FET / IVF August 2023

[KG1244]

I’m due to start my second round of FET in August so thought I would set up this group for some treatment buddies ❤️

Hi @Lowo21 and @GCS34 - I got the call from the clinic confirming that I need to go in at 0730 on Monday. My trigger is tomo at 2030. And yes, I'm getting a fresh one, and they said tentatively on Sat (I wasn't sure they do it over the weekend, but during the call they said yes)

Catching up on the messages - I wish everyone so much of good wishes and baby dust.. August will be our month 🙂

Can someone give me a science lesson? How do the numbers funnel from egg collection till the embryo transfer? My NHS clinic is quite transactional and doesn't answer properly if I had questions :(
What kind of Qs should I ask accordingly?

@hereshoping123 keeping everything crossed for your three lovely eggs!

I’m so sorry to hear about your DH’s PTSD Lowo, I really hope he makes a good recovery. I had CPTSD and found EMDR really helpful although I needed far more than 6 sessions. However the amount needed differs by person so fingers crossed your DH has a good result from his session :) It has ended the horrific traumatising dreams I used to have and means I don’t have panic attacks and meltdowns etc. I am just a much more capable person and it feels so good.

TMI but the amount of gas I am releasing this evening is insane!

@scaredynoob exciting ! Nice to have a plan ahead ! Nice timing on the 0830 trigger 👍

So short answer is follicles (fluid sacs and hopefully an egg) grow in the week leading up to EC,
Day 1 on EC day the follicles are drained and the embryologist scans the fluid for eggs that can be transferred to fertilisation with the sperm
Day 2 normally get a call from the clinic to say how many of these eggs were viable for fertilisation and are being taken forward
Day 3/4 clinic will call to say how many fertilised eggs have grown and gone threw meiosis (mutation of cells dividing) to create to 6 cells. Some don't progress further. This is just luck of the draw with a combination of sperm and egg health.
Day 5/6 clinic will call to say what eggs have grown into blastocysts (bit before an embryo 10 plus cells) which are healthy enough to be either be transferred or frozen. Some fertilised eggs are slightly slower in growth so some clinics wait until day 6 to provide the final number.
So many just don't make it for so many reasons, most likely because the cell wouldn't develop into a viable embryo.

I hope that helps I can go into more detail if it helps, I have a bit of knowledge on human biology but not a huge amount !

Woooohoooo @Lowo21 , that is so nice of you to explain 🥲
So what numbers do you think I should feel "happy" about when I get those calls?

How're you feeling about your process overall? 🙂

Hey @scaredynoob general egg attrition is (obviously depends on the person but average): -

80% of collected eggs are mature
80% of mature eggs fertilise
60% of fertilised eggs make it to day 3
60% of day 3s make it to day 5

hope that helps. X

Thank you so much for letting me know I hope you don't mind me asking, is it through light therapy? How did you feel immediately after? He is similar in broken sleep and severe anxiety. He is desperately trying to come to terms with things and overcome the trauma especially now and has said he wants to be healthy to welcome a new addition 🤞🏻🤞🏻 - IVF better work now hahah!

@Lowo21 jinx

*Through !!! Ooops spell check sorry !

Glad it has help !
Totally agree with @GCS34 just bear in mind it's so different person to person. And .... it only takes one !

@GCS34 did we get separated at birth? 🤣😂

No it wasn’t through light therapy Lowo. Mine was all virtual so i had to follow dots on a screen in order to properly process the memory. When he first explained it I couldn’t see how it could work but it did :) I really hope he feels better before a new addition arrives :)

@Lowo21 whens your birthday? This could get spooky. ps not a stalker. Just wondered. Promise 👀

@scaredynoob id also say, don’t get hung up on numbers as you could be really dissapointed. My DH and I said we’d be happy with 2 embryos so we have two chances, and anything else is a bonus. But obviously it’s what is best for you but I find being too worried about numbers made my anxiety worse.

@Lowo21 so you’re 34, as is @Hopingforno2in2023. Feel like we have a weird 34yo cult going on here. Anyone else want to join the FET 34s club?

yeah I bet it’s dragging. Have you had a wine yet? At least that is an option! And have you got anything like a holiday planned for the wait? Make hay while the sunshine’s and all that (GOD that was such an old lady thing to say).

glad you’re feeling better now and hopefully over the worst of it. I feel better today but I also have some intense cramping around where you would get period pains. Have you or anyone else had that? I’m hoping it’s just my body recovering from being attacked on Wednesday. Ohss wise I (fingers crossed) don’t feel too bad yet. I hope it doesn’t come. Last time I had it I was sick for 2 days. My mate who is have EC on weds has gone into ohss mid cycle! Feel awful for her. Not TFP needless to say, some shit clinic 😂

I’m okay bar the above just anxiously waiting for our day 3 update on Sunday when they ring us to tell us how many made it through the day tomorrow 😬🤞

@scaredynoob so exciting for Monday!!! Get that trigger at the ready! Least it’s not at like 6am!

Sorry you’ve had a hard time @Hopingforno2in2023 😞

One sec, having wine is an option????? Why have I been abstaining since I started my meds 😵‍💫 I wish I had joined this group earlier to have gotten the idea that I should plan a holiday for the wait!!!! Have you all planned something nice? ☺️

Are any of you prescribed the salad in 2% cream?

Just had our call from the clinic and they recommended pushing for a day 5 transfer so we’ve booked in for that. Now just so nervous that we won’t have any embryos left until then, it’s not going to be a fun weekend!

@Helene2019 hope you get some good news today.

@ttcsolomumtobe hope your egg collection went ok yesterday and you’ve been feeling ok.

Fingers crossed that means your embryos are good quality IVF and you end up with lovely blastocysts.

Hey @IVF23 yes egg collection went well, dont remember a thing of it luckily. Was quite sick when I got home last night but feel like that's all the emotions and ended up being in clinic much longer so just grabbed an iced pastry and latte when I got out... Don't think it sat well ha. No sickness or pain today, couple of twinges in stomach. Just waiting on the fertilisation call and till this afternoon when I can head out for a drive as a distraction.

Glad you are booked in for your transfer and hope all continue to develop well. Are they pushing for a day 5 as all of yours are at a similar level? Don't have my notes to hand now but I think they were saying if on day 3 there is a clear above the rest one they would go ahead with a day 3, is that right? When will your day 5 transfer be? My day 3 with be Monday, day 5 would be Wednesday.

Thank you @Hopingforno2in2023

@ttcsolomumtobe glad it was ok. Yes I was the same in the evening, really sick! Glad you feel better today. Yes I think so. They gave us the option of transferring a day 3 7 cell embryo today but recommended that we push to day 5 as there’s other good quality ones also. So I think it depends on quality and the number of embryos at day 3. We will be transferring Monday (hopefully!)

@IVF23 glad your embryo update went well today. Found out this morning all 3 of ours have made it to day 3 and are graded as good. Hoping 1 may survive till Monday🤞

@ttcsolomumtobe hope you've had an update on collection/fertilisation, and that you aren't too uncomfortable post collection. We've only ever been offered a 5 day transfer. So it is difficult waiting for the day 5 update.

@Helene2019 that's great news, fingers across for Monday.

Had my call and it went well. Looks like Monday could be a busy one. I've been booked a Monday slot but similar to @IVF23 my clinic will decide on Monday if they are going to push to day 5.
After reading lots of comments about the pessaries I'm finding them quite easy, no terrible mess (vaginal use only) and that feels a relief. Have just stupidly done a full food shop of all things that aid recovery after EC and help prepare for transfer, I say stupidly as forgot how heavy veg/fruit/bottles of fresh juice are when carrying from a car to the house 😂 afternoon of movie and sofa chill I think but feeling very lucky to be mobile and actually feeling decent as have seem some have terrible days between (let's hope my words don't come to bite me !)

@Helene2019 thats brilliant news! Fingers crossed for a day 5 transfer for us both on Monday!

Great news @Helene2019 keeping everything crossed for Monday!