Create Fertility - Experiences (Part 2)

[Sunflower360]

Hi 👋

A thread for anyone who wants to discuss their Create Fertility experiences.

I'm 38, currently in a 3 cycle Natural Modfied ICSI package and nearing transfer stage.

Tagging as follows from previous chat, please tag any others I may have forgot. New joiners to the thread welcome to share your stories/journey!

@gemso2020
@Doxy21
@VSRCM
@GirlAgirlBboyC
@HopefulElle
@Maddie23
@Jennaqua

Thank you @gemso2020 @Plantymcplant 😊

How are you @gemso2020 ?

@Plantymcplant are you doing a medicated FET with estrogen? Hope af arrives soon.

Glad things have eased off @Sunflower360

Had my second scan this morning. Had such a traumatic journey, my car is on its last legs and it wasn't driving properly, with my engine light flashing. Genuinely spent half an hour in bumper to bumper traffic on the M6 so anxious that I was going to get stuck. I did make it, but omg, really don't ever want to do that again! Dh is hopefully looking at it tomorrow 🙏 the last thing I can afford is car repairs, or even a new car! 🙈

Anyway, all seems ok, got 6 follicles above 10mm. The top 4 are 14mm and 13mm 🤞 thanks estrogen! I've got another 4 at 7/8mm and then the others haven't grown above 6mm. I'm back on Monday and hoping I'll be ready to trigger, so Wednesday / Thursday for collection.

@VenusStarr that is good news about your scan, sounds like the estrogen is working. And rubbish about the car, thankfully you got there ok!

I'm feeling a little apprehensive about the FET, as the embryos arent tested just picking the best looking one, but of course grading doesn't count for much if its aneuploid...

Thanks @Sunflower360 I did judder to acupuncture as I want to boost them and limped home. Dh has had a look and ordered a part for and hopefully it'll fix it 🤞

Please don't worry too much about your embryos. I know you can never tell just by looking but I'm not sure how accurate testing is either. And having a eupoloid embryo isn't always a guarantee as I've lost 2 healthy babies. Are you doing a single or double?
I guess if this one doesn't work, you could always decide to thaw and test? X

@VenusStarr thank you for the reassurance. It's a single transfer this time. I am considering perhaps testing if this doesn't work. It was the freeze, thaw, freeze, thaw then transfer process that put me off.... you wouldn't do that with stuff if your freezer so why an embryo?! Hemce why they let you know there is a 10% chance of the embryo not surviving that process. Plus I'm concerned about how accurate PGTA actually is...do they discard embryos that could possibly make it because the sample was not a full picture? But then you weigh all that up with the emotional and physical strain of miscarriage and it's near impossible to know what to do for the best!

About my discard comment of embryos; what I meant was if the sample is negative I think possibly good embryos could be discarded as it could not be a full picture of the embryo, or so I've read. But not sure how accurate that is

@VenusStarr yes medicated with estrogen and then progesterone. He said the only reason not to do natural was having of the testing every day to find ovulation. Do you have an opinion on why some people do one and not the other? I haven't given it much research just going with what they suggest on the first round

Sorry for the delay @Sunflower360 I'm the same as you, I don't really like the thought of my embryos being messed with. I watched an Instagram video of them doing a pgta sample and it looked brutal.
But I understand your concerns about the accuracy. I'm on a few Facebook groups and I've seen women who transferred tested embryos to miscarry and find out there was something missed or had to make awful decisions in the second trimester.
I really wish there was a guarantee with all of this.

How you feeling? Is your first scan this week?

@Plantymcplant I'm not sure why they recommend one FET protocol over another. When I first did mine, I didn't question a medicated FET and it was completely textbook but after my miscarriage and d&c that protocol didn't work for me.

I realised last night that I've run out of cetrotide 🫠 after the stress of Friday, I booked my scan, got extra bemfola and thought it's OK for cetrotide as I'm there on Monday but my scan isn't til 10.30 and I do it at 10am 🙃 I've called out of hours and the doctor said it'll be ok and to get there early and theyll give me a cetrotide before. I'm also a bit worried about the bloods being late but she said they'll book collection by my scan.
My tummy is quite swollen now. Hoping that is a good sign.

Hello ladies,
All protocols going well with everyone and understanding our body changes is quite daunting to what we are used to.
I will go ahead with my minute polyps (while it's still very tiny <1cm) and FET. Let me use my body to do research for myself. As its 50:50 anyways🤷‍♀️.
Side effect of stimulated ovaries 📈estrogen🤷‍♀️
No guarantee after procedure it's not going to come back and side effect of the procedure is what I can't get off my mind.

@VenusStarr yep scan next week, not sure what to expect really as I've not monitored my normal cycle through this IVF journey except with stimulation. And since my period was different this cycle gone really not sure at what point my lining will be as it should-feel a bit out of sync as I'm learning about my period/cycle pattern again since the Hysteroscopy!

@Jennaqua it is tough to know what to do for the best but you've got to what feels right for you, Hysteroscopy is a common procedure but as you say polyps can go themselves too albeit after a while once hormones have settled. But I will say I do believe the Hysteroscopy has done something to my lining as this last period, upon reflection, was probably the most 'normal ' in terms of flow as my periods before were different-I hadn't thought that until after the Hysteroscopy, but my periods were actually quite lighter before with more spotting. Almost feels like its been a 'cleanse' for my lining as the period was more like what it was for me before I went on the pill in my 20's. Really odd

My scan went OK. I've got 4 measuring 18-16mm and then 3 at 14mm. My best cycle ever in terms of scans.
I'm being pencilled in for Wednesday. They're being cautious as I have ovulated my top follicle twice now, so might play it safe and just got for the top ones but theyre calling my Dr to make the decision. I'd hope maybe the 3 smaller ones might also be ready by Wednesday.

Edited as forgot to ask how everyone is doing? @Doxy21 @Sunflower360 @Jennaqua x

@VenusStarr that is good news! You hopefully will find the 14mm and above ones will catch up or gave eggs in the them, hopefully your bloods will give you an indication?

I'm good thanks, just see how this week goes, all new as not done a FET before....well experienced in the egg collection department though!

I'm hopeful the 14s might come to something too 🙏 so maybe between 4 and 7 eggs. The clinic was super quiet, so did my cetrotide there and they scanned me early. But my trigger is 12.45am 🙈😴 I've only ever done 8.30pm, not sure how I'll stay up! Haha.
It could all change, as per my usual. I've never had a cycle where its a definite, always have to wait to see.

Hopefully your FET will go smoothly. If your cycles are usually regular, it should all be OK. Are you doing any supplements or things ro prep? My go to is loads of water and walking.
I know you're on steroids now, how's that going? Are you on clexane or aspirin as well? X

@VenusStarr that sounds amazing! I have my day 10 scan on Wed to see how my womb lining is doing for transfer

i dont know if it’s the estrogen tablets but I’m super tired and super bloated! I feel quite unwell

Got everything crossed for you @Doxy21 🙏 I think I had 3 scans in my medicated FET. Estrogen is a bit of a bugger, I remember feeling very irritable and emotional. It does settle though.

Just had a call, confirmed Wednesday collection 😬 they've asked me to take ibuprofen tomorrow 3 times and then a dose first thing on Wednesday. @jolly86 this was similar to you wasn't it? @Doxy21 did you have to do that too?

@VenusStarr good luck!! No I didn’t have to take ibuprofen

Ah, I'm mis-remembering! @Doxy21 they've just called and bumped me up the list, so triggering at 11.15pm instead of 12.45am! So that's not too bad.

@VenusStarr I had to take ibuprofen for mine. It definitely weirded me out as you are told to avoid it at all other times. They said it was because I was at risk of ovulating and it can help prevent it so I took 2 pills 3 times a day.

@VenusStarr that all sounds positive and exciting! They did tell me ibuprofen yes and I did take some but not all what they told me to. It is to prevent ovulation prematurely

@VenusStarr All the 👌 best. That's very positive.

@VenusStarr that all sounds very positive and its good their keeping an eye on possible early ovulation.

I've just stuck to the same supplements that I had through all the egg collections. Trying to drink more water, eat more protein etc I'll find out if I need aspirin from the scan as they'll check the blood flow. Not been advised about clexane, what's that for?

Scan went well, think my cycle has got longer as I'm not near ovulation. Follicle was 10mm and lining 5mm, was advised that is consistent for a 30-32 day cycle. Will see what the next scan looks like larer this week... all a bit of a waiting game! Is it 8mm for lining they like to see? If so I'm a fair bit off that....

@VenusStarr with Birmingham do you know how flexible they are on scan appts for FETs? I understand they only do early morning appts on Tues and Thurs, then Mon/Weds/Friday is anytime between 11am and 12pm only - this is to prioritise egg collection scans which I completely appreciate. I tend to prefer early mornings with work...especially as I've not long started a new job and I've not mentioned the IVF. If a scan fell on Mon/Weds/Fri I was hoping to just perhaps ask for the day where they can do early morning which would be the following day...with it being a FET would a day's delay really matter if you're monitoring LH surge at home anyway? Its not quite the same as egg collection scans from my understanding?

If anyone else knows too from the other other site please feel free to feedback!

Hi @Sunflower360 I've found them to be really flexible with scans, I've had them early morning Monday to Saturday in various cycles. I would think you'd definitely need a scan before 11am as you'll need bloods in a natural FET. Thats what I do like about the clinic, they do tailor to fit you.

Just scrolled up and saw your previous message, glad everything is on track. 8mm is the aim. Your lining can grow quickly as the follicle gets bigger.

Did my trigger last night. Had a really restless night's sleep. I just keep thinking I forgot to do it, happens every time but i definitely did 🙃

@VenusStarr ok really confused now....should Ibhave had bloods taken??? I didn't have that this morning 😳

@VenusStarr good to hear you triggered, I'm the same too, get paranoid I missed it by a minute!