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.

Thanks @marshk! And wow exciting, good luck! You'll be fine.

@Custard7891 happy to be here and congratulations on the egg collection being succesfull so far 😊

@marshk good luck with the first injection 🙂

Hi @Melisss
So pleased it went better than you thought, they aren't that bad once you get used to them 😊
I'm also on long protocol. What's your treatment plan, have you got your provisional dates for everything?

@Custard7891 that is amazing news!! Do you get a day 3 update too?
Sorry I can't remember is this your second round? Was anything changed this time?

@marshk amazing news 😊

Thank you @User491 😊 We will get another update on Saturday yes. It's our second round (our last one that will be funded by the NHS). This time they changed me from Ovaleap 375 to Ovaleap 300 with Menopur 75 (both short protocol). I had 6 eggs and an E & F embryo on the last round which resulted in a BFN.

@User491 I am Buserelin 0.5 ml/day until the 27 Oct when I have my first scan booked. Hope the Buserelin is not going to be that bad cause I read some of the comments and not many good things about the side effects. 😕
After this we add Ovaleap injections.

@User491 how are you coping with the long protocol so far?

@Custard7891 finger crossed you get the best news 🙌 We were told that we only get one funded NSH cycle. Probably depends on the area you live in cause aparently other people can`t even access one funded cycle.

@Custard7891 amazing fertilisation rates so hopefully you get some good quality embryos 🤞🏻
Have you added any supplements etc this time? It's so weird how each round can be so different isn't it.

@Melisss im on the buserelin too (this is my 3rd round) and I've never had any problems really, but Everyone is different.
I'm not usually a hormonal person really, so not sure if that's part of why I don't have many side effects.
I have had headaches and felt a bit tired occasionally nothing too bad, hopefully you will be the same 🤞🏻

Yes @Melisss it's a postcode lottery with NHS funding.

@User491 supplement wise I've just taken vitamin D and folic acid both times.

I am starting my stimms this saturday. Excited and scared.
I am scared of needles. Any tips please ? Did anyone use numbing cream ?

@biscuitsndtea exciting 😊Fellow " scared of needles" person here 🖐😅
Had only one injection so far, this morning. I think i just got into my head that it will be horrible but was actually just some pressure I felt.
I also thought about the numbing cream and even bought it but the nurse said I can`t use it unfotunately. I read that holding a pack of ice on your tummy before you inject helps.

@biscuitsndtea I used ice for Menopur and Fyremadel but found Ovaleap was okay without. Good luck!

@biscuitsndtea the needles are really tiny, so its easier than expected! I didn't use numbing cream but found that when I tried to be gentle it was actually harder - you just have to just go for it (think ripping off a plaster - don't spend too long building up to it!). Each one gets easier as well! You'll be great 💪

@User491 Scan next week will be here before you know it!!!

@marshk Yay! I’m glad your period has decided to show up! Ball gets rolling now!

@Melisss Welcome! 👋

@Custard7891 Thats an excellent fertilisation rate!!!!

@biscuitsndtea Ice cubes to numb the area. I found it less painful that way!

@biscuitsndtea @Melisss I’m terrified of needles too, to the point of fainting every time any came near me until about 5yrs ago, so naturally I was extremely worried doing this for the 1st time. What I did to help was 1) watch tons of videos these last 3 months on IVF/Egg Retrieval on people doing their injections 2) ladies suggested ice pack for 5-10min prior, I’ve been doing that and it’s been great Ovaleap needle is tiny but Ganirelix is 😕 but icing area certainly helped 3) husband has very kindly given me almost all shots, but I prep all material/needles for him which is still a bit nerving but I did (facing fear) and on 2 days I did the Ovaleap myself (hands shaking and sweating but I did it)

you girls got this! I still hate needles but this process has definitely done something wonderful for me in facing my fears!

@marshk good luck on your first 💉

@Custard7891 great results thus far, so exciting 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 are you doing any genetic testing?

Thanks @Lauralozzle. And yes @ViVRe we are considering paying to do the PGT-A screening test.

I'm going to catch up with the thread but here's my little self pitying update: my uterus is being a prick. Another scan Monday and upping my oestrogen tablets to 4 a day.

@Lauralozzle hi 😁

@ViVRe you are very brave! I also watched some videos but it gave me more anxiety. Sometimes if i know too much it freaks me out 😅Luckily I have my partner playing the part of the nurse for the next weeks

@marshk hooray for your period starting! First injection and then away you go! I genuinely felt like it was so surreal and not really happening - it almost felt anti climactic until egg collection. I hope it goes smoothly for you 😊

@user491 being quietly positive sounds really calming. I'm taking more of a chaotic positivity approach to it so I'm hysterically up and down 😂 what's the opposite of zen? I'm that. So exciting that you know it'll be three weeks today for egg collection. Everything crossed for you that it's an easy road ahead and flies by 🤞🤞

Welcome @Melisss iss if anything is going to get you over your needle fear, it's this process! Try not to worry too much about side effects. You might get some, you might now. You will be absolutely fine either way and you'll get through it one day at a time. You've got this!

@Custard7891 ard that's an amazing fertilisation!

@biscuitsndtea I think the thought of doing the injections are much worse than the injections themselves! Most of the needles are tiny and you don't feel them. I got cute little animal ice packs to numb the area and used them out of principle (can't be wasting £5 when IVF is a mega £'s!). I didn't need an ice pack or anything. Make sure you pinch the skin when you do it.

Did you know that the way therapists teach people to get over their phobias is by exposure therapy? The more you do it the more you're teaching your brain that you don't need to be afraid of it and over time the anxiety and fear will calm down and get easier. The more you run away from it or leave the situation, the more you're reinforcing the fear!

@IVFKinster Hopefully the increase in tablets will help thicken your lining and your uterus stops being a dick! An extra tablet is rough though, I feel for you.

Chaotic positivity. I’m down for that!

Update from me: I do appear to be returning to normal. Cautiously adding dairy back into my diet, in the form of melted cheese. So far so good.

The melted cheese was very good 🤤

hi @IVFKinster 😊 sorry to hear your uterus is being a prick. Keep positive though!
You are right with the exposure therapy. Seeing so many of you who are being brave and facing you fears is making me feel much better. I think I need to work a bit on my " overthinking" cause I tend to spiral out quite easily. Just need to take it day by day.

Ah man hopefully the increase hopes. Try stay positive!

I know what you mean. The nurse rang to tell me tomorrow and book me in for a scan and pretty much was like away you go then! Seems crazy but suppose this whole thing is!

Out of interest, when you guys have scans, does your partner attend them with you? I think I'd like my husband in the room when I have the first scan on Friday but I've no idea if that's not the done thing/ weird!!

@marshk It’s only ever been me in the room during scans. DH waits in the waiting room.

Day by day is the best way with IVF @Melisss there's not a whole lot of it within your control so trying not to spiral (goodluck!) is the best plan. I rarely manage to not spiral so I just take it as it comes.

@Lauralozzle thanks. I need to go from 6.9mm to 8mm+ and I'm hoping my body does that by Monday? I'm a bit sad but trying to shake it off. I'm not getting my heart set on ever having a transfer as I had picked Tuesday and feel a bit put out that it isn't. So glad you're finally turning a corner and that melted cheese is apparently the cure! 😂 you've suffered long enough so it's about time!

@marshk it's so bizarre because it's all the nurses at fertility clinics do day in and day out so it's almost not special/not a big deal to them but to us it's completely wild! I didn't take my husband in with me for the "bloody" day 2 baseline scan as I didn't want him to be traumatised in case blood went everywhere 😂 it didn't just FYI but not many people seem to have baseline scans.
I DID take him in with me for the first "how are the follicles doing" scan so he could see my ovaries 😅 I just thought he'd find it fascinating as I don't think men ever get to see inside themselves. After that I went to all the appointments on my own (obvs not including egg collection) as I get IVF leave and he would need to take annual leave or make up the time. I think it's each to their own as whenever he isn't with me our nurse asks where he is!