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Infertility

Our Infertility Support forum is a space to connect with others in the same position, discuss causes, treatment and IVF, and share infertility stories of hope and success.

Original poster

IVF/ICSI June 2023

577 replies

countrypunk · 04/05/2023 17:40

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!

OP posts:
Sunflower360 · 17/05/2023 16:27

Thanks, @countrypunk egg collection was fine thanks, was over before I knew it! They were anticipating collecting one egg, but they ended up getting 4 eggs (with my low AMH/AFC I was happy with that)!Apparently, one of my ovaries sits quite high, so I think they may have missed it from the scans due to that. Will just see what the next step brings as we need to see if they are mature (if any) and if any fertilise. Either way, it's our 1st cycle, so all learning and data gathering 🙂

IVFGotThis05 · 17/05/2023 16:38

@Sunflower360 Ah that's a great outcome for your egg collection! Hopefully they will fight on to day 5! Rest up :)

Original poster
countrypunk · 17/05/2023 19:25

@Sunflower360 That's brilliant! You must be very pleased. Keep us posted 🙂

OP posts:
Sunflower360 · 17/05/2023 21:36

Thank you, everyone. I'm not building my hopes as I'm not too sure what to expect with it being the 1st cycle. Whatever happens will take it as a learning

Flowerlover010 · 17/05/2023 22:23

@Sunflower360 well done on getting through egg collection and getting more than you first anticipated. Fingers crossed they keep surprising you xx

FrostedFlake · 18/05/2023 07:38

@Sunflower360 congrats on getting 4 eggs! I hope they make it through all the stages! I know that the wait can be stressful and you only really need one to make it work!

Sunflower360 · 18/05/2023 09:03

@FrostedFlake @Flowerlover010 Thank you 😊 Will see what happens next, but I'm not building my hopes up at all as it's only the first cycle and all data gathering really

Flowerlover010 · 18/05/2023 09:26

@Sunflower360 you are keeping a very level head and thats not a bad thing. Im on edge always wondering if the next stage will happen!

Sunflower360 · 18/05/2023 09:43

Got the call, out of 4, 2 were mature. Unfortunately they got to the first stage of fertilisation but not the next stage. Upon reflection they said they would advise ICSI next time... so game over for now but it is all learning and data. Onto the next cycle, hopefully in August if not sooner. It was still more eggs than we expected so onwards and upwards.

Flowerlover010 · 18/05/2023 10:27

@Sunflower360 youve got one cycle done and over with and lots to learn from it as you say. All trial and error. So now you are 1 step closer as youve got the first out of the way.

Original poster
countrypunk · 18/05/2023 10:46

@Sunflower360 Onwards and upwards indeed! You have some useful information for your next cycle now.

OP posts:
Marilala · 18/05/2023 11:46

Sorry @Sunflower360 😥 Stay positive! Fingers crossed your next round works🙏

FrostedFlake · 21/05/2023 16:44

How’s everyone keeping?

@Sunflower360 I’m sorry it didn’t work out this time for you but great to see that you had a few more follicles and eggs which will hopefully make the next ICSI cycle a success!

@Flowerlover010 have you started your injections?

Im due to start on Gonal F on Tuesday and looking forward to finally kicking things off again, the waiting around this cycle has been killing me.

Flowerlover010 · 21/05/2023 17:40

@FrostedFlake yes started yesterday. I just want to get the main bit over with now! (EC) then i might relax a bit.

b0zza1 · 21/05/2023 20:11

I've just finished my down regulating. Will have my baseline scan at some point this week and then injecting stims for the first time. (Which I'm not feeling too bothered about. Lots of detailed advice on mn has made me feel quite relaxed about it).

b0zza1 · 21/05/2023 20:15

I'm mostly worried about fitting my scans around my work (my boss can be quite inflexible and even if they are being flexible my work is project based and that can be tricky at key times). Also I'll be in Dorset for half term and may have to come back for my second scan ... All depends on when I start my bleed. Could all be totally fine and miss all the pinch points or be very difficult to manage and disruptive! After the months of waiting to get started it feels like it's suddenly crept up on me 😂😂😂

Sunflower360 · 21/05/2023 21:06

Thanks everyone, keeping positive and working towards the next cycle. I have been advised to take DHEA. Has anyone here had any experience of taking it? The Consultant has not said anything about me having to have a test first though which I'm a bit concerned about.... we're going to Create next time so this current Consultant will not be advising us next time, so just in limbo about it at the moment until our consultation with Create. I would like to be proactive, though, if possible as I understand DHEA can take a bit of time to work, and we'll likely start another cycle in August

IslaO · 21/05/2023 21:22

@Sunflower360 sorry I don’t have any experience of DHEA but I know it comes recommended in It Starts with the Egg. I hope you’re doing ok!

ive just started my Oestrogen tablets today and will be on these for 10 days until injections start. I’m excited to finally be starting but so nervous about facing a less than perfect outcome. We have had so many hurdles to get here and I would just love some plain sailing 🤞🤞🤞

has anyone else done 10-12 days on oestrogen before stims? Any advice or things to watch out for?

FrostedFlake · 21/05/2023 22:12

Has everyone had a baseline scan before starting STIMS?
My last clinic had done a scan after I finished taking progesterone but my new clinic wants me to start stims and then do an early scan, now thinking about it and not sure how to feel about not doing it and if it’s the norm.
@IslaO no, haven’t done oestrogen but I wonder if it’s similar to progesterone? Even though it’s a completely different hormone 🙈
Last two times I had taken Provera and this time I’m on Northisterone before I start stims.

b0zza1 · 21/05/2023 22:49

I have been taking dhea for some time now. I do feel like it affects me in my daily life, not in a bad way, but can feel pretty hyper with it. I've supposed to be taking it 3 times a day (recommend by my consultant at CRGH), but I often don't take the nighttime one, or take it early cos it makes me feel too 'up' for bedtime. Of all the supplements it's the only one I have been able to feel, if that makes sense 😂 I imagine it's like a mini version of how people feel on steroids, quite pumped. Having said that I can't drink coffee cos it makes me go mental, so maybe I'm sensitive to stimulant style things.... This is my first experience of IVF (I have a 6yr old from natural conception) and so no indication of whether it helps. It comes up a bit on mn and it seems like people think it has made a difference or done know harm. I've heard that it takes 3 months to make an egg (this doesn't sound scientifically correct to me, but anyways) and so that's why they want you taking everything for an age before you begin.

b0zza1 · 21/05/2023 22:51

I don't think there was any test that the dhea recommendation was a response to...

b0zza1 · 21/05/2023 22:55

I did 12 days on Northisterone (progesterone) and overlapped for final 7 days with progynova (synthetic oestrogen). I stopped both this morning and am expecting bleed to start and then will start stims on day 3. So there'll be about a 6-7 day gap between.

b0zza1 · 21/05/2023 22:55

I've been pressing 'reply' but it doesn't seem to be working... Hopefully people can work out who I'm replying to!!!

b0zza1 · 21/05/2023 22:57

IslaO · 21/05/2023 21:22

@Sunflower360 sorry I don’t have any experience of DHEA but I know it comes recommended in It Starts with the Egg. I hope you’re doing ok!

ive just started my Oestrogen tablets today and will be on these for 10 days until injections start. I’m excited to finally be starting but so nervous about facing a less than perfect outcome. We have had so many hurdles to get here and I would just love some plain sailing 🤞🤞🤞

has anyone else done 10-12 days on oestrogen before stims? Any advice or things to watch out for?

I started to get mild period pains with the Progynova, which I was relieved to read is a common side affect, not sure if that is the case with all oestrogen meds....

b0zza1 · 21/05/2023 23:02

@FrostedFlake aha! I've worked out how to message back to people! Thanks for bearing with. My baseline scan will be day 2-3 of my cycle and I will start stims on day 3. I think it's kind of interesting that the new clinic will do it after stims has begun. I can see that in some ways it doesn't matter what your starting point is, more where you are at with the stims... Seeing what it is they are doing at the time of the snapshot.