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 🙂

The waiting game on these eggs is going to torture me for the next 5 days I can tell! Also had a bit of a shock after my collection when we were told that DP’s sperm was perfect so they’re not longer doing ICSI

@Heyjal it was such a weird experience! I was waiting to drift off but it never happened, instead i ended up just chatting a load of garbage to everyone the whole time! When I was wheeled back in to recovery they were like ‘well most people tend to have a nap and sleep off their sedation, but I’m guessing you won’t be doing that’ instead I got my classic NHS tea and toast and watched a bit of TikTok 🤣

Great news @Copenhagener ! Hope you have some nice plans to keep you distracted during the tww

@Heyjal @confuzzzzzled hope you get good news over the next 5 days 🤞🏻

I’ve been so caught up with injections and the egg retrieval that it didn’t even cross my mind how anxiety inducing waiting for the phone calls from the embryologist would be😩

@confuzzzzzled i remember being so stressed about this too. I found it helpful to keep myself super busy and try and find a tv series to get wrapped up in to pass the time. I hope you get all good news 🤞 xx

Wee update on fertilisation.

10 out of 12 were mature and 9 fertilised 🥲. Long wait until Monday now for an update 🤞🏻🤞🏻.

all 6 of my eggs were mature and they’ve all fertilised!!!!

@confuzzzzzled thats brilliant. Is your next update on Monday as well?
fingers crossed for us both 😍

@Heyjal yep - Monday seems soooo far away doesn’t it😩 sending us both good vibes for the next few days!!🥰

Hi @xbiscottix , I was with abc ivf for my last round of ivf and I really didn't rate them. Communication was awful, I felt like just a number and when things don't work out there is no tailoring of the plan... They stick with their uniform protocol rolled out for everyone and if you want to deviate they say you can move to their partner clinic CREATE. I'm so sorry to hear that this round hasn't been a good one for you. Sending you support xxx

@Becky105 I was thinking what could this. Clinic do for me as the first found of ivf never worked and I have no embryos who are you with now ?

Is anyone else with GCRM in glasgow?

Heyy everyone hope everyone is doing well with there treatment I was wondering what clinic everyone is with I'm currently with abc ivf but I don't think they are suitable for me . We have male infertility I have been thinking about going over seas eg Greece I haven't done a great deal of research but I want a better individual tailored approach. During my 1st round I did 8days of stims and icsi it didn't work I don't feel I want to return to them as what @Becky105 I was just a number. And if I'm going to do this again I want more of a thoroughly check as it's male infertility and was only offered icsi and then we was told to check by gp testosterone levels which was great no issues then to do a blood test for abnormal chromosomes from gp aswel. I don't think they did much as a clinic.

Does anyone have any recommendations I would like to buy a bulk package and to do an egg retrieval and freeze for a few cycles then make the body recover and then transfer if possible. I need a clinic which specialises in male infertility if there's such thing

Thanks x

@xbiscottix i did a bit of research into clinics previously although I’m using my nhs cycles at the moment. I had narrowed down to two clinics in Greece that I liked called Newlife and ivf serum. There is a Facebook group called ivf abroad support network. They have lots of up to date reviews/experiences of women that may help? I had also looked at Spanish clinics (although they are quite expensive) and some in Prague.

quite a few clinics also did free initial consultations so this could help you in narrowing down your favourite?

@Faith2024 hi faith curious to know what is your AMH and AFC and how many eggs you collected? I'm asking because I don't know how well I will respond to IVF I'm due to start February 8th but my AMH is 3 😁 best of luck on your ivf journey! X

@confuzzzzzled that’s great news congrats! Even though I kept myself busy it felt like I was holding my breath those 3 days until the update.

@Cloclo93 my amh is 5 last I tested it but i heard it varies slightly from month to month and AFC count alongside is more accurate picture with amh together. I got 5 eggs, 3 fertilised and all 3 made it to day 3 for freezing. They were graded good as all 3 had 8 cells.

I am doing embryo batching and genetic testing so freeze all. I am starting stims for cycle 2 early Feb hopefully.

@Cloclo93 is this your first cycle?

@Faith2024 that's great news 3 made it day 3! Does your clinic not freeze on day 5?
Yeah it's my 1st cycle of ivf so totally not sure what's ahead of me especially with my low AMH even if I get 1 embryo to day 5 I'm hoping it will be good quality because of my age 🤞🙏

@Cloclo93 yes low amh is not necessarily poor egg quality, especially if you are younger .

It’s normal to freeze at day 3 for batching at my clinic so I just went with it, then culture them all together once other cycles are done and whatever makes it to day 5 will then be sent for testing. An ideal scenario would be to have 2 good embryos.

3 days into the two-week-wait. Trying to not think about it as much as possible. If this first fresh round doesn’t work, I’ll need to leave the frozen cycle until April, as I’ll start my new job in March and really won’t have the capacity.

I’m curious, is anyone else here also under 35 and going through IVF? Whenever I go into the hospital, I feel like the youngest one there by a mile. I’ve only ever met same-sex couples who’re my age.

@Copenhagener I'm (just!) under 35 !
I had to do a freeze all as my progesterone levels were too high. Looking to use a frozen embryo in April. Hope you don't have to wait until then but if so, we can be buddies 😆 I feel the clinic I'm going to is very discreet, I don't see many people in the reception area and we were all behind our curtains for egg collection

@Copenhagener good luck 🤞🏻🤞🏻. I’m 31 and just had my first egg collection on Friday. We have MFI - low morphology.

@Copenhagener i feel like that too and also got a comment from a receptionist that I’m the same age as her daughter 🙄 I’m 29 but started ivf cycles when I was 27.

how are you finding the wait? I’m a day behind you and no symptoms for me yet! Getting spoiled by my boyfriend though which is nice 🥰 treated me to brunch this morning!

also if this transfer doesn’t work my next one will likely be in April/May as my clinic make you wait 3 mths between transfers 😢

@Copenhagener I'm 31 February 7th and starting IVF February 8th 😁😁

@xbiscottix I'm with guys and st thomas now through an NHS referral.