FET / IVF August 2023 - thread 2

[KG1244]

We filled up the first thread fast!!

@kirstysmbc i also think it’s luck of the draw. My doctors thought I would get more than I did so I don’t lose hope, you never know what the outcome might be x

@kirstysmbc sorry, can’t type today! Meant they thought it would be a lower number than it was. The progesterone is breaking my brain!

Thanks @GCS34 - yes OH is around. But I decided to go to work and keep myself busy. I'm kinda tearing up because it feels like I did badly on an exam. My rational self tells me "what effing crap is this line of thought". And then my wallowing-in-self-pity side is questioning "why me". And then the "on a fertility meds break" side is yelling "finally a glass or more of wine! Or tequila shots tonight". And all three of them are talking over each other.

And yes, going in Sept end was more my choice. I'm 36, this was my first round. And I have no idea what's going wrong.. I am told my fertility health is good to great, and there's borderline sperm morphology / motility issue. I think it's just a case of bad luck - we have been trying naturally for 2 years now.

It just sucks NOT KNOWING, and not having absolutely any control

I'm a bit late to the party, but I'm on my first round of IVF this month. Been TTC since March 2020, I'm now almost 36. Normal regular cycle, normal hormone blood results September 2021. Partner's results were normal. I was then diagnosed with possible hydrosalpinx around March 2022 after an ultrasound, so had a fertility clinic appointment July 2022, and then went on the waiting list for a laparoscopy and hysteroscopy. Had the surgery in March this year which confirmed bilateral hydrosalpinx, so had my fallopian tubes out, but they also found extensive adhesions and scar tissue from what they diagnosed as chronic pelvic inflammatory disease, of which I had no symptoms whatsoever (so was a complete surprise). My AMH test then revealed a very low result for my age group of 4.0pmol/l. I started Ovaleap 375iu on short protocol on 1st August, introduced Ovamex on the 4th August. Had four check up scans and grew about 8 or 9 good follicles. Took my trigger shot of Ovitrelle on the 14th August, went for egg retrieval on the 16th August. We got 6 eggs - 5 of the 6 fertilised, and 3 made it to day 3. We went for embryo transfer on Monday this week, and they said only 2 were looking like they were developing enough but they weren't quite at blastocyst stage (so they weren't officially graded). They said best bet would be to put both in to give them the best chance. So I had a double transfer and am now in my TWW and on my Cyclogest twice a day. Official test day 2nd September. @TTCMama17 I am also at Oxford, sounds like we are almost on the same timescales, wishing you all the best x

@Custard7891 welcome to the group! We can keep each other company - I’m transferring tomorrow and OTD on 4th September. I wish you all the best. ❤️ How are you finding the Cyclogest?

Thanks @KG1244 wishing you all the best too 😊 They had concerns on egg retrieval day about my lining only being 5.5mm and they needed 7mm, but on transfer day it measured 7.5mm which was lucky. Cyclogest is okay, I'm not really feeling any different using it so far. What about you?

@Custard7891 thank you! Pleased to hear your lining was good on transfer day!
I really hated them in my first round but seem to have found it easier this time. I think I’ve found the trick is to put them in lying down which has helped. Lubion injections on the other hand have been a bloody pain - literally!

I’m so sorry for your BFN @scaredynoob

i feel for your @kirstysmbc, with my AMH I am aware that I may end up in the same position and it is hard to contemplate isn’t it! Just the relief we will feel if we get one good embryo but that is all we need hopefully!

Welcome @Custard7891, fingers crossed for you

Still no sign of withdrawal bleed here. This has been the longest two weeks of my life.

@KG1244 Well, it's my 2nd year wedding anniversary on 4th September, and it is your second round, so I say that is definitely a good omen 😂

@GCS34 ill take it 🙌🏻

@TTCMama17 @KG1244 @Hopingforno2in2023 Thanks ladies, trying to stay positive. At least if I don't get many I won't have the extra cost of testing, I'll just transfer and hope for the best...

@Custard7891 - oh exciting to be clinic twins! I'm not sure when my OTD will be if I'm transferring on Tuesday - probably the 9th September? So I'll be a week after you! Will you be testing early?

@GCS34 - I know what you mean. I tested every day last round and my heart just started to break more and more each day but then on OTD, I was almost prepared for it- like I'd been grieving slowly all along.

@kirstysmbc - I'm a believer of what will be will be. Testing can be so expensive and I hate the thought of people struggling just to do something as human as trying to have a baby. More funding needs to go into women's health and fertility. It's not fair. But yes it only takes one egg, one special egg to make all this worth it.

Got my blood results today, EC Friday but it'll be a freeze all because my oestrogen is too high. Gutted is an understatement

I’m sorry to hear that @Lolly2507 :( any delay is so upsetting isn’t it. Hopefully you are going to get a lovely number of eggs however.

The clinic rang yesterday and gave me some reassurance that my cancelled cycle was going well so they are hopeful for the next one so that is something.

@Lolly2507 hey, well done on EC @GCS34 and I are in the same position. I was fed up when we were told it would be a freeze all but I have really valued the break from hormones and chance to relax a little. I hope you are ok though this is such an emotionally draining process !

@scaredynoob I'm so sorry to hear you negative result. You have definitely not failed, honestly if one thing this journey has taught me it's that to conceive in any way even without IVF is a bloody miracle and it's taken for granted by so many people who don't have a struggle. Enjoy your glass(es) of wine you have earnt it girl!

Thanks so much @Lowo21, I think it's partly because it was just unexpected. I'm going to reframe in my mind like you and consider it a break!

@Lolly2507 thats egg-citing it’s Friday 😅🙈 it does totally suck on the freeze all, but it will feel good when your body gets back to pre-stim life. I was gutted too, like @Lowo21 but my body feels SO much better now. Healthier, less bloated, I’ve been back exercising and in a stronger physical state to get that embryo on board. I don’t think I realised how much it had taken a hit on my body until it’s gone away and now it’s lovely and a nice break (read: WINE 😂). Hopefully this time next week when you feel more ‘you’ it’ll be easier. Have they said an eta on the FET?

@kirstysmbc im so sorry to hear you’ve had a rough day. How long have they got left of stimming? How many blasts did you get from the last round? Did you have a high fertilisation rate? Hope you’re okay.

@Custard7891 welcome!! Exciting you had double transfer. How are you feeling? Sorry it wasn’t the result you were after tho. But promising either way that you have 2 chances!

also, are you and @TTCMama17 at TFP Oxford?

Thank you that makes me feel loads better, I think you're right I have forgotten what it's like not to have a constant food baby, hot flushes, struggling to sleep etc etc so will be glad to get that over and done with. I'm reading mixed things some people say next cycle but most say two cycles which makes me soooo sad! It'll probs mean missing my SIL wedding where I'm bridesmaid if that's the case too now thanks to today's news :(

@GCS34 Thanks. I'd done 6 days before the scan, and in theory another 6 to go, but they've said they might trigger early if the smaller ones aren't growing, so they don't lose the bigger ones. But a lot of the smaller ones are only 5-6mm, so not sure they'll grow enough. Guess I'll find out on Friday, and just have to stay positive until then.

Last cycle I got 9 eggs, 7 mature, all fertilised, 6 blasts. But that was a big surprise to everyone, and don't think I can expect to be so lucky this time round. Although I think having a young virile donor no doubt helped!!

@Lolly2507 I was told I would only have to wait for one cycle, so one bleed after the withdrawal bleed from EC. It's been just under 4 weeks from EC and starting all the meds etc within the next week for FET. Planning meeting on friday !!

@Lowo21 oh that's exciting! I bet in the moment it felt like forever but that doesn't seem like long at all. Good luck for Friday hope it all goes well

@TTCMama17 No I'm going to wait and test on the official day. It's the day I'm off on holiday so got that as a good distraction whatever the outcome.

@GCS34 I'm feeling good thank you, not a lot different to normal if I'm honest. Yeah at TFP Oxford. Are you?