2nd IVF journey - male factor- looking for support!

[Peoniesandrainbows]

Hi ladies,

First time I've posted on here. Hoping to find some support from others going through a similar thing! My husband was diagnosed with male factor infertility and we have really struggled on this 5 year fertility journey. Its tested our 18 year relationship (been married 8 years) to the limits to say the least!

We are so lucky to have our gorgeous 2 year old daughter from IVF, our second embryo transfer in 2020. She is amazing and I wish I was just happy to only have her, but this is not what is deep inside my soul!

I'm really searching for some peace but I know i won't find any until we have a second. I still have hope, as although my husbands sperm parameters are still bad, I have no major fertility issues, apart from AMH of 5. We are currently doing embryo banking due to age (37) and AMH. Just did a cycle and got only one day 3 mosaic, was told it was an absymal cycle by our consultant and likely due to egg quality. I feel like I'm having to work so hard on my egg quality again, taking loads of expensive supplements and diet, no caffeine or alcohol.

Then this week my sister and another friend who I'm close to told me they are pregnant for the second time. I just feel like I'm having to put so much effort in, my social life is crap because of the restrictions of the IVF prep and I see them just going out whenever they want, binge drinking, eating unhealthily and smoking and even taking drugs! Not that i want to do that but im just craving the freedom. I just feel like it's so utterly unfair, I'm so fed up of putting so much effort in for no guaranteed results. Its such a draining process for the emotional and mental health not to mention my career which has been a low priority since this started. I know I'm resisting the process and just need to accept it, which would be much easier.

I'm hoping that other people get it and we can have a good old rant about IVF and how much it just takes over every aspect of your life! I probably need to just stop moaning and be more grateful but sometimes it's just not as easy as that.

I’m in a similar boat with a long time TTC dealing with male factor and low AMH. Can totally relate to seeing friends get pregnant easily, meanwhile I’m over here constantly watching what I eat/drink, taking every supplement and no luck after almost a decade!

How did your treatment go?

Im searching for London based clinic for ICSI treatment, this will be my 2nd round.

How did you get on @Peoniesandrainbows? I just stumbled across this. I have a 1 year old conceived after IVF due to severe male factor. I'd love a second and feel I want to try a transfer ASAP as I don't feel we have much choice as its just 'a chance' not a 'given', but DP isn't keen. Feels quite unfair as our route to IVF was prolonged largely due to his refusal to go to the Doctors, + I am not getting any younger. Totally sympathise with it happening so easily for others. Also finding AF very triggering each month even though there is no chance of it happening naturally :(. Hope you are doing OK <3

Just seeing these messages come in has been really lovely! Since I posted about a year ago, things have totally changed. We did two rounds of ICSI last year with PGT-A. After the first abysmal round which had no embryos, we did another and got one embryo. From the round in 2020 and the one last year in October we had two embryos which we did PGT-A testing on and so lucky but they both came back genetically normal. We then had a 6 month gap between the round in October and doing a transfer in May as I had a very resistant infection in my uterus so needed multiple biopsies and rounds of antibiotics. Then we did the transfer in May and we found out it was positive! So we are pregnant again, and baby is due in January next year. Feel so lucky but also just proud of myself for putting up with so many invasive things on this marathon fertility journey. I don't think anyone really gets what an effort it is unless you've been through it. We were so lucky to be pregnant.

Thank you so much @ivfmeerut 💓 and huge congratulations @Peoniesandrainbows wonderful news and what a reward after all you've been through! Fertility treatment is so awful at times (well, the need for it) but it really is miraculous too!