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Infertility

Our Infertility Support forum is a space to connect with others in the same position, discuss causes, treatment and IVF, and share infertility stories of hope and success.

FET/IVF/ICSI Part 2

684 replies

MoonlightDreamer · 06/11/2023 13:19

As I was replying I realised the thread has reached the limit.
I thought I'd create a new thread for us all to keep in touch.
Please feel free to tag anyone I've forgot

@lauralozzle
@meliss
@thinkpink37
@luckypineapple
@ivfkinster
@babyplease23
@lolly2507
@4thcyclelucky
@marshk
@user491
@kitt86
@Hopingforno2in2023
@woaaaahnelly
@rosesinbloom19
@millie89xx

OP posts:
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LuckyPineapple · 06/11/2023 14:00

@MoonlightDreamer I'm so sorry to hear about the difficulties you have had. Life really is very unfair. You have been incredibly strong to get to this point.

I am struggling to not let it totally consume me. This will definitely be a work in progress.

I agree that I think our bodies need recovery before transfer. I did a day 3 fresh transfer last time as it was all we got (we have pretty bad fertilization rates even with ICSI) and I remember thinking how on earth is this going to work when my body is wrecked with medication and hormones. We ended up doing a freeze all this time round because of OHSS. Although I don't feel confident at all that this has worked this time either.

It makes a lot of sense to wait it out. Either AF will show or a pregnancy thats is meant to be will still be there. The BFN is mentally and emotionally awful!

I think you should definitely go ahead and put your Christmas tree up. It's all those little things that make us feel better are important ❤️

4thcyclelucky · 06/11/2023 14:32

@MoonlightDreamer and anyone else constipated 😅how are you guys constipated? I feel that the progesterone is making everything come out clean! My stomach has been working overtime, although I have also been consuming more😄

MoonlightDreamer · 06/11/2023 14:35

@LuckyPineapple
He would never normally let me decorate the house this early but at least he agrees I've earned it this year.
How many rounds have you done?
This was our first and I'm absolutely dreading the possibility of having to do the stims/ retrieval/ recovery all over again. I think I underestimated it and it's really took a toll on me.
They wouldn't freeze our spare as it was a CC grade 😪 which is why we opted to go for the double transfer. They would have frozen our 5BC and to be honest if I could go back in time I probably would have frozen it until I'm healthier rather than went for a fresh. I felt kinda pushed into the fresh. I think FETs have shown to be more successful now for that exact reason . The meds and recovery are really hard on the body and its probably not a prime condition for supporting a new life.
Have you heard of IMSI? It has clinically highly success rates compared to ICSI.
I think its a more advanced microscope and they can see the sperm more clearly in detail when selecting the best sperm compared to ICSI. It can detect little flaws that they wouldn't normally see . I'd seen it the other day when i was browsing a clinics website.
It was recommended for when there's poor fertilisation rates and improving embryo quality

OP posts:
IVFKinster · 06/11/2023 15:09

Thank you for the new thread @MoonlightDreamer. The tww is so rough! And recovery from egg collection can be really rough.
I underestimated how dead I'd feel after. I think I said before but I was so unwell after egg collection I did not give a monkeys about the egg/embryo updates I got in that week after. I could barely live let alone think. I hope you're being extra kind to yourself. It doesn't mean the transfer won't have worked. You will get there physically. It's just a horrible waiting game for everything.

I'm going back to have a proper read of people's updates!

Millie89xx · 06/11/2023 15:12

@MoonlightDreamer Ohhh thanks for doing the new thread ! So currently awaiting phone call from hospital with time Wednesday .. nerves have gone ! Did anyone else in last scan get told about fluid ???

User491 · 06/11/2023 15:13

Thank you for the new thread!

Transfer complete, and finished with a McDonald's 😋

Not as good news as we expected... 2 of the top grades have kind of stopped developing, they will leave them until tomorrow and see, would love one to freeze.

We've had one top grade and an average transferred (embryologists guidance) the average was an early blastocyst and said it was best to make use of it, as it would be unlikely it could be frozen.

Now go try and not go crazy for the next 9 days 😬

LuckyPineapple · 06/11/2023 15:15

@MoonlightDreamer, you have definitely earned it and enjoy every moment of it 🎄

We've had a cancelled round and 2 full rounds of ICSI this year. Started in March which we had to cancel. I wasn't responding to medication at all and realised i had covid. Pretty sure it was Covid that messed things up. So I ended up with a body full of meds not getting anywhere.

Started another round in May and had our day 3 fresh transfer. We were pretty devastated that only 1 egg fertilised out of 9 mature so started looking at other options and realised our clinic offers IMSI. At our review our consultant said to do ICSI again as results can be different with every cycle but again ended up with 3 fertilised out of 9 mature eggs in most recent round. It was better than the last but I regret not pushing with IMSI more.

We ended up with 2 blasts and have 1 other frozen. After that it's the whole thing again. I completely understand your feelings on the thought of Stims/retrieval etc again. It's physically, emotionally, mentally and financially draining. I would definitely push for IMSI next time.

I agree that the medication and recovery is difficult! I dread to think of the medication that's been pumped into my body. I was disappointed having to do a freeze all at the time but looking back it was better for my body. My clinic started me on a medicated cycle for FET but my body decided to do its own thing and they had to switch me to a natural one. I've no idea how this will work out but I'll know soon enough!

Rosesinbloom19 · 06/11/2023 15:29

Hi all just heading home from my egg collection, managed to get 7 eggs which I’m super happy about! 🙂 When we first got in the consultant said from the last scan she was expecting 5 so when they said 7 and the embryologist left the room I just burst into tears! 😭 this is SUCH an emotional rollercoaster lol! We will find out tomorrow is life any are mature and fertilise so I just feel like it’s a bit of a lottery at this point! 🤪

Sending love & positive thoughts to you all, this is such a hard journey and the waiting is enough to send you insane! Xxx

Melisss · 06/11/2023 15:30

@MoonlightDreamer thanks for creating the thread. Was thinking what a strange setting that you are only allowed to reach 40 pages. The way we are typing on here we will fill up part 2 in no time 😅

I feel a bit better now, I think i just had a meltdown this morning because on Friday everything looked on track and today she was almost negative at the scan. I did not like her tone when she said " we were never expecting too many eggs from you" like I was not good enough. Maybe it is all in my head but felt attacked 😅

Melisss · 06/11/2023 15:43

@Rosesinbloom19 really good news, happy you had more eggs than expected. Good start!😊
How was the egg collection? I am booked for Wednesday and very scared 😫

Rosesinbloom19 · 06/11/2023 16:01

Aww @Melisss I can totally understand why you would be annoyed at that comment, like these nurses sometimes say throw away comments and you’re like wtf!? As if in some way the fact they weren’t expecting more makes it better?! And you’re just sitting there thinking what have I done wrong!? I’m so sorry, hope your feeling a bit better but your feelings are totally valid, I think I would be the same!

honestly the egg collection was totally fine, the nurses were so lovely and put you at ease and then you get some nice drugs and when you wake up it’s all over! 🥰 try not to worry (easier said than done I know!) but it’s all done within 20/30 mins and the relief from your ovaries not being like oranges is instant! Wishing you the best of luck!

Hopingforno2in2023 · 06/11/2023 16:27

Well done @Rosesinbloom19!

Scan today went well, have 9 follicles now. I trigger tonight and egg collection 09:30 on Wednesday. I had some fluid around my ovary @Millie89xx and was told it isn’t a problem.

Lauralozzle · 06/11/2023 16:28

@MoonlightDreamer Thanks for new thread.

Sorry I disappeared. It was our OTD yesterday but obviously I knew it had failed on Wednesday. It’s hit me much harder this time. I’ve taken today off work and probably won’t be going back this week because I’m a bit of a mess.

Powering on through just doesn’t feel like much of an option this time.

I’ve stopped medication and I have a review on 27th November to figure out next steps.

I hope everyone’s egg collections went ok. I’ll try to catch up a bit later. Good luck to you all in the 2WW.

Hopingforno2in2023 · 06/11/2023 16:28

Congrats on your transfer @User491!

Millie89xx · 06/11/2023 16:33

@Hopingforno2in2023 we are literally an hour apart on Wednesday for egg collection ? How u feeling ….

Hopingforno2in2023 · 06/11/2023 16:34

Exciting @Millie89xx! I’m feeling very positive, just want these eggs out and into the hands of the experts!

Millie89xx · 06/11/2023 16:35

@Rosesinbloom19 ah so happy for you that it all went well! How are you feeling after egg collection was it as bad as anticipated?

Millie89xx · 06/11/2023 16:42

Also a quick one … is facial moisturiser a no go on day of collection ???

Rosesinbloom19 · 06/11/2023 16:43

@Millie89xx aw thank you! It was really not bad at all tbh! I think the thought of it was so much worse than the actual procedure etc and it’s over so quickly! Is yours Wednesday? Best of luck when it comes! 🥰

Millie89xx · 06/11/2023 16:49

@Rosesinbloom19 yes Wednesday morning at 830 .. I just want them out now too when I had my scan today it was quite tender so they are more than ready now 🤩 hope your resting up and getting looked after

Hopingforno2in2023 · 06/11/2023 16:51

How many follicles did you have today @Millie89xx?

LuckyPineapple · 06/11/2023 17:00

Sorry ive joined so late on. I have been reading all your journeys over this last month.

@Melisss don't worry at all about egg collection. I was awake for mine. My clinic give the option for awake with local anesthetic or sedation. There was an Anesthetist there in case I needed it but it was totally fine. Even got the watch it all on the scan. If you're sedated it'll be a nice nap and over before you know it.

@Rosesinbloom19 hoping all goes well with fertilisation report tomorrow 🤞🏻

@IVFKinster Congratulations on your lovely news!

@User491 Congrats with the transfer and welcome to the TWW. I think I'm going mad! 🤯

@Lauralozzle I'm so sorry to hear your news. I hope you take the time to do lots of nice things for yourself and im sure much needed time away from work.

Babyplease23 · 06/11/2023 17:07

Congratulations on the transfer @User491 sounds really positive for you! And I look forward to seeing some good news from you soon!

Unfortunately not the outcome I was hoping for. They scanned me prior to transfer and said it looks like I have OHSS. Very swollen and lots of fluid and they weren't happy to transfer for that reason. I totally understand that they have my best interest at heart but it feels so disappointing. It's already an incredibly long and tough journey, and now I've got to wait even longer for a frozen transfer 😥 I'm stopping progesterone tonight and will have to wait for a withdrawal bleed and then a regular period before I can start again, most likely December or later. On the plus side our embryos that didn't look great this morning have now caught up so we have 5 going in the freezer. Although I'm not sure on the grades!

I'll stick around to cheer everyone else on. I look forward to seeing lots of BFPs on this thread!

Melisss · 06/11/2023 18:05

any of you ladies had to take ovidrel trigger shot? so the nurse said to just take out the prefilled syringe and just stick it in. no need to remove any air bubble and that stuff. does that sound about right?

Hopingforno2in2023 · 06/11/2023 18:07

I will be taking ovitrelle later and believe it is all prepared and you dont have to do anything @Melisss