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?

@IrisViolet hope you're doing okay, sounds like a stressful time. When is your test day?

@mlruirod Hope you're getting on okay, did you get your update? And are you booked in for transfer?

Hope everyone is doing okay in the TWW. I can't quite believe the whole process has happened already and I'm now just waiting to test. Feels crazy it's not even 3 weeks since I started the injections - after months of build up to IVF it all happens in a flash in the end!

@AnnieStar12 yes, got a call this morning with an update. At day 3 we have 12 fertilised (it seems 2 more eggs got to fertilise after the first call) and 10 are good quality at day 3 stage (I'm assuming the 2 that took longer to fertilise are a bit behind and not so good). Hopefully some will continue growing until day 5😌
They booked me for transfer on Saturday but they also asked me to go tomorrow morning for some blood test to make sure I'm OK for transfer and not developing OHSS. I hope everything is fine with me and I can go ahead with a fresh transfer 🤞I feel very very bloated but apart from that I don't have any symptoms of OHSS, so I'm assuming being very bloated is normal after egg collection anyways.

How long did the bloating last you all for?

@mlruirod you must be delighted with that news! Good luck tomorrow, hopefully you're safe for a fresh transfer. But if not, you're in a great position with 12 in the running still!

@mlruirod thats an amazing number! Congratulations!! I hope tomorrow is all clear for you to go ahead with your transfer

How’s everyone doing?? I hope you’re well.
I’ve been so silly and tested now 4 days post 5 day transfer and negative 😔 my heart cant take this. I shouldn’t have tested but then I also want to know so badly. I can see others getting positive 4 days post transfer.

@Drzoem You are defo still in the running, you are the equivalent of 9 days post ovulation which is still really early for a test to show. But on the positive side, you know there is no trigger shot left in your body so if it is positive then you know it is real!

Has everyone now had eggs collected?

@AnnieStar12 @Steph2345 thank you!

How are you all in the TWW feeling? I keepnthinking of you all as I think that's the worst part- the waiting! Would you mind to remind me when your test dates are?

@Drzoem as @AnnieStar12 said- keep the hope, still time for thet BFP to show up!

My test day is the 27th, which is only 9 days post transfer. But I’ve been told if it’s negative then to test again on 29th and only then should I stop progesterone.

@IrisViolet yeah it is really rubbish. How are you feeling today? All good with me so far but I've not stayed yet 😭 ask me again next week!

@mlruirod 12 is brilliant! Hope you get a good number of day 5 from that. Fingers crossed no OHSS, a fresh transfer, and some frosties for you in reserve 🤞

@Drzoem sorry to hear that. I definitely think you're not out yet though. Hope you're ok

@Steph2345 no, I haven't even started yet! Maybe I should have joined an April thread... Should hopefully be starting stims this weekend

I've just started spotting this evening thank god and I've got a bit of cramping. The only time I've ever been delighted at that! Hoping for bright red flow tomorrow so I can get on with things now. As long as I do have my day 1 tomorrow I'll hopefully be in for my baseline scan on Saturday (they're closed on a Sunday) and can make a start as planned.

@Lucylaughing will you be able to start your stims as soon as your period comes properly? I’m only 5 days into my medication so won’t be transferring for 10-14 days. Are you on short protocol or have you been doing down regs for a few days?

@Steph2345 hi, yes I'm on short protocol so no downreg. I need to go in for a baseline scan first then should be able to start stims once they have given the go ahead.

Very stressed this morning now, I've rang the ACU 3 times and no one is picking up!!!!

@mlruirod amazing number - fingers crossed it all goes ok for you now, let us know how the embryos get on!

@Lucylaughing a bit rubbish - heavier bleeding again today so I’m sure I’ve lost it now. I’m trying to just rationalise and think how lucky we are to have some Frosties and I’m just thinking about having a couple of months off to allow my body and mind to rest and reset! Fingers crossed for starting stims, I’m sure you’ll be absolutely fine ❤️. Xxx

@IrisViolet oh no, I'm sorry, it must be so tough. Like you say definitely take some time to rest and recover. Hopefully your next transfer will be the one.

Thanks for the good luck, and for your tips previously. We're booked in for baseline scan tomorrow morning x

@IrisViolet I'm so sorry, must be really tough. This whole process is so difficult. A couple of months to rest and reset sounds like a good idea. Wishing you all the best luck for your next transfer ❤️

How is everyone doing in the 2ww? I'm 6 days in and my clinic said not to test until the 28th. The waiting and uncertainty is really starting to get to me now 😞 Although I'm tempted I'm trying my best not to test earlier than instructed by my clinic!

@IrisViolet im sorry to hear the bleeding has got heavier. IVF is so tough so I’m not surprised you want to take some time for you. I hope the next round is successful for you 💕

@Lucylaughing great you have the baseline scan booked! Hope you can start your stims this weekend

xx

@Beka245 the 2ww is so hard isn’t it! I found that and the waiting to actually start the medication to be the longest few weeks known to man! Hang in there, don’t test early otherwise you’ll spend the following days second guessing the results every day. You’ve got less than a week, you’re nearly there! Xx

@IrisViolet sorry to hear this. It’s so heartbreaking. Glad that you are taking some time to recalibrate and recharge. Hope that puts you in the best position for the next transfer and that goes well! ❤️

@Lucylaughing hope the scan goes well and good luck with the stims! X

@Beka245 it’s so hard not knowing! I’m 5 days in now. Had the worst abdominal cramps yesterday which turned out to be gas 🤪 going a bit crazy trying not to read into every little symptom and being cautiously optimistic at the same time. It’s like a strange Schrodinger’s cat situation.

@Lucylaughing good luck getting started. Hope the scan goes well today.

@mlruirod are you having your transfer today? Hoping you get a good day 5 blasto result too!

@IrisViolet hope you're looking after yourself and the bleeding has settled.

@Beka245 @Cathycatcat We’re all at a similar stage aren’t we, it’s hard not to go mad with the symptom spotting! I’m now 5days post transfer. Yesterday for the first time I had quite a few ‘symptoms’ e.g. feeling nauseous, tingling sensation in my breasts and bleeding gums. It could just be the progesterone so trying to not read in to it, but also couldn’t help feel a bit excited. But then I woke up this morning feeling like my period is coming as have that familiar heavy achy womb feeling I get a few days before AF arrives. So now feel deflated again.

I think I will test tomorrow as that will be 6dp5dt which is equivalent of 11DPO which is when I’ve has my BFP in the past. I know everyone handles testing differently, but for me I don’t want the pressure of a big reveal on test day as the negative will be so crushing. I’d prefer the gradual let down of seeing a negative each day, and the hope slowly dwindling. Also, if it’s a positive I want to know as soon as possible!

@Drzoem @Capybara95 how are you guys getting on further down the TWW?

@AnnieStar12 hi, yes it's going ahead today! I just got the call and we have been very very lucky- we got 6 embryos in toral today, one for fresh transferand 5 extra to freeze! They are different grading (one 2AB, one 2BB, three 4AA and one 5AA). They said they're transferring an 4AA today instead of the 5AA but I got so excited with the news that didn't internalise why if the 5AA should be better?

It makes sense what you said abiut testing before the test date, I wish you the best and hopefully you'll get your BFP soon!

I hope you're all doing well and feeling positive during the TWW. I'll be joing in the waiting soon and I'm already hating it! I found difficult to wait for 2 days for the embryos updates so I think I'll find really hard the TWW!

@mlruirod congrats!
4AA is the top grade. It’s a bit better than a 5AA. This chart is helpful to understand which grades mean what..

@AnnieStar12 thanks for posting that chart, I didn't have a clue what the embryo gradings meant.

Thanks all for the good luck. My lining was still a bit thick as it's day 2 rather than 3 and my left ovary was hiding so they had to do an oestrogen test. Thankfully just found out I'm clear to start, which is good as don't have to go back on Monday. So stims start tomorrow morning. My next scan is 1st April 🥳

@AnnieStar12 thanks for sharing the chart, now the grading actually makes sense!
I hope you're feeling better this evening x

@Lucylaughing congratulations on starting the cycle! good luck with the injections

Edit: maybe wishing you luck with the injections sounds a bit weird? Sorry, English is not my first language 😂 but I hate needles so I did struggle quite a bit so I hope it goes well for you!

@AnnieStar12 @Cathycatcat @Beka245 @Steph2345 @Lucylaughing thanks for the kind words, ladies. Definitely lost this embryo.
We won’t be trying again for a few months - need to get myself back before I can consider it again. Wishing you all the best of luck for your transfers ❤️❤️❤️

@IrisViolet best of luck to you. Hope you get chance to enjoy the next few weeks and relax x

@mlruirod trust me, as a needle phobic person I need all the luck I can get! So thanks! 😊