lining growth, I'm hoping when I go back on Monday they'll tell me I'm ready to introduce progesterone and book transfer 🤞

@beansprout55 how are you? The trigger shot is hcg, which helps follicles to mature and ovulate. I don't know so just guessing, but I wonder if the idea is that your body is tricked into thinking you're pregnant and so produces progesterone? I would've thought in your first cycle having a cd21 progesterone test would help as they'd know if you're on the right dose?

@VenusStarr ah no, sorry to hear he was made redundant and now does the dreaded shifts. the shifts are super annoying. He gets in so late some nights, I cannot be arsed lol. My migraine faded off after I did the trigger, which was good. Probably a coincidence but I was pleased because I was worrying sticking some hormones in me might make my migraine worse, but it was ok! We managed to dtd once per day so far, will keep it up for a few more days just in case.

That’s good that you were ok with it. I’m really not right now, but I will have to be eventually. I know I’ll be on one of the self mix up ones if we do a private round, I’m due to be on meriofert at alternating doses, DH will love that!

Let me know how your lining is on Monday! Speaking of lining growth, it reminded me that when I saw the nurse at the clinic for my ovitrelle and cyclogest this time she was soooooo vague compared to the last nurse I saw. I’m so pleased I’d seen the other one last cycle, she was so thorough. She gave me instructions, told me which days to test, which day to start progesterone and when to stop. The nurse I saw this time said nothing whatsoever. Just test in 15 days and start taking progesterone. It’s annoying how vague she was, glad this wasn’t my first month.

That’s a good point about the progesterone, maybe that’s why they want @beansprout55 to trigger.

Hey @thislittlebird had my lining scan, am 8mm+ today, so transfer is booked :) I'm really tired so going to try and nap so will come back properly later. Hope you're OK today x

@VenusStarr that's super! When is the transfer booked for? Praying things work out well. xx

8DPO and still no spotting! (Usually it starts 4/5 for me!) so letrozole has certainly has done something for me??? Don't want to get my hopes up too much but impossible not to. We're having a break from all of this as I was so overwhelmed 2 weeks ago - France, Germany and Austria! It has certainly taken my mind of the days following O so I haven't been symptom spotting for the first time EVER! 😂 not back until Friday so if things go south in the next day or two i won't be too devastated with this beautiful distraction. x

I realised I didn't reply the other day. How are you getting on @beansprout55? Glad you managed to get away. Are you testing?

How are you @thislittlebird?

Transfer has been confirmed for Monday afternoon, 3 more sleeps. I started my progesterone on Wednesday afternoon, the embryologist said my embryos are beautiful 🥰 so all I can do now is hope and pray this will be the one 🙏

Hope you're both well xx

So excited for you @VenusStarr ! I will pray (again) for you and that things go smoothly xx
Started brown spotting this morning (11DPO) and cramps started 9DPO - we both had a good cry this morning, was so sad seeing hubby cry for the first time about this 😕 I guess we got our hopes up with it being the first round on letrozole.

Will start second round on day 2, this time I will have the trigger shot PLUS the progesterone test 7DPO that I should of had this time 🤷🏻‍♀️ xx

Got these on second urine as just got home!!

First EVER BFP I have ever got. But I've had brown spotting and cramping???? Am I loosing it Venus or do you think I'm ok?? Clinic closed all weekend

Oh brilliant news @beansprout55 🥳 what dpo are you? Its too difficult to say just from pregnancy tests - I've had strong positives in 3 of mine but still miscarried much later. My chemicals were faint tests when af was due but never got very dark.

The spotting could be implantation 🤞 today you're pregnant 🥰 hopefully you can get hold of the clinic on Monday. Try with fmu tomorrow. 🙂 X

12DPO, tried a CB digital too as in such disbelief! 1-2 weeks. I really started to think that I could just never get pregnant, I never have got even the faintest of lines - always stark white.
Spotting has only been twice, yesterday morning and this morning (when wiping) but there was a decent amount, certainly not drops! Like loads of light brown mucus. Less worried about that now as it was only twice, more worried about the cramping. Has been dull and hardly noticeable but nevertheless there since 9DPO.

Trying to trust God is keeping this baby safe, so hard not to worry though! After all the tears yesterday - total shock!
Now I think about it, I have had loads of symptoms all week that I ignored as was away x

Fab news @beansprout55 you have it in writing :) xx

Did you test again today @beansprout55?

How are you getting on @thislittlebird, did you have another scan? Hope you're doing OK xx

Haven't tested again as haven't had any more of the brown spotting today, will test again tomorrow though!
Cramps still there but wondering if that's normal? Or maybe I've just been reading all the good stories! Feeling hopeful as the spotting was only ever brown and only happened a couple times x

Going to call my clinic nurse first thing - do you have any idea if they will do anything?
Saw GP yesterday and he was SO rude. I was in and out like a flash and he said there's nothing I can do for you, then charged me £50 - jersey for you! The biggest waste of money ever!
He didn't even ask me any questions. Such a quack!

With ivf you get booked in for a viability scan around 7-8 weeks, I'm not sure if your clinic will offer that @beansprout55 I'm sorry your GP was so awful. Hopefully the clinic will let you know the next steps :)

@beansprout55 congratulations! Fingers crossed it goes well for you

@VenusStarr How did today go?

I had a progesterone blood test today. My previous progesterone results have been 17 and 10, so unclear if I ovulated. The clinic emailed me the results tonight and it was 108! That is with 400mg of cyclogest daily, but still, they said that’s good and I should have ovulated. I’m so pleased, it’s taken two years to even get that tiny positive improvement.

I’m pleased I don’t have to pay £50 for a brief call with my GP, I won’t lie 🤨