Anyone facing infertility 40+ part 3

[Woodcottage1]

Just continuing from the previous thread

Thanks unfortunately is as suspected negative again. I just need to be strong and ask my questions rather than accept that is the age. Initially they said that there only 6 eggs predicting to collect when I woke up they harvest 14. Previous time I had 12, I am not complaining I just think something is going on. Isn't that a lot for a 43 year old with no pcos and an amh 7.9? And then they said DH had issues with sample and then not and then go for frozen and then fresh. Not sure what to think. I know I am trying to find something to make me feel better and it is most likely the quality issues due to my age but I am not going to next round just doing the same thing without questioning. Well that's me venting I guess. Hope everyone is doing well and keep their heads up. Thanks for your support it does make me feel less isolated that others are going through similar.

I’m sorry to hear that @iloveteddies. which clinic are you with? Around the age of 40 I did two lots of normal protocol ivf, I think about 300 of the simulation drugs a day. Since last year I’m doing egg collecting with mild ivf, I think I do 225 a day. I only have one ovary but with mild ivf we are looking with my one ovary about 2/3 eggs a cycle. The reason being is the theory your body puts forward the best egg every month.
I can’t normally fall pregnant, I think it’s because of my endro and I also thought it was due to an autoimmune issue. I successfully fell pregnant last month, but the scans are not looking good unfortunately. I’m on gels, steroids and blood thinners. If you’re not getting these during your two week wait, I’d ask why.
As I’ve mentioned on other posts, I think the equivalent of cold water swimming and hyperbaric oxygen has had a great effect on my body, reducing inflammation and making a favourable environment for me to become pregnant. I have one more scan on Friday and then I’m going to prepare myself for hopefully another pregnancy. I’ll be removing all plastics (I already have), I rarely wear makeup unless I know what’s in it, no nail varnish, no normal cleaning products, no perfume etc, I’ll try and eat well, not really drink, go big on the supplements, do a weekly acupuncture and I’ll be doing hyperbaric oxygen and cold water treatment and breathing. I work in the events industry so I’ll be having a big holiday shortly, but I’ll try and do all this and plan for an egg collection feb/march x

Thanks for the message @Woodcottage1 and great advice and the fact that you got pregnant naturally is very encouraging despite the final outcome, take the positive that things are getting better. Fingers crossed 🤞 I am going to look about the reduction of inflammation/ oxidative stress. I think I need to work more on my stress anxiety I have regular counselling been through CBT for my OCD and seen huge improvement. Still work in progress. Part of me is feeling really guilty because I have been not able to even consider having a second child because of my anxiety for many years and most of her growing up was full of worry about her. Need to work harder to get relaxation mindfulness to work for me. I reckon I could benefit that just never got along, I did really well with the CBT but it is a first aid. I am going to take some time off from work in January to relax, I have a very stressful and physical demanding job and can't help feeling that is part of the equation.... fingers crossed that we remain positive and take even small wins.

Thanks @Woodcottage1 for the thread. Didn't realise you were doing mild IVF, that's still pretty decent getting 2-3 eggs a cycle. As you know my last round was cancelled, I didn't respond well to the 300 units of stims. Doing the same this time round as it's my only option to be honest, they don't do lower values or tweaks, but are hopeful that normal cycle variation means better results (not many clinics here and I can't face travelling down south). My amh was 5pmol 2 years ago so suspect it'll be tiny now (it dropped from 10 when I was 40, now 44).

@iloveteddies that seems a high number of eggs, hopefully you've got a decent egg reserve left.

Hope everyone has a nice break ☺️

Just an update. Last Friday it was confirmed as expected that baby wasn’t viable. I stopped my medication and I got a little bit of spotting on the Saturday and a bit of bleeding yesterday, a bit more today, but so far everything is ok. It’s pretty scary that there’s so little info out there about what happens. I realise I’m lucky that it has started by itself and fingers crossed all will be ok. I’ll be getting back onto it, tomorrow I’m sorting my supplements. Hope everyone had a good Christmas

@Woodcottage1 "glad" things seem to be happening by themselves, hopefully it'll be relatively painless physically and that emotionally you're bearing up too.

@Woodcottage1 sending you hugs. Take it easy and rest.xxx

Hello hope everyone is doing ok 😊

@Woodcottage1 how are you doing?

Hiya @Woodcottage1 @iloveteddies hope you're both well. I'm starting stims again next week, my last cycle was cancelled at the end of August due to poor response so here's hoping that one has a better outcome. I'm trying to protect my emotional health by not reading too much as I was down a rabbit hole before, but will let you know how it goes x

Hello there. I had some testing for clotting disorders and tested positive for an autoimmune one. So we have to repeat testing in 12 weeks before restarting cycles. In a way I don't feel too bad I really could do with a break. It is was getting too overwhelming. Hope everyone is doing well

Hi @iloveteddies I think in many ways having an enforced break is good for mental and physical well-being. You can't do anything until you've had the next round of tests, so it's out of your hands - if that makes sense? Is it a private test you had, and are there options to treat it? If so it sounds positive news that it's getting picked up on?

I'm okay ish. Mental health isn't the best, I was constantly obsessively looking at fertility Facebook pages and the like so trying to make a conscious effort to stop and do other things. c

Hi ladies. Just catching up. I have the period from hell, only 3.5 weeks after the miscarriage. Going to really go for it with the supplements from Monday. Good luck with everything @LouScot. If you fancy catching a train to Macclesfield for 2 days we can give the oxygen treatment a go during the run up, do a couple of sessions. Definitely do some cold water sessions if you can to reduce inflammation.
hopefully the tests will help your next cycle @iloveteddies x

Hello @LouScot thanks for your message. How are you feeling? 🤗 it was private testing, we are going to talk to consultant in the couple of weeks she wants to explain what is the plan for the future. I believe there are treatment options. Also gives a bit of reasoning for the situation. I have been feeling a bit worse mentally. However I decided to allow myself to be upset. I was trying so hard to be upbeat. The forced break would do me good. I keep reminding myself I am not just my eggs! @Woodcottage1 are you better now?

@iloveteddies that's great there's treatment options, take the time just now to kind of switch off from fertility if you can at least mentally.

@Woodcottage1 hope the worst of the bleeding is over. How're you emotionally?

I start stims tomorrow, so here's hoping lots (or at least a few) follicles grow with good quality eggs inside and my lining thickens nicely.

Hi @LouScot fingers crossed for you xxx I’ll be sending over lots of hope and positivity.
I’m surprisingly ok. A little sad when an old friend posted a 12 week scan as I’d be about that now. But I’m ok. I’m on day 7 of my first period since (which indicates as it was very early that I didn’t ovulate between the miscarriage and period). It’s been the period from hell.
Fingers crossed everything goes well @LouScot goodluck xxx

@iloveteddies I’m ok, on day 7 so hoping this period will be over very soon. I’ve bought a Mira tester so I can keep readings of my hormones. I’ll feedback if it’s any good xx

Hi ladies, well after my cancelled cycle last year I was anxious going for my first scan today after starting stims last week, but I'm responding! Took trigger earlier and have egg collection on Wednesday. Am feeling much better this round mentally which might be important or might be absolutely nothing - the odds are still against me due to my age but I'm taking it as a positive that I'm actually responding, even with a few follicles. I don't expect many, but I'd be delighted with 2 mature come Wednesday lunchtime.

All the best fingers crossed 🤗.

Hello how is everyone doing ☺️

Hello everyone

It's been a bit quiet on here, hope you're all doing ok? PGT- A testing I've paid for it but anyone any views on it ? Going in soon for hopefully another cycle and due to my age etc won't get lots of eggs is it worth it if you only get one embryo? Anything else o should be doing I've taken a 6 month break due to miscarriage and feel this is my last shot !!

hello @Pinklady81. It will save the pain of miscarriage but if you research what has been happening in the USA about fragmented embryos being put back in and normal babies being born, I don’t know the ratio. I believe the uk will destroy fragmented, perhaps check what happens to none abnormal eggs.

Hello everyone, I've just had my second round of PGT IVF, the first was on the NHS when I was 39 and was at CRGH, it was a pretty horrible experience, the clinic was like a machine and we ended up with one embryo that on testing was missing chromosome 10.

I am 41 and a carrier of a balanced translocation and have had two miscarriages before embarking on any IVF. This year we started with Aria and have just heard that our single embryo was positive for the unbalanced translocation. This round was paid for and cost around £13,000. We paid for ICSI but they didn't do it, they did IVF instead. We had 14 eggs of which 9 were mature, 6 fertilised, three abnormally and only one made it to blastocyst stage.

We had a review call with our consultant yesterday. He has said I produced a great amount of eggs, my lining was good and my partners sperm is excellent, however egg quality doesn't seem to be good. At the moment I don't really know how to feel and whether we should try to find the money for another round if my eggs are bad. Is it as simple as my eggs are to blame? I only wish they'd done the ICSI we paid for as the consultant said we would have had more embryos to test. Feeling a bit broken today.

Hi all, I've just got my period after an embryo transfer last Monday (I know it's not a real period but a breakthrough bleed, but you know what I mean). I'm 44, got 3 eggs and had 2 transferred back and stupidly got my hopes up - I was having all sorts of symptoms I didn't have after previous transfers and my boobs hurt so much (wasn't on progesterone as lining was lovely apparently) and I'd really started to hope. It's the hope that crushes you isn't it? I'm really emotional, luckily working from home today. I was using donor sperm as I'm single, and don't want to go down the donor egg route, so it was always going to be a long shot. Not sure if I'll try again, will take the clinics advice.