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 Thanks. I've just read so many articles of ignore the grading etc, especially when you're older. But then I suppose that is where PGTA comes in but then I've read about how embryos can get damaged or disposed when they could have had a chance, suppose that's why they only tend to do it with those who have many embryos. It just blows your mind on what to do for the best! And even with a euploid there are no guarantees so who knows!

Does anyone know if you need a break or would I be able to go straight into another FET as I did natural FET (with trigger and Progesterone) if I can get a review with the Dr before AF arrives? I'm not sure if this would be a withdrawal bleed or a normal bleed whenever it comes (I'll of course wait until OTD to stop Progesterone). I just want to get on with it in all honesty and get through the transfers if this definitely hasn't worked. When I had the chemical they let me go straight into the egg collection cycle on that bleed as it was an early loss-I was on Progesterone that time too as I started spotting day after the positive test so I'm struggling to see the difference in all honesty

How are you feeling @Doxy21 ? I never was patient so this is definitely the worst part for me, does not fit in with my planning traits 😂

@Sunflower360 im feeling really depressed and freaking out massively at lack of symptoms. I’m also worrying that I’m taking estrogen and was I meant to stop taking that?! But I think I continue to take it. It’s just hard knowing that this is it. If it hasn’t worked then we won’t ever be parents. I feel like I remember someone on here saying if pessaries start not going in as high then it’s game over and I feel like that’s where I’m at. And I’m already blaming everything - the puppy not going to sleep, my husband being sick and that meaning I can’t rest etc 🙄

@Doxy21 I'm sorry you're feeling that way, I can understand the levels of anxiety. Have to say I'm not sure about the estrogen bit as I didn't do medicated. Could you check with the clinic? Also, regarding Progesterone, did they test your levels on transfer day? Think that is standard for medicated as you don't produce it naturally, or so it was explained to me. But if you haven't bled/started AF that is a good sign that the Progesterone levels are stopping it. I think as long as it goes in, that's fine, I do it through the back way... doesn't make a mess and stays in place. I'm on Cyclogest 400mg twice a day, I didn't want to the Utrogestan 3 a day, just in case I couldn't get to a bathroom plus that has to be done vaginally. Have you tested at all, or are you sticking with waiting until OTD? I haven't yet.

@Doxy21 sorry re read your bit about Progesterone....guessing you mean about the cervix height?

I guess that’s what I mean? But ppl on google still had positives and positives with no symptoms. I’m going to wait. I did ask the clinic about estrogen but no response. I had my progesterone checked the day before transfer. Have you had any symptoms?

@Doxy21 can't say I have had specific symptoms, bar from day of and day after transfer which I'm putting down to the FET procedure and perhaps my natural Progesterone kicking in on top of the pessaries - those symptons would be too soon for something happening I think despite it being a hatching blastocyst. I'm basing it on my chemical last summer where I had noticeable implantation cramps and pink discharge by this point, which I've not had this time - so on that basis I'm gauging its not worked.

Testing just yet is a bit pointless as I still wouldn't stop pessaries until OTD as the 'You never know' thoughts come flodding in (but I'm pretty sure I do know). If I felt pregnant I would test but can't say I do. I'm currently 4dp5dt so perhaps will leave it until the weekend to confirm my suspicions and then again on OTD, then I can start thinking next steps/plan. I would imagine Create will make me wait a month to re start but we shall see

@Doxy21 - if your clinic is like mine, then yes, you should keep taking the estrogen post-transfer.

I had some bright red bleeding with clots yesterday so fearing the worst. My frantic googling suggests it could all be over for us or it could be an irritated cervix/subchrionic haemotoma/something else.

I had a blood test at the clinic this morning to check my levels and waiting on the results. Wish us luck. I am feeling despondent 😭 I do still have nausea and sore boobs, so hanging onto that in hope...

@muddlingthrou on no! But there are lots of occasions when people experience bleeding and it has gone on to be fine. Fingers crossed for you! Xx

@muddlingthrou that sounds awful to experience that but as @Doxy21 said a fair people on MN have stated they had bleeding as you describe so hopefully all is ok. Its a never ending rollercoaster this fertility stuff....hope your blood results come in soon. Keep us posted.

@Doxy21 that conspiracy about the pessaries not going as easily was mine, but that isn't valid really. Yes, you should continue taking the progesterone until your test day (and if positive you will continue for a while. ) best of luck in this difficult time xx

@muddlingthrou bleeding is terrible but yes many people do have it and it is fine. everyone is different. fingers crossed for you x

@jolly86, @Sunflower360, @Doxy21 - thank you all. The clinic has brought my early pregnancy scan forward to tomorrow, so I should get some answers. Fingers crossed!

@muddlingthrou that is good news, were they able to give you your blood results over the phone?

@Sunflower360 - yes, they were nice and high, which is a massive relief!

@muddlingthrou that is good news then! Reassuring about scan too so hopefully that'll also help

@muddlingthrou phew! Sounds very positive then

Hello! Just checking in. My wife and I are about to start our first cycle with Create. We are very very new at this and still getting ours heads around the jargon.

DW is carrying due to some health concerns for me. She is 29 but with very low AMH due to damage caused to tubes during a previous pelvic infection. This meant we couldn't attempt IUI but not sure how it will impact IVF.

Currently dealing with all the set up which seems quite chaotic from create. Our treatment consultant was 40 mins late to a zoom meeting yesterday and our patient coordinator is quite slow at responding. Not sure if we have overly high expectations but finding the process quite frustrating so far. Hopefully things will improve once we properly 'get going.' That's likely to be April now

Hi @Shesgettingmarriedinthemornin - welcome and best of luck!

We also had a terrible experience with Create from an admin perspective until we had a big paddy and submitted a complaint. We asked for a different patient coordinator and that made all the difference. So don't be afraid to make a fuss (I know it's the last thing you want when already going through an emotional, stressful experience).

On the plus side, I have found the clinical side really great. Do you mind me asking which clinic you're at?

Ah thank you! I'm sort of glad to hear it isn't just us and reassured to know we could pull the complaints lever if we needed to. We're definitely not there yet but it's definitely making an already stressful and emotional process worse. Were with the Manchester clinic.

Feeling quite down about it all today. It's such a huge financial commitment and such a lot to take in so I think I'm feeling quite pessimistic in general. I'm sure it'll pass.

@Shesgettingmarriedinthemornin Hi 👋 Have to say the admin is not the best system at Create and it can take some strongly worded emails and chasing to get the results you want. Not ideal, but it does work. I think its the call centre and patient coordinator system that doesn't really work; the call center turns into the go between and the patient coordinator I think should be in more contact than they are - I'm not entirely sure what they do bar from deal with the generic email queries acting as the messenger (which can be delayed responses) and order the meds - I would like to see a more supportive/counselling type service in that role but I suppose that is a specific skillset/qualifications. Overall though I've found the clinical care to be very good and all in all the communication is ok once you work out how to get a response from the clinic.

Also completely understand the pessimism, I'm a more 'expect the worst, hope for the best' kind of person - bit of self preservation!

What are your circumstances?

Sorry you've said your circumstances... what package are you doing?

@Sunflower360 hi! Its so interesting to hear others perspectives on the admin pain. I don't think it helps that DW and I are both in client services and keep going 'imagine leaving a client waiting this long!' I've had comparably better NHS experiences in recent years.

Anyway! Hopefully we will get there soon and as you both say, we've been very happy with everyone we've seen clinically so far. We're doing a single round of mild IVF at the moment. I have no idea what protocol we're on (didn't realise there was a difference.., as I say we're clueless newbies) but hoping all will become clear soon.

@Shesgettingmarriedinthemornin it is a bit of information overload at first, a lot to take in! If you're doing mild it'll be in tune with the natural cycle so short protocol and stimulation is gentler than conventional IVF, but more than natural modified which is even more stripped back stimulation wise