Create Fertility - Experiences (Part 3)

[Sunflower360]

Hi 👋

A thread for anyone who wants to discuss their Create Fertility experiences.

I'm 38, have had 3 egg collections with Create (2x natural modified and 1 x mild) and am about to go through my first FET following embryo banking and after having a Hysteroscopy and discovering I have thyroid antibodies...joys of fertility challenges.

Tagging as follows from previous chat, please tag any others I may have forgot.

New joiners to the thread welcome to share your experiences - it's a never ending learning curve for all!

@Maddie23
@gemso2020
@Doxy21
@Plantymcplant
@Jennaqua
@Hopesandsunshine
@jolly86
@VenusStarr
@muddlingthrou
@junieS
@littlebitsocial

@jolly86 @JunieS thanks both, I did the urine test at home and that was positive so went for the beta test this morning, pending results at moment, in any case I'll likely have another test on Wednesday to check progression. I do think it may be on the lower end though as test was a faint positive (albeit it is visible, just not as dark as the control line). The measurements of the clinic test are from 25 iu whereas FRERs are 7 iu I think.

@Sunflower360 yes I think the home test given by CREATE isn't as sensitive one as FRERs. This beta level thing is really confusing as it can be very variable from person to person. Fingers crossed.

Best of luck @Sunflower360

@muddlingthrou thanks @jolly86 have you had your beta levels checked?

@Sunflower360 no I haven't had any actually. Are you having it at CREATE? I just didn't know where to have it, given I didn't do this round there I won't get one from them.

@jolly86 yep with Create, seems to be included in the FET. I mean in all honesty it is possible to view progression through FRERs but you cannot be 100% as urine can be diluted/stronger on certain days, so blood results are more conclusive of how things are progressing where hcg is concerned. But even that needs to be taken with a pinch of salt as if there was miscarriage, good levels can drop very quickly-just varies person to person. The most telling sign is the 6 week scan as they can see things and establish measurements etc to assess if things are looking good. In any case its just a bit of a waiting game once again!

How are you feeling? Have you started getting symptoms at all? I have to say I haven't noticed much bar from a very slight headache every now and again and some tiredness.

@Sunflower360 is 6 weeks not too early? I was thinking a scan for 7-8 weeks?
I have been very tired and sleepy overall, and also have nausea surprisingly early (5 weeks 5 days today). It makes me wonder if it could be twins? It would be very very unlikely but always a chance. I just want a single healthy one obviously.

@jolly86 could be as you had a double transfer! Think HCG levels could indicate that. First scan is 6-7 weeks with Create, but in all honesty, if I get to that point, I'm planning on doing a private scan at 9-10 weeks anyway to monitor things

@Sunflower360 7 weeks scan is sure to catch a heartbeat so seems more secure to me? Also miscarriage rates decrease significantly after 8 weeks too. So I am not entirely sure when to book it. But not having any blood tests and scans it just feels unreal. Where would be the option to get a blood test?

@jolly86 I think you should be able to get one from GP perhaps if you say you have some concerns?

My blood result is in and I'm completely shocked, 178iu! Was expecting it to be 40-50 as my tests appeared like a faint positive. Their happy with my result so don't need to see me now (unless I start spotting etc) until early pregnancy scan, which will be in around 2 weeks time. Still cautious but progress from my last pregnancy which was 14iu on the same day

@Sunflower360 that is amazing news! It’s a clear result in this case

What was your previous pregnancy sorry. I didn’t catch that

@jolly86 thanks. That was my chemical, last summer before the Create ECs

Amazing news @Sunflower360
So happy for you!!

Wonderful news @Sunflower360 xxx

Thanks @tillyxxx @Maddie23 !

Congratulations @Sunflower360

Congratulations @Sunflower360!! X

@jolly86 I also had nausea from week 5, seems to be easing off a bit now in week 10. My HCG rose quickly but wasn’t twins. Personally I’d have loved twins but very happy with one.

I’d agree with week 7 for first scan, though I’ve actually ended up with scans in week 7 (clinic), week 8 (paid for private reassurance) and week 9 (NHS due to spotting). Hopefully that should be it until my dating scan (week 13) now!
It didn’t feel real until first scan for me.

@Plantymcplant thanks!

@HopefulElle thanks! Sorry hadn't realised you had spotting, was it just brown? I'm getting a bit nervous everytime I wipe in case I notice anything

@Sunflower360 i don’t think I posted about it in this thread, I first noticed it on my pessary and at the scan they could find no reason for it, so could have been cervical irritation from pessary, or just one of those things. It was a reddy brown and didn’t last long at all but still really really worried me! The nurse said lots of people have it but always best to get it checked if it happens.

@HopefulElle good to get things checked out, all sounds like its going well. What were your hcg levels like and at what point did your symptoms start? Or anyone else in the thread that has had their hcg tested?

I can't say I've noticed a lot right now... I'm 4+3 at the moment. I've stopped doing home tests following the beta blood test as I think monitoring line progression will just not be good as if I was to get one that was a bit faded I'll just get stressed and if that happens I wouldn't have any control over it anyway, will just have to take each day as it comes I think

Congratulations @Sunflower360 , definite progress.

My symptoms started at 6 weeks on the dot, and unfortunately for me took the form of horrendous nausea. It peaked around week 9, and I'm just starting to feel better now at week 15. It's that catch-22 of finding symptoms reassuring but also horrible to live through. I hope you have a happy medium and the two weeks to your scan don't drag too much!

Thanks @muddlingthrou have to say this wait is hard, every day is an extra milestone tbh. Did you have hcg bloods measured?

Yes @Sunflower360, but mine were actually unnaturally high for some reason, so I wouldn't take them as a guide! They were 37k+ at 6w3d. Create told me at my scan they were expecting it to be twins, and were surprised when there was just one baby. Apparently my nausea might be related to the high HCG levels, so I think my body over-produces it. I know of people with similar measurements to yours who had healthy pregnancies, so please try not to worry (easier said than done, I know).