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? :-)

First lining check on Tuesday - honestly can't come soon enough. I've been on 8mg of estrogen for 10 days now. I'm starting to feel more of the side effects, like a heavy/achey feeling around my uterus, some nausea and stomach issues and (TMI) excessive discharge. I just hope its a sign that the estrogen is doing its job. I have a history of thin lining despite high estrogen levels so I feel really nervous.

Welcome @JenM83beth & @West8690 - good luck for your cycles!

@PimlicoMum4 this is my first FET so not sure what the rules are. My clinic didn't really say anything was off the cards. I did loads of acupuncture for my first round. It was nice but I shudder to think of how much money I spent on it. Not doing anything special this time but I do think a massage sounds like a great idea. I can't see any harm in that.

Sending lots of luck for your lining check @acaciabluebell ! Do you know what they like to see by this point? xx

@Jane1284 They want to see a endometrial lining of around 7, ideally 8mm thickness before I start progesterone. So that's what they will be checking for. Once I reach the required thickness I'll take progesterone for around 5 or 6 days and then transfer hopefully! 😬

Hello everyone, can I please join? I had my first round of ICSI in November. Our first transfer failed and I'm having our second and final embryo transferred in a couple of weeks... as long as it survives thawing.

I'm feeling a bit gloomy about it because it's on the lower end of the quality scale. I wish I didn't know that. My clinic don't actually tell you the grade but I saw it on the paperwork. And I just can't imagine ever being pregnant. We've been trying since I was 36, I'm 39 in a few weeks, and we haven't ever had a whisper of a positive test. It just feels so out of reach.

Sorry to be negative, I think I needed to get that out! I'll have a proper read of the thread now, and good luck to anyone having procedures or scans this week.

♥️

@NaomiNatNat we just had the one frosty, so have to go right through again. Start down reg on Thursday. I'm nervous that our tests will come back on Wednesday and find something wrong, or we all know that at any stage something could mess up. But I'm just accepting that things are out of our control and what will be will be.

@countrypunk try not to overthink the quality, it's not the be all. I know someone who had 2 embryos that were such low grade the consultant agreed to transfer them both because it was so unlikely they would survive - they ended up with twins! I know it's so hard, but don't lose hope. You've got plenty of support here and people to reach out to - you're not doing any of this alone ❤️ xxx

@West8690 Thank you, that was a lovely message. You're absolutely right with the 'what will be will be' philosophy. It sounds like you didn't have a great time on the hormones for your first round - neither did I! Barrel of laughs this eh

Are they doing anything differently for your next cycle? I'm on another thread where one of the women did a couple of rounds of conventional IVF and responded poorly, then tried a round of mild IVF and had a much better result - I think 3 embryos in the freezer. So I'm going to investigate that for my next cycle...

Hi all, and welcome to the newbies <wave>

Just catching up on messages whilst waiting for my baseline scan...clinic is running late which isn't helping my nerves 🙃

@acaciabluebell good luck for your scan tomorrow

@Fourfrosties Good luck! Hope you aren't waiting too long, I know the feeling as my clinic is usually behind too.

I am sooo nervous for my scan tomorrow, can't concentrate on work today at all.

@countrypunk I know how you feel, our embryo isn't the best grade but it's just a beauty contest at this stage. 2 embryos is a great result btw, we would have been over the moon with 2.

@West8690 best of luck to you with down reg. I did short protocol for both stims and transfer so I've never actually done down reg before. Are you injecting something?

@acaciabluebell You're right, we've got a lot to be thankful for. Good luck with your scan tomorrow. I'm just behind you - my day 10 scan for the FET is on Wednesday, so all being well I'll have my transfer around 19th Jan. We're doing a natural cycle for this one. Hopefully my body will actually do what it's supposed to!

Hey all!
Hope everybody is good.... medication arrived today woo hoo.
Cycle day one hopefully is 20th Jan, do I have any cycle buddies?
Good luck to those with scans the next few days xx

I have my meds also just waiting for cycle to start should be end of the week.first time doing ivf so nervous of what it has to bring and any side effects from medication trying to stay positive about it all

Hi all, I've been catching up with all your stories and fighting with the phone trying to actually post an update.

I had my FET today and am feeling a bit... Hmm, I suppose numb? I'm trying not to get excited right now and bracing myself for disappointment, I suppose. Like you @countrypunk I am a little bit meh about the quality, I saw it today and half wish I hadn't, it's a 4BC with assisted hatching.

Right now I'm trying to remind myself that they really don't know which ones will stick, and I've done everything I can to get the nest ready. Lots of hugs and baby dust.

@acaciabluebell thank you, it was only about 25 mins in the end. Scan was good from an IVF perspective - lining thinned as expected, no scarring from the C section, no cysts or fluid or anything unexpected. Back on Friday (CD 9) for my first tracking scan. Thyroid results confirmed as fine (2.01, clinic likes below 2.5) and have a referral letter to try and sort my blood thinners out, but suspect I'll end up paying for some.

They did, however, find evidence of adenomyosis on my scan. It was all very casually discussed and whilst I was assured it won't affect the cycle, I'm still processing it all really. The symptoms fit me to a t, and just so frustrated as have tried so hard to get answers over many years for my awful painful and clottly periods and just been dismissed.

Night all, and good luck for everyone with scans, meds, and more waiting to do, tomorrow.

Hi all, how did everyone find their ivf? Is duolingi the only option or are there others that allow you to take a loan and pay it off each month? Thanks!

Hey! Newbie here 😄We have 23 embryos in the freezer and fingers crossed will have one transferred at the end of Jan :) AF came yday so clinic has started me on Estradot patches today

Sending everybody lots of luck and positivity :)

@Greenlee Great news, congratulations 🙂 Yeah it's a weird feeling when you finally have the transfer, I guess because there's so much prep and build up. Very best of luck to you, I have everything crossed it beds down and sticks!

If I have another cycle I'm going to really try not to look at the grade - it just causes more pointless worry. Easier said than done...

Good luck @Greenlee - try not worry about the grade (easier said than done). My 4AB didn't stick but my average embryo they weren't even sure would be suitable to freeze worked so I try not to put too much trust in grades.
I'd give you lots of tips to make the TWW pass quick but I can't think of anything apart from taking each day as it comes and trying not to symptom spot. Is your OTD 14 days after transfer? xx

This thread has really taken off. I’ve had a little bit of a mumsnet break but I’ll try to catch up later.

@Fourfrosties I’m sorry to hear about your scan and the adenomyosis, but it’s good that they think it won’t affect the cycle,

I’m still waiting for AF to show up again. After my down regulation scan where lining was too thick and I had a follicule thinking about ovulating I had to take trigger shot to release ovary and continue taking buserelin. Since trigger my injection reactions have been strange, I have a tiny local reaction - where I have been stabbed it swells slightly and is a little raised, looks like hives but otherwise I’m all good. It itches a little bit. They look like tiny little scabs.

Hoping AF hurry’s up. Hopefully should bd dnd of this week and then I have to arrange another down reg scan. That’ll be 6/7 weeks down regging - it better work after that!

@Greenlee everything crossed for you!!! The wait is the worst, hopefully it will pass over quickly for you (though I know the frustration well!)

@Laura23FE wow 23 frozen!!!! That's incredible! Hope it all goes well, not long now 🙂

Our first full cycle my lining after transfer was too thick and I had to effectively have a 2 month break - I'm so worried it's going to happen again. Does anyone have any similar experiences where it was better second time around? It actually took from the start of July to the end of November to get a whole round, it was agonising.

@Laura23FE wow I thought I had a lot at 15, you win with 23 ha ha. X

Day 12 scan went well I think, lining was looking really good according to the doctor and measured at 7.3mm. Initially they thought I might be ready to start progesterone but then the consultant called me back and said to keep taking the estradiol and come back for another scan on Friday. Hopefully by then it will have continued growing. They want it to be 8mm ideally. When I was doing stims my lining went up to 7.2mm and then got thinner again, so I'm nervous.

I picked up all my progesterone at the hospital pharmacy ready to start hopefully end of this week. I'll be doing cyclogest 2x day as well as prontogest intramuscular injections which I'm nervous for! Plus I'll have to continue the estrogen throughout my TWW. So many drugs 😅

One thing I'm finding hard is managing the appointments alongside work. I missed 4 hours of work today due to appointment, waiting times and travelling to and from the hospital! Ended up missing a meeting. I told my manager beforehand that this might happen but its still really hard to explain. And the same thing could happen again on Friday :/

There's so much to catch up on since I last logged on but it sounds like you are all making progress and things are moving forward...wishing everyone lots of luck over the coming weeks!!

I can relate with some of you, my medication arrived today yay! for short medicated FET as soon as my period arrives, hopefully this week, but worrying about my 4bc and 5bc embryos left :( I'm trying to take some of you guys positivity, I think if they survive the thaw and are still active etc, I will have more faith in my little embies and relax a bit! Usually my lining is okay and hopefully stays that way through this cycle, I'm only having ustrogen and prognova so hoping that's enough 🙏

I look forward to watching all your journeys and bfps over the next couple of weeks!!

This thread is being busy!

I have a day 10 monitoring scan in the morning. I was supposed to have a transfer in November but the nurse 'didn't like the look of my ovulation' so it was postponed. Fingers crossed that doesn't happen again!

Thanks everyone for being so kind and supportive. Nobody else knows yet so it's a bit of a lonely place for me and your messages meant a lot. I'm going to hang onto the fact I got to see the little embryo on the screen, sort of wobbling about, so that's a good sign. They also used assisted hatching so they told me to think of it as almost a 5 instead of a 4.

A bit achy and crampy tonight and a bit of spotting this morning, but I'm very sure that's from the horrendously long trip home and the way my cervix was insulted by the insertion tube shoving its way in (don't you love the way that doctors who don't own a cervix will tell you it doesn't hurt? well I felt it mate).

And the medication! I almost needed a mortgage, not to mention the fact it took up more than half my carry-on bag and left me sweating as to whether Easyjet would let me on with half my belongings in a plastic carrier. Spoiler: they did 😁

@Greenlee congrats on being PUPO (pregnant until proven otherwise). Glad you got home OK- are you having your treatment abroad.

@acaciabluebell glad your scan was positive, hoping your lining continues to build. I also go back on Fri for my next scan so we can keep each other company waiting! It is hard fitting things around work, but at the end of the day you need to prioritise yourself - work can always wait. Might also be worth seeing if your company has an ivf policy- I can take 5 days of extra leave a year for ivf. I'm also fortunate that my boss has just been through ivf herself so is super understanding.

@Claireabella05 it's hard not to focus on the grading as its the only thing we have any info about. But I try and look at is as if they are good enough to freeze they are good enough to make a baby.

@Piapea good luck for your scan tomorrow

@Lauralozzle fx AF shows up and your extended down reg has worked