IVF February 2023

[HJen22]

Haven't seen a thread for February cycles so if anyone is waiting to start in the next few weeks and fancies some cycle buddies ❤️

Little about me, 34yo TCC #1. Low AFC/AMH. After two disastrous NHS cycles (NE Scotland) which resulted in no transfer, we went private and are away to start our second mild IVF cycle at Create in Manchester x

@VioletCookie i had leakage always but worked out it’s the little bit of primed medication, as you push it into your skin it obviously just sits outside - so as long as you inject the right dose don’t worry

@browneyedgirl626 I had a day 5 that was hatching, and didn’t get a positive until about day 10/11 I think and it ridiculously faint. Good luck for transfer and the wait!!

@Jcl22 those symptoms all sound great! I had that exact period feeling, I really thought the same but it’s just your insides all working away - excited for you and hoping you get that positive!

@Jx3303

@Jx3303 tbh I'm exhausted and mentally I've lost the plot 🤣 I can't really work out how I feel, there's so many negative thoughts in my mind as we've had so much bad luck that I'm currently teetering on staying sane 🙃 but I'm smiling and carrying on so hopefully no one is noticing! Oh wow you've really been through a lot this year. Crossing absolutely everything and sending you all the good luck/amazing follicule vibes! Let us know how you get on tomorrow xx

@Carly05 @JustBePositive thanks 😊 last night's was fine so I'm not going to stress over it! The amount wasn't huge. I had OHSS last time so didn't want to panic and put any extra in!

@LF82 hope you're having a fab weekend too! Shame it's so cold and wet, we've mostly been dodging the rain 🤣

@browneyedgirl626 I'm so sorry you've been struggling, it's all consuming isn't it. Your 4AA sounds great though! Vent away should you need to, the wait honestly feels like a year! I've not been offered an intralipid, will ask about it tomorrow 🤔 how do you feel today, did you sleep OK?

@Jcl22 I'm really praying for your BFP and for that little embaby to stay put for 9 months! I had period aches with 2 of my transfers and both were positive so I really hope this is positive signs 🙏🏼 I hadn't realised the trigger stayed in your system, I'll bare that in mind if we get a fresh transfer this time! Let us know, best of luck for your BETA! Xx

@JustBePositive @VioletCookie thanks both! It does feel reassuring reading both your stories with same symptoms but I just can’t shake the feeling, I honestly feel the exact same as I usually do before my period comes. I’ve felt like this since Thursday so I am honestly drained after 4 days of being scared to look everytime I go to the toilet! Found the last 4 days sooo hard 😭 just exhausted xx

Just had my scan and I'm having a wobble!

Follicule wise, we're looking good. 15 on the left, 16 on the right, all a similar size. We were really hoping for a fresh transfer but I'm at risk of OHSS again due to the number, so they've said 99% sure it'll be frozen. We're doing PGT-A testing on our blastocyst, which we were told 4-5 weeks for results. We've been told today expect a minimum of 8 weeks! Then a consultation to be booked in before an FET. So it's looking like 3 months before we can have another transfer 😔

The Dr said as we've had 3 transfers and 3 early miscarriages (under 6 weeks) it's likely down to the embryo quality and not my other issues. So now I'm flapping that we won't be able to use my eggs at all and this is all a massive waste of time and money! I need someone to slap some sense into me today, having a biiiig spiral 😭

@VioletCookie that's a very long wait for pgta 😟

Would you consider transferring an untested one in a frozen transfer and then pgta'ing the rest of them? I can't think of how else you'd get around the slow turnaround.

The endless decision making is so stressful x

@VioletCookie also just a thought, it could be worth doing the nk cells test, that way you'll know if you will need steroids and possibly intralipids. Intralipids are very pricey so you might not want to use them empirically x

@browneyedgirl626 Create don't test for NKC but they're giving me prednisolone on the next transfer. I asked about the intralipid today and was told I definitely don't need it.. I'm not sure how she's so certain though?! 😅

Think I'm having a wobble because 3 more months is 3 months closer to another childless birthday, 3 months closer to my friend giving birth etc. Silly stuff that should be celebrated but I'm struggling with! Plus the Dr said my eggs were probably crap so I'm freaking out 🤦🏼‍♀️ (obviously she said it a lot nicer than that!)

We have a 4CC in the freezer that we aren't thawing to test incase we lose it. I'm a bit worried to transfer it untested after all the losses and with the grading but we have considered that idea... we're not sure what to do but it's definitely an option depending on funds.

How are you? Xx

I am due to have an appointment this Thursday to have final screening test and start meds for IVF and am so worried that I’m going to get my period before the appointment, what will this mean? Will I have to wait until my next cycle? Has this ever happened to anyone else? Thanks

You have to start your meds on Day 2 of the cycle or the success rate is lower, so yes, if AF comes today you'll need to wait.

@VioletCookie I'm sorry you're having a wobble, I definitely relate to feeling like every month is slipping away. Does create offer free counselling? I get some with my clinic and I find it can be helpful. I'm having a session this morning. I feel like this transfer hasn't worked, trying to be positive and I know I shouldn't symptom spot, but I'm just not feeling anything.

How is everyone getting on? @LF82 is your egg collection this week?

@browneyedgirl626 my egg collection is this morning 🤞very nervous. Would definitely agree with counselling helping, I had some at the start of the year and was so useful. How are you? X

VioletCookie how u doing today? Hope you have managed to spk to someone about your worries.?
Good luck for everyone having their egg collection today. I'm sat waiting for mine.... Not very hopeful as only 2 possibly 3 follicles this time so not expecting much 😟 x

Good luck! @Carly05 and @LF82 🍀🍀🍀🍀 hope all goes smoothly and you get some good 🥚🥚

@VioletCookie great news to have so many follicles! I had 14 eggs and they said that was the top end without OHSS but I was in agony afterwards, so definitely did mildly over stimulate. I’d say with that many follicles you’ll definitely over stimulate, and honestly the wait will do you good. With my 14 they didn’t make me so I went fresh, and it made the OHSS worse and I had 3-4 weeks of agony! In hindsight I probably would have opted to recover a bit more and let all the drugs get out of my system.

whatever happens, I’m sure they’ll recommend what’s safest & best for you and your goals, and that’s important to remember - it doesn’t matter how you get there or how long, if ultimately you do get there. So try to be kind to yourself xx

@JustBePositive I'm trying to be optimistic but the Dr told us on Monday we are likely miscarrying because of my egg quality, so sadly I don't think quantity is always a good thing if the quality isn't great! I guess in a couple of months time we'll have the results back and know either way. Had a scan this morning and she's said highly unlikely to be a fresh transfer so we're not expecting it anymore, although I don't feel bloated or sore at all this time! You're right though, if my body needs time to recover then we wouldn't want to rush and lower our chances. If we knew we'd have a baby but it wouldn't be for X years that would be fine, it's the not knowing I'm struggling with 🙈 how are you getting on? Xx

@LF82 so excited for you! How did you get on? How are you feeling? Sending all the positive vibes your way! Let us know how they progress ❤️ We're looking at Monday for our collection, which actually falls on the same week as our due date with baby no.1. Not sure if I'm taking comfort in that or if it seems a bit cruel! Xx

@Carly05 absolute best of luck to you! How did you get on? I understand your mind must be anxious and its totally valid to feel like that as there's no control over the outcome. It's definitely quality over quantity though as I keep being told my eggs aren't great 😬 so I'll be really praying for you! Please let us know how they progress and I'll keep everything crossed for you xx

@browneyedgirl626 Create offer one free session which I've been debating but I keep getting so busy and forgetting 🙈 I'm always a million miles an hour sometimes I forget to breathe 🤣 (she says while sat at work doing sod all but msging her IVF tribe...) how did your session go? Remind me when your BETA is? Sending hugs xx

@VioletCookie hello, we got 4 eggs collected, the doctor said there was evidence my lining has started to come away and that he felt that was my body’s way of saying this round might not be that good. Trying to be positive but really worried none will fertilise /make to day 5. We are doing a freeze all so the fact we weren’t planning a transfer was good as I definitely wouldn’t be able to have had one. He started to talk a bit about doing PGT -A testing …. Even before I went on for egg collection!

I am wishing you all the luck in the world for Monday 💕

Negative beta result for me today 😢
clinic having a review meeting in next couple of days which we will hear about on Monday and decide on next steps from there. Husband and I keen to try again but just such a tough process.
wishing you all the best of luck!!! X

@Jcl22 so, so sorry to hear that x

@LF82 thank you. I really don’t think I would have got to this stage without the support of these forums though, everyone is just so kind.

does anyone have any experience with access fertility? Not sure if that’s maybe going to be best option for us going forward but not entirely sure how it all works

We funded 3 cycles through the 70% refund program. (We weren't eligible for the full refund one). It was really straight forward apart from we had to do a frozen cycle that the consultants said almost certainly wouldn't do any good, and obviously we still had to pay for the drugs separately, because Access wouldn't release any funds for another fresh cycle until we'd used up all frozen tissue. We haven't actually got the money yet, but the refund process also seems much more straight forward than I had anticipated.

Jcl22 I'm soo sorry to hear your outcome. Hope You get a plan you can move forward with on Monday after discussion with your clinic. X
We used access for a multi cycle package (I'm too old for the refund programme) but cheaper for multiple cycles than my clinic ( complete Fertility). Iv had good experience with access.
LF82 congrats on Ur 4 eggs 🥚! Fingers 🤞 for the call Tommorrow.
I only got 2 ... The 3rd follicle had no egg . So not feeling hopeful. Last round nothing fertilised so think this may be a repeat performance. ☹️

@LF82 let us know how many are fertilised 🤞🏼 how many blasto did you get in your previous collection? Do you think you will opt for the PGT-A testing? Hope you're feeling OK today and not too sore xx

@Jcl22 I'm so sorry to hear that 😔 how are you? Yes these forums are great aren't they, it's kept me sane having people to talk to xx

@Carly05 please let us know how you get on, I'll be thinking of you today and praying for fertilisation 🙏🏼 xx

Bring on the long weekend! Even tho 2 days of it will be spent at Create 😅

@Carly05 got my fingers crossed for you for the call today

@VioletCookie I will do 🤞 we have 3 in the freezer from last time. really not sure about the Pgt a testing as it was never mentioned to us until yesterday and am thinking as I haven’t even had an attempt at a transfer yet maybe it’s not needed yet? no idea really. Enjoy the long weekend and hope all goes to plan. Keep us updated x

@LF82 if you've not had a transfer yet then I'd probably go for it without the testing first 🤞🏼 Do you know roughly when you'd be looking at a transfer this year? Thank you, I've had some brown spotting while taking stims this time and I'm a bit worried somethings going wrong. I didn't have this last time but AF was very heavy last week so I'm hoping that's all it is x