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

@Autumbreeze @Sj2505 Thanks. It was expected, so I’m fine about it.

I’ve just taken co-codamol so that should take the edge off. Period is here properly today, bright red, painful cramps, heavy as f*ck.

Just called the clinic. This guy answered the phone, was very I’m so sorry’. I think I caught him off guard because I was like, well, I expected it to honest. TTC for nearly 4 years has turned me into an emotionless drone! A negative pregnancy test is all I’ve ever seen, so, it is what it is. Nurse should call me back to arrange review with consultant I reckon.

My main questions:

• I started spotting at 7dp5dt. Tiny amount got very slightly heavier as days went on. Is that a progesterone issue and do I need extra meds for that.
• Fertilisation rate. Is it my eggs or OH sperm.
• What about AOA (I think that’s what it’s called). The calcium stuff to help with poor fertilisation.
• DNA frag test required?
• Would future round see change in protocol? Would a slightly lower dose for longer have been more effective? Was I on too strong a dose? I mean, I’m clutching at straws there but whatever

I don’t really want them to say my just turned 35 year old eggs are too old. Because I’ve heard they’re still fairly young for IVF.

@Lauralozzle I'm glad you're feeling ok. I think having a contingency ready to focus on must help.
I definitely don't think your age should be a factor yet! But you have some good questions to go in with. Hopefully they will be able to get you moving quite quickly if that's what you're comfortable with.

@Sj2505 I want to move as quickly as possible. No point waiting around, I’ve done enough waiting around. How are you feeling? Stims going ok?

I have a review for the 27th Feb which is good. I’m hoping might be able to restart April time, unless we need another load of tests.

@Lauralozzle that's good that they've managed to get you in quite quickly! Hopefully you shouldn't need extra tests and can get started again soon.

Stims are going good thank you. Started the extra morning one this morning so now on 3 a day. I'm really bloated today, and I feel like the twinges are evening up between the left and right. Hopefully all good news on Monday.

Made it to test day. now another 2 week wait for viability scan .im still in shock.

@Sj2505 Glad it’s going well! Fingers crossed for Monday 🤞

@zarascan47 Congratulations! 🎉

@zarascan47 congratulations!! Fantastic news!

Congratulations @zarascan47 that's amazing news xx

@Autumbreeze Hope you’re ok today. Is it your official test day?

@Lauralozzle BFN but it's ok! I knew anyway! Period has stopped again though! I just want it to come nowwwww!!

We are definitely going to look at going private and booking a consultation. I'd like and a break though. Maybe go May time if I can. How you feeling today? Good luck in your journey. Not long to wait until your follow up now. Xx

@Autumbreeze I’m sorry it was BFN. Glad you’re ok though. Having a bit of a break sounds like a good idea, hopefully you’ll be ready to push on come May.

Once we’ve had our review, and know our next steps, we’re thinking of having a nice holiday maybe. Having something else to look forward to might help!

A holiday sounds lovely @Lauralozzle our first wedding anniversary is coming up in the spring so not sure to book a cottage to take the dogs away with us. Nice to have something to look forward to. Please keep in touch and let us know how your appointment goes! You'll be planning your next round before you know it ☺️

Morning everyone,

@Lauralozzle @Autumbreeze I'm so sorry for you both, I hope yous have planned something nice for this weekend and are enjoying some tasty food and wine ❤️

@Lauralozzle having questions ready for your appointment is a really good idea, I know myself I will be doing the exact same when we can get back in. At least you don't have long to wait now for the follow up

@Autumbreeze a break/holiday sounds great, I think we are going to get booked back in but have a holiday/mini break away in the wait time. I still feel now I wanna get straight back in, but the wait times in the clinic are going to hold us back, so may as well plan something nice in the meantime

@Sj2505 I also love that documentary, I watched an episode yesterday, I pretty much cried through it too!
Are you still feeling ok on the stims? And day 7 scan tomorrow? Wishing you all the best 😊

@zarascan47 congratulations 🥳 that's brilliant news 😊

@MsSandyToes how are you doing?

I started the misoprostol on Friday and had cramps immediately, felt awful on and off all day but just kept up the painkillers, but literally had no bleeding at all! Had to do the second dose this morning so not sure what will come of it today... really hoping this works as I don't want to go down the surgical route if I can help it ☹️

I'm sorry your going through this @User491 hopefully the tablets work! Bad enough going through this without surgery to!

Hopefully wait times won't be to long for you to get back in to it. Have they giving any indication of wait times?

@Autumbreeze You should definitely do something for your wedding anniversary ❤️. A cottage break sounds great, I know what you about whether to take our four legged companions with us though. We like walking/hiking and our little Jack Russell just isn’t up to it anymore. He’s 15 and it’s a bit much, but I feel guilty leaving him behind. If we go abroad (not been abroad since our honeymoon) then it takes the guilt out of it somewhat but abroad is expensive so…

I will definitely keep in touch and keep resurrecting this thread lol!

@User491 I hope this rollercoaster is over for you quickly! Fingers crossed the tablets work, I totally get wanting to avoid anything surgical.

I’m alright. I was a bit angry yesterday, but today I’m fine. My period is so heavy though. You wouldn’t have thought with constant spotting I had this week that there would be so much left. I usually have one very heavy day, I’ve had two, I’m hoping today it’ll ease up a bit. It’s a good job it’s over the weekend because I’m not sure how I’d have coped at work. Not so much the emotional side of it, but more the pain/heaviness.

@Lauralozzle are you taking any time off this week? Mine is still light. Did wake up with bad pains last night but not so bad this morning. Still think it's to come though. I might take a few days sick this week! I think it's mentally healing as well as physically. I had a few tears. I'm going to do some counselling this time I think. I didn't last time but didn't feel this bad! Probably as I knew we had another go. Our one dogs has bad legs so I get that. She's only 7 but had two big leg operations.

Make sure you all keep in touch to. You girls have got me through this if I'm honest! Can't really speak to many people but our little group here is fab!

I love our little group here. Some of the other threads are just too big but like @Autumbreeze this little group has got me through it.

@Autumbreeze I had a few angry tears last night. Ended up drinking a nice (strong) glass of pineapple juice and Malibu. I’m not sure about the counselling, I know I’ll get free sessions, but I think I’ll be alright. I just want a plan to get going again. DH asked if I wanted to take a break, but we’ve spent so long waiting, I’m not sure a break is what I need. I need a plan. If the plan involves a break while waiting for test results/etc, that’s different because I know I’ll be doing something and things will be in motion.

I just have to remind myself, this time last year I was waiting for our first appointment at the fertility clinic, which was beginning of March. We didn’t have a diagnosis. Everything seemed so far away. I might not be pregnant but we’re further along than I was last year at this point.

Googling Tui holidays is helping a little bit at the moment! 😂

@Autumbreeze they didn't really, but it was mentioned they were booking up into summer now, but they did hope to open more spaces before then. I was just told I can ring when I get my first period after this and sort a consultation appointment again.
I think they were reluctant to even consider dates until I got past this, which I completely understand. I have no idea how I am going to feel etc, and how my body will react.
I'm going to focus on getting back into healthy eating and exercising fully again once I get back on my feet.

@Lauralozzle bless you, I really hope you have a chill day today and feel much better later.

I don't know if these are going to do the trick or not, got some more cramping/feeling like sharps pains inside low down, but still no bleeding.

You girls have seriously been fab, it's nice to vent on here, i hope we can all update the thread with more positive news soon ❤️

@Lauralozzle I am 100% with you on this!
Although I don't know how I feel after this part, at the moment I just feel like I need dates written down and I can wait in between. I was asked if I needed some counselling, but I think I'll be ok for now, i feel I would think differently had it not been our first shot at it.

It's all so very cruel that it's a postcode lottery too as to how many rounds you get. Would be so much better if it was all equalled out and the same offered everywhere!

Thats definitely a positive to look into, it's all going in the right direction. A lot of our wait times kinda helped me initially as I had weight I needed to lose, so that focus took my mind off it, now I'm in the correct weight bracket I'm thinking what now 🙈🤣

@User491 I was at the correct weight bracket and then I put on 8-10lbs over this cycle!! Ooops.

Once my insides sort themselves out, I’ll have to try and drop the weight again. Not do much of an issue in that BMI is well below 35, so I don’t have my BMI worries of being under 30 anymore, but because I feel a bit like a bloated whale and want to feel better in myself. So, once I’m up for it, I’ll start running again. Lent is coming up, I’m not religious, but I might get I to the spirit of it and give up chocolate.

I think coping mechanisms are so different from person to person, the only thing we can do is do whatever we have to to get through the process with as much sanity as possible.
I wanted to lose weigh ahead of treatment but didn't manage to, the clinic were ok with my weight as my BMI is 32 I think, so I thought I'm just going to take away that stress and eat healthily, get out walking etc rather than restrict myself and do my own head in 😂
I wish you all a peaceful break or peaceful wait, whichever takes your fancy. I think I would be one to want to get moving again but I'm very impatient haha.

The getaway plans sound exciting. Where are you all thinking?
I hope you all feel ok ♥️

I'm still very happy to post my updates if you ladies are still happy to read them, I'm quite at home in this thread and was worried I'd be the little tortoise in the journey 😅

@Sj2505 Keep posting. It’s nice to hear how you’re getting on. We’re here for you, whatever the outcome.

We’ve talked about going to Germany a few times. So, we might visit there. I want to go back to Rome as it was lovely there. Maybe Lake Garda. We’d like to go abroad, but it really depends on costs and dates and plans and whatnot. It’ll be something nice to look forward to though.

@Lauralozzle thank you 🥰

We love Berlin! We've been there twice together, he proposed there, at the Sphere restaurant at the top of the TV tower. It's lovely.
We also want to go back to Prague. I think anywhere you go is what you make it really.

Sorry @User491i completely missed your comment! Stims are going ok, the twinges aren't as strong anymore, they're just more occasional deep shooting aches, but I still feel quite heavy and bloated around my abdomen.
Yes I have my scan tomorrow morning. Can't wait to see how things are going but I am feeling quite nervous about it.

@User491 I'm so sorry for everything that you're going through. I'll keep everything crossed for you that the tablets work. I'm OK thank you. My viability scan is on the 1st of March. I was obsessively POAS and was worried when I was still showing 2-3 a week after OTD but finally got 3+ on a digital at 5+5 so I have stopped now. I worry that if anything does happen that the progesterone would mask it so I really want to get the scan done for some reassurance. I thought a positive test would be the end of the anxiety but I feel the same anxiety at the moment. I'm 6+2 now and the scan is at 7+5 so fingers crossed to hear a heartbeat and have it in the right place.

@Lauralozzle and @Autumbreeze I am so sorry both of you. This is such a hard process. I'm glad to hear that you are both making plans and I hope you get some answers in your follow up appointments. Please do keep us in the loop of what's next for you both. I've loved our little group and want to keep sending positive vibes when you start your next rounds.

@zarascan47 huge congratulations! When is you viability scan? The waiting is just as bad as the TWW I'm finding!

@Sj2505 Good luck for your scan tomorrow, let us know how you get on. I agree about the documentary, really interesting but tear jerking too.

@MsSandyToes great news - pleased to hear that you're getting on well.
How are your pregnancy symptoms if any?