IVF November 2022 - thread 2

[countrypunk]

Hello everyone, shiny new thread for us IVF warriors.

@Crystal88
@Jx3303
@LF82
@Hopewishprayer
@Foreverhoping33
@Cat89

@countrypunk thank you 😀

@Crystal88 🥰

I think that's everyone who's still active in the last one, but obvs feel free to tag anyone I've missed.

@countrypunk thank you for sorting! Couldn’t cope without this group! X

@LF82 ♥️

@countrypunk thank you for the new thread lovely 🥰 very glad to have you ladies! How are you doing?

@LF82 I hope you're enjoying your injection free day, and having a better day ❤️ it can get so overwhelming can't it, I am trying hard to not let the bad thoughts creep in!!

@Hopewishprayer how are you feeling? I hope better and getting over Covid! Did your OH get it too?

@Foreverhoping33 I hope you are having a nice relaxing day before collection tomorrow too. I had to go back and refresh my memory of your journey so far, am I right that this is your second FET?

@Crystal88 how are you doing lovely? Xx

@Jx3303 Not bad at all! Doing some home improvements which is a good distraction. How are you feeling about tomorrow? Xx

Thanks @countrypunk for setting this up! Definitely needed!

@Jx3303 good idea, it would be great to have a little recap where everyone is up to as not sure i can remember!

My and my OH started trying nearly 2 years ago, after 1 year we did all the tests and realised we have MFI. We did our first IVF cycle in November where we got three embryos and transferred one straight away. We became pregnant (first positive every!) but unfortunately didnt have a heartbeat at the 6 week or 7 week scan. I think had a D&C in late January.

Since then I have tried to do a FET twice one natural and one medicated but unfortunately each time my lining hasnt got thick enough....i have no idea why as this wasnt a problem at all. I have heard its stress but i dont actually think im that stressed.

Doing an egg collection to add to embryos hopefully and then try again for FET transfer next month if i can if not in June.

Good to hear where everyone else is @LF82 @Crystal88 @countrypunk

xxxxx

@countrypunk oh lovely; that's always good to get into! I painted numerous rooms on the lead up to the very start of IVF! What sort of thing are you doing? Won't it be lovely when we can all get back in the garden again! I'm enjoying the warmer temperature of England this week ☀️

@Foreverhoping33 thank you for the recap and yeah, good idea for us all to do it. Now it's a smaller group it's easier to keep up I find! What a journey 😞 I don't think any of us realised at the start quite how much a journey this could be. I don't even like the word journey but it is isn't it. My mum once said Adventure way back and I was like - doubt it 😂 I really hope that you get some more frosties into the freezer, I'm so glad you're doing collection and you haven't went through all of your cycle for little outcome - I know how that feels and it's heartbreaking.

My journey so far - TTC for 3 years, I am 35, tests after 1 year and I have low amh/low ovarian reserve. First NHS cycle (NE scotland) March 2022 - 1 egg but embryo stopped growing on day 2. Second NHS cycle June 2022 - no eggs 💔 we were then told we could only go down the donor route with our local NHS.

October 2022 we had a consultation with Creat Manchester, and signed up to 3 cycle mild IVF package. First cycle November and 3 frosties. Second cycle February 2023 cancelled with a dose of stress and high prolactin thrown in there for extra drama, and now onto attempt 2 of cycle 2. Phew it's a lot when you write it all out isn't it. Sure you ladies feel the same! But we'll get there 💕🤞🏻

Recap is an excellent idea!

I'm 39, started first round of IVF in November 2022 after TTC for 2 years and not a sausage. All tests including DP's seem normal enough, although pretty low ovarian reserve.

Ended up with 2 blastocysts from our first round. First transfer that month failed, second in January 2022 resulted in positive pregnancy test but missed miscarriage at 9.5 weeks (after measuring 2 weeks behind from 7 weeks). Had surgery to remove the pregnancy tissue and now back to the drawing board. Starting with a new clinic and first appointment with them is on 19 April.

@Jx3303 We're finally sorting out the garden in time for nice weather! We moved in a few years ago and have been so slow at doing stuff. Getting on with it properly now.

@Foreverhoping33 Thank you for sharing all of that, I think I'd forgotten your story or didn't know it all. I'm so sorry you've been through a miscarriage. It's absolutely fucking rubbish 🌸🌻🌺

@countrypunk thank you for the new thread, glad to hear you are keeping busy, definitely helps!
@Jx3303 yes feeling better thanks, DH didn’t get it which is so odd as he usually gets it and gives it to me 😂

so here’s my recap, but of a long one I’m afraid!
I am 39 (40 on Friday!) started TTC 4 years ago, after about a year looked into some testing discovered DH is a carrier for CF and so has no sperm in his ejaculate. Had to go down route of surgical extraction and luckily we got 6 straws for use in ICSI. By the time we sorted this of course I am not getting any younger and so when starting ICSI I have low ovarian reserve.
1st round nov 22 3 mature eggs, all fertilised but then nothing for transfer.
2nd round feb 22 again 3 mature eggs, one suitable for transfer on day 3 and had first ever BFP, at 8 week scan discovered no heartbeat and measuring only 6 weeks. MMC about 10 days later.
3rd round aug 22 5 mature eggs, only one suitable for transfer, BFN
4th round Nov 22 8 mature eggs, only one cavatating morula for transfer, BFN
decided to move to DE, seems my egg quality prevents the development potential.
mar 23 DE from 12 eggs 2 blasts (now we think could be a sperm issue). 1 embryo transferred and 1 frozen BFP and then covid decides now is the time to throw in a curve ball! currently 5+5 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻

@Hopewishprayer I'm so sorry about your MMC too. It feels so cruel to have the rug snatched from beneath you like that after all we go through to get the positive test result. But it's also amazing to see where you're at now! Fingers crossed for a healthy and happy pregnancy ♥️💛💜

@countrypunk yes it is horrible and hard to keep going but I believe it will happen for us all if can keep pushing on. I am a nervous wreck every twinge it takes me right back to a year ago with the MMC but just trying to remain positive and keep those negative thoughts away x

@Hopewishprayer I know it's easier said than done, but you're totally right - stay happy and positive and enjoy every second of being pregnant! I'm glad I got to enjoy a couple of months of it. And I'm hopeful we'll all get to enjoy a full 9 months! Xx

Hi everyone, really like the re-cap is stories idea - having read everyone’s I must say what a group of strong women 💕

My background- turned 40 last year, been trying for 18 months. No success at all. Did tests via Nhs - low motility for OH so we need icsi and my tests were inconclusive I guess - they said my progesterone levels needed more testing. Referred for nhs fertility but still not heard a thing on that! In the meantime after a very bad few months decided we would go private as soon as we could - this group actually helped me make that decision. We are doing mild ivf - a 3 cycle package like @Jx3303 First round we got 3 embryos. Egg collection for 2nd round tomorrow. Hoping to be able to do a fresh transfer at the end of next round but concerned re my progesterone levels, spoke to the doc this time & she said they will test next round and not to worry

havent told anyone bar one friend that we are doing ivf as can’t deal with the pressure & expectations … but I guess that also has meant less support network

anyway I am clearly rambling so I will stop! X

Hey everyone

Here is my story, I’m 34 been trying natural for last 5 years. Had various tests through NHS to see why I couldn’t get pregnant and found no reason so been labelled has unknown fertility problems. So only option was IVF but to be able to do on NHS needed to lose 3 stone which I did last September and started my IVF in November with create

doctor said OH sperm lacked mobility and that ICSI was way forward

managed to get 6 egg which where mature, but only 2 fertilised, one grade 8 and other was 6.

the grade 8 was put back in at day 3 but failed and grade 6 was destroyed as not viable

since then I have waited as I needed to get my body sorted I was getting period every two weeks for first couple of months and I wanted to lose bit more weight

now I try private as I only get one NHS cycle in my area

I had my baseline scan Monday with ABC create sister company and all good to start again in May after my holidays

feeling positive and let’s see what this journey takes me

it good to hear everyone else story and great to have this support network 🥰

Such a group of strong, determined women 💕 I am so sorry to you ladies who have suffered miscarriages, heartbreaking 💔 I have hope that we will all get out happy ending xx

@LF82 @Foreverhoping33 I hope you both got on well at collection. I am back to our airbnb and resting. We got 2 eggs which I am happy with and expected 🤞🏻 all on track for a transfer - whether that be with a fresh from this cycle or a frozen from the previous. So start the pessaries tonight! I didn't feel fully knocked out for the entirety of it this time but definitely drowsy and pain free. They took very good care of me 💕

@Hopewishprayer really glad to hear you are feeling better and lucky OH not getting it too. Not going to lie I was paranoid today in case my temperature came back high after me having the cold the last week!

@countrypunk oh lovely! And nice for it to all be done in time for the better weather 🤞🏻

@Jx3303 that’s great news got my fingers crossed for you 🤞

I am home too & resting , we got 4 eggs but I am not hopeful - the consultant said there was evidence my lining had started to come away and that was my body’s way of saying this cycle isn’t going to be great. My husband is trying to be hopeful saying that we still have 4 eggs they can try to fertilise today but honestly I just don’t hope anything will happen the way the doctor was.

he spoke a lot about me doing PGT - A testing next time - does anyone have experience with that?

also if anyone has experience with the lining issue and any advice that would be so helpful.

very glad I wasn’t planning a transfer this time as it would definitely not be happening x

@LF82 I haven't had PGT-A testing yet but I have read quite a lot about it and it's a tricky one.

As far as I understand it, there are 3 possible results: all cells normal, all cells abnormal, a mixture of normal and abnormal. As I also understand it, abnormal cells can and do self-correct. Only a small sample of cells from the embryo are tested so it can only tell you what those cells look like. Apparently Robert Winston's clinic developed it and it was originally used for people with specific genetic conditions, to stop them passing them on. It wasn't intended to be used in a more general way.

I think it can be useful if you have lots of embryos, or if you've had more than one miscarriage. It's expensive so if you only get one or two embryos, in my opinion the extra cost isn't worth it - you may as well just transfer the embryos and hope for the best. But if you had, say, 10 embryos and a history of miscarriage, I would probably do it, to reduce the risk of further miscarriages by selecting only the 'normal' ones for transfer.

I believe in the UK, any embryos classed as abnormal after PGT-A testing have to be destroyed.

Sending love and good thoughts for your eggs. Have a nice rest this afternoon. Xx

@Jx3303 Lots of love to you too. So exciting that all's moving forward for your transfer. Xx

@LF82 oh love I'm sorry 😞 but do remain hopeful for those 4 eggs. I have everything crossed that they fertilise and you get some more lovely embryos added to the freezer ❄️ I completely understand what it's like to come out of a collection disappointed. I hope they took very good care of you ❤️ plenty rest. I don't have any experience of PGT-A testing I'm afraid, hopefully you can have a call with them to discuss going forward? Xx

@Jx3303 thank you they did. Was in from 8am but didn’t go in for egg collection until at least 9.15ish. Am struggling to be hopeful today but will wait to see what tomorrows call brings. The doctor seemed to be quite keen on selling me the benefits of pgt a testing - he said he was the clinical lead in it at Create. We have agreed to an appointment to discuss it but I did that more so I can have a F2F chat about the lining issue and what we can do differently next round.

@countrypunk thank you for the info - that’s very helpful! I will definitely do a lot more research before the appointment and before we agree to anything. Kind of think it might be a bit premature as I haven’t had a transfer yet!

x

@LF82 Good to speak to the doctor at your clinic about it but definitely also do your own independent research. There are a few studies out there. It's not going to help you get pregnant but it might help you avoid miscarriage and it might make transfer failure less likely.

www.hfea.gov.uk/treatments/treatment-add-ons/pre-implantation-genetic-testing-for-aneuploidy-pgt-a/

@LF82 we definitely must have crossed paths as I was also in at 8am and through to theatre about 8.50am! Did you have the Indian Dr? I had him last time, this time I had a tall English man, both lovely. I know it's hard to stay hopeful, I'm really sorry that you've left the clinic feeling so deflated. It's hard enough with the wait.

When I got taken back through - I was awake this time and managed to move from the op bed to my own, the nurse was pottering about but didn't tell me how many eggs they had retrieved. This worried me as last time they told me as soon as I woke up. I asked and she said oh I think 7, I was like erm pretty sure that's not right, I didn't even start with 7 follicles. She was unbelievably apologetic when she went and checked and came back and said 2, and I was totally fine with it as I knew very unlikely, the Dr apologised to me too. I hope she didn't get into trouble as she was lovely. Would have been an awful mistake if I had none though!

@Jx3303 we definitely crossed paths then! No I had a really nice male doc too? The woman doc I saw was the one who had done all my scans this time round.
oh god what a mistake to make - glad it was ok in that you knew it was a mistake straight away! Same with me though- last time they told me as soon as I woke up but this time I had to wait for the doctor to come in x

@LF82 ah tall and grey hair? I had him! I know which woman Dr you mean, smaller lady with long dark hair? She did 2 of my scans too and she came and checked in on me afterwards which was nice. I don't know any of their names though.

I know, I laughed and for a split second I thought wow and then the realist in me was like ok that's not possible 😂 xx

@Jx3303 that’s him!