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 🙂

Hi all - Happy New Year! Joining this thread for support and offer my experience for new starters :)

I'm unfortunately quite an experienced IVF-er now, prepping for my 5th (and 6th) cycle this month. Trying a dual stimulation this time in Prague. I have 2 day-5 and 1 day-3 embryos frozen but thought I'd give it one last go abroad to collect more embryos as I will be 42 in 2024.

I have had 3 unsuccessful transfers, and has done most of the tests (but not had my endometrium checked: hysterocopy/EMMA & ALICE etc.)

I'm now in my priming stage on estradiol and prednisolone; and hoping to start stims next week. Anyone in similar timeline?

@Ellenn Same! We got engaged then said we’d marry after a baby arrived but after the MMC we wanted something certain to look forward to. It’s a load of money though 😆🥴 I haven’t had a doc mention baby aspirin.

Thanks @VenusStarr 😊 My first scan is next Tuesday. In the fresh round I was complimented on my lining (shame I can’t put that on my CV!) so feeling optimistic for this month & thrilled to be making progress after what feels like a long pause.

Thank you so much for the lovely welcome everyone. Wishing you all a happy new year and good luck for the cycle ahead.

@VenusStarr I'm so sorry that we are in a similar boat. I saw Professor S in June and he told me that I had the highest NK Cell he had seen in 6 months so I'm just praying treatment lowers it enough to help. I am seeing him on NHS so I think our protocol is quite simple by comparison (I have a close friend who has seen him privately). At the moment it is a bunch of supplements plus daily hydroxychloroquine and aspirin. After egg collection I switch the hydroxychloroquine out for prednisolone and fragmin. So fun. I'd love to hear about yours if you don't mind sharing.

Access don't allow you to do a freeze-all so it'll be a fresh transfer for me. I don't mind too much as I got pregnant in my fresh transfer.

Hi, me and my hubby starting IVF (icsi) atm we waiting for some1 to contact us about the payment method. We had ivf (isci) b4 tru NHS 3 rounds.. first didn't work 2nd miscarriage Nd 3rd successful with beautiful baby boy which is 5 years old now.. this time we went private so only 1 round for us.. am rly nervous cz it's not summa cheap... we cnt get pregnant naturally cz of me having PCOS and ine tube blocked Nd my hubby low sperm count...

@IVF23 thinking of you today 💕

@clhsgirl I'm seeing Dr S privately, we had 4 miscarriages which were natural conceptions but once diagnosed and started treatment I couldn't conceive naturally.

My protocol is hydroxychloroquine, intralipids, prednisolone and gcsf injections. I'm on aspirin and will do clexane injections (they make me bruise more but I hated fragmin, the needles are thick and blunt). I lost my ivf pregnancies- one was low progesterone so I'll be on cyclogest and lubion as well. But my second was a MMC of a healthy baby (we did cytogenetic tests). We're not pgta testing any embryos. Dr S doesn't think that's our issue.

@Atikakck welcome.

Just had my cd6 scan, not sure how I feel really. I'm doing mild ivf. Got 8 follicles measuring between 6mm and 13mm. My lining us already 5.8mm early triple layer (had lining issues before so pleased with that). Just a bit worried 2 follicles are racing ahead. I'm back on Thursday. Starting cetrotide this afternoon.

How's everyone else getting on? @LouP87 have you been for a scan yet? X

@VenusStarr thank you. All done and back home now 😊 Now it’s the waiting game to hear from the embryologist over the next few days!
Good news about your lining. I had that with mild ivf where I had 2 big follicles by the first scan. It worked out ok though so hopefully you’ll be the same 🤞🏻

Well done @IVF23 to get to this point. I hope you will have a restful few days.

@VenusStarr I read that others can catch up so fingers crossed all will go well.

I had my baseline scan today and all good to start injections this evening. Other than that nothing to report.

@VenusStarr had baseline scan on 29/12 and started injections on 30th. No symptoms at all that I can tell so far… blood test tomorrow to see that injections are doing their thing, but no scan until day 10 of stims I think - around 8th Jan? After blood test results tomorrow will know more

Good luck everyone!! And happy new year ☺️

Got my periods today so starting injections on the 4th after stopping the estrogen. First scan booked for the 9th. Protocol changed slightly since last time and I have double the dose of luveris which seems a bit of a faff to make but we'll see how it goes on Thursday.

Amhr value 38.6
Both ovaries appear polycystic AFC = 27+28

Is that soo bad ?
One of the problems fo me is that am smoking trying to cut down... I did smoke last ivf.. I know it's bad... but it's hard to stop too

Happy new year, everyone, and I hope it's okay to join. I'm an ICSI first-timer, aged 40. I'm on day three of stims (just on gonal-f for the moment) and due back at the hospital in two days for another scan and I think I'll then be starting on a second jag each day - the one that stops ovulation.

We need to do ISCI due to male infertility (husband had blockages) and I've been calm up until now. But increasingly feel quite nervous about egg retrieval and the various points of disappointment that could be coming up!

Wishing you all lots of luck and very thankful for all the community and info on Mumsnet. X

@Atikakck I did the Allan Carr Easyway method a few years ago and it makes stopping easy. I know it sounds impossible, but it does. The book's available everywhere and the online sessions are expensive but effective if you have the money. You'll be so happy once you stop, I promise.

Hey it's been a while happy new year 🥳 all after all the ups and downs my chest infection treatments cancelled I'm finally started my stims today my 1st ever bemfola injection, it took me over half an hour to do the injection my husband was having difficulties too not wanting to hurt me but we did it I'm finally on the journey to.... 2 lines, 10 fingers and 10 toes. Positive vibes 🖤 hope everyone's doing good, I have a scan booked on Friday to see the follicles etc... x

Does anyone use the app embie

I need advice from those of you with experience. I did my first injection tonight, a little more stressful than I thought it would be. I didn't fully insert the needle when I injected, in fact it was only half way in and then I reviewed the guide again and it said to fully insert the needle when releasing medication. I am wondering if the dose was delivered or if I need to be worrying?

@Faith2024 heyy I'm not too sure this is my 1st time doing these injections I had to go on to YouTube and ready the injection manual before I started. I don't think it would do any real harm was liquid coming out when you took the needle out ? probably call the clinic tomorrow to see what they say x

@Faith2024 likely it would be fine providing full dose went in. Occasionally it may go within the skin layer rather under skin usually this forms a hard lump though. Might be worth asking the nurses to help demonstrate again so you can get more confident? Or maybe your partner could help? Just make sure for the next ones it’s fully inserted and then it will definitely go under the skin. I wouldn’t worry about as it’s in there somewhere! x

@potatosconelover hey welcome! I love your name I’m also a fellow potato scone lover 😍🤣

Thanks @Ellenn and @xbiscottix for your responses. The tiniest drop of medication came out and also tiny scratch of blood. No lump under skin. I am not worried about what came out, it was tiny just hoping the rest does the job.

I’ll call the clinic tomorrow. And yes I will get my husband to help going forward. We had a rough evening with our toddler so I wanted to do it in peace while he dealt with that. I think it might be easier if someone does it for you.

@Faith2024 sometimes you get a tiny drop and it’s nothing to worry about! You will be a pro by the end of it don’t worry 🤣

it made me feel a bit like a junkie if I had to take a dose in toilets when out for dinner/drinks with friends lol you get used to it quickly!

@Ellenn lol I hope to be as relaxed as that soon.

Does any1 have any tricks how to get the best eggs Nd best outcome of egg transfer ?
In my previous ivf I did acupuncture Nd had pineapple (the inside bit which ppl mostly cut out) Nd my ivf workerd bt I dnt rly knw if dats what helped.

Hope you're feeling OK today @IVF23 and hope you're not waiting too long for your phone call 🙏

@Faith2024 hope the injection went well! How are you feeling now you've started?

@LouP87 hope your bloods go well. I think I'll be doing egg collection around Monday. Will have a blood test tomorrow with my scan. Funny how clinics are so different.

@Loute02 glad you're getting started soon 😊 hope you get on OK with your injections.

Hi @potatosconelover I think we'll be doing icsi this time too. I'm also 40, feeling the effects much earlier and I'm more tired than I was when I did it at 37.

@xbiscottix I'm glad you've got started, I'm on bemfola too. Annoyingly I have to do 2 pens as my dose is split with 150 and 75 iu. Got some little bruises already.

@Faith2024 I'm sorry you had stress last night. I'm sure it is ok but check with the clinic today for peace of mind ❤️

@Atikakck I think a lot is down to luck but eating well, walking and staying hydrated helps. I am taking ubiquinol and NAC as well.

I did my first cetrotide yesterday, it stings and had a red patch for an hour or so after. I'm definitely feeling more tired now, so hoping that's a good sign. I did acupuncture after my scan yesterday with the electro so hoping that's given those smaller follicles a boost 🙏

Lots of exciting updates with people starting stims or about to!

Thanks @VenusStarr @Faith2024 . The embryologist called early this morning so we know how many have fertilised and now the next update will be day 3 on Friday 🤞🏻

Did any1 got OHHS after egg collection. I've got it last tym kinda scary when I nearly fainted in shop or needed emergency app cz I felt soo bad