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?

@AnnieStar12 I hope so! I definitely still look bloated so think I was maybe just feeling a bit sorry for myself at the start of the week and am getting used to it now. Collection is booked for Wednesday morning so fingers crossed everything will go to plan.

good luck for your scan on Tuesday. Hopefully they will see some good follicles. It only takes one good embryo!

It does not seem like there is much flexibility due them needing the full surgical setting and they only have two slots a week , they won’t even attempt regular sedation at the normal clinic

over a year of false starts just completely fed up now

literacy seen a doctor once during the whole process !

just hoping something happens if not ring Monday and they’ll cancel everything

Hi all
We had our nurse's appointment on Thursday. Very long but all went well. Showed us the injections and everything. Gave me a sharps box and a few bits but we pick up the actual prescription when we go in for day 3 scan and bloods. Might end up being day 2 for me though as day 3 is likely to be on a Sunday so they'll bring it forward to Saturday if that's the case.

Feeling slightly apprehensive about the injections and very apprehensive about egg collection. Trying to take it one day at a time. I'm going to be on Rekovelle and Certitide. The Rekovelle pens are not too bad but the Certitide is the stuff of my nightmares(!). So grateful my husband is going to help me.

In the meantime going to start DTD for the last fertile window tonight. You never know, might be a lucky last chance saloon. Not exactly feeling in the mood but needs must.

Hope all ok with all of you x

@Rebekah77 that sounds so frustrating, how come you need a GA? Have you had chance to talk to them about your concerns?

Above should say Cetrotide (spelling fail!)

@Lucylaughing hi, that’s exciting you’re almost ready to start! I was really worried about the cetrotide too but after the one or two it’s completely fine! I’ve actually been pleasantly surprised by the injections as that’s something I was worried about too as we didn’t even get shown them in our appointment, just told to pick them up and watch the videos online to

Hello, I hope you don’t mind me joining. I’m not going through IVF but my wife and I are undergoing IUI. I will be carrying as my wife is unable to have children for many medical reasons.

I am 30 and have been on this journey for 3 years now. I have been through 4 unsuccessful rounds of IUI. The last two were this year and sperm was not inseminated because my follicles were too small and my LH surges too early. Good AH count, no thyroid or deficiencies so it’s a bit of a mystery. It’s been really hard because I feel like my body has let me down. Everyone I know seems to be pregnant or just had a baby so it’s been pretty isolating and hard emotionally to be happy for them or even to hear about children to be honest.

We’re incredibly lucky to have NHS funding for 2 more rounds before they consider IVF. I’ve read all your posts as IVF seems like an increasingly likely option for me and it would be great to have a bit of online support. I am due to speak to the doctor on Wednesday in regards to my next IUI round in March, as letrozole suddenly doesn’t seem to agree with me anymore!

Hi, I would like to join the group🙋‍♀️

I'm starting my very first round of IVF this coming week! My period is due on Monday, although I'm hoping it won't come meaning a natural pregnancy 🤞

IVF is new to me and I would really love having people to share experiences with and learn from.

I'm actually Spanish but have been living g in the UK for 13 years now. All my.family and friends are there so it feels a bit lonely sometimes. They are all very supportive but as they are so far away from me, it's not the same.

We've been TCC for 4 years now. We got pregnant after almost 2 years of TTC but had an early MC at week 12. We didn't get any luckier after that but fortunately the NHS is funding 3 IVF cycles for us. All our tests came back fine so it's unexplained infertility.

I'm very very excited about starting IVF but also very nervous at the same time. I know my chances are not great (doctor said 30%) but at least it's better than what I have had so far.

I hate needles, so my partner will be doing the injections for me. I am really scared of that part of the treatment 😖

My AMH test came back a bit on the low side (5pmol/l) so they are giving me stronger injections. I'm 36 yo now so my age is not really helping, however I started trying a lot of supplements from 'it starts with an egg' to increase my chances!

I have read most of your comments and it seems I'm in similar situation to some of you. Hopefully this will be the lucky month to all of us 🤞

Good luck @Lavendermarshmallows how are you feeling?

@AnnieStar12 glad that you started your treatment. I think I read it's your first time? How are you feeling?

@Lucylaughing incredibly frustrating this must be the 4th time attempting to start a cycle

general as ovaries not visible on scans they’ll try to manipulate and access but they can’t do that awake

least working all weekend I’ve stopped crying my eyes out . Just so frustrating and I’m in such bad pain being off the pill

argh endo is so rubbish !!

hope everyone is ok and injections going well xxx

Hope everyone is doing ok, love seeing that some people have started injections. I have one more lb to lose before I can start, just have to ring them when I am ready. This last three pounds just wouldn't budge so glad I am nearly there eventually! My period is due on the 20th March so fingers cross I can start then 🤞🤞🤞 hoping it's not too short notice now.

@HopefulllHolly I am also long protocol and wondering the same thing. From research I think different centres start on different cycle dates (day 21 or start of new cycle) although I might be wrong. My medication is slightly different - My down regulation will actually be a one off injection that lasts for three weeks, then I start the stims daily injections after that. My centre never give me any thing written down (not sure if that is normal) and I have the worst memory so can never remember what they have said. I thought the consultant said to me I would start when period started but I can't remember will have to check - he might have just said to ring when period started.

Also can't remember what my AMH levels were because like I said my memory is soooo bad but I know he said they were normal levels 🤷🏻‍♀️. Does everyone get their information written down?

@thirtyandmore haha I feel you on the poor memory! I made notes from my appointments so far but I don’t think the consultant mentioned my exact protocol - just that it was long with maximum drugs as I have a rubbish AMH and AFC.

No one has written anything down for us really apart from a letter from the consultant saying we need long protocol and also an email from the nurse after I requested my AMH results earlier than our next appointment so I wouldn’t cry 😅

Good to know it might just be a jab, I hope so for me too! i had read cycle day 21 or day 1 but im hoping its day 21 as i just want to get on with it now. Im very impatient! 😅

@Rebekah77 sorry youre having a shitter of a time! I think one of my ovaries is hard to reach too, I’m hoping they just pummel me rather than give me general though. Is it both yours that are hard to reach?

Hi everyone ❤️
33, unexplained fertility and on day 7 of IVF stims.
I’m petrified of needles and the after feeling of injections, so I’ve found this part incredibly difficult.
Have been having common, but unpleasant side effects like nausea, cramping, unsettled stomach, headaches… really hoping that they say I’m ready for collection sooner rather than later.
Anyone else in the same boat?
Sending everyone positive baby vibes xxx

Hi everyone.. we have our nurse appointment Tuesday and then hopefully I'll come on tomorrow and start long protocol CD21 which would be 24th March.
I'm 41, AMH 13.9, I have mild PCOS and husband has low morphology (hoping 3 months of zita west supplements improves that!)

Fingers crossed ladies 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻

Hi @IrisViolet I’m on a similar timeline to you, just slightly ahead! Today is day 10 of stims for me so have a scan tomorrow and hopefully will be ready for egg collection on Wednesday. Have you had a scan yet? I’ll be glad when the injections are over too but actually haven’t found them too bad at all. Is this your first round?

Good luck to everyone waiting to start also!

@Capybara95 ahh, fingers crossed for you that egg collection is soon!
it’s my first round, yes! First scan is this morning (just getting ready to head to the hospital!).
glad your injections haven’t been too bad for you - is it your first round too? Xx

@IrisViolet thats good you have your first scan this morning. I felt better after my first scan knowing that something was actually happening in there. Good luck for it!

yes my first round also so don’t really know what to expect

@IrisViolet - Good luck today. I'm also just sat outside the clinic waiting for my first stims scan. Hopefully all looking good in there!

Just had my scan and am good to go ahead with egg collection on Wednesday! Bit nervous now

Hi everyone,
31, same sex couple doing first round of IVF with KIND IVF under Lwc. I'm 5 days into stims feeling pretty good so far aside from a small amount of bloating (especially after eating) and some twinges in my lower abdomen.
Have my first monitoring scan this afternoon I'm nervous but excited to see what's happening. Aiming for egg collection next Monday.
Wishing good luck to everyone on this journey!

@Capybara95 Yes, I feel a lot better knowing that the meds are working after this morning’s scan. I haven’t got a clue either - first time obliviousness! They said I had 16 eggs making good progress, so I’m assuming that’s ok? Egg collection either this Friday or next Monday it looks like 🤞🤞🤞.
how exciting it’s on Wednesday! I’ve had sedation for a wisdom tooth removal before and it was absolutely fine, just in case you have any nerves about that! Xx

@Olivia199 - ohh, that’s mad we’re on the same day for 1st scan! Hope all went ok for you?? Xxx

@Beka245 this is great news, hope all is going well for you? We may be having egg collection next Monday as well, so we could be on the same trajectory timing wise! Xx

@IrisViolet glad your scan went well, 16 sounds like a really good number! I think I have a similar amount. Hoping it goes in quick for you, it’s flew in for me since starting my injections, have just tried to keep busy.

that’s good to know about the sedation. I’m more nervous about the actual procedure than the sedation, I’m hoping I will just fall asleep!

@Capybara95 Yeh, I feel like time is flying, but also as if it’s the slowest thing ever?!
I'm sure you’ll be absolutely fine - my nurse said it’s a sharp scratch when they go into the ovary, but nothing more than that. Xx

Hey all

all cancelled for me for this month gutted but there we go ! Wait to here from the consultant if we try to artificially get a bleed or just wait a few weeks see what happens

@Capybara95 @IrisViolet congrats on positive scans. 16 sounds incredible number, lots to work with there! Fingers crossed as you prep for egg collection. Have you both now moved on to the next stage of injections?

@Beka245 @Olivia199 how did your scans go today?

I have my first scan tomorrow morning, which will be day 5 of stims (although I do them in the evenings so I would only have done 4 by then). I am quite nervous about what they will find. I am trying to manage expectations as I have very low egg reserve. Reckon I'd be happy if I had anything close to 6, but I'm trying to prepare myself for them saying it's much less.

@Rebekah77 I am so sorry. That really sucks, especially as you said this is not the first time your cycle has been cancelled. Hope you're able to look after yourself.