IVF/ICSI February 2024

[Sherr33]

Hi all just wanted to a thread for anyone starting February ✨ 😊

Im 33yrs old by the time my eggs are collected I'll be 34 😆
AMH = 17.9 all other parameters fine.
Partners S.A - test 1. Low morphology. test 2. Borderline everything
CARE Fertility add ons to be used - zymot and embryo glue

Starting northisterone on the 24th Jan
15/2 gonal f 225
20/02 Ganirelix joins in
23/02 scan
And potential egg collection 26/02

That's my plan 🙈
And this is our first cycle

@Sherr33 the pills make me really depressed and moody, I tend to feel more 'me' as soon as my period arrives, ivf is the only time I'm glad to see it haha. Did you say this is your first round? The pill part is by far the longest! I'm now 4 days into injections, can't believe how quickly it's going! X

@ExhaustedPigeon1988 yess its my first round. Omg I thought I was being really for wishing my period into existence. I've not been feeling good since yesterday, very very low mood. I woke up early in the morning telling my partner I think my follicle count might have gone down so random and I was half asleep. He just said itl be okay and we went back to sleep 🤦‍♀️

Hey everyone, glad you are all feeling ok!

I started the northisterone yesterday and feel ok, have had a headache today but not really sure if that is related or not! Have just took some paracetamol so hopefully that will sort it.

Hi everyone, on my 2nd day of stims today and so far feeling OK. I was nervous about the injections but it's a lot easier than I expected. I've taken this week off work so going to try and take it easy and obviously just hoping for good news at first scan on Wednesday.

@Sherr33 it's so strange we spend all that time hoping a period to never come, yet ivf and we desperately want one, it seems so back to front haha. It was norethisterone I was on @180monkeys I find it makes me very depressed, and grumpy, and even worse once I'm off it until my period starts- as soon as I come on I'm back to my normal self again for a little while. I think this is quite normal- I always find the injections are my happy hormones haha x

@Bnichols89 thats good to hear you didn’t find the injections too bad. Good luck for your first scan!

@ExhaustedPigeon1988 yeah I’ve heard most people saying they had pretty grim side effects, I only having to take it for a week and I actually think I took it to delay a period for holiday years ago and don’t remember any side effects so hoping I don’t get them too bad.. have you had many cycles before? Is your first scan this week also?

@180monkeys you are very lucky- I was on them for 25 days, I found it quite a challenge, but it's always the bit between ending them and period starting when I'm a hormonal cow! This will be my 6th round, 3rd EC, blessed with our son from round 5 x

@ExhaustedPigeon1988 I’m on short protocol so I think they’re only being used to time my period rather than down regulate (that’s my understanding of it anyway!) I’m sorry to hear you’ve been through so many rounds but that’s great to hear you got your son. How old is he now? Love hearing success stories!

This is our first round so not too sure what to expect. We are MFI so I am on 150 dose stims which I think is quite low so just hoping I do ok with them and don’t under or over stimulate

@180monkeys yeah believe it on not mine is to time the period too. I guess I was just unlucky this time. Our boy is 9 months now, he's just magic- I honestly believe the journey makes you even more grateful... and humble. Don't worry too much about dose, it can always be increased, I'm also on 150, also male factor. But I also have recurrent miscarriages, so I take prednisolone too. Although every round is very different, they are all similar too, I hope that kinda makes sense. I'm happy to answer anything I can x

@ExhaustedPigeon1988 that will be lovely to have them close together, fingers crossed you get a sibling for your son this round 🤞🏼 its a hard mix of being so excited but also trying to be realistic about your first round because I know it can be a bit of a trial as well but just trying to stay positive and avoid stress. Easier said than done as I’m sure we all know

Hi everyone I started my injections on Tuesday and I was perfect apart from a head ache and a few minor aches here and there today is my 1st day on the cetroide and I jmly took it at about 6 this evening my stomach is swelled up like I'm 3 months pregnant and the injection site is out in a lump and a rash around it as if I got stung by a bee and now cramps is starting I feel this injection is very strong compared to the gonal f and the luveros I just feel so emotional this evening

@Cat191 I would call the clinic, a small lump is quite normal due to the fluid, but I would ask for a medical opinion regarding the rest... Hope it all settles down for you x

@180monkeys the whole thing is a mental and physical challenge isn't it, I just try take it all a day at a time. It's highly unlikely this round will work for us, we do things alittle differently. My body doesn't seem to like implantation after the stress of all the drugs, so we use the lowest grade I. The fresh round. Then do a completely natural round no meds at all for a frozen round after, that's what worked last time, and the plan for this time. So I'm not expecting much other than praying for a good embryo for next round. It's 100% trial and error, some are lucky for it to take 1st or 2bd time, I have everything crossed for you x

@Cat191 that sounds like quite an extreme reaction to it hope it settles down soon for you but as above maybe drop your clinic a message just to let them know.

@ExhaustedPigeon1988 at least you have the experience to know what can work for you. But you never know you could still get lucky on your fresh. The failure and success of it all does seem completely random sometimes. Fingers crossed for some good embryos for you too and thank you!

Hi All, hope you don't mind me joining. I am new to Mumsnet and this forum, DH and I have not told anyone we are on this journey yet, hence looking for some support.

This is my first round of IVF + ICSI, I am 32 and have never been pregnant before, however testing all came back normal, the issues seem to stem from sperm motility.

I just started my short protocol on 9th Feb, taking Ovaleap for the first 5 day then a combination of Ovaleap + Ganirex for an additional 6. My first scan is on Friday 16th Feb.

The injections have been a breeze so far (and I hate needles) but I have felt excessively fatigued and emotional/snappy, anyone else experiencing the same?

Hi everyone. Still waiting for my period here. Currently day 34 and I've been cramping for the last 7 days but still no signs of it coming (my watch tracks BBT and RHR both of which are still high!). I feel so low today and the stress of this waiting is unbearable. Am worried my clinic will say I can't start after all this.
When they asked for my cycle dates, I explained I have slightly irregular cycles but my app was saying around the 5-9th feb. They put me down for a start date of the 5th. I asked what if it's later, the said a day or 2 either way is fine. Don't know why they didn't go for the latter date then 🤷🏻‍♀️ anyone had this experience? Can they actually say no?

@Choochoo08 welcome, glad it's all going so well, I was also so snappy, to the point I noticed 😬 we are mobility over here also, all my tests are good, Im having my frozen transfer on Wednesday
We are the same no one knows, my family are the type just keep trying, if it's not meant to be it's not meant, ok when they are not the ones wanting a child.
This forum has tbh kept me sane and focused

@LIVFingOnAPrayer19 it's a nightmare waiting for AF to arrive, mine was about 4 days late and my clinic were fine, I was just to call up on day 1 and they booked from there. Are you paying or NHS, surly they know dates can change slightly when using natural cycle

@camelinastorm this is my first NHS funded cycle. It doesn't help I haven't had a good experience so far with my clinic.

@LIVFingOnAPrayer19 hopefully they will work round you, I have no advice on NHS as unfortunately we have never been eligible due to being secondary infertility

@camelinastorm thank you so much for the kind words and warm welcome!
I'm so glad I'm not the only one experiencing the snappiness, I was searching Google for hours trying to see if it was normal. My poor OH has definitely felt the brunt of it and I was starting to question myself on whether it was resentment -Low mobility is caused by past steroid usage (never held it against him before).

Last year we had 4 new additions to the family, so they are totally occupied, both myself and OH are not big sharers either so this thread is perfect!

Wishing you tons of luck for your transfer on Wednesday!!!!

@LIVFingOnAPrayer19 - please don't stress, this may be the cause of the delay. I was the same, we were supposed to start our cycle in November but unfortunately AF decided not to visit for both Oct and Nov, I am always regular. I believe it was a combination of things (just started a new role, pressures of getting it right). I had follow up diagnostics (another ultrasound and bloods) and everything was normal.

Just take a deep breath and have a good venting session, I was fine in December after getting all the pressure out of my head.

Hello, okay if I jump on. I’m 35, never been pregnant, have PCOS, just waiting for AF to arrive in the next day or two before starting my stims. I’m short protocol on the NHS. I’m really interested @Choochoo08 that you started a new job in the run up or during your treatment. I had to leave my job after months of hanging in because this might be starting, but it’s taken so long and it got to the point I couldn’t hack it anymore. I’m looking now and it’s going well but I’m freaking out about how I’m going to manage my treatment and also tell a new employer I’m pregnant. I should be excited about this after all the waiting but I’m so stressed! Did you feel bad about taking on a new job when you knew you’d need time off and would hopefully be pregnant soon?

Hi all little update from me 2nd day of cetroide injection and 6 days of the other injections the swollen and rash went down and the 2nd injection was to bad still red with a lump but not as bad as yesterday I read up about it and apparently its a side effect so far it's about the worst injection with side effects the gonal f and luveros is not as half as bad

Hi @Hatitat88 ! I am in a very lucky position as I solely work from home for a global company (flexible hours). I predominantly work in the evenings with my new role, as my colleagues are US based, this gives me enough time to rest and go to appointments in the mornings.

I went through all the same emotions though, will my new manager understand? When should I inform them? Are they going to be annoyed as they just made me a part of the team/projects?

Ultimately, you are not obligated to inform work that you are having IVF treatment and once the embryo is transferred, you have the same rights as pregnancy*. Treat it as if you became pregnant naturally, it should be joyous to inform work you are pregnant (and without prior notice if you didn't want to).

I realised employers do not truly care, you have to be selfish sometimes and think about yourself and what you want from life. Work will be quick to find mat leave cover so you are not leaving them in the lurch.

Hope this helps <3

*https://www.acas.org.uk/managing-your-employees-maternity-leave-and-pay/if-theyre-having-ivf-treatment