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Infertility

Our Infertility Support forum is a space to connect with others in the same position, discuss causes, treatment and IVF, and share infertility stories of hope and success.

Original poster

IVF/ICSI/FET - June 23

677 replies

Lyrabee · 26/05/2023 12:43

Hi!

I'm going to be starting my medications ready for a FET in June. Anybody else in the same boat or starting their cycles?

I've done one round of ICSI and had a fresh transfer in March that wasn't successful but we got 5 frozen day 5 blastocysts from it. Happy to answer any questions for anyone starting their journeys :)

OP posts:
Original poster
Lyrabee · 29/05/2023 09:23

@Lebe14 we had our meds really early! What clinic are you with? We got all ours delivered about 2 weeks before we started the tablets which was like a month before we started the injections! Our fridge looked like a pharmacy!

Try not to worry about the jabs, the ones I had were nice and small, into the belly. There was a mini sting. The worst part is actually jabbing yourself from a mental pov I think!

I know on this next cycle I might be given progesterone jabs which are intramuscular and they're supposed to hurt a little.

It's lovely you'll all be at the same time!

OP posts:
Floralsandsmiles · 29/05/2023 09:33

HopefulHead · 28/05/2023 19:45

@Floralsandsmiles I’m not sure really, I thought it was about 50% chance overall? But there’s so many different parts to it I think it would be hard to have accurate statistics as we are all so different and the reasons people do ivf vary massively.
I had a freeze all due to OHSS, I was dissapointed at the time but honestly it has been nice having a couple of months break between the IVF and starting again, it’s a tough process so it’s been nice to have some breathing space so try not to worry too much if you do end up having a freeze all ❤️

Yes, this is a good point @HopefulHead ! Was the previous freeze all cycle your first round? Xxx

HopefulHead · 30/05/2023 06:20

@Floralsandsmiles Yeah it was my first round, my only NHS funded one so we feel really lucky to have got 4 in the freezer from it.
We had to do ICSI due to male factor where his sperm had to be retrieved through surgery so the cost of the surgery + the extra ICSI element is an extra few grand so it would take us quite a while to get the money together if we needed another round. We’ve started saving in case these 4 don’t work but 🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼

Are you managing to get your round on the NHS?

Floralsandsmiles · 30/05/2023 06:22

HopefulHead · 30/05/2023 06:20

@Floralsandsmiles Yeah it was my first round, my only NHS funded one so we feel really lucky to have got 4 in the freezer from it.
We had to do ICSI due to male factor where his sperm had to be retrieved through surgery so the cost of the surgery + the extra ICSI element is an extra few grand so it would take us quite a while to get the money together if we needed another round. We’ve started saving in case these 4 don’t work but 🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼

Are you managing to get your round on the NHS?

Aww OK, that is lucky yes, well done you! 😊
No unfortunately not, we don't qualify 😒 xxx

HopefulHead · 30/05/2023 06:26

@Floralsandsmiles im sorry to hear that 😞
I feel like there’s so much pressure on IVF to work that the extra pressure of having to fork out the cost for it just seems so awful.
I am definitely surprised after starting this process at how little the nhs do fund for infertility when it is something that people have no control over and seems so unfair.

Floralsandsmiles · 30/05/2023 06:47

HopefulHead · 30/05/2023 06:26

@Floralsandsmiles im sorry to hear that 😞
I feel like there’s so much pressure on IVF to work that the extra pressure of having to fork out the cost for it just seems so awful.
I am definitely surprised after starting this process at how little the nhs do fund for infertility when it is something that people have no control over and seems so unfair.

Agreed! It's nuts! Feels like an insurance company finding any way not to pay. Then when the nhs make the final selection as to who goes through its pot luck! Xxx

HopefulHead · 30/05/2023 07:20

@Floralsandsmiles yeah you’re right, like the whole process isn’t cruel enough :(
what’s the reason they’ve said you don’t qualify if you don’t mind me asking?
I challenged our CCG as they said we weren’t funded for a FET, but we should have had a fresh transfer funded so to me they hadn’t funded all that we were eligible for, took a little while but they did eventually agree to fund 1 fet for us in place of a fresh transfer, so sometimes it is worth arguing a little 😬

Floralsandsmiles · 30/05/2023 08:14

HopefulHead · 30/05/2023 07:20

@Floralsandsmiles yeah you’re right, like the whole process isn’t cruel enough :(
what’s the reason they’ve said you don’t qualify if you don’t mind me asking?
I challenged our CCG as they said we weren’t funded for a FET, but we should have had a fresh transfer funded so to me they hadn’t funded all that we were eligible for, took a little while but they did eventually agree to fund 1 fet for us in place of a fresh transfer, so sometimes it is worth arguing a little 😬

No I don't mind you asking, my DH and I have another child each from previous relationships.. therefore we don't qualify. Mine is 13 and DHs is 8.
Well done you for reading up and arguing your case! I agree, you have to sometimes! Xxx

HopefulHead · 30/05/2023 09:31

@Floralsandsmiles i find that a really hard rule about the previous children, in the modern world it is very common for people to have ‘blended families’ and I imagine already having children doesn’t make the desire for wanting a baby in a current relationship any less than those who have no children from previous, just seems like the rules and guidelines around how the nhs view criteria for ivf really needs updating!
Is your and DH’s infertility unexplained then if you have both been able to have children previously?

Sqiggle85 · 30/05/2023 11:13

I hope you don’t mind me joining, coming over from the May group as I haven’t started yet due to very late AF.

Little back ground, we first started IVF in early 2017, lucky to have 3 rounds funded. 1st round only 1 egg made it, got a BFP but sadly ended at 14 weeks due to a very rare abnormality (basically liver on the outside, abdominal wall fused to the sack and other organs therefore not growing properly), tried again in late 2017 and we had 2 eggs Day 5 equal quality I believe, 1 egg transfered and luckily resulted in BFP and our child was born Sept 2018.

Fast forward to now and we have one egg frozen so we have decided to go again after unsuccessful TTC naturally for the last couple of years.

My cycles are super irregular so I am currently on day 47, just waiting for it to start really. I have all my drugs ready, just eager to start now.

Good luck to everyone x

HopefulHead · 30/05/2023 11:19

Hi @Sqiggle85 👋🏼
Hopefully AF will get a move on for you! Can’t they give you anything to induce a period?

Sqiggle85 · 30/05/2023 11:32

HopefulHead · 30/05/2023 11:19

Hi @Sqiggle85 👋🏼
Hopefully AF will get a move on for you! Can’t they give you anything to induce a period?

my cycles are generally quite long, average around 45 days so I think we will just wait it out for a few more weeks and see what they suggest. My longest cycles have been 90 days so I would rather not wait that long 😂

HopefulHead · 30/05/2023 11:35

@Sqiggle85 oh wow, that must be so frustrating!
The only thing that helps bring on my period if I’m ever a little late is a bit of pokey pokey but that’s the only suggestion I have I’m afraid 🤭🤭

Floralsandsmiles · 30/05/2023 19:32

HopefulHead · 30/05/2023 09:31

@Floralsandsmiles i find that a really hard rule about the previous children, in the modern world it is very common for people to have ‘blended families’ and I imagine already having children doesn’t make the desire for wanting a baby in a current relationship any less than those who have no children from previous, just seems like the rules and guidelines around how the nhs view criteria for ivf really needs updating!
Is your and DH’s infertility unexplained then if you have both been able to have children previously?

I totally agree with this @HopefulHead !! Yep unexplained 😒 it's devastating 😢 xxx

HopefulHead · 31/05/2023 06:35

@Floralsandsmiles It must be so frustrating 💔 I really do feel for you 😞
But I have every faith that your cycle will work 🤞🏼 at least you both have the knowledge that you can both make babies and your body will hopefully have muscle memory from doing it before and latch on to those little embryos 🥰

Floralsandsmiles · 31/05/2023 07:24

HopefulHead · 31/05/2023 06:35

@Floralsandsmiles It must be so frustrating 💔 I really do feel for you 😞
But I have every faith that your cycle will work 🤞🏼 at least you both have the knowledge that you can both make babies and your body will hopefully have muscle memory from doing it before and latch on to those little embryos 🥰

Aww that's so nice @HopefulHead , thank you! I really hope yours will work too and have everything imaginable crossed for you!
Our consult is tomorrow where I hope they are armed with every imaginable test result now, so we can make a plan on moving forward and hopefully starting this cycle, in the next few weeks.. when did you say yours was? I think you are a week before mine? xxx

HopefulHead · 31/05/2023 09:03

@Floralsandsmiles Lots of luck for your appointment tomorrow 🤞🏼 hopefully they will say you’re all ready to go!
AF is due 12th June, so hopefully have transfer 1st July if my body does as it’s supposed to 🤭🤭

Floralsandsmiles · 31/05/2023 10:38

HopefulHead · 31/05/2023 09:03

@Floralsandsmiles Lots of luck for your appointment tomorrow 🤞🏼 hopefully they will say you’re all ready to go!
AF is due 12th June, so hopefully have transfer 1st July if my body does as it’s supposed to 🤭🤭

I hope so! Although I finally have my peak today which means I will ovulate tomorrow. I'm worried that it will move my AF from the 10th June.. so we may end up syncing with you! Lol
How do you know that transfer would be the 1st July? Did they say that? Trying to work out when mine would be! Lol xxx

HopefulHead · 31/05/2023 10:45

@Floralsandsmiles I ovulated Monday, I pretty much always start AF 2 weeks after I ovulate, so should be 12th June, then presuming I ovulate 14 days after that (again, usual for me) I would ovulate on 26th June, then transfer would be 5 days after.
But every chance my body will throw a wobbly this month when I need it to behave 😂😂

Floralsandsmiles · 31/05/2023 10:49

HopefulHead · 31/05/2023 10:45

@Floralsandsmiles I ovulated Monday, I pretty much always start AF 2 weeks after I ovulate, so should be 12th June, then presuming I ovulate 14 days after that (again, usual for me) I would ovulate on 26th June, then transfer would be 5 days after.
But every chance my body will throw a wobbly this month when I need it to behave 😂😂

Aww OK, I thought the ovulation is stopped and egg collection is round that time then transfer 5 days after? I had in my head that you start meds 3 days after af and then scans for 12 days and then collection? So confused! Lol xxx

HopefulHead · 31/05/2023 10:55

@Floralsandsmiles Yeah you’re right - I’m only doing a natural FET next month though so no meds or anything involved, just goes with my natural cycle.
But the time line is basically the same with EC & fresh transfer. So they induce ovulation around the time you would naturally ovulate anyway as long as you don’t need longer to stim, then fresh transfer is 3-5 days after depending on how the embryos develop, so we’ll still be on a very similar time frame 🥰

Floralsandsmiles · 31/05/2023 11:48

HopefulHead · 31/05/2023 10:55

@Floralsandsmiles Yeah you’re right - I’m only doing a natural FET next month though so no meds or anything involved, just goes with my natural cycle.
But the time line is basically the same with EC & fresh transfer. So they induce ovulation around the time you would naturally ovulate anyway as long as you don’t need longer to stim, then fresh transfer is 3-5 days after depending on how the embryos develop, so we’ll still be on a very similar time frame 🥰

Aww OK, thank you for this! It's all so confusing and it's my first round.. can you tell?! Lol
Be lovely we are on thr same timeframe though! Is this your second cycle? Xx

HopefulHead · 31/05/2023 14:17

@Floralsandsmiles Yeah it is definitely very confusing!!!
This was my first cycle in March but had to have a freeze all due to OHSS so no fresh transfer for me, so this will be my first FET 🤞🏼

Lebe14 · 31/05/2023 14:45

So I've had my consultation today and have been given a prescription for my meds - I can get them directly from the clinic however they usually cost more apparently so I've been given 2 other places to get quotes which are likely cheaper.

My period starts around 14th June so we're moving quickly to start this cycle. I've been prescribed 450 bemfola and have a nurse appointment next week to talk through everything in more detail.

The day I get my period I need to call the clinic to get a scan the following day. They'll check internally and if all good, I'll then start the daily bemfola injections. I've been given 12 on my prescription. I'll then need to take fyremadel which I believe stops ovulation and I'll be told when to use them, based on how the bemfola is working as reviews during the regular scans. I'm getting a full treatment plan sent via email but this is the short version!

Eeeeek so daunting... and definitely now becoming real.....!!!

Good news is that my husbands semen tests came back very good - so at least it's just me. My consultant is still recommending ICSI though - due to my eggs - which I'm glad about as would rather try everything in the first round.

Feels like we'll all be starting our meds a similar time this month! X

Floralsandsmiles · 31/05/2023 14:58

HopefulHead · 31/05/2023 14:17

@Floralsandsmiles Yeah it is definitely very confusing!!!
This was my first cycle in March but had to have a freeze all due to OHSS so no fresh transfer for me, so this will be my first FET 🤞🏼

Aww gotcha, I just want to try and remember where you are in your cycle too xxx