IVF Scotland - thread 4

[2mumlife]

Hi everyone,

Started a new thread for the Scotish ladies

@LouScot
@Scirocco
@MrsTMcB
@florafoxtro
@Hopewishprayer
@ScottishRach
@Kamiros
@LT103
@itsmschanandlerbong
@connal

Please @ anyone I missed!

Hi all
@LT103 really hope you've just got a slow riser. Thinking of you with everything crossed.

@Kamiros glad the biopsy wasn't as painful as you'd feared. All this vitamin D will be great for baby!!

I had my heart set on a particular donor to be told this week he won't be available until August. However I literally logged in at lunchtime to see what was there and one straw was available!! I've snapped it up so hopefully it's marked for me (and that there's nothing wrong with it the fact it's just been released as one straw on its own!)

I've emailed my clinic to confirm I've purchased it, sperm bank are doing free storage just now so I've "kept" it there till I hear back.

Hope everyone is well and enjoy the long weekend if you get it x

Oh sorry @LT103 I've just realised it's Thursday today. How are you? x

@LouScot not great. Not the best news. Hcg up from 32 to 56 in 2 days which sounds ok to me but they have said it’s a suboptimal rise and likely going to end in chemical so back again Monday for more bloods. Still have cramps but spotting stopped at least
yet another waiting game!

Oh I'm sorry you didn't get better news @LT103. I suppose it's one of those where there's still a sliver of hope but you don't want to depend on it. Look after yourself over the weekend x

@HJen22 Good luck for starting injections! Fingers crossed this is a good round for you :)

@Kamiros Great to hear biopsy wasn’t as bad as you were expecting. Is this the ERA thing? When do you get the results back and the go ahead to start your cycle? Do you know how many eggs / embryos you’ve got from your donor yet? It’s really nice to get to meet someone who had a positive result to help give you faith.

@LouScot Thats frustrating you were told to wait until August. The extra straw might just be someone putting one back into the system they no longer want to use for instance. They normally advise to buy 6 straws for 1 child (we used 6 straws for this pregnancy - 4 wasted on IUI and 2 used in 2 egg collection cycles, and have 3 we have bought but storing at the ESB)

@LT103 I’m so sorry to hear you are in limbo. Last June I had a chemical pregnancy. My starting hcg was around 25, but my repeat bloods 3 days later were 5 so at least we had clarity pretty quickly. I did a lot of googling at the time and if I’m being honest I would expect this to not have a positive outcome, however there are people who beat the odds out there as well. I hope you get clarity one way or the other on Monday as the limbo is the most difficult thing I found. Also, don’t lose faith - clinic told mommy chemical was a positive thing l, as it was the first ever sign that I could get pregnant after 5 failed attempts. Next attempt worked for us xxx

@LT103 Sorry you didn't get better news, thinking of you.

@2mumlife I think its much the same as the ERA but they call it something slightly different. The biopsy does a receptivity map (so basically when to start progesterone and how much) but also an immunology map so any NK cells etc. They know already from bloods done this week that I need to be on prednisolone from 3 weeks ahead of transfer. My progesterone was in range at the time of mock transfer but still on the low side so it looks like they'll either increase it or start it earlier. I feel like we're finally getting answers of things that could have been in place earlier. It's frustrating but also gives me loads of hope too.

@2mumlife @Kamiros thanks. Going by todays frer I’m fairly sure it’s a chemical. Just trying to move on and get my head around it before having to think of next step

@LT103 Just catching up after a week away. Hope you’re doing ok x

@Kamiros It’s great to hear you’re getting answers. Do you have dates for your first transfer?

@2mumlife were still in limbo. Hcg continued to rise but not quite doubling as they’d like so they are still worried. I last had it checked last Monday and it was 330. Plan was to wait now and scan on Friday (6+4) to hopefully find out one way or the other but had a little bleed this morning (have been spotting all along but a bit heavier today) so getting hcg checked in morning to see if let’s us know one way or the other.

hope things are good with you and you had a nice week away

Hi Everyone, can I join in on this thread? I’m from Glasgow and just been referred by my GP for IVF on the NHS. We had a fertility test done at the GCRM a couple of weeks ago and they said I have low AMH for my age group. Not sure if this will affect my referral to the NHS. Does anyone know on average how long the waiting list is for IVF on the NHS currently? Not sure if we should rush to private for our first cycle because of the low AMH. I’m very nervous about the IVF journey ahead. Wishing you all the best.

Hi ladies!
Hope it's ok for me to jump on this thread...

I've just had a quick fly through some comments
I notice some are going through GCRM for treatment? How are you finding it? X

Hi @Kitty12345678 and @RMS0209 . I'm in Glasgow too and had my IVF through GRI on the NHS. Hopefully someone who knows more about GCRM can come along and help you soon!

@Kitty12345678 , I don't think AMH impacts eligibility in Scotland - I think I read something about the NHS in Scotland using it to guide treatment plans but not as an eligibility criterion. If you're worried, though, it might be worth checking about private options? When I was waiting, there was a wait of a couple of months between the GP referral going in and our initial appointment, but then we had to go on to the waiting list for treatment, which can vary in length...

@LT103 Oh goodness. On the one hand, its great to hear your hcg was continuing to rise, but on the other hand being in the place of limbo for so long must be so difficult. I hope there is positive news from todays hcg check. I had an early scan with GCRM after a big bleed (I had a SCH) at I think 5ish weeks and they were able to confirm there was a heartbeat, but it was so tiny there wasn't really much else they could say at that point - the later check up a week later they can see more so hopefuly will give you some answers if things continue to go ok and they can scan you Friday. Keeping everything crossed for positive outcome xx

@Kitty12345678 Welcome to the board. We weren't eligible for NHS treatment as a same sex couple and I don't have low AMH so can't really give much advise on this one, but I'm sure others will be along soon to be able to share their experience. With GCRM (as everywhere) the waitlist increased significantly due to covid. You'll still most likely find the private waitlist a lot shorter than NHS.

@RMS0209 We did all our treatment through GCRM. We're a same sex couple who used donor sperm with no known fertility issues, early 30s during treatment, no medical issues. We started our journey before covid started, and did our last investigation (HyCoSy) the week before lockdown started, when the clinic had to close its doors. Once the clinic opened again, we only had to wait a few months on the list before we could get started with treatment. We had 4 rounds of medicated IUI with donor sperm (all BFN) before moving to IVF. We had 2 egg collection rounds in total, with 1 fresh transfer (BFN), 1 FET ending in a chemical pregnancy and 1 FET resulting in pregnancy (currently 28 weeks). We always found the staff at GCRM very pleasant and empathetic. We particularly liked Dr Marco who we found very empathetic (and also the most calm, relaxed and gentle for procedures). The clinic took our views into consideration when deciding treatment plan, and we felt our questions were answered and concerned listened to at consultations. On the downside, their communication for awhile really deteriorated the second half of last year, where they had too many patients and not enough staff, which was stressful as a patient and led to delays between treatment cycles which was very frustrating (but they may have sorted this problem by now). You also don't have a 'named' consultant - so every time we booked a post-cycle consultant review you had no idea who you would end up with, and we found the quality of consultants varied, and on 1 occasion (when we changed treatment protocol for our 2nd egg collection) that consultants were not consistent in their views. All being said though, we have 2 embryos in storage at GCRM and we're intending on using them again for a sibling in the future. If there are specific areas you would like to ask for our view of please let me know

Aw thanks that is a relief. Must of have been someone from the NHS England saying that. Mines is just at the cut off of 5.5 AMH so hopefully okay.

@2mumlife unfortunately not. hcg risen from 330 last wed (18dpt) to 1281 today (23dpt) so they are still concerned about a slow rise. have yet another hcg on wednesday then if still going up will do scan. but I think theyre concerned it might have started to fall so its just another waiting game. wednesday will be my 6th hcg bloods! think I'm going for a record! Just wish I knew either way!

@LT103 Its the not knowing part which I found really difficult with our chemical, but we got very clear answers a lot sooner. Also its the accompanying googling which takes over I found - I spent hours looking at stories of similar situations to see which way it went. Its so hard to know what to say, as in one way your hcg IS still rising, but as you say its not at the level they would expect. I think there are a few different things that can cause funny hcg levels including blighted ovum and ectopic? as well. I hope they'll just scan you on Friday so you can get some more answers. How are you doing in terms of distracting yourself from the situation?

@2mumlife yeah they’ve mentioned ectopic and blighted ovum so we’re not getting our hopes up but I guess it’s only 3 days now to wait. Just worried with my numbers being so low they wouldn’t see much on the scan. Google told me they need to be above a certain level to see yolk sac and even higher to see heart beat but at least we’ll know it’s not ectopic

Hi @2mumlife
Thank you so much for getting back to me.
So happy you got a happy ending 💗

So I have had my assessment and my other half has his sperm analysis on Thursday then we have a consultation on 4th july, my AMH is high (not super high but high) and my ovaries appear polystic - not what I wanted to hear but atleast I can get that ball rolling now.
I am 3hrs from Glasgow but I went to GCRM as I could get tests sooner than at home.
I don't suppose now you know roughly what the wait list is like? Maybe getting ahead of myself.
The consultants note has a recommendation of freezing all suitable blastocyst (day- 5) embryos rather than having a fresh embryo transfer to maximise the pregnancy rates.

I'm sorry to hear about the BFN & chemical, how upsetting. But delighted that 28 weeks baby is safely onboard!

The staff seemed lovely when I went for my app (and when I phoned because I was 5 minutes late due to traffic, oopsie)

Do you regret trying the IUI? I'm in two minds of trying a medicated IUI cycle or just heading straight for the nitty gritty..
I have read the communication is quite poor, but I have read that with a lot of clinics I think it would help I'm not scared to pick up the phone and ask a question so that might help.

I think I am just all new to this/totally blinded down multiple google rabbit holes and wanted to hear from somebody rather than an online review and bar that 1 negative you speak highly of them so I think that's me sold on them.
I imagine I will have more questions after my app on 4th if I am ok to message you again then? X

Hi all.

@LT103 I'm so sorry you're going through this, how stressful not to have answers either way too. Thinking of you and hope you know soon either way.

Welcome @Kitty12345678 and @RMS0209. @Kitty12345678 I have very low amh 0.5 on first cycle and 0.3 by the 3rd. I never looked into NHS as was approaching 40 and just didn't want to wait. I got one egg out of the 1st and 3rd cycles (no response on the 2nd), both become blasts and were transferred, unfortunately neither stuck but I now suspect that was due to implantation issues rather than embryo issues. We've decided to move on to donor eggs for the best chance now but thought that might give you some reassurance.

@2mumlife So my donor goes in for egg collection on Thursday. I got the e-mail today and was quite emotional. I went for my decapeptyl injection today too so all going well we are going for transfer on 12th next month, flights and hotel are booked. I'm getting my progesterone plan on Thursday, all overwhelmingly quick if I'm honest but also very exciting for probably the first time in the last few years of all this - hoping it's a good sign :)

Hi all apologies I've been MIA as been battling with our healthboard & gynae issues which came to a head a fortnight past Sunday. Still
processing it all. However, on Monday we got a letter from ACU confirming we are on their books and to await our initial appointment.

@LT103 I didn't know you needed a certain hcg level to see a yolk sac, I thought it would just be about gestational age rather than hcg? Keeping everything crossed that your scan brings you (hopefully positive!) answers. Will be thinking about you x

@RMS0209 I really have no idea what the current wait is at GCRM I'm afraid. I think your right though that most clinics seem to have a communication issue. I would say that when you REALLY needed them though they were there - I had a big bleed for instance that turned out to be a SCH and when I called in a panic I got put through to a nurse straight away and an appointment made for the next morning, and they are a lot better at communicating during a cycle when its really important, they just weren't that good at communicating between cycles I found. With hindsight I wish we hadn't bothered with the IUI, but at the time it made the most sense given age, normal AMH, normal HyCoSy. It also was a lot quicker, cheaper and less invasive, and really the only reason I wish we hadn't bothered is it didn't work for us, but no one had any way to anticipate it wouldn't. It was certainly a lot easier than IVF. My first egg collection though demonstrated I don't respond well to stimulation - we only got 4 eggs, and only 2 were mature, which was a big shock to everyone. We were lucky that both eggs made useable day 5 blasts, and that's where my fresh transfer and FET CP came from. They actually retested my AMH before the second egg collection to try to help inform why I didn't respond well the first time, and my AMH was then considered high. We changed my protocol quite a lot, and got 6 eggs the second time, all mature, all fertilised, all actually were alive on day 5 but only 3 were suitable to freeze. Due to the protocol and my high AMH making them concerned about overstimulation (ha!) that was a freeze all cycle. I actually prefer the freeze-all cycle - I found I was mentally in an awful place during the fresh transfer, and my period started only 5 days after the transfer, so I still feel that was a 'wasted' transfer and that my body was in total disarray after the egg collection. If we were ever doing an egg collection again, I'd opt for a freeze all, despite the delay it causes. I would consider distance when making your choice - I've had to go to GCRM to just pick up meds before in an emergency, and the vast majority of appointments you're in and out in less than 15 minutes, so its a big commitment if you need to take the whole day off for a 5 minute blood test! A lot of the appointments are also morning based to allow them to do same-day bloods etc so you might want to consider that when deciding on a clinic.

@Kamiros Oh wow how exciting! I think its very normal to be feeling emotional. Fingers crossed your donor has a smooth egg collection on Thursday and that there are lots of eggs to work with x

@mrsmacmc That's great you're on the list for an initial appointment :)

Thank you @Kamiros that is reassuring that we might get some response from IVF even with a lower AMH. We have an appointment with the GCRM about our results next week. I suspect they will tell us to start IVF immediately with them but I’m unsure if we do one cycle with them and it doesn’t work we could still have 2 cycles with the nhs, just a bit concerned we can’t afford more than one cycle. My GP recommend the GRI instead of GCRM when I spoke to her about private IVF but this was after we had already paid for the tests. Has anyone had any experience with the GRI privately? @Kamiros would definitely use donor eggs if my eggs are poor quality or none. Thanks

Correction GRFC i think acronyms are too similar lol.

not good news for us. Hcg had gone up to 1852 but only a 45% rise and they have pretty much said it is a non viable pregnancy. They are going ahead with scan on Friday mainly to find out what is happening. I guess we need to know if it’s ectopic or if there is no pregnancy there any more. If nothing convincing to see and no ectopic they won’t rescan and just wait for me to bleed. If that doesn’t happen in a week I’ll be sent to EPU. I think even if they see a pregnancy there it is unlikely it will remain

Oh @LT103 sorry to hear your update. I hope at the very least you get some answers on Friday, this "limbo" sounds so tough x