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?

@Lebe14 That really is very frustrating your period hasn't arrived yet. We spend half our TTC lives hoping it never does and then when we need it to, it's late. You've still time. Hopefully it arrives soon 🤞🏻

@hja62 sorry to hear about the difficulties you've had. Hopefully you have a christmas miracle! 🙏🏻 If I've learnt anything, it's that IVF cycles are so unpredictable!

@Elkly88 Your lines getting darker sounds very promising. Congratulations! 🎉 I had exactly the same worry. Still do, to be honest. Still test for some reassurance. The anxiety just seems to move from one thing to another.

@Elkly88 so sorry to hear about your missing period!!! I can totally sympathise - it never bloody turns up when you're looking for it. I was travelling last month and it really messed up my cycle so you're probably right (although please don't blame yourself!. I really hope it turns up soon and you don't have to postpone until the new year. One of the hardest things about IVF and infertility is the waiting. And being wait to made longer, even if just a month or so, is a real kicker.

@Elkly88 sorry my previous message was for @Lebe14, clicked reply on the wrong post and didn't check.

@Elkly88 - please try not to worry too much about line progression. I've tortured myself with it over the years and at the end of the day it doesn't meant a whole lot - a line judged by sight on an over the counter test is so arbitrary. Does your clinic do repeat betas or just one to confirm the pregnancy?

Thankyou @LuckyPineapple ! It really is wonderful to see two lines, i was really feeling that my body couldnt do it at all so its given me a bit of confidence back, even if it is extremely early. I can totally see how the nerves would carry on. Hope you're doing OK?

Thanks @hja62 :). I don't know to be honest- if I'm lucky enough that things still look OK on test day I hope I'll find out then! The info sheet only mentions that I need to phone the clinic when I take the urine test they gave me and then they'll plan in an early scan. Sure I'll find out soon (I hope). Hope you're feeling alright after your transfer!

@Elkly88 Im glad it's given you a bit of confidence back! The first time I saw my positive, it felt like a bit of magic. It was very overwhelming!

I'm ok apart from the anxiety. My scan date is the 5th Dec, so I'm just trying to take one day at a time. I'm really tired, and the nausea has set in. I'm having to take a nap after work each day and definitely have deeper sleep. I'm happy to take the symptoms though!

Magic is the right word.

One day at a time sounds like the best plan- think I'll aim to do the same.

Must be reassuring in a strange way to have some of the symptoms and the deep sleep sounds nice 😂 but there's just nothing worse than anxiety. Hope it begins to pass for you soon.

@Elkly88 definitely ask for a blood test if you feel your lines aren't strong enough or inconclusive xx when do your clinic scan you? Mine don't until 7 weeks so I couldn't bear waiting that long to find out with no reassurance in the meantime.

@Elkly88 I'm glad hearing you had your transfer and that sounds promising but I understand the anxiety. I hope you can distract yourself over the next days until your official test day.

My transfer went well, thank you. I'm just feeling exhausted and my belly feels tight though I could just be imagining that. It's probably just the meds. The nurse specifically told me not to test until the official day as she 'didn't want me to get anxious'. I politely nodded knowing that I will test early lol as I'll be more anxious not testing.

@hja62 yay! When do you usually test? I have no patience either and will test early. Though I've promised my partner to wait until he's back from a work trip next week Saturday, I believe that is 9 days post transfer.

@IVFgothope I usually start testing at 4dp5dt and I've always had a positive by 5dp5dt. So that would be Tuesday coming. Definitely a good idea to wait if your partner isn't around, so hopefully ye can celebrate together!!

Hey ladies, I caved and tested today 6dp5dt it was stark white and I've cried all day. Any hope? X

Oh @NatW2021, I'm so sorry. Please don't give up hope yet though, it really is still early. I wouldn't count yourself out for another couple of days xx

@hja62 I know, I think I just had a gut feeling, stupidly been doing my BBT and it was really high this morning (probably the extra progesterone) and it sort of give me some hope I've been so upset today and feel so drained. X

@NatW2021 , don't give up hope yet - it's still so early and I've read other place where a BFP didn't happen until at 10dp5dt. I'm having a low day today so just going to treat myself to a takeaway and a movie to try and get out of the head space. Hope you can have some kind of distraction over the next few days xx

@hja62 oh that's quite early!

@NatW2021 I'm sorry to hear that - let's hope it changes.

Keeping my fingers crossed for you both xx

@IVFgothope @S1234P Thanks, I'm not hopeful and decided to stop my progesterone this morning. I'm on a natural cycle and don't want to delay my period any longer than needed as just want to crack on with the other transfer. we have one in the freezer.

ive never felt so hopeless and its dawned on me i only have one cycle left which may or may not result in any embryos to transfer. we are private so cant keep chucking money at it.

@NatW2021 are you sure you want to stop your progesterone? Maybe speak to your clinic and get their advice first? I've definitely read where some people have tested early and it be negative only to get a positive later - maybe hold on for a few more days if you can? Sending your baby dust - I've been holding off testing until a few more days yet and it's really hard

@NatW2021 I agree with what @S1234P said. I know it's really difficult to keep hope. A few more days of progesterone won't make much of a difference later if you end up doing another transfer. I read that they ask people to have a 2 month break in between cycles, at least at my clinic. I'd speak to the clinic first before stopping progesterone. Lots of hugs xx

@NatW2021 I heard about this IVF 'giveaway' in a podcast. Not sure if that's helpful to you but thought I'd share just in case: www.ivfbabble.com/our-free-ivf-giveaway-is-now-open/?amp=1

@IVFgothope @S1234P Thanks, I've had a gut feeling all along that ivf wouldn't work by using a generic protocol, there is clearly a reason I've never been pregnant. I have thyriod antibodies and from research I did when starting ivf I need predispose steroids but clinic didn't seem Interested, ill be pushing for this next time as I could just see that this would all end in tears from the start x

@NatW2021 I'm sorry to hear that your clinic wasn't responsive to treating your thyroid antibodies. Did they say why they didn't want to change the protocol to personalise it for you?

@IVFgothope it's not really backed by evidence and women do get pregnant with antibodies whilst others need steroids. I was willing to give it a try without and who knows if they will ever work, just a gut feeling x

@NatW2021 I echo what others have said, I really wouldn't stop your progesterone without speaking to your doctor. Are you 7dp5dt now? It absolutely is still possible you could get a positive. Just Google it, plenty of women not getting positives until 8-9-10dp5dt.

Hiya, how is everyone getting on here? x

@S1234P struggling along here. I’m suffering from a terrible run of migraines over the last few weeks. I know it’s stress and anxiety causing them, but all the meds don’t help either. Had to call in sick to work today when in all honesty I would have welcomed the distraction of going in. I tested this morning, 4dp5dt, it was negative. Although it’s very early, but had a slight hope that as we transferred two both might have stuck and i might have got an earlier positive. Fingers crossed for tomorrow.

How are you getting on? Are you 7dp5dt now?