FET/IVF/ICSI - October 2033

[Lauralozzle]

Anyone due to start cycle/have transfer in October jump on board!

Little history:

TTC our first. Trying for 4 years. Officially unexplained but I only have one ovary that responds/works. Fertilisation issues. Positive Sperm Oxidative Stress Test (likely DNA Frag). So it’s really a bit of a mix.

Dec 22/Jan 23 - First ICSI cycle. 8 eggs, 6 mature, 2 fertilised. One poor blast to transfer. Nothing to freeze. BFN.

July 23 - Second ICSI cycle. Using AOA & ZyMot chip. 8 eggs, 8 mature, 4 fertilised. One fresh to transfer and 2 to freeze. BFN.

Oct 23 - First FET scheduled.

Currently waiting for my period to start so that FET cycle can start. Should start beginning of Oct, so FET likely towards end of the month.

Such expensive tests @Lauralozzle ! Do you think there's something indicating that you would benefit from them or is it more that it would be good to rule out all hidden difficulties if possible?

@IVFKinster I think embryos are failing to implant at this stage. I might have been unlucky and they might all be abnormal but it’s every transfer. I’ve never been pregnant. I’ve never seen two lines in 4 years and 4 months we’ve been trying. So I suspect there’s an issue with that.

Blood clotting could be it. I could have an infection I don’t know about. I just don’t know what to do but try to look for things that might explain it. I feel like I’ll have to throw the kitchen sink at it.

I’ll call the clinic on Monday, stop medication on Sunday and then get our review appointment in. Need a new smear test so will get that sorted in the meantime- the letter came for that during this cycle. Then have a few months off, try and lose some of this IVF weight. I can’t go into this again feeling like this, think I need to just find some time to be me again and not think about transfers/cycles.

@IVFDublin @Lauralozzle
Really sorry to hear that lovelies. That one line must feel like a real punch in the gut

@Lauralozzle @IVFDublin really sorry to hear your news, hope your able to take some space and time to go through your emotions. Sending love ❤️

@Lauralozzle @IVFDublin really sorry to hear this, thinking of you both.

Can I ask, did one of you ladies tell me you were also on the progesterone gel with applicator ?

Thanks for the reflexology suggestions, that sounds far more up my street so will give that a go.

@User491 @Babyplease23 hope egg collections went well

@IVFDublin @Lauralozzle I'm so sorry, please take care of yourselves and I hope whatever your next steps are, they bring happiness

@Lauralozzle @IVFDublin sending you all the luck for your next cycle. You’ll go into it better informed and with greater hindsight so hopefully that’ll make all the difference.

Right now, be kind to yourselves x

Hi everyone

Been a long time lurker but I was wondering if anyone has had a similar situation. I started my long protocol on the 30th September. My eggs have been responding at different rates so my collection was pushed back by a week. I went into today to have a scan and now it looks like I am at risk of premature ovulation. I have 5 follicles in between 20-28mm with 3 more around the 16/17 range compared with 1 which was 24mm on Monday and 3 smaller ones. I feel like I am babbling but I am just sort of freaking out!

I’ve also been told that my progesterone level is also now too high to have a fresh transfer so will be moving to a FET at some point. I am on an NHS cycle and to be honest, communication has been really rubbish.

not entirely sure what I am asking but if anyone has any advice, please let me know. My husband and I haven’t told anyone about the IVF so also just feeling really lonely with the whole thing

@Lauralozzle that makes logical sense. How good are your clinic at doing all those extra tests do you think? I hope your follow up appointment is helpful and they can provide some guidance but at least you're armed with some knowledge of things you'd like to try and things you want investigated so hopefully you can advocate for yourself if they're not helpful enough. I think some time to just be yourself could be very healing. I literally don't know what used to occupy my brain before weight loss or IVF? Probably naive day dreams about having a baby!
Funnily enough I just got my invite for a smear test during this cycle as well.

Welcome @Woaaaahnelly . I'm not much help I'm afraid but you're more than welcome here and hopefully someone else has some actual advice for you or has been in a similar situation.

I am 💔 to hear your news @IVFDublin @Lauralozzle please take care of yourselves during this sensitive time.

I think one of the hardest things for a few people in the infertility community is when you don’t have a KNOWN cause for why you can’t get pregnant/sustain a pregnancy. The healthcare system (and even fertility clinics) are not thorough in their investigations to be honest. And even though, YES a lot of things we just don’t have an answer/explanation for…over the years I’ve seen so MANY stories of people that FINALLY figured out what was the issue and were able to get their happy ending. But often it takes a lot of money/advocating/pushing for answers, many doctors, in order to get that done…it is the EMOTIONAL AND FINANCIAL TOLL not many of us can sustain 😭 and just like with everything else on this journey - there are no guarantees. 😔

It took my cousin 9 years of money/different doctors/surgeries to “solve” her secondary infertility issue and then she solved what the problem was and had 2more babies one after the other.

A close friend went through 5years TTC/treatment until she was able to carry a child to term. But 4 losses before she got to the end.

And then there are cases of people with thyroid issues, ureaplasma, trombophilia (blood clots)… all things that can prevent pregnancy/carrying a child. All don’t get checked unless WE push for and insist for it, etc they will let you go through many years of suffering before checking for that.

My hope and prayers are that eventually we will all get our happy endings, and even if not originally how we would have wanted/hoped for…that our hearts will find peace knowing that we did everything we could with what we had.

Sending a big hug to you all ❤️ still believing we will have some good outcomes from this lot. 😌

Turned up to CD8 scan and as expected I was ready for Cetrotide. In fact the doctor said it couldn’t wait until I got home. However the clinic pharmacy didn’t have it in so I ended up driving across town in heavy traffic to the hospital. The hospital had zero parking spaces so after driving round for ages I had to do what everyone else had done and abandon my car on the verge. Then I got lost in the endless corridors. Got the Cetrotide into me though so that is what matters.

Scan showed 5 follicles, 3x 13mm, 1 x 11mm and 1 x 10mm and lining of 9.7 all of which the doctor said is good at this stage. Am back for another scan on Friday.

@Hopingforno2in2023 that's a great outcome! What a nighmate to have to do a panic dash for the meds you needed. I feel like if they prescribe it as part of the protocol it would make sense for them to order some in? I guess at least you got it in the end!

@Woaaaahnelly Hello, is this your first cycle?
I had my first with NHS, and looking back it feels like it's either (1) it's the first one so it's trial and error or (2) they are just negligent. I was slighty over stimulated - long protocal (if I compare it to my subsequent cycles) and was at risk of OHSS, they did manage to collect 16 eggs but forgot to do ICSI even though they were the ones who advised it so only 4 fertilised. They asked me if I wanted to do another cycle after that cycle failed, I asked if I can be put on the short protocol (having done more research by then) instead and they said yes without doing any further tests. Communication was rubbish, I only saw the doctor twice throughout the whole process as it was mostly nurses-led. I don't know if it would be different if we had to pay for it. I hope you keep positive and be patient. Everything really has to be done right to get good quality eggs (and sperm), and even with that it's not a gurantee.

Yes you would think that the pharmacy attached to the clinic would keep stock in wouldn’t you @IVFKinster!

Do people know if there is a chance of any additional follicles appearing in future scans or is what you have on CD8 all you will get? Trying to be positive about my 5 but I had 6 on my cancelled cycle which I know isn’t a massive difference but when working with small numbers feels a lot.

@Hopingforno2in2023 I think its really unpredictable what to expect on your next scan. On my right ovary on my first scan I had 13 follicles and 1 follicle on my left ovary . On my final scan I had 8 follicles on my right and 3 follicles on my left. They collected 10 follicles in total 7 of which had eggs

Thanks for the well wishes everyone! And I hope your egg collection also went well @User491

We managed to get 23 eggs. Really surprised by that, no wonder I was really sore and uncomfortable! No idea how many are mature yet, they're going to update us on that tomorrow! Spent most of the day on the sofa feeling sick (assuming from the sedation) starting to feel a bit more human now!

Thinking of you both @Lauralozzle @IVFDublin I was rooting for you. Take care of yourselves and treat yourself to lots of yummy food and wine. Wishing you the best of luck in the future xx

Thanks @MoonlightDreamer, I will see what Friday brings.

Fab result @Babyplease23!

I don't trust the people who scan for follicles 😂 mine only counted the follicles that were of a certain size so thought I had 8-9 on each side. I ended up with 26 (I think?) Eggs collected 🤷 only 11 were mature (PCOS and because they were small) but it was still a shock.

@Babyplease23 fingers crossed for loads of mature eggs for you! Take it easy for the next few days if you can.

Great result @Babyplease23!

@Babyplease23 23 eggs is amazing, hope it's all positive news re fertilisation tomorrow! With that number I'm guessing you've a few more days of discomfort ahead, hope you can take as much time as you need to rest up (and keep drinking ALL the water!)

Omg did anyone feel absolutely exhausted when taking the progesterone pessaries?! I've had so much sleep and feel like I've already done a days work... My boobs also feel so so heavy!

Yes definitely @marshk. From a couple of days in (before the transfer) I felt very achy all over as well!

Your message is really lovely @ViVRe ♥️ thank you for taking the time to write something so thoughtful. How are you getting on?

@IVFKinster The clinic suggested blood clotting tests and ERA if this FET didn’t work. To be fair, every time the consultant will throw something else at it. I do feel like we’ll have to throw the kitchen sink at it though to be successful.

@ViVRe What you says resonated so much with me. We’re still technically unexplained but I’m calling it unexplored at the minute because there’s something wrong but we just don’t know what it is! Thank you for your message. I also believe there will be some happy outcomes on this thread.

@Babyplease23 23 eggs is amazing!

@marshk Progesterone gives me really heavy sore boobs. So much so that it’s just not a symptom I can rely on!

Thank you everyone for your messages. I’m sad, but also angry and annoyed it hasn’t worked again. I’ll be ok though. I love this time of year and Christmas, so I’ll focus on that. I can paint properly (still so many rooms to do and use gloss stuff now) once OTD is done.

I think I’ll make use of the protected two weeks after a failed transfer and take some time off work come Monday. I have literally just carried straight on after two previous failed cycles and I don’t think I have it in me to just carry on as if nothing happened. Work have put me under a lot of stress at the moment, I think I’ll take some time for myself and my mental health. I’m more important, I just need to feel what I’m feeling without the stress of it all.