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!

👋I've just started down regulating (I think I might be calling it the wrong thing 🤣) but whatever it is! Prep month before IVF. On day 6 of progesterone tablets and so far so good! I stopped progesterone only pill when I was younger cos I cried and got angry all the time, so somewhat apprehensive about the hormones too! My first time doing IVF.

@countrypunk AOA is like a calcium solution they put the eggs in. It’s meant to help with fertilisation. Zymot chip is a sperm selection method, DH calls it a sperm obstacle course! Meant to help select the best sperm. Hopefully with both our fertilisation rate will be higher than the previous rate of 33%

@LucyFab It’s great your medical leave has been approved!

We’ve not had a sperm DNA fragmentation test, but we have had sperm SOS test which came back positive and indicates sperm dna damage is likely. DH is taking proxeed on the back of these results and it’s the reason for the zymot. Our fertilisation rate has confused the clinic, because on the face of it, everything looked ok!

@IslaO Hello! It’s good you’ve got some vials frozen! Starting Stims does feel like a massive step forward. The waiting is what I’ve found so difficult!

I’m feeling ok. A glass of wine sounds good! I had a few ciders on Thursday. I’m going to try and prep as much for the next collection, cut down on my sugar massively from now, now that Eurovision is over (no chance on lack of sugar yesterday!). I’m going to order my meds this cycle, ready to start June. Stims will likely be July time though, with norethisterone starting June. I just hope my thyroid plays ball!

@b0zza1 Are you taking norethisterone? Good luck with your cycle!

hi @countrypunk Circling back, but I just wanted to say that i really appreciated this post. I'm onto my second week of Norethisterone and so far not too mood swingy. Your post made me laugh, I think I'm by turns furious and crying before I began any of this and so perhaps the downregging will normalise me😂V interesting to hear that from the mood point of view the stims were better. I know we're all different, but have heard that again since you mentioned it and so hopefully will be similar to me. Or maybe that's when I go back to being furios/crying again!!!!

I have noticed I have been eating for England, I'm normally a big eater, but this is a lot even by my standards. Is increased appetite a thing? or perhaps I'm just eating my way through the mood swings! It's worked for me before!!!!

hi @Lauralozzle Yup, and then Progynova in addition for the final 7 days. Which reminds me I had better put that in my diary!!!!

@b0zza1 I’ll have to take norethisterone this cycle. Didn’t take it last cycle, down regulated with buserelin but I’m doing short protocol this time.

Just heard back from my GP. Levothyroxine dose has been increased to 75mg so I’m happy I increased my dose anyway! I hope this dose is strong enough! I have a private blood test I’m going to do end of the month. NHS bloods will be 26/06/23 - the day before I go away! I hope my bloods are fine end of this month, otherwise June/July cycle will be off the cards and I’ll have to wait until August/September time!

@b0zza1 😂 Yep, I'm sad and mad a lot of the time anyway too!

Now you mention it I ate like a pig. I love my food anyway but this was on another level.

Glad you're not suffering with the mood swings (yet!).

I've just been away for a few days and have been drinking and eating for England. Back to attempting to rein it in now...

Ive just finished my last dose of Norethisterone and i have to say im gonna miss it!!! 🤣 i have really bad PMS and of course that pill stopped that due to it delaying my period and i have to say ive never felt calmer!! I feel like i might stock up on some for later in life 🤣

Hi @Sunflower360 have you had your egg collection yet, hows it going?

Hi @Flowerlover010, well, I only have 1 decent sized follicle as it stands, and the other 2 are smaller as of Monday (although they did have a boost following an increase in stims since Friday, which was max stims, but the lead follicle was well ahead by that point). So basically, it's an egg collection with the aim of getting one.

I've decided to go ahead with it as it's my 1st cycle and it is all data gathering for future cycles 🙂 I never expected there to be lots of follicles with my low levels, so just glad there were 3 albeit 2 of them haven't caught up in time for the egg collection which is tomorrow. I was on short protocol, I am considering Create Fertility for natural modified cycles aiming for quality over quantity over a number of back to back cycles (thinking that may best with me being 37 rather than take lengthy breaks between cycles).

Hope all is going well with you 🙂

@Sunflower360 oh it all seems to be trial and error doesnt it in IVF. I dont start stims till saturday so i don't know what im in for yet. Fingers crossed for you going forward x

How is everyone else doing? Has anyone else started stims yet or due to start soon?

@Flowerlover010 my day 10 of taking Primolut/Norethisterone is tomorrow so if AF arrives before next week I’m due to start our next IVF course but I’ve learnt not to take anything for granted during this process as I’ve had a cancelled cycle back in November. So fingers crossed it’s all go go go.

What protocol are you on?

How’s everyone keeping? x

Hi @FrostedFlake 👋 I'm ok, got egg collection (albeit for one egg hopefully), so a bit nervous about that as it's my first full cycle.

If you don't mind me asking what led to your cycle getting cancelled in Nov? I decided to abandon the cycle last month but thought I would see this cycle through despite numbers (I was always expecting low numbers) before going to another clinic for future cycles

@FrostedFlake Im not really sure! I cant keep up with the terminology! Ive been on Norethisterone for 18 days purely to plan my period which is due any day now, stims start on 20th to aim for 1st june collection.

@Sunflower360 when are you due to have egg collection? Wishing you the best of luck with it and I hope it becomes a little blastocyst! ❤
My cycle was cancelled as I had a lead follicle and my hormones were slightly too high and I below it means that if that one leading follicular matures before the others have a chance of catching up the cycle would have to be cancelled potentially so they decided to cancel it themselves.

how are you feeling about the next steps?

I don’t blame you @Flowerlover010 there is too much terminology to keep up with! I’m due to start my stim on the 23rd if all goes well so we could be stim buddies 😊

It's tomorrow... another new step in the IVF journey! I had a bit of a similar situation in that the lead follicle was well ahead whilst another 3 were somewhat behind but I didn't want to cancel as I'm keen to see this one through, learn from it and hopefully another Consultant can use the data to make a more tailored approach next time. Hope it all goes better for you this time 🙂

@FrostedFlake yes thats good we can be! Im aware too that things dont always go to plan either, i just hope my period comes when it should as planned.

Good luck @Sunflower360 for tomorrow!

Hi folks. I'm due to be taking my Norethisterone/Progynova tablets till Sunday and then start stims around end of first week of June I think?! I still don't have my prescription yet, which is a bit frustrating as I wanted the time to shop around. Of which, any recommendations on pharmacies v welcome!

Gaining loads from everyone on this group and so thank you. It's v helpful having people just a few steps ahead, especially as my first time.

I've been feeling mad and sad as someone else here put it so well! Mad, sad and fat (still eating lots!). Not too bad though and not as bad as I was fearing. Also I feel more myself today, but perhaps that's cos I slept better last night than I have been sleeping... Of which! I'm off to bed.

Hello all! Hope everyone's journey goes well in June. I'm beyond excited to finally start IVF at the start of June after 5 months of tests, waiting, appointments.

I'm starting progesterone tablets this weekend, followed by Suprecur injections until my baseline scan on day 1 of my next cycle.

I'm 32 I have low AMH of 3.2 so not really sure what to expect but I'm happy to finally be doing something and trying to stay positive that we'll see success 😍

How are you all finding prep month leading up to the IVF itself?

I think I'm a bit behind everyone else - I won't be starting until mid June. Hope this next month hurries up and flies by.

@b0zza1 I haven't had to do this yet, but I hear that Asda pharmacy is generally the cheapest.

@Sunflower360 I hope today's egg collection went swimmingly and they gave you some lovely drugs!

Hi All!

It's been a little while since I have joined a thread, but I'm about to start my 3rd and last NHs funded cycle so it's got me a little stressed! I start down reg May 30th and I'm doing long protocol!

Just a little bit of background. I'm 34 and BF 33. I have had 2 previous cycles. First cycle resulted in 1 fresh transfer, and 2 FET, all no implantation. Second cycle I only got 1 embryo to day 5, transferred and no implantation. I don't think we would be able to afford to do a private cycle after this, not straight away anyway! My clinic haven't changed a thing throughout all of my treatment as they just keep saying there's no need to change anything, even though there has to be a reason for no implantation!??

So I'm trying to stay as positive as I can for this last attempt at becoming parents ! 💖

Hi @IVFGotThis05 👋 Have they done any investigations at all about the implantation? Is it unexplained fertility issues?

@Sunflower360 Nope!

No, I have irregular periods so don't always ovulate and my partner has low motility. We get through each stage quite good, I get eggs, they fertilise and a few have made it to day 5 blasts so they just keep saying they don't need to change anything. I have heard people use prednisolone to help with implantation so I think I'll mention this when I start the medication.