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 ❤️

@GCS34 thats reassuring to hear about your sister, thank you. Xx

@ttcsolomumtobe thank you. Yea I had one trigger shot 13 days ago plus I did a test on Friday to see if it was out of my system and got a negative so I think this is a genuine positive but I still don’t want to get my hopes up too much yet because of past experiences. I haven’t managed to get through to my clinic yet but hopefully they’ll be able to offer some help 🤞x

@Purtyburty i was told I’d be called between 8-10am the following day but they didn’t call me until midday. I felt so impatient and nervous too but I had good quality eggs and five fertilised (though only 4 got to blastocyst stage) so if they call you late it doesn’t really mean anything in terms of the results xx

@Ellenn they did say it would be morning. I know it is still early but feel really impatient!

@Ellenn it was in my paperwork to avoid swimming from day 1 of the cycle due to risk of infection, seems a bit excessive but wouldn't wanna risk it just for a few swims a week. About 4 days after starts the stims my hips and tummy felt heavy so defo wouldn't have been doing my Zumba or hit classes.

Will defo be nice to get back to it though as helps with sleeping and just feeling like I'm doing something

@Doughnut89 thank you for the reassurance!

@Purtyburty hope they don’t keep you waiting too much longer! The waiting is the worst part, is there anything you could do to distract yourself?

@ttcsolomumtobe yes definitely wouldn’t do exercise during stimulation think my ovaries would be super angry 🙈 but as my last transfers haven’t gone that well I don’t want to do exercise if it might have a negative impact on outcomes… will see got a small amount of pink/brown when I wiped this morning so that’s put me into proper paranoid mode 🤣

Hey all!

so just wanted to introduce myself! I’m going through my first cycle of IVF.

A bit about me - I have had 2 surgeries this year for endometriosis and been on zoladex for the last 6 months to be down regulated. Was due to start IVF later on. But my period came early! Don’t think I’ve ever been so happy to see it come hahaha.

Just had my scan today, and they’re ready for me to start gonal f and menopur injections tonight!

Feels all about unreal and a bit nervous! But excited to take this next step! And looking forward to chatting with you all and supporting each other! We got this! 💪🏽

@Ellenn so sorry to hear of the spot when wiping. Although we read advice to others saying it is very normal it does instill fear into us when we see it on ourselves. Think that's where my head is at when going to the bathroom, no part of the 2ww is kind is it, which is why we just have to be super kind to ourselves 🩷

@Warrier87 welcome! And yes, funny how excited we get for period to arrive when we know it means we can start this journey. There's lots of people at different stages in their cycle on this group, some in 2ww, some who did a freeze all due to OHSS, any questions, no matter how silly they seem just feel free to ask. I've found it such a great support

@Ellenn I know. And we're in a constant cycle of wanting a period, not wanting a period, then wanting it again! Honestly I've never been as excited last Wednesday when I came on, and I don't have periods naturally!! 😂Sucks you feel sick - have you been sick or mainly nausea? That is a good sign I think. I hope you don't mind me asking, but did you get that last time?

Yeah I think that is it. Self preservation as well - if we don't think it'll work, we won't be as upset if it fails, even though we all know that 100% WONT be the case and will just be as hard. Haha yeah It's like the Embryo Russian roulette! 😆

Great you're back starting to exercise again! They actually advise now to be active (be that exercise or walking) when pregnant as it helps keep the blood flow going which will help with your uterus. And also helps with keeping your core warm! I did read that you shouldn't be out of breath while stimming, and also the risk of torsion, but this is different now that your ovaries have reduced back to 'normal' size. If you feel comfortable then do it I'd say. I can't run without hyperventilating too, don't worry! 😂

@Doughnut89 it's definitely an anxious time - regardless of where you are in your journey. Not sure if I've mentioned on here before, but have you or anyone else listened to the BFN podcast? It is SO good and really good 'real world' IVF stories, and their 2 UK women who are going / have gone through countless rounds of IVF, and they get loads of guests on etc. They mention things like bleeding during the TWW - might be worth a listen as they share experiences and what their drs say. And they also have a Doctor from TFP on too, so it's really good. Anyway, might help. Might not be your thing but thought I'd mention it.

@kirstysmbc thanks well I officially made it up if anyone asks! 👀😅I never clicked that link but I'm 100% doing so now! I was meant to read it then completely forgot! I like that analogy a lot! And yeah mine defo look stupid - or like someone has drawn it with a spirograph 😂So are you on the same timeline as me and @Lowo21 ? x

@GCS34 I'm hoping to start stims tomorrow, but might be doing pgta depending on numbers, so not sure yet if it will be fresh transfer at the start of sept or frozen later. At 43 I'll need quite a few embryos to try and get a normal one, but I have one untested left from my last cycle that I'll transfer if I don't get anything at all from this one.

@GCS34 only nausea atm and it’s worse first thing then a bit sporadic during the day. I had nausea with my last transfer from 4 wks too so think my body just not a big fan of hormones!

had a bit of brown/pink spotting this morning so started to panic watch my pants … will see how it goes. Also sent my medicheck beta test away so might get results Friday hopefully 🤞

I’ve listened to a few podcasts about fertility but not BFN might have a listen! Love a good podcast to pass time when driving 😁

anyone else on lubion? I’m due to collect today from the clinic …

@kirstysmbc Ah sorry I think I mistook you for @Steph186! My bad. Have you had previous rounds before? Sorry if you're repeating yourself - there are so many people in here now, and it's often hard to remember who's who! Especially when everyone has IVF in their name 😂I feel like you've done it before right? Have you decided on PGT? Has the clinic advised it as I know they don't if you're under 37?

@GCS34 no need to apologise, I'm the same! Yes, did a previous cycle in 2021 where I got six embryos - transferred three en route to my daughter, then two earlier this year. Now doing a fresh cycle to try for a few more and have been advised to test due to age. I've had two miscarriage from my three transfers, so they think implantation isn't an issue but it's just likely down to egg quality / age. I'm not 100% sold on it yet, will depend on how many I get, and am also going to speak to the embryology team at the clinic.

@Ellenn Must have sent that at the exact same time! Oh bless you, well I hope it passes soon (and for the right reasons!!)
Shit man that's never nice. But, chances are it's just a bit of spotting. Not sure If you read about my sister earlier on, but she bled on and off for 10ish weeks, and she's absolutely fine and has her C section booked! I hope it's just a bit of implantation / old blood. 🤗

Ohhhh you'll be hooked so i'm sorry in advance haha! They're dead funny and relatable, and just take the piss out of the whole thing which is weirdly quite comforting.

Is Lubrion the injectable progesterone?

@Ellenn I take lubion for my transfers, as my levels have been low in the past. I don't mind the injections, but they're expensive!! If you can get a private prescription, Asda do really reasonable prices for IVF meds.

@GCS34 yes they are injectable progesterone. My clinic don’t usually give additional progesterone for natural cycles but as I’ve had two miscarriages they said I should take it. Thankfully all on NHS @kirstysmbc so don’t need to fork out the money! That’s good to hear they are ok, seems some people find them really painful!

@Ellenn Ahhh thanks for clarifying! 👏Will the additional progesterone, on top of that of your own, improve the odds I assume? The wonders of Scotland and having 3 rounds hey! Although, you have to have 2 years of TTC don't you? So not all rosey. But good they're taking it seriously and helping you to improve your chances.

@Lowo21 and @Steph186 - I spoke to TFP this morning about grading and the nice lady explained it to me SO well. If you're interested, I'll DM you it so it doesn't bore everyone else haha

@GCS34 yes if you are ‘unexplained’ you have to wait two years before going on the waiting list for treatment unfortunately! I was glad when the doctor suggested extra progesterone, will try anything to get a better outcome tbh. Send suggestions my way 🤣

thats good the embryologist was helpful! I’ve always found them so nice, must be a hard job giving out results sometimes I imagine

@GCS34 Would also be interested in this info as I've kind of forgotten what they said before, and hopefully will have some new embryos to grade very soon!!

@GCS34 hey, if you wouldn’t mind, please could you share the advice you got from your embryologist ❤️

@kirstysmbc @KG1244 Of course. So they said at TFP that they use 'Simplified Embryo Grading System' which differs from the Gardner grading (4AB for example).

So they said that A-C on the 'SEGS' is classed as a top quality embryo. They do not freeze anything that is not a viable pregnancy. In the Gardner system, a C is classed as poor, and some clinics discard them, but a C on their system, is really a B in the Gardner. And a B is really an A based on the Gardner scale. They did just letters to keep it clear for the embryologists, and patients.

I asked what all mine were stage wise, and they said that anything they freeze is a blastocyst, they don't freeze none-blasts. Which was good to know, so any you girls have that are frozen, will be a blastocyst. So of mine 5, for context I'll tell you what they said, and what that is on the Gardner system, and hopefully explains it:

B - this is a Full blastocyst (so a '4' on the Gardner system) and is classed as an A on Gardner. It is just a little smaller than what an 'A' would be (likely late fertilisation - on the 12th hour vs. maybe the 1st hour for example - that's what she said) so maybe 4AB

C - Same a full blast, so a 4, and is more of a 'B' on Gardner. so 4BB in that instance

3 x other C's - These are expanded blasts, so 5, and same as the C above, so a B on Gardner, and just a bit behind the others, so is a 5BB on the Gardner.

Hope that helps.

@GCS34 thank you, that’s really helpful. I always thought, it’s not in the interest of your clinic to freeze an embryo if they don’t think it will stand a chance x

@GCS34 Thanks, that's really is incredibly useful. And massages me feel a little better about the C grade I have left on ice with them... Which TFP clinic are you using?

@kirstysmbc @KG1244 you're both welcome. I was trying to write it without it being confusing, so i'm glad it made sense! It definitely made me feel better too. And made me feel better that they don't freeze embryo's that are unlikely to make a live birth. Not sure if you read studies or anything, but she gave me one to look at that shows the study done on it. It doesn't make a great deal of sense to us non-medics, but from what I got from it, the SEGS has a 53% success rate for live births on average.

I am at Nottingham. Where are you at?