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!

@tulipsandsnow so sorry for your loss. Same happened to me end of October . Heartbreak hey. I rung and Confirmed positive test. 2 hours later full on bleed.

Sounds like youve put everything Into this, I truly hope you get your dream. Are you using a donor because your going solo or another particular reason. This might be our option if our next 2 cycles don't work although I'm already 40 so I don't know if I should push it much longer. We will definitely have our two cycles but I think we'd leave it at that.

Fingers cross your period comes late. Waiting another month would drag it out .

Take care .x

Hi everyone! I learn so much from sharing our stories!
I have egg collection scheduled in on 28th Jan. Not sure how they can do that so far in advance to be honest. Started the contraceptive pill yesterday so they can regulate my cycle and waiting for my clinic to send through my treatment schedule. I imagine I will be stimming from mid Jan. I am 31 and trying for first child!

Can I join too? My partner recently had a surgical sperm extraction and we had the follow-up appointment today. All good to go! Bloods to be taken over Christmas then starting my drugs in January. No idea what I’m going to be taking yet, but apparently a high dose as my AMH was in on the low side. I’m 41 and this will (hopefully) be my first…although doesn’t quite seem real at the moment.

Can I jump on this thread too? I will be doing a FET at the end of January.

History - 35, conceived a DD through a medicated cycle in 2017, she's now 3. Been TTC for a second for 2 years now and did an IVF cycle in July, fresh transfer was a BFN and so was a FET in late September. Took a few months off to try to improve my headspace a bit - worked a bit - but keen to get going again. We've got 3 frosties left. Feeling quite desolate that its not worked and wondering if it ever will, have we just been unlucky twice or is there something wrong which means implantation isn't happening. The constant line being trotted out is that we conceived before, carried to term and had a baby so of course there is nothing wrong... surely if that was the case we wouldn't be where we are!

Hi all

Got news yesterday we can start our 2nd cycle on 3rd Jan. Raring to go nice quiet Christmas for me x

Hi all,

I've been assigned AFC and have had a bad day today after going in for a repeat TVU to look at a possible polyp - my last ultrasound was a week before my period and my lining was too thick then for a good look. I was hoping for the good news that the polyp would be affecting my fertility and we would have it removed, but the doctor I saw today told me she didn't expect the size and location (bottom of my uterus) to be the cause of our issues.... leaving us with the diagnosis of unexplained infertility which wasn't what I had hoped to hear. To top it all my friend also announced her pregnancy today so it's been difficult to get away from it all and generally a very exhausting time .

So her advise was to proceed with IVF and I have joined the 5 month wait list, but I am absolutely terrified. I'm not good with needles and though she did show me the needle I would be using on myself and I think I can get through that with the use of emla, the next stages of egg retrieval with a canula, foley catheter and of course the retrieval needle and then the progesterone injections after transfer have had my stomach in knots all afternoon.

The doctors and nurses have all been lovely but I'm hoping you lovely ladies can give me a little more information on what to expect from the egg retrieval etc at Aberdeen Fertility. I know all clinics like to do things differently but I will absolutely not be able to handle 10 weeks of a needle in my backside, I'm really hoping they would allow the progesterone suppositories.....

Hey ther@ScottishRach

Sorry for your news. Congratulations for deciding to have IVF. It's not an easy decision. But honest the injections aren't so bad so please don't worry about them. Maybe your partner can help do your ones at home. The egg collect you'll have had medication to make you drowsy so you won't see that.

Just think you can do it think of the end result

Hoping those 5 months fly by for you xx

@ScottishRach I’m not in Scotland but recently had my first egg retrieval (and really worried myself about it) and that was the easiest bit of it all! You don’t remember anything about the actual retrieval itself so don’t worry about that. You go in they give you a gown and put a cannula in. The anesthesiologist will ask you some questions and decide what twilight anesthesia and abx to give you. For me I then laid down in the treatment room (kind of like a mini theatre) and they gave me some drugs and that was about all I remember. Some clinics put your legs up before this some don’t (mine did) but they don’t do anything else until you are under. I had no pain in the treatment itself as I didn’t remember! (I did wake up to them cleaning me with swabs) and some cramping when I woke up. I was taken to a little ward to recover and I came around very quickly, I didn’t feel dopey at all like you do with normal anesthesia. I had some codeine for the cramps and the bleeding was pretty light (think period spotting). I left after about an hour and half after getting dressed and tucking into some soup and crisps. I walked about ten mins to my car and then we drove home and got Burger King.

The twilight anesthesia they give you means you don’t know a thing, I never even saw a catheter or needle other than the cannula in my hand. I can’t speak to ET as I haven’t had it yet.

The daily injections aren’t fun I will admit but you do get used to them. My advice would be to make sure you’re happy with the technique and get walked through one at your clinic. Basically grab a bit of skin not too close to the belly button but still below the level of the belly button, inject the needle but let go of the skin before slowly injecting. Give it a few seconds before removing the needle after injecting the meds (to try and reduce the amount of meds ‘leaking out’) and then remove. The needles are pretty small and more stingy than painful, many times I didn’t feel anything with them at all. After the initial hesitancy you do get used to it. Not sure about progesterone alternatives to needles but certainly worth an ask!

DOI; I used to be terrified of needles!

Best luck and just try to think that it will all be worth it!

Hi, hope its ok for me to join.
I'm about to start my first cycle of ivf icsi in the new year. Currently taking norithisterone until 28th December and then once I get my bleed I will be starting stims and if all is ok egg collection should be the week of 17th January. I've had my nurse consultation and gone through the plan and drugs. I have an endometrial scratch booked for next week too. Im nervous and excited as it's been a long 4years ttc. Im 26yo and have pcos and endometriosis and my husband has low morphology of 2%

Good morning everyone,

I hope you don’t mind me joining you all? My husband and I have been TTC for over 3 years, We were told we had ‘unexplained infertility’ and everything looked ok from tests and scans. When we were finally refered to our clinic of choice our consultant believes in the Absense of me having a laproscopy I have endometriosis based on my symptoms and told me quite clearly if this round doesn’t work consider a lap. I am 34 my husband is 35.

AF arrived yesterday so on CD21 I will be starting down reg (nasal spray) and then mid jan gonal f. I am doing long protocol. Egg collection possibly last Saturday in Jan if all goes well and transfer the following week. This is our 1st round of IVF and crapping it. Awaiting my updated thyroid function results.

First sniff of nasal spray will be New Year’s Eve!! I look forward to reading more about each of your experiences in the coming weeks and hope we can support each other. I don’t know anyone in real life who has been through it other than a colleague that I’m not really close to. Xx

Hi All, I hope it's ok to join? As my name suggests this is all very new and I'm amazed at the speed with which things are going for us now. I was diagnosed with PCOS years ago and told that ttc would probably just take us longer but that all was fine with my husbands sperm (only takes one etc etc). 4 years later and after more tests, referrals and delays it turns out they can't find any evidence of PCOS anymore and we will need ICSI due to male factor (Low count and 2% morphology). Now we are finally in the system thing have sped up immeasurably! The drugs are being delivered next week and we have our baseline scan and Nurses consent next week too.

I think I'm going to be down reg over Christmas but we've yet to talk through our plan in any detail and it's all such a lot of information to take in at once!

Anyone else feel like you coast along in the system forever and then suddenly its lightning speed?

Hey there @pcosSos & @Sydney1986x

Welcome to the group .

Yes things move quite quickly once you start.

I waited months and months then all.of a sudden were were there . It was a great experience one which I think/thought I sailed through. Everything went perfect from day 1 we transferred to embies which I tested positive then that results in a chemical.

So were starting again 3rd Jan.

I hope you find it easy in terms if injections , prepare yourself mentally. I crashed because I thought it went so well that when it never we were gutted.

Looking forward to round 2 though . Will be a bit more conscious

Good luck to you both. A new year full of new challenges coming up xx

Hi @Sydney1986x

I too have endo and am starting IVF in Jan. I am nearly 40 though so age not on my side either sadly….. didn’t get diagnosed until I paid for private tests so wasted a lot of time there

Just wanted to say I had the lap and hystroscopy and it is not too bad. I did fall pregnant naturally about 8 months later but lost it so now going forward for IVF as a last chance.

Fingers crossed it all goes well for you…. All feels super overwhelming!

@Sydney1986x
I've gone 40 . In August . On round 2 coming up. Have you qualified for funding or are younself funded ?

Thanks for the warm welcome 💕☺️ I forgot to add we are also moving house in Jan so it’s gonna be a full on stressful month. Luckily my husband is dealing with that side of things 🤦🏼‍♀️

@PcosSOS yes it feels so overwhelming right now and all systems go. Hard to get your head around after lengthy waits but pleased we are there now. Looking at my schedule I couldn’t take it in, it’s so overwhelming to look at.. I’ve gone back to look today with my husband and put reminders in my phone. I underestimated how much it would take over our whole life for these few months!!

@Justawannabemam wishing you all the luck in the world for this 2nd round. We qualified for 1x round of IVF.. our CCG is under age 35 and under BMI of 30 so scraped through luckily as I’m an august baby.

@Hopeful199 isn’t it disappointing that we’ve had to wait so long for diagnosis and acceptance that this could be the cause? If I think back to how long I’ve suffered monthly and it was always disregarded by GP or gynae. I feel really cross about it. I’ve looked up some private specialists and think it’s around 3-4K which I may consider, if this round fails. I’m so sorry for your loss. Good luck with IVF and fingers crossed we both get our healthy happy babies 🙊.

@Sydney1986x

Mine is 40 and same BMI 30. I'm around 29. We failed in October and was told it would be April. So im trying to be really good with my food and training. I always train anyhow but when they said 4 months we had a few weekends away and I've out a few lbs on. Hopefully I'll be okay on Wednesday when I'm getting checked.

We had appointments cancelled bc of covid which delayed referral and then getting seen however my GP wrote to our NHS and requested 2 more as ppl usually get 3 and thankfully we were given it.

Hoping things workout for you x.

Hope it's okay to join! Been hoping to make some friends going through the same thing, my friends are all really understanding but can only do so much as they've never gone through it.

We've been trying ttc for 2 1/2 years but are doing ICSI first time due to mfi. Started on microgynon yesterday hopefully transfer end of jan 🤞 waiting for appointment to talk about next meds etc! Hate the waiting 😂 hope everyone's doing okay!

Hi all, I hope you don't mind me joining. I'm due for EC on 19th January and have been scanning through the posts.

We have been TTC for 3 and a half years...never had a positive test, was told I had pcos so was put on clomid for 6 months which didn't do anything, then during our first IVF cycle back in may, was told I don't have pcos but actually have endometriosis! Our first cycle which was our only NHS cycle was a disaster with only 2 eggs and one made it to day 5, good quality but didn't work. 2nd cycle was in October with double the meds...got 17 eggs, 6 good quality embryos, one put back in but failed again. As I'm 39 we had PGT-A on the remaining embryos and only 2 are euploid which was apparently good at my age! But having had 2 failed transfers we have opted to do another cycle to try and bank some more euploid embryos as this will be our only chance for a family. They are also suggesting some tests on my womb so we don't waste these euploid embryos!

@tulipsandsnow I'm so sorry to read your post. I really hope things work out for you and sending you so much love 🥰 take your time to work through your emotions. I have everything crossed for your next round.

@Justawannabemam will you be starting injections on the 3rd jan? When is your EC booked in for?

@C1umsyGiraffe @Bec18x looks like we may have EC around a similar time

Looking forward to seeing hearing about everyone's journeys as they move forward 😊

@Coops0406 sound like you've had a tough year fingers crossed for you this next cycle. I've had an endometrial scratch done today and meds are being delivered on Friday. Hoping to start my period around new year so I'll start stims around 3rd Jan. I have PCOS so am on the short protocol which means egg collection should be the week of 17th Jan if all goes to plan x

Yesterday I seemed to have a total meltdown, I couldn’t stop crying and felt out of sorts all day. I feel much better today. I think my period arriving was like the confirmation that this is it now, it was our last chance and it didn’t happen for us. It just feels like I’m permanently grieving! This time of year doesn’t help either. I feel better today though and my thyroid function test has come back ok.

@Justawannabemam I’m so sorry you had a failed round in October. I too had to get my BMI down it’s 28 now but I do find food as an emotional crutch so it’s difficult and especially this time of year! Fingers crossed for your weds apt! I’m so pleased you will be given the full 3 rounds. Our CCG is just one, it is not fair there is such a postcode lottery and average it takes a person 3x cycles for success!

Welcome @C1umsyGiraffe I’ve only just joined this thread myself. You’re right no one can truly understand unless they’re in it themselves or have been. Once the apts start up it’s incessant, but hope you hear from your clinic soon!

@Coops0406 welcome too! I am so sorry about your mix up in diagnoses I really feel there is a lack of understanding and knowledge with gynae difficulties especially Endo and pcos! What tests are they suggesting for your womb? it sounds like you have been through so much!

Lots of new joiners. Hi everyone

@Coops0406 yes starting down reg on 3rd. I'm going tomorrow to get my schedule so I will know then. I think from last time it was 21 days then onto the stims for 10 days.

@Sydney1986x you've done so well to get to 28 . I'll be under 30 so should be okay. With not starting until 3rd Jan If they won't start me I'll just say I will go back nearer the time to collect them and I'll get it down. The best of it is I'm a size 12 to 14. So im not really overweight. I know it's there guidelines but BMI is a load of rubbish. I do crossfit so I'm always lifting weights. I'm fitter than some of the 20 year old in my gym. But I'll follow what I have to do.

I do realise how lucky I am to get all three. We would have paid if needed. Our clinic is 2 n half hours drive. That was the closest for us . They are lovely thou so I don't mind .

I hope you house move and your next cycle go smoothly. Let your husband take the flack.

@Bec18x it's definitely been an up and down year, so many emotions! But we're still in it and got lots of hope. How was the scratch?

@Sydney1986x thank you. I hope you are feeling okay. The whole fertility journey is so ridiculously difficult...lots of emotions to handle whilst trying to hold it all together!
Yes, there seems to be so much confusion! And also, I find it really annoying that GPs have no idea about fertility and age! Admittedly I was 36 on my last trips to see them and they were so dismissive of my issues I was raising and said I was still so young! Bear in mind I had been going on numerous occasions in years previous about the same thing. They have suggested ERA tests...endometrium receptivity analysis which looks at the optimum time for transfer. Also, biopsies to check microbiome levels and any infection that wouldn't have been picked up on swabs. I'm already on probiotics to try and help.

@Justawannabemam I can't believe your closest place is that far away! Must make it hard for all the appointments and scans! I'm on the the norithisterone for just over 2 weeks this time, I find it really uncomfortable...the first time I bloated so much I put on 3kg!

@Coops0406 Your journey sounds a lot like mine. I was diagnosed with PCOS when we started ttc and was told it would just take us longer and the delay was completely down to that. Flash forward 4 years and we are finally in the system for ICSI and there’s no sign of PCOS in scans or bloods. I’ve got my baseline scan next Monday so I guess I’ll wait and see what they say then. My GP has been pretty horrendous with it all tbh, when I asked what I could do for PCOS to improve fertility they literally shrugged! They also asked us why we wanted a second sperm analysis for my husband and said his was absolutely fine with 1.5% morphology. Hope this round al goes well for you!

@Lee2022

Cant help sorry. Never managed to get get pregnant. Maybe a different group could answer your question