IVF / ICSI January 2024

[VenusStarr]

Hi, is anyone due to start IVF / ICSI in January? We're going to do a 3 cycle package. I was hoping to start in December but hadn't realised Christmas closing would be so early! My clinic won't start fresh cycles after 30 November - my af is due any day now.

Got my protocol consultation next week, we've been doing lots of tests and my baseline scan. My husband was very sick earlier the year and we've now got MFI (low motility) and borderline sperm dna fragmentation. I've had recurrent miscarriages, combination of natural and ivf pregnancies, low amh, fibroids, adenomyosis... I've got immune issues so will be on extensive meds when we get to transfer. Trying to bank some embryos as this is our last go 🙏

Trying to see the wait as a positive to give us time to get the supplements in our system and eat well.

If anyone fancies joining me on the wait, please do 🙂

Thanks all for the feedback and kind words. They want me to carry on as blood test shows a rise and see me again in a few days. I feel like cancellation is still a possibility though so feeling very meh about the whole cycle.

@VenusStarr lower dose is something I will definitely be bringing up for my next round.

@IVF23 it’s hard, hoping this one will stick for you.

@Pincushion83 hopefully all will go well and no more attritions.

Good luck to everyone doing egg collections in the next few days. It would be lovely to read some success stories to keep the hope going.

I’m sorry that you aren’t responding brilliantly @Faith2024, I hope it picks up for you soon :)

Congrats on being PUPO @IVF23 but I am sorry you have none in the freezer.

less than 48 hours until my first FET appointment now, getting exciting g

@Ellenn thanks! I have my scan on Thursday to see if I can start stims so keeping my fingers crossed 😊

Hi all

I picked up my medication. I have lubion injections (im using the pessary and injections due to ibs issues cant use pessary 2x) but they haven't given me any needles or syringes with the lubion, I've got Gonal F, Ganirelix and Oviterrle ( i bet I've botched the spelling there for all). I have no idea what each one is for and how to use. I'm hoping at my first scan they will actually update me on my plan
I have to call the clinic when I have full flow atm its more spotting. Im nervous because im due on my appetite is so very low as it is at this time of month and my heads pounding. ☹

Hi @Sherr33 glad you have your meds.

Gonal f is your stim medication, so you'd start this on cd2 or 3(ish, depending on your protocol). I think the Ganirelix might be to stop ovulation (i use cetrotide), they'll tell you when to start this.

Ovitrelle is your trigger injection - they'll give you a time to do this, 36 hours before your egg collection.

Lubion, you'll definitely need the needles - 2 types, one to draw up into the syringe and one to do the injection - you don't do this until after egg collection - they'll tell you when to start this.
Have you not had a nurse consult? That's usually when they'll talk through how to do the injections.

Good luck for Thursday @confuzzzzzled 🙏

Exciting @Hopingforno2in2024 😊

That's a good sign @Faith2024 it's really hard to be in limbo, I always have to tell myself to trust the process, it's very hard but you're doing all you can ❤️

Good luck for tomorrow, @Pincushion83 and you too @VenusStarr. I’m catching up, sorry if I’m missing anyone else going in for egg collection.

I’m booked in for Wednesday morning after this morning’s scan. I don’t know all my numbers - I’m with NHS, so it’s very in and out when we see them. They did say today that I’ll be put on blood thinners after egg collection. Those of you who’ve done IVF before, has this happened to you? It’s related to OHSS risk (blood clots?).

Good luck to everyone for scans and results and updates from doctors. After reading so many of these threads over the past few years it’s strange to be part of one now!

@VenusStarr thank you! And good luck for tomorrow!

I misses your message @Pincushion83 🙏 for tomorrow for you ❤️

@potatosconelover I have clexane in ivf (don't need it when ttc naturally). But because of my history of losses, they've added it in. I've heard it can help with implantation and I've had 2 out of 3 transferred embryos implant. It does give some pretty impressive bruises though.

Thank you! @confuzzzzzled

@VenusStarr thank you for going over that. I've had my nurses consult but they just mentioned Gonal F and Lubion / Cyclogest but no mention of dose or how to use or when to use :-/ my partner has said to stay calm not stress and that theyl update us when its time to start. And ip have to query why I don't have the needles and injections for the lubion vials

My clinic gave me a form that I used as a checklist for meds, I'd take it to each scan with dose etc @Sherr33
Anything they don't tell you, make sure you do ask but if we can help with anything, we will 😊

When I had my meds from the clinic / their pharmacy supplier, it comes with everything you need, but I know when you get meds from Asda they don't provide the needles. You won't need to use for a while though, so plenty of time to sort x

Aaaah exciting!!! Best of luck!

All the luck and fingers crossed for those with egg collections today 💪🏻❤️

@VenusStarr @Ellenn my clinic said that they have the syringes and needles for my lubion injections and when I go for my first scan im to bring my medication with me so they can show me how to inject and how much. They said it would be easier as this way itl be fresh in our mind yay. I'm super relieved 😌

Thanks @VenusStarr @Faith2024 @Hopingforno2in2024 ❤️

I hope today goes well @VenusStarr

Good luck to all for their EC today!

Mixed news for me... I ovulated my top follicle, which was my worry about going for collection today rather than yesterday 😕 not holding out much hope for this round.
The doctor thinks I had a poor response in comparison to my afc and amh, and the growth was uneven, so they want me to see my consultant next week to review my protocol. They mentioned estrogen priming, @Loute02 is that what you've done? I need to look into it more.
We did get a couple of eggs, so we'll see. The good news is my dh had an optimal sample for standard ivf, so we've just done that this round. I think if we get a better response from me, we'll try icsi. Need to see if we get any fertilisation.

That's good news about the lubion @Sherr33

@VenusStarr I feel like no matter how controlled we think the cycles/treatments are there's no way it actually is...id have mixed feelings. I think I would have liked to have gone for the one that stood a better chance but I don't know how clinics make their decision. As this is my first cycle its easy for me to say this should have happened that should have happened. I have everything crossed for you. 2024 is ours!

Flo flo has arrived for me. I've been booked in for Thursday for scan and going through medication etc. I wanted things to be sorted at home before I went on this journey but hey ho if you leave to men to get things done itl take them a good year and a lot of talk before they get around to it!

@VenusStarr yes this is what I've done (I think as they never call anything by the expected name). I had to take estrogen for 7-10 days before my expected period start. Last time, they collected 6 eggs, 3 fertilised but only 2 made it through day 5. Always so depressing to hear that so few eggs made it through when you do so many injections.
Fingers crossed for your eggs! Did you say you were going for 3 cycles? What happens now then?

Had my first scan today (day 6 of stims) and they told me to start the morning injections as well. I have 3 follicles above 10mm and 5 10mm or below. Next scan on Friday to see how they develop. Pencilled in next Monday or Wednesday for egg collection.

Bit of strange/bad news this evening. My partner has had an accident at the gym, long story short he has fractured his neck in a few places and will likely need surgery in the morning to repair. Obviously this means he wouldn’t be able to give sample on Friday with egg collection.

I have my growth scan tomorrow morning which I’ll still go along to (luckily the hospitals are very close together) to let them know the situation and find out what are options for delaying are. I’m hoping they’re kind and allow us to cancel this cycle and continue when he’s recovered and ready…but with NHS funding only one cycle for us, I’m really not sure what this will mean for that…

Thankfully he is ok and can move all extremities, just a long road to recovery now.

good luck to you all now and in the future! Hopefully I’ll be back x

@LouP87 I'm so sorry to hear that! ❤️ wishing your partner a quick recovery. I would hope the clinic would be sympathetic to the situation and let you try again once he's recovered.

@Loute02 thank you. I'm glad you have some even growth of follicles. I'm wondering also about my dose, as it seems my one dominant one, which ovulated, was sucking up all the stims - what dose are you on? I was on 225iu.
I've got an appointment with my consultant next Tuesday, got a few questions to ask. We were never going back to back but have 2 cycles left.
Will get a call today to see if any fertilised, but not holding any hope for that to be honest.

Thank you @Sherr33 good luck for Thursday x

I’m so sorry to hear about your partner @Loute02 and I hope he recovers quickly.

Keeping everything crossed you have good fertilisation @VenusStarr

I start my FET today with an injection of Gynopeptyl

Sorry to hear about your partner @Loute02 and I think considering the situation if it does get cancelled you'll still have that one nhs round. As this isn't a completed round if that makes sense. I mean that's what I've gathered from my nurses consult please correct me if I'm wrong. Hope he makes a speedy recovery and good luck with it all x

Morning @LouP87 - I’m so sorry to hear this. I hope he’s as well as he can be and surely the clinic will do the right thing. Poor man, and scary for both of you. X

@LouP87 so sorry to hear about your partner. As you haven’t gone for egg collection, my understanding is there is more possibility of cancelling the cycle so it won’t count 🤞🏻

@VenusStarr hope you get some good news today 🤞🏻 I did downregulation this cycle as in my last cycle my follicles grew quite unevenly.

@Hopingforno2in2024 yay for first injection

Had my fertilisation update, miraculously, we got 75% fertilised with ivf (we were offered icsi but they said dh's sperm met their standard ivf criteria) I was so deflated I just said ivf as I'd written off the cycle. So we will get an update on Friday and they said they'll freeze the best one on that day and monitor if there's anything left. In total shock. Everyone at the clinic was so down about our chances yesterday.

Thanks @IVF23 is that what estrogen priming would be classed as, down reg? Did it help them grown more in sync?
How are you feeling? ❤️