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!

Hi @PcosSOS I’m sorry to hear you can’t go for the frozen until June, I know how much waiting sucks but hope your next cycle goes better. Regarding the progesterone w I wish I could help but my cycle they are not inducing a bleed as I have regular periods. If not regular periods then maybe you might need it. Hope that helps xx

Sorry to those who have had negative tests or bad news.

Hope it’s ok if I join the thread. First ivf cycle. Have been on down regulation for a month and now day 6 of stims. Have had a scan today which showed four follicles on each ovary but the nurse said the two smallest probably won’t catch up so 6 viable follicles. Gonal F has been increased from 225 to 275 by the nurse.

My AMH is 6.9 so didn’t expect miracles but feeling super sad and like this is doomed to fail. Have been having treatment for 5 weeks now and just want it to be over.

@PcosSOS FET are much easier to fit in around work. I have a complicated work diary and things that just can't be moved and so far both FET cycles have fitted in quite well. This cycle I have only had one scan and then embryo transfer. The best thing is that they can work around you a bit on embryo transfer day through medication.

@Coops0406 Thank you 😊 I was definitely regretting the drink this morning 😂 but it did help us to unwind and just enjoy some time together as a couple. Good luck to you and your embryos x

@GodspeedJune on my first round of ivf I was on gonal f 375iu and menupur 75iu, my Amh was 8.5, although it's probably nose dived since. I remember my first scan, I only had about 5 follicles, the nurse said I probably wouldn't get any more, but that round I had 10 eggs retrieved so don't lose hope.

@Bluehawaii29 Thank you that is really helpful! Best of luck with yours. x

@womaninkent that is really good to know! I had to basically fit 6 weeks of work from this cycle into March - June this year so it is really really tight but fortunately it did mean we had flexibility during stims. I'll talk to my clinic on Monday and then hopefully we can fit it in before somehow. Was your scan flexible or did if have to be on a specific cycle day?

@PcosSOS they gave me the date but that was to fit around the clinic. This cycle it was day 11 last cycle it was day 13 so I guess they have a bit of flexibility.

Thanks everyone the wishes, sadly heavy bleeding now so it is end of this chapter. But I had the best sex for months, last night, so I filled up with some happy hormones 🥰. It is sad that didn't work first time, but we do have the saving for another one, and I know what I need to do in terms of changing my habits, and hopefully the clinic also learnt something so they can adjust things. We have some consultation on Monday after my blood result and we'll see. I've signed off work early today, really looking forward this free afternoon.

[quote Aimz40]@Coops0406 Thank you 😊 I was definitely regretting the drink this morning 😂 but it did help us to unwind and just enjoy some time together as a couple. Good luck to you and your embryos x

@GodspeedJune on my first round of ivf I was on gonal f 375iu and menupur 75iu, my Amh was 8.5, although it's probably nose dived since. I remember my first scan, I only had about 5 follicles, the nurse said I probably wouldn't get any more, but that round I had 10 eggs retrieved so don't lose hope.[/quote]
Thanks Aimz. I’m glad you had a better result at EC. I’ve had a little sob and going to try not to ruminate about it over the weekend.

Sorry to hear that @Dobcaty. I'm glad you're in a position to do another cycle. I hope it works out for you.

Hi @Bluehawaii29 I started at 41. At 34/35 the numbers should be stacked much more in your favour when it comes to euploid embryos. Lots of luck!

@Justawannabemam I remember you as well! Sorry to see you're having to go through this again... Unfortunately what happened last time is still not resolved, the clinic has been unbelievably slow and unresponsive. It's been miserable and horribly stressful, on top of the usual stress of IVF. I decided to go ahead with a new round anyway as my age means I don't have time to waste.

@Coops0406 thank you - I have everything crossed (as always!).

I've read through the latest messages and am sorry to see there are a fair number of negative updates... there is just no rhyme or reason with IVF, you can do all the right things and still not get the desired result. I've now been through this so many times (fresh rounds and FETs) that on the logistics side I feel well-practised, but emotionally it's fresh hell! Hang in there is all I can say and take a day at a time.

@Dobcaty sorry to hear your news. It's good that you can go again though.you are right they learn things from each cycle and can tweak things, If I could afford to do it again I definitely would, I think after the 3 goes I had at it, they could probably get it right next time. Enjoy the rest of your afternoon and good luck with everything xx

@lucymills1234 thank you :) we are praying for a normal embryo at least in our remaining bunch of 4 x hope everything goes ok for you too this time. Sounds like you’ve been through a lot xx

Sorry to hear about the BFNs on here. It’s a reminder of just how hard this process is to me, and I haven’t started yet. Take heart in how the chances for success usually improve over time with Ivf, fingers crossed for everybody here.

I’m not really a January IVFer at all, I’m February at this stage. Not sure if anyone else here hasn’t started yet or will be cycling in February.

I got a call from the clinic today and 5 out of the 7 have fertilised. Now just a waiting game til a call Monday to see how they are doing and if one makes it then Tues will be transfer day.

My thoughts are with everyone aswell. ✨

@Frenchiepupmama that's great news. I would try to busy yourself now, on my first round I was totally unprepared for how much anxiety this stage caused me, it's hard going. I hope they all do really well for you xx

@Aimz40 thank you. I totally agree with you, I hadn't prepared myself for this part... I think u get use to doin the injections, going for the scans, bloods. Then this stage its out of your control completely and not knowing. Going to try and keep busy over weekend then Monday I'm at work and said will call later afternoon as that's day 4 of an update.

On a separate note, I know I'm jumping ahead but if I do get to transfer day I am really worried about it as I struggle awful with smears (the have to use a smaller speculum) and I just have so much pain no matter how I try and relax. I have a tilted cervix so don't know it that is issue. How long does it take to do a transfer?

@Frenchiepupmama I'll be honest, it's not the most dignified experience I've ever had 😂 i would say u need to relax as much as possible! The first time I was very tense and my legs started shaking and it was uncomfortable, the second time the consultant kept telling me to relax coz as I tensed my bum was lifting off the bed. I have also got a tilted cervix, it didn't cause any problems at all. They chat to you and maje you feel at ease and showed me what's going on with the scan. The second time they even printed me a picture of the embryo going into the uterus, u could only see the catheter, but it was a nice touch.

@Frenchiepupmama great news about fertilisation. I'll admit I'm ok with smears but I've never had any discomfort from a transfer apart from needing the loo because you have to have liquid in your bladder!

@Dobcaty I'm so sorry. IVF is crap sometimes. Glad you had great sex though...distant memory for me!

@GodspeedJune it's impossible not to worry about something with IVF. But it's really not about the number it's the quality. I know people who've had 30 with few fertilised and others with 3 who've got pregnant. Fingers crossed for you xxx

@Coops0406 Lake District sounds gorgeous. Hope you have a great time.

@PcosSOS sorry about your negative. I will keep everything crossed for a late bloomer in there

Xxx

@frenchiepupmama 5 out of 7 is really good, congrats! I hope all of them turn into beautiful blastocysts until the day 5 🍀
As I said before, I also have problem with speculum. My gyno gave me a few tips about how to ease pain. First of all, she told me to ask for a semi-circular two piece (see the picture) speculum. It is definitely less painful than the one piece ones. If you push your bum to the table instead of lifting it up, it also helps a lot. Of course as a reflex you might lift it up, but every time just try to remind yourself to push it down.
I think it is really important that you explain your situation beforehand and ask them to be slower and patient. My doctor always put me last in the transfer list so I could take my time and relax. Maybe you can ask for the same??
How long does it take? Well, it really depends on you. Normally a pap-smear takes max 20 seconds. ET takes about 5-10 min. But if you are not able to relax, it might take up to 20 min... My first one took 20 mins with all the tears and breaks in between. The last one took 7 mins because I was much more relaxed.
I hope these tips help you in your ET. Looking forward to hear your good news in a couple of days 🤞

@Cayandsimit thank you so so much for all your advice 💞 it's really appreciated. When I get a call Monday for an update and if we hopefully get to Tuesday il will talk to them abit. Hopefully I'm not their worst patient 😭xx

Hi @PcosSOS hope you have had some time to recover and feeling a bit better x
If I remember correctly you also had a 5AA transfer this time that didn’t work? Have you thought about how many of your frozen embryos you would put back next time? Our consultant said it’s fine to put back 2 this time after one failed cycle. Seems a bit scary but am trusting her judgement on this one x

@Bluehawaii29 Started spotting this morning and cannot wait for it to come full force so it can be put to bed and start next cycle. Yes we had a 5AA this time and the whole cycle has gone so positively that I got my hopes up a bit too much. I was going to ask on here actually if anyone knew if you can put 2 back in. I am up for it to be honest, I think I'd do anything that gives us more chance of it working next time and I'd be up for twins anyway. Though I know it can mean greater risk of complications I also know a fair few people who have had very straight forward twin pregnancies with zero complications. How many frosties have you got left? We have 4 so for me, the idea of doing 2 more rounds of this is far more palatable that doing 4. x

Heya @PcosSOS I totally agree. Have a cousin in Canada who had uncomplicated twin pregnancy with two blastocystsz they are 3yrs old now :) and she was asking asking me why they didn’t do it in the first cycle but NHS don’t allow to do first cycle for my age etc as they felt higher risk of multiples. This time however the consultant said she would authorise for two as it’s reasonable to go for it now that one cycle failed. I am inclined to also put 2 in for 2 rounds if it comes to that as we have 4 embryos left too and don’t want to be going through this 4 times with just one embryo each time! We are also using embryo glue this time and have been told that it can slightly increase chances in certain groups of people. It’s a cost £250 extra but willing to give anything a go that might increase our chance x

@Bluehawaii29 Yeah I didn't even ask about a double transfer this time as I'd read they don't do it. A friend of mine had one first time but that was a few years back. Thankfully (though I'm sceptical that gradings mean anything tangible) ours are all graded highly so that might have been another reason they only put one back. I think as we responded exactly as expected they just went for one in case. I was thinking about embryo glue and also getting a scratch done - have they talked to you about that?

@PcosSOS yeah they didn’t talk about scratch to us but I have heard of it. I had a biopsy of the lining done in September so for my transfer in December I thought that might count as a scratch and might get the benefits of it but don’t think I can go through a procedure like that again! We got told all 4 embryos are ‘beautiful’ by the embryologist a couple of weeks ago so that gives us some hope but yeah I think we are just going to gamble it and just put 2. What’s there to lose? X