IVF/FET Jan/Feb 2022

[Juno231]

I know I'm a bit early but knowing that I get to start in January I think I'll go mad just twiddling my thumbs until then.

With Christmas clinic closures I think there's a fair few of us around waiting for Jan to start, so hopefully we can gather here for support in the mean time?

About me - 33 years old (although I turn 34 in Jan!), TTC#1 for two years with unexplained infertility. Am due to start my first ever round of IVF in January (NHS). I've been told I'll do short protocol and in terms of next steps I've got a trial embryo transfer in two weeks' time, and both OH and I have to get blood tests done in Dec. I can order my meds from the pharmacy in Dec as well so got that to look forward to ha.

I'm currently predicted to start my cycle on the 31st of Dec which would mean having to wait a whole cycle due to the new year bank holiday getting in the way. My cycle can vary by a few days though so I'm really hoping CD1 actually comes a day or two later!

Although great your date feels earlier than you were prepared for!! I don't understand the closure - it doesn't appear to be just the festive break - it's like 6 weeks by the sounds of it?

@WhiteLily86 yeah that's not fair you've been told a time frame and it's been longer and longer. And especially with watching all the videos not to mention the mental preparation as well!

Ah I see thank you, that makes sense. I'd expect ours would be into February or March given we've not had the nurse appointment yet and fitting in after the previous cycle. It was good but also took me hugely by surprise and I'd had some bad news that week so I was already so emotional. Rather than be pleased I panicked. But it's only a good thing so now I'm feeling better.

Yeah something to do with computer systems; which I first thought meant to online consents as I know that's quite new but then I re-read and just seems to be staff training for a system.

I feel a lot of the time it's totally taken over my life and it's all I can think about. Really hoping Christmas is a bit of a distraction! Albeit a sober Christmas and not for the reason we'd have all hoped! Xx

Bumping the post as a few people are looking for it xxx

@Lotusflower1990000 thanks!

I wrote a message yesterday but clicked on something else by accident and lost it 😅

Was just saying that I feel stuck in limbo now and can't wait for IVF to get started. I think I ovulated yesterday which gives me a provisional CD1 on the 1st of Jan which isn't ideal. I do hope I'll be allowed to take norethisterone to delay it by a couple of days.

How is everyone doing 💕

Anyone else feel like intimacy isn't so great now? This month I've just been so tired and not in the mood at all so far. Will speak to my counsellor today about it, don't want to push my OH away, he's not said anything as I know he'll be giving me space, but I just don't feel very confident or attractive right now either xx

Hello everyone, just found this thread so thanks for bumping! Just had a round of EC two days ago (my first so I’m still very new to this!) and will be doing another after Christmas to egg bank a little before starting treatment.

Although I was very lucky to get 14 eggs this week I can’t help feeling like there were some missed opportunities. I’m relatively young and had a good afc do I was started on low dose stims (150 each of meriofert and fostimon), however after several days my fostimon dose was increased as my follicles were too small. This meant that I jumped from just 5-6 to 30 follicles in just 2 days so I think it did the trick! But I still only ended up with eggs from half the follicles that I had, which I gather is a bit less than expected? It seems that the number of eggs collected should roughly tally with the number of follicles? I was told approx 70%? I also lost 5 eggs to immaturity on collection (but only just, they were M1 I think).

Anyone had any experience with getting maturity up or issues with fsh dosing? Although I was very lucky to get those eggs I can’t help feeling like I had 30 follicles there and if I’d been on the ‘standard’ dose from the start that we would have captured more eggs from them. It feels like a little bit of a missed opportunity! Trying to arm myself with some knowledge and suggestions for ensuring that we get as many of the follicles/eggs in January as we can!

@Newbee33 it sounds like you had something similar in that your follicles didnt mature well on the lower doses?

For me it seems I had the numbers but not the maturity! Anyone had similar issues with follicle/egg maturity and success in remedying that? Anything I should be asking my consultant n a couple of weeks at our consultation?

Best of luck to everyone starting in January. At least we can drink a little at Christmas I suppose!

@HJen22 hmm I sort of have the opposite where I think our BD is better than it has been in a while because the baby making pressure is less present 😅. Feels less of a chore atm I guess! It's probably a good idea to speak to your counsellor about it though, if only to get it off your chest.

@BlueSilver23 sorry I've got nothing to contribute as I won't start my treatment until Jan. How come you are going through two lots of EC and an all freeze before starting transfers?

@Juno231yeah it was kinda like that when we first got referred cos it was like back to just doing it for fun and when we wanted instead of trying to fit in as many times as possible throughout the month 😂 but now I'm just feeling a bit deflated and emotionally drained. Counsellor was lovely about it and said I should take to my OH about how I feel. But also it's normal. I really love my sessions with her, she's so nice.

Hi everyone! So glad that you've made a thread @Juno231 I've been looking for a January one! I've been on the waitlist for 3 years but had to lose weight and I'm finally there! I met my Dr at the beginning of November and now I'm having to wait for my nurses appointment - have any of you had yours yet? If you have what did you discuss? I spoke to a nurse today but didn't get much information all I know is that at this appointment I won't be getting shown how to do injections so I just wanted to know what is the discussion about if anyone can enlighten me? ☺️

Hi all,
Hope you don't mind me jumping in on this one! Its my first ivf round and I'm starting down regulation in Dec with stims & EC in Jan.
Is it just me worrying about rising covid rates? Do people plan to isolate during their treatment? I hadn't planned to, but with the threat of a cancelled cycle if one of us gets covid, wondering if i might be best to cancel the christmas parties!

@connal omg 3 years! Congrats for shedding the weight though 🙌. I had my nurses appointment straight after my first IVF appointment. It was silly things like weighing and taking my height measurements, talking through when/where to call when my IVF cycle starts and based on what day of the week it is when my baseline scan would be etc. Basics. They said they'll go through the injections when I come back in for my baseline scan.

@HJen22 could that also be generic SAD? Compounded by how horrible it is to be childless around Halloween and Xmas season? Certainly makes me gloomier.

@Brightside27 our clinic is expecting us to self isolate from CD8 until EC. I don't think I'll do anything on top of that tbh!

@Juno231 yeah I think I'm just sad most of the time just now to be fair. Being back in the office this week has helped to distract me but we're now being sent back to WFH. So it didn't last long!

But yeah I'm def not looking forward to Christmas as much as I normally do. Let's all hope next Christmas is a million times better for all of us 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻

Welcome @Brightside27 and @connal How are you both? X

Hi!

New here and new to IVF

I’m nearly 40 and have 2 DCs (9 and 6) but faced years of infertility since then which turned out to be endo and cysts.

Feel like time is running out so decided to try IVF as a last chance option.

Was hoping to start in jan but so far only had my bloods done and husband booked for his test on 6th Jan. CD1 currently due to happen around 29th Dec….. we are going private but wondering if that is enough time and is it likely to start then because of Christmas?!

Actually find it quite hard to get information from the clinic so wondering if anyone can shed any light?!?!

Feeling nervous and stressed that this is really last chance saloon

Good morning ladies!

If you don’t mind I would like to join for this thread.
We are on TTC for 3 yrs, although only 2 of them were serious. All of our result are good, unexplained infertility. Had 3 failed IUI, never been pregnant so we moved to the IVF route (self-founded), we are on long-protocol, I start my down-reg injections mid December, and EC mid January.
We are going to meet w the nurse to sign paperwork on Monday, ask questions and I might have a blood test.
I have already a few questions put together, but I wondered if you can enlight me what should I ask?
One of main question will be about my timeline as I don’t really understand if I start the down-reg on the 12th December (day21, and I’m regular 27-28 days cycle, predicted last af 19th Dec) why is the EC on the 14th January? Is it not too late?

Thank you!! Xx

@Dobcaty hi welcome to the group.

I'm no expert. Only on our first cycle. Awaiting a review from a CP back in October.

I find alot of people talk about starting treatment at certain days of your cycle. I was told by my clinic that it doesn't matter when you start. The treatment they put you on will take over your cycle anyways . And possibly will have a bleed around a week after starting. Don't quote me on that. I was on burselin for around 21 days . Then onto overleap for around 10days . Then trigger shot.

Everyone and everywhere will be different.

Where are you having your treatment ? We thiught we might have to go private. I've turned 40 . This will (hopefully) be our first we had apps cancelled bc of covid delays but thankfully we've been awarded 2 additional cycles. So 3 in total.

Hope you progress quickly. There is nothing worse than waiting . X

Morning @Justawannabemam
Sorry about your CP, hoping you don't need to wait long for your next round and you'll be holding your little one very soon!

We are not qualified for NHS as our CCG has very strict age limit, I'm 36, and we run out of time because of the Covid.

I really wanted this to be natural as much as can, so thats why we went to IUIs first and tried everything already, at the moment looks like our biggest chance to become parents is the IVF. I'm in Salisbury Fertility Clinic, they are lovely and bc they are half way NHS - half way charity run it's much cheaper than others around us (approx 50%) and their successful rate are higher than the national average. I was looking the BPAS Fertility too - they are just start to run their clinic end of this year- again charity funded, but bc would need all fertility assessment and they are so far, the cost would be the same.

Thank you for the information about starting date, it makes sense now.

It’s getting really real now, the excitement growing in me, can’t really sleep and I am not even started my injections yet 🙈

How did you find the injections? Did you do yourself or your husband helped you?

Tomorrow is the first step on the new road in this journey and I hope it won’t be bumpy.

@Dobcaty sound slide you are sorted with your clinic . However my GP sent a letter appealing that we get 2 more goes. And bc it was due to covid we got a reply within 2 days to say yes . When I last heard from my clinic they said it could be April. Totally heart sinking hey , they halved their clinics because of covid. They did say that they are hoping to increase after the new year. But now covid is picking up again I'm not hopeful.

I done my own Injections . My partner could not have done that. He is a bit squeemish. I was away on holiday for 2 weeks of doing then so I went in quite quickly really. We came back and I had a scan and then 2 weeks later we were having egg collection.

It is exciting, I think its the unknown. I dont know how I will feel starting again. Our first cycle went perfect all the way thru, I think that's why I was so hopeful probably a bit nieve as well.

Good luck tomorrow .

Hi all, I'd like to join as well!

I'm hoping to have my 3rd round of ivf starting in Dec or Jan. I have a day 2 scan tomorrow morning, so hopefully I'll find out what the plan is, alone with a timeline.

A little about me: I'm 42, married 18 years but no dc. We've been trying for about 4 years, unexplained infertility, and covid delayed things. 2 failed iui while on the waiting list for ivf. Then one failed ivf on nhs in April. Was only eligible for one nhs round, so went private for second round in Aug, but then mmc in Oct. I don't have any frosties. Today was first period afterwards.

Hopefully I'll have an update tomorrow!

Could I please join you all too!

TTC for 2 years, we had a missed miscarriage in March 2021 and in the last 6 months found out I have PCOS and we have male factor issues. We are going down the route of ICSI in January (depending on when my cycle actually turns up).

Quite frankly have no idea what to expect or how I am going to feel on this journey but it’s nice to be able to connect with people who truly understand what you are going through

Hi everyone, I'd love to join too!

We are hoping to start ivf january/February time. We have our first appointment with consultant next week with Cambridge ivf. Unfortunately we have to fund the whole thing as we get no nhs funding in Essex so we are putting in every penny we have to pay for 3 cycles.

History- 32 years old trying to Concieve for 1 year. Diagnosed with tubal infertility due to burst appendix 10 years ago. No doctor ever warned me that this could have left me Infertile so it has been devestating to discover all these years later. We actually did Concieve naturally early on but miscarried a week later. Doctors have said this was likely an eptopic stuck in the tube. Time is also a factor for me as my mum has her menopause earlier 40s so we was advised to go straight to ivf now.

Will be lovely to chat to you ladies xx

Hi all, I got confirmation of my funded round of ivf today! Starting meds week of Jan 24th as long as the nurse is happy when we see her. All feels very real and scary now. Egg collection expected w/c 7th Feb.

I’m 38 (and a half 😑) and DH just turned 40, we’ve been trying actively since Oct 2019 and never had a BFP. We have male factor, he has poor motility, and I may have PCO, at the very least I have low progesterone naturally. I have fairly high AMH for my age (31 or 36 when it’s been tested). We just tried three private cycles of ovulation induction with a trigger shot and progesterone, it didn’t work so here we are waiting for the ICSI. We’re with Guys.

At my scan on Tues (day 2) the dr said i could start down regulation meds from day 21 then they can control the timings for egg collection in early-mid Jan.

Dr have us several options and suggested embryo banking (or batching) and said i could do 2x back-to-back rounds of stims and egg collection for freeze all, or maybe 3 rounds (but not all back to back) if numbers need to be higher. Then we could do PGS testing (genetic or chromosome testing) to pick the best for frozen transfer. Or just do another regular round of ivf (since the last one worked up to the mmc).

Considering I'm 42, getting some embryos on ice could be our best bet for a sibling, if we manage to be successful for a first. It's a lot to think about. But glad to get the ball rolling again!

Hi, joining this thread as we had a consultation on Friday which confirmed IVF should be our next step. I'm hopefully going for CD3 testing when I get my next period. FF app is currently predicting that to be on Christmas day, so hoping I ovulate a few days earlier and can go for the tests before the labs shut for Christmas! Assuming I can do the tests then, we'll start IVF my next cycle in January.

I'm 33, been TTC a year and a half, I have short cycles so it's been around 20 cycles. AMH was 13.8 when checked last year so assume it's a bit lower now. We're doing IVF privately at Fertility Plus in London. I'll be doing a short protocol.

Have you all made many lifestyle changes leading up to IVF? I'm feeling a bit guilty that I haven't done more but I don't know how much it matters. I don't drink much but I haven't cut it out completely (I did for a while, but then TTC just took so long and I felt like TTC was punishment enough, and if I want to have a glass of wine at a wedding or on my honeymoon then why shouldn't I?!). I asked our consultant on Friday about drinking over Christmas and he told us to have fun and not to worry. But you know...I'm still worrying. Also feeling guilt over not checking my skincare products are completely phthalate free although I try to use natural and organic products, I just get so overwhelmed. I also haven't been exercising as frequently as I used to as I've been so stressed at work, and stress at work is a factor in itself...but then I tell myself it doesn't matter because no one can live 'perfectly' and I'm doing what I can.

Hi all, sad to be joining this thread, because the reason I am is because I had a biochemical pregnancy a week ago after a PGT-A tested normal (euploid) FET.

35, turn 36 in February, using donor semen. It was my first transfer of first IVF cycle, but trying not to panic because went into debt and already stretched all resources just to pay for that one round, and now have sold absolutely everything and maxed out credit line to pay for a package of 2 more. So if it doesn't work in these next two rounds, it probably never will, as it would take years to save for more, years that I don't have due to my age, stats, and results so far. My AMH/AFC aren't abysmal, but they're not great for my age.

Anyway, I may not post tons until next cycle gets going as I'm still in a dark hopeless place from my loss last week. But will definitely want to join in more once can focus on next cycle. I'll start another egg collection round in January if my period can hold off until at least December 31st. If it comes before then, I'll have to start next cycle at end of January instead of beginning. Just had a 2nd covid jab which I'm really hoping will delay my period at least a few days, as it has to many of my friends.