Treatment planning appointment - what do expect?

[Loulaki]

Hi all,

After what has felt like ages, we are finally scheduled in for our treatment planning appointment in 10 days. From what they've told us we will discuss our treatment and when we could potentially start. I hope we can kick off the treatment still in June as my period starts late in the month but who knows.

I am trying to prepare for this by writing down some questions. Just wondering what your experience was, how fast you actually got to treatment and if there is a question you didnt ask which you wish you had.

:)

@Loulaki we're in exactly the same position (ours is on Mon) so watching this thread!

@Loulaki where are you in your wait? Have you had all the tests done and we're told that you'll get an appt re starting ivf?

We went through the usual tests etc and we're diagnosed with unexplained infertility and told that we needed to wait another year (2 year wait for ivf for unexplained) but they didn't expect to see us back. A year later we were back. We only then got added to the ivf waitlist which took 3 months to reach the top. Then we had an appt 2 months later but they decided they wanted to mock transfer me so that was the month later. In between that we got our consent forms and signed them. It was another 2 months before we started with the medication.

I had a drug to control my cycle so they told me to take that on day 25 for 12 days then I had to wait for a bleed. That took another 6 days then day 3 was baseline scan where I had 46 follicles and they told me that they were worried I'd develop OHSS and potentially no fresh transfer. I continued with the medication until the next scan when they realised that I didn't respond well to the low dose but because some follicles were already big they couldn't increase. Weeks later it was egg collection on day 17 I think where I got 6 eggs of which 5 were mature. Pretty poor really but first round is always unknowm and they decided next round to up the meds. I ended up with 3 blasts but 1 didn't survive freezing or something. We got a fresh transfer which worked and ended in miscarriage at 6+ weeks.

We then had stop medication when miscarriage happened and then wait to bleed (9 days later) and then we had to have that cycle then another natural cycle then we called on day 1 of that 3rd cycle and began meds for the frozen transfer. That then didn't stick so it's round 2 for us and still no explanation for infertility.

I've noticed that those with MFI normally get ICSI and I think they may not get as great number of embryos they tend to have more success from what I've seen but I've not really heard of much first time success with unexplained.

Every clinic is different with their times and medication. My advise would be to not be worried, realise quickly that it's all outwith your control, none of it is physically painful (only emotional) and it really is a 'journey' 🤮. Don't be too worried about embryo number or quality as it just takes one and I've head of lots of success from poor quality embryos. Ours were top grade and didn't work. Please try to continue life. Yes take your supplements and eat healthy but you'll regret not doing something you wanted (such as exercise or a glass of wine) if it doesn't work. Limit your exercise if you feel you have to during ivf and I stopped all high intensity exercise after transfers. It also doesn't fall out of you and make sure you definitely fill that bladder before transfer as it makes it a hell of a lot easier!!!!!!

Good luck! It's shit. 😂

@Loulaki also I was prepared with questions and if I'm honest no matter what you think you know there will always be something that crops up that you won't prepare for! We were prepared for loads of eggs and a frozen and we got little and a fresh. The emotional roller coaster is unknown just try to enjoy it or hold on tight 😂

Is this private or nhs?

What tests have you had done?

Then I can answer more thoroughly xx

@marshk hope it all goes well for you :)

@CR7 it is privately funded, and we have done all our tests and signed all the consent forms. thank you :)

Thanks @Fox01 ! It is a rollercoaster indeed! I have not even properly started but I still feel this way. You are totally right that in many ways it is beyond our control but I am a planner by nature so I find it extra hard!

We are funding our ICSI round privately - have a combo of MF and relatively low AMH. We are def not thinking it will be a first time success and we will likely have to do a second round. So expectations are set pretty low.

I am just keen to get it started and see what happens, how I respond and how involved the whole process is. Also work tends to be calmer in July/August so I really hope we can start then. But who knows... I hope I am able to take the nasal spray to control my cycle after my next period which is in June. Just dont know if that is how it works or whether they take their time?

I have had friends abroad who have had egg freezing done and it was done quickly and without much faff.

@Loulaki my amh was 2.1 and I got three through pgta. Don't be too disheartened by low amh. I bet mine is lower than yours xx

thank you at @CR7 your story is very encouraging! Im just trying to manage our expectations as it feels like a very long process in some ways :)

The longest rollercoaster ever. Punctuated with so much waiting.... stages upon stages upon stages. Milestones. Scans. Drugs.

But I would do it all over again

Hi @Loulaki - I was just wondering how you got on at your appointment?

Hi @marshk , went ok. We signed a few extra forms and talked through the treatment plan and asked some questions.

Didn't get precise timings yet though now that I got my period I am waiting a call from them to get dates sorted and order the medication. And hopefully get started in mid/end July.

Ah that is good @Loulaki - we've got our appointment tomorrow to discuss our plan etc. my cycle starts mid to end July too so not sure we'll have enough time to get everything sorted before!