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

Sorry I have been dipping in and out of this thread as I’ve been trying not to read everything fertility related on the internet but also am definitely reading everything fertility related on the internet lol.

but just wanted to say that amazing news @wishinghard2 !!! How exciting! Good luck for Friday but definitely sounds like great news!

@wishinghard2amazing congratulations!! Did you ask to have bloods done or do your clinic do it as standard?
@ExhaustedPigeon1988 that’s great news too, how exciting for sat 🎉

Lovely to see your bfp @wishinghard2 what a tough journey you've had.

Great news too @ExhaustedPigeon1988

Rooting for everyone!

Thank you everyone. It really means a lot. Very hard not to get to carried away though. Still just trying to take each day as it comes.

@Sherr33 I hope your headaches have eased off a bit.

@Btowngirl the finger prick test is part of our clinic process. So we have urine pregnancy test on day 15 (today) and then a finger prick one which is the one they really go by on day 18. If that is positive the next wait will be for a 40 day scan however they have also advised us to do another urine test on day 25 if the finger prick blood test is positive.

keeping my fingers crossed for is all. It’s one heck of a journey isn’t it

@wishinghard2 wow that’s very thorough and reassuring! Our clinic got us to do urine @ 12dp5dt and then I’m not seeing them until a 6+5 for a viability scan. I might be doing pregnancy tests intermittently in the mean time though 🙈🤞

@wishinghard2 that's absolutely amazing news, and I cannot believe how well you done not to test early!

@wishinghard2 warmest congratulations on the first BFP!!! ❤️ so encouraging to read positive stories xx

Hi all

Had my first ganirelix shot. Hurt like a beeeeeeech. My partner pulled it back out again when I said ouch and I was like noooo now you need to stab ne with it again 😩😂 in got some rash around the site and redness. Overall headaches bloated gassy and so so tired yet I cant sleep 😩 hope everyone else is doing well

@wishinghard2 congratulations! So pleased for you!!

@Sherr33 I feel you with these side effects!!! I'm not liking this so far! I'm starting Fyremadel Thursday morning. Think it's similar to ganirelix. The nurse said it hurts as the needle is thicker and blunter and then you get a red reaction around the needle site. I'm managing to do gonal f myself but DP is going to do Fyremadel for me as if it hurts going in, my reaction is to pull it out (I did this with the gonal f last night).

Oh definitely put ice cubes or frozen peas bag before for 5 mins at least, makes a huge difference!
Are you taking melatonin? It helps with sleep a bit, still waking up but at least go back to sleep straight after. I am taking 3mg during ivf cycle.
Soon it will be over xx

Congratulations @wishinghard2 . Lovely to log on to such positive news.

@Sherr33 sorry to hear that hopefully the reaction will lessen as you do more of it. I took melatonin during the stims process but was still awake a lot.

Day 3 update from my clinic just now that out of the 5 fertilised eggs all made it to day 3 and are looking like strong embryos for day 3. I am so relieved and grateful. We have also decided to do one more final cycle to boost our chances. Whatever the outcome I can sleep in peace knowing we tried our best. It is just a lot more waiting as there will be no transfer until April/May now.

Just had my EC and got 19 eggs which was really unexpected. They're worried about risk of OHSS so we're doing a freeze all so I'll have to wait a while for a FET. But I'm just over the moon at the numbers and hoping and praying some of them fertilise.

@Sherr33 yeah it's such a stinger! Definitely ice it, it makes it so much better!

@Faith2024 yay! Omg congratulations 👏

@Bnichols89 eeekkk those are some really good numbers praying you have fantastic fertilisation rate🙏 how do you feel? What were you like leading up to EC? Was the trigger injection okay?

@Sherr33 generally I feel pretty good! It was a super quick procedure and they didn't need to put me to sleep - I felt a bit of pressure but it didn't hurt or anything. Was a bit nervous beforehand but they were so nice. And I felt a bit bloated and tender but nothing too bad. Trigger shot was no problem at all, just like the Gonal-F shot really. It's nice in a way to know I've got a bit of time now without any medications and procedures- I'm just going to focus on feeling as good as possible ready for the FET. How are you feeling about your scan on Friday? It comes around so quickly!

@Bnichols89 aw that is good. Did you have to have a full bladder for collection?
Im really really nervous about the scan I keep thinking nothing is working and I'll have zero 😅 I just can't wait for the appointment so I know where I'm at.

@Sherr33 empty bladder for the collection and then they just check afterwards that you can have a wee before they'll let you go! If it helps, I didn't feel anything with the stims until quite near the end when it started to get a bit tender and more "full". The follicles are still so little at the beginning so it's probably normal not to feel very much! But very reassuring to have the scan and see for yourself what's going on.

@Sherr33 thank you feeling huge relief and happiness.

@Bnichols89 that’s a fantastic number, hopefully lots of fertilised eggs, fingers crossed!

@wishinghard2 congratulations!

@Faith2024 woo such a good number! We can be FET buddies 😂

@Sherr33 hope the side effects are starting to ease! Ice defo helps although I look like a pin board at the minute with a few bruises but they are like my little war wounds that I'm proud of haha, making myself feel better that way!

Update from me, out of my 11 fertilized all made it to day 3 which is amazing I am so happy! 1 below average, 1 average and 9 top quality (that's the way they worded it! Wasn't told about individual grading) I'm over the moon but still got an anxious couple of days till the next update!!

@Bnichols89 I know Friday couldn't come fast enough. Fab I can't cope on a full bladder.

@waitingforourmiracle go girl and im hoping its good news then too. Our clinic dont do day 3 update. The curious cat in me would want to know tbh but I know the emotional me appreciates it. I'd be so anxious each day this way I know its the collection amount and then day 5 amount.

@Sherr33 oh really! Gosh I would be going insane! But it will hopefully be worth it! X

Hi all, sorry for the radio silence, I have been keeping up with the thread though, happy I can relate in so many ways!

@Sherr33 - I am completely with you, the stims had me extremely gassy, tired and a bit of an AH but getting to sleep became such a chore. You asked ages ago if I had to take anything for AF to arrive, but luckily I didn't, I was good to go this month naturally. The first scan is nerve wracking, keeping my fingers crossed for you!

@Bnichols89 - I also had EC today, they managed to pull 21 from me and I was fully sedated, best sleep ever! They did not express major concern for OHSS, I seemed more panicked than them which is a bit strange. They did however mention I moved during sedation and hence am bleeding more than the average person, they had to give me codeine and another painkiller to ease the pain. Have you had much bleeding? I have had enough to saturate a pad :(, not sure what is normal here.

@Faith2024, @wishinghard2 , @waitingforourmiracle - huge congratulations to you all <3

Some promising news as my DH's sperm sample is the best they have seen so far, still reduced, but we have a much higher mobility for ICSI

@Choochoo08 that's a great number, are you pleased? I guess different clinics have different guidance on this but they were pretty adamant with me about freezing. I was told to expect bleeding but haven't had any yet. I am really quite sore though so I'm not surprised that it's likely! My aftercare sheet said bleeding should stop after 24 hours so I guess see how you are tomorrow if you're not too worried tonight?

Very pleased, hope you are too with the great numbers!!! I don't think it's fully settled in yet, I've been too focused on the discomfort. More nervous for tomorrow to see how many were mature.

Thank you for the advice, I was freaking out but the bleeding has subsided thankfully. I've been in and out of napping and drinking plenty of fluids with electrolytes. Dr also recommended paracetamol/co-codamol every 4 hours even if you don't feel anything, hope the soreness subsides for you soon and you've had the opportunity to have your feet up and rest.

Wow so more great results today ladies :) I bet everyone is really happy.... we are all so close to the dreaded 2ww! So I got my grades today for day 2.... all very strange as previously I was told on day 1 how many fertilised, then got a day 3 and a day 5 update. But apparently it's all changed as it's better for the embryos to rest undisturbed on day 3&4, so I got this info today, and now won't get info until Saturday at transfer... I hate the not knowing, so much can change between day 2&5 :( x

@Bnichols89 @Choochoo08 any advice for pre EC should I be having anything specific that will help ease the after effects or anything thatl help with the collection process. If my scan goes well on Friday then my collection is booked for Monday. 😬 its coming around a bit too fastttt

@ExhaustedPigeon1988 its so odd how every clinic has their own way if doing things. Mines just a number on collection and then on the day of transfer. Like if there's anything to transfer I am assuming they'd let me know a day beforehand 🤷‍♀️ you'll have to know what you did to help you through that period of time. Lots of distractions im assuming. But how does one switch off from that