Please help me to decide if I should cancel my IVF cycle

[SoloIVFer]

Hello everyone. I'm on a mild IVF protocol with Create. I've posted my dosage below the message. My first and second scans on days 5 and 7 (today) show only two dominant follicles at 16mm and 17mm (up from 13+14). There are 2 other follicles with a small chance of being large enough, they are both currently 11mm and there are 4 tiny ones not worth giving the measurements for that the clinic don't seem interested in. They've increased my Bemfola again today to try and encourage the two 11mm follicles to catch up, but I'm not feeling hopeful they'll give me mature eggs. They've said that if by my next scan on day 9 there are still only two in the running, they would understand if I want to cancel but ultimately it's my decision. I'm not really sure what to think. Can anyone give me any encouragement or relevant success stories? I'm preparing myself for if I go ahead, only getting 2 eggs. I'm 34, my AMH is 9.9. I have no known fertility issues, I'm using IVF with donor sperm as a solo mum by choice. I've had one natural pregnancy before but I miscarried at 11 weeks. Thank you in advance for any support that comes my way. I'm feeling a bit lonely and hopeless.

Bemfola 150 from day 2 - 4
Bemfola 200 from day 5 - 6
Bemfola 225 from today, day 7
Cetrotide was added at day 6
Egg collection predicted for day 12 (in 5 days)

If you can't get your money back on the cycle then just go for it. They may retrieve 2. Perhaps ask them to freeze at day 3 and not allow such a small number of eggs to go to day 5 blastocyst.

I just joined Mumsnet to get advice on my very disappointing cycle.
Basically I had 9 eggs, 8 mature, 8 fertilised, one egg was frozen on day 3 as per CREATE Birmingham policy. The frozen egg was a Grade 1, no fragmentation, 12 cell, so the best it can get. However, my other 7 eggs arrested on day 5 & 6. They didn't even make it to a point to be graded by the blastocyst system. They were grades 2, 3, 4 and Fragmentation of grades 2,3 and cells of 2 to 10, so very varied but all died :(
I wish they banked more than 1 on day 3 as I can't help but feel did I 'kill' them by allowing them to be in an artificial environment and would they have done well if their day 4 onwards was in my uterus? However, I'm getting confused with all the information.
Go and see what they can retrieve and bank it day 3 or have it transferred. You've already paid you may as well see what comes of it.

Forgot to say, I was told I had 3 mature follicles but ended up with 8 mature eggs.
I'm on mild IVF also but I'm 42.
I don't really see the logic of trying to get loads of eggs as they are rubbish quality.
I just want them to focus on quality eggs.
You're much younger than me and have time so go ahead with this and them plan once you know the results.

I'm on a 3 cycle package. I may need to finish the 2 mild IVF cycles with them even though I can't see how my embroyos can improve as the stims and dosage does not work in terms of quality eggs. Just lots of eggs for them to kill.

Hi, sorry you’re feeling that way. I’ve been in a similar position twice. First time was my NHS funded round so I abandoned the cycle in order to qualify for another NHS funded round. The second time was a self-funded round and my follicles were almost exactly like yours. 2 decent ones and 2 or 3 smaller ones. I was given the choice to go ahead with EC, stim for longer in the hope the smaller ones caught up but knowing that could jeopardise the two decent ones or abandon the cycle. I opted to go ahead with egg collection as the growth trajectory of the smaller follicles didn’t look like they’d ever catch up and my consultant said there was a 90% chance the two decent ones would contain an egg so I didn’t want to risk them. I didn’t want to cancel as my logic was that if I cancelled I definitely wouldn’t get pregnant whereas even going ahead with the two follicles there’d be a chance, albeit a slim one. For me, the money I would have got refunded by cancelling wasn’t worth eliminating any chance of success, particularly when so much of the outlay wasn’t refundable. Whether the money you would get back is worth cancelling is obviously a very personal decision though. Have the clinic said what they would do differently next time? If you’re unlikely to respond any better next time then you might as well carry on this time. Good luck.

@4F99S1 thank you. I'd be really interested to hear what the outcome of that cycle was for you? I think you make some really good points x

Hi @SoloIVFer. They didn’t retrieve any eggs so a very disappointing outcome but I don’t regret my decision to go ahead with the egg collection as I still think my logic was sound.

I did an nhs funded cycled with Create last year. My amh was lower than yours, around 5. But I only had 2 follicles, a third caught up but was still quite a bit behind. We weren't offered the chance to cancel - we would've lost our funding if we had and we only got one fresh cycle included. But I ended up with 7 mature eggs. We did ivf and four did nothing, but the 3 that fertilised made day 5 - a 5AA and 2x 3AA. Sadly I've only got one left now as I miscarried twice.
When's your next scan? X

@VenusStarr
Hi, I've been following your story on various threads. Hope you're doing well. Are you starting a new cycle soon? Is there anything your consultant has suggested that should be changed, protocol?

Hi @IVFPrayingForBioChild ah thank you. It's got a bit complicated as I have suspected scarring from my last miscarriage, so I'm having a hysteroscopy next week.
But my recurrent miscarriage specialist has put me on metformin as I also have adenomyosis and he said it can help reduce bulkiness of the uterus. He also wants me to try gcsf injections, which is neupogen. So I'll be on 3 injections a day as I will be on fragmin and lubion in addition to my immune meds. We had been hoping to do a FET next month, but it's on hold until I sort the scarring.

How are you today? One thing I would say is in my ivf cycle I started on 225 bemfola, so that might be something to explore if you do decide to cancel this round. X

@IVFPrayingForBioChild 🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️
Sorry! I replied as if you're the PP! I can't work out the layout change on my phone! 😂 Anyway, I hope you're OK!

@VenusStarr
No problem.
I've started a thread of my own.
I actually think I will ask my Bemfola to be increased as I was on 150 but think it should've been higher.

I did 5 rounds with Create so know a fair bit about their processes etc

Is this your first cycle? And ultimately how many can you afford? Is this a single round or part of a multi cycle package?

• if it's a single cycle and you can only afford the one I'd be inclined to cancel and go again with a higher starting level of Bemfola - ie the 225 rather than 150. I'm surprised they stated you on 150 with an AMH of 9 - mine was 12 and they increased it before I even started from 150 to 225 as they said 12 was lower than they would have like for my age (36)

If you cancel then the abortive cost is the cost of the drugs you've used obviously and also the number of scans you've had - in 2021 it was £200 per scan

• if it's a multi cycle I might be inclined to go ahead and then at least you've got 2 more cycles to try starting on the higher dose. I'm a big believer that if you're body is saying that only 2 follicles are any good then you should listen to it.

If you can cancel and get money back or credit then cancel. Next cycle ask for stronger meds, not mild.

I've got money back for a cycle cancelled where I had only 2 follicles and probably 1 more would catch up.

Is this your first cycle? Usually the first one is like a trial to see which medicine works.

Next cycle I got 6 follicles.

Hi Everyone. Thanks for the thoughts. To answer a few questions. This is a single cycle after 3 failed IUI's. I'd receive a £1500 discount if I cancel, so still quite a significant outlay and I'm all out of funds for at least 6 months after this. I had a scan yesterday and my follicles are doing the following

1 @ 21mm
1 @ 19mm
1 @ 15mm
1 @ 13mm
6 @ <11mm

My estrogen was 3400, so they're hoping for 3-4 eggs I think, collecting on Monday. Here's the rest of my cycle.

Last bemfola was last night (Friday)
Last cetrotide was this morning (Saturday)
Trigger tonight (Saturday)
Nothing tomorrow (Sunday)
Egg collection (Monday)

I've only done 8 days of bemfola between 150 & 225. I think it's odd they've stopped it 3 days before my collection but trying to trust. I guess they're trying to stop those 2 big ones getting over mature. If this cycle fails, I'll take in your comments and talk to them about doing a 3 cycle package in 6 months with higher stimms.

Really hope I get something on Monday. I feel so nervous, not about the procedure itself, but about the outcome. Any positive stories with low follicle count before collection please send them my way xx

I decided to go ahead because the consultant was so positive. Said he is very happy with the results. I guess its mild so going for quality over quantity but the numbers just seem very low. If they only get 2 eggs, ill be so anxious waiting to see if they do ok. I'm hoping that I can post positive updates over the coming days.

Good luck @SoloIVFer

@4F99S1 thank you! I think I might need it x

Update. EC done and they got 7 eggs. I've found it so helpful to read these threads so I'll keep updating for future Google holers. They got one from each of the 4 main big follicles and 3 from some of the little ones. Hoping all 4 of the big ones fertilize overnight. 🙏

Fab news @SoloIVFer 🙂 same as me! I had 3 fertilise and all 3 made it to day 5. They rang me quite early, which I liked. 🤞 For your call tomorrow x

That’s awesome @SoloIVFer, you must be over the moon! So glad you went ahead! Best of luck for the next steps x

Update. All 7 eggs fertilised and all 7 made it to day 3 top quality embryos of the highest grade, according to the embryologist. I cant believe it! Now to see how many make it to transfer day on Saturday! Will update further!!

All 7 of my eggs made it to 5 day blasts. I've got 1 5AA on board and 6 also great quality on ice!! 🥳. Can't believe I was thinking of cancelling this cycle. Thanks to everyone who encouraged me to keep going.

fantastic news!!! What an outcome , good luck in your tww !

Great news @SoloIVFer, wishing you the best of luck!

Currently pregnant! Very early but so far so good. I'm 9dp5dt and got my first positive at 5days past. I'm SO glad I didn't cancel this cycle. To go from only looking at 2 follicles likely to pridice eggs to being pregnant with 6 top quality blasts in the freezer in the space of a month is a dream come true. just thought I'd update for people who might stumble across this in the future.

@SoloIVFer Hey! I've been following your story, I'm so happy for your news! Congratulations!! Xxx