IVF/ICSI/FET May 2023

[Sj2505]

Hi, I don't think there's a thread for May, not that I could find anyway.

I've just started Norethisterone to bring on AF ready for my FET. I had my ICSI cycle in Feb but was high risk for OHSS, so after retrieving 24 eggs, this clinic decided to freeze all.
Luckily, because I ended up very unwell with OHSS for around 6 weeks and ended up in hospital for a little while!

But I've recovered and soooo ready for my embabies! We're aiming for transfer week commencing 22nd May unless AF comes earlier than planned then it might be the week before. It's likely as I'm on CD46 with all the signs of imminent AF 🤞🏼

If anyone else is cycling in May please feel free to share the journey ✨

@TheBirdintheCave I’m not actually sure I think it might be because I had the ovitrelle trigger? We were hopeful because my oestrogen levels weren’t above the limit it might be okay. But they said cause of the size of my ovaries and number collected I’m not allowed to have a fresh transfer. I’ve got another appointment on Monday so I’m going to quiz them like crazy to see if anyway I can do it earlier than two cycles! It’s such a tiny thing but does make you upset when you have waited so long to even get to embryo transfer!

So are you getting to transfer the first cycle after the bleed from ivf? Did you have ovitrelle or busrelin?

@Ellenn I had both! Six clicks of Ovitrelle and then a shot of Buserelin.

I will admit, I had to fight for this (as my clinic have a stupid policy about having a baseline scan the month before FET and we're on holiday when they'd want to do that) but they've told me that I can do the transfer on the cycle starting from my next period which will be around June 19th. I've had my withdrawal bleed already a week after the egg collection :)

@TheBirdintheCave ah that’s good to know! Did you have lots of symptoms of OHSS? I had some when taking stims but since trigger I’ve actually been feeling a bit better! I think I might discuss it at my appointment on Monday and see if I can push for it 🤞🤞🤞

Does the withdrawal bleed normally come 1 week after collection if not doing transfer?

@Marisadea great news! 13 is a fab number

@Ellenn totally understandable way to be feeling, no doubt very disappointing for you and if you are over stimulated I imagine that in itself isn’t going to make you feel great! Hope you can do something nice to treat yourself this weekend. Got everything crossed for a successful FET for you!

@Marisadea glad you're doing ok! 13 is a great number 🤩

@Ellenn glad your EC went well but sorry to hear about the freeze all, it's never easy to process that. We had to have a freeze all too but I did end up getting severe OHSS.
I think they said we could go ahead in around 6 weeks which would have been two cycles, but I wasn't well enough. I had my withdrawal bleed exactly two weeks after EC. But my second bleed (first natural one) was then late. I've heard a lot of people say the second one was messed up, late/early, heavy/light. I also had Ovitrelle trigger.

@Sj2505 thanks for the reply! It does take a bit to get your head round plus I’ve got quite a busy summer coming up so worried about trying to fit in appointments etc. I’m going to see what they say on Monday. I’m assuming you can never do it after the first withdrawal bleed?

When did you develop signs of OHSS? I always thought it was after the trigger it could get worse but I actually feel better weirdly at the moment! The consultant said both my ovaries were over 10cm so no way it was safe to continue, and he thought with my age and AMH I’m really likely to get unwell. Just wondering when I’m in the ‘safe’ zone!

sorry for all the questions! I know delaying it is the best thing for me certainly just my brain is not accepting it yet!!

@Ellenn I was told 1-2 weeks for the bleed so was quite surprised it arrived early. I'm hoping my next AF is a little later than normal as we'll miss our transfer window if it comes earlier 😑

Symptoms wise I was just really bloated and uncomfortable but it never got any worse than that thank goodness. It went away a day or two after I got the withdrawal bleed.

@TheBirdintheCave are you doing a medicated FET? They did mention to me I’ve got option of medicated or natural! No doubt if I ended up doing natural it would be the one month I didn’t ovulate or something 🙈

hopefully my symptoms will go once I bleed too 🤞

Well done @Sj2505 that sounds like it all went well! 🤞fingers crossed the tww goes quick for you now!

@Quickdraw23 that's great news! Fingers crossed they stick around now.

@Marisadea congratulations that's a great number!

@Ellenn sorry to hear you have to do a freeze all. Are you feeling ok? Did you get a good result from the egg collection? Hopefully the next few months will fly by for you.

I had a much better result from egg collection that I expected! 16 eggs 14 which are mature and 2 which are almost there so they are going to see if they mature today. Really happy as the last scan only showed 4 good ones. Now just the wait for fertilisation news!
Feeling a bit sick and dizzy now, but the actual egg collection was fine. Great to get it over with!

@Ellenn you don't need many appointments for FET, and the process is quicker too, so hopefully you'll be able to work it around things. Being busy will help the time go too.
I'm not sure if anyone lets you go after the withdrawal bleed, it seems most clinic have different ways of doing things, but it's definitely worth an ask.
I was bloated the next day and it just got worse and worse, after about 4 days I had trouble catching my breath and chest pain, which again just got worse and worse. I was admitted to hospital after a week and stayed in for 8 days, but was back and forth for another week for checks etc. I was ill for about 6 weeks.
Some people do develop late onset OHSS a couple of weeks later, that's why they freeze all if you trigger some red flags.
I don't mind the questions at all, if I can help I will ☺️

@FlapJackered That's amazing! I'm so happy for you. Get some rest and good luck for the call tomorrow 🤞🏼🤩

@FlapJackered Wow what an amazing surprise!

@Ellenn We're doing a natural modified cycle so basically a natural cycle but with a trigger shot to control ovulation.

@FlapJackered thats amazing!! Must have been such a relief that some follicles had caught up! I think the medication has now definitely worn off and I’m feeling really nauseous and super thirsty now! Im just waiting for phone call tomorrow to hear how many are mature and how many fertilised 🤞

@Sj2505 thanks! I think I’m just slightly in denial about having OHSS the consultant said I have it moderate at the moment. Really wish there was something for the nausea 🤢 did you have anything to help feeling sick?

@TheBirdintheCave ah that sounds like quite a good protocol! I hope it all goes smoothly for you, and of course it sticks!!

@Ellenn oh bless you, hopefully it won't get any worse for you. But definitely watch out being short of breath. I ended up with a considerable amount of fluid on my lungs. They had to rule out blood clots twice.
Drink lots and lots of water and get as much protein as you can.
I ended up on anti-sickness meds whilst I was in hospital. Maybe ask a pharmacy if there's something over the counter you can get for sickness?

Morning, hope everyone is doing well!

I wanted to ask for some advice around taking Cetrotide. I’m having some itching and redness at the injection site which I didn’t seem to have experienced last time around and wanted to see if you have any tips or advice as to how to reduce the reaction to it if at possible?
Or is this just a side effect from it that I miraculously missed last time 😅

@FrostedFlake thst happens to me sometimes with cetrocide and sometime or! No real reason why but it should subside in about an hour x

@FrostedFlake i had this after taking ganirelix, I found it was more comfortable taking it in my thigh but not sure if just me 🤷‍♀️

@Sj2505 thanks! Will definitely keep an eye on things feeling so much better today so hopefully going in right direction 😃

I had that occasionally. Didn't happen every time and it did go away within a couple of hours.

A bit late to the party but hoping I can join in if that's okay!
I had my egg collection yesterday which went well and they collected 18 eggs. Had a call this morning to find that 17 were mature and 10 have fertilised well via ICSI so hopefully expecting a day 5 transfer on Wednesday 😊🤞
Felt really crampy afterwards but not sore anymore today, just a bit of bloat and a sort of tender, full feeling in the bottom of my belly. Also still bleeding slightly but not much. I'm hoping that's all normal 😅
Hope everyone else is feeling okay!
It's going to be a long few days!!

Here’s my updated. From 13 eggs retrieved, 8 were mature and 7 fertilised. I have the transfer booked for Wednesday at 9:50. I taking progesterone pessaries now :)

I've just had 3 embryos transferred. 2 good quality and 1 not so great. There's potentially another that can be frozen that's apparently almost at blastocyst but they'll check tomorrow and then we'll know. I expected the transfer to be uncomfortable but I barely noticed it so I'm happy about that!

I’m joining late to the party too!
@Sapphire91 how did your collection go? You feeling okay now? Great result on eggs and 10 fertilised is amazing!!! Bet you’re feeling so good.

@Marisadea exciting times for Wednesday!! Are they putting 3 in? Praying for twins for you!

so I’m new and late to the party! Round 4 of OI after the first being abandoned due to OHSS (which I still feel is the clinicians fault but that’s a separate subject!!) and the others not being the one. Praying for lucky number 3 of full cycle.
just been out for brunch with one of my froends and she told me she was pregnant. Am I bad for feeling happy but also this awful gut wrenching feeling of sadness, jealousy and I dunno. Pain?

anyway, suns out so hopefully that will clear the head.
Hope everyone’s enjoying it!

Hi Sapphire! No they will put just 1 as per my age, I am 31 :)

@Sapphire91 hey! 👋

@LittleWeed82 got my fingers crossed for you they are going to stick 🤞 if you don’t mind me asking did they suggest transferring 3? I was wondering at what point is it worth doing a double transfer, they have never mentioned to me so don’t think they would let me without going through more failed transfers first!

We got our update this morning from 24 eggs, 20 mature and 14 fertilised hopefully they stick around so we can get day 5 embryos frozen!

Im not sapphire but thanks 😂I didn’t know that they wouldn’t TF more than 1 if you’re 30+ bugger I’m ducked then 😂🫣

Sorry!! :(
yes, I think they transfer more than 1 if you are aged 38-40.