ARGC or EVEWELL

[Mummmmyyyy]

Hi,

Just wanted to ask some fertility advice.. really confused about what to do next…

Here’s my history..

4yr old DS- conceived naturally (two months after trying)
IVF:
1st- chemical
2nd- pregnant (sadly lost my pregnancy at 23 weeks due to cervix)
3rd- bfn
4th- chemical (Pgs normal)
5th- chemical

As you can see we’ve had a long road of trying…my first 3 rounds were with abc ivf.

After my first bfn we moved to Evewell. We have just had our 3rd failed round with Evewell (2 chemicals and 1bfn). One of the chemicals was with a Pgs tested embryo.

Also to add- we had era testing between these cycles too- which showed I had an infection, we cleared this and I still just had my last chemical. Also, the era showed that I needed 12 hours less progesterone (so I had 4.5 days of this before transfer). However this doesn’t really make sense as in my first chemical and my actual pregnancy I had 5 full days of progesterone before transfer- and it worked! Has anyone else had this? I can’t help but think my chemical this time was due to the timing of my progesterone not being long enough before transfer?

Also, where do I go from here?

Do I do another fresh round or frozen round with Evewell? (I have a few frozen Embroys but my Amh is low (3. 9).. so keen to bank embroys)

Or do I move to argc? I am keen to start quickly though abd I think argc is gna delay things? I already had a consultation and can have my monitoring cycle as soon as my period starts.. how long does it take to start after monitoring cycle? Can I start straight away? Depending on immunes I guess.. if immunes come back saying I need something- what is the process? Can I do alongside stimms or do I have to wait?

Should I do another fresh/ frozen? Should I repeat era - the progesterone timing part?

So confused, sorry got all the questions.. xx

Hey I was with argc but never got to do my fet as got pg with fresh.
After my monitoring cycle I was told I could start the next cycle! So there isn’t a delay unless they find raised killer cells or something and then you need to take meds which can be months worth.
I actually had my ivf with argc and my immunes with Dr Gorgy. He’s more experimental and offers extra immune testing. This is the furthest I ever got with his treatment.
Also Argc don’t do banking so you’d have to do one cycle at a time (obviously you can get multiple embryos each cycle although after pgs I only got one) so the cost can add up. It seems like you get embryos so that’s not the issue but I think there may be something else going on affecting implantation - I would look at your immunes.

Argc didn’t find major immune issues btw and hence said I could start straight away but I waited about a year as fell pg naturally but mmc. After that my immunes got worse and worse, they let me cycle but was on a lot of drugs. I moved to Gorgy who decided the level of drugs were too low and changed some of them too

Hi all. Thanks for this thread. I just wanted to ask if you recommend ARGC? We have had our first cycle of ICSI IVF. There are male factor issues and we are both in our forties. My partner has a 7 year old from previous relationship. I feel that Bourn Hall where we are have not been great and the more I look into it the more I realise it's about egg quality rather quantity. They managed to collect 18 eggs, 6 fertilised but none made it to blastocyst on day 5 although they transferred the best of the bunch. Feeling low and desperate.

Hi - bumping this as I am currently in Evewell but seriously considering ARGC as well.

@MummyDiaries

Hi - bumping this as I am currently in Evewell but seriously considering ARGC as well.

I'm with Colin Davis at Evewell too. Does anyone have any positive IVF results with them? @MummyDiaries did you stick with Evewell?

Hi, I’m bumping on this thread as I’ve no idea what to do next. I’m 43 & had my first IVF cycle at Guys which failed last month. 7 eggs but only 2 fertilised as the sperm struggled to stick to the eggs (it surprised them) so ICSI would be recommended next time.
I didn’t have any blood tests during the cycle which I thought might be odd? The only blood test I had was back in August for AMH (9.6). I’ve no idea whether to try again with Guys or look elsewhere.

I’m still in the process of trying to decide whether to stay with Evewell or move to ARGC. Inclined towards the latter. But had a complete emotional breakdown over Christmas so paused everything for now to try to regain my strength.

@zenharmony did you end up getting good results with evewell or did you move? I’ve got a consultation with them but not sure if I should go with argc or dr gorgy?
Thanks so much xx

@MummyDiaries I hope your ok? What did you decide to do? Are you still with evewell?

Thanks so much xx

Hi all, in the end I did another cycle with Evewell and am in the TWW but I have no symptoms so pretty sure not pregnant. I was really not happy with them this time from many points of views so will definitely be moving to ARGC next time. How did you gals get on? Xx

Hi @MummyDiaries , my Evewell freezer baby is now at 20 weeks! I did not feel a thing during the TWW (other than self-induced stress). I held out until day nine and took a first response and was shocked. Even after the first two betas I requested another as I was so convinced things were headed in the wrong direction.

Hoping you have a positive outcome! I absolutely know where you've been and it is not fun, hang in there!

What were you unhappy with during your cycle?

@ExpatLivingLondon so happy for you! Congratulations and wishing you an easy and stress free pregnancy 🙏🏼 I was unhappy with Evewell because the communication has been very poor, they were inattentive, disorganised and in terms of my treatment I know these things are a bit of a trial and error but it really started to feel like they’re winging it a bit. I produced 19 eggs and only one made it to blasto which is the fresh transfer. For next cycle the Dr suggested trying a lighter approach but he already knew that/said that before but put me on the long protocol anyway. Also gave me immune infusion without even testing anything. I am very disappointed and sad to have lost so much money again but more importantly time. Wish had moved to ARGC already. ☹️

I am also really unhappy with The Evewell but can’t say too much as I am also mid-cycle and don’t want anything to be traced to me/jeopardise my treatment! I would cite lack of communication, being treated like a cash cow and never actually seeing my designated Consultant as my main gripes. It is a shame as it wasn’t like this when I first went to them a few years ago, but things have changed hugely and not for the better. It is so busy there now and I think this has hugely affected their customer relations. Their staff are really nice but I think they are letting basic, decent service get away from them. A bit like John Lewis!

Coincidentally, give what I wrote above just a few hours ago, The Evewell have just announced (got an email) the opening of a second London site in Hammersmith. Which pretty much confirms what I’ve experienced as a patient, that the Harley Street clinic is bulging at the seams and compromising quality of care in consequence. The second clinic might be a good thing in easing pressure, but the cynic in me just sees the pound signs in the eyes of the owners. I think there is a definite place for fertility clinics that are small, intimate, patient focused - that’s what Evewell used to be but maybe not anymore.

I'm currently pregnant with an Evewell baby. I have been so pleased with the clinic. It has honestly been so smooth and easy. Calls are answered in seconds, email communications are clear and come quickly with next steps after appointments etc. Lovely facilities and amazing staff. I've never had to chase anything. Can't fault them. It's a very individual experience.

I'm wondering if this evewell Hammersmith is the reason the NHS Hammersmith clinic has closed down due to a walk out of embryologists earlier this year. If that's the case, it's a shame that they all felt so little satisfaction with their current position to all leave to a private clinic but if so, doesn't surprise me at all.

I’m at the Evewell, mid-stims of multiple rounds with them and I also have found them to be good. The medical side is top notch and the customer service is wholly within reasonable levels of excellence. Crucially, they have listened and adjusted our protocols after a dismal
first round (Poor responder) and we have seen significant improvements in subsequent rounds. Time will tell whether we get a baby from it but Evewell are doing well so far!

@user1471592279 thats exactly what I thought when I saw the email.

@Phrenologistsfinger would you mind me asking which Dr you’re seeing? Leaving the comms and patient care aside my main concern is that I lost faith in our Dr. As I said I know these things are trial and error but our case seem to be getting progressively worse. How many cycles have you had with them?

I have PM’d you! I am under Mr Davies and he has been great. We have been seeing them for over a year now as we saw him when ttc naturally too (recurrent losses) and he encouraged us to try things there rather than go straight to IVF. Not all clinics do that.

Bumping this as I too am with The Evewell and curious about experiences. Have any of you had immune testing of treatment with them? They’ve offered it to me but I’m weighing up with Dr Shehata who I thought I was going with for immunes but having seconds thoughts…

@MyEasterEggs I had immune testing done by Evewell as I was having recurrent natural losses. High ish NK cells so Evewell gave me pred to ttc naturally (no joy). I am currently on dexamethasone for IVF stims which did seem to help on round 2. Banking at the mo but will do more immune tests before FET and add steroids and intralipids. If first euploid transfer fails then we might look at it in more in depth with Shehata after that. But from our IVF performance, our low blast rate suggests that might have been our issue more than immunes, but time will tell…

@Phrenologistsfinger I’m in the same position with recurrent miscarriages following natural conception. We have three euploids so EndomeTRIO and immunes next then - all going well - FET in a few months. How did you find the pred? I have anxiety so I’m unsure about it. What’s the dexamethasone for? Are you adding steroids and intralipids based on results? All the questions, sorry 💛

@MummyDiaries Hi- do you mind if I PM you? My consultant at the Evewell -who was great!- is on extended leave so I need to find a replacement and would love to hear thoughts about your experience as I decide how to move forward