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

@Cat191 I was putting frozen peas bag (ice cubes) to the area 5-10mins before to numb the area, then didn't have reaction or any pain. Same for the trigger shot. Otherwise also had red swollen area..

Hi all. This thread is very active 👌 welcome to all the newcomers
@Choochoo08 were you on any tablets or was it solely based on your period as to when you started your stims?
@Cat191 how are you holding up? When is your next appointment?
@ExhaustedPigeon1988 its nice to have some sort of knowledge but then it all comes with experience and I dare not imagine how I'd cope going through a number of cycles just to find out what works for me. I don't think I'm that strong. I say that because my moods have been so low the past few days.
@Hatitat88 im in the same boat. I was hoping my pre employment checks would drag but unfortunately they haven't. Normal circumstances I'd be over the moon. But because I've just started treatment I do not want to be told that my first day at work is during my 2 week wait or just before transfer. I'd rather start after transfer to be honest but we will see.

How is everyone else holding up? @180monkeys@Bnichols89@Btowngirl@Cloclo93@Crushed23@Eljane34@Faith2024@TT82 @TTC12 @biscuitsndtea

@Cat191 cetrotide reacted like a mosquito bite with me, and then itching went off after an hour. After a few days of taking it though the reaction became less. I took mine in the morning and then the stims in the evening.

when you have your trigger shot you may have a reaction, my two triggers were quite painful after, more like wasp stings! But again went off after a while.

@Sherr33 egg collection today, feeling fine about the procedure, just mainly anxious about the result. Trying to hold on to the positives and hope that 2 follicles will be ok.

@Sherr33 you are strong just to be on this journey, for me the first round was the hardest, everyone I know that's done ivf, it's worked first time for them- so I expected the same. Once I accepted it wasn't a quick fix for me the journey was easier. That's where my head is at for a sibling.... this round is all about getting embryos for me, as frozen rounds work better for us, so I'm hopeful for the next round already haha x

Afternoon all,
Hope everyone is doing well and keeping positive!!
So day 5 after my egg collection and I am only just starting to feel better. I was quite concerned for a while there. My nurse said that because I had quite a high amount of follicles that this can play havoc with the healing process.
So we did our fresh transfer today. A little scary at first but the nurses and doctor made me feel at ease.
He had trouble getting the catheter all the way in-so they changed to a more firm one and it went in with a little help from a little tool.
I wouldn't say it hurt but it wasn't pleasant.
It was pretty amazing to watch the little pool of liquid being deposited into me. Quite surreal!
I'm waiting til tomorrow to get a final count on the rest of my 7 fertilised eggs for freezing. She didn't fill me with hope today saying some were a little underdeveloped.
Now we wait ❤️

Thank you all this is helpful 😊

@Lasagne30 I think the final day 6 can make a real difference to the final count, but to have 7 still standing is amazing :)

Well my scan was a bit of a mix of results, 23 follicles, which isn't bad for a day 5 scan, but smaller than needed, so gonal upped to 200, and no certrotide for atleast 2 more days :-/ just hoping for plenty of growth over the next couple of days x

Hi all, sorry I went quiet over the weekend, just relaxing and wallowing in my overthinking lol.

@Lasagne30 thats good numbers! They came through with a surprise grade A for me on the 6th day totally unexpectedly so wishing you luck for that to happen to you too!

@ExhaustedPigeon1988 fingers crossed the extra meds makes all the difference, that’s a good number to work with if so! 🤞

I’m 5 days post 5 day transfer now. Have been really hormonal, am already sick of the pessaries lol. Have had a headache the last 2 days and cramp the last 3 days which is just like pre period cramps, hoping that it’s implantation though! It’s a wild ride, very tempted to test early but also know in the long run it’s better to just wait until next Monday!

Hope everyone’s feeling ok this week and progressing nicely.

@Sherr33 I am doing well, hardly any side effects and on day 8 of stims, cycle 2. Did one last month and we are doing a freeze all. I have low ovarian reserve and I am a bit of a slow responder so tend to need to stim for slightly longer. I feel fine though and grateful for what my body can do & try not to compare myself with others at a different stage in their journey. We are trying for no2.

@Btowngirl are you doing a medicated FET? I am just at the beginning of looking into FET.

Good luck to everyone going for EC.

Hi all!

Sorry been abit MIA just trying to take every day as it comes! I had another scan today and she said she was happy with my how everything is going but as I was leaving told me it will be a freeze all cycle due to a high follicle count, she actually made a joke saying I've got a full football team! So very bitter sweet, so happy there's a good number so hopefully plenty of eggs but so upset it's more waiting now before the transfer but I know they're doing what is best for my body, just frustrating! Egg collection is looking like Friday!

Hope everyone else is doing good!

Oh wow sounds like things are really stepping up for people! Good luck to everyone having ETs and ECs this week, it's so exciting and nerve wracking 🤞🏻

Nothing really to report over here. Day 4 of Gonal-f today and still no side effects to report. I'm probably a bit bloated but overall feeling pretty good, if a little tired. First scan on Weds so then we'll really see what's going on.

Day 4 of stims today, no real side effects yet apart from the odd headache which is sorted with paracetamol.
First scan on Friday, so nervous to find out how things are going.

@Lasagne30 congrats on the fertilised eggs, thats great news and excellent that (fingers crossed) you have so many to freeze.

We had our egg collected today, and we were very very happy to have 3 eggs collected! We were told we had 2 good follicles to expect 1 or none potentially. So we had 3 collected and then got the call to say that all 3 are mature and have had the sperm injected successfully (ICSI).

Now we wait until the call tomorrow morning to find out if they have fertilised, they said that usually they expect 60% to fertilise so they are thinking hopefully 1 or 2 fertilised. But, they also said that for some all could fertilise OR none.

We are just happy to get over this hurdle as it was a big one for us.

Good luck to everyone else, I look forward to reading the updates each day :)

@Eljane34 congratulations on them and praying for more positive news 🙏
@Bnichols89 @TT82 im glad you're both feeling okay. Good luck with your scans this week
@waitingforourmiracle thats good to hear. Mixed news though but they try and so it so you've the best chance without any other risks and complications. If it ends up being a freeze all hopefully the weeks go by so quickly for you and before you know it transfer day

@Faith2024 thats good to hear. Are they back to back cycles? Do you get any break in between?
@Btowngirl hope you're feeling a little better.
@ExhaustedPigeon1988 fingers crossed for the extra growth

Update from me: I think AF is on its way. I've been having light bleed since yesterday and I mean very light. So I'm feeling okay. Tired but glad that hopefully before Thursday itl be full on AF 😄

@Faith2024 no it’s a fresh 5 day transfer this time. If unsuccessful will go for a FET next time, our clinic has told us we can’t back to back as much as I wanted (IE this cycle if unsuccessful) so would be doing March. When are you looking at going ahead? I think I would feel more comfortable doing medicated but I guess that’s something I’ll have to discuss with the clinic!

@Sherr33 that’s great news, feels like it’s all moving forwards loads from this point doesn’t it!

Hi all

@Eljane34 that’s great news. Always lovely when you get more than you expect. We were expecting 3 last cycle and ended up with 5.

@Sherr33 yes they were back to back. I started taking Norethistrone day after egg collection. I still had the two weeks recovery period before my next cycle started to committ. I could have cancelled anytime before day 1 of stims but it felt like the right thing for my situation. It’s not for everyone but I felt fine within a week, if you have a lot of eggs collected maybe not best thing or if recovery was rough etc.

@Sherr33 thank you! Just back from dr appointment, 22 left, 15 right follicles count 🫣 so definitely sign of pcos when was younger.. So same dose, low chance to try day 3 one fresh (as high risk) and rest to 5d PGTA testing , if we get any as quality is bad. She said just age, good count might help to find one good..Nothing else wanted to discuss, said lets see the results
I am on downregg till Monday, then injections start next Friday
Yeah, my example shows how quantity means nothing.... and most important is quality
Good luck to everyone who has EC or transfers this week! Xx

@Btowngirl must have been posting at the same time. I am doing 2 cycles back to back not transfers. Then hopefully if we have enough to PGT-A test go for a FET. I doubt that will happen until April though. I was just allowing myself to have the tiniest think ahead. There are so many steps to this I am usually just focused on what is happening presently. After 2 back to back cycles my dream would be to do a natural FET but we will see what’s best IF & WHEN we get to that stage.

Good luck on your transfer!

We got some good news today, all 3 fertilised! Never expected that!!! Now they are going to leave them and not check in until Saturday for transfer.

makes me feel quite nervous as what if they don’t do too well and could be put in at day 3, but they said if they leave them undisturbed then that’s the best chance.

@Eljane34 amazing news!! Fingers crossed for transfer xx

Just one for the girlies who haven't started stims yet, order some alcohol wipes! I've done my 19th injection this morning and it was the first time there were wipes in the box! Luckily I purchased some before I started stims!

@Faith2024 ohh I see! It’s exciting to plan ahead to be fair and also helps to keep busy and focussed on something. It’s mad how the months can get lost through this process isn’t it.

@Eljane34 thats amazing news! Congratulations what a positive result 😁

@waitingforourmiracle do use wipes if you prefer to but clinically they aren’t required for a subcutaneous injection unless the skin is visibly dirty (I’m a nurse), hope this doesn’t come across as preachy cos it’s not meant negatively at all and I do get that some people may prefer to use a wipe anyway!

@Btowngirl makes sense!! I just went off the videos sent by the clinic and they all said to use wipes 😊

@Eljane34 congratulations! So happy for you, fingers crossed they do well over the next few days.

@waitingforourmiracle I was going to give the same tip! The nurse didn't tell us we needed the alcohol wipes but I find them helpful for putting pressure on right after the injection and so far haven't had any bruising. Also they're super cheap from Amazon.

Nothing wrong with using them, was more just hoping that it’s not an added element of stress for anyone if the meds don’t come with them (none of mine had any at all) but whatever works for people 👌

@Eljane34 Out of my 7 fertilised we got 1 good one for fresh transfer and 2 for freezing. Lost the rest. But still happy with the amount we got :)
It's frustrating when they say stuff like 'it could be all, some or none' because I'm pretty sure we could have worked that out by ourselves 🤣
@Btowngirl Did you get any implantation bleeding or cramps?