IVF/ICSI/FET November 2023

[Sunflower360]

Hi 👋 I could not see a thread had been set up so thought I would do so. Bit about me...

➡️38
➡️Low AMH being main issue, last test was around 4pmol in the summer
➡️Have had an abandoned and failed IVF cycle in Spring of this year due to failed fertilisation, OH had low morphology, other parameters ok so ICSI advised next time
➡️Since then, I had 2 x consecutive ICSI natural modified egg collections and have 2 x day 5 ❄️❄️ and 1 x day 3 ❄️ embryos, whether they are any good, only time will tell
➡️I'm about to start another egg collection on the mild protocol this time and will (hopefully if it goes ok) transfer this time

Please join the rollercoaster for November as you wish!

@Maddie23 - I followed @Caubabatko advice In August and it made such a difference!!! No bruises or any pain at all!

Thank you @Caubabatko and @TT82 will definitely get the ice packs ready!

@Caubabatko so my baseline scan indicated my ovaries are polycystic in nature, which was brand new information to me! I don't seem to have any of the other PCOS symptoms but I am reading a bit more into it to see if I can get ahead of the curve so to speak!

In terms of medication, I'll be on Gonal F 150iu from tomorroq and then introduce Cetrotide. Got my first scan booked in for Monday so will get a better idea of when I need to start that. I've got Buserelin for my trigger shot.

@Sherr33 oh lots of support for you ❤️
Very sad and stressful to have ivf to be moved, as if ivf itself not enough stress!
Try not to put deadlines fir yourself, as what I keep reading on forums there are many situations when they move/cancel, we just need to be ready for it.
I also delayed the start of ivf, as due to few mc and personal problems were also not in the best mental stage, I didn't go to a dr, just was very down. You really need lots of mental strength to go through this ivf process, which can be cruel and unpredictable.

@Maddie23 I see you're on a low dose probably bc of the AMH! I had no idea if mine worked until my first cycle was over then a lot less anxious in 2nd/3rd as I kind of knew what to expect. Are you taking any supplements?

@TT82 Sorry to hear you're feeling down, hope you're getting good pampering from your husband and your mood picks up as soon as the down reg is over.
I will have a better idea after the first scan on Monday. I'm doing a natural cycle FET so a little worried about ovulating too early but if this is like my typical (long) cycle, I won't ovulate until Day 20 or so and transfer won't be any earlier than mid-November.

@Caubabatko exactly that! Low dose because of the risk of OHSS. The Dr did mention we may have to do a freeze all but let's see. Can only take one day at a time. We're only doing the one cycle for now so let's see.

In terms of supplements, just been told to have vitamin D and folic acid.

Hope everyone is doing well. I had my first scan this morning but waiting to hear the next steps from the nurse. There were 22 follicles in total but no idea of the sizes. @Maddie23 I’ve also been advised we may have to do a freeze all. I’ll be upset if that does happen but at the same time if it means lots of eggs, and hopefully embryos, I can’t really complain.

@Runner77 that's an amazing amount of follicles! Are you on a high dose?

I know what you mean. I was really upset when they mentioned the freeze all but the Dr reminded me that if they do that, it's best for my health too. And like you said, it may mean lots of eggs too!

@IslandsintheOcean Truly the rudest! Fingers crossed ICSI sorts them out this time around

@Caubabatko He is on a men's fertility supplement, plus added zinc and omega 3. We've also gone to a great nutritionist and poor guy is off biscuits, beer, booze etc for the foreseeable... Luckily, he's a good sport, eats healthy and exercises otherwise

Hi guys, hope that everyones getting on ok. My first post on Mumsnet😅
I'm 29, with low AMH for age and doing PGD for an autosomal dominant condition. Trying hard to stay optimistic. I'm currently day 2 downreg with Buserelin, long protocol and hoping to start stims in a couple of weeks. Have been ok so far in terms of symptoms - head is feeling quite fuzzy and need to actually get the courage to inject myself as husband won't be in every morning to help (my needle-phobia doesn't help). Is anyone else doing long protocol this month? And how did you guys get over the mental hurdle of injecting? I'm very aware that this is the very start of the process and there's a lot more needles to come..

Hi @Autumnsun20 . Welcome to the group! What helped me with the fear of needles is this video. I love how this woman says "YOU CAN DO IT! THIS IS NOTHING!"

@Maddie23 @Runner77 Freeze-all cycles aren't too bad if you aren't rushing to transfer. If you're over 38, the benefit of PGT-A outweighs the risk of losing otherwise usable embryos. I've heard that myo-inositol helps with egg quality if you have PCOS.

@Autumnsun20
I was dreading self-injection until my first cycle in May. Making the area around the target injection site numb by applying an ice-pack for 1-2 minutes, taking a deep breathe during the stab helped with the pain as well as the fear.
Having your other half around to support you in the first couple of injections would be ideal.
If you have to use a single dose syringe type needle - longer and thicker than the pen type, I've learnt to inject at 45 degree angle so it doesn't go too deep down.

Fab number of follicles @Runner77!

My CD10 scan went well :) my lining is 12.7mm and I now have 7 follicles (had 5 on Wednesday). I have 1 x 17.5, 1 x 16.5, 2 x 15.5, 1 x 14.5 and 1 x 11. Am continuing to stim over the weekend and have another scan at 9 on Monday. If all good then EC will be Wednesday.

Hi everyone. I hope that's OK if I join this thread with my first ever post after nearly reading all the posts on Mumsnet about IVF! 😁
I'll have my first egg collection on Monday and I'm very stressed!
I am 39 with a high AMH of 36. I had an abandoned cycle is September because the hospital did a mistake with my AMH and put me on a high dose of med resulting in over 53 follicules and estrogen leve of 25000. Today is the day 11 of my second cycle and I have 25 follicles but only 7 over 14 mm. I was on Menopur 150 for 8 days and 225 for 2 days. It will be dropped to 75 for today and tomorrow as my estrogen went up from 4000 to over 10000 in the last 2 days.
I'm very disappointed to see out of 25 follicules, only 7 have an acceptable size although apparently the estrogen increase shows that more follicules might grow to a good size till egg collection. Also, I'm not sure if I can have a fresh transfer if it continues to go up.
If anyone have any suggestions for the last couple of days before egg collection about what to eat, how to do self care, etc., I'll be happy to hear. 😊

Hello! Not sure if this is the right place to ask - sorry if not.

I'm about to start ICSI for the first time; we've been on the waiting list since Feb. I've had conflicting advice from the doctor and the nurse who booked me in for our kick off appointment last week.

The nurse said that my November period dates (expect it to start on 15 November) would probably mean my treatment will be in January, as the labs shut down for two weeks over Christmas. But the doctor said we might be able to start in Dec.

I know I'll be on the antagonist programme, and I don't have any issues we're aware of (it's male infertility that's our issue).

So my question is - how many days after your period do the injections and stuff usually begin?! I can't find any info on that in our patient portal. Is it like a normal cycle, so they'd hope to collect eggs just before I ovulate? Can it really happen that fast?

Should have gotten to the bottom of this in the appointment but there was so much information coming at me! If anyone is able to shed some light I'd really appreciate it. Thanks X

Hey @GOL - welcome! It’s not easy is it? Our first cycle was opposite - they went super low due to high AMH, we got two follicles. 🫣

On the follicles- they can come along at different rates and mine were 8 but doubled in size in a few days. It depends but it is a waiting game. As you are new to this there is a bit of range finding to see how your body reacts which is hard. Our clinic says if over 25 follicles it’s a freeze all. It used to be 20 but prepare for it. The rates of FET are great so it is a better outcome for pregnancy if they choose to do it - OHSS is really hard to deal with.

wishing you the very best for your process.

@potatosconelover - we are male factor. We do two weeks of down reg meds. Stop for five days for a bleed. Then two weeks of stims (can be more). Regular scans to check progress, then a few days until egg collection. Thereafter 5 days until day 5 embryo implanted. So about 6 weeks which makes it tight for the two week shutdown in December.

Best just to ask them specifically for it in writing - they will be happy to clarify. Best wishes for your cycle!

@potatosconelover hi, I only had 1 EC so far. My hospital uses downreg pills to time the start of stimulation. Like currently from the 2nd day of periods I am on it till 13th of November and then stimulation starts on the 17th, and EC planned for week 24-1 December. Last time was similar, just less time on downregg as someone cancelled and they had a space.
I was and this cycle too on the short protocol.
Hope they can fit you in this year xx

Thanks @IslandsintheOcean @TT82 - that's really helpful, thanks.

Good luck to both of you. XXX

@Maddie23 I’m on 300 Menipur, which has been increased from 225 last cycle. Hopefully the slightly higher does work well.

@Caubabatko thanks for the reassurance regarding a freeze all cycle. We have elected to do a bit of a hybrid cycle, transferring 1 embryo (hopefully) fresh and testing the remainder. I’m 37 so genetic testing is optional for us, but we decided to do all the testing available to us . Have you done a freeze all cycle before?

@Hopingforno2in2023 we are on similar timings! I also have my second scan on Monday. While I have a good number of follicles only 3 were above 11mm so the rest still have a lot of growing to do. Looks like my EC will either be Wed or Fri. How are you feeling about it all?

@GOL I understand it’s exciting but also scary to be doing the first EC. Don’t worry about it too much, you will be in very safe hands and shouldn’t feel a thing. I felt tired and a bit uncomfortable afterwards but nothing a paracetamol couldn’t solve. My tips are to focus on getting lots of rest and minimising stress. Line up some good movies or TV to watch. Let us know how you go.

I was doing well @Runner77 but I have woken up worried that I have ovulated as I feel a lot less full and tender and have lots of CM.

@contentsmayb @Caubabatko Thanks both for advice! That video was really helpful. I managed to this mornings! Not half as bad as I was expecting😀

@TT82 I'll hopefully be starting stims around the same time as you!

@Hopingforno2in2023 have you contacted your clinic? Hopefully it’s just a natural variation from day to day. I have noticed a lot of cm the past two days, and I remember that from last cycle as well.

Did my first injection last night and the ice pack tip was a treat @Caubabatko and @TT82 ! Didn't feel a thing!

Let's hope today is the same haha.

My clinic isn’t open on a weekend @Runner77 but I am back to being incredible swollen so feeling calmer now :)

@Runner77 ☝is my freeze-all (embryo banking) cycle results so far. I thought about a hybrid cycle in the last one, but transferring an already tested embryo from the freezer not the freshly cultivated. A doctor convinced me not to do it becuase the risk of OHSS is higher when you're older even if your ovaries aren't polycystic and that if you develop OHSS AND become pregnant, the condition will persist and it can be life threatening.

@Hopingforno2in2023 7 follicles is great! In my first EC the clinic first said I had 5 then 7 and in the end collected 9! My AMH is relatively high for my age though. It may be just with my clinics but I felt that my doctors tend to underreport follicle numbers during the stim either to avoid disappointment later or they think a rough count is OK - because in each EC I ended up with more eggs collected than the follicle counts.

@potatosconelover
If you're on the antagonist protocol, the FSH injection starts on Day 2 of bleeding. Are you on NHS, do you need to buy the medications yourself?

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Day 14 today, first night in an accommodation near my clinic abroad. I was traveling overnight and unable to check the basal temperature or urine for LH this morning. Praying my ovulation doesn't come early, not before my first appointment on Monday😣