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.

@HJen22 I had no idea...I am on NHS too. They've never mentioned that to me. I'm so sorry you're in this situation again, and it's so incredibly unfair because some cycles just are not as good as other cycles. I can't imagine anything more disheartening than being right back here, I really hope things turn around by Friday, but I completely understand why it is so devastating.
But it sounds like a good plan to continue privately - coming to them with the experience you've had and asking them to be very proactive, perhaps considering trying a different stim protocol since Menopur doesn't seem to be as effective. (I've read a lot of people find changing stims to make a huge difference.)

@SamTTC i don't remember it being so clearly online before but after our first cycle we had to redo consents and it had it on there and now has this on the criteria section;

"If there has been a poor response, or no response at all to controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (less than 3 eggs retrieved) in the first cycle no further IVF/ICSI treatment will be funded by the NHS."

Every clinic is different though in criteria etc, and I am Scotland, you can potentially have three full cycles but it's dependent on response. With my low AMH and AFC it's not a great starting point sadly x

Oh I'm sorry @HJen22 that is shit news. What is your AMH? It seems so unfair. Big hugs. Keeping my fingers crossed for you xx

@FlyOnTheWall89 thank you ❤️ I don't know the exact figure for my AMH but it's low and in line with my low AFC, which is 6. I didn't want to know the number cos figured I'd google it and just scare myself!

@FlyOnTheWall89 that's amazing you have your dates August will come round so quick I'm surprised they've told you you can still cont to try which is good! x

@Dobcaty I'm so sorry 😞 I was really hoping for good new for you x

@LT103 fingers and toes crossed for you x

@HJen22 oh no 😢 have they given you extra stims till Friday and then will scan you on Fri and then let you know? I don't get how they can cancel the funding if you haven't had egg collection? It's so unfair

@EmzieMurf1987 good luck for scan keep us updated x

So I had my scan today proper heartbroken they've canceled my egg collection and I've got a follow up on the 22nd June to discuss next steps nurse said they will look to up my dose to 225 but more than likely I will get ohss honestly infertility sucks 😮‍💨 one thing I don't get was nurse made it clear I need to use contraception this month but it's making me think is she only saying that so they can get more money out of us incase we fall pregnant naturally I just don't know what to think anymore 😖 we have to pray approx 750 for the 3scans we had or use it as one of or cycles cos we are on a multi cycle honestly it's so draining 😭😭 no one really said how expensive ivf would be...

@Babydust2u I'm so so sorry 😢 It's utterly rubbish isn't it, and when private such an expense too. The emotional toll it takes as well is just the worst. I feel heartbroken today too so I'm with you there, sending love and hugs xx

I've got enough stims to last the next two days then I'm back Friday AM first thing again for another scan. I am maybe jumping the gun and wrong that they won't give me another try but I'm just not sure. With NHS and their 3 egg policy I'm just not convinced they'd let me try again. I'm thinking worst case which isn't what I should be doing but I didn't think to ask the nurse as they can't make any decision until Friday. I'd hope they'd let me stim a day or two longer but again I'm not sure their process for that. Xx

@Dobcaty im so so sorry. I really hope you get some time off to yourself today.

@HJen22 ugh I’m so upset for you. I really hope Friday brings better news. I thought some follicles can have more than one egg so it’s rubbish they won’t even try when you’ve got this far. Even if it was just 2 eggs.
keeping everything crossed for you.

im just waiting on call…again. We’re at stage where if numbers are down it’s over. If they’ve gone up, will repeat Friday as not able to get scan til end next week at earliest. Think it’s still 50:50. If numbers are down they keep checking hcg until it’s below 5 to make sure no complications.

Oh @Dobcaty I've just seen your post 💔. I'm so sorry.

@Dobcaty sorry I missed that too. I'm so sorry to hear you passed tissues and your test was lighter 😞 heartbreaking, I am sending you lots of hugs. Good you have a plan going forward and dates to work towards. I hope you are taking the time you need xx

@FlyOnTheWall89 so glad you had a nice nurse, and the flowchart sounds super helpful. I agree to do whatever you think it best. We booked a holiday for September and decided no matter what, we'd go in it. Sometimes we need the break from all things fertility. Must be difficult with being a teacher and the holidays too!

@LT103 thank you lovely, I'll just have to wait and see on Friday but I just can't help but think that this cycle is over 😔 I really hope you have your call and update soon, and that your numbers are still going up and strong. It just have been a nightmare week for you, I can't imagine how difficult it's been. I have everything crossed for some good news 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻

@HJen22 im sorry the scan didn’t show what you’d hoped, let’s hope for 3 follicles on Friday 🍀🤞 can’t believe they will count this as an attempt though if they cancel, very unfair.

@Babydust2u Im sorry to hear your news. It’s so disheartening when you’ve put your body through this as well as the cost.

@LT103 Do keep us updated.🤞

@Dobcaty so sorry to hear your news today. My thoughts are with you.

@LT103 really hope you get some good news from the blood test today 🤞🏼🤞🏼

@HJen22 and @Babydust2u im so sorry neither of you got the results you were expecting today at scan it’s super shitty pardon the language but it really is!! @HJen22 I hope your scan Friday shows that you can progress to EC, I really don’t understand why they can’t collect the 2 if they won’t let you go again??!! The way things work really baffles me sometimes!! And I’ve been stimming with 375 menopur so seems a bit odd they won’t up the dose but I’m not a doctor so who knows 🤷🏼‍♀️🤷🏼‍♀️

@Dream5678 congrats on your results you must be super chuffed I’m so happy for you. Hope you have a nice smooth pregnancy 😘😘

@FlyOnTheWall89 so happy you finally have some rough dates to start it always helps to have something to focus on. I’m currently on a long protocol with burserelin and my timeline from starting to EC will be just over 4 weeks but I guess each clinic does things differently and everyone reacts differently to the meds. I’m sure you will make the right choice for you on when to start but it’s just so annoying that this fertility journey seems to dictate our normal lives!

so got an update from the clinic from todays results and I have 8 follicles 14-16mm, 8 follicles 13-11mm and 4 follicles 8-10mm. I was fully expecting to come back tomorrow for another scan and have EC on Saturday but when I asked if they do collections on weekends the nurse said they really try not too but will if needed. So now they want me to reduce my menopur from 375 to 225 and re-scan Friday morning with potential EC on Monday 🤷🏼‍♀️🤷🏼‍♀️ Anyone had this happen to them? I kind of think they just don’t want to do the collection Saturday and are trying to slow my follicle growth until then? Or am I reading too much into it and they are actually just trying to get some of the others to catch up so I get a good amount of eggs?? My brain is working overtime right now as I don’t want the larger ones to over mature but at the same time surely the clinic should do what they think is best for the patient??!! Help!! Freaking out a small bit now 😫😫😫

@EmzieMurf1987 how have you found buserelin and what are the side effects like? I'll probably get that drug but they said if they have other things in stock, it could be something different. I'm doing 20 days of buserelin before FSH and they said in that 20 days I'll bleed on and off.

Really interesting re EC and I see why you're stressing. That is confusing because what if the follicles don't slow down and then those big ones over-mature. Hopefully the clinic will make the best decision for you and manage it carefully with scans etc. Sounds like a really positive number to me xx

Soooo my hcg has gone up from 180 to 330 in 48 hours but they’re still not happy. Said it’s just on the cusp of what they would like to see it doing and still very low for where I am. So they’ve now decided to stop checking bloods (which will probably reduce my stress levels) and have booked me in for a scan a week on Friday when I’ll be 6+4 to see if they can see a gestational sac and yolk sac and see where it is + may see heartbeat at that stage if all ok.
concern still is possible complications, poss ectopic, possible blighted ovum…….or fingers crossed it is all fine and just causing problems for no reason!!

so im in limbo for another 9 days!!!

@LT103 Im of the mind that this is good news?! There can be huge variations in hcg levels between women and it appears to be doubling? Even if it’s on the low side it’s still roughly within normal range (you are five weeks?). My figures are based on Dr Google though! Keeping everything crossed for you for next week.

@EmzieMurf1987 Can you not call your doctor and argue for EC this weekend? Or at least get a better explanation of their plan? It’s pretty poor to try and delay someone’s EC just because it’s the weekend!

@BlueSilver23 i did ask why when they rang and the nurse said they want to get the best possible response and amount of eggs. So I suppose I will just have to trust the process and them. I’ve had a nap now and I think I was just a bit aggy as I’d sort of geared myself up for a collection in the next few days 😂😂 I need to be thankful that I have some good sized follicles growing and I guess I’d rather have a couple over mature than lots of immature ones on collection day. We will see what the scan shows Friday I guess!!

@FlyOnTheWall89 im going to choose to trust the process I guess they know what they r doing??!! There’s no point stressing over something I can’t change is there. I wish I’d never asked about EC on Saturdays then I’d have been none the wiser!! Sometimes knowledge really isn’t power! with the burserelin I had really bad insomnia the first 2 weeks literally only slept for 4 hours max a night but that did get better otherwise it was all ok side effects wise. Once they have you on it and have shut everything off they can start stims whenever. I just counted that I was on it for 19 days then got the ok to start stims so sounds about right. I did have my normal period which was slightly heavier then the bleeding was on and off totalling 7 days compared to my usual 4.

@LT103 so sorry to hear you are still in limbo Albeit a positive limbo? There is still definitely a chance this could all be going in the right direction for you and I really do hope it does! Really hope you finally get the good news you need next Friday 🍀🍀

@HJen22 I'm sorry to read that yog don't have many follicles. Have they said so the same amount of meds
Still till next scan & when is that? Friday?

@Babydust2u I'm so sorry that they have cancelled it! It's bloody crap! I hope they change the meds for next time.

@LT103 it's good the numbers have gone up but not good that another 9 days in limbo! It's the thing you think about all the time & Dr Google doesn't help does it!

No I’m trying to stay off google but I’m going to struggle next 9 days.
had some cramping and spotting this afternoon which I’ve had on and off the whole way through but seemed a little worse so I have messaged my clinic to see what they say though they won’t get it til tomorrow. Hoping it’s nothing but they’ve warned me all along this might not end well so I’m just constantly expecting the worse

@BlueSilver23 thank you 😊 I'm not 100% sure if it means no more attempts on the NHS, I don't quite know how it works. But I'm thinking worst case which doesn't help.

@EmzieMurf1987 I'm not sure, they just have to have some sort of cut off criteria I guess. And yeah my clinics max dose of Menupur is 300 which I'm already on. There really is no consistency across the NHS is there! That's some great numbers and sizes! Really pleased for you! That is a bit confusing with EC and the day, but yeah trust the process and the clinic and see what they say Friday. Why is there always so much waiting and unknown at every stage of this!

@LT103 I'm sorry you're yet again in limbo 😔 but it's good news that your numbers are continuing to rise. Another long wait, I really hope all is well at your scan, everything is crossed!!! And yeah, try and stay off Dr Google, I find no good ever comes of googling these things.

@Reefy thank you ☺️ yes continuing with same meds for next two days and back again first thing Friday. I was nervous today, the nurse didn't say much and there wasn't much clicking for measurements so I had a bad feeling throughout. They can't put me on any more as on maximum already. Just need to see what they say Friday xx

Just reading through todays..

@HJen22 what happens if you cancel the cycle? Can you cancel NHS cycle? Is it possible or that would lose your funding? Also is it 3 eggs or 3 domain follicles?
I really hope you will have those 3 by Friday morning 🤞🤞

@Babydust2u 750 for 3 scans?! Thats more than private gynaecologist costs. That is ridiculous! What are you going to do?!

@EmzieMurf1987 honestly whats going on today?! My understanding with follicles' size that you need around 18-20mm on trigger day so that would make sense to reduce the medicine and get EC on Monday (that what my clinic would do) . But is good to know you still can have Saturday if they are ready on Friday morning. Just keep this in your mind and hope that will make a little bit of stress free.
(I know its hard)

@LT103 that is a FANTASTIC news. Your little one really is a fighter :) I know its quiet doubled but 83% is acceptable (I think the borderline is 70%?!~from Dr.Google) very pleased that you have a scan booked for next Friday. Everything is going to the right direction :)

So as I was expected I had a nightmare day, 2 staff were called sick (thank you-I should be the one today). I tried to hide my long face, but I don't think I managed that well.
I did manage to speak with my clinic (left a voicemail in the morning to telling them I am not going to the blood test) which they agreed with me. However they wanted me to report to my GP (so I have the medical history on the NHS site too) and do another hpt in a week time. In the meantime they booked us an appointment with the doctor and the embryologist to the 28th June to see where we're going for and what we/they are going to do... its going to be a long 3 weeks. Then my gp called and she is expecting to do the same thing from me.
My bleeding slowed down now just spotting and I have no pain or whatsoever...is it normal with early miscarriage?

@HJen22 how much menopur were you on last time & do you remember how many follicles you had this time last cycle? I know each cycle is different as I definitely had a lot less this cycle then last 3 times. I really hope by Friday you have a better result. Have they said it will be the last NHS one? For some reason I thought it included 1 abandoned cycle as I don't know why I thought I was told that? 🤔

@Dobcaty that's gonna be worse then the 2WW which isn't fair on you after just having that too. Are you still on progesterone? I remember someone saying their clinic don't prescribe it & I can't remember if it was yourself?

@Dobcaty I'm really not sure. I just know that I have to have three follicles over a certain size (can't quite remember the size) before they will trigger for EC. I'm not sure if they'll let me stim for a day or two longer or just cancel it. And not sure if because I've not responded to their minimum requirement I'll get to go again. I didn't ask any of these questions cos I knew the nurse would say wait til Friday. And you know what it's like, think of all these worries and questions when home!

I'm so sorry to hear you had a nightmare day, really isn't what you need at all. Can you take some time off work? Really rubbish it's a three week wait too until you speak to them, more waiting again. I hope in that time you can rest and look after yourself xxx

@Reefy they never give me print outs or anything but I had 6 follicles last time and I had three of the right size at the scan before EC. I think at the first scan that cycle they counted 6 as well and they all had measurements. Today she only had 3 measured. She did say my bowel was stealing the show but I'm not holding out much hope of that making much difference. I was on the same 300 menopur last time. They didn't count last cycle cos I didn't get to transfer but I did get to EC. I'm sure actually at EC they contemplated not trying to get the one egg after the trigger disaster cos it would count if they did do
EC. So maybe it wouldn't. But who knows. I just feel like if they say if you get less than 3 eggs no more cycles, so if you don't even get to EC surely that's worse x

"Worse" was not the right word, I just mean I'm not sure how the NHS specifically at my clinic would deal with that in comparison to not meeting their egg collection criteria. If it were private they'd do collection no matter what and stim for longer, NHS have way more restrictions it seems.

Sorry head up my arse, they'd not always do EC no matter what of course, depends on cycle but when it's low numbers expected on a high dose they'd be more likely to I'd think.