IVF warriors - journey continues

[Tinkerbell098]

Have created this as our old one has maxed out. Let's continue to support each other in this challenging journey of IVF.

@Imisscoffee2021
@Decaffe
@seekingbabyk
@MinBins
@acaciabluebell
@MammyandAva
@Spin101
@1stcycle

Oh no @Decaffe - will you lose the embryo if they decide not to transfer?

@Decaffe sorry, what a crap morning! I remember the transfer day for your frozen was also so stressful. So sorry this keeps happening to you. But surely they can't not transfer today if it's already been thawed? Surely they should still go ahead or you'll lose your poor embryo? That definitely can't be right! Really sorry, but really hope they can work things out for you and transfer and hope your progesterone would boost in the next couple of days in time for implantation. Why can't they get you lubion? Is it out of stock?

@Decaffe I really feel like they should still transfer anyway- what have you got to lose if it'll be lost anyway?!

@Decaffe I agree with @seekingbabyk . Now that it is thawed, what else can they do? I think push to get it transferred if they're suggesting cancel the cycle instead.

@Decaffe I'm surprised they don't keep a stock of lubion in for quick adjustments, my clinic does and its both nhs and private. I hope you're OK, what a two days in turmoil you've had :(

Hi all.
Can I join in on this thread? Would love some support from others and share our journeys.

I'm 33, have irregular periods (35-50 days), relatively high AMH for my age (=36), two natural pregnancies in last 15 months conceived quickly but both were ectopics and terminated on medical grounds 😭. I started my first ever IVF this month (private) with reason being to bypass fallopian tube and reduce risk of another ectopic. I was actually feeling very positive about IVF, until yesterday's EC and this morning's call for Day 1 EC update, I've been mostly crying ever since! 😭. Here's a summary:

• Induction for 7 days (7 days of low dose Overleap 150, 2 days Fyremadel)
• First scan D9 showed 25 follicles, 12/13 each ovary and 2 were mature>18mm. Amazing, so happy!
• Clinic changed plans and decided to Trigger me that night (D9) using 250ml Ovitrelle based on first scan
• EC on D11 (yesterday) retrieved 10 eggs from the 25 follicles
• EC+1 (today): 8/10 eggs were mature, only 3/8 fertilized

I'm totally shocked and devastated how I've ended up with only 3 fertilized eggs from 25 follicles at the outset. I was warned by friends how quickly the numbers can drop but still, I wasn't expecting it this bad! We're now both depressed and preparing ourselves for the worst that we won't even have 1 embryo left at Day 5, and looking at a failed IVF cycle. I'm just so confused! I was worried that they triggered me too quickly and wonder if that's partly the cause? It's not game over yet and we'll find out on Saturday the embryo D3 update but it's not looking good based on the stats online ☹️.

Welcome to the gang @Cat89 ! That does seem a short time to stim and then to trigger when 2 follicles were ready, what size ranges were the other 12? Did you have ICSI and did they not give feedback on DHs sperm sample on the day? Were they perhaps trying to avoid OHSS so erred in the side of caution?

It's so tough when you have a number in mind, I was similar where I had 21 follicles one month then when I came to do my cycle it dropped to 11, then I got 7 eggs. But they all grew to blastocyst on day 5, one slowed so wasn't frozen but the rest have either been transferred or are still frozen so just because you've had a high rate of attrition now doesn't mean it'll continue, you hopefully will have three healthy blasts :)

@Cat89 welcome :) I'm surprised they only scanned once during stims. This was the case for me too (day 10) and I thought that was strange. I was with NHS, so thought that was due to their reduced funding/capacity or whatever. I was also asked to trigger the same day as the first scan, and really think I lost a few (I had 18 in the running and only retrieved 5) as they didn't even get a chance to review my dosage or anything as they didn't scan me before. I would really question that from them when you next see the consultant/nurse. Did you have male factor/ did they analyse the sperm before fertilisation? Sometimes, first cycle is all trial and error, so don't be disheartened. You've still got 3 in the running. Got everything crossed for you for Saturday and hope you get 3 lovely blasts X

Thanks both, this has honestly put me at ease. I also called the clinic just now to chat and they stated that number of follicles does not equate number of eggs, it's the size of the follicles that give an indication and in fact, I had 7 follicles >14mm so the fact I had 10 eggs (8 mature) was slightly better than they were expecting. I wish I knew beforehand and stopped googling all day yesterday, I genuinely been thinking last 2 days that this IVF is a massive disaster and there's something drastically wrong with eggs/sperm 🙈.

The 3/8 fertilized eggs is indeed lower than expected though (ideally >75%, expected 6ish), so not sure whats happened there. Interestingly, husband's screening sperm sample came up with low morphology (1.5%, despite us getting pregnant twice naturally, again we were surprised by this finding!) so they gave us a heads up that ICSI may be used if the actual sample gave similar findings. But yesterday's sample tested ok (4% = min criteria for normal) so ICSI was not used. Perhaps ICSI may help next time if we need another cycle.

Even though I came into IVF cautiously, it seems I still had too high expectations for the attrition rates, I blame Google lol.
Fingers crossed my 3 eggs are strong fighters 🤞, will update you guys.

Good luck with your cycles, got my fingers crossed for everyone and will follow your journeys x

I’ve literally just walked through the door after leaving the house at 8:30! Thank god I had the day off work.

Very long story short, I managed to state my case and now I have a fully expanded 3BC on board, and two hours after transfer I had 2x25 Lubion injections courtesy of Asda. I suggested the private prescription option after searching MN after my transfer. I have no idea why it wasn’t suggested to me as a solution last night or this morning. They just said that they don’t hold it in stock and didn’t think other pharmacies would either. I can only hope the fact I’ve taken it after transfer isn’t too much of an issue. I have no idea how long it takes to kick in!

I feel like individually my clinic is full of lovely well meaning staff but there is just no one overseeing everything and looking at the bigger picture. I am having to be the one pushing for all these tests and private prescriptions, well thank heavens I did?! My progesterone would be on the floor and we’d be none the wiser!

Going forward I am to take one 25 Lubion morning and evening, plus six 400 Cyclogest per day, even though it seems I simply don’t respond to them, how weird is that. (And 20mg prednisolone for another five days then drop to 10mg.)

God knows what the odds are. I think I can only think of it as ‘at least I’ve bought a raffle ticket,’ if it doesn’t work out at least we have a lot more knowledge going into the second cycle.

My brain is frazzled so I am probably going to log off now but welcome @Cat89 and I will reply to everyone properly tomorrow. You’re all stars for keeping me going. Thank you to all ⭐️

Hi lovely ladies, is it okay if I join in too?

I've had so much comfort reading your thread and would love to be a part of it. A little about me - I'm 32, had PCOS and irregular periods for as long as I can remember. We were TTC naturally, but with the lack of AF, we were recommended IVF and started the process privately last month. We've just finished our 1st round of IVF with ICSI.

Retrieval was on 10th Nov
We got 11 mature eggs, out of which 7 fertilised. 1 transferred and 6 frozen.
Day 5 blastocyst transferred on 15th Nov and had the HcG test yesterday with a BFP.

I've been asked to start cyclogest, lubion and progynova from tomorrow. So daunted by the idea of the pessarys and the lubion, which from what I have read is super painful. Feeling so inspired by your stories and your spirit and hope I can stay positive through the next few weeks.

I'm so new to all of this, I have no idea what to expect over the next few weeks, months, etc.

Hope I'm okay to join in - but if not, please let me know xx

@Decaffe that's amazing they transferred it. I think implantation can take a few days sometime so by then your levels should be sky high with all that progesterone! I'm so happy you managed to get it on board and now praying to the baby gods for you!

@Cat89 - welcome to our group! Try to stay positive. As others have said the first round is a bit trial and error so it's great you still have three in the running! Hopefully they'll all make it!

@itshimi welcome to you too! Congratulations on your BFP! So you haven't had any progesterone up to now? Normally they start you the night of your EC!

@seekingbabyk Thank you xx

So far I've been on some progesterone tablets, but no injections or pessarys. Post transfer I was on anticoagulant injections, oral progesterone and estrogen and prednisolone steroids.

I had progesterone injections for the 5 days between the retrieval and transfer though, but none after.

It's so strange how protocols differ from clinic to clinic. It seems to be working so far, but I'm feeling very anxious about what's next, as now we actually have a positive result to protect x

@Decaffe
Sounds like a long day but great news on the transfer! Fingers crossed for you and agree implantation can take several days so plenty of time for the meds to kick in 😊.

@seekingbabyk
Wow that's amazing!! You should feel incredibly happy with your result. Congratulations on BFP, you're in the best possible position you can be at this time 😁.
I'm reassured that all of your fertilized eggs made it to D5 (if I understand correctly?), there's still some hope for my 3 with a lot of luck 🤞 x

@seekingbabyk
Can I also ask about your stimulation phase?
With PCOS did they put you on a low dose to stimulate ovaries? How come ICSI was used, is it standard practice at your clinic or was there male factor infertility from sperm sample? I do now wonder if ICSI could have improved our fertilisation rate maybe 🤔.

@Cat89 I think that was meant for @itshimi - sorry let me know if it isn't but I don't have PCOS or a BFP yet x

Hi @Cat89 I was on Ovaleap (dose between 300 and 225), layering in Menopur and Frymadel until the EC. The sperm analysis we did for my OH showed that there were slight issues with morphology and motility, so we were recommended ICSI for the best shot at getting healthy embryos. I think it definitely made a difference as we got such a high % of fertilised eggs, which seemed so fortunate and surprising to us then, as we had read its usually below 50% that make it to blastocyst stage. But who knows with these things.

Just as an additional bit of info (in case it helps), in terms of scanning during stims, we had 3 scans - 6th day, 8th day and 10th day. Following that they decided to have the EC 4 days later to give the follicles a bit longer. Very strange that you had only 1, as they were very clear they needed multiple scans before scheduling the EC.

Sending you lots of love though - hopefully you get 3/3 xx

@Decaffe Sounds like such a long and mentally exhausting day. You need the rest xx I'm on a similar treatment. The prescription says 25mg Lubion (but the total quantity sent is 49 so no idea how many I will take), Progynova Tab and the Cyclogest (theres 150 of those as well, which sounds like a LOT).

The prescription delivers tomorrow, but they're yet to tell me how much of each I am to take daily. Will update once I know more! Looking forward to hearing how you get on with them too x

Welcome @itshimi and congratulations on your BFP 🥳

Also welcome to @Cat89 and good luck for this next stage of the egg journey!

I'm sending you all the positive thoughts @Decaffe, what an emotional rollercoaster of a week! Hope you're okay.

Ahh I've only gotten halfway through stims stage, and lots of things I'm reading seem new to me, so while I can't give any advice, I'm rooting for you all (and waving my arms in frustration towards those crappy clinic people).

@MinBins thank you!! xx how are the stims going for you? What treatment are you on? Sending you lots of positivity and good luck x

@itshimi ah I actually am waiting to begin approx mid Dec (waiting for cycle to begin). 😄

I got through halfway last month and it was stopped due to low impact, so I'm on higher med dosage this time round.

@itshimi welcome and big congratulations!!

@Decaffe hope you had a relaxing evening after that long hectic day.

@seekingbabykwould you be getting any further updates from your embabies today?

@Imisscoffee2021 happy scan day today!! Let us know how it goesX

@Tinkerbell098 no unfortunately our clinic only does day 1 and 5 so it's going to be Sunday now but that's fine I'm not feeling too anxious.

@Imisscoffee2021 good luck today! Can't wait to hear about it later!

@seekingbabyk @Tinkerbell098 thank you :) it's not til 4pm, really nervous as this is the fjrst one my husband is coming to, so so hoping all is well in there for him.

@Imisscoffee2021 I'm sure everything will be fine. I do get the nerves as I think we all try to guard ourselves but your scans last week were perfect and no signs to say anything other than that since then so try to stay positive xx

Hi ladies! Had the scan, saw our little bean with a pounding heartbeat, measuring exactly 6+6 which I am today :) it's grown so much since last Saturday, looks dort of like a baby now! It was lovely turning and looking at my husband, such a relief! The nurse is going to scan me again as I mentioned the spotting, at 8 weeks exactly, she's quite an unemotional character but incredibly thorough, she threw me off in the early days of ivf bit I appreciate the attention to detail now!