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 🙂

@potatosconelover congrats!!!!!

egg collection day tomorrow for me and I’m SO NERVOUS. I’ve got over my fear of needles after having 53 injections this cycle, but I still suffer so bad with white coat syndrome, and the thought of being sedated is freaking me out😩

@potatosconelover that is amazing news, congratulations!!! It’s really hard to believe isn’t it! Are you currently 4 weeks then? How are you feeling?

@xbiscottix really sorry to hear that. Look after yourself and take time for you. Yes I completely understand wanting to stop the progesterone!

I am so bloated currently and hungry all the time. I think I look about 16 weeks pregnant 😂

@IVF23 yes it's annoying as I just see it as a waste of money. The cravings enjoy your favourite foods appetite is at its best now 🖤 and yes I will do thanks c

Thanks, @xbiscottix and I'm sorry you haven't had a positive this time. Hopefully your clinic can make tweaks for the next round.

@IVF23 I feel fine apart from remaining OHSS symptoms. Just can't believe it. First time coming out of the TWW with good news, madness.

Thanks everyone!

@confuzzzzzled its honestly fine, a few seconds and you’ll nod off!

I’m curious if anyone has ovary ache type feelings like ovulation pain between egg retrieval and embryo transfer? It’s a strange feeling considering I’m not about to ovulate 😂

@Blossomofhope yes I did! But they left 2 eggs in there that they couldn’t reach, so maybe I actually did ovulate!

@Copenhagener oh wow I didn’t know that could happen!! I thought when they drain the fluid it contains all eggs

@potatosconelover congratulations! Was this your first ivf cycle?
@xbiscottix has your tww passed? Getting a negative is gut renching but especially after spending so much money on trying to get a positive! Your chances do go up with every ivf cycle 🤞🤞

Congratulations @potatosconelover brilliant news.

Good luck with egg retrieval everyone. It really wasn’t that bad, half an hour of a nice nap and all done. Recovery was also not to bad but I have low Amh so didnt get huge amount of eggs so not sure if that has anything to do with it.

Everyone taking tests is making me impatient but really excited for all. I am doing cycle 2 early Feb so starting stims soon again.

@xbiscottix sorry to hear that. Were you able to freeze any or will you be starting again?

Sorry to hear that @xbiscottix Look after yourself and be kind to yourself over the coming weeks x.
@Copenhagener & @Blossomofhope My stomachs felt a lot better today, finally and bloating has eased! Still the odd twinge but nothing like earlier in the week.

Me too @Eggbert12345 .. well I’m still bloated but feel less uncomfortable. Glad to have made it to day 4 with no embryologist call 🙂
Glad to hear you’re feeling better.

Waiting to see if we can transfer tomorrow. They'll call us between 8-9am if they can't go ahead. Otherwise, it's transfer day. Fingers crossed.

In better news, I received a job offer today! (I got laid off in October). I should start at the end of February.

@Copenhagener ah amazing. Maybe it’s the start of a run of good luck for you. Congrats on the job & best of luck tomo!

Congratulations, thats great news@Copenhagener Must be a huge relief. Lots of luck for tomorrow!

@Cloclo93 - my tww is up on Monday 29th
Yes hopefully it will work for me one day x
@Faith2024 - I don't have anything to freeze from this cycle as they all 7 made it blast and they was all poor quality, non transferable and non freezable she didn't even grade them.

So I will have to pay another £4000 plus... to start from scratch.

@xbiscottix so sorry to hear that this transfer didn’t work 😢 is your clinic going to change anything to try and get a better outcome? The whole process is just so draining xx

@Copenhagener yasss we are transfer buddies!! Got mine this morning at 9.45 🥳 I think there was someone else here too? I’m loosing track with everyone!

@potatosconelover great news!!! Have your clinic given you a scan date?

luckily on Wednesday I ended up speaking with a consultant regarding the recurrent miscarriages (through NHS so different hospital to fertility treatments.) she was absolutely lovely and so excited and positive about my transfer that’s it’s rubbed off on me! She has prescribed high dose folic acid and said I can get multiple early scans if this transfer works as support + extra scans is the other thing proven to help prevent further miscarriages! Also we have plan that if this transfer doesn’t work to squeeze in hysteroscope just to make sure no abnormalities 😃

Good luck with your transfers @Copenhagener @Ellenn . Glad to hear you are feeling more positive @Ellenn , it doesn’t like they really listened.

@xbiscottix i completely understand how disheartening it is and the financial situation just worsens it all. I hope you can have a good follow up and they can suggest changes that may be able to made to the next cycle

@xbiscottix it’s hard. I agree with @IVF23, it will be another chance to see what can be done differently.

@IVF23 @Faith2024 I really don't know what else can be done we have male fertility factor. I have 4 live births and he has none.

Af arrived on time this morning so I'll be calling the clinic later on.

I either want to do a bulk package or catch a flight to do ivf next time. Right now I'm with abc ivf x

EC done and 6 eggs!!!! I actually enjoyed the collection, I stayed awake the whole time with some sedation, IV painkillers and gas and air. Overall a really positive experience, I chatted all the way through and got the giggles from all the drugs 🤣

Hi all!

We had our transfer! 5 of the 8 eggs fertilised, and 2 made it to day 5 blast stage. They don’t grade embryos here (or at least they don’t tell the patients).

I’m so happy we know we can fertilise without ICSI and make a blast.

One blast is chilling out inside me now, and the other is in the freezer.

I was expecting a few to die off, but was still hoping for 3/4 blasts. They told me it’s normal for a 30-year-old woman to lose 60% of the eggs by day 5, and 2 left by now is the norm. I’m 32, so seems about right and made me feel better.

It was easy and not painful, unlike my IUIs at my last clinic.

I’ll have a blood test in 11 days. Fingers crossed!

Wishing everyone else a good transfer day!

Hi!

Jumping in - hope that’s okay.
Had my egg retrieval today. Had 40 follicles in my scans and was expected to over respond but only got 12 eggs 😢. I know it could be worse but was expecting around 20 and now really nervous to find out how many were mature/fertilise tomorrow.

@Copenhagener great to hear it went well and you have a frosty!! In my first cycle I also only got 2 embryos and was so gutted as I expected more when you think of the number of eggs collected! That’s still 2 good chances and hopefully the one you have now is going to make a baby!!

@Heyjal welcome! When will you hear about fertilisation? 12 is still a good number and hopefully get a few embryos 🤞🤞🤞 did they put you in freeze all due to number of follicles? Or are you good to go for a fresh transfer?

@confuzzzzzled sounds like great egg collection! I couldn’t remember anything from mine it was like I’d had an amazing nap!!

Hey @Ellenn ! I’m on freeze all protocol as they expected me to get more eggs and I was high risk of OHSS. Shame it can’t be changed now to fresh transfer. They will call tomorrow between 8-12 to let me know. Not much chance of sleeping tonight I think.

@confuzzzzzled thats so funny 😂. I was told I might hear them chatting in the background and we aware but I must have been sound asleep cause didn’t hear or see a damn thing.