IVF March 2023

[Katie12444]

Wanted to start a group for those who are due to start treatment in March.

@Stopthatnoisemummy thank you 😊 it’s all going a bit slow… they are re scanning me tomorrow and I’m doing at least an extra day of injections.

egg collection will be delayed by either one or two days.

Does anyone know the measurements of each of their follicles during the stimulation? I think they have hope for collecting mature eggs from any follicles that measure 16 or above… but they aim for 21.

last time I responded well and had plenty more than I seem to be getting to this time.

I had about 23 follicles by the end of the stim last time, and of those, about 8 were measuring over 16, I definitely had 3 measuring 20… and it was probably a bit more because that was a couple of day before retrieval.

today at the same stage I’ve got 15 follicles (rather than 23)… and only 2 are measuring above 16. Bearing in mind they would rather they were at 21. And only one is measuring as high as 18.

of those previous 23 I got 14 mature and of those 3 fertilised and one made it to blastocyst. It was viable and genetically tested… I had FET and it implanted but ended in early miscarriage.

so if this time I’m working with about 15, smaller follicles, I can’t help but I wonder if we’ll get any mature eggs… I know it only takes one but our issue is actually incredible poor sperm quality and the only way we can try with it is via icsi, so the more eggs we can try with the better.

I know there is no exact maths for this and it’s all speculation but my gut is saying…

if 23 follicles, 8 of which were sensible sizes = 8 mature eggs…

then 15 follicles, 5 of which are sensible sizes will probably = 5 mature eggs max.

of course, with the extra day of stims, perhaps it will be more like 6 or 7… so there is still hope.

There are 3 follicles that could potentially catch up.

but I guess I’ll only know that tomorrow.

sorry, I know I’m being ridiculous but it helps just to say it all out loud.

im starting to feel a bit of an ache in my abdomen. It’s all feeling a bit heavy and exhausting. Probably the mental load more than anything.

I bought a little newborn outfit on my way home from the scan today. Somehow it feels like a lucky charm. It’s all so much to process, so little certainty. I needed something tangible.

im thinking of everyone and hoping for miraculous outcomes for us all, no matter where we each are in the process or how far along the journey.

@amoobaa hey, to be honest I didn’t ask many questions about follicle size. I don’t have a great deal of advice but all I can say is that it’s not in their interest to do the egg collection until they think you are ready so sounds like they are taking a good approach. I hope that doesn’t sound like preachy bull
I wish you lots of luck for you EC - keep us posted. I’m currently in limbo before FET and being a an absolute grouch. 😂

Hi @amoobaa
On the day before the trigger shot I had 2 over 18mm and several smaller ones (can't remember the size but I think about 15mm). They got 10 eggs at the EC. The follicles continue to grow between the last scan and the EC. Good luck! x

@amoobaa on the Friday of my scan I had 3 over my clinics target size line. The Monday of my egg collection they said they thought I’d have 12 follicles the right size. They ended up collecting 17 eggs 😂 🤷🏼‍♀️ it really does all just come down to what the find once they’re in. I can totally empathise on the slow growth- I had to be rescanned twice! Xx

@Katie12444 thanks :) that all makes perfect sense… I’m really glad they are giving me as much time as I need. Hope you’re doing ok… it’s such an emotional rollercoaster isn’t it!! The waiting is really challenging…

@Jupiteer thank you 😊 it’s so hard not to compare!! I just keep thinking back to my last rounds and worrying that my egg supply is dwindling. But you’re right, the follicles do keep growing between the final scan and the actual egg collection. I guess I have to be patient and cross each bridge as we get to it. Arghh I’m so impatient! Thank you so much for your words of encouragement… how are things with you?

@Sd183 thats so good to hear… especially as you had the experience of being rescanned too. I might be rescanned again on Wednesday. Total chaos so far as my work diary goes 😂they said the earliest the collection will be is Thursday but it won’t be any later than Friday.
Thank you so much for your kind words, it really does help. I’ll keep focussing on what you say about not knowing until they’re in there. Maybe I’ll be surprised with better results than anticipated. Then comes the next million hoops to jump!! Hope you’re doing ok x

@amoobaa so challenging!

@Katie12444 hey lovely do you know when your FET will be?
We had our update with the clinic today and they confirmed it'll be not my next period but the one after so will start tablets end of May hopefully with plan for transfer to be mid June

@amoobaa I'm doing ok thank you, main thing at the minute is struggling with OHSS bloat and not wanting people at work to notice how big my belly has become 😳 I am hoping it settles down soon. I was so lucky to get a positive test but now waiting 3 weeks for a scan and no idea if anything is happening inside, so in a bit of a limbo state.
@Sd183 how are you? When is your test day? x

Hi ladies,

Hope everyone’s doing ok!

I’m not sure if anyone will be able to answer this but I’m 7dp5dt and was wondering if it’s safe to have sex yet? Or do you have to wait until OTD (13dp5dt)?

Thanks xx

@MS2692 my clinic advises it's fine to get back to normal activity post transfer, including sex.

@Lyrabee glad you've got a date to work towards now for your next cycle.

@amoobaa hope your scan goes OK tomorrow and you get a bit more certainty around EC.

@BrownXeyes good luck for your scan tomorrow. All OK with me today 🙂

@Stopthatnoisemummy thank you! X

@Jupiteer I really sympathise with the bloating (I’m so bloated right now!) and the waiting… I found the waiting periods so hard last time, I ended up getting a private scan because I couldn’t deal with the waiting. So amazing that you have your positive result at this stage though!! Appreciate it’s hard being in limbo. Hope you are able to do some things to distract yourself whilst you wait :)

@MS2692 our clinic said to carry on as normal… apart from no hot baths or heavy exercise. our clinic didn’t advise stopping sex, but of course I still completely convinced myself that our previous round hadn’t worked because I had sex! but no studies actually provide any evidence for this. Different clinics recommend different things… so the best thing is to do whatever you feel most comfortable with. Plenty of people have sex when they conceive naturally and they never think about it… but I really relate to the feeling of wanting to do everything you can to give it the best possible chance.

@Stopthatnoisemummy thank you ☺️ EC is on Thursday. I do trigger shots tonight. The follicles have actually gotten a lot bigger so I’m wondering if I’m at risk of over stimulation but they adjusted trigger meds and hopefully that will help.

How are you doing? How is the sickness? Hope you’re managing ok 👍🏼

@amoobaa thank you - you’re absolutely right I’m just freaking out about everything and anything that could potentially ruin things and driving myself crazy 😂🤦🏼‍♀️ good luck with your EC on Thursday 🤗xx

@Stopthatnoisemummy everything was ok today? I’m so happy for you!!! Especially when you were so worried to start with! Honestly I am just grinning ear to ear for you!

thank you I will be keeping everything crossed! X

@Lyrabee i think it will be around end of June, possibly July. I’ve got my appointment with the consultant at the end of May and then not sure how quickly things will move. Do you know what point in your cycle you start FET or does it vary? Xx

Lots of luck to those about to have EC or waiting for results ❤️

@Katie12444 Not sure if it helps but I had to wait for my period and then had a scan on CD3 and started fyremadel and oestrogen and then had FET on CD27 but mine was a medicated FET, I’m not sure if it would be different for a natural FET cycle xx

@Katie12444 the consultant said today that on my next normal cycle to take estrogen tables (she also offered patches) from day one and I'll have a scan to check my lining is thickening after about 7-10 days. Then I'll start with the pessaries again but they want me to have my progesterone levels checked this time after a few days and might prescribe injections to help it along. Then transfer.
Consultant said if my cycle is due end of May I'd likely have my transfer about 2/3 weeks into June and test date in july.

She said I'll continue with the estrogen and pessaries until test date.

@Stopthatnoisemummy thank you, good luck for your collection!

@BrownXeyes thank you. They found a cyst which might be causing the pain and cramping, but they think it will resolve on its own and shouldn't cause any issues. Let us know how you get on today.

OTD today and got my BFP! The squinter from the weekend hung around! That being said, I am so incredibly crampy and have been for the last two night, and having a fair amount of bleeding - basically like a normal period. So I’m obviously terrified. Waiting to hear from the clinic x

@Lyrabee @MS2692 thanks both, really helpful. I think I’m going down the chemical FET but guessing that will be confirmed at the consultation. One thing I wasn’t warned about but guessing (hoping) is normal….my period after the EC was heavy and I’ve still had a little bit of spotting when I wipe and I’m on day 10. Any experience or this or heard it can happen?