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 ✨

@SErunner I'm really sorry to hear that :( I can't imagine how frustrating that must be.

Thank you. In the grand scheme of things I know it's not a huge deal as we still have the embryo in the freezer, but when you put so much effort in going to appts, money, etc it just feels so frustrating and upsetting when things don't pan out.

@SErunner so sorry to hear about your cancelled cycle did they say what might be happening? I hope they work out a plan soon 🤞

@TheBirdintheCave just seen your update so sorry to hear it might be a biochemical they are actually the worst 😢 they let you think there might be a chance and then it’s just taken from you. I’m torn for testing in this transfer just waiting as long as poss or not as I don’t t want to know if I get a biochemical tbh

@Ellenn Yeah it sucks. I'm really sad about it. I'm glad we early tested though as the line I got this morning on OTD was still a positive albeit faint and I might have had some hope.

Hi folks,

so sorry to here it’s not gone well this time @TheBirdintheCave i hope you are doing ok all things considered. Hope you can do some things you enjoy over the coming days.

what a pain @SErunner I know what you mean regarding it being upsetting - it’s still a lot of emotional demand in the run up to a transfer and to have to postpone is unbelievably frustrating for you. Likewise I hope you are doing something comforting and enjoyable over the coming days.

I’ve had my transfer today, it all went ok I think, (speculums yuck!) and I’m told I have a 5BB on board. I have tried to ignore that it’s happening to be honest and think of it as little as possible aside from doing the medications. I’m going to continue to try and do this though it may not be so easy during a 2WW! I feel different this time - last time I felt very 50/50 about it, whereas this time I’m leaning much more towards expecting a negative outcome. I suppose this is because I only have experiences of negative tests now, and the last blast was a 4AA and failed.

I’m trying to convince my logical brain that one failed attempt has no bearing on whether this attempt is successful, and that grading is more a beauty contest than indicator for success, but it’s hard!

I am (mentally) stockpiling boxsets, musicals and period drama films to keep as distracted as possible.

hope all is well with you @Ellenn !

Sorry @KI19 sent too soon! Did you have transfer today? I hope it went well!

@Quickdraw23 oh got everything crossed for you! I like your distraction techniques, they are all things I love too (plus trashy reality TV!) is your test day the 3rd of August too? Are you going to test earlier...?

Yes had my transfer today too, a 5BA. It's my first transfer so trying to stay as positive as I can without really thinking about it, another lesson in mindfulness, as if we needed it !! I have just spent the last hour googling grading success rates though 😅

@SErunner ugh - sorry to hear this, hope they can sort for next cycle. Are you against doing a medicated cycle? Have you done one before?

@KI19 last transfer I didn’t test early and I think this was right for me personally. Having light “are they there are they not” lines I don’t think will be helpful for me.

It looks amazing when people have done them everyday and you can see the line progress, but I think if I have blank test after blank test I’ll just be doomful for more days! Last time I had a negative test, felt down for 24 hours and then managed to crack on. I will be completely gutted if it doesn’t work again though 😞

@KI19 5BA sounds like a very nice embryo 😊 it’s all slightly subjective anyway, reading around about the grades last time was helpful for me. There are loads of positive stories out there regarding BB/AB/BA embryos.

will you be testing early?

im trying to decide what to do re gym and my climbing hobby. I’ve been told not to lift anything really heavy but I’m wondering if some really gentle cardio on the static bike and yoga might be ok. Exercises is such a key mental health strategy for me it’s so perverse that it’s not allowed during this massively stressful time 😩

@Quickdraw23 Yea I think i'm the same on not testing early, when I had the previous ectopics it was the constant checking of the lines that also added to the madness and really want to try and not do that this time for my own sanity.

I hear you on mental health exercise, i'm going to carry on with my yoga but maybe try and find some early pregnancy classes online, probably being over concerned about it though. Gentle static bike sounds fine as long as your not getting too hot, is there anything online about it? Got everything crossed for you and sending positivity 💓

Few transfers today how exciting!! Let’s make them sticky embryos! I tested positive ovulation test this morning so will hopefully have transfer next Tuesday providing scan on Saturday is ok 🤞

has anyone used the medichecks beta hcg test before? I was considering using it instead of normal urine test ….

Hi folks hope you are all well. I’ve had a resolutely BFN this morning 😞

it was my second transfer, first FET. So I’ve had a 4AA and a 5BB fail now. Got one little 3BB in the freezer and will be blowing the last of our savings transferring it in due course.

I know that two failures is still within the range of “normal” and “unlucky” but I can’t help what iffing. What if my uterus is attacking them, what if my eggs are bad, what if I walked too muc/did too much gardening etc etc

I’m 33, no known health issues (for which I know i am very fortunate), having ivf due to a dash of homosexuality, so the clinic probably isn’t going to think that any tests are indicated at this stage.

I managed to purchase an extra straw of our donor’s sperm yesterday, which makes me feel better about doing a second egg retrieval next year if we have too, that was at least something positive I could do 😣 I also totted up how much we’ve spent and what we owe so far - big mistake 🤢

if anyone has had success after several negative transfers, or success with a 3BB, or at age 34 and over I would love to hear stories.

wishing everyone who has tests coming up BFPs all round, and anyone about to start something a smooth experience. What a miserable process this is!

I'm really sorry @Quickdraw23. Do whatever helps you right now, it's such an awful time. I think you're right in that 2 transfers is within realms of normal so they're going to be unlikely to recommend any extra testing, and they wouldn't freeze something that had no chance. Can totally understand why you feel how you do though. Good you've got the extra sperm in case needed next year. Financially it's a nightmare isn't it. We're down to our last embryo and simply can't afford to do anymore in the near future so I'm feeling a lot of pressure for this FET. In terms of success stories, grading definitely isn't everything. My daughter is from a day 5 morula (stage before blastocyst) from our first cycle. We had no other embryos that round. At 34 you are still young with statistics on your side. Will keep everything crossed for your next transfer. Have you thought when you might do it or does it depend on money? Huge huge hugs right now x

Thank you @SErunner for your kind message. Yes we’re in a similar position in that once we’ve done the last transfer we will have to pay off our loans before we can borrow more for another retrieval, so that would be spring next year.

you’re totally right, grading isn't everything. I almost wish they didn’t tell you grades because I’m not sure how useful it is to now them.

we’ve got the money saved up for the last transfer, which is very lucky, as we have held off doing work on our house and haven’t forgone any holidays, so I think we’ll do it as soon as possible. If I delay now for a couple of months and it is by a miracle successful I would end up heavily pregnant at family wedding next year which I don’t really want.

I really hope your next transfer goes well, got everything crossed for you!

@Quickdraw23 so sorry to see your update 😢for my last two transfers although they were perfect gradings I had early miscarriages and was told it was unlucky and up to 50% of embryos will not be normal. I agree with @Quickdraw23 and not sure how helpful it is to know the gradings. It’s so horrible though having to keep going and trying more transfers. Just wish sometimes we had an answer as it seems cruel. Have your clinic given you a timescale when you can try another transfer? xx

@SErunner do you know when you can try again, will you do a natural transfer or switch to medicated? I was paranoid that I hadn’t ovulated but I think I did just overthink everything when it comes to fertility treatment I think 🙈

I’m now 5dp5dt and trying not to go crazy. If anyone has any suggestions to pass time/make me not constantly think about ‘what ifs’ please send them my way …

Congrats on your transfer @Ellenn. No suggestions other than trying to keep busy, the TWW is awful isn't it. I run regularly so find stopping that post transfer and additional issue as that's my usual 'release'. How are you feeling about things?

@Quickdraw23 how are you feeling today? I was very teary for a week or so when our last transfer failed. I took it much harder than I thought it would. We also have family weddings to juggle next year so have issues with timings too. We might be able to save enough to do another round end of next year but not much before then I don't think.

I'm actually in the middle of a medicated FET, due transfer of our last embryo on Thurs all being well. My bleeding turned into a period and they were happy with my scan and hormone levels to treat it as a new cycle. All was looking good at day 10 scan last week, lining 10.6mm trilaminar and hormone levels good. I just don't feel optimistic at all but will try and hope for the best!

@Ellenn Best wishes for this embryo! No tips for keeping calm. I'd already been testing for days at that point 😅

We've booked and paid for our next transfer in September so still a lot of waiting to go here 🙄 Will give August a natural try though.

@SErunner thanks! Oh you might know the answer to my question. I haven’t managed to speak with one of the nurses yet. I usually run on weekdays (haven’t since the transfer) do you know when/if you can start again? Or is it just the week after transfer? I find exercising/running is such a good stress reliever! I’m starting to feel a bit unfit already 🙈 how exciting you get to transfer so soon finally 🤞

@TheBirdintheCave thats great news! Are you doing medicated/natural transfer? September is not far away at all 😁

Good news @TheBirdintheCave. The waiting is so frustrating isn't it. Glad you have a plan though.

@Ellenn I've always been advised not to run throughout the TWW. I started running again on test day both for our first fresh successful cycle and obviously last negative one. I ran throughout my pregnancy last time and would hope to do so again if we were to be lucky enough to be in that scenario.

@SErunner ahh that’s good to know! I will hopefully speak with one of the nurses tomorrow as I would like to do some form of exercise but just trying to work out what’s best! Did you do any exercising at all during your waits?

I just went for long walks and did some gentle yoga at home. My understanding is it's impact they want you to avoid due to the risk of it causing uterine contractions which may negatively affect implantation. I just felt for the sake of 11 days I'd rather not do anything, otherwise I'd be blaming myself if it didn't work. Ran the morning of transfer each time though 😂

@Ellenn well done so far on the TWW! Something I repeat to myself is “you can’t test now it’s too early it won’t show anything” even if that’s not necessarily true! It lessens obsessive thoughts about the test outcome for me. Another think I do is binge watch series I like, movies, documentaries. I went to the cinema twice and managed to get absorbed and just distracted really. In between stimulus I still think about it but it’s at least cumulatively less time obsessing if that makes sense. But I find it gets harder and harder the closer I get to OTD. Like @SErunner exercise is a real outlet for me - more climbing but I like to do 30 minute type runs and resistance work at the gym as well and I put all that on hold for 11 days in the TWW just to be sure, but it is a bit of a shame that such a useful coping strategy is off limits! Haven’t heard back from the clinic yet, as OTD was a Saturday I suspect they will call me tomorrow as they will be back in the office to read my email. We’re due to be away at the other end of the country to our clinic at the end of September, which is when I’m guessing the next FET would be possible, so we may have to push it til October 🙄

i expect September feels a long way away @TheBirdintheCave but great news that it’s all organised!

im feeling ok thanks @SErunner weirdly I haven’t cried yet this time, though I did after the first transfer failed.

I’m just trying to concentrate on the fact that although it’s not the outcome I want, I’m very lucky in that I still have good health and another embryo to try. I mustn’t take these things for granted.

great stuff on commencing your FET! Sending positive thoughts!

@Quickdraw23 yes I'm planning on going to see Barbie this week for a laugh hopefully, and definitely stick into a few netflix programs. I think I might try interval training lightly/nothing to crazy this week as pretty sure if the embryo hasn't implanted by then it would be too late anyway but will check with the nurse first 🙂i feel like the dilemma with exercising is it's easier for everyone to say just don't do it but really with any other 'normal' pregnancy you wouldn't even know at this stage you were pregnant so we would never stop exercising! its crazy what you do for fertility treatment 'just in case'

I hope you manage to have a wee G&T and a hot bath and do everything you aren't allowed to do during treatment/transfers xx

@KI19 how are you getting on? I'm sending positive vibes to your wee embryo to stick around xx