IVF/FET May/June 2022

[Coops0406]

Hi,

I'm just starting this thread as i've kept joining previous ones in hope that I would be at the same time but got left behind with the ups and downs of ivf.
After 3 cycles, 2 failed fresh transfers, PGT-A testing to give us 3 euploid embryos and just now getting our results from the ALICE/EMMA/ERA tests, I am now finally in a position to hopefully start FET on my next cycle with a transfer likely to be end of May or early June!! 😍. Would love to have people to chat to who are following a similar timeline.

I’m so sorry, I’ve posted in the wrong thread that you started up! 🙈 Please could you remove these posts! Thanks

@Daisychain93x no worries, I'm not sure how to delete them, think you may have to

@Coops0406 I'll join you lovely! How are you? Fantastic news about your results, I am so happy to hear your transfer is finally nearing after a long wait!!!! Xx

@HJen22 great to see you on here 😊 I'm glad I can finally get moving again! It's lovely but hard seeing everyone moving through and just being stuck in limbo.
We're just so pleased that there isn't another delay now. What's it looking like for you with your next cycle?

@Coops0406 I know what you mean! It's hard when you're in limbo and waiting, and trying not to wish the days away! So pleased for you that things are moving along.

I start norethisterone again in 2 weeks and stims start of June 😱 trying not to get scared but the nerves are creeping back in!

@HJen22 that's good news. I was so excited to start my 2nd cycle and had much better results from it so fingers crossed it's the same for you. Are you on the same protocol as last time?

@Coops0406 after the first cycle drama (and not sure if you remember as there were lots of us in the chat, the trigger issue we had) I'm really hoping the second goes smoother and we've more eggs from EC 🤞🏻 I think knowing what's involved with stims, scans and EC makes it a tiny bit less daunting but I still absolutely dread the time after EC and the calls. Yeah same protocol as last time. Not telling anyone at all this time about dates and when we are actually doing our cycle, was just too upsetting having to tell everyone first time round.

What is the process with your FET and will it be one or two? How are you feeling about it all? Xx

@HJen22 how many eggs did you get last time? Have they said why they aren't tweaking the protocol this time? It's good that you know what's coming, just need to try and erase the bad bits from last time and start afresh, every round is different and I hope that you can start to feel calmer with it all once you get started.
It's hard isn't it, sometimes easier to be vague about things. I'm a bit like that this time, not sure I want people to know when things are happening exactly!
I'll start on oestrogen on day 1, but a higher dose than last time, then they'll scan around 12-14 days to see if the lining has thickened up (I think they want it around 7-8mm)...then add in progesterone and ET 6 days later. They'll check my progesterone level at ET then 48hrs later and may give me a higher dose as AF came 7dp5dt last time whilst I was on the normal dose. I'm excited to finally get going again but have done everything we can so will be more devastated if it doesn't work this time. They will only transfer 1 as they are euploids and you have to sign to say that they will only transfer 1...so we will have 2 still frozen

@Coops0406 so after the trigger issue and us having to do it again the following day and EC moving a day forward, we only got one egg, on the ovary I didn't think we'd get any, as the other follicles had shrunk and I'd probably ovulated. I'd had 6 on the right at the scan a few days before. So I am really hoping and praying for more this time. The one egg did fertilise but then as the days went on it stopped growing. So back for another full cycle. I responded well to the max dose on stims so nothing they can do in regards to meds.

Yeah it's good to have the emotional support but it just broke my heart having to tell my family when the cycle came to an end. With others I could tell them in my own time cos they didn't know exactly what was going on and when.

Sounds like all organised and a good plan, and it's great you'll still have two in the freezer after this transfer! It must be reassuring too that they will check your progesterone and can increase it if need be. Remind me, you're England yes? And how was your holiday away? X

@HJen22 so it's just a matter of the trigger. What happened with your trigger, I think I missed what went on? Great that you responded well to the stims though, I'm sure this round will be so much better for you 😊
Yes, in Liverpool for my treatment.
Holiday was fab! It passed the time so well last week in the run up to the appointment. I'm definitely finding that keeping myself occupied with lots of things to look forward to takes my mind off everything!

@Coops0406 basically it spilt everywhere! It was a Saturday night, I had to call the emergency Dr and go in the next day. We had no idea how much went in so they gave me more meds and another trigger and we decided to move EC a day later. Had I had loads of follicles they'd have done it the planned day to see but as I only had 6 we waited, and it looked like it was too late. We were super lucky to get the one egg on the left that had caught up after initially being tiny and written off. So there was a glimmer of hope and I was so overjoyed when it fertilised but sadly it wasn't meant to be. It was a massive rollercoaster of emotions. I had three of the right size when we had planned the trigger so not sure I'd have gotten 6 but that's what I'd hoped. I just hope next time I respond even better and we get more, as the number drop can be pretty steep after EC too.

Aw I'm so glad! That sounds lovely! What else do you have on? I'm doing the same and trying to keep busy, socialise a bit more than I had been and live a little more "normal". I hadn't drank for 6/7 months before the cycle and after it ended I allowed myself a few to relax. Back to T total now though and trying to, as always, lose a few lbs 😂

Hey! Can I join. Also had our endometrio results and doing the prep for next cycle fet. Our only 2 frosties so v nervous as prev transfer failed. 2 single rounds + one duo stim , 42 eggs , 3 blasts, 1 failed transfer.

@HJen22 oh my gosh! That must have been horrific! Do you have more funded cycles left?
I listened to a podcast about nutrition for egg quality which was really interesting, I'll try and put a pic of it here in case it's of any use. I also listed to the one about PGT-A which was good too! It's nice to treat yourself inbetween cycles then get back on the T total train again! I started loving zero alcohol gins and beers!
I also was taking ubiquinol which the consultant recommended to me, not sure whether it works or not but lots of people take it for egg quality.
On our first cycle we had 3 follicles on the last scan before trigger then got 2 eggs, only 1 fertilised, then next cycle we got 17 and 8 fertilised...I have a good feeling about your second cycle 😍 I'm sure with the trigger done properly you will be in a much better position.

@Courtjobby welcome! 😊 how were your results? Was it the ALICE/EMMA/ERA tests you had? Did you have your blastocysts tested too? Fingers crossed for a good round this time...when do you start your meds?

@Coops0406 I need to take pessarys fro my flora otherwise everything is fine, regular timing fro transfer. No we didn't get them tested we only have 2 so don't want to risk it. Hopefully defrosting goes ok.

@Courtjobby welcome! How are you? Wishing you all the best for your FET 🥰

@Coops0406 yeah so luckily they didn't class it as a round as we didn't get to transfer. I can potentially have 3 NHS cycles but you have to have at least 3 eggs from EC I think it is. If not, they may not do another NHS round and instead will offer you donor NHS. I think it's very case dependent but they did have something about it on their consent forms too when we redid them. The Drs were so amazing and really tried their best for us, they were even going to try and do a 3 day transfer after telling me if anything it would have to be frozen, and the main consultant was involved from EC because she made the decision for them to try and extract after the follicles had shrunk. It was all very dramatic and a bit of a nightmare. It kind of prepared me for a not so great outcome, we were lucky to even have one egg and it fertilised!

Wow that's such a different in cycles and eggs isn't it! You must have been so pleased! Thank you, fingers crossed 🤞🏻 Yes I take ubiquinol and a load of other supplements including the usual and NAC and an omega 3, and try and have salmon twice a week and lots of water! I spoke with a nutritionist a while back and have stuck with some of the things she advised.

Can I join, please? I’m due to have immune testing as well as the EndomeTRIO next cycle then, all going well, FET next again. I’ve just had my first egg collection and have three PGT-A tested embryos. But I’m terrified about transferring any until I feel certain we’ve done all we can to prepare for pregnancy after six miscarriages.

I had a high vaginal swab which indicated high inflammation and low levels of lactobacilli so I delayed the EndomeTRIO in order to follow a protocol to improve microbiome. I needed a break anyway. But as you had such high levels @Coops0406 I’m interested to know if you took a specific probiotic? I’m on supplements recommended by my fertility nutritionist but keen to make sure I’m covering everything. Thanks ☺️

@Courtjobby when will you start your meds for FET? Again this podcast I was listening to was taking about freezing and defrosting of embryos and just how tough they are, and how good the procedures are these days so that was nice to hear.
Were you recommended the endometrium tests due to the failed transfer?

@HJen22 that was so lucky, they sound so good up there! So, if you don't get 3 eggs they provide finding for a donor egg round? Could you go private inbetween and try to use your own eggs? I think I'd have had to go straight onto a paid round if that happened the way our CCG has been! Even after misdiagnosis for pcos and such a poor nhs round I had to self fund! If you need any spare ubiquinol I have a full unopened packet that I can post to you, I know they're expensive! What is NAC? I think I just had folic acid, vitamin D3 and ubiquinol, although I did worry and wondered whether I should have been taking a full conception vitamin.

@MyEasterEggs sounds like you've had such a tough time of it. When we had a review meeting in November my consultant said that there was more research showing the importance of microbiome and suggested even drinking an actimel a day, which I do. I have also been taking Purolabs pure biotic complex everyday...it's £34.99 for 30 tablets but they do deals sometimes. I'm struggling posting photos on this but will try again, it's has all kinds of strains of lactobacillus! Have you started meds ready for you biopsy?

@Coops0406 what meds would I start prior to the biopsy? I’m not due to have it for another 5-6 weeks so perhaps that conversation will come at my next consultation.

I’ve been reviewing all my supplements and I think my nutritionist has me covered. I take Garden of Life for women which seems to cover every strain of lactobacillus - 11 of them! And on top of that I take Bio.Me Prebio GOS, Bio.Me Femme V and Bio.Me Essential. It feels like a lot on top of other supplements, though I’m letting go of some of the egg health ones now we’ve had a fairly successful outcome from EC.

I’ve also ordered clindamycin and metronidazole to take over the next two weeks as my partner tested positive for BV. He was treated with antibiotics before giving his sample and they believe it’s what pushed his DNA frag up. But unusually my high vaginal swab didn’t show it. That can indicate that the infection may have crept up into my womb so my clinic said just to take clindamycin now but it feels pointless not to take metronidazole too as if it is in endometrium then presumably I’d take it then AND have to repeat the procedure?

@MyEasterEggs so for the biopsy it's like a dummy run FET, so you take the meds for FET but instead of having an embryo transferred they do the biopsy on the day you would normally have the transfer. It hurts like bad period pains for about 30 seconds and then it's done. The results will show the percentage good bacteria, percentage of the individual nasty bacteria and tell you how many hours after fertilisation that you should have the embryo transferred. Mine said +151 hours which works out at approx 6.3 days (most transfers are done 5 days later with the 5 day blast but my endometrium is Pre-receptive at that point so needs an extra day).
It sounds like you are already taking a lot of the good stuff already...I've never been pregnant so not known to have an issue with miscarriage, we just did the tests as we have 3 euploids and this is a last chance saloon for us with me nearly being 40 and we didn't want to waste what we've got. Basically chucking everything at it now!

I ended up having to have my endometrio twice cos they made a mistake with the paperwork teh first time. Honestly not bad at all. Similar to a smear.

Any advice on diet and nutrition in preparation of FET. I don't think I'm doing enough. I did accupuncture the last time and just found it annoying, is there any massage that is good to do instead?

Is it true you should t mix probiotics as some counteract the others I've some bacteria attack each other? Am about to start taking canesflor but am tempted to get optibac too

Sorry I should have read that pre posting, my phone auto corrected that incorrectly...

@Coops0406 yeah they'd put you on the donor list but it's long! I think 2 years! So I would for sure be going private when I am no longer offered own egg cycles with the NHS. I was afraid we'd not get another round after the first and looked into private in Glasgow and doing a 2 cycle package with my own eggs, there isn't anywhere up here as it's just the same clinic but self funded. So Glasgow would be ok and they've a satellite clinic up here for scans and bloods.

I think the thing with going private is that you can't be on the donor list with them at the same time. But I wouldn't want to wait that long so I would just be going private from then on.

That's really awful that after misdiagnoses and a poor round you had to self fund, as if the stress isn't enough. Yeah I take a vitamin D spray too. Oh I know it is expensive, dread to think what I've spent but I'm hoping it's all going to help with egg quality. NAC is N-Acetyl Cysteine and apparently good for egg health and is a powerful antioxidant. My clinic just say folic acid and VitD but I like to feel like I'm doing as much as I can with a few others!

@Coops0406 gotcha! Yes, I am having a mock cycle, so expect I’ll be on some medication, though what I’m not sure yet. I’m 38 and am pretty much taking the same approach as you!

@Courtjobby that’s a valid point and the only probiotic I’m unsure of continuing with is the Garden of Life. I also have a shot of Symprove every morning. So, yeah, need to re-evaluate 😅

@HJen22 the total cost of supplements I’ve taken over the last 5 years or so is more than my IVF round. It can get crazy, can’t it! It’s why I took such a long break from TTC as I feel like I went overboard with testing, treatment, nutrition, supplements. Gave it 100% then burnt myself out.

Before EC I was taking:

Solgar NAC 600mg
Ubiquinol 300mg

I was also taking (and will continue to take):

Wild Nutrition Fertility Bespoke Woman
Bare Biology Omega 3
Cytoplan Methylfolate
Solgar VitD

There were others, such as Life Extension PQQ 20mg and Life Extension Senolytic Activator (not daily, just 2 capsules once a week), but I think they’re kind of next level if you need to throw everything at it. Medication-wise I was also prescribed Metformin as it’s supposed to help regulate your cycle and improve egg quality.

Things will change again if I happen to achieve another pregnancy 🤞🏻