FET in November

[IVFgothope]

We're planning on having our first FET in November. Anyone else as well?

I'd love to hear your thoughts on natural vs medicated. My clinic prefers medicated but I'd rather take the least amount of hormones. Succes rates seem to be similar.

For context, after the stimulation phase 22 eggs were collected of which 16 were mature and I did a share program in which they were equally divided. So I received 8 mature eggs and 4 fertilised of which we got 3 embryos. As I was at a risk of developing overstimulation, the embryos were frozen. That's been a huge relief and I hope I can help someone else as well.

As I'm sure many of you have experienced, it's been challenging to get through the first stage. I've had quite a lot of physical and mental side effects. Does anyone else still feel bad a week after egg collection?

Hi @IVFgothope
I started down reg about 12 days ago for our first FET cycle. Hoping transfer will be November. Mine is medicated so unfortunately can't help with any experience on natural cycle. I know everyone's experiences are different and I was told FET medication isn't as harsh on your body as IVF/ICSI but at the moment I've felt pretty awful this week. I'm on Buserelin which has given near constant headaches, hot flushes, nausea, low mood and dry eyes.

In comparison I felt good on stims with better mood and more energy.

Just for a little background we started ICSI in March which was cancelled because we got covid. Then started again in May. We had 12 eggs, 9 mature and just the 1 fertilised. We did a fresh day 3 transfer which unfortunately was BFN. We tried ICSI again in September and had similar egg numbers, 3 fertilised and we have 2 frozen blasts. We had to do a freeze all because of OHSS risk.

It's good to be able to share thoughts and experiences on here and chat with those at a similar stage. I find medication for FET tough enough but everyone is different.

I felt my 2nd egg collection took longer to recover from. Maybe about 1 week. But I was bloated with gathered fluid and at risk of OHSS so this is perhaps why it was longer recovery

Hi @LuckyPineapple thank you for sharing your experiences! I'm sorry hearing your first cycle wasn't successful and can imagine that's been really disappointing. Did they change anything for your second cycle?

I was also at higher risk for OHSS and I'm still not feeling great a week after egg collection. The nurse has been lovely though checking in with me a couple of times. My workplace has been understanding but I'm feeling bad for still not being very productive and knowing that could continue during the FET cycle. It's helpful to know what your experiences with the meds are.

Everyone seems to respond differently to the medication. It must be hard to have these constant side effects from Buserelin. Have they given you any advice on what can help?

Also, do you know why they decided to down regulate first? I think my clinic does most of the FET without down regulation. I'll have to ask my dr at the next consultation.

Sorry I'm repeating myself re ohss!

I'm planning my first FET for November 😊 I'm on a medicated protocol. Will start oestrogen after a baseline scan on CD2/3 mid November then add progesterone pessaries and injection.

We only got 2 poor quality day 6 blasts from the EC end of June so the plan at the moment is to transfer both.

Love the idea of a share program @IVFgothope. Would have loved to do something like this but I have low ovarian reserve so only retrieved 4 eggs, of which 2 were mature. In response to post EC - I think given I have low reserve I was pretty lucky with not feeling at all bad during that stage, even though I was on high doses - I didn't have any side effects worth noting. So it's really hard to compare. I do however think the side effects of the meds are going to be worse for the FET.... Think my hormones will be all over the place, so I'm preparing myself for that!! X

Thanks for joining the discussion @Lebe14! I think my clinic does a similar protocol. Fingers crossed for your 2 blasts! May I ask if they decided on transferring 2 based on their quality only? Or were there other factors?

I work in the medical sciences and have always been aware of how unfair health and disease can be and donated blood, signed up as organ donor etc. Donating eggs is of course different but has a similar thought behind it. I did it in the past and so it was natural to do it again. I've seriously considered the implications and it still felt like the right thing to do. I'm aware of how fortunate I am to have a lot of eggs (even though i think its made it more uncomfortable). For me, knowing that I may be helping someone else has helped me dealing with the disruption and side effects. In the UK, this process is so well regulated by the HFEA and it involved lots of tests and long forms, which was reassuring.

@Lebe14 I'm worried my hormones will be all over the place as well if we decide to do a medicated cycle! Hope it's not too bad for you x

@IVFgothope I honestly love your views on the egg sharing - think it's an amazing thing to do and wish I could do it!

So my consultant actually recommended transferring the two - I was a little shocked to begin with. Been on a journey with it - initially we only wanted to transfer 1 but as time has gone on, we have now decided on 2. I'm at a reputable clinic and our view is that the consultant wouldn't have recommended it if she didn't think it was a good option, so we're taking her advice. The rationale is that they're day 6 blasts and not good quality (albeit good enough to freeze). I'm also on a multi cycle package which only lasts a year and I will have had a few months break between EC and FET so the time is ticking by. My consultant isn't too hopeful either will work so I think just wants to get onto the next EC, but unfortunately my package doesn't allow me to do that until I've transferred all embryos.

Consultant has definitely set expectations with me from the start in that the first cycle is very much a trial and error - I've really not felt too much pressure because of this, and knowing I can do 2 more cycles. But I'm sure I will feel very differently the further along we go with cycles x

Hi @IVFgothope, do you feel generally unwell after egg collection or cramping etc? I don't know whether it's a drop in hormone levels after egg collection or mild OHSS that just makes us feel rubbish but I completely sympathise.

Our main issue has been male infertility so fertilisation for us has been a struggle and constant concern. When we just got the 1 fertilised in the 2nd cycle we were devastated but our consultant has been amazing in reassuring us that every cycle is different with different outcomes. Nothing much was changed between 2nd and 3rd cycle in way of protocol or dose. My consultant has noticed covid has created many issues for both men and women going through fertility treatment and if in doubt hold off. So we waited 3 months - cleaner eating, took more supplements and recovered completely from covid. Fertilisation was still low in most recent cycle but certainly better.

I'm not sure why I need to do down reg I must ask him next time I'm in, just for the understanding. I had to check what pain relieve I could use because the headaches are some of the worst I've had. The nursing team have been very good and suggested cool pads and that I could use co-odamol which was definitely required on Wednesday 🤯

I also meant to mention about you doing the sharing program. I really admire this. It's an incredible and generous gift to give ❤️

Hi @Lebe14, nice to see another Nov FET 😊. Are you doing any sort of down reg before baseline? I'm finding it pretty intense.
I'm trying to learn to take it as it comes because everything ivf is out of our control. Easier said than done I suppose.

@LuckyPineapple no down reg for me - will start meds after baseline scan. Do you know when down reg is usually used? And what medication is it? Intrigued at all the different protocols there are!

IVF is like a rollercoaster - so many ups and downs and like you said, completely out of our control. The only thing we can control is keeping ourselves healthy and taking our meds on time. I weirdly enjoyed the EC meds as they didn't affect me negatively and it was the one thing I could actually do myself as part of the process each day x

@lebe14 thank you! Your consultant sounds good, setting expectations right can be challenging but is so important. Can I ask what the quality grading of the 2 embryos is?

@Lebe14 my clinic gave me the option to start down reg on CD3 or CD21. My consultant didn't have a preferred option and let us choose. I think CD21 is a longer process so we wanted to go ahead and start sooner rather than later. I think a lot of clinics just offer CD21 but he said both are options and wanted to be transparent about it. My medication is Buserelin which to be honest I've had a lot of side effects with as it puts you in a temporary menopause. Not entirely sure why it's needed. Maybe to suppress your system so they can build it up they way they want it for hormones etc (just my thought process)
My plan is Buserelin for down reg from CD3, baseline scan will be 19th Oct. Then I start estrogen a few days after baseline and continue a lower dose of Buserelin along with it. Then add in progesterone and we have a provisional date for transfer being 9th Nov 🤞🏻🙏🏻

It is certainly a rollercoaster! With changes last minute etc. I also found the stims fine as you say easier to control and not negatively affected. The hardest part for us was the waiting for updates on embryos this time round. Just worried we would end up with nothing and be back to square one. Physically, and emotionally its a lot to deal with.

@LuckyPineapple I think so but I was in a different home, easier job and different stage of my life. It's easy to forget how things were in the past, I tend to not remember how bad it was.

I'm so pleased for you that you got a better outcome the second time. Good to know that Covid can have such a negative impact.

My partner had low quality sperm but with supplements (fish oil and multivitamins) and adding certain foods (mostly almonds and hazelnuts) it's improved as well.

Thank you ❤️ I really hope it helps someone.

@LuckyPineapple sorry meant to say 3rd cycle! My brain still isn't sharp 🙈

@IVFgothope unfortunately I've become a little paranoid about covid now because of that. Thankfully I have a very understanding boss who has allowed me to work from home leading up to egg collections etc.

It's pretty unbelievable how many hurdles there are when you think of every stage in the process. Yet most of those without fertility issues aren't aware of the hurdles and obstacles.

I didn't know about almonds and hazelnuts. Thanks for sharing. It's a constant work in progress until we get there x

@IVFgothope of course - we've got a 4BC and a 2BC. Both day 6, not day 5.

@LuckyPineapple I totally agree about the waiting to find out the progression of embryos - I do think that was the most nerve wracking bit!! Thanks for the info on the down reg too - really interesting. I guess consultants use previous cases and experience to determine which protocol to go with (again, bit of trial and error) and will then change / amend if certain things don't work. Really hoping my protocol for FET works as it should - will have waited so long to transfer that i don't want it being cancelled if things don't go to plan.... I also cant wait to get started and see what happens...! So exciting that you have your provisional transfer date already!! X

@Lebe14 oh I actually cried when they phoned saying 2 embryos survived to blastocyst. Sounds dramatic 🙈 but it was just a huge relief to have the opportunity to get to transfer.

I agree! Definitely a lot of trial and error. Even for consultants to learn how our bodies work and react to medication.

Fingers crossed for you getting to transfer 🤞🏻 The whole process is certainly a test of patience. It is exciting to get started. Feels like progress towards our goal! x

@LuckyPineapple I can understand your paranoia about Covid. It must be hard as it isolates you a bit.

Colleagues and friends seem to have no idea what it's like - when I mention it to non close friends they brush over it like it's nothing. Partly I think it's because they find it uncomfortable to talk about. I wish it was an easier topic for people to talk about openly. My closer friends are very supportive but I don't think they really get it. I probably wouldn't either if I wasn't going through it.

I'll ask my partner about his references, I think it was walnuts as well but not peanuts. He eats hazelnut and almond butter.

You're not dramatic at all! As you all say, the waiting is so stressful. I've cried over much less than a call about blastocysts 🙈

@Lebe14 thank you sharing. Is there a big difference between day 6 and 5? Whilst waiting for the results Ive killed some time looking at embryo grading. From the embryo quality grading charts it looks like your 4BC has the best chance.

My lowest quality embryo is 2BB, I think from day 5. My clinic called that one 'promising' instead of poor which seems a little optimistic.

@IVFgothope my partner and I haven't really told anyone that we are going through IVF. My mum knows and both our bosses (for practical reasons like appointments etc) I think I probably would be more open to sharing it with other family or friends but my partner is very private and ultimately we decided not to - yet anyway. I think he is just worried about the questions or expectations and exactly what you say, that others won't really get it which is true. I really do wish it was more openly talked about. It's a lot more common than people think.

Just in relation to embryo grading I read that the number is possibly the rate of expansion. There are a lot of success stories about embryos that just take a little longer to develop. I think if they survive to days 5 and 6 there is certainly a degree of resilience considering the huge drop off at each stage. Fingers crossed 🤞🏻

@LuckyPineapple it's such a personal choice whether people want to talk about it or keep it private. I can understand both sides. My partner doesn't talk about with others but doesn't mind me doing so.

Re quality grading, I also read that it's only a visual assessment, e.g. it's possible that a poor quality egg is genetically fine whilst a high quality one has a defect. You just don't know unless you test it. We decided not to do genetic testing as the dr didn't think it was necessary (and it was expensive).

Thanks both. I've also read so much about embryo grading and as it's done on visuals it doesn't always determine success - you're right, it's whether they're genetically normal which is the thing. I also haven't had them tested. As this is our first cycle my consultant didn't recommend, but be interested to see if she does if we need another round.

On the day 6 thing - I think she just believes that as they took longer they'll have less success? I hope we prove her wrong haha but we trust her advice. If we end up with twins we're prepared.

Me and my husband have been open to people about IVF - I've mentioned to a few people at work too. However, we won't tell people about the FET apart from close family.

X

We haven't had our embryos tested either. It's the first cycle that we have managed to get blastocysts and our consultant never suggested testing. Another expense as well, so hoping it works. If we end up through another cycle, then we'll certainly consider it x

@Lebe14 that makes sense regarding the day 6 thing but I'm also hoping you'll prove her wrong!

I also don't think I'll tell anyone about the FET as I would want to process the outcome first and without pressure from anyone asking how it went

@LuckyPineapple @Lebe14 did you get photos of videos from your embryos? I asked and got them, it was really interesting to see how they developed over time. X