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!

@VSRCM sounds like you've had a good result so far, so hopefully day 3 update will be good too. What did you / they change, if anything this time round?

@VSRCM me neither - my old clinic would only freeze of transfer at day 5. But it seems everyone I know who did ivf had day 3!

@Sunflower360 I think the main thing was estrodial priming on day 21 of last period, for 7 days. It shut down everything, and made the follicles grow more evenly. I was also very careful with my diet this time round. Although I was given a day off during the priming period (I asked the nurse and doctor if I could drink at my work event😆) and had more than 2 drinks...

@VSRCM estradiol priming not heard of that before, sounds like it worked though! And good to hear you could relax a bit with drinks too

Hello all,

@Sunflower360 sorry to hear your current cycle was cancelled, can understand just wanting to get on with it! Good to give the body a rest though.

I had my follow-up with the consultant after our last cycle was cancelled. Doc has decided to put me only on Gonal F and not Luveris next time as apparently that can raise LH if you are a bit older. Guess it's just about finding the right balance as always. Said also they'll have me on double cetrotide from day 5, and then trigger at 16mm to make sure they don't miss ovulation again.

They still haven't billed me for the meds from the cancelled cycle, but reckon it's going to be about 2.5K with the scans as I was on stims for 14 days in the end 😐

Anyway, I'm hoping to start again end of November before the December break, as it seems a few of you also will do.

@gemso2020 that sounds like a plan and hopefully it works. Did you not pay in advance, if so that would cover the meds? The scans charges are capped at £600 from what I've read (£200 per scan if you had 3 or less)

@Sunflower360 yes, paid in advance for the 3-cycle package but as this didn't reach egg collection stage will just be billed separately. Think you are right about the scans cap which helps :)

Hey all!
AF has finally arrived so I start stims tomorrow.

@Sunflower360 sorry to hear about your cancellation but I'm sure the rest will be good for your body!

Goodluck @Maddie23 ! What dose/meds are you on?

Thank you @Sunflower360!
I'm on Gonal F 150iu for now and then will introduce Cetrotide.
Will be taking Buserelin as my trigger.

@VSRCM hope your transfer has gone ok if you are having one today rather than day 5!

Thanks @Sunflower360 😊It will be a day-5 transfer on Sat instead. The update is there are 3 top grade, 3 good and 2 average at the moment; and they are unable to determine which one to pick at this stage. I'm pleased. I wasn't too confident with a day-3 given my age (41). She did say the day 3 to 5 embryos success rate is only 30-40% so I hope I have at least 2 so I can freeze one.. maybe (they also suggested we transfer 2 next when we failed at the last cycle).

That's good @VSRCM ! What did you do differently this time diet and supplements wise? Sounds like it worked! Will you PGTA and will it be a single or double transfer?

@Sunflower360 See breakdown:

1st cycle (NHS): Didn't think to do anything especially different as was completely ignorant! Husband had 2 big cups of caffeinated coffee everday. Cut out alcohol completely and tried to eat healthy - collected 16 eggs, 4 fertilised by IVF

2nd cycle (Create): No alcohol, ate healthy. Husband started drinking decaffeinated coffee. I also had traditional chinese meds (TCM) + accupuncture - collected 10, 4 fertilised by ICSI

3rd cycle: This happened after a failed FET. I didn't drink but didn't try to be especially healthy. Also ran out of TCM and didn't bother with accupuncture as I didn't find it relaxing but a time waster. I remember I was also emotionally drained and generally in a bad mood this cycle - collected 4, 1 fertilised by ICSI

This cycle: After 1-2 months' break. No alcohol (although I did get permission to have a few drinks during the priming stage and I had more than 2!). I managed to get hold of more TCM (meds are from Malaysia and I had friends bring them over), and made my husband take them too. No accupunture and ate really healthy. I cut out all processed foods apart from chocolates, and made sure my husband did the same. Ate a lot of nuts everyday. Also drank 'womb tea' (you can buy this from Amazon) daily - collected 9, 8 fertilised by ICSI

I feel the TCM played a big role, I thought this cycle was going to be cancelled and was worried I might run out of those meds! My understanding is they help transport nutrients to the womb, and also help improve sperm quality. I also believed my husband's sperm was healthier this time round as I made sure of it! Diet-wise.. He also released on trigger day to make sure his sperm was fresh on egg collection day.

We blame ourselves when something don't go to plan, forgetting it takes 2 to make a healthy embryo.

@VSRCM thanks for sharing. Hope your transfer goes ok today. Did you get the grading of the embryos?

Good luck @VSRCM!

@Sunflower360 Thanks! Not yet, I was expecting a call this morning but husband said no point them calling if we are going to see them in a couple hours time. I'm getting nervous! Embryologist said 30-40% make it. I am really hoping I have some as back-up!

Thanks @Doxy21 🙏🏼

@VSRCM yeah good point. No news is good news! Keep us updated, nice to hear positive stories

@Sunflower360 All done now! A much better experience today compared to the last transfer.

I had a 5AA transferred. 4AA and 5AB suitable for freezing today and they will monitor the rest one more day. Very relieved and happy and off to a big lunch!

Hope your AF arrives on time!

That's great @VSRCM ! Was there a reason why they did not do a double transfer?

@Sunflower360 I forgot to ask that actually! Was so distracted and so needing to pee and feeling all sorts.

They did say last time they might do more tests and an endometrium scratch and also suggested a double transfer. I asked about those tests and he said they can’t be done prior to fresh transfer 🤷🏻‍♀️ My husband suggested it’s so they can charge for more FETs. He’s not wrong…

@VSRCM well I suppose it would have meant either delaying an egg collection to do those tests or not to have a fresh transfer and wait for a FET pending the tests. I think the package does allow for a FET instead of a fresh but it's a personal choice. I'm sure if there were any doubt or concerns though the Dr would have suggested it so hopefully you won't need a FET and this all works us out!

Hope you have a restful 2ww, do you have a test date? I can imagine it will be hard waiting for the test date but hopefully it'll go by in no time.

@Sunflower360 Yes, only eating the healthy stuff again for now. Drank a litre of beetroot juice this morning 😅

They have booked me in for a HCG test so 13th but I’m sure I will be itching to test at home from 5 days past!

Back again as I had my day 2 scan/bloods and they've said natural modified because the results are poor. Really feel like a failure right now and not at all positive about proceeding.

@GirlAgirlBboyC try not to feel too disheartened (know its hard) and not be hard on yourself. Natural modified is ok, I got 2 eggs in my last cycle and one of them became a freezable embryo, as yet to see if it is any good but still a step closer nonetheless.

Did they say what your results were?