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!

Everyone else I spoke to were out of it too and have no memory, however, I spoke to the clinic about this today when they called to see how I was doing and they said if you need to do it again, you are allowed to request a full general anaesthetic.

Hi ladies!
I'm also just starting on round 2 of IVF/ICSI. We also have male factor mainly, low count, motility and morphology. we might also both have poor quality as we had a bad drop off rate in the first round. 11 fertilised out of 12 mature, but by day 3 only 5 left (apparently tha'ts due to poor egg quality), by day 5 only 2 (apparently due to poor sperm quality). and the two were not of the highest grade either. we had a fresh then frozen transfer, both failed. So our clinic adviced to take supplements for at least three months, that's how long sperm take to develop. they recommended impryl for OH, so he's been on that since January. for myself they recommended vit A, C, D and E. But i read the book it starts with the egg and have basically been following their recommendations down to a T, including giving OH a load more stuff then they recommended hehe. So I'm very curious to see if all that will make a difference. fingers crossed.
I've been on norethisterone for 10 days. had quite a bad time with it. increases my heart rate, so i wake up at night and can't sleep for hours. then grumpy and moody in the day because of it. it's been tough lol. hate those tablets. anyway had my 6 day break and bleed on Sunday, baseline scan yesterday. lining nice and thin and follicles ready to go. so starting stims this evening. I haven't made my mind up yet what time lol. nice to see so many of you around about the same stage 😊

What is AOA by the way??

@Flowerlover010 how're you feeling after the egg collection? i hope well! your experience sounds awful. I've never heard of the sedation not working before ouch!!! @Lucylocket27 maybe some meds just don't work for some people? sound horrific. i was well under at my last.

Hi everyone :)

I am hoping to start my self funded IVF at the Glasgow Royal this month, is anyone else with this clinic? I have had IVF years ago but everything has gone out of my head and I feel like this is my first round!! I will be on Antagonist 150iu protocol, has anyone had this before or know anything about it?

Also, does anyone have any tips/advice on things to do and supplements to take?

Thanks xxx

@Honeybunie i was sore yesterday still. I had never heard of sedation not working either. I went in expecting to feel relaxed, out of it and not remember any of it! But it was quite the opposite! I still feel tender today not sure if thats normal or not.
Its interesting to read what you were told about quality, thats something im particularly interested in as ive already had 3 miscarriages from natural pregnancies. Good luck with the stims and egg collection!

@Flowerlover010 i can't image how horrible that must've been. maybe there are different sedation meds that they could try for you if you needed to be sedated again. hopefully not though! I was totally under as i said, but I was in a lot of pain after EC. I think most people walk out after half an hour recovery. I had really bad cramps half an hour into my recovery so much so that I felt sick, OH had to call the nurse and they put me on anti sickness IV and paracetamol on drip. it wasn't pretty and OH is scared now lol. he's dreading the next one bless him. then i was in crazy pain the night of the EC, i even rang the clinic the next morning to ask if this was normal. they said just take paracetamol. but even pain killers didnt mask the pain completely. took me about 5 days to feel normal again. but i think my body is a bit like that with a weird delayed response to things. I had an epileptic fit ones as a kid a day after a local anaestetic on my foot. totally bizzare, never had it again lol.
so sorry to hear about your 3 miscarriages! i guess quality, or DNA defects, do play a part in that don't they. must've just not been viable embryos. i really hope the supplements will make all the difference for us this time in that respect. i cross all my fingers. OH already has three kids from in his 20s.. now we're both old and our quality has gone down the hill.
Hi @Kjaj87 when are you starting with your meds? have you bought just one cycle or a package of two or so? never heard of antagonist. are you on a short or long protocol? Re supplements, you need to start taking them at least three months before you start for them to be fully effective, both you and your partner. hope it all goes well for you.

Hiya! 😊 This is my first time ever posting on here and first round of IVF ICSI. I'm not sure of all of the medication talk yet but we have our consent form signing on Monday 5th (I've heard that's when you get taught how to do the injections and tablets) would this the right thread to join? Feeling a bit clueless and nervous about this all x

@Honeybunie AOA is artificial oocyte activation. Courtesy of Google:

When a sperm meets an egg, it triggers something called ‘egg activation’ which begins the process of fertilisation and embryo development. This activation process is caused by sperm factors which lead to an increase of calcium in the oocyte (egg). If the sperm are lacking these factors or the oocytes don’t respond to the factors properly, then the activation process may not occur and fertilisation can fail. Artificial oocyte activation uses a substance called a calcium ionophore which aims to help to activate the egg and improve fertilisation.

@Kjaj87 I use an ice cube to numb the area before injection. It helps me and stops it being so itchy!

@Burgerloverr Hello! Yes please join. Once consents are signed it can move pretty quickly! Have you had your protocol yet?

Meds were delivered last week, so I’m just waiting for AF to start now. When CD 1 comes I’ll find out when I start taking norethisterone.

It’s all got a bit real today. I have so much more meds this cycle, even though the dose has been reduced from 300 to 225. I’m going to be a bit of a pin cushion by the end!

Hi everyone. Long time fan of these threads but first time I’ve posted. I’m 34 and OH is 37. TTC a long time (you wouldn’t believe how long if I told you) but had to work through a lot of moral/religious /family stuff before properly committing to this. Now wishing we had faced the music earlier! Hoping to do a natural FET this month, the second and final transfer from our only NHS funded cycle. Diagnosed with borderline MF/unexplained. Have been told I have a fibroid and a large ovarian cyst but consultant didn’t seem interested in exploring uterine issues any further. Initial cycle was in Feb. We thought it went really well with 15 eggs collected, 12 mature, 8 fertilised (ICSI) and 7 blastocysts. Sadly the implantation was not successful despite what felt like a really positive start. Had a few months off to take a good break. Now just waiting with cautious optimism for AF to arrive sometime in the next 2 weeks 🤞Good luck to all the ladies out there. I love reading everyone’s updates so keep them coming!

Thanks so much! 😊 Sorry, I know I sound clueless but is a protocol where I find out exactly what's happening? We've been waiting for 2 years and still no clue of what's really happening.. 😞 all I've really been told is we're having ICSI (all my tests came back fine but my partner has low sperm count due to varicocele veins) and that's about it.. we had our online consultation with lots of other couples and the nurse mentioned taking norethisterone for two weeks and that's about it.. I'll keep you updated when I find out more! 😊 I'm due on 5 days after our next appointment so hoping I can start the process soon

I’m so sorry about your experience I hope they can give you some more sedation next time and you feel better soon, really sorry to hear about your 3 miscarriages hope that this cycle has a positive outcome for you

Good luck starting your cycle ! I’m not sure about your protocol but I’ve trying a few supplements I have absolutely no idea if they will help or do help at all but I’ve been taking a fertility multivitamin my consultant told me not to take vitamin A though? And I’m trying to eat “clean” my diet is awful I live off coffee and sugar so trying to eat much better although I’m vegan and was told I should be on a high protein which is proving difficult !

im trying acupuncture and fertility massage again no idea If will help but willing to give anything a go !!!

Hi ladies

I had my baseline scan yesterday feel a bit disappointed only 2 follicles on my right and unfortunately they couldn’t see my left ovary at all (I’ve got a condition called marfans so extra collagen so I’ve got a really stretchy bladder and bowel which was blocking them seeing anything) I have started stimulation last night though, found the injections ok the hardest part was my ovaleap came with a fancy pen that I couldn’t get to work! I’m on 4 injections a day, they think I’m going to have to have an abdominal egg collection and I’ve been told to expect 1-2 eggs.

we are doing 3 rounds of collections back to back so hoping if I can get 6 eggs throughout these hopefully we will be lucky enough to get a good quality embryo.

we’re seeing the genetic counseller this week as they have advised PGT A and PGT M , however If we only get one embryo I’m not sure I would go ahead with genetic testing because it can cause damage to the embryo feeling very stressed and confused about what to do!

hope everybody is doing ok

Hi everyone 👋

I'm starting my first round of IVF this month! Had two unsuccessful IUI rounds last year and now going to Greece for IVF.

Signed my consent forms and ordering meds on Monday! So excited, and nervous as I have very low AMH of 1.2

Good luck for your cycle everyone!

@Chickencrazy3356 i am doing pgta providing i have enough to test. I am of the same mind, i only get 1 though ive decided i wont test and just transfer straight away. Never heard of pgtm?

I think I’m the same mindset as you if I only have 1 then I think we’ve decided we won’t test, I believe (still trying to understand all the lingo!) PGA M is to see if the embryo has my marfans syndrome which is genetic and a 50% chance they could have it, we’re hoping the geneticist will tell us worse case scenario for the condition as I don’t have it too badly it’s caused heart issues and other issues and I’ve had a fair amount of surgery but it hasn’t stopped me doing anything in life so If our child had it, it doesn’t phase us we just don’t know how bad it could be I suppose.

it’s so exciting to start ! I’ve got low AMH too and as I’m sure you’ve heard all it takes is 1 egg ! We’re doing 3 rounds back to back to try get as many eggs as we can

@Chickencrazy3356 ahhh ok that makes sense. I wish you the best of luck!

Hello ladies
I'm deciding on clinics for IVF with own eggs, done previous FET cycle in London but wasn't successful. We've got one low mosaic and one 7day normal frostie but I've recently turned 40 so hoping to bank some more frosties before we start another FET as our issue seems to be with implantation.
Previously been with CRGH and they are great but really expensive so started looking into clinics abroad, mostly Spain. Can anyone recommend or share an experience please 🙏 🙂

I'm 39 too @countrypunk !@countrypunk ! Starting egg retrieval cycle in next few days. So nice to hear from others going through it too. This is our first cycle

hope your all doing ok, started stimulation Friday I’ve got 4 follicles after my scan today so hoping that they keep growing and I can get 1-2 eggs!
was anybody else told to be careful of ovarian torsion? I have a farm of rescue animals so quite busy and active but I’m not sure if I should slow down a bit before egg collection as my clinic said I needed to be careful I didn’t have a torsion but wasn’t sure if this meant no exercise at all or just try to avoid over strenuous

@Chickencrazy3356 I was told in the few days before my egg collection, especially after trigger injection to not lift heavy things, not do exercise (including swimming), (no sex I think, though I wasn't very clear about that and wasn't going to be anyway!!!) and not anything strenuous. In order to avoid a follicle rupturing, which I can understand could be a risk on account of some of the larger ones' size. I felt very aware of my stomach area and really didn't want to do as much physically as I normally would. Quite a tender, full kind of feeling in my abdomen. My body was a very good guide (ie I cycled a bit, but felt like walking up hills!).

Hi everyone!

Ordered my medication today ready for the cycle start. AF due 19/06 and baseline scan booked for the 20/06 and all being well this will hopefully be THE month.

Hello everyone, sorry, I went a bit awol for a while. I'm starting our next cycle in 2 weeks, short protocol this time.

@MAbbott34 Welcome 🙂 Best of luck with egg collection. How are you feeling?

@Chickencrazy3356 @b0zza1 That's interesting about the exercise advice before egg collection. My clinic didn't say anything like that but then they didn't really give me any advice at all!

Hi all,

I have got the go ahead to start IVF on my next cycle which will drop at the end of June /beginning of July. I previously had 3 IUIs but all unfortunately failed.

I've found it really helpful reading other people's comments, specially the ice cube tip as the worry of injecting is a big part of it.

I won't be required to do downregs as doing Mild IVF so it's timed with my cycle, think scan wise it will be similar, every 2/3 days.

Just wondered if any of you had made plans for nice things to do during that time or to keep busy, if so would you mind sharing your ideas for inspiration. I try to do gym and swim 5 days a week and have been advised I may have to reduce or stop some of those during the cycle. I did my IUIs in winter and was almost so caution that I stopped living and doing things and just sat at home trying to keep my body warm but it had a massive impact on my mental health aswell as weight. So any inspiration would help.

Also any other tips for preparing for IVF, seem on other forums about not wearing make up or perfume for egg collection etc

Thanks

@Gryffindoratheart good luck! I've ordered my my meds today too! I've started spotting too so excited!