IVF cycle November 2022

[HJen22]

Hi ladies

Just wondering if anyone is doing a cycle in November, looking for some cycle buddies.

I started stims yesterday, this is the 3rd cycle for us (2 NHS rounds where we didn't make it to transfer either time) and now we have signed up to a private a 3 cycle package with Create in Manchester. 3 egg collections and hopefully some embryo banking before and potential transfer. X

@HJen22 how did scan go today xx

@countrypunk hello and welcome! Enjoy your injection free day today and all the best for collection tomorrow ❤️ hope you are doing ok and have a restful week ahead x I'm sure when I did one of my injections last cycle there was more left than what I needed too, I think they probably allow for some extra.

@Crystal88 good thank you. Less eventful than yesterday, no tears and they got blood first try. They are going to call me when my bloods are back, we might trigger tonight and if not back in tomorrow for another scan. Are you back in tomorrow? X

@HJen22 yes back tomorrow, 8am scan and then they will see if EC is going to be friday or monday

@hopefulivfer I hope collection went well this morning, sorry I meant to message earlier to say good luck ❤️

@HJen22 glad your appointment was better, so they are expecting EC on thursday with you xx

Thank you @HJen22 I'm sure you're right!

Hope your collection went swimmingly @hopefulivfer 🙂❤️

Hi All,

EC was today. Got 7 eggs in total. The team were happy. Did pay for ICSI but they said sperm quality of OH was fine so not necessary. Same number as my previous clinic on our first shot but with lower dose stim. Maybe less is more as they say.

Last clinic ICSIed all eggs they said because they did this to guarantee fertilisation due to poor ovarian reserve. My wee eggs struggled with the ICSI process. Abnormal cleavage and fertilisation with the first cycle and the 2nd cycle both eggs degenerated with ICSI.

The embryologists gave us a choice this time but when I explained what happened at the previous clinic they said they would see how standard IVF goes.

So now it’s a waiting game.

@HJen22 How did your scan go? Hope your follies are growing nicely.

Hi there @countrypunk. Good luck with retrieval tomorrow.

Going to try and relax now as we’ve done all we can now…

@hopefulivfer That's really interesting about the ICSI process and the lower stims dose. We're having ICSI too because of antibodies in my partner's sperm. We'll see what my eggs are saying tomorrow...

Hope you can have a proper relax for the rest of the day. Did you sleep through the retrieval?

@Crystal88 it all depends on my hormone levels from todays blood results. If my LH is rising quickly they'll have me trigger tonight for Thursday collection, if hormones still ok I'll continue, scan tomorrow and maybe trigger tomorrow night for collection Friday. I have low AFC and short cycles so I maybe ovulate early. I don't have many follicles, they are keeping a close eye. I have two right now that are big and two smaller. It would be good if the smaller caught up but they also don't want to lose the bigger two. So will wait and see what they say today.

@hopefulivfer that's great news I'm so chuffed for you ❤️ 7 is a really good number. That's interesting about ICSI. We have paid for that too after my OHs analysis recently. But prior to that we hadn't done ICSI. Do they refund you some of the cost of ICSI you paid? It's great that your OHs sperm quality didn't require it today, and that given your past experience the embryologist let you decide. We were just talking about this today in the car. We didn't do ICSI our first round but I then thought is it better for less eggs but I guess not always then!

Please tell me you're fully knocked out and unaware of collection? How long after were you able to leave? I was going to send my OH home when I'm in if it's quite a while so he can do some work. I hope you are feeling ok and get rest today. The days after collection are hard, I found the calls so nerve wracking so I hope you've some things to take your mind off it xxx

Hi @HJen22

I had sedation not a general anaesthetic- so not completely knocked out. However, I was completely unaware of what was going on. After the cannula went in, I was asleep
with a few seconds. The first thing I remember is being back in my room afterwards.

They give you oral paracetamol before you go in. Voltarol and antibiotic suppository at the end. I don’t have any pain.

Apparently I was mumbling about Dubai as I drifted off subconsciously I must be missing my holidays. 😂

@hopefulivfer thank you, I am so glad. By knocked out I meant sedated and not general. Anything is better than my previous, I got painkillers and a relaxant but I was fully awake and aware through the entire thing, and had my OH in with me. I am very much hoping for this nice wee nap people talk of!!!

Haha I mumble random things when I'm half asleep at the best of times so sure I'll be the same. Glad to hear you don't have any pain and it sounds like they took very good care of you at the clinic xxx

Hi @HJen22

You will be there for about 2 hours or so…maybe it’s best if your OH comes back to collect you.

You get a refund at the end of ICSI isn’t used but I thought it was better to have peace of mind and pay for all potential add-ons rather than struggle and worry about it as we went along.

Good luck with your EC. You never know a few more follies may sprout out from nowhere. I wasn’t expecting 7 tbh. I am relieved though. I’m hoping to start again when AF makes an appearance. Although I’ve been warned that it depends on scan and bloods as to whether I will be allowed to have cycle straight after this one. Ultimately my body will decide….

Lee me know how you get on and good luck x

@hopefulivfer yeah I said to him just go to when he's done his part and I'll call him, our wee house is only 5 mins from the clinic.

Totally agree, that's the same as us, I'd rather have it paid and sorted at the start as an option, than added on unexpectedly!

Thank you - the nurse has called and my levels are fine so pushing me another day. Hopefully that allows the smaller two to grow a bit more 🤞🏻 so I have another dose of cetrotide to do this evening along with bemfola, another in the AM then scan at 9.15am.

Oh that would be great if you could go again next cycle. Do they speak about that when you're there? I was wondering that but don't want to get ahead of myself. What with us coming down from Scotland I don't think we'll do one next cycle in December as if we did we'd be back down again like 2 weeks later. After both previous collections my period came 10 days later. So then that might make my next period due around Christmas so could also be tricky! Who knows! I'm happy to have fitted one cycle in this year though x

@HJen22 glad you have extra day to allow little ones to grow

hope all goes well xx

good luck any one having treatment today

also hope everyone is coping ok with their cycles

just waiting for my 3rd scan, to see how they are progressing xx

@hopefulivfer that’s great news that you got 7 eggs, interesting that you have a lower dose do you mind me asking why? My clinic have just automatically put me on higher dose and I am beginning to wonder if that’s the best thing for me, I feel perhaps lower dosage for longer may get better results but I’m no expert …..

@HJen22 wow you were awake during previous ER? What a shame. Fingers crossed for you that the other 2 follicles catch up x

@Crystal88 good luck at your scan today and hoping for some really good fertilisation updates for you @hopefulivfer xxx

@Hopewishprayer yes!! Seems like my last clinic were the only ones that do that. I did feel a bit drowsy but as soon as they started I was very much aware of what was going on. So I'm looking forward to a sleep this time that everyone else talks of!!!!

I am also on a lower dose, it's mild ivf that I am doing x

Hi @Hopewishprayer
We’re at create fertility which specialise in older ladies like me. The protocol they use is called mild ivf. The rationale is that low dose hopefully doesn’t send eggs into overdrive and ensure coordinated growth of follicles.

I had alternate day bloods and scans, then up to the EC daily scans and bloods to make sure eggs were maturing nicely and hormone levels were not suggestive of imminent ovulation.

I got same number of eggs on high dose protocol and poor quality. So maybe there is truth to the softly softly approach. I have stimmed for only 9 days whereas at the previous clinic I stimmed for 10-11 days. But they didn’t monitor they way this clinic did.

I was also awake for EC at my previous clinic with oral temazepam and iv paracetamol. Entonox and local anaesthetic during the actual retrieval process. I thought it was ok but after yesterday’s experience, I realise what I went through unnecessarily was pure torture.

@Crystal88 Good luck with the scan
@HJen22 all 7 eggs fertilised overnight with standard ivf not ICSI. So we’re pleased. Obviously still a long way to go. And all embryos if we get to that stage - will go through PGT A testing so I might not get any to transfer. So, we’re trying not to get ahead of ourselves.

Good luck to everyone else

Hey,
I'm late to the party. I started my first round of ivf on 1st November on a short protocol. Previous to this we've had 3 rounds of IVF, with 3 miscarriages. Been trying to conceive for 7 years.
I had egg collection on Monday, I'm still so sore today. Just walking around is hard work. I had to do a freeze all cycle due to potential OHSS
Anyone else still sore after EC? I'm super nervous about day 5 results.

Scan went well I now have 8 above 10mm, two at 14mm so another scan Friday and then hopefully egg collection Monday xx

@Crystal88 that's great news! Hopefully some more good growth the next few days!

Groundhog Day for me, more bloods and I'll get a call later. I have two at the right size and two smaller still catching up. Depending on bloods again and my hormones we might stim another day and scan again tomorrow, or trigger tonight for collection Friday.

@hopefulivfer that's amazing news! All 7 congrats!! Gosh I know, I'm sorry you went through it awake too! The first cycle I did EC it was manageable but the second time it was absolute agony. And every time I say to someone I was awake they are shocked!

@Megan1591 welcome! I am so so sorry to hear of your 3 miscarriages, how heartbreaking. I wish you all the very best for this cycle!

Away to take the dog a walk to take my mind off things. Luckily our Airbnb lady has blocked off two more nights for us in case collection ends up being after Saturday! An added stress we don't need, trying to remain chill as I'm in good hands! X

That’s fantastic news @Crystal88 !
I know it feels like an eternity but the week will fly by and before you know it… you’ve had your egg retrieval!

@HJen22 @hopefulivfer Thank you both i have plans to keep me busy tomorrow and friday so i am sure it will go quick. i am looking forward to getting to next stage.

Stay positive @HJen22. Its frustrating I know… but I feel like the clinical staff really are on the ball… when they decide to trigger it will be at the right time. Clinic have a deep clean in December so if AF doesn’t make an appearance by 29th December, I won’t be able to cycle until the new year. Waiting for my patient coordinator to reply to let me know if my meds have been ordered. The admin team are shocking!

@Megan1591 You’ve definitely been put through the wringer! You’re strong though after 3 mcs - I really don’t know how I’d feel.
Wishing you all the best with this cycle.

And of course the rest of you gals… there is so many of us here now it’s hard to keep count haha!

But we’re not alone. I take great comfort in the fact that I can come on here and vent when family and close friends get annoyed with me!

29th November I mean x