IVF/ICSI June 2023

[countrypunk]

Hello, I'm starting a June thread for IVFers - I couldn't see one on the board. Please join!

I'm 39 and this will be our second round. The first round in November resulted in 2 blastocysts from 10 eggs. First transfer failed, got pregnant from the second transfer but miscarried at 9.5 weeks at the beginning of April.

Now raring to go again!

@FiddleLeaf wow 29 follicles! Sounds like you gonna have quite a few eggs. Brilliant. With higher numbers I think it might take a day or two longer to recover. I had 14 first time and 17 second time and both times it took me 5 days to feel normal again. bloated and swollen as hell.
@PB86 sorry to hear about your BFN! Looking to the next step is the only thing that keep you going isn’t it.
@NicHopingForARainbow sorry to hear you’re testing negative too. I hope there is still a chance for you.
@Qwertyas congrats on the positive!! Nice to hear of some positive news on here! I hope this is the one for you and that you can relax and enjoy your pregnancy soon.

I had my test day today and it was negative. But I knew already. Over the weekend I had a feeling that it hadn’t worked again. On Monday I had spotting and period cramps in the evening so I knew for sure. My brain was in overdrive then and I couldn’t sleep until half 2 🤦‍♀️ started Googling haha. So Didn’t really need to test today but I did it anyway.
In hindsight I think we should have frozen it. It was only an early blast and I read if you have a grade 3 blast fresh transfer it’s 24% chance. If you allow it to develop to 4-5 and freeze then the chance is 46%. So I’ll ask them about that and why I wasn’t given the advice or option. Got quite a few questions now so can’t wait for my follow up! I’m also gonna ask if we can transfer both frozen embryos next time! They’re both not great quality. One a 3CB, one a 5CC. We’d be lucky if one of them would make it. So May as well save us time and transfer both. If that doesn’t work I could fit another cycle in before Christmas. Not getting any younger are we! 🫤

I'm sorry @Honeybunie 💛 having 2 embryos transferred next time sounds like a good idea, especially if you're open to the idea of twins. Really interested to hear what the clinic says when you meet them. I hope you're ok xx

Thinking of you @Qwertyas and hoping your little bean keeps growing strong and you can keep getting good news x

@Qwertyas huge congratulations to you! Fingers crossed this little one continues to grow!

Thank you @NicHopingForARainbow I’m okay xx I’ve grown a bit hard over time I have to say just to protect myself. And I feel I’ve already been so upset after the transfer thinking it won’t work that I didn’t have any more energy to be upset now. Starting to think what life might be like if it doesn’t work. Think I’ll give myself two more rounds going private and if it doesn’t work then give up. I’ll be 39 next February so it’s not gonna get any better. Also booked a last minute holiday to Mallorca for Saturday so that is something to look forward to. Couldn’t plan any holiday until now.

Good for you @Honeybunie! Be so nice to relax and reconnect and you've got some plans you can look forward to when you come back.
We have a holiday booked end of July so I will definitely be enjoying a few drinks on that if this doesn't work out xx

@NicHopingForARainbow yes I really need a break from work too. Also just found out that my brother went to Mallorca today so we’ll be meeting up 😊 yes quite nice being able to have a drink again 😄
I’m also curious to see if the clinic will allow to transfer two or trying to talk me out of it. I wouldn’t mind twins, might get a bit crowded in the house but we’d make it work 😄 xx

@Honeybunie im so sorry, I've been thinking of you wondering how you were getting on! I was given the option of freezing at day 3 and I didn't see the sense in it! The embryologist said to give me "backup embryos" but I thought to myself if they don't make til day 5 I'd rather know now! Please don't give up. I'm 40 next month. You have time! I've known people do years of IVF and finally have success in their later years. I know we don't have an endless pit of money though 😩 xxx

Update: So we got 8 eggs from EC, all 8 fertilised, day 3 update 5 good quality embryos and day 5 update 3 good quality blastocysts to freeze. I didn't ask about the grading tbh as Im unsure it makes any difference? I'm relieved and grateful we have 3 goes. Didn't do Genetic testing in the end as embryologist felt strongly with no history of miscarriages or abnormalities I didn't need it! Feel anxious going forward though incase I miscarry!

Hi ladies

I’ve been awful at keeping up with the thread but I have been thinking of you all and hope everybody is ok I’ve found this thread and speaking to you ladies very comforting.

@PB86 I’m so so sorry to hear your news how are you feeling ? What are your next steps I hope you’ve managed to have a few days to look after yourself I really hope your ok

@Honeybunie I’m so so sorry that your test was negative how are you feeling are you ok? I hope you can have your other embryos transferred soon and they do both and you have some good news to share with us

im thinking of you all going through such a tough time I know words aren’t much help but a friend said to me just keep trying it’s all you can do but in reality that’s easier said than done with the emotional physical and financial strain of IVF but hoping you will all be having good news soon

We had our PGTA results back and luckily both are normal, starting next round next week. I know there is a bit of a mixed opinion on whether to have a break or go straight in but I just thought I’d like to just keep going for now.

we’re hoping for a transfer at the end of the year but unfortunately my little brother (he’s 22 so not so little!) was diagnosed with cancer at the beginning of the year and he may need a bone marrow transplant and siblings are often the best match, obviously I can’t be a donor if I’m pregnant so at the moment we’re just going to try get another embryo and then hope we’re know if we can go ahead with a transfer at the end of the year

@MAbbott34 oh that is brilliant news! Well done! Yes I remember you waiting out until day 5. I would’ve done exactly the same. Why would they suggest to freeze on day 3 in the first place? I think I’ll do a freeze all next time too. FETs have better success rates don’t they. I just thought I’d give it another try with a fresh transfer as my lining was nice and thick. I struggled with lining during my last FETs. Yeah the worry never ends does it. Once you get pregnant you worry about the next thing. Well I wish you the best of luck 🤞 are you doing an FET next then? Xx

@Chickencrazy3356 aw so happy for you that your two embryos are both okay! Great news. So sorry to hear about your brother. That must be tough. I hope it’ll all work out time wise 🤞
yeah I’m feeling okay thank you. I wasn’t feeling hopeful since transfer day so I’ve gotten over my grief already kinda thing. I feel like this cycle is doomed. I know I’m very pessimistic. But we had to take a three months break to take supplements but then the outcome in a way is worse than in our first cycle. It’s a bit annoying. So I’m feeling like I’d like to start over again. Hence hopefully transfer my two frosties soon then move on.

@Chickencrazy3356 What a year for you :( ! I'm pleased for your embryo's!

I've just come back from my 6 day scan during stims and just feel a little deflated. I feel like I'm running out of eggs! 3rd cycle for me and I already had AMH of 10 when I first started IVF in 2021. 3 unmeasured on left ovary (nurse wasn't saying much so I'm guessing not a lot of hope for that side) and 10 on right measuring 10 and under. supposed to have egg collection 6th July. I have a little feeling I'll be stimming a little longer.

I'm usually quite optimistic but today is not that day! I may feel better tomorrow!

Is anyone at a similar stage? any egg collections soon?

Thank you for the messages of support guys! @Honeybunie @NicHopingForARainbow @PB86 Apart from my OH, no one else knows; so means a lot to get some understanding words 🙏😊

Really happy to share the news today that the HCG more than doubled in 48h… maybe this could really happen!? 🫣🙌 We’ve been in the IVF game for three years now, so it would be the biggest blessing. Clinic want to see us for a 6w scan mid July. Eep!

Biggest best wishes for everyone else’s results and progress xxx

@Honeybunie really sorry to read the test was negative. You and I were in the same boat of an early blast being transferred. I googled around and found similar stats as you about the success rates and probably sent myself into a tail spin. The first thing I asked the embryologist was why they didn’t encourage me to freeze it at day 6 for a delayed transfer; but they just said it wasn’t protocol, which wasn’t super helpful!

Glad you got a great holiday booked in stat and will be enjoying a glass or two! The not being able to plan anything around IVF is the worst! (Especially around summer!) Transferring two sounds like a great idea, especially if you’re open to twins.

I know you mentioned getting a bit hard around IVF, which is beyond understandable and entirely normal. Someone recommended Marisa Peer’s ‘Getting Pregnant’ book when I was a bit blue about everything. Some of it is eye-rolly - won’t lie! - but something from it did rub off on me and helped bring me out of my fog a little bit. Just mentioning if helpful at all.

Congratulations @Qwertyas that's so reassuring for you, how are you feeling symptom wise? Xx

@MAbbott34 thrilled for you that you’ve got three good quality blastocysts! 🙌🙌 That’s such a great result. You’re freezing all then, and haven’t had one put back post EC? Xx

@Chickencrazy3356 so sorry to hear about your brother. What a major thing to be going through as a family at the same time as IVF. Sending much love.

That’s great about the PGTA results. Are you embryo batching them I’m guessing?

@IVFGotThis05 just my twopence, but I don’t think your scan sounds bad at all at day 6! I don’t think there’s a bunch of change for the first four or five days as it take a while for the follicles to wake up to the stims. Was it like that in other rounds for you? Or is this not like previous rounds for you and why you’re worried?

If it helps, I think AMH’s are considered ‘low’ / challenging below 5 (mine’s 4), so 10 sounds ok? Xxx

@NicHopingForARainbow thank you! It is definitely reassuring. I didn’t think I could make it through the anxiety without the bloods giving me some good news. Now I think I can hang in there for a couple of weeks for the scan and try and summon some PMA! I would be soooo thankful not to have any spotting.

Symptoms wise all fairly quiet at the moment. I felt weirdly quite queasy at the end of last week and this weekend but that’s gone now. Slightly tender boobs, but not very noticeable (and probs the drugs). It does feel like somethings going on in the lower stomach area though; little twinges and aches and things. All very minor / subtle (and could easily be in my head!)

How are you doing? Xx

Pregnancy after miscarriage is very hard but I hope you get to enjoy it. Have you been kept on all the same meds you were on after the transfer?
I'm ok thanks, I'm still testing negative though (tried again this morning). All the resilience from others is having a good effect on me though and me and my partner will definitely try again with a frozen embryo transfer if this time hasn't worked.
I've got no bleeding so I'm wondering when that might start if it hasn't worked x

Great result!

@NicHopingForARainbow totally like you said. All meds are the same - 3 x cyclogest, 3 x estrodial + vits. My OH and me are split on whether we should go for an early scan or not. The hospital only does it once a week; so we can go at 5+6 or 6+6. The nurse said to take 5+6 to ease any anxiety but that we might not see anything that early, and then we’d return the following week anyway. Don’t whether it’s best just to wait and hang in there until 6+6… welcome thoughts!

Oh it’s such a nerve wracking time - when is the OTD? I’m so hoping you get a last minute surprise. That is really brilliant it’s not knocked you from trying again though if needed. Would you go straight into it, or leave it a spell? And do you have a few frozen and ready from the EC? When my last round didn’t work, we stopped the drugs and then the bleed happened within a day or two for me.