Create Fertility - Experiences

[Sunflower360]

Hi 👋

I was hoping for people's experiences and thoughts on Create Fertility? I am considering them, so any thoughts would be much appreciated.

I am currently going through a short protocol with high stims with another clinic, baseline scan showed 4-5 follicles (expected that as I have low AMH/low ovarian reserves) but through my high stimulation am only showing 1, maybe 2 follicles that are growing...so cycle is not looking great.

So I wanted to consider Create as they specialise in natural modified and mild IVF, but would appreciate feedback on people's experiences as we would be going in multi cycle with my low AFC/AMH and want to ensure it's the best decision in those circumstances.

Thanks!

@Sunflower360 im not sure they've not to get to it at collection before, but when I've had some scans they have to really put it at a funny angle to get it to it. Yeah it's good that they have said there are options for following cycles but for now try and take it easy, and recover from collection 🩷

@Sunflower360 5 is a great number, congratulations! Hope you’re not feeling too sore? Will keep fingers crossed for a positive update tomorrow for you. Shame you can’t try naturally with the remaining follicle x

Thanks @HopefulElle 5 is more than I expected for natural modified, especially as they kept emphasising 1 is the aim, just got to see how many, if any, are mature and if they fertilise now.

I'm ok more tired than anything tbh, bit tender but it's fine!

@Doxy21 just touching on what you mentioned ref sizes earlier, there were a few 6's 10, 14, 18 in the one they collected and the one they couldn't get to it was 15 on trigger day so bit gutted that one has been missed out as I'm not sure if the 10 and 14 would have matured in time so 5 eggs collected may end up sounding a lot more than reality in terms of mature eggs as I think they extracted the small follicles too. Suppose I'll find out soon enough

@Sunflower360 i think try not to stress too much (easier said than done). Sounds like 2 at the very least!

@Sunflower360 thinking of you and sending all the positivity for todays update 🩷

@Doxy21 @Jx3303 @HopefulElle thanks ladies

So update following the call: 4 out of the 5 eggs were mature, 1 degenerated from ICSI, and that left 3 which have fertilised normally so still have 3 in the running 🥹 Will get a further update on day 3 as to how the embryos are developing and how many (if any) are still going.

It's progress whatever happens and if anything needs tweaking for cycle 2 and 3 we can do.

But if anyone had any questions about whether more than one egg is possible with natural modified then I would say it is! Seems bizarre spending so much on high stims when it could be possible with a low dose over a shorter time. I responded poorly with 450 gonal in my NHS cycle, so I do believe there is something to be said about the slow and steady approach. It's still very early days but still progress from my NHS cycle, so whatever happens I'll take that.

@Sunflower360 thats amazing news!

@Sunflower360 I am so thrilled for you!!! Fantastic news 3 have fertilised and I hope continue to develop over the next few days 🩷 I hope you can enjoy your day now they've called. I find the calls unbelievably nerve wracking!

Completely agree - I was the same with max dose for my clinic (which was 300ui as it seems clinics are different everywhere) I responded much better to slow, less dose and very close monitoring. What dose were you on with natural?

I'm having one of those is it / isn't it here with my period! If it comes fully by 12 I'll get my scan booked, train and accommodation for the first few days we're down. If not it should be here tomorrow 🤞🏻

Thsnks @Doxy21

Thanks @Jx3303 I was 150 IU for 6 days from cycle day 6. It was a slow start but something switched by cycle day 10. Hoping to be able to go straight into the next cycle now, will see what happens in the next week. Hope you're AF arrives soon so you can start! Will you start from day 2?

@Sunflower360 it's really interesting the different protocols Create have. I was 150ui both cycles but yeah, started day 2. I'll start meds day 2 in the evening and have a scan day 5 so I'll travel down day 4 (we are in Scotland and are with the Manchester clinic so it's quite far away) then my OH will come down a few days later with our dog. The first trip we came down with the dog too but after our second was cancelled and we could have lost a lot of money (luckily we were able to use the accommodation paid for the next time we stayed in the airbnb) it's quite a lot of last minute organising but is what it is xx

@Sunflower360 wow that’s amazing news!! So pleased for you. Hope you’re able to relax a bit over the next few days x

@HopefulElle Thanks, and yes will take a break from thinking about it until the next step, are you due your AF soon to re start cycle 2?

@Jx3303 that does sound like a lot, but hopefully will all be worth it in the end, hope this cycle goes well for you

@Sunflower360 I remember reading that a huge percentage of fertilised make it to day 3, so you should have great odds with 3 in the running -do you know yet whether they plan to freeze at day 3 or push for day 5? Unless it comes early (which it might based on large follicles day 4, who knows), then still a couple of weeks away for me.

The embryologist advised they would aim to freeze a day 3 so I think it is a Create standard to do that, which I'm happy with if we get one.

I'm hoping to start my AF in 2 weeks too as I'm normally a 28 day cycle but will see if I start on time, if so we may be starting our cycle 2 at the same time!

@Sunflower360 thank you! AF not fully here but cramps are and will surely definitely be here "full flow" tomorrow. Why does this always happen when you're away to start ha typical isn't it. Can't just be a simple wake up oh yeah it's here!

I had a day 3 frozen on my first create cycle and I was absolutely over the moon to have it safely away. It was a huge milestone for us and I cried with relief.

@Jx3303 how is it going? Hope all is going ok with the cycle starting

@Sunflower360 period properly arrived yesterday so start meds today, going to do it in about an hour. Train booked for Wednesday, first scan Thursday and my OH will come down with the pup Saturday for the remainder of the cycle.

How are you? Did you have a call from the embryologist today? Xx

@Jx3303 that all sounds good, will you transfer after this cycle?

Update was nerve wracking but we have 1 day 3 in the freezer and the other two are still being monitored for a further update on day 5 🥹 Whatever happens just happy to have 1 in the freezer, I know it's still a long road ahead so cautiously happy for now

@Sunflower360 after this collection we're going to send whatever embryos we have for PGT-A testing - we have 4 in the freezer (one day 3 which would have to develop to day 5 too for biopsy) and I really hope to get another 1 to add in 🤞🏻

That's fantastic news you've one in the freezer, are hopefully the other two will be going strong and join in the freezer on Day 5! I was the same, I was so happy to have one away safe on Day 3. They really are such nerve wracking calls, my heart was always in the throat! Xx

Great news @Sunflower360!

Great news @Sunflower360! know how nerve wracking that call is, but such a relief to have one in the freezer, and 2 more with a chance too, amazing!
Good luck with your cycle @Jx3303! X

@Jx3303 are you concerned about PGTA at all? I've done some reading about it and have read mixed things, firstly about damage to the embryos, secondly about the reliabilty of the results as I understand mosaics could still be in with a chance and thirdly its red on the HFEA. Your views on this would be appreciated as I was on the shelf with it!

Thanks @Doxy21 @HopefulElle kind of want to crack on with the 2nd cycle now I'm in the momentum so hopefully AF will be on time. Will see what the next cycle holds after the day 5 update

@Sunflower360 I'm more concerned about none coming back normal or them not thawing properly. But all of the additional bad things that could happen are also in the back of my mind. I'm trying not to think about it and had a good chat with my counsellor. Because of the missed miscarriage, which really broke me for quite some time and I really wasn't sure on some days it I could keep doing this (and still very much hurts) I would pay any amount of money to not go through that again. So if we can test and see which are normal it could save us a lot of heartache and money.

If you look at it this way - 4 FETs which will now be an additional cost as we've used our included transfer - would be around £8/10k I think. The testing costs £1350 for set up and admin including one embryo, with additional embyros costing £350 each. So if we sent 5 for testing that would total around £2750. Testing them all would I hope eliminate the chances of another MMC due to it being abnormal. There are very much many ways of looking at it. I had no idea that the consultant would recommend that - I thought we'd just do another transfer or the final cycle to try and get a few more. But I agree with everything he said and ultimately it was our choice.

@HopefulElle thank you! How are you? Xx

@Jx3303 that is very good way of looking at it, and I think it is something I would consider too, especially after the chemical pregnancy and I can appreciate a MMC would be even harder to deal with. Our Consultant has not suggested it to us so will see if it does get suggested at some point. I would hope with the number of embryos you have that there will be euploid embryos, hope that all goes ok