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 🙂

Ah our clinic doesn't offer this I believe or something I didn't know about 😂

@camelinastorm you have your meds now and that is what is most important!!! When do you start again?

Hello 👋

I’ve just had “the email” from the nurses at Guy’s hospital today, so hoping I can join you ladies here!

I was surprised to see they’d scheduled my protocol (short) to start on my next period, which is 3rd December - however, they had signs everywhere in the clinic to say any periods starting between 3rd-24th December couldn’t start treatment as they closed down over the Christmas period. Because of that I’ve booked to go away with my partner 7-9 Dec!

I’ve dropped an email back now to explain and ask to push to next bleed which would be 30/12 so fingers crossed they can slot me in then!

I’ve been lurking on here for a little while in anticipation - everyone is so supportive and you’ve built a lovely community here, it provides a lot of reassurance so thank you all in advance!

Hi all

I have been lurking for a while and finally signed up.

Starting ivf due to secondary infertility and just couldn’t keep trying naturally at my age. Quality of eggs is our main issue. I will be starting first cycle if I make the cut off point for end of Nov otherwise it will be Jan. Since we are planning to do genetic testing it will be freeze all.

Looking forward to join this community & learn from you lovely ladies.

Hi everyone 👋🏼

I will be starting beginning of January so will join this thread if that's ok.

Little bit about me- I'm 40, partner is 41 and we've been TTC for over 2yrs. Unexplained infertility, no male factor so we/the doctors are assuming egg quality is my issue. We did our first round of IVF in April this year, a decent 9 mature eggs, 7 fertilised but only 1 viable embryo which didn't stick.

This time we are doing double IVF in Spain which means 2 egg collections back to back and I will be on Elonva. We were due to start in August but a large ovarian cyst was discovered at my baseline scan so I'm currently on the contraceptive pill whilst waiting for that to disappear. But the clinic has said we can't waste more time so will go ahead in January regardless. Would have done sooner if it wasn't for Christmas.

Looking forward to hearing about everyone's journeys x

Welcome @April623 @Faith2024 @LouP87 I hope you're all OK.

I hope all goes well for your forthcoming cycles. This is my first time, so have no idea of what is coming! Feeling pretty indifferent so let's see what happens!!

@Faith2024 similar situation here also secondary infertility and can't keep hoping it will work. We are also aiming for 30th Nov 1st Dec if we make the deadline if not it will be Jan also x

@ThesisthenaViva thanks. Good luck to all of us! Lots of steps to get to the point of a pregnancy test so just hoping to take it step by step.

@camelinastorm fingers crossed we ll make the cut off but even if not Jan is not too far off.

Hi all,
Wishing you all the best of luck for Jan (or sooner!). ❤️❤️

We are attempting round two ICSI in Jan and I know the 3 months prior are important. To prep we are taking proceive, beyond coq10 with ubiquinol, omega. My partner is also taking zinc & selenium and I’m taking melatonin & vitamin D.

We are not drinking much alcohol or caffeine and eating healthy most the time.

Anyone doing anything similar or different they recommend?

Hi 👋 can I join this tread! Finally decided to get the ball rolling on ivf (well was advised too over my low AMH of 3!!) Had our first consultation today, should be getting started in January, we have been ttc for 2 years now and officially Diagnosed with unexplained secondary infertility, I was considering iui first but I've already had a few rounds of clomid and trigger shots so with my low amh ivf is best,
I'm 30 and my partner is 40

How is everyone doing? ❤️

Best of luck @Cloclo93
We did the iuis first and part of me wish we hadn’t of bothered but I guess it’s hard to make the call.

Weve also been trying for 2 years. Hope January is lucky for us all

Thanks @Blossomofhope

I know it's a hard decision weather to try iui 1st or straight for ivf! It seems alot of fertility consultants say iui isn't great I keep been pushed for ivf, but I do have a friend who got pregnant 1st go with iui 🤔 I've cut out coffee and alcohol aswell, tesco does a lovely decafe beans coffee if you ever crave a cup ☕️
Yes I hope January will bring goodluck to us all 🤞💫

Anyone go through a ‘what the fuck am I doing’ phase. Opened the fridge to get some milk and saw all my meds in the fridge and I’m just wondering how I’m going to do it all, and how big of a thing this is both mentally and physically! Having one of those woe is me days, I’ve been TTC for so long I’m just worried that my body doesn’t even know how to be pregnant and I just can’t imagine IVF working - but I’m sure that’s a common feeling.

Hi all

Stupid question from me but a few people have mentioned secondary infertility, is that when you’ve previously had a child naturally? Welcome to all the new joiners by the way! I’ve been away for the weekend so haven’t really kept up 😆

@confuzzzzzled Yes that’s common I think. I went into my 4th transfer still believing it doesn’t ever really work and being shocked to get pregnant on that round. I don’t know if that’s all part of your brain and heart trying to protect itself.

@confuzzzzzled absolutely - the other day I was thinking I can’t believe I’m here and it’s been 2 years and we’ve got nowhere - and I’m actually nearly excited about doing another round even though it’s awful but it feels like it’s where the hope is.

Heyy I'm starting ivf icsi in January hopefully I missed out on this month as I had a chest infection so they cancelled treatment. The clinic is shut over the festive holidays so I would have no choice but to start in January. How's everyone getting on ?

@Eggbert83 yes secondary infertility can mean when you’ve had a child without ivf before but face infertility second time round. It’s actually more common than experiencing infertility the first time round.

Looks like lots of people will be starting in Jan, welcome all.

Hi everyone, hope you're all OK.

I had my protocol review this morning. I'm doing 3 cycles to hopefully bank embryos (this is our last shot a it). Confirmed I'm doing mild stims which I'm happy with. We're all on track to start stims late December so egg collection early January - she said we'd likely be the first collection of the year.

We'll be hopefully doing a fresh transfer on our last cycle. She seemed quite hopeful for us getting some good quality blasts. I am eligible for a double embryo transfer but we'll see.

Next step is nurse consult and order meds. Got a party on Saturday so going to allow myself a couple drinks but no more after that.

How is everyone getting on? X

@VenusStarr double transfer would be amazing! My clinic said they don't do them :( I'd gladly do a double transfer!
The 3 cycles is that like a deal with a special price for 3 rounds? How many rounds have you done already? I'm still yet to do any, have my scan with the clinic next month and starting the meds in January I'm not sure what to expect 🙃

@Cloclo93 it's because I'm older now! (40) and I've got a long infertility and loss history. I'm worried I won't get many embryos in the first place. I've done a double transfer before but it was a morula and an originally top quality embryos but it degenerated after the thaw 😞

I've done one full cycle before with a fresh transfer but had an early loss. My FET worked but had a MMC. I then had lining issues so tried a low dose stim to get my lining up then my doctor said we should convert to egg collection. But only got 3 eggs and had the morula at the end. So I only count that as a half cycle!

My clinic offer a 3 cycle package which is cheaper than individual cycles. But you just do a transfer on the last one, so hopefully we can bank a couple along the way. I did used to have low amh but when it was recently tested, it's gone up to within the normal range. But we've got male factor now with low motility which he didn't have before so that's why we're doing icsi this time.

Do you know if you're doing long or short protocol? I've only done short, so you start stims on cd2 and collect about 12 days later. Good luck with your scan, you've got this 🙂 once you get started I find it OK because you just have to follow the plan and the clinic just tell you what to do!

Hello everyone,

My wife and I (same sex couple) will be starting IVF for our first child in Jan so hope it is okay to join this thread!

This is our first round of IVF after 2 failed unmedicated IUI's with donor sperm (I have a blocked tube which is why we have now been advised to move to IVF). I will be doing the short protocol with Gonal F 225 IU and I might have to do a freeze all cycle as I have a higher AMH for my age and am at risk of OHSS but they are playing it by ear.

I have been taking a supplement called OVUM, which has most of the vitamins recommended in 'It starts with an egg', it has been really nice to have it all in one place - I am crap at taking them otherwise!

@LouP87 Helooo, I am also with Guys and was due to start my cycle on 5 Dec so I just missed the cut off to start in December, I am sure they will be fine to move you to January!

Good luck for Jan 24 everyone!

Hello! They did indeed move me to the next one without question which was great. Next cycle starts around 30th December, so estimated EC around mid-Jan!

excited but nervous, this is our first time doing this so learning everyday. We haven’t told many people either as avoiding inevitable questioning!

Hi @Twomumfamily I'll be on 225 as well but think I'm doing bemfola. I'm due on my period any day now, so should be able to start at the end of December.

I'm glad the clinic were OK with moving things for you @LouP87 well be starting at the same time.

I'm changing doctors at my clinic, so seeing him on Friday and then hopefully can get my nurse consult in to order meds so they're ready.

Hope everyone is doing ok? X

Hi all, for those who have had miscarriages, esp after FET, can you advise when your next period arrived? I had D&C at 9 weeks, embryo was progressing until 8 weeks. Had really minimal bleeding after and tomorrow will be 4 weeks since. We cannot conceive naturally due to tube absences so I don’t track ovulation but can usually tell, but none of the normal signs this month so I’m thinking it still might not have happened yet?

Hi @Eggbert83 my period has always come back around 4 weeks after a loss, even with my FET surgery and having lingering hcg. It might be your ovulation has been delayed. Have you had a negative test since surgery? I hope you're OK

Just cried at work 🫠 think af is on her way... x