IVF Scotland - thread 5

[itsmschanandlerbong]

Hello, made a new thread for us Scots going through IVF, thread 5. Hoping this is the best thread yet for dreams coming true ❤️

Hi @Kitty12345678 I'm sorry you've had to go through that.

Everyone's blood is either positive or negative for the Rhesus blood group marker, and that in itself isn't a health issue in itself either way. The problem that can occur in pregnancy is if a Rhesus negative mum has a pregnancy with a Rhesus positive foetus, and their blood comes into contact, eg during a bleed or a miscarriage. Then, the mum's body can respond with an immune response the next time there's an exposure to Rhesus positive blood (eg in another pregnancy) as the Rhesus positive marker has been identified as foreign by the mum's immune system.

It used to be a bigger concern, but these days we can get an injection to prevent that immune process from becoming a problem, and other checks during future pregnancies,and even if it's picked up late there are interventions that mean it's nowhere near the issue it once was.

It shouldn't impact upon your fertility, and it won't have caused this loss.

I don't know if that helps at all?

I'm so sorry for your loss.

@Kitty12345678 yes I’m also rhesus negative tho my partner doesn’t know what he is. We got an anti-d injection at time of miscarriage and I had one between 28-30 weeks and will get another when baby is born. So long as you have had the injection there it shouldn’t cause any issues

Got my amh bloods back, it said 2.6 and I was over the moon, but just got smashed into a puddle when I found out I was reading it through an (apparently) american measuring system, and I am actually very very low. Just processing still, trying not to feel it all at once. Chances have gone from 25% to 5%. Doc said they'd be happy with just one egg but not to expect it. Anyone have any encouraging low amh level/follicle production experience that might help reinstate some hope?

I feel so bad like I'm letting my partner down. I didn't realise how much hope I had and what a luxury that was. Just in the gutter.

@Scirocco thanks. I’m glad it’s not something that would have caused the miscarriage and I’m glad that I got the injection so if I’m pregnant again it won’t have a immune response to it.

@LT103 thanks it’s good to know that is the process if I’m pregnant again.

@Nosejug try not to worry too much about the AMH levels, as it’s the quality that counts more than anything. I was diagnosed with a low ovarian reserve for my age last year think mines was 5.4 (it will be lower now I’d expect). I was worried and devastated too. They told us to expect between 6-10 eggs if we were lucky. We got 9 the first time but only 1 fertilised, which was awful. We did ICSI in our second round and it resulted in 4 eggs (one abnormal and one immature). Both normals fertilised and became 5AA and 4AA blastocysts. We transferred the 5AA which resulted in pregnancy but had a silent miscarriage at 9weeks. If you are worried about not a lot of eggs possibly opting for ICSI would hopefully help fertilising issues. Even if there isn’t a male factor (there wasn’t in our case). Also they recommend taking DHEA supplements and vitamin D for low ovarian reserve. Hope that helps. Are you starting a cycle soon?

@Kitty12345678 thanks so much for your reply. Unfortunately mine is really low, 2.6. She said we’d be lucky to get one egg. I’m 37, so she did say egg quality would still be ok, and I am still ovulating regularly. We have male factor issue (low morphology) so will be ICSI. We were thinking to pay for this first round if we can afford (which if we go ahead would begin in 2ish months) and she did mention that DHEA. Did you take it? She made it sound pretty awful, and was unclear on whether it was helpful at all.

Everything’s complicated by me and SO working in precarious fields, good money when we have work and dwindling savings when we don’t. Costs are risky I guess, and such a low outcome we didn’t expect. About a years wait for NHS treatment, but doc said to act now, that my AHM might go below their bottom line very quickly. Wish we were wealthy but I keep thinking about Jennifer Anniston, all the money in the world and still not being able to make it happen. In a way that’s comforting, like maybe it just won’t happen and there was nothing I could have done more. Just trying to think of an alternative future, but I can’t see it yet.

GCRM - absolutely disgusting.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/sacked-ivf-lab-boss-wins-whistleblowing-claim-g8nn65h77

@Nosejug we threw all our savings into paying for our first private cycle in Glasgow last year and a frozen embryo transfer. Although it didn't work (two miscarriages) I don't regret it as it did feel like we are trying something. We looked into treatment abroad but actually when you add up the travel costs/additional tests needed it wasn't much cheaper plus needed more time off work!

Would recommend to go for it if you can find the money, plus you don't loose your space on the waiting list and still get the same amount of cycles you are eligible for on NHS waiting list. I'm on day 5 of my first NHS cycle (although 2nd cycle) now and I still can get another 2 cycles after this if needed

@Kitty12345678 sorry to hear you've had such a hard time of it.

I'm going to be staring my next (last) cycle mid July probably. I'll be 45 in October and know odds are low but I got 2 embryos in January/Feb although they didn't implant. Rubbish amh, am single and overweight too. It took ages for period to come back hence huge delay between rounds,. although I could have started this month but not emotionally ready.

I had just met a new man in January and although it didn't come to anything I was in a really good place emotionally, and can't help but worry if that led to a good result (for me! I know some people get millions of eggs and embryos, but I'm not one of them). I'm concerned that I won't be nearly as happy (in fact I'm unhappy) and that will cause my cycle to fail?? Thoughts??

@Nosejug yeah, I often comfort myself with the idea that Jennifer Aniston through everything at it - she clearly very much wanted a child so it's very sad that it didn't happen for her, but at the same time it does appear she's somewhat made peace with it, and just goes to show that having all the money in the world sometimes won't work.

Hello, how is everyone doing? We're getting geared up to go again, hopefully will get booked in in around 10 days, then starting stims 4 weeks after that. Feeling a bit all over the place about it all!

Hi, all ok here. I'm going for my hysteroscopy at the end of the month, then all going well transfer booked for 17th July. Can't remember if I said but I'm having PRP infusions this time so need to be in Spain for about 2 weeks. Just trying to sort out an apartment etc. so I can just work as normal for most of the time and save annual leave, seeing as it's costing enough anyway.

@itsmschanandlerbong Is there something specific bothering you about going again or is it just the general unease?

@itsmschanandlerbong exciting times! Are you doing a different protocol?

we have just finished our 2nd cycle last month. Unfortunately my fresh transfer was cancelled due to OHSS but hopefully I will be doing a natural transfer next month 🤞🤞🤞can’t wait!

@Kamiros oh that's not far away! Are you finding it harder with going during the summer this time?
I think my feelings are just around the anxiety of going through his again and the amount of money it's all costing too. It's eye watering!

@Ellenn aaah how did the cycle go? Are you feeling ok after OHSS.
Yes slight change to protocol. I'm staying on a short protocol with Gonal F but up to 300 units.

@itsmschanandlerbong i hope it works well! I quite liked doing the short protocol cause it was straight into it stims!

It’s crazy how different the cycles were for me (although I had exactly same protocol.) I got moderate OHSS so they were quite concerned but didn’t need to stay in hospital and it resolved once I started my withdrawal bleed. Now just can’t wait until transfer! We got 8 embryos which I was pretty gobsmacked with tbh. Last cycle we had 2 so I was hopeful for the same! Hopefully one of them will hang about 🤞

@itsmschanandlerbong Yeah I get that and the money is crazy. This next lots is costing us 10k alone, makes me want to cry most days but I have to see it through.

It is a little harder, partly because it's the busiest time to fly out and the most expensive. We've had to book everything but know that dates could change and we'll have to pay to change stuff. Plus it's going to be ridiculously hot when we're out there.

@Ellenn Exciting, hope you don't have to wait too long for transfer.

Hi everyone, not been on here in a while.

Got married in May and had nice honeymoon in Skye, was nice not to think about the mc or IVF. We have decided to transfer our last embryo in July and if it fails we will try one more cycle on the NHS in Aug/Sept, as we are now at the top of the waiting list. Just started my period after a 6weeks delay, it’s a relief that it’s going back to normal now.

Just reading through some of the thread and wishing you all the best of luck 🤞🏻 @Kamiros wish you all the best of luck in Spain with your procedure and hope you can get a transfer after that.xx
@Ellenn thats a great amount. Really hoping for you on your transfer.xx
@itsmschanandlerbong good luck with your stims. Hope all goes well for you.xx
@Nosejug hope you are okay. I know what you mean about the AMH and understand you want to act fast. It’s taken us more than a year to get to the top of the nhs waiting list and we had our AMH just reviewed and it has declined by 0.7 in a year. I’m am 37 next year. We took out a loan for our first cycle and used our work bonus for our second. Which we were lucky to get. It was a difficult decision to make as this meant a small wedding and a honeymoon locally but we don’t regret it, even though so far it’s not went well for us. Yes we used DHEA, unsure if they make a difference but had no side effects from them. Hope you find what is right for you.xx

@LouScot im sorry to hear about your cycle earlier this year. And the relationship that didn’t work out. No two cycle are the same and can be different each time. Im sorry to hear you are unhappy. And I honestly I don’t know if feeling better or positive is more likely to have a better outcome. I can honestly say after both our transfers I was very pessimistic and cried the entire 2ww and one still stuck for a short time. Wouldn’t feel bad about feeling bad. Wishing you all the best and you do what feels right for you.xx

@Kitty12345678 Congratulations on your wedding. How are you doing? Planning for transfer.

My next transfer is 2 weeks today but heading out to Spain on Friday as having several PRP treatments between now and then. Heard today our final donor egg collection has given us 3 blasts - 4AB, 3BA and 3BB. I'm delighted, we've never had 3 before. Hoping for success finally ok my 6th transfer.

Hope everyone is well x

@Kitty12345678 aw congratulations on your wedding! Both honeymoon and small wedding sound ideal to me! We are engaged but were holding out for a bairn. Im not sure how I'd handle the whole thing now I know ivf is so unlikely to work for us.

Have been so busy with work it's helping with savings, but have started thinking about trying IUI while we wait for the NHS list to go down. I must say, going down 0.7amh in a year would probably mean the nhs won't treat me. Hopefully mine is stable for now, but who knows. I have begun to feel very separated from the idea of the body I thought I had and the joy I had in it. But we are told to keep trying, as there's the same chance as we ever had of conceiving, so there's a smidge of hope there.

@Kamiros oh good luck with this next step! Very glad to hear you got three from your donor! Maybe at some point I could ask you a bit about the donor process, and any advice you might have. I'm a long way off processing the idea, but I want to keep open to it.

Very best of luck to anyone else who's had transfers or is waiting for news.x

@Nosejug Absolutely. It was devastating for me at first but over time I've got used to it and I have no doubt that if this works I'll only see the baby as mine. Bit to go yet for you though so don't give up, you just never know. x

@Kamiros I’m okay thanks. good luck with your trip and transfer. Three is a great amount! Hope it all goes smoothly. Wishing you all the best of luck 🤞🏻 xx

@Nosejug its fair to wait and not rush. We only did our fast because my husbands mum was very sick. She passed away last week and we are grateful to have the memories of her there. Please don’t worry about the outcome until you have tried IVF or IUI. I think my AMH declined as much as 0.7 because we have done 2 rounds of IVF already. It could be completely different for you. I’ve not heard of the NHS treating patients if there AMH is low. They never mentioned this to us during our calls even though mine is in the low for age category as well.

Im scheduled for FT on Tuesday. Very nervous this time as it’s our last embryo and I’m putting a lot of hope into it. We also have my MIL funeral the day after the transfer. Not the best time tbh but my husband was keen for me go ahead with it.

best wishes xx

Last embryo transferred today. Everything went okay with the transfer. Will be doing a normal pregnancy test in 10 days, as the bloods won’t come back to till the Monday 🙄.
@Kamiros wishing you all the best of luck in Spain 🤞🏻 xx

@Kitty12345678 glad it all went well!! How exciting, how are you feeling? Have you got much planned to distract yourself? It’s got to be the longest wait ever isn’t it 🤣

I’m waiting on my period arriving as this cycle we will hopefully get our transfer! I ended up not tracking my cycle at all this month and it’s now decided to go awol 🙈 on day 35 now (usually around 31/32) but realised after my last fresh cycle it was quite long too so no idea when it will turn up 🤷‍♀️ probs on my partners birthday on Thursday!

@Kitty12345678 Congrats and fingers crossed. I've just had my last PRP and that's me done until transfer on Monday. Off to the beach - making the most of it.

@Kamiros hope you enjoy the beach in Spain. Weather has been pretty rubbish here, so it’s a good time to get away.

@Ellenn yeah it takes time to come back after ivf. I remember I had a week delay with mines after my first cycle and a slight delay with my second. So don’t worry about it. I’m feeling 50/50 about this, as I don’t want to get my hopes up. Going to try and just be as calm as possible. I do have a funeral today but it’s my MIL, even though it will be hard as I’ve known her for 15 years, it’s still my Husband mum and I’m just going to try and support him best I can. After that I’m going to spend my time getting on with work, yoga and gaming. I don’t feel much different. I didn’t have any implantation/ spotting or any obvious symptoms last time I was pregnant before the test. Likely I’ll be able to tell in about 8days, as I got my period before the test date the first time it didn’t work.

Wishing you all the best of luck 🤞🏻 xx

@Kitty12345678 so sorry to hear about your MIL, funerals are always so difficult, I hope everything goes well. It must be hard having that so soon after the embryo transfer with all the hormones and rollercoaster of fertility treatments.

So my period decided to come last night while out for dinner, turns out all it wanted was me to wear a white dress and white pants 🤣🤣 I’m happy it’s here though and clinic has told me when to start ovulation tests so 🤞 I may have my transfer in around 3 weeks time if goes to plan