IVF April 2023

[BiscuitLover3678]

anyone else due to start in April?

Anyone else doing anything different during ivf? I’ve already reduced caffeine a lot but not sure if I am going to totally go without. Maybe I should though. Anyone doing reflexology or acupuncture?

Thanks @BiscuitLover3678. We were very lucky that we conceived our daughter on our first transfer. I was 31 then, DOR with only 6 eggs collected. She was the only viable embryo for transfer so we're starting from scratch this time. Prepared for it not to be such smooth sailing this time round but the clinic we're optimistic when we went for our consultation. Do you know roughly when you will start your cycle? How have you found your appts so far?

I have stayed off caffeine since TTC the first time round (apart from the occasional full caff coffee and regular dark choc)! I stopped drinking any alcohol at the beginning of March but otherwise haven't done anything else. I have never tried reflexology or acupuncture but know lots of people do.

I’ve cut out caffeine too plus alcohol (the Easter weekend is going to be tough!!) and cut back on sugar, takeaways etc. just generally trying to be healthy. Have heard good things about acupuncture too but not tried it.

How is everyone getting on? Anyone started their stimms yet?

I finally got my period after stopping norethisterone. Starting meriofert and Gonal F injections tomorrow. I feel ridiculously nervous about injecting myself (especially the meriofert, mixing up powder and liquid in a syringe all feels a bit too expert for me 😂), it all feels very very real all of a sudden!

I’m so impressed - how do you function without caffeine? I’m on one a day though but with a toddler it’s tough 😭

Haha it’s cutting out the wine that’s been harder!! I can imagine with a toddler caffeine is essential but you get used to it very quickly. I cut it out a while ago as caffeine was a trigger for my endometriosis so there was an added incentive:)

Hi Ladies’, I’d love to join this group, I followed the March group but didn’t interact as I hadn’t started properly at that point.
A little about myself, I’m 35 and have been with DH for 8.5 years and married 1.5. We have been TTC properly for 6 years to no avail, I’ve had a few tests in the NHS but nothing conclusive came back so I am in the “unexplained fertility” bracket. My DH does have a low sperm count of 9.3M so essentially I would say it’s a mix of both of us. As far as I’m aware I have never been pregnant or had a miscarriage. Also, I am overweight so obviously classed as Obese, I wear a size 18/20 but am actively trying to lose some weight, I am a smoker, I cut down to 6 a day over a year ago and down to 3 a day in January, I’m trying to kick those last 3 a day now. I’m a social drinker (not at present obviously) and I don’t do drugs.

I started Bueserlin on Monday and will start the second injection (I can’t remember the name and it’s at my mums in the fridge, sorry) in around 9 days.
I am currently waiting for AF to start as I will then need to contact my clinic for a scan (not overly excited for that as I get terribly heavy AF’s 🤦🏼‍♀️).
I look forward to being able to share my journey with you guys as I have no one this end to talk with due to trying to keep it very hush, hush. If anyone has any questions for me please feel free to ask, I'm an open book.
Sorry for the long first message I just wanted to give you a bit of background about myself.

I would also like to add l, as I re-read my message and it sounded very self involved, that it’s so lovely to be able to share all your journeys too. It’s a weird, wonderful scary time and I’m glad there is a place we can all go to, to help each other x

Not at all! Welcome! I wish you all the best, especially after so long ❤️

And totally understandable! Hoping it gets easier 😂

Welcome to the newbies, let’s hope this is a good month for us all! :)

How is everyone getting on?

I’m due to start tablets tomorrow, approximately a week before my cycle starts. I didn’t take these on my last unsuccessful cycle so my consultant wants to try some different things this time. Anyone else taking Estradiol? They look like they’re usually used as HRT so I’m a bit worried about the hormone side effects!!

Hi can I join too?

I had my first FET on March 7th of this year, got the positive test and thought we had won the lottery. Found out today that pregnancy stopped developing so have come off the cyclogest and progynova. Will hopefully be having another transfer when I start my next period after this MC. I only had 1 embryo transferred in the first round as that was what my consultant recommended but I’m hoping to try two next time. We were really lucky and had 8 frozen.

Wishing everyone luck with upcoming transfers xx

Oh my goodness I’m so sorry :( did you have an early scan?

@BiscuitLover3678 thanks so much, yes I had a surprise scan on the 31st March as the day before I had gone for another hcg blood test as the line on my home pregnancy tests wasn’t as strong as I thought it should be (I originally did a clear blue digital one, and the display turns off after a while so I did another test so that I could keep it) and my hcg level was low. At that scan I was measuring a week behind with no yolk sac or fetal pole, was referred to the EPU who wouldn’t see me for a further two weeks, so kept my original early scan appointment which was yesterday and was given the news that it wasn’t developing. Started bleeding today. Very disappointed, but my clinic seem to be very happy to take my money (sent me the price list for next transfer pretty much immediately) so hopefully they won’t make us wait for long before going again.

@IVFfirsttimer91 Big hugs, this is a rollercoaster road we're on. Clinics are so insensitive sometimes but at the same time they are our biggest help. Take care of yourself xx

Hi All, I've been on the pill for 6 days and it's making me feel down and depressed. I'm also emotional and sensitive 🥺
Is anyone experiencing the same?
Is the pill absolutely necessary before FET?

@NaomiNatNat thanks :) it may sound a bit crazy but I feel physically much better now, I think my body has been telling me for a week that something is there that shouldn’t be and I’ve felt quite unwell, since I’ve stopped the meds and started bleeding I don’t feel nearly so bad. It’s also a bit of closure which helps psychologically. I didn’t do the pill before my FET so I can’t help there, but is there a different pill they could give you to change the side affects? How long do you have to take it for? Xx

@IVFfirsttimer91 So sorry to hear that, sending lots of luck for your next cycle. Great that you have some frozen ones, fingers crossed!

Thanks @Frisbeee i feel super lucky to have some frozen ones for future use. I’d be devastated if I had to go through the entire collection process again. I did not enjoy it first time round, though it definitely helped me get over my phobea of needles! Xx

So sorry for the losses and ohhh that’s rubbish @NaomiNatNat how much longer are you on it for?

what was the worst bit of egg collection? Any tips for a first timer?

@IVFfirsttimer91 Glad you got some closure, mental health is so important.
I'm thinking do I absolutely need the pill or can I go without. My clinic is closed until Tuesday so hv to wait until then xx

@BiscuitLover3678 I'm on it until 23rd April xx

@BiscuitLover3678 I would say the actual collection itself was fine, so don’t worry! It’s just the lead up to it I felt so bloated and swollen and sore, I also wanted to vomit every time I saw the needle in the morning and evening as I injected 😵‍💫. I went to bed for the day after the procedure and slept off the anaesthesia and had mild cramps and a bit of soreness for a few days after. I wouldn’t advice exercising for a few days, well, I certainly didn’t feel up to it anyway, and if you have a really physical job as I did at the time, I would have taken a few days off. Only other thing is that my period was really heavy after collection. Are you aiming for fresh transfer or frozen? Xx

@NaomiNatNat im sorry to hear that! It’s not great of them to not tell you why they put you on it in the first place!! Hope you’re ok xx