Dilemma - what would you do?

[try9ng]

We paid for an access 2 cycle package back last summer and have just started Priming for next cycle due to start next week. Have got a phone call from our NHS hospital with cancellation tomorrow and from what I gather could be eligible for a free cycle in July/August. Would you hold off and use the free NHS cycle and have the private cycle as a back up. Or go ahead with this planned cycle and if it doesn't work we should be ready to go again in the summer. I don't want to lose our only free cycle but at the same time I don't want to delay it as I'm 39. Any thoughts would be appreciated

Personally I would go ahead with the second cycle now as planned and then use the NHS one in the summer if needs be. At 39 I would put time ahead of money.

Thanks, that's what we are thinking, at least the NHS one will be there as a back up if we aren't lucky this time

Yes don't wait for nhs, they will have delays, they could change their funding criteria. Wouldn't risk it.
I doubt they will let you have it once you've had a private cycle anyway?

What is your nhs criteria.....If you have the private round this usually gets deducted from your nhs ones so technically you wouldn't be entitled it? It does make me uncomfortable when people encourage others to defraud a publicly funded institution

Our criteria will be fine, we are entitled to one free cycle as long as we haven't had 3 previous cycles whether that's private or public funded. This is going to be our 2nd private cycle. I can't see the criteria changing here anytime soon so should still be entitled to a free cycle if this one doesn't work. Hoepfully this one works and we won't have to worry about it

Technically you could have a cycle abroad and then use your nhs cycle in the summer, the only problem is that you're not supposed to let the nhs clinic about the other one... 🙄

We decided to go ahead with private cycle and if it doesn't work we can use NHS in summer. Luckily we will still be entitled to it anyway as long as we don't have more than 2 free cycles

@try9ng we are in a similar situation. We were entitled to do 2 x private rounds and still be eligible for an nhs round. We decided to wait for the nhs round and I think I regret that after having had my first FET failure. I have some more embryos frozen but am about to turn 39 and tempted to do another private egg collection sooner rather than later.

Sorry your FET failed. Hopefully you have better luck with your next transfer. We only managed to get one embryo from our first cycle which unfortunately didn't stick. I'm 39 also so really conscious of time

@try9ng I turned 39 last week, it's really impacting my stress levels. I never expected to be here when we started this and I was 36. The time thing is just horrible. What's next for you?

I'm the same really never thought it would take so long. We had our transfer from latest cycle last week so in the 2WW at the minute, finding it hard to wait to test but we tested early last time and it was just devastating each day we got a negative. Have you decided to go for another collection or are you going to transfer a frozen one?

@try9ng going to do another frozen transfer first. We have three more left and don’t want to outlay money to a private clinic before I know if any of those we have will work. Doctor spoke about doing a double if the next one fails, I’m in two minds about that still.

I hope you got/get the outcome you wanted, testing is my nemesis so I totally understand hating it!

I hope your next frozen transfer works. Our transfer didn't work out, so waiting on doing a FET. Hopefully this works as is our last embryo and NHS next appointment not until October so couldn't really wait that long

@try9ng sorry to hear it didn’t work out. Do you have another consultation before the FET? The process sucks a lot.

Yes we had a consultation on Friday there so they are going to change me from Crinone Gel to pessaries and injections and put me on low dose steroids and antibiotics so at least they are trying something different. Have you booked your next one? It's difficult to know whether to transfer 2. The whole process is rubbish

@try9ng how did you find the gel? I’m on the pessaries/suppositories and I’m going to ask for tests to check my progesterone this time around the time of transfer.

It’s good they’re trying something new for you. The low dose steroids and antibiotics is interesting. I’m convinced I’ve got some issues with immune system (because I have eczema, asthma, hayfever etc) or bad bacteria. I’m taking optibac twice per day right now, hoping it will help the next transfer.

I’ll be calling them to start again when AF arrives. Probably a couple of weeks still. I went on holiday for a week and managed to get it at exactly the wrong time and ended up missing out on this month, but it’s done now. Consultant said I can try a double next time, I’m in two minds about it.

I wasn't convinced that the gel was being properly absorbed. TMI I'm still get bits of it coming out after weeks and I have cleaned as best I can. How were the pessaries?

I'm hoping the antibiotics and steroids will make a difference. I have read about probiotics, it's worth a shot.

I'm due to get my next bleed the first week in July but have taken a bit of a wobble. My BMI is 29 and I'm wondering whether that made a difference to implantation. I'm trying a crash diet loose a few pounds but wondering should I put it off for a month.

Hope your next transfer goes as planned

@try9ng I find them ok. I use them rectally which isn’t that messy at all.

How are you now? Is your transfer coming up? Try not to worry too much about the BMI, I think some clinics and clinics abroad are less worried. I’ve been trying to lose some weight too, just had my second transfer so I’ve had to put the brakes on a bit.

Good luck with your 2WW. How are you feeling this time around? I'm booked in for Friday for transfer so please God we are lucky this time 🙏🙏🙏🙏

@try9ng Friday isn’t far, we’ve ended up around the same time. I really hope so! Im feeling a little down about it all if I’m honest. The optimism isn’t there like it was before, just have to hope that doesn’t make a difference.

@ththislittlebird I'm sorry you're feeling down. I know how you feel, it's so hard when you've already been through a failed transfer. But you never know this could be the one that sticks for you. I think I'm more numb to it this time. Sick of taking all the tablets etc but if it works will all be worth it

@try9ng lets hope so 🤞

Are you doing medicated? I’m doing natural modified so it’s fewer tablets.

I really hope it works out for us both. I'm doing medicated and taking steroids, aspirin and lubion this round too. I'm not sure how it all works but our clinic seems to do medicated all the time

@try9ng hopefully meds will help. I think they do medicated as standard, but I asked to do natural modified because I get hormonal migraines and I wanted to skip the oestrogen. I may have to consider medicated if this one doesn't work.