IVF coming up - success stories would be appreciated

[thislittlebird]

Hi, so we’re due to start ivf in late January, ICSI specifically, and I’ve found myself freaking out a bit tonight/this morning. I’d be really pleased to hear your success stories, and if you felt like it wouldn’t work before you started? Did you have any medical issues that made you think ivf/ICSI wouldn’t work and it did nonetheless?

I feel like I’ve spent so long thinking about all this that I’ve overthought every aspect, and I’m catastrophising and I don’t know how to stop that right now. I keep thinking the protocol won’t yield any mature eggs (I’m 38.5 with fairly high AMH/follicle count) and then we won’t make embryos (low motility for DH) but I know there’s no way of knowing until we try. I’m also panicking about egg collection a little. That’ll be my anxiety kicking in. It all feels so daunting and I want to be realistic but I’m struggling to see anything but the worst case scenario.

@thislittlebird I think the next cycle is generally realistic, especially if you don't actually have OHSS at that point. I had a scan that showed my ovaries hadn't settled in time so I had to wait two cycles (egg collection 13/09/19, FET 12/11/19).

@Holskey aw that’s amazing! Yeh the wait at the time feels like forever, I need to wait until February for my transfer and I just wish I can fast forward to it now. Do you have any tips? Did you do anything that improved your chances

@thislittlebird both our eldest and the twins were from a frozen double transfer. X

@Holskey thanks! My next cycle (if all goes to plan) would be early March, then I have a holiday booked for early April...would rather not end up in early May right before I turn 39. We shall see

@Lemongrass1 good that two worked out for you!

I am similar age (39) and just did first retrieval. I have rather high amh for my age (21) and a high follicle count (30). Unfortunately we still got no usable embryos (only one made it and was chromosomally abnormal). I relied a bit too much on a good egg reserve meaning good quality eggs and I don’t think that is always true.

I was on meriofert 225. Going again in feb on different meds so fingers crossed!

@Phrenologistsfinger thanks for the reply. Sorry about the outcome but hopefully round two will be better, are they increasing the meds? I’m kinda prepped for that outcome at this point. It’ll be devastating if so, but I’ve seen so many stories of high AMH resulting in poor quality embryos. It’s frustrating. I have an AMH of 31 and 36 when it’s been tested and count has been from 23 to 38 at various scans. I would kind of like a lower follicle count the month we try, hoping it means more energy to those follicles, but who knows what I’ll get. My plan is to keep taking my ubiquinol and other supplements, and try to eat more protein, do more protein exercise etc leading up to it. It’s so hard because we aren’t in control and we do these things to hope they’ll help. Did you take anything like the ISWTE recommendations etc?

@Amyhope123 for egg collection I just ate as healthily as possible. I still frank the odd glass of red wine but that was it. Hardly any bad food at all and lots of the healthiest. My first FET I did every tip going (apart from maybe acupuncture and that's quite popular). Pineapple core, brasil nuts, warm socks, warm meals like soup/stir fry rather than cold like salad, watching comedies and things that make me laugh, mcd fries, meditation and visualisation... basically if someone suggested it, I'd do it. The next FET I just decided if it was a good embryo and my hormones were right then I wouldn't be able to stop it working even if I wanted to. So I think it's whatever makes you feel most comfortable and if that's everything, or if it's doing nothing, then that's fine.

Oh and ubiquinol before egg collection (@thislittlebird has just reminded me), alongside the standard ttc supplements (inc omega 3 oil and decent dose of vit d). Ubiquinol is pricey, especially at a higher dose, but it's nothing compared to the cost of IVF.

@Holskey how long in advance did you do the healthy eating and ubiquinol etc? I was doing well and then autumn came and I kinda just lost the will with it all when I realised my ivf would hit Christmas and be delayed.

I’ve been taking ubiquinol for some time now but unfortunately I also stopped taking it in my autumn lull. But I’m back on it now, with all the others. My husband has seen good results from taking impryl and I’m honestly sort of wishing I’d taken it too. If this round doesn’t yield any embryos I probably will take it.

Other than healthy eating (starting today) and supplements I haven’t done a lot more. I have been doing acupuncture for nearly a year and it seems to have helped sort out my wonky periods. I’ll be doing that this month.

@thislittlebird I was on the supplements from the days of ttc naturally, so I was on them forever, but the super healthy eating maybe only 2-3 months. I wouldn't worry about the break you had - I actually read that you should take breaks from ubiquinol every now and then (no idea how true that is). I would see it as every day you eat healthily and take your supplements, is a day you're giving your eggs the best chance, but don't beat yourself up about it. If a particular diet and supplement was proven to help, the clinic would tell you to do it, so there's no point getting stressed with it all. Just do your best to feel healthy.

I can share my success story. I did ivf early 2020 and now sat here with my beautiful boy.

Before ivf all my hormone tests came back ok, and partners sperm tests came out a bit low all round, gp said it shouldn't prevent us conceiving but I assume was making it harder. we were referred to the fertility clinic anyhow.

Our round was nhs funded so we followed standard protocol. I only saw the consultant twice, for our initial consultation and for the egg collection, the rest of the time was seen by the nurses and the implantation was done by a doctor I'd not met before. Although I know the consultant reviewed my scans every time in case things needed adjusting. Personally I didn't like the consultant to that was fine - great at his job but bedside manner needs some improvement.

They collected 18 eggs and gave us the choice on the day whether to do ivf or icsi Due to sperm morph on the day. We chose to do half icsi and half ivf - mostly because I wasn't sure what was best. We ended up with 9 embryos - 5 from icsi and 4 from ivf. We implanted one of the icsi ones and lucky for us it worked first time.

Physically I found the whole process fairly straight forward, but spent the whole time stressing about whether it would work or not and creating backup plans for what we would do if it didn't work. After years of trying with no hint of getting pregnant I was convinced it wouldn't work, but eternally grateful it did.

My partner and I both gave up alcohol and heavily cut back to minimal caffeine for a few months before, but didn't do much else.

Good luck with your ivf, fingers crossed it works for you too 🙂

@Holskey yeah I’ve been on various concoctions of supplements since we began. The break was me getting very tired of it all. I’ll definitely up my protein and move more, and stick with the supplements.

@duckling3 thanks for the reply, glad to hear it worked out for you! We will be having ICSI because my husband has poor motility.

The mental side of it is definitely the biggest challenge, it’s so hard to believe it could work, and even if not first time then maybe a second or third. Thanks for the good luck wishes!

Hi - just wanted to add my story for you..we had ICSI in late Jan 2019/early Feb. I was just about to turn 37. The cycle itself from starting injections to embryo transfer I remember only took about 2-3 weeks. Egg collection was nothing to worry about (I was a bit apprehensive about that too) - you're sedated and completely unaware of anything until they bring you round so just like being asleep and I wasn't sore afterwards. I had good AMH (can't remember the numbers now) and it was male factor infertility so that's why they did ICSI. They thought they might get 7 follicles but only retrieved 4 - one of the eggs wasn't mature enough to fertilise but the other 3 were fertilised and 2 made it to blastocyst stage. Had the higher quality blast transferred 12th Feb and it worked! The other blast was able to be frozen. My dd is now a healthy, happy 14 month old. Wishing you lots and lots of luck xx

Hello @thislittlebird. I have a success story and now have a beautiful baby boy who is 6 months old. I remember stalking this forum during IVF just praying I would get a BFP, I would symptom spot for ages. After I got my BFP I then moved to the pregnancy forum now onto parenting forum. I still can't believe I am finally a mum. I remember the heartache and doubt. But finally it worked.
My situation was unexplained infertility for my partner and I, 3 rounds of ivf and a cancelled frozen transfer as embryo did not survive thaw. First cycle was negative, second, experienced chemical and sticky BFP on third cycle. These cycles were between February- September 2019.
I also have 3 embryos frozen and we hope to use them within the next 2 years as I 38 now, so not young in Fertility years.
I was also having acupuncture weekly when not in lock down and before and after embryo transfer
Try and stay positive hun

@thislittlebird forgot to say that I was on a low dose short protocol with Create Fertility

@ivfmumto1 that’s a really positive story, thank you! Glad it worked out.

@SantoPalo I simply cannot imagine ever leaving the conception and infertility forums at this stage! It’s bonkers to think there might be an escape. When you say three rounds, was it transfers or full cycles?

It’s good to hear third (or whatever time) success stories because I know if it doesn’t work first time I’ll be gutted and think it’s not meant to be. Even though I know it can take longer.

I’m having acupuncture. Mot sure whether to go on the 19th or not, worried I’ll get covid. But I’m so anxious right now, it’s not good for me. Feel like acupuncture might be a good thing to do to chill me out.

@thislittlebird I am sure that you will also move on to other boards .

The 3 were separate cycles, so fresh transfers. I had a non starter FET cycle as my embryo didn't survive thaw.

Yes do hold in there if it doesn't work first time, you may be one of the lucky ones who it works for second time round. After each round we learnt something new and the clinic slightly adapted my protocol. I think adding baby aspirin helped me after the chemical pregnancy, but I will never know for sure.

Sorry to hear about your predicament as to whether or not to attend your acupuncture appointment. I am sure you will make the decision that is right for you x

@thislittlebird we've been on several other boards together and we've got quite a few similarities - higher AMH, >35, possible/probable MF, time TTC. As you may remember DH & I did our first round of IVF in November 21 and I'm currently coming up to 12 weeks pregnant with a good scan at 9 weeks but still a bit early to say I'm a success story. We got 17 eggs, 15 fertilized (IVF not Icsi) so we have a few back-ups. We were very lucky and now I'm wondering why we'd not got naturally pregnant in 2 years.

On the way back from my IVF transfer I was completely sure it'd failed. I could barely walk home from the clinic because I was so downhearted. They told me the embryo was a 1bb(is that even on the scale??). I had the option of putting in a second (4bc) because I'd asked which the doctor though was a bad idea. She said it was my first go and she thought sometimes a poorer quality embryo can drag a better quality one down and in her opinion doing them in succession would yield better chances. I'm glad I didn't put it back seen as my 1bb stuck. I asked because they didn't think that particular one would make it to the freezer (it did).

I was sure it hadn't worked. I waited out until 9dp5dt to test and I'm glad I did as a few people got a bfp at 5-ish days that turned into a chemical. I had cramps and no symptoms beyond those from the progesterone so I was sure it'd failed. Then I got two lines and almost had a heart attack.

Coming up to my IVF round I found this quite reassuring @https://w3.abdn.ac.uk/clsm/opis/home/toolintro. It's an online calculator that is based on a cumulation of studies and is based on AMH. I think it's important to look at it over a few tries as getting pregnant first go really is just luck (to state the obvious)! I also found a few studies that say higher amh also increases your chances of carrying to term if you do get pregnant: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6063511/

Sorry for all the studies and for the focus on amh as I appreciate they may not be relevant or interesting to many.

I would also say, take the ups you can get to take a little mental break. Some of these studies made me feel a bit better and some steps of my IVF round (eg. If you respond well to a certain med and feel a little more positive). There's a lot to worry about with IVF and taking advantage of the hour relief you get from good news (I treated myself to a cake or something) can really help your overall mental health, if only temporarily.

Wishing you good luck. I have everything crossed for you

hey @CycleGirl20, and thanks! Yeah some similarities, I'm over 35 sadly, nearly 39 lmao. We will need ICSI. I'm glad it worked for you and fingers crossed it'll all go to plan for the next few months.

The AMH worries me tbh because my (very young) doctor made me nervous, she completely ignored my AMH (31 and 36 when tested) being high for my age (38) and didn't consider my profile at all, only my age. I just made a post if you want to reply to it on the main infertility board, I'm fretting that she's given me an antagonist when I was told I need an agonist trigger to minimise the risk of OHSS.

I'm glad it worked out with your AMH being similar to mine, I just wish I felt more confident in my doctor.

@SantoPalo that's the positive I suppose, that a clinic will adjust the protocol for the next time if it fails the first round.

How did your cycles pan out ladies? About to start this process and would love any successful stories to give me hope! Xx

@OneHeapedTeaspoonOfSugar I've just had my second baby following another transfer. I've been quite lucky. The 1bb was a little girl and the 4bc that the clinic actually wanted to throw in the bin is my little boy.
Good luck with your cycle!