FET/IVF - January 2023

[Jane1284]

Hey

I would love to get a group together of some of us who are undergoing IVF or FETs in Jan. I found it really helpful to have the support of those going through similar last time (Nov 2020).

My story: I am due to start my first FET in January of my one and only frozen embryo. The embryo is from a cycle in Nov 2020 when I was almost 36. I have low AMH and AFC and it was my first and only NHS round. I got 4 eggs all which miraculously fertilised, 1 made it to day 5 and was put back in with a fresh transfer. Sadly it did not stick. 1 egg was left until day 6 and it finally made it to blastocyst. It has been frozen. Rather than having a FET back then they advised me to do a banking package of 3 cycles due to my low AMH/AFC so in Jan 2021 we started our first private IVF cycle with the same clinic (Kings). Once again I was on max stims (gonal f and menopur) and it looked like we would get 4 eggs again but when I woke from EC they told me they only got 2. I had a bit of a breakdown. I was so upset going through all that including over £2k worth of drugs injected to only get two eggs. It felt even worse as I had let myself hope it would go well. Out of the 2 eggs only 1 fertilised normally. On day 3 the embryologist told me it was average quality and she wasn't sure it would be good enough to freeze on day 5 if it even made it that far. I couldn't handle the thought of going through all that mental anguish to not have anything to freeze so I made a last minute decision to go in for a day 3 fresh transfer. I had zero expectations but somehow that average embryo stuck. I was so stressed all pregnancy and worried about everything but amazingly I gave birth to my first baby in Sep 2021. He is now 14 months and I am turning 38 in 2 weeks.

Now it is time to get back on the IVF/FET train. I have been for my initial scan and blood tests. The scan was fine. Still not many follicles but not significantly worse. Waiting for a consult with the Dr next week for an update on my AMH (can't wait.... ) where she'll also decide on our protocol. I am leaning towards a medicated FET just so we can plan it a bit better. If that doesn't work then it is back to a 3 cycle package of IVF.

I hope I haven't bored anyone reading this to tears. Would be great if anyone else out there would like to be a cycle buddy? :-)

@laurapop @Jane1284 I should (touch wood) be due to be cycle day 1 around 20th Jan so hoping that makes us all similar timing

@Bellwells not good! When was she due? our bodies love to stress us don't they

@RMS0209 my app said Sunday but nothing - how typical I may have to cancel my appointment tomorrow but I’m going to wait till 5pm and see if she appears

@Bellwells fingers crossed she decides to make a lunchtime appearance. Keep me updated x

Hi ladies hoping to also join this thread, nice to hear each story on trying for a family or expanding. I’m due to start my second medicated FET, hoping for a transfer in January waiting for AF to down regulate. Previously miscarried twice. Hopeful that I can carry until term this time. Praying for everyone on here that we will receive our miracle in 2023

@RMS0209 i’ve seen the very beginning of her thank goodness!! Tomorrow will be CD1 just in time for my 9am scan and 9.30 appointment to collect down reg. I can finally stop being grumpy and relax lol

@Bellwells so glad that AF finally came just in time. Hope all goes well at the scan.

@Fourfrosties I Hope everyone feels better in time for your family arriving!

@laurapop Waiting a little seems like a good idea. You can relax and enjoy Christmas 🎄

@NP2023 Hello! Good luck with your FET. Hopefully AF comes around soon for you!

@Bellwells I’m glad your AF is here! Fingers crossed for your scan!

No update from me. AF was bloody horrible Monday/Tuesday but it’s a bit better today. I usually have bad periods but it’s been extra horrible and clotty. Hopefully it’s just the buserelin doing its thing. Should all die down now. I usually only have 4 day periods and day 3/4 are light so hopefully that will stay the same!

Hi all,

Can I join? I'm starting my FET at the beginning of January. DH had surgical sperm retrieval last year and we did a fresh round in June but had to do a freeze all cycle as I ended up with OHSS. We did a FET in September which was unsuccessful. Hopeful but nervous to do it all again!

@Lauralozzle thank you, and hope AF has eased up. Mine are horrible and clotty, heavy and painful. I usually take tranexamic acid and mefenamic acid when I'm on, and the consultant has said I can still take them but I'm in two minds really as think I'd blame myself if anything went wrong.

DH feelig grotty now. And I put my back out earlier today 😪that plus the train strikes is making me question whether we'll manage a Jan cycle. Trying not to stress about it as can't really control it, will just have to assess the lay of the land when AF turns up early Jan.

Welcome @ivf2022 and @NP2023 sorry to hear of your struggles so far, and hoping next year is a good one for us all.

Hey everyone, can I join?
I have a gorgeous two year old, conceived the fun way. But then my husband got cancer and the chemo totally frazzled his sperm so we have no chance of getting pregnant naturally again. We’d frozen sperm as a precaution and did first ivf round in October. It failed so now doing FET (natural cycle) in Jan. period due around 13th Jan so should be similar timings as some of you. Feeling more nervous about FET than the ivf, think first failure is making it harder to be positive. Plus, they used the ‘perfect’ 4aa embryo already so feeling less hopeful about the 4bbs we have in the freezer. Also just feeling so jaded about fertility treatment in general. Went into it assuming would be easy as I fell pregnant no problem first time around and the frozen sperm is good quality, but so far have discovered polyp (removed), under active thyroid (on thyroxine now), then failed first round. Would love to have some buddies to go through the FET with. X

@ivf2022 Hello 👋 good luck for your Fet in January!

@Fourfrosties Honestly, this has been the strangest period ever. Day 1&2 horrible, yesterday mainly spotting, today mainly spotting. Very strange, it’s usually longer than this. See how you feel when it comes but if your consultant said you could take your meds I’d think about it. I tried to tough it out Monday/Tuesday but honestly, it was rubbish.

Hope your back is feeling better! Hopefully the train strikes won’t mess things up too much.

@PimlicoMum4 Welcome. I’m Sorry to hear about your DH, that’s horrible. Good luck for your FET.

No more work now until next year! I’m so happy about that!! Hopefully when I go back I’ll be less tired. Tiredness has been difficult this week, ended up finishing early most days as I just need the rest!

Welcome @PimlicoMum4 so sorry to hear what you and DH have been through, just amazing that you're already going through IVF on top of all that. Easy to say I know, but I have heard so many stories of 'poor' grade embryos making it when the best ones haven't, so try not to worry too much about that. They wouldn't have frozen them if they weren't good enough, and it's no indication of what's going on with the chromosomes inside.

@Lauralozzle happy last day! I'm with you on the tired front 😴 hope you'll manage to rest tomorrow and have fab plans for Christmas itself.

Welcome to all the new joiners :-) I hope we're all able to enjoy some fun over the Christmas holidays and no one has to endure any awkward questions from extended family members about when you're having a/another baby.
I'm off to the clinic today for some blood tests they forgot to do last time I was in. Not exactly how I want to spend my holidays but at least I don't have to make up an excuse to get out of work. Already wondering when my FET will actually happen and what excuses I should use to get out of work. My first two rounds I told my boss I was doing IVF but I have only just returned from maternity leave so feel a bit weird admitting I am starting treatment so soon. It's so awkward as I'm an accountant and it's really frowned upon taking holiday on the last and first business date of the month which is when I think my FET may fall around. Typical! I went with a medicated FET on the chance we could schedule the FET a bit better. Just need to hope my clinic are able to be flexible.

@NP2023 So sorry to hear about your MCs. I really hope this next FET goes well and you give birth to a healthy baby in 2023. Hopefully you aren't waiting too long for AF.

@ivf2022 OHSS must have been awful. Sorry you had to wait for your transfer and it didn't work. I can understand the nerves. I am so scared for this FET not to work and having to start a fresh cycle all over again.

@PimlicoMum4 I'm sorry you and your husband have been through so much. I really hope this FET is the round for you. Try not worry about the embryo grading as I think it can be quite subjective. My first fresh transfer with a good 4AB did not stick while my 'average' 3 day embryo resulted in a healthy pregnancy and birth so I try not to focus too much on grades. If it is good enough to freeze then it is good enough to make a baby. My 1 frozen embryo was a 5BB I think and frozen on day 6- just praying it thaws! I completely understand feeling jaded. Great news they are treating your thyroid and removed the polyp.

@Fourfrosties The bloody train strikes are the last thing we need to be thinking about on top of the regular stress of treatment. I really hope it doesn't affect anyone's plans for treatment.

@Jane1284 thank you very much. 2023 should be a year of joy and celebration for us all. Hope blood work is all ok once results come

Thank you ladies all for your warm welcome. Merry Christmas 🎅 🎄

Hi ladies, hope you are all well. Is it too late to join this group? I am starting my first ever treatment round towards the end of jan. Think meds will start mid jan & egg collection might end up being in February. Nervous, scared and god knows what else all at the same time!

@LF82 Of course you’re not too late! Welcome!! Good luck. Do you know your protocol yet?

@Lauralozzle We are having mild ivf with icsi with create, I am 40 and have been told this might get better results. We have a consultation with the nurse in January to confirm all the meds- definitely not looking forward to the idea of injections. We decided to go private given my age and that the NHS referral was made months ago and still not heard anything….. Are you having a round in jan too?

I've tried to scroll through for answers but I can't read all this thread so much here 🤣

Has anyone any experience of fragmin injections and asprin .. I had a thrombotic risk blood test after a chemical and 6.5 week miscarriage from fets and seems I have a slightly high protein level which could be causing clots so my consultant wants me to take from next positive test... we only have one embryo left in storage.

My fresh round was textbook pérfect and no issues with my 17m old, but two losses since 🥺

@Jane1284 I am in accounts also! so yes I feel you with the excuses for month end....

already planning the excuses for appointments now.. x

@RMS0209 the joy of month end! Let me know if you come up with any good excuses! Haha

welcome @LF82 - going private sounds like a good idea if you haven’t heard anything from the nhs referral. Create was the next clinic I was going to look into if I didn’t have success with Kings. I know they’re meant to specialise in those of us with lower egg reserves. Will be interested to hear what drugs they prescribe for your protocol. I was on max stims of gonal f and menopur despite only ever having 4 follicles on my baseline scans. Always questioned whether it would make more sense to try mild IVF. Drugs would be cheaper too! I guess I’ll find out what the clinic thinks if this FET fails and I need to do a fresh round again (I suspect that is likely).

@Jane1284 I will make sure I let you know what they say I need. Though I have my fingers crossed for you that your FET is successful and it’s not needed! Am currently trying to work out how to get to all my appointments without telling work 🙈

Welcome @LF82 I found the idea of injections much worse than actually doing them, so hopefully you won't find them too bad.

@Jane1284 fingers crossed you won't need to do another fresh round. We've decided not to do any more fresh rounds if we don't have any success with FETs this year.

Gah, my GP rang today and after doing some further investigating he can't prescribe my blood thinners as its not permitted to be done by primary care. Will have to get on to the hospital clinic I was previously under to see if they will presclribe them, but I have a feeling they will say they will only do it from a positive test onwards. At least i know now that I need to get it from then rather than having a panic if I ever get a positive test, ring the gp and they say no!

Hi all sorry I have been quiet, been rushing about trying to get sorted for Christmas.
How is everyone feeling? My cycle is due to start anytime from 27th-4th Jan (cycle length varies) I am very anxious still about it all but trying to just think of it as a process.
I am looking forward to Christmas though, albeit a dry one!

@torypops I have one copy of a gene linked to blood clotting. Which was found from the thrombophilia test. They don't know if that was linked to previous MCs as they only know two copies is problematic. They said I could take aspirin but I will try without first I think.

Welcome to all the new joiners. Hope everyone manages to enjoy the next few days!

My medication arrived today for my first IVF/ICSI cycle. It feels very weird having medication in the fridge around all our Christmas food. Starting norethisterone on 1st Jan.