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 ❤️

@Ellenn thank you Ellen! I went in for my blood work and ultrasound this morning. The results came back and they told me to add ganirelix to my folistim + menopur nightly injections. Last night I did feel burn on the injection site as Im pushing the meds in when I was doing the menopur. The folistim didn't feel it so much because I had numb the area with a little ice pack prior and I did the folistim first. I wasn't sure if order matters but this was the order they gave me so I kindda stuck with it.

Did anyone experience any side effects from the ganirelix? I have only taken the folistim and menopur at this point and I felt bloated but I find drinking a lot of water helps.

@KG1244 thank you so much for your inputs and sharing your experience. I'm really sorry that your first round didn't work out but I sincerely hope this round is going to be a success for you. It is truly emotionally and mentally taxing. So sorry you have to go through it again. Husband and I have been trying for a little over a year and iui (4x) with no success. Whenever my period comes I get so emotional and disappointed because I don't know what is the reason or what can I do to improve our chances. We have unexplained infertility. Everything came back normal for us. We never thought about IVF because the idea scares me but DH and I love kids and we want to build a family of our own so we agree on a deadline if it doesnt happen we would consider IVF and so here we are! He's been very supportive and tries to help me with my nightly injections preping the stuff for me and I completely agree with you we just gotta take it day by day and hope for the best. As of today I'm told to start my ganirelix. I"m a little nervous about how that would make me feel but will try to stay calm.

By the way, did you experience any discomfort after the egg retrieval? I heard there's a risk of OHSS but not sure how common is it.

@Peonies19 I had OHSS both cycles and definitely needed days off either side of egg collection as felt awful. I was high risk for developing due to my AMH levels though. I think if you don’t get OHSS some people don’t feel too bad, would definitely try at least to have a plan incase you don’t feel great though! And you can’t drive for 48 hrs after having sedation too.

Hope your first scan all went well and it’s looking good, when are you next due a scan?

Hi everyone, I was in the July FET group, but it looks like mother nature is running late! My cycle should start in the next week, all being well!

This is my first FET, as I had my DS from my round of IVF in 2020. So we're going in for another little one with our left over frosties.

I hope everyone is holding in there!

@Ellenn my last scan was on day 7. They said my follicles are growing. They told me to start ganirelix the same night that’s why I was asking about the injection what to expect etc.. it was good that I read your comments (thanks again!) and others ahead of time so I didn’t freak out when I inject the site the needle didn’t go in. The needle was a bit blunt. So I ice the area a little longer before I tried the 2nd time and it was fine. Felt quite bloated afterward and the next morning. I find myself peeing like a horse since I started these injections because of the amount of water I was drinking. Did you get bloated after the ganirelix? Since they started me on ganirelix I wonder if they going to have me in for retrieval by day 11 or 12 because my cycle is pretty regular. I usually ovulate between day 12 and day 14. Going in for blood work and scan again tomorrow.

how are you doing on your end?

i had two doses of the ganirelix along with my foliatim and menopur so far. I notice increase in discharge. Is this normal?

@Peonies19 yes I was quite bloated with the medication, the nurses told me it was normal side effect and to make sure to drink enough water. I also developed OHSS symptoms around day 7/8 of stimulation. Ended up looking like I was 6 months pregnant 🤣🤣🤣

I think it’s normal for increase in discharge as I had asked the nurses about that, I also had that 🙈 did your scan go ok? I’m not sure that the treatment cycle always adds up to normal natural cycle length as usually I have long cycles and ovulate day 18 but both my egg collections where day 9 and 12!

@Ellenn, hi Ellen! Scan was ok. Just had another one this morning and blood work. I’m just a little worry when they will do retrieval because I have 2 follicles that is getting bigger (19, 17) while others are still growing. I haven’t heard back yet if they want me to continue the 3 nightly injections: foliatim, menopur and ganirelix.

i was under the impression this is all the injections there is to the ivf treatment and we go into transfer and that’s it. But apparently there’s more injections to come? Can you tell me little about that please? How many more approx? I know progesterone is probably one to prep the lining to receive the embryo. But just to prep my nerves… please tell me a little about the injections after the stimulation before transfer. I’m needle phobic and terrify of blood work and here I am going into the office every 2-3 days. My arm is bruised from the blood work :(

Hi!!!! My transfer will happen around 2nd week of august. I've been diagnosed with "unexplained" 🥺 We are undergoing NHS treatment at St Barts London. It will be my first treatment ever after having been unsuccessful for 2y naturally (I'm 35). We were told we will go with ICSI.
Today was my first baseline scan and the nurse said my BMI being 28 (cut off being 30), I have to be careful. Now this has caused me so much anxiety suddenly. I'm v nervous I won't be successful in the first round (or ever)

@Peonies19 ooh big follicles! You must be almost ready to trigger? So I’m not sure what protocol your clinic uses but for me I stopped ganirelix and stimulation drugs the day I took the trigger (it’s an injection) then after egg collection you start progesterone (either just pessaries/gel but you can also have an injectable progesterone) I think most people just have the pessaries/gel but might be worth asking your clinic what they are suggesting for you? You feel a bit like a pin cushion by the time you get to egg collection not going to lie 🙈

@scaredynoob hey 👋 welcome! Yeh I was quite nervous when just starting treatment too. We are also unexplained infertility as well. I think my frozen transfer might be first week but will see it may be around same time as you!

Thanks @Ellenn , I wish you so much luck and good health :-)

I've been told my reserves are 11 and 13.. Hopefully the BMI thing doesn't work against me .. I'll try remaining positive. I'm not even thinking about the injections 😂😂

@Ellenn apparently they are quite big but we're hoping they'll reach 22mm before the retrieval. We're going for one more night of stim injections, blood work and scan and see how it goes. If all goes according to plan I will be doing my trigger injection tomorrow and retrieval 36 hours later. The whole stim process felt so fast but I still cannot get used to these needles but at the same time i find some relief that we're making progress.

How was the retrieval process for you? did you have any restrictions before or afterward?

Hey ladies, would love to join! I’m currently on Provera to induce a period (it’s absolutely kicking my arse - such bad side effects) but hoping will lead to a medicated transfer in August!

Hi everyone, just catching up. Looks like there is a lot going on for everyone.

@Peonies19 sounds like it all progressing nicely for you. Everyone is different, but I didn't have any restrictions after my egg retrival the first time I went through IVF.

@scaredynoob I wouldn't over worry too much about BMI. I had to lose weight for my first round of IVF. I just hit the 30 BMI range right before my cycle started and it never affected me getting pregnant. Although, I know everyone is different, but in my experience, it had no negative effect, and I went on to have a healthy pregnancy.

@Superstorefan123 welcome and I hope you're feeling a bit better.

@Ellenn I hope its all progressing well for you on your journey.

I'm just waiting for aunt flo to arrive, hopefully this week. So I can start on estrogen patches and have my FET in August.

@Justkeepmoving1234 hey, I’m also doing medicated FET in august. Sadly natural FET failed earlier this month. Have you done medicated FET before?

Thank you @Justkeepmoving1234 that makes me feel a bit calm. I'm just taking it all one day at a a time really

@Peonies19 thank you ❤️ I’m the same, unexplained infertility. I didn’t get OHSS but was really nervous about it. After egg collection, the nurses will usually tell you if you at risk. If you are, I think they recommend salty foods and drinking lots of water. My only discomfort was being very bloated and not fitting into my clothes. I found it a bit triggering just cause I looked pregnant and didn’t want to see people who would look at me and think that I was.

@KG1244 sorry to hear your natural FET didn't work for you. How are you coping?

I haven't done a FET before, so it's all new to me. But I did have a medicated fresh transfer a couple of years ago. So I do have some experience with the medication side of things. Are you on meds now? Or waiting for your cycle?

@scaredynoob completely get it!! Its all a bit of a journey. Especially on your first time. I know I found it overwhelming, and definitely had times of 'WTF am I doing?!What is going on?!'
I found it easier taking it one step at a time, rather than the whe thing, as it can be a lot!
Sounds like you're getting through it 😊

@Justkeepmoving1234I think I’m having a moment thinking “WTf is going on now” lol.. this morning I went for a scan and blood work and the follies that was 19 and 17 is now 20 and 15! I asked does it shrink? The sonographer said she can’t get it any bigger. Anyone had this before? I thought they can either stay the same size or bigger? This is unheard of for me.

@Justkeepmoving1234 im doing ok now, first week was really hard. Should start the meds at the beginning of August. I think I start on the patches and then move to injections as well.

@Peonies19 how strange!! Thats a definite WTF is going on moment!
I've never had that, I must admit. Do you think they measured them wring the first time? It does sound like the 20mm is growing nicely though

@KG1244 I completely understand how the first week would have been hard. This journey can be so shit sometimes. Sending lots of positive thoughts your way for this round!

It looks like we'll be on a similar journey, although I'm on oestrogen patches and progesterone pessaries only this time. Are your injections for progesterone?

@Justkeepmoving1234 thank you ❤️ so the nurse told me I would start on patches and then move on to injections and pessaries as well. I think the injection is an additional progesterone hormone but I could have got that completely wrong!

@Justkeepmoving1234 yea 20mm is growing pretty well but the others are lagging behind. Chances are they going to cancel IVF and convert the cycle to a IUI instead. Not sure how that works but I'll hear more about it later when I see my doctor.

Has anyone went through this before? IVF switching to IUI?

Hey guys! I just thought I'd join is as I'm in week 1 of treatment, with first progress scan Saturday. @Peonies19 reading your post - sorry that one has retracted a little. I have had this myself previously (but on OI not IVF). They seemed to think the 2 that were really big ruptured? I was like what surely not, but my lining wouldn't thicken up and my body just stopped responding to the meds, so they just abandoned the round (But that was OI not IVF so bear that in mind!) I'm really nervous for Saturday that my body won't respond again so I totally feel your pain and worry.

What day are you on now with your IVF treatment, and have you got any others looking good in the background as well as the 20 and 17?