IVF/ICSI Dec 2022

[FrostedFlake]

Hi, I couldn’t find a board for those starting IVF OR ICSI in December so thought I’d create one.
This will be our first round and we are due to have our egg collection on the 5th of December. I’m not sure how dates usually work but not having regular periods I need to take Provera the second week in November which I think makes it easier for them as the medicine will result in a bleed and our baseline scan should be 7 days after starting on the medication.

Would love to see if anyone else is due to start ICSI or IVF in December.

Hi @FrostedFlake congratulations on starting your journey! I am currently going through ICSI now and had my egg collection yesterday so if you have any questions at all I'd be happy to help based on my own experience! Take care xxx

I’ll be starting stims in mid-late November and doing an EC/ICSI on about 4th December. Same timetable as you.

Round 5 of embryo banking so am slightly jaded but if you have any questions, I can help.

Hi! 37yr old here. I'm doing my 2nd IVF round this December.

I'm starting my Northisterone 13th Nov for 10 days and should start bleeding shortly after. My stims are due to start on 3rd of Dec and I'll be having the egg retrieval on 14th Dec.

My first round only produced 1 Blast on day 5 (after I had 18 Eggs retrieved and 13 fertilised) so there is a risk I won't get any this time. If I'm lucky enough to have a Blast then we will transfer it on about the 19th Dec 😵‍💫

@Phrenologistsfinger good luck with your 5th banking round, did you get much success in your first 4?

@peanutpending congrats on your egg retrieval, keep us updated xx

@FrostedFlake please let me know if you have any questions about your round xx

Thanks @Kay00. Not great, tbh. Of 7 blasts collected in 4 rounds (age 39-40), we have 4 we can transfer (but not hopeful tbh).

Round 1 - 1 abnormal blast (from 8 eggs)
Round 2 - 1 normal/1 mosaic (11eggs)
Round 3 - 2 abnormal blasts (12 eggs)
Round 4 - 2 untested blasts (13 eggs)

I had to stop pgta testing as it was too much to handle psychologically. I am just gritting my teeth and banking as many as I can.

@Phrenologistsfinger 4 to transfer isn't a bad number (well... It's 3 more than me, but I recognize it's not a lot from 4 rounds). Is there a reason you are PGTA testing? Or are you based on the US where it is more usual? Xx

@Kay00 it’s something I suppose (although 2 of the 4 are untested and probably abnormal) but my low expectations (and the reason we were pgta testing) is that I have had 12 naturally conceived losses already (never past 6 weeks). I’m in the UK.

The PGTA testing has shown us this is probably because most of our embryos are chromosomally abnormal (age most likely). I also likely have an immune system issue that is affecting things so they give me steroids during stims etc.

Hi all, do you mind if I join?

@FrostedFlake it’s my first round too and I’m also due to have egg collection around 5th Dec! I am meant to be starting norethisterone on 10th Nov (I’m guessing that’s similar to Provera??) although I tested positive for Covid about a week and a half ago and if my partner gets it they’ve said we’d need to postpone for 2-3 cycles - so just waiting to see what happens atm🙏

Feeling quite anxious about managing work (and just life in general!) through all this, especially as we haven't told anyone apart from our parents and one of my friends (who is more nosey than supportive tbh!)

@Phrenologistsfinger I'm sorry for your losses 😓 I can only imagine how hard this journey has been for you. Hopefully the wonders of science have narrowed down your best chances of success xx I have everything crossed for you xx

@kamaha welcome! The only difficulty I found juggling work and IVF were the appointments, but luckily my boss doesn't care too much if I nip out for a few hours so long as my work gets done. The rest is easily managed around work 😊

Thanks for the reply @Kay00 - that's really helpful to know!
Does anyone recommend doing anything in particular in preparation for treatment (acupuncture, specific diet, supplements etc.)? Our consultant just said folic acid/vitamin D for me and Impryl for my partner, but would be great to know if there are other recommendations! Thanks

Hi @FrostedFlake

A friend of mine is doing ivf short cycle
she is going to start her Norethindrone in 3 days time for 14 days she needs to call in 3rd day full bleeding
the clinic havent given her any dates for egg collection or transfer she has very demanding and stressful job she is planning combine egg collection and egg transfer and take that as annual leave which she needs to give notice for her annual leave she is very stressed out about this please if you could help thank you.

@kamaha whilst I don't there is anything you need to do before IVF (other than take your vitamins) I would recommend doing some nice things for you and your partner. It can be a stressful/emotional time and relaxing/doing nice things can really help x

Oh... And invest in some nice new fluffy socks to wear during the procedures 😁

@Kay00 thank you so much for the suggestions! I think I've been so focused on preparing physically that I've not thought much about what we can do to help with the emotional side of things, so will do that. Also, definitely going to be investing in some fluffy socks!!

@Saraaaa maybe your friend can speak to the clinic to try and find out a bit more about timings? I know the uncertainty can definitely make it feel a lot more stressful.

I hope everyone is doing OK

All good here 😊 just patiently waiting for the 13th to come along so I can start my Northisterone. I might book a few nights away in Dec, and follow my own advice to do something nice for me and OH.

Hi @FrostedFlake and hi everyone here 😊

Would you mind if I join? I'm 38, from UK under NHS :-) It's my first time heading into all this and reading all your advice is so reassuring. I'm a little ahead, also short cycle, starting Meriofert around 13th Nov and ec on 25th Nov.

@peanutpending Hope you are doing well after your collection?

@kamaha @Saraaaa it's definitely a struggle managing all this alongside work (and life in general!).

I decided to let my manager know from the off, and she is really supportive, I find it hard sharing something so private but I'm glad I have just for the freedom to go to appointments no questions asked. I personally think the fewer people you tell the less pressure you are under, but it is pretty lonely, hence me popping up here! 😄👋

@Phrenologistsfinger what a journey you have been on already! You absolute warrior! Huge respect to you and everything crossed xx

@Kay00 definitely going to treat myself to some nice socks too! Yes indeedy 😁

🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀

Hi @Pwdin thanks so much! I had my transfer a week ago; a 5 day hatching blastocyst with a 5AA grading. I'm due to test on Monday but I'm so scared to! I don't want to know if it's negative! This week I've been having very mild on and off cramps, very similar to my usual period pain!

Good luck with your journey! If you have any questions at all, I'd be happy to help! Take care xx

@Kay00 I'm pleased to hear you're going to be taking your own advice and booking some time away with your OH - that does sound lovely 

Welcome @Pwdin! I'm so glad your manager has been supportive. I'm still undecided about whether to tell mine! Like you I find it hard sharing something so private, but if they're supportive it is a massive weight of your mind when it comes to needing time off etc.

@peanutpending best of luck for tomorrow - I've got everything crossed for you ❤️ xxx

Hi everyone...well we were slightly impatient and tested last night and today! In shock and can't believe it! Still being negative and thinking it's a fluke! Xx

That's wonderful news @peanutpending!!!!Massive congratulations ❤️ xxx

Thank you @kamaha - I'm still being very cautious as I'm terrified of the lines fading! It's a bit surreal! Sending lots of luck and baby dust to everyone xxx

Omg!! Absolutely fantastic news @peanutpending !!! Eeeep! 😁🥳

@peanutpending congratulations!! Wonderful news xx

Thank you @Kay00 and @Pwdin 🥹🥹🥹 I'm so happy but so scared hahah. We've been trying for 3 years and we're diagnosed with unexplained infertility so I'm just in shock! How are you both? Xxx

hi everyone could I please join? Thank you @ kamha for sending me this thread. I’ve just started a round of ICISI and was wondering if there was anyone on this journey right now that could accompany me through it! I’m 44, got pregnant last year naturally, but it ended in a miscarriage after seven weeks. Since then I have had a hysteroscopy, my blood results all are all over the place, but I do know that my FSH is raised and my AMH, unfortunately came back as 0.2. However, I’m not going to allow that to make me lose hope, so I have decided to give this a shot. My periods are all over the place, so when I had a scan done and the hospital decided that even though I on day 24 that my lining was still quite thin so I have started with the injections. Gonal F 300 every day alongside letrozole for five days. I’m at the lister clinic…

update to this message: scanned yesterday - two follicles seen. Starting menopur 300 today…

Hi 👋 @Miche243 I'm glad you found the thread! I'm really sorry to hear about your loss last year. I can imagine how hard that was. We also had a loss, slightly earlier (at 6 weeks), back in August and it really is heartbreaking. But fingers crossed this is our time xx

It sounds like you're a little bit a head in your treatment. I just started norethisterone a few days ago, which I have to take until my baseline scan on Friday. I should then start bleeding a few days later and will start Menopur and Gonal f. How are you finding the injections so far? Will you be continuing to take Gonal f now you're starting Menopur?

How is everyone else getting on? Xx

Thank you so much @kamaha! To be fair the gonal f injections have been ok. My tummy is a little bloated and I’ve had minimal discomfort. I start the menopur today - again 300 per day. Tomorrow I will add another injection to the list! Can’t remember the name, begins with f! All fun! I have another scan on Tuesday….I was thinking that I would be given provera to kickstart my period but my lining was thin. I really wish the best of luck to everyone here. I’ve got loads of factors against me, age, diminished ovarian reserve, high FSH but I’m taking DHEA and CoQ10 and praying everyday! I can only hope! All I need is one egg right? X