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?

@IVFgothope no I didn't get this but I'll definitely ask. I would love to have this. I would find it fascinating to see x

@IVFgothope yes I got the timelapse of them both, after I requested photos. Really is amazing seeing the growth over the hours...! x

@LuckyPineapple you should definitely ask 😊 my clinic don't provide them as standard but will do when requested. I just felt like I needed to actually see them for some reason! x

@Lebe14 completely understand why you needed to see them. Throughout that whole week waiting I was wondering how they were doing, what they looked like etc 😊 x

@LuckyPineapple I hope you get up see them x

Hi all, hope I can join? I've been reading these boards for ages now, but finally decided to try and get involved.

For background, I'm 34, ttc for 3 years roughly (I lose count of the months), and my first FET will be in November. I should start meds for it at the end of this month, depending on when af starts. We did egg collection in August but had to have embryos frozen because of OHSS risk. We had - 32 eggs collected, 24 of which were mature, 20 fertilised, and 6 made it to day 5 and were frozen.

I've been feeling ok about the whole journey over the last couple of months whilst we've been waiting to start. Doing hobbies and just trying to enjoy other aspects of life. But yesterday, one of my best friends who has been trying for approx 2 months announced she was pregnant. I know I should be happy but it felt like a punch in the gut. She was one of my last non pregnant friends and am suddenly feeling more alone, and more scared about the upcoming FET. Can't explain why because really I know it has nothing to do with anything. Anyway, joining in the hope of feeling a bit less alone in all of this 🙂

@Elkly88 welcome and thank you for sharing!

Amazing that you got 6 embryos in August. Do you know what kind of FET you'll be doing (medicated or 'natural')?

I think it's normal to feel that way if a friend gets pregnant quickly, especially if it's one of the last ones who didn't have a baby. I often feel conflicted because I'm delighted for other people's happiness but at the same time wonder why I can't seem to have that (yet). And I feel bad about being jealous... acknowledging those feelings has been helpful to me. If you need a bit of distance from your friend for some time then I think she'd understand.

Thanks so much @IVFgothope ! 🙂. Thanks, I can't remember what gradings they are, I'm pretty rubbish at all the terminology I think!

What stage are you at at the mo?

Thankyou, its good to know I'm not alone in these feelings. I think I need a few wallowy days to let myself accept it and feel better.

@Elkly88 my Consultant said they mostly used the grading to select the best available embryo, success rates go down a bit but are still decent for lower grades. So no real need to remember the grading.

I got anxious after my consultant appointment this week but have decided to go ahead with a medicated frozen transfer in November. I have not responded well to different versions of hormonal pills in the past and I'm worried about feeling down and anxious... I know it's not helpful to worry about feeling anxious in the future!

Hope you feel better soon xx

@IVFgothope ah that's reassuring to know about the grading, thankyou.

Very much get hormone meds anxiety, and also the preemptive worrying- I'm a bit of an expert at that 😅. I actually found the stims meds fine (I think I was just excited to go for scans and it kept me occupied), so hoping it will be the same for the next bit. Hope it's ok for you too- this is all just really quite scary isn't it. I think my plan for this week is to plan lots of nice treats to look forward to

Thankyou xx hope your anxiety passes too

@Elkly88 thank you! That's good that you didn't have many side effects from the stims.

I went for dinner with colleagues tonight and one of them did her pregnancy announcement. I knew when she didn't want to order raw fish but it still came as a surprise. She's the nicest person in our department so rationally I want to feel so happy for her.

Morning @IVFgothope . Sorry to hear about the pregnancy announcement - although you want to feel happy for someone it's never that easy, especially when it's an in person announcement. Hope you're feeling OK.

I realised I missed your question about medicated/natural, sorry! I'm medicated (I think!)- scheduled to take ovamex and oestrogen patches in the run up to transfer. Will you be doing medicated too? I am nervous about it

@Elkly88 thank you! I'm delighted for anyone who's pregnant and at the same time jealous...so annoying!

My consultant recommended medicated as well because it gives everyone more control. I like that even though I'm worrying about the side effects of the meds. I think I need to try it this time and if there's another time (likely) than I could always try natural.

Do you know when you're starting? My cycle is so disrupted that I'm not sure whether my predicted first day of period will be accurate.

Hi ladies I’ve been on a thread before during my 2 cycles but we didn’t have a transfer for either we’ve got our FET booked 7th November

I am hoping anybody could offer me their opinion I’ve got a connective tissue disorder called marfans and I have to have Botox injected into my muscles around my bladder as unfortunately I have to have a Catheter otherwise. Botox is advised against during pregnancy and My urologist has only got a theatre list the day before my FET, he’s asked me to check with my consultant but she’s unfortunately off sick until the week of my transfer and I’d ideally like to have a plan before then !

im not asking for any medical opinion but what would you ladies do in my situation? If I don’t have it I’ll have to have an indwelling catheter which causes infections which I know is a risk in pregnancy but I also don’t want to risk anything that may damage implantation. I’ve got myself into a bit of a panic

@IVFgothope yeah I very much get it. I'm only just getting over the announcement from this weekend to be honest lol.

I feel exactly the same re. medicated- I'm glad there's a bit more of control over timing, but as a generally anxious person I am worried about all the extra hormones. Then I think, I found all the EC meds ok, so maybe it will be fine.

I think I'll be starting meds next Mon/Tues, if I ovulated when I think I did. My period was 5 days late last month, my first period after egg collection. When are you predicted to start?

@Elkly88 that's so soon and exciting!

My period is due around 6-8 November, I've already taken into consideration the dates are messed up by the September egg collection. I'll see how it works out! Which clinic are you at?

@LuckyPineapple & @Lebe14 how are you doing?

@IVFgothope it feels both too soon and too far away somehow! I'm both scared to start, worrying about the outcome already, and then there is the braver bit of me that just wants to get on with it.

Ahh OK so you're about a week behind me! I'm with TFP in Maidenhead- they've been good so far. How about you?

I have not been able to focus at all today and am so sleepy- classic pms starting.

@IVFgothope I'm doing good thanks! It's been a crazy week to be honest. Had my baseline scan for FET and they found a follicle which is producing estrogen so my protocol has been changed from medicated to what I think is a modified natural cycle. Seems my body decided to do its own thing despite taking Buserelin 🙈 They give me a trigger last night to get rid of that follicle and transfer booked in for next Tuesday. IVF is such a whirlwind and changes last minute! 🤯 I'm not doing estrogen anymore either so I'm not sure how this all works. Just trusting my Dr. How are you @IVFgothope?

Nice to see others joining the chat too 😊 I'll have to catch up on what's going on x

@LuckyPineapple keeping my fingers crossed for you. Hope all is going well!

I'm having my baseline appointment for the FET today and should start medication soon.

@Chickencrazy3356 sorry I hope you got an answer!

How is your FET going?

@IVFgothope, thank you! I'm 6dp5dt but I'm just not really very hopeful. It was a good embryo but not genetically tested. Just feel my usual symptoms before my period. Trying to be positive.

Good luck for baseline! It is exciting to get started! 🤞🏻

@LuckyPineapple I'm sorry to hear that you have pre period symptoms. When are you testing?

Yes the start is exciting. I'm a bit worried about the meds still but let's see how it goes.

@IVFgothope my official test day is the 13th but they have said we could test this weekend. Part of me want's to know now as I hate the limbo and part of me doesn't want to test at all with fear of seeing a negative. I just don't know what to think. I was more optimistic a few days ago with strange pulling and twinges but not getting much of anything other than the some cramps which I would normally get.

The meds can be challenging but I'm sure everything will be fine. What medication do you have to take?

@IVFgothope thank you so much for asking, I’m actually sat at the hospital after my bladder operation today. They didn’t know if it’s safe or if it will affect implantation but they said in theory they don’t think it will and that it’s more risk of infections etc by not having the op.

I’ve got my FET tomorrow morning feeling very nervous !!