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!

I was wondering what people are doing re alcohol over Christmas? We’ve been abstaining but might have one or two on Christmas Day. No judgement either way, just interested in what other people are doing. I asked the doctor and she said a couple on Christmas Day won’t hurt but to stop completely as soon as meds start.

@BlessedDolphin how are you feeling about it all? I'm really excited to go into 2022 starting injections! I always get giddy as soon as the box of meds arrive!

@PcosSOS our consultant said it was fine to have a couple. I also have got used to lots of zero alcohol drinks over the last couple of years...there are some really good ones out there, it seems to be the in thing at the minute which is great for us!

Hi all would it be okay if I join you guys here?
I’m due to start ivf when my next cycle starts Af has arrived today and have my next appointment on 4th Jan with the nurse to go over the drugs and get them ordered all ready to start this is my first time doing ivf so little nervous about it all
Little about us I’m 28 and partners 38 and my DH has low morphology but has soon improved from diet changes and less coffee and we’ve cut out drinking and I also apparently have a only slightly low ovary reserve for someone my age
I’ve not caught up on the whole threat but ready about the drinking 0% alcohol and I’ve recently started trying some and have found some really nice ones which taste the exact same

Yeah we already drink a fair bit of low alcohol stuff. But we only have low alcohol beers for Christmas, and then normal strength everything else. I won’t drink a lot but I’m not going to abstain entirely, I’m so sick of all this stuff and want to relax and enjoy Christmas. I do need to try to exercise or walk daily though, I don’t want to gain weight over the next week or so.

Hey all, update from me after having chemical last month have been hoping that my AF holds off until coming on December 31st or later as any earlier I'll miss this entire cycle. It'll be another egg collection freeze all cycle.

I am however right now on a slight mock FET cycle just in that I experimented with taking loss dose progesterone because I didn't take any at all during my FET and am worried it played a factor in my chemical, so even though I know at 800mg a day it triggers migraines in me decided to try to take a very low dose and see if was any better. It's not an amazing result, its still triggering migraines at 200mg Utrogestan 2 x a day, but they aren't near as aggressive or violent (at 800mg of Cyclogest I was throwing up and sobbing/on brink of going to hospital for days on end and no amount of my migraine medication could control). These at least could be held in check by ibuprofen and triptans, but after a transfer wouldn't be able to have those but am also hoping that if it implanted that the HCG would shift hormones and relieve migraines a bit anyway.

I'll have some drinks on Christmas itself only- will be my second time drinking since June!

@tulipsandsnow sorry about the headaches. What a nightmare. I wonder if you could switch to Lubion although it probably wouldn't help anyway. Fingers crossed the Hcg comes and relieves it as you say.

@PcosSOS I am definitely drinking 😂 at the moment. I had such a long period of no alcohol, no sugar etc when I was doing egg collections and now that is all finished I went a bit nuts - more with the cakes than the booze but still. I meant to stop 1st Dec but seem to have carried on. I'll obviously stop for the FET but know I should really be preparing in advance. But cake and gin are both so nice!!!! In all honesty though I don't think the odd drink will hurt but I wouldn't go too crazy if you are prepping for an egg collection cycle

X

I hope everyone enjoys their Christmas and lots to look forward to in the new year!
@Janefx40 yay good news the clinic is open as normal. I emailed the nurse team as am due to stop norithisterone on 28th but was worried that my cycle will start and they are closed New Year's Day however she said they are going to be open again on the 2nd so to continue as my plan.

I know it's a personal subject but what have people done about the covid vaccine? I still haven't had mine as initially I was worried about it affecting ivf etc but I've had covid twice now and both times recovered well. I'm still very adamant I don't want it at the moment but now I risk losing my job if I don't have it by April. With starting ivf next month I don't want it to interfere with treatment or get any side effects but also don't want to lose my job as a midwife

@Bec18x yes I have had both vaccines and my booster. The only way I can see it affecting IVF is if you have immune issues and it further activated your immune system. I decided not to have mine during a cycle and my booster was originally due on day 1 but when they brought forward the boosters was able to have it early Dec which is 3 weeks before the cycle and longer before my transfer so I figured it would be ok.

I had my booster a couple of days ago, ivf is in late January, wanted to get it out of the way and make sure I was better protected before it all began.

@Bec18x could you not get it now? I don’t imagine it would impact ivf, covid is more likely to as a virus than the vaccine would. It’s probably your only opportunity before starting, unless you’re having a freeze all?

@Janefx40 I’m quite glad to hear you’re drinking. I’m now beating myself up about planning to have a few over Christmas, but it’s just so hard when you’ve been in this process for so long. I worry it will impact my egg quality but then it’s not like I’m getting smashed all the time, it’s one or two drinks once in a while and then probably none in January!

I had my booster the other day as wanted it done before I start in middle of Jan and all seems be okay

@Bec18x I never wanted any vaccine because it delays several of my friends periods and no matter how much data there is saying that tons of women have gotten pregnant following it/had it during pregnancy were fine, that doesn't actually prove that it wll have no effect on a particular person individually. I recovered from Covid no issue also (way before there were vaccines). However I travel internationally a fair bit and under immense social and work pressure I caved and got 1st, not because I wanted to but because I felt I had to. Then I went through EC + FET without getting 2nd as I was going to wait until 2nd trimester to get 2nd jab. But I had a chemical, so got the 2nd jab immediately after that a few weeks ago. If I get pregnant in Feb/March from FET I will wait until 2nd trimester to get the booster which I will be eligible for from early March.

When I had 2nd jab, I had an extremely high fever it was scary. If I'd had that and then had my chemical, I'd have always wondered if it was the fever that played a factor or not. That said, everyone makes a personal choice and many feel its better to have as much vaccination coverage as quickly as you can regardless of IVF or pregnancy status. A lot may depend no if you can totally isolate during IVF/early pregnancy too....I could as working remote

@thislittlebird don’t beat yourself up, the consultant literally said to me ‘you’ve got to let your hair down and a few over Christmas isn’t going to make any difference’. I ended up having a glass of red watching It’s a wonderful life’ last night and it felt great to do something normal and festive. I’m trying to do low carb too as I’ve got my BMI down from 30 to 28 and would ideally like to keep going in that direction. So zero alcohol on top of limiting what I’m eating when the cycle hasn’t even started yet just seems too much. I think moderation and feeling relaxed wins for me.

I’ve had my jabs and my booster as, for me, the thought of getting covid whilst pregnant was more worrying.

Thank you for the replies about the vaccine, I've literally just had covid for the 2nd time since March 2020 and recovered well each time but I am debating whether to go ahead with it or not I think I will start this cycle and then see after that. I have my last day of norithisterone Tuesday and then waiting for af to make an appearance so I can book my baseline scan and bloods and start stims! I hope everyone had a nice Christmas x

Hello sorry for the radio silence. I have decided to push IVF to Feb, as I've had a really stressful month :( I was wondering if any of you have had your covid injections and how soon after did you start IVF. My NHS clinic is closed and I'm wondering if I should get my first vaccination before starting in February. I had covid in the summer and since then my ovulation has been messed up. I'm really worried about the long term affects covid vaccinations will have on children as well. Honestly, my anxiety is absolutely through the roof right now. Can anyone offer any input for covid injections/ivf?

Hi @AskAda - sorry to hear you are having a tough time at the moment.

I had my booster on 21st Dec and started Buserelin on 23rd.... the clinic said it was fine.

The process is intense enough - sounds like you need some R&R and self-care. Hope youre ok x

Thank you for your help @hopeful199 I definitely need this time out to regroup. X

Hi @AskAda
I had Covid in march and since then my cycles have been messed up. I thought all the hormones were to blame, but now I am convinced that covid is also a cause.
After consulting with my doctor I did my second shot of vaccine in July and started stims in August. I was very stressed and scared about the vaccine however it didn't have a negative on the stimulation process and outcome.
Also taking some time off from everything is a good idea. It is such a draining journey.
🍀

Hi everyone

Hope you've all had a lovely Xmas.

If I wasn't paranoid about catching it I am now. My partner has just tested positive. I start down regs on 3rd for a scan on 25th Jan. I dont know if its best I get it now then its gone. I have to do a covid swab before trigger shot. I've been for a PCR cos I have a sore throat. Has anyone tested positive within 90days I'm thinking if I got it now the PCR could possibly still show so would I just to lateral flows?

@Yuliaaa

Hi *@AskAda* I had Covid in march and since then my cycles have been messed up. I thought all the hormones were to blame, but now I am convinced that covid is also a cause. After consulting with my doctor I did my second shot of vaccine in July and started stims in August. I was very stressed and scared about the vaccine however it didn't have a negative on the stimulation process and outcome. Also taking some time off from everything is a good idea. It is such a draining journey. 🍀

I put off getting the vaccine due to ivf, then I had covid pretty bad and I'm suffering with long covid hairloss and fatigue. Now I'm in two minds about the vaccine because 1) I've got the antibodies still (test has confirmed this) 2) I don't want my cycle being messed up even more when I'm just getting back to normal 3) catching covid whilst pregnant terrifies me 4) future implications the vaccines may have on children. Definitely need a MH break from it all. I have male fertility issues and my period and ovulation has always been like clockwork imo it is definitely covid causing hormonal havoc.

@AskAda Sorry you've had a rough time with Covid. I'm no expert but I can't see how a Covid vaccine you have now could affect a future child. That's not something I have been concerned about personally.

It's frustrating when cycles get messed up and I'm sure Covid can do that but doesn't really matter in terms of IVF because they will medicate your cycle anyway. Frustrating when you are waiting to start though I know.

Sounds like a break would be a good thing as you say x

Hey everyone,

Could i ask those of you that have had IVF previously. When you had your egg retrieval, how long did you remain in your clinic after the procedure and what did you wear afterwards?

Thanks

@Gigi89x
It was just an hournor so for me. They brought me round . I had a cuppa and some toast and the they talked about what we had then we were allowed to leave I work something comfortable on my stomach incase I was swollen but I was okay . They said not to drive too.

Hi all 🙋🏽‍♀️ New here 🙃
Just wondering, has anyone got any experience of covid and IVF... background is; I was meant to be starting stims 4th Jan but tested positive for covid (if only it had been a First Response!) on Boxing Day. They are PCR'ing me 28 days post positive LFT and if negative, I'll go for Feb cycle. Just wondering, has anyone on here tested positive for longer than 28 days or? 🤷🏽‍♀️ Looking for some optimism I suppose but any info good or bad appreciated 😌

@Gigi89x I've also only been there about an hour after so about 2-3 hours from arrival to departure. You usually wake up slowly from the world's greatest sleep (I love that sedative! I've done 6 egg collections and loved it every time!) and then they give you a cup of tea and some biscuits. You then wait for the Dr to tell you how many eggs you got, use the loo and leave.

Remember to take sanitary towels. For some reason they never tell you that but they only supply the big lumpy ones in most clinics. I wear leggings or soft clothes usually.

Try to avoid pizza or food that bloats you after if you've had a large number of eggs as that can be uncomfy.

Best of luck xxx