IVF March 2023

[Katie12444]

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

@amoobaa no it definitely can’t. This journey is so rough and I’m really sorry you had to go through all of that. I found my protocol online in the portal - see attached. For me they added on the first check 4th of May the 2 MG estrogen pills vaginally before bedtime. Everything down there becomes a mess with shuffing pills but it was all for the greater good. Def ask them about the vaginal route - my estrogen levels became much better bc of it and the lining also thickened!

Oh no @amoobaa I'm sorry!

This was my third transfer.

On my second, my lining was 12 but this last time it was only 7.8 when I went for my scan so I had to wait an extra week for mine as well. When I went for the transfer it had only thickened very slightly more but it was enough, they were hoping it would have got as thick as the first time. The only difference was the estrogen I was on was a different make. Both times I've been on 6 tablets a day but no patches.

I dont know how much it helps but someone told me to up your protein intake - no idea if that actually works though.

When you say it can consolidate, do you mean it doesn't have the layers?

I cant help but think one of the reasons it didn't work for me was because I was on the estrogen for longer.

@Irisjj thank you so much for this. I really appreciate it. I wonder if it’s too late for this now (already been on meds for 12 days). But I’ll definitely speak to them about it for the next cycle. They seem reluctant to change protocol now… also wonder how much oestrogen is safe to take! And for how long.

I’ll keep checking in here… it would be so nice to all have a happy ending and be able to look back at this in years to come…

Really sorry @amoobaa ! There’s so much more to FET then I had realised - honestly I naively thought it was a few tablets a few pessaries and away we go but it’s sound like there’s a lot more too it this time and almost like there are more unknowns that with a fresh cycle which is bonkers to me!

@amoobaa I asked about taking the estrogen for longer and it's effects on its own without progesterone and the nurse seemed to be under the impression 3/4 weeks is okay. But not 100% sure she understood my question!

Started my progynova this morning, scan is a week Tuesday. Here we go!

Eeee @Sd183 best of luck!!

@Sd183 fingers crossed for you!! I have a scan this Tuesday, to see if I can have my transfer… what will your scan be? I haven’t heard of progynova, so not sure if you’re going for a first scan or a scan later down the line? Hope whatever it is, all goes well.
I’m holding my breath and really nervous for this scan. Already thinking what I’ll do if it’s cancelled.
Hope you’re all having a restful weekend :)

Hey @amoobaa - it’s estrogen tablets and then the scan is to check the lining has thicken then they can book the transfer hopefully! 🙏🏻 got all my fingers crossed for you on Tuesday!!

@Sd183 I had progynova on my first FET. My lining reacted really well to it, I hope yours does as well. I was on 6 a day.
My second FET I had Zumenon which is still estrodiol but I didn't get as thick a lining with that one.

@Sd183 ah yes, that’s where I’m at too… although my lining didn’t thicken enough so I’m in medication for another week and getting scanned again this Tuesday.

Last time this happened, my transfer was cancelled at the second scan. I’m so nervous.

@Lyrabee that’s really interesting… I’m on Estradiol too and they have never changed it to anything else. I think I respond better to the patches than the pills.

Trying to be prepared for horrible results from my scan on Tuesday but at the same time hoping with everything I have, for a great result.

Realistically, it’s unlikely to be a good result but it might be good enough to go ahead with the transfer. Then I’ll always wonder if I should have done a third prep to get the lining as good as possible before transfer.

And this whole time, maybe it was never going to work anyway and I’m losing precious time delaying another egg collection. But I’m not sure that can happen anyway. I think this is our last go. Financially, we can’t manage any more.

@amoobaa I know exactly how you feel there, you'll always question everything you do or don't do :(

See what they say and then you can make the decision. Lining needs to be about 8 I think?

Good luck tomorrow @amoobaa xx

Thanks @Sd183

How did your scan go??

I went full of hope but also prepared for bad news.

I couldn’t really see how much would change and there was no difference at all in my lining. It hadn’t thickened at all.

Another cancelled cycle.

I got the feeling the consultant would have authorised transfer it I’d really wanted it. On the basis that my lining has never been thick and I have got pregnant with a thin lining before. But my lining was about 6mm almost 7 in areas but some areas less than 6.

It’s our last embryo and if it doesn’t work I don’t want to look back and think… what if I’d tried another protocol and got a thicker lining?

I’m physically exhausted and nervous about what all these drugs are doing to me.

I have to use pessaries now (only one a day, rather than the two twice a day like they did last time, no idea why!) from tonight until Sunday, when I stop it’ll induce a bleed.

Then it’s the more full on protocol.

Anyone had this? I’m going to have oestrogen tablets and patches like before, but also baby aspirin, an injection (menopur), vitamin E and viagra…

Viagra! Anyone know the side effects?? Better thicken my lining, that’s all I can say!

Apparently this is a lot more full on. I’m nervous. Really nervous.

Also, I just instinctively feel like my body would do better with a break. I feel like it’s getting oestrogen resistant! Starting to have no effect…

I’ve been doing this IVF attempt for a solid year now without any kind of break at all. It’s starting to wear as thin and my endometrium.

The embryo is from a cycle well over a year ago. I’m so tired and not able to feel much. I don’t feel sad. Just very tired.

Oh @amoobaa I'm so sorry, how disheartening :(

How come you need to use the pessaries if they're not doing a transfer?

It sounds like a lot of drugs for the next one, have you asked if they would consider a down reg before the estrogen?

When do you start all these? I've heard of menopur but no idea what it's for and no idea about the viagra! It's a lot but if it works it will be worth it

@amoobaa im so sorry you are going through this, it’s a lot!

did they check for endometriosis? I see a lot of fellow IVF warriors having difficulty with estrogen and lining not building up, buy they do a very long period of downregulating with Lupron to prep their bodies.

Not to put more stress at you, but it might be good to ask for a second opinion somewhere else if they are not able to get it right. And if you need that break… take it… its a lot what you are going through.. i know it feels mentally counterproductive put my forced break bc of the ectopic also helped a bit to just start living a bit again and feel more like myself.

I wish you a lot of strength and we’re here to support or if you just want to vent. Anything you do and choose is good ❤️ you can do this ✨🍀

@amoobaa I’m so sorry to hear that! Mine is next Tuesday. I think you should go with your gut and take the break. Same as @Irisjj, I had a break after my ectopic over this summer and it was actually a relief to not be thinking about it for a few months!!! Have some wine, drink some coffee, not constantly stress about it…. At the start I thought it would be awful waiting but actually I think it was the best thing for me x

Hey March gang. Just wanted to share I got a BFP today following my FET. Cautiously optimistic after my ectopic but it’ll certainly be a long wait until that first scan in a few weeks!

@Sd183 eeeee! Congratulations, that’s such wonderful news!

Keeping everything crossed! Please keep us updated, if you want to. Really hope all goes exactly as you hope.

I’m so sorry I’ve been totally silent, we’ve had so much going on and I just mentally checked out.

I’ll come back and reply properly in a bit… I’m so grateful for everyone’s messages 🙌

My lining has thickened. Not loads but enough. Transfer on Wednesday. I’m so nervous about getting the result in such a short space of time… it’s been Ages and now I can’t quite believe it’s happening.

They’re a day 6 rather than a day 5 embryo and I know that shouldn’t matter but I’m struggling with that a bit- feeling like they would be in with more of chance if they were a day 5. Also they’re mosaic… but all I can do now it relax and hope.

hugs to you all.

@Sd183 aaaah amazing! Congratulations! Please please keep us updated!

@amoobaa good luck with your transfer, I'm glad your lining finally thickened :)

We've just started our medication for our next transfer so guessing it will be around the end of the month. It's been a bit of a nightmare with the clinic though, they've really messed us about this time - I still haven't got my medication (I just luckily had some estradiol left over so I could at least start those!)

@amoobaa I was reading your posts and I was getting confused about whether I had written them, our stories are that similar. I've been doing IVF for 3 years now and my body has deteriorated in that time. I always had thinner lining than other women. The max I could get to was about 8mm, but this entire year, I have not even managed 6-6.5mm, the bare minimum. I've had a couple of cancelled cycles but now they have said I cannot cancel anymore and just give it a go. The change in my body has really shook me up. I wasn't having much luck before and now it seems hopeless. Each cycle, I have done my outmost to eat things that will make my lining grow faster but it just does not have an effect. I keep thinking about what I will do if this doesn't work at all? Wishing you all the best with this upcoming transfer.

@Sd183 congrats!!! Step by step, hopefully your baby is growing well❤️

@amoobaa and @EasterBunny7 that is super frustrating, I truly hope your transfers will be successful ❤️

I'm sorry @EasterBunny7 :( where are you in your latest cycle?

@amoobaa did you have a transfer? If so, how was it?

My lining wasn't quite thick enough on my scan date but had a second check yesterday and it's jumped a lot so transferring next week.

Hi all, I did have my transfer and it went really smoothly. I got a positive pregnancy test 4 days after. The line got darker every day.

I got great results for my beta blood test after the two week wait.

They said congratulations and booked us in for our 7 week scan.

That was today. We went so full of hope but very anxious. I had no spotting or bleeding like last time. I’d made it all the way to 3+ on the Clearblue digital test.

The only thing bothering me, is that on Monday night (3 days ago) I had the most intense and vivid dream that I miscarried. I couldn’t shake off the feeling that something had changed.

I was still feeling nauseous, still fatigued and my sense of smell was really sensitive. But I noticed my breasts were not quite as tender.

I did another Clearblue test (justified the expense because it was my birthday). And it came back as 2-3 weeks. I did a few... the next day it was the same.

Today at the scan they found an empty gestational sac. Measuring smaller than it should be.

The same thing that happened last time is happening again.

No fetal pole, no yolk sac, No heartbeat.

To top it all off my Mum has just undergone a hip replacement and we all arrived at hers (2 year old in tow) straight after the scan to look after her as she recovers… and we’re all falling ill with something. I honestly feel horrendous.

I’m sorry I’ve been so silent. I was terrified to jinx anything. I wanted to come back with a definitive positive outcome. And sadly this is it.

I’m going to miscarry and will likely haemorrhage like before. Requiring surgery. It was life threatening before and I feel like a broken time bomb.

This was our last embryo. I’m so so sad.

Sending hugs to all of you. I hope you all have happier news.

I feel too sad to cry x

@amoobaa i am so so sorry to read this. My heart is crying for you.. I wish you a lot of strength ❤️✨ and hope there are no complications with your miscarriage, I totally understand your fear.. take care.. thinking of you.