Starting IVF/ICSI March 2024

[AnnieStar12]

I'm planning to start my first round of ICSI with my next cycle - anyone else in the same boat and want some online company? Or anyone already been through this and got useful tips/advice?

I got a couple of tablets of Solpadol which (according to google) is similar to co codamol. I took two of those yesterday evening and don’t plan to take any today as I’m worried now about the constipation after yesterdays conscious sedation. How are you feeling today? I feel a good bit better, but still a bit tender and sore, so I’m just taking it easy and resting.

@Cathycatcat from stalking MN for a few months before starting the IVF process I’ve read a few stories like yours about the bum bullets. As shitty as it is I think it’s quite common. The things we go through!

We had a shitter today too, my other half had another sperm test just to see whether the supplements, no caffeine or alcohol and more exercise have helped his sperm (we’re having ICSI either way), and his results are worse😢 I feel gutted for him as he’s been trying so hard! I’m hoping it was just a bad day to be honest. He was drinking a lot when he had the first test done as it was Christmas time so was out all the time. It just doesn’t make sense. His motility is now 10% progressive and morphology is 0% from 2%. I really hope it’s just a bad batch. I don’t want to use a sperm donor, as much as I want a family I want it to be ours together. I know that sounds stupid but id rather have an egg donor and sperm donor than just one side. So yeah, I’m feeling gutted today. Had to come downstairs to cry so he wouldn’t see me.

@HopefulllHolly I’m so sorry to hear that. It’s horrible getting bad news. But if it’s any consolation my partner has had similar results every time too - always 0% morphology and poor motility.

His sperm has still manage to fertilise my eggs three times (1 child, 2 miscarriages) and also fertilised two eggs in the lab yesterday via ICSI. In all three IUI rounds the embryologists looked at his sperm and were always happy that there were enough good ones there to work with. The fact you’re doing icsi is great as the sperm won’t need to do hardly anything at all.

My partner has been taking Impryl and CQ10 to try improve things as that’s what we’ve read is the most helpful supplements for sperm.

@2024forthewin thats a great update!! Good luck for Saturday update too. Yes I found the constipation after collection really bad so probably right not to take anything that could potentially make it worse.

@HopefulllHolly I’m so sorry to hear about your partner’s results, it’s so hard especially when he’s been trying so hard. Were you due to start treatment soon? Hopefully it was just a bad test and the results will improve again

Thanks ladies, good to hear it's not just me having to use these pesky pessaries.

@Capybara95 Thanks, I think they're meant to be inserted vaginally anyway, but was told to put them in rectally just for the evening and morning after the EC as they were worried about infection. Will be doing then vaginally this evening and was told to lie down for 30-40 mins after, so hopefully that will be better!

@AnnieStar12 Oh dear! I was told to lie down after, so maybe that will help them not fall out. I can see why you're just over anything going up there 😣yeah, hopefully they'll all be alright still. They're going to call me on Saturday for a Day 3 update and if there's a front runner they might do the transfer then, if not it will be Monday (assuming they all last that long!) hopefully you have good news on Saturday!

@Lucylaughing My husband and I had a little laugh about it after I had a nice long shower. He did come give me a hug (messy bottom and all!) after he found me crying in the bathroom. Yeah, hopefully doing them vaginally will be less traumatic.

@2024forthewin amazing news about your fertilised eggs! Hope we all get good news on Saturday. Glad to hear you are also feeling less pain today. And a progesterone gel/injection sounds so much more civilised!

@HopefulllHolly thanks! I'm glad to hear it's not just me! 😅oh no, sorry to hear about your OH. Is it not possible even with ICSI for those results? My partner's sperm were also not great although I don't know the numbers, but that's why they decided to go for ICSI with us, so it might still be alright.

@AnnieStar12 I have my fingers crossed that your one will make it 🤞can transfer be earlier than day 5?
@Cathycatcat @2024forthewin congrats and good luck for your updates on Saturday!

@HopefulllHolly I'm sorry about your OH's result. How is he feeling? As it must have been hard for him after all the hard work. Hopefully the clinic can work with his sperm and it'll all go well 🤞 hope you're feeling better, it's horrible to get bad news but it could have been just a bad batch

Thanks @AnnieStar12 thats a relief. I guess with my few eggs we don’t need many anyway, his count is double what it should be which is a positive. It’s just so crap that he’s been trying so hard and it’s gotten worse! I hope he doesn’t give up trying so hard from
this. He’s been on wellman conceive plus but I’ve said we’ll get him impryl when these run out next week. The amount we are spending on supplements is bonkers 😅
I’m sorry you’re down to one eggo, but that little egg might be the best egg ever, so stay positive. Keeping my fingers crossed for it to be growing away nicely.

@Capybara95 was meant to start last month, that was delayed, and then they told us this month, that’s been moved to April as they don’t have space for us. It’s because I get migraines and so can’t be on the pill to time when I’ll get my period so they have to basically book me in every day of the week I’m due just in case for my start date and same for my egg collection and transfer days. I wish I hadn’t told them I get them to be honest, what’s a headache when we already have to do so much. Sorry I’m feeling extra annoyed at life today. 🥺😔

@HopefulllHolly oh thats so frustrating when you just want to get started. Hopefully April will be the month for you. I think it’s well deserved for all of us to feel a bit sorry for ourselves during this process, hope you’re feeling better soon. As said above there is a lot that can be done with ICSI with low results and it literally only takes a few good sperm to do it as they pick the best ones so fingers crossed there will be a few good ones they can pick.

@mlruirod my clinic said they only do day 5 transfers. I even asked this morning about doing it on day 3 and they just said they never do it on day 3 🤷‍♀️

Urgent question please anyone.
Just had a call from lab now (day 3) saying I’ve got one grade 1 (9cell embryo), 1 grade 2 (8 cell embryo) and x3 7 cell average quality embryo.

They are leaving it to me to decide if I want them to transfer the grade 1 day 3 embryo today or wait until Sunday to see if any made it to blastocyst on day 5??

I’m really stuck as there is a chance none of them make it to day 5 but then the embryologist is saying if they dont make it to day 5 in the lab it’s unlikely they will develop inside.
What would you do please???
Thank you

@Drzoem oh that’s a tough decision.

I did a bit of reading yesterday about the 3 day/ 5 day thing as I was concerned my clinic only do day 5, and I’m not sure anyone really knows if it makes a difference in that if they don’t survive to day 5 in the lab then they probably wouldn’t survive in the lining anyways.
As with everything to do with IVF, there are different opinions!
When I asked my clinic embryologist, she said they prefer day 5 as that’s closer to mimicking when the embryo would reach the lining if we were to conceive naturally.

I would like to think if it’s a healthy one, it’ll make it whenever you do the transfer.

Good luck whatever you decide .

@AnnieStar12
thank you for taking the time to reply
yes that’s what the embryologist told me too!!! I’ve decided to risk it and wait until day 5. Hoping and praying that they will survive x

@Drzoem what a hard decision for you to have to make but I have always been told that day 5 transfers are more favourable. Good luck for your next update! Are you booked for transfer on Sunday now?

@Capybara95 such a hard decision 🥹 I just froze over the phone and said I need time to decide and they gave me 30 mins!!
yea they have given me a provisional time 10.30 am on Sunday but will call me around 9am (takes me an hour to hour to get to the clinic anyway).
I really hope I don’t regret this and at least one embryo survives

@Drzoem good luck for Sunday!
I would have made the same decision and waited until day 5 too.
If my one remaining embryo survives until then, I’ll be a day behind you having it transferred on Monday.

Feels a bit harsh for the clinic to put that decision on you like that - sometimes it’s better if they don’t make us choose as we’re not the experts, and trying to gather all the information in 30 mins to make an informed decision is tough! Fingers crossed all goes well for next 48 hours x

@Drzoem sorry you had to make that decision on short notice, I bet it was so hard. I think I would have done the same. Our consultant said she always recommends day 5 transfers. I don't think my clinic does any day 3 at all.

Good luck to you for your transfer at the weekend x

@Drzoem Bit unfair they asked you! Doesn’t feel fair!
I think you made the right decision though.

@Drzoem fingers crossed for you 🤞 sorry, that was a very difficult decision 😔

How is everyone doing / feeling? Sending you all good thoughts down the internet.

I feel like time waiting to start has begun to drag!

@Drzoem what a difficult decision to make! Think you did the right thing though by the sounds of it. hope you get a bit of a chill before Sunday

@Lucylaughing tell me about it!!! How are you?

@Lucylaughing I've (hopefully) got my embryo transfer tomorrow morning, I'm nervous to find out how many of our 6 fertilized eggs made it to day 5.
Tell me about it! When I was on stims it felt like I was really busy with injections, going in for scans every other day and after egg collection I've just been nervously waiting! I'm trying not to think about what could be/happen too much but that's easier said than done!
And after tomorrow the 2 week wait begins, I bet that's gonna really drag!

How are you doing and feeling?

@Drzoem oh that’s a tough decision hun. Does seem a bit unfair to put it on you as they’re the experts. Good luck for Sunday!

@Beka245 this is exactly how I feel! The time during stims went really quickly cause it was busy but now it’s just the waiting!! Good luck for tomorrow!