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!

Thanks @b0zza1 that is helpful

@FrostedFlake hi let me tell you i dont even know what a baseline scan is?? Lol ive just been on Norethisterone too had my period and went straight into stims without a scan? My first scan is day 6 of having stims (thursday). Hope that helps?

@Flowerlover010 I’ve just checked with the nursing team and they said that it’s not standard to have a baseline scan at the clinic and I’m similar to you that I’ll be getting my first scan done on day 7, it’s interesting how the clinics timings and procedures vary.

@FrostedFlake varies soooo much. And what different treatments/procedures/methods each person is on baffles me! Guess each person is unique in their own way and this isnt a straightforward process of one size fits all! Im yet to find a single person on the same stim as me 🤣

Hi all. How is everyone doing?

I have been busy at work and a bit poorly with a cold or something. I had my baseline scan yesterday and began stims last night. I had 2 injections to do and did the second one with an ice cube on the area before injecting and that is defo the way to go for me. I have crazy amounts of scans, next one on Mon and then on Thurs and an meant to have one on Saturday, but it's my nephew's birthday in Dorset. I'm on holiday in Dorset from Tues eve and so will have to travel back up for my Thursday one anyway. Which is just part of it, I guess.

My first time injecting was ok. I was relaxed about it going in, but it then felt a bit intrusive! Which I guess I better get used to!!!

Hello everyone!
had my transfer done on Thursday 25th - five day blasto baby (FET)
have had severe cramping since then - took couple of days off work but now I think I could use the distraction

at the moment even going downstairs seems like a mission!

I have been asked to take the test on the 5th - it seems like the most longest 11 days off my life 🥹

please let me know of your experiences ❤️

good luck to all the mommas ❤️🥰

Hi @HSingh15 I haven't experienced a fet before, but will be having one in a few months or so, all things being well. Thank you for sharing your experiences so far and hopefully some one here will have been there before. I wonder what to do to help with the wait? Perhaps we could share what helps us. My first response was to not really connect with my feelings, like as if I didn't care in order to avoid the feeling of waiting for something important. But this just feels like a not very healthy coping mechanism 😂😂

@b0zza1 im ok thanks been stimming for 8 days now my 2nd scan is monday. Got a sore/uncomfortable lower belly last few days now so id say there is definitely something going on down there! Got in a bit of a stress mixing cetrotide yesterday which was really fiddly i found but the injection was fine i didnt even feel it. So now i have 3 injections a day and im really struggling with the space to inject especially on one side as i have so many bruises now.

@Flowerlover010 I just wrote the longest post and then went to another page and it's gone. I don't have the event to write again, but will message tomorrow. Grrrrr

Hi ladies

I hope it’s ok to join in, reading all your journeys so far has been a comfort.

i have a genetic condition and as a result a heart issue so I was always told I should never just get pregnant until I had pre pregnancy counselling, I asked for this in 2019, we only just saw the consultants in January 2023 and after a lot
of tests I was told it would be high risk but I got the green light to get pregnant

I had however not had a period for a year before this and so my husband I booked a fertility MOT as I felt something wasn’t quite right. Long story short I’m 30 with an AMH of 3 , we were referred to our fertility dr who said I’ve got low ovarian reserve and I’m going into early ovarian failure.

we are therefore going ahead with 3 round of egg collections and fertilisation back to back then I will need any embryos genetically tested, my consultant has said she expects me to get 1-2 eggs per round but to be realistic we might not get anything. If we are lucky then we will have a FET end of the year everything being well.

I’ve just finished northesterione this morning with baseline scan and hopefully stimulation on Friday ! I’ve been on a lot of medicines for my heart etc so I’m trying some holistic things alongside this such as reflexology, acupuncture and fertility massage no idea if they will help but thought they can’t hurt !

wishing you all the best and hope to be reading lots of positive outcomes for you all

Welcome @Chickencrazy3356 Thank you for sharing your story. Interesting how different our journeys are to the same place and then observing the differences and similarities as we go along! And you've reminded me to get my acupuncture app booked in. I was thinking more for the transfer time, I have no idea when that will be! I'm being recommended a very good one of anyone has any interest.

I had my first tracking scan today and I was counting the follicles along with the scanning person. It's all looking fine and I felt reassured. I find myself totally obsessed with the numbers and then quite relaxed. I'm not sure how much I will share about the numbers themselves on here (how many follicles, how many eggs etc) as to a large extent I see my little body just doing it's thing as best it can in the face of a tonne of drugs pushing it one way and another, 'make eggs, no more, but don't let them go now!'. Having said that I have found other people sharing their stats a huge education, as well as a huge support to me, so perhaps I will retrospectively! I don't really know. Think I'm just saying words now. Anyway, I remain glad to be walking this path next to you all.

(Day 6 today, started stims eve of day 3. Current plan to trigger on day 12 for ec day 14. Next tracking scan booked for Thurs.)

@Flowerlover010 interesting to hear about the cetrotide. I start that on wed morning. I've been having zomacton every other day and I found that a bit fiddly to mix. Also thanks for mentioning re bruising. On my 1st day injecting I wondered where I would be doing it in 2 weeks time! I've got me last 3 days I've been injecting far left and far right of my tummy and I will gradually work my way in. Hopefully I'll be finished before I get to the middle😂 I have quite a lot of tummy, so I'm glad to see it coming into good use after all 😂

@Lauralozzle thank you for the ice cube tip, has really made injections easier for me. How are you?

Hi all. I just had egg retrieval last week but only 2 eggs from over 30 follicles so feeling quite disappointed, although both fertilised and are frozen because they deemed my endometrium too thin to support a pregnancy. Has anyone else had this? Also, curious about something else. For egg retrieval I had sedation but it was excruciatingly painful. I remember absolutely all of it and was crying with pain and they had to give me extra gas and air mid procedure. The clinic seem mystified, has anyone else experienced sedation not working? It makes me terrified in case I need to do another collection.

I feel your pain. I was also incredibly bruised (most bruised from the cetrotide) and was struggling to find a space to inject by the end of my stim cycle.

@b0zza1 I’m ok thanks. Glad the ice cube trick worked! I’m still behind everyone at the moment! I’ve ordered meds, they arrive on Wednesday then I have to call the clinic when my period starts to find out how long I’ll be on norethisterone and when to start taking it.

@Lucylocket27 I’m sorry to hear about your experience being under sedation. I was completely out of it, don’t really remember it much at all! Fingers crossed for your frozen eggs, I can see why you’re disappointed though with all those follicles. Hopefully one of those is your lucky one!

Hi everyone ☺️ hope it’s ok to join in!

Just got a call from the clinic giving dates for next cycle. Short protocol so start norethisterone on 17th June with stims looking to start 2nd July 🤞🏼

This will be our 2nd cycle this year - started first cycle in February and had ICSI due to male factor; very poor motility and morphology. 15 eggs retrieved, 13 mature and only 3 fertilised with 1 embryo making it to day 3. We went with a day 3 transfer but didn’t work so here we are again. Clinic were surprised at the low fertilisation date but said the sperm was really poor quality.

since last cycle my husband has been taking impryl tablets and I’ve added coq10 into my daily supplements of folic acid and vitamin D. The clinic have also said this cycle AOA will be used with ICSI and I seen a couple of people in here also mentioning this.

Recognised a couple of names from previous threads, really hoping this is our time now along with everyone else here 🤞🏼🤞🏼

@Jcl22 I think I’ll be about a week behind you! We’re also using AOA. I hope it works!

Meds arrived this morning so I’m just waiting for AF now so I can call the clinic to find out when to start norethisterone!

@Lauralozzle fab!! Got everything crossed for us. I hadn’t heard of AOA until the clinic said it would be good to use next round. Really hoping it makes a difference!

ive been waiting for AF to come for ages after last cycle, the prostap injection completely messed up my cycle so I’ve been dying for it to arrive to get going again! Finally arrived on Sunday after being 3 weeks late! I don’t have meds yet, just been ordered today and got given those dates.

as much as I wouldn’t wish this journey on anyone it’s nice to have someone on a similar path around the same time ☺️

@Jcl22 I agree, wouldn’t wish this on anyone but it really is nice having someone going through the same, around the same time. I’d done a bit of research (Google doom scrolling) after our fertilisation rates last cycle, as I didn’t even think we’d get to transfer. I was pleased when the consultant advised it in our follow up.

We’ve had a near-on 4 month wait after our last cycle as DH started taking proxeed and my thyroid went a bit out of wack. It’s better now, but not perfect.

I think AF is due end of next week, if it plays ball. My cycles have been a bit unpredictable after our last ivf round, they’re a bit longer now for some reason.

@Lucylocket27 i Had my egg collection today and i have had the exact same experience as you. It seems the sedation didnt work for me either. I was awake and aware of all of it, it hurt a lot and i was crying out, they also gave me gas n air which didnt do a lot. Not a pleasant experience but i think its rare! Everyone else ive spoken to cant remember it and were out of it! I think if i have to do it again i will certainly say either i want to be put to sleep or i want more or heavier sedation if theres such a thing!