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? :-)

@RMS0209 Haha I know .. collected 28 but 2 were abnormal and 3 didn’t fertilise … 15 is amazing too 😍

@West8690 ☺️ thank you 🙏🏼

Hello, I'd like to join this group.
I had my transfer today and am all jitters. It's my first transfer for this round (I had 2 FETs in the past, which both worked and resulted in DDs1 and 2, so appreciate I'm very privileged compared to many). Each time I try the blast is not so good quality and this one was very averagey. Currently have cramping feelings.
I've got a lot of reading to catch up on with everyone, but in the meantime, best of luck all.

Welcome @IVFbeenverylucky and congrats on having an embryo on board! Fx your good luck continues. Have you got any nice plans during your wait until OTD?

@acaciabluebell Im glad your scan went well. Fingers crossed your lining is perfect come Friday.

Fitting all this in around work is difficult, but you have to prioritise yourself.

@Greenlee Congrats being PUPO.

@Fourfrosties Thank you. Yes, fingers crossed AF shows up at some point this week.

Im still in limbo here but it’s exciting seeing everyone else move forward!

@IVFbeenverylucky Congrats on being PUPO!

Morning all, I had my day 10 scan for our FET this morning. I had a very reassuring chat with the nurse about embryo grades, and I'm gonna stop being on a downer about our less than perfect looking embryo now. Also apparently 98% of frozen embryos survive the thawing process - I thought it was more like 80% for some reason, so that's another reason to be positive.

Waving to all the new people! Congrats on being PUPO @IVFbeenverylucky 🌻 and bloody hell @Laura23FE, that's an insane number of embryos! Amazing!

Hope everyone else is doing OK.

Congratulations on being PUPO @IVFbeenverylucky Hope you’re feeling ok!

@countrypunk Glad your chat was reassuring. Those odds are also better than I imagined so thank you for sharing.

I had an endometrial lining scan today (CD14) which was measuring an average on 8.3mm. They are happy with that so I’m starting progesterone tomorrow and I’m all booked in for my FET next Tuesday. Hoping it goes to plan 🤞🏻

Hi all, I am also on the IVF journey with FET due in early February. I am starting with medication today and feel very alone and stressed. Hence, I hope this group will help to ease my journey a bit. I am having a donor IVF in Spain, it is my first IFV after two unsuccessful IUI treatments.

I am keeping fingers crossed for everyone!

Good luck for AF and your next down reg scan @Lauralozzle - When is AF expected? I think mine is due Sunday so I am waiting impatiently.

@Laura23FE Welcome - 23 is amazing! I can only imagine how good that must feel. Good luck for your transfer.

Great news on your scan @acaciabluebell - Keep us posted on your Friday scan. Hopefully it is perfect by that point but sounds like you're heading in the right direction! I feel your pain re managing appointments and work. My clinic is about a 35 min journey from home so if i a working from home and it is on time I can just about manage it in a long lunch break but as soon as things run behind or I have to pick up a prescription it drags out the whole thing to 2-3 hours and stresses me out. I'm really hoping with it being a FET I won't have to have too many appointments.

How was your monitoring scan @Piapea ? I hope it went well!

Congrats on being Pupo! What meds are you on @Greenlee ? My IVF rounds were Gonal f, menopur and feramadel followed by double trigger and progesterone. Cost £2k for 1 round!

Hey @IVFbeenverylucky - all the best for your TWW. How are you feeling?

Thank you for sharing those reasurring stats @countrypunk . I only have 1 embryo in the freezer so was paranoid it wouldn't thaw. I was told 5% but maybe they were just trying to prepare me.

Great news on the scan @Purrrrr - exciting you have a date for your FET!

Excited to hear how you're all going. Just waiting for AF to come this weekend and then I start the meds for my FET.

Hi @Jane1284 my medication, I mean, my walking pharmacy...

clexane (heparin) injection daily and aspirin, as doc is very worried I'll produce a clot somewhere and miscarry (I'm not even positive yet!)
estrogen tablets
progesterone pessaries (ugh, disgusting lol) these are because I had decapeptyl, meaning there was no ovulation so no corpus luteum producing the progesterone to keep the lining.
dacortin (steroid)
high-dose folic acid... which doctor won't prescribe until I first have an online advice chat and then I will have to request to book an appointment, at which I can ask for the prescription. So right now I'm swallowing 11 of them a day!
pregnancy multivitamin, calcium, vitamins D and C

I've also learned that I can't even book a pregnancy blood test without going through the same rigmarole of the online advice chat with my surgery. Since test day is now 11 days away I basically expect that I shall have to pretend I don't know even after I've of course done several at-home tests. 😑Didn't we used to be able to, you know, ask for an appointment???

Oops, it's 8 days away. Brain a bit preoccupied today!

@countrypunk I’m glad you had a good chat about embryos and grading. If they didn’t think they were viable, they wouldn’t freeze them and there are lots of posts on these boards about lower graded ones being the ones that worked! Hope your scan was all good!

@Purrrrr That’s great news! Next Tuesday will be here before you know it!

@peonygirl Welcome. We are all in this together in some way! What meds are you taking? Just take it one day at a time.

@Jane1284 I reckon Friday/Saturday It’s difficult to know because I used the hcg trigger before any signs of usual ovulation and I’ve had no symptoms. But tomorrow will be 2 weeks since taking the trigger, give it up to 48 hours for egg to be released I reckon Friday/Saturday is a decent guess. Fingers crossed yours turns up Sunday! I’m with you waiting impatiently!

Hmmm well I've just gone out an bought two pregnancy tests. This is probably not a good idea. When to take? Obviously not waiting two weeks ......

Please can anyone else see a line? This is 6dp5dt and we’ve been trying over 5 years now. 2 miscarriages, 1 failed FET

@Lauralozzle I am on Estradot patches, starting today after Decapeptyl injection last week. My period started today and my endometrial preparation starts today too. This will take at least 15 days. I am taking iron tablets (I am low on iron all the time) and folic acid with B12. I will start with Utragestan pessaries once the transfer date is confirmed.

Wow that's a lot @Greenlee - I also feel your pain on the GP surgery. It's so hard to get an appointment or speak to a Dr at mine. I did an online consultation with mine for help with my thyoid meds but they've basically said since it is private fertility treatment I have to get them through my clinic. So frustrating as it is an issue regardless of being infertile! Is there a reason you have to have a pregnancy blood test done by your GP or is it just for reassurance? If they won't help then Medichecks is good for at home blood tests that don't cost too much and are easy to do. I used them for some thyroid and vitamin tests and FSH.

I really hope we aren't kept waiting too long @Lauralozzle - the only time I actively wish for AF to start!

Eeeeep @IVFbeenverylucky - When are you going to test?! Are you a serial tester or are you able to wait usually? I bought a bunch of cheap ones off amazon and used to test loads on my natural cycles. Never ever got a positive on a natural cycle but always managed to convince myself that this was going to be the round- always disappointed! I think on my first IVF cycle I made it until 1 day before OTD and then couldn't sleep so tested at 5am. BFN and lots of tears. Second round I misread the date and tested 1 day late. Not sure how I managed that! My 1 and only positive.

My clinic has an OTD of 14 days after FET. I am not sure if that is standard?

Yes @Lucy5yearsttc I most definitely see a line! 🥳

Thanks although I’ve looked at it all day and now not quite so sure! I’ve made myself sick thinking about it which isn’t ideal and I shouldn’t have tested this early but I really was dreading OTD Sunday so at least I’m semi prepared?

Wow @Lucy5yearsttc it sure looks like a feint line to me! Crossing my fingers and toes for you!!

@Jane1284 thanks for the info on Medichecks, I'll definitely keep it in mind if I can't get the doctor to play ball. I think the blood test is about HCG levels but not sure? I did ask if I should have two of them, 48 hours apart, but was told only if the level was unexpected, so I guess we'll see. Gotta wait until I POAS first 🤔

@peonygirl I meant to tell you that you're not alone. I'm also having my treatment in Spain, with a donor embryo. While I was sat there outside on Monday I heard two other ladies chatting about their DE/ oocytes too. Seems there are a lot of us about and perhaps it's just not spoken about much! xx

Thanks! Fingers crossed we all get what we want this year. Manifesting!!

@Lucy5yearsttc
I can see a line too.
I'd no idea people tested so early. I thought it wasn't accurate till gone a week because of all the hormones you are on? I'll never manage now.

That’s definitely a line! Congratulations 🥳

Mine was frozen so I didn’t have the trigger shot which contains HCG and can give false positives. The other drugs I’m on don’t contain HCG. Praying it’s a positive. It’s been a long and rough journey

Hopefully! x