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!

Awww that is wonderful news @Keepingeverythingxxx 🤗Enjoy every little minute of it!

@Keepingeverythingxxx that's such wonderful news and glad it went so well!

@Keepingeverythingxxx That's amazing news, I'm so happy for you! Congratulations ❤️

Thank you ladies ❤️

@Keepingeverythingxxx massive congratulations! I tested positive last week and now I’m going crazy waiting for the early scan. Was yours exactly 6 weeks? I have booked in for next Thursday as Ive booked a holiday for the following day, but nurse said we might not see anything as the scan is quite early! Really hoping for some reassurance as I’m not feeling much in the way of symptoms yet… it’s early I know!

Ah congrats @Keepingeverythingxxx! What a huge relief.

Hi ladies

After 4yrs ttc and 5 transfers later I finally got my positive today. What a feeling 🥲❤️

Wishing you all the very best of luck and lots of baby dust for your journey 🩷

@IVFGotThis05 Massive congratulations, you must be over the moon 💜

So many positives on this thread, it's amazing!

@IVFGotThis05 such big congratulations!!! 🩷

Thank you so much 🩷

Wow! Another positive. Congratulations @IVFGotThis05!

Thanks again ladies…it’s lovely to hear all of the positive results! 😊

@Ladyluck001 my scan was on Thursday. My transfer date was 24th June and we had 2 x 5day blasts transferred. If my calculations are correct that means my scan was slightly earlier than the 6wk mark. Apologies if I’m wrong…I get confused with how the dates work 🙈

@IVFGotThis05 massive congratulations! So pleased for you. It’s sounds like you’ve been through so much to finally get this result. Enjoy every minute xx

@IVFGotThis05 sending you love and huge congratulations. Am so so thrilled for you. Xx

Sadly we got tough news again this week- transfer failed and genetic testing on last
embryo also failed. Four rounds and multiple miscarriages but medics tell us no reason it can’t work and to persevere it’s just a numbers game.

if anyone has any advice on how to rebuild the energy and positivity to keep going please can you share it? Feeing squashed and not sure how to pull together
to go again (but likewise not ready to give up hope!) xx

@Summer223 I'm so sorry to hear this. This will be my first IVF so defo not in a position for giving advice when there's the loses and failed attempted on that scale. All I would say is you know you aren't ready to give up yet, but maybe take some time to look after you and live.

Looking back over my 3 failed IUIs (did them back to back) I realised that for that 3 month period and the weeks leading to it all I lived for was the fertility, I stopped alot of things that would have previously given me joy like baking or sewing as I worried about gaining weight or felt like in comparison to a baby and doing the IUI these things just didn't seem interesting anymore, I didn't see friends as much as I could as their lifes either seemed perfect in comparison or their worries just seemed so insignificant compared to mine, came out of it feeling somewhat lost in myself and just someone going through the motions needed for the outcome. Now I get IVF and the extra tests you have been going through and much more impactful than any of the above but it is all consuming so we need to try find those moments of joy and if we can't find them we need to make them.

I do hope you feel up to going ahead with another cycle when you are ready. You are stronger than you know x

I’m so so sorry to hear your news @Summer223. It’s never easy receiving that news especially after everything you go through both physically and mentally.

Each time we had a failed round was different. If I knew we had another round planned I found it easier to pick myself up and prepare for the next steps. Having something to focus on and having a plan in place seemed to help me.

There were however times when I just wasn’t ready for that. To be honest I could easily put my body through it time and time again, but mentally I knew I just couldn’t. Have you thought about counselling? I did this a few times and found it really helpful to talk through everything with a complete stranger. It’s amazing how easy it was to open up and I felt such a relief after. My hospital put me in touch with someone but I also accessed a counsellor through work too after I miscarried.

I’d also recommend booking a short trip away somewhere to just relax and chill. Just spend some time doing things that you love and looking after you.

Sending you a big virtual hug x

@Summer223 really, really sorry to hear this - and I recognise the feeling of just feeling bleak and exhausted after getting more negative news.

Firstly, a small positive if this helps in any way - each round you do, provides more learnings for the doctors. IVF is incredibly nuanced from woman to woman, so when you expand your case history, they can track patterns and adjust and tweak. The phrase can be aggravating but I do also think IVF is a numbers game.

Secondly I want to second the excellent advice from @ttcsolomumtobe and @Keepingeverythingxxx - having something to put in the diary as the next goal helped with the mentality of pushing things forward rather than being stuck (saying this because it sounds like you do want to try again - but also acknowledging it’s not for everyone). So - when you feel ready - breaking out the diary and seeing if there’s a good window may start to help find a new goal to focus on. You don’t need to rush this though if you’re not ready right now.

Getting mental health support via counselling is definitely beneficial. IVF can feel so lonely and isolating and bloody knackering! It can feel like no one else can possibly understand. Having a professional to lean on is useful and it’s why every IVF centre is made to offer counselling options because this is so taxing! Likewise, as @Keepingeverythingxxx mentioned, find way to be somewhere else mentally. Whether that’s the joy of a hobby or a trip somewhere; I’ve started to go to the cinema a lot more just because this 2-3h in a dark room with all the lights and sound stimulation means I just cannot possibly think about IVF during the experience!

And just a final extra one. Everyone’s experience is so individual but when I was in a low patch about everything I read Marissa Peer’s Trying To Get Pregnant (which also deals with IVF). I found a lot of it quite eye-rolly but something from it did rub off on me and I took gained some more energy for the process after.

Sending you a huge amount of love. This process can be very challenging and a mental minefield. Be as kind as possible to yourself xxxx

Thank you everyone, have greatly appreciated your kind words and guidance. Strikes me for all the rubbish we all have to go through with ivf, how fortunate to have a group of ninja strong women who help each other through it. X

Oh I'm so sorry @Summer223 your a tough cookie for getting through what you have done so far. Please take care of yourself !

@Ladyluck001 Is it your 6 week scan this week, hope your doing okay!

I wanted to ask for some reassurance/advice if anyone is in a similar situation or has been.
I had a failed transfer in June, none in the freezer so starting from scratch next round. I started bleeding before my test date so knew it hadn’t worked and had a normal period however, this month I’m currently on cycle day 35, cramping, bloating and all the usual precursors by my period is no where to be seen. I usually go 31 days at the longest. I’ve read horror stories of people waiting up to 90 days for their 2nd period after a failed cycle and I hoping that won’t be the case for me. Anyone had a similar experience?

@Ladyluck001 how did you scan go?

@PB86 I'm sorry to hear your transfer didn't work. I haven't completed my first transfer yet to know more on it. Hope you get some answers x

I didn’t have a transfer just my EC and PGTA but I didn’t have a period either so they put me on northisterone for 3 weeks which then caused one and they took that as my day 1 to start my second cycle hope your doing ok

Hi ladies

ive been reading all your posts and it’s very comforting to know there is a group of us gojng through all this. Hoping everybody is ok and doing as well as they can. You’ve all been so lovely and supportive to me.

I had my baseline scan today, 4 follicles on right non on left, i ended up crying my eyes out to my poor consultant over the stress/ worry I’ve had going on due my little brothers chemo and some bad results for him.

we had a long chat and she explained that stress doesn’t affect egg quality but might affect how I respond so I’ve started my stims tonight and I’m also going to start the down reg injections Sunday then another scan Monday if nothing is happening we will abandon this cycle and try again next month but if all goes Well we will keep going.

I found the northisterone horrid again very emotional and constant headaches but I felt really good on the injections last time so hoping for the same again!

Hi @Chickencrazy3356 sorry to hear about your brothers results not being good, if you need further emotional support please consider calling Macmillan, that supported my family when my mum was really ill.

Glad you spoke with a nurse and got clarification around the stress and it sounds like you have a clear plan which I think helps sometimes, even if it does result in this cycle not going ahead.

Will be thinking of you

@IVFGotThis05 and @ttcsolomumtobe scan went fine thanks for asking! Too early to confirm a heart beat but my husband could see it! (sonographer agreed he was right) have been feeling slightly less anxious since the nausea has kicked in. How are you getting on?