ICSI January 2023

[Infertilitylife]

Hello,

My partner and I need IVF due to MFI. We are hoping to start treatment in January 2023.

I had my fertility ultrasound scans today and these are my results:

AFC -

Left Ovary - 13 follicles
Right Ovary - 14 follicles

My Endo thickness was 7.3mm (cycle day 10).

I have no masses, cysts, fluid etc - everything looked smooth and normal.
How do these results seem?

I was also told I have a retroverted uterus - will this affect IVF?
Thank you

Hi @Infertilitylife ,

We to are starting our second round of ICSI in Jan 2023.

Unfortunately I have no advice on your results as it's been so long since out first round I need to refresh my memory again. But the amount of follicles from your ultra sound sounds great. I think ours was quite similar.

Looking forward to starting our journey in the new year. Will this be your first round? Are you private or with the NHS?

@Autumbreeze This will be our first round yeah. Exiting but daunting at the same time. How are you feeling about starting your second cycle?

We have been referred through the NHS but the waiting lists were so long where we live for even the first initial appointment. So we’re actually going private but going to have treatment in Prague.

Hi,

I can’t comment on your scans because it’s been a while since I had mine. Think my left ovary had 11 follicules and my right only had one (I have a small, most likely dud right ovary!). Lining was also normal think it was 9.3 when they checked. Womb etc all looked good too. They’re confident they can help with ivf.

The results sound ok though, they’d say if they weren’t. I don’t think a retroverted uterus would impact IVF. People still get pregnant with a retroverted uterus.

We’re expecting our first round in January. We had a bit of a wait from consultation/scans to getting started as I have a thyroid/prolactin issue and they wanted the go ahead from the endocrinologist.

We’re unexplained and depending on how many eggs they collect will be having mixed ivf/ICSI. If they don’t collect enough it’ll just be ICSI.

Im having my bmi check on Wednesday. I’ve likely missed December cut off point because of holidays and date of my period although there was talk of starting down regulation in December.

Is this your first cycle?

@Infertilitylife mixed feelings about going again, we did our first round in a April. Did long protocol and only got two eggs even though I had 13 follicles the one side and 11 the other. My right ovary didn't seem to like the meds to much. The one egg failed but the other one was a really good embryo, unfortunately it ended in a chemical pregnancy. We are doing short protocol this time with a higher dose of meds. I'm 38 so feel time is not on our side.

I don't blame you wanting to get started, I've heard good things about Prague. Have you been over yet? Or do you just go in the new year when you start treatment? Do you have a date?

Hi @Lauralozzle how are you feeling about your first round? Are you private or NHS? It is a rollercoaster of emotions! They did offer us to start November as they close two weeks over Christmas but we decided to enjoy Christmas and start in the new year. We are going in the begging on Jan to have planning meeting and collect out meds ready for my Jan period.

@Autumbreeze I’m a little excited things are finally moving forward. I was referred for IVF in May so it feels like a long time coming! I’m also trying to be as realistic as possible, we’ve been TTC for 3.5 years with no BFP, whilst I hope it’ll work, I’m trying to remind myself it’s no guarantee.

It’s my only NHS round. I’m hoping there will be some Frosties because FETs will be covered but if I don’t and it fails we’ll have to seriously think about how we’ll afford additional rounds.

I’m just trying to get my weight down as much as possible until Wednesday as it has creeped up slightly and it my BMI needs to be below 30. It’s 30.4 today, so a very strict few days. I was under a couple of weeks ago so I’m hoping it’s just water weight which I should be able to get off quickly.

This is our second and final NHS round. Hoping for some Frosties this time! Was quite gutted to wake up to 2 eggs and was the worse 24 hours waiting to see how they were doing but was really lucky to have the one make it as far as it did. We have MFI so that's why they do ICSI with us.

Good luck with the weight loss, it's not easy, especially this time of year! Think Jan will fly here now with Christmas to keep us busy.

Hi am I ok to join please? Just started my meds and go in for EC early January 😊
How are you all finding the meds?

We are also doing the ICSI due to MFI, it's all so exciting but daunting at the same time 🙈

@Autumbreeze Fingers crossed this round goes well and you get a number of eggs!

The weight loss is going ok I think. I’m low carb-ing it at the moment and drinking a ridiculous amount of water! Fingers crossed come Wednesday I’ll be under and then might have to treat myself to a doughnut after!

@User491 I’ve not got any meds yet. I’ll either start meds December or January it depends on what the clinic say on Wednesday!

@User491 welcome! We are not starting our meds until mid Jan. doing short protocol this time. Last time we did long protocol, I didn't find the meds bad as such but I'm not a fan of needles so DH did all the injections. I started off on one for two weeks then had three for a further three weeks if I remember right! I'm guessing your on long protocol? It's all very exciting!

@Lauralozzle aw fingers crossed for you. I'm trying to be better now ready for our next cycle so also on the water only... and cups of tea 😂 are you guys taking any vitamins? I'm only taking folic acid at the moment. Not sure weather to add in or chance to something else.

@Autumbreeze I have a lot of vitamins from the it starts with the egg book. But, I’m crap at taking them. I try to remember to take conception vitamin with the folic acid though. I must really try to do better with all the others (coq10, vitamin c, a ton of others I can’t pronounce!)

I have my one coffee in the morning. Can’t give that up! I need to really try and clean my diet up for this cycle. I won’t be low carbing it after weigh in ( I had sausage casserole for dinner yesterday and I was practicing salivating over everyone’s mashed potato!) but I do need to limit my sugar intake which isn’t great normally. I feel a bit more motivated now I’m not in limbo land now though!

@Lauralozzle ooh god sugar is my weakness! I can give up anything else, not one for alcohol but sugar is my vice. I try and take mine folic acid with my morning tea or I'd forget to. I've heard a lot about that book. Is it worth a read? Do you have a date for your planning meeting for Jan? Or will you find out at your appointment? Do you know what protocol they will have you on?

@Autumbreeze It’s a good book but there’s so many things it talks about that I haven’t taken notice of, such as no plastics, checking ingredients of make up )not that I wear it often), no canned foods. I dunno, I’m glad I have it but I have mixed opinions of it. If I tried everything in that book I think I’d end up depressed lol!

I won’t find out until Wednesday what is happening. I have my protocol (long, day 21 start for down reg). There was talk about starting down reg 9th December but it all depends on my weigh in and if they can get the meds in time. I’m not sure how it’ll work though, with Christmas. I still needs bloods sorting but they said as long as that’s fine before I start stims they should be fine. To be honest, I’m fully expecting down reg to start next cycle when I get there though cause otherwise it’ll be tight!

@Lauralozzle Yes, I have heard all about the no plastic ect... don't think I could do that! Also I don't wear much make up but it's the other stuff! We still need to live. Last cycle we had a lot going on and I was very stressed out but we went ahead anyway... this time I am going to try and be really zen... as much as I can anyway! Does work and your family know what's going on? We have only told a handful of people and that's only because I've had to.

Yes our NHS clinic shuts down two weeks over Christmas and I was back and forth for scans every few days last time. My next period is due mid jan so I think we will start injections then. How are you feeling about doing the injections?

@Autumbreeze I think being as zen as possible is a good idea!

Work doesn’t know. I’m getting a new manager next week, but I’m unsure if I want to start that conversation with: oh by the way, I’m having ivf. I’m in two minds as they’ve updated their guidance on fertility treatments which looks good. I was planning on just taking AL this cycle, if I need more might tell them then!

My sister knows that I’m on an IVF waiting list. I told one friend I was on a waiting list whilst I was a bit tipsy. That’s all though. No-one else knows.

Im bricking the injections! It’s the thought of stabbing my self rather than anything else though.

Were you long protocol before?

@Lauralozzle yes I was long protocol before. I am such a baby with needles, I couldn't do any myself. Thankfully DH did them all for me. They didn't hurt to bad. Think it's the thought of it! Didn't really have any side effects apart from the worse period pain ever when I did come on and I had to go off sick. I'm sure you'll be fine with the needles when you get in to the swing of it! I didn't enjoy the pessaries ether. It's all a bit grim but hopefully worth it!

I had to tell my manager as I needed time off for scan ect. But she's the only person in work who knows. My mum knows and my sister. And a few friends knew we were going to be doing IVF but didn't tell anyone about our last cycle and we will prob keep this one quite to. It's just less pressure.

Nice to go in to the new year... new start and all that jazz. Our hospital is a bit of a trek though so I'm hoping it doesn't snow or l prob won't get there.

@Autumbreeze I think my OH will be more of a wimp than me with the needles haha! I know I’m on suprecur for down regulation. Then ova leap for stims. Utregostan pessaries after.

How long were you down regulating before you started stims last time?

I agree that telling people just adds pressure. I don’t want to talk about it with them if it doesn’t work because they just won’t get it. I don’t think you can get it until you’ve been through infertility.

It is nice it all starting in the new year, hopefully it won’t snow though!! I’m quite lucky that the clinic is only 20 mins away in the car but if it snows it’ll be a problem getting down the hill where I live!

@Lauralozzle yes people just don't understand at all! My best friend is due her second baby in December. She knows we are going down the route of IVF and all I get is scan photos and updates from her. I know she doesn't really get it! But sometimes I think a bit of common sense goes a long way to!

I was on suprecur last time to, I think it was two weeks... but it was so long ago I can't really remember. I know we continued with suprecur then added in metformin if I remember right and clexan as I have a blood disorder. I'll be back on the clexan this time to... that was the worse of the three as it stung like hell after it went in!

To be fair DH was so good... it didn't fase him at all doing the injections, the first one freaked him out though.

@Autumbreeze Sometimes I think people just don’t think. They’re so excited in their own stuff and want to share it without thinking about how it makes you feel. There’s no malice in it I think, I just reckon after this journey we’re over sensitive (and we have every right to be).

A friend of mine said her and her boyfriend were TTC in October. I was happy for her, but deep down inside I just felt really pathetically sad. She’s much younger than me, if she gets pregnant quickly I actually think I’ll be upset about it. Which makes me sound like a terrible person but 3 and a half years of this is exhausting.

But… I’m remaining positive! Enjoy Christmas and new year and then January! And hopefully positive cycles.

@Lauralozzle it is hard! It's bitter sweet. I remember when my sister found out she was having her second my mum (knowing we were having IVF) met me on my lunch hour in a restaurant.... had to go back to work feeling super rubbish. She gets in more now we've had our first round though, she's much more sensitive to it now. But yes we are definitely more sensitive! My heart just drops with these announcements.

How old are you if you don't mind me asking? I'm 38. We started investigating early 2018. It's been a long road. The MFI slowed us down a bit as they focus on the woman first of course. But I came back fine so they they started on him. Then covid hit. One thing after another. Just hoping we are all lucky in Jan/Feb! If it have some Frosties to I'll be happy!

@Autumbreeze I’m 34, 35 in January.

The frustrating thing with unexplained diagnosis is we have no idea what the issue is. It’s me, somewhere down the line. My right shrivelled up ovary (it’s very small, they often can’t see it) probably has something to do with it but otherwise they still say it’s unexplained. My AMH is the lower end of normal too - 13.1 in March this year.

Hopefully the stims will do its job though! We’ll all get decent eggs and embryos!

@Lauralozzle my right ovary didn't like the treatment and went high... whatever that means and that's the one that usually creates more follicles. So I was back and fourth for loads of scans before egg collection.

Yes I hope the stims does its job. It's good to have support on here when not a lot of people know in the real world to!

Hi, please can I join? I should be starting in Jan. my clinic also closes over Christmas.
My OH had a vasectomy before we met so he's having to have surgical sperm retrieval which was booked today for 13th Dec. Then we'll know what we're working with and just wait for AF in Jan to start.

I actually had IVF back in 2014 with my previous DH due to unexplained infertility. We were very fortunate that it worked first time and I now have my wonderful 7 year old DS!
I also fell pregnant naturally in the interim years to my utter amazement, but unfortunately it wasn't meant to be.

So now I'm gearing up to start it all again.

Hi @Sj2505 I hope today went ok for the retrieval. How's he feeling?

Also positive to hear about your first round of IVF. How are you feeling about going again?

Oh sorry, it's booked for 13th Dec.
He's dreading it haha.

I'm really excited to get going, probably naively. Atleast because I had such a good experience and result first time round I'm going into this positive and happy, hopefully that'll help with the stress haha.

How are you all feeling today?