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!

Thanks @Sunflower360 and I don't mean to be down on natural modified in general, I know it can have success!

No I've just been told my FSH and LH are high, I've asked for more information because I like to see the details for myself. I've found the nurse is very good but the doctor isn't great, the nurse was surprised I've not had any information on natural modified as a treatment plan and is asking for follow ups and the patient information etc. I appreciate they are the experts but I'm not just going to go straight into it without all the facts!

@GirlAgirlBboyC definitely question everything you want to understand more on. I ask for a copy of any tests such as blood tests as part of the investigations for my own records, their your records so you can get them through your patient coordinator. Hope you get some answers soon

Update from me. I had some more screening done in readiness for this next egg collection, following the chemical pregnancy in August. I have been told I have high Anti-Thyroid Peroxidase antibodies that can increase miscarriage, so I will be on steroids from the egg collection in readiness for a transfer. Deflated by that as it's something else, but moral of the story is quite simple: test, test and test. I pushed for these tests as they are normally for recurrent miscarriage but after the chemical in August I wanted to rule things out before doing a transfer, glad we did now. They weren't cheap but worth doing if only to adapt approach for the transfer

Thanks @Sunflower360 dud you get the tests done at create? If you don’t mind me asking, how much were they? I’ve never been pregnant to my knowledge, but given that I’ll only have one or two embryos, wondering if it’s worth me testing for this too.
Sorry to hear you’re feeling deflated, but good that you found out in time to take action.

@HopefulElle Thanks. It was £475 for all 6 tests. Tbh the Dr did not push for me to have them as they normally advise them after 2 miscarriages, which I appreciate as they are very expensive for blood tests. I said the same as you in that I would like to have them done with the limited embryos, and I also made the point about the chemical pregnancy in August. In all honesty though I cannot be sure what caused the chemical, it could have just been the embryo itself, but either way I'm so glad I tested now before transfer.

The TPO test in itself was £80, but if you're having them done may as well have the full screening, luckily my other ones were clear it was just the TPO test that has led to needing meds for the transfer (perhaps not such a bad thing as it's flagged for me to keep an eye on my thyroid levels for the future too should I develop a thyroid condition which needs managing as that is what TPO tends to flag).

And yes tests were with Create and included follow up to review and discuss next steps

Hi!

We had our scan last thurs and our zoom call on Monday. But it's been radio silence from create ever since. I have emailed and no reply. The phone number puts us on hold and sends us to book a new scan.

What times did you wait from the zoom call to the next contact? Am I being impatient? I just feel like communication is really bad

Hi @Plantymcplant have you been assigned a patient coordinator? Have to say the call centre is not a great structure, they are helpful but they just turn into the middle person when you want to speak to the clinic. I would select the option where you are an existing patient and explain you want an update

I found out today our coordinator has left, which explains why the communication has been so bad! No one actually thought to tell me until I phoned up to ask why I'd not heard anything since Monday..

@GirlAgirlBboyC I’ve given up on the patient coordinators (we had 3 different ones and they were all useless); I have a lovely nurse and I go to her for everything. So maybe try the nurse route, they are more competent!

@Sunflower360 6dp5dt and it was a BFN this morning 😥

@GirlAgirlBboyC once you have a direct email for them (the nurses are as @VSRCM says) then it's fine, the call centre/central mailbox thing just does not work in mu opinion.

@VSRCM it is still so early to test, is that on a FRER? Try not to worry as there's still time. When is your OTD?

@Sunflower360 No. The FRER ones have not arrived! I bought some from ebay and the seller is telling me they're lost in transit - talk about timing!! It was some cheapo ones I got off Amazon but it states 'test early blah blah'... I'll try and get hold of FRERs this afternoon. They have offered me a blood test this time, so Monday coming but I already feel like my weekend is ruined...

@VSRCM I would think the standard ones may not pick it up this early, possibly FRER but coouldstill be a delay for HCG to show. How do you feel in yourself? I thought Create do pregnancy blood tests as standard? I could be wrong, was not sure if they did or not!

@Sunflower360 Dont think it's standard... and I'm also not sure yet if I will be charged for it. They gave me an at home test to take home too although I really find the pee test they provide an insult to what we pay (I've chucked it in bin day of transfer). They offered a beta test this time, not sure if it's because it's my second transfer or because of my Trustpilot review 🤔

I don't feel anything really.. my boobs aren't even sore anymore (from progesterone).. a bit sad but trying to remain hopeful. Dreamt I got a BFP last night and woke up feeling confused so I think my mental state is declining! I also wondered if transfer time make any difference. It was supposed to be a 12pm transfer but it wasn't done till 1ish..

@VSRCM I'm pretty sure the pregnancy blood test is included, if it wasn't they should be telling people of the cost before its incurred. I've found each time I've had tests that will incur costs, I get told about the cost in advance (like the miscarriage/antibodies/immunity tests I had done just recently).

Not sure about timings of transfer as I've not had one yet, not sure if its as time critical as egg collections but could be worth asking if it comes to it. May also be worth asking about the double transfer and I think you mentioned endometrial scratch they initially suggested for you. This of course is if you were to get a negative, as I said its still early and you could still get a positive on the FRER or over the weekend.

@VSRCM what pre investigations tests have you had done at Create? I've so far had Thyroid, Prolactin, AMH, and the Recurrent Miscarriage tests (6 tests which tested for the antibodies thyroid immunity, sticky blood and things like that...hence why I need steroids now for a transfer to suppress my immunity as I have high thyroid antibodies 🙄)

@Sunflower360 I wasn't offered a blood test at my first transfer. I have to say they have been inconsistent in the ways things get charged i.e., some get charged some don't when I get medications from them. My nurse also said there is no charge for prescriptions (I think I said previously the PC wanted to charge £50 per prescription). I really really really hope I get my BFP this weekend..

In terms of tests, yes those costs were provided upfront (at my very first baseline scan). I remember because my husband's jaw dropped when he saw the quotes for the blood tests required that day. I cannot remember what I tested for now, but I am taking clexane and aspirin for sticky blood and also steroids (predisolone) for killer cells.

I think they will do the endometrium check if this one fails.. I do have 2 x 5-day and 1 x 3-day embryos frozen but was really hoping I didn't have to go down that route yet. I wonder if a day-3 and day-5 can be transferred together...

@VSRCM yep they were very expensive! 😅 What dose Prednisolone have you been on? I've been advised 2 x 5mg from starting of stims.

I think you can have a day 3 and 5 transferred together (think I've read it somewhere online in a medical resport or something). Create I think prefer letting the day 3 develop outside the body to see if it gets to a day 5 so they can assess the quality as you could end up with either a rubbish grade/no blastocyst or 2 really good embroys put in one go and if there were lining etc issues then you could risk losing 2 embryos in one go unnecessarily if the issues were not with the embryos. It's so hard to know what to do.

Did they say why they suggested looking at your endometrial side of things?

@VSRCM if you don't mind me asking have you had any miscarriages or pregnancy previously (previous to Create). The only reason I ask is because you cam submit all documents in relation to those if you have so they have has much info as possible

@Sunflower360 5mg x 2 so same. The doctor did say that he wanted to check my endometrium at the consultation after the failed FET but I'm confused as well why that wasn't done prior to this fresh transfer. I don't know if it's because everything looked good prior to the fresh transfer...

I have read that the best environement for a day-3 is the womb, although I was't too pleased when they provisionally booked me in for a day-3 transfer in case my numbers are grim.. day-5s are deemed more stable. I dont know if my "excellent" day-3 will survive making it to day-5.

I was pregnant naturally before I considered IVF but it was a missed miscarriage at week 5 (I thought I was into week 10).. and then my first ET was with NHS, implanted but lost a week later so 2 miscarriages so far prior to Create.

@VSRCM, sorry to hear that. It's a really tough journey, but you can get pregnant, which intself is a positive.

What is the endometrium check? Do you know what the thickness, etc, was of your lining when they transferred?

@Sunflower360 The doctor said he wants to check for fragments in the endometrium and that consists of an endometrium scratch - why that was not done prior to this transfer I dont know, could be that because it's a fresh transfer.

I have the ultrasound picture but they couldnt tell me what the numbers mean, would you know? 17.2cm/0.9/20Hz...?

@Sunflower360 I've never had a direct email for anyone, always had to go through the call centre or the central email address which has made it all more effort.

Had a follow up scan/bloods this morning and it seems a little more organised now, met my new coordinator (who covered when the other was on holiday and tbh seemed more competent) and have a call booked on with the doctor to go through the plan this afternoon. Looks like natural modified is happening but at least I have a couple of follicles growing all on their own without any meds yet - the nurse called me an enigma, not sure I like that!

@GirlAgirlBboyC it took a month to get a direct email so get there eventually! Hope your natural modified cycle goes ok, not sure what is meant by the enigma comment either 😂

@VSRCM sorry not sure what those figures mean...hopefully Create can provide some info.

I think endometrial scratch is done before a IVF cycle, so perhaps because it waa a fresh transfer they didn't, but may be worth asking why it waa not done the cycle before you started stims maybe?

Were you able to test with a FRER?