Starting provera before IVF tomorrow

[grhrn1984]

Hi, I am 39 years old and am going to start Provera tablets tomorrow for my first IVF cycle. If everything goes to plan the transfer will be next month in April and was wondering if anyone else is on this journey. This is a cycle funded by the NHS. I am worried about the side effects of the medication but this is one shot we have before I turn 40 years old in June. Hoping there would be someone in the same boat as me so that we could support each other.

Hi just thought I post an update so I ended up getting my period last week Friday. In the previous 6 months, my periods have had clots and also more brown blood etc. I had my baseline scan on Monday which got delayed to day 4 due to my period starting at around 11ish on Friday so there was no way to get to the clinic as they only do scans in the morning. During the scan on Monday, they found a cyst on the left and right ovary one was 1cm and another 3cm which was not there in December or February. The consultant says I cannot start stims due to the cyst. The only thing I have done differently during this cycle is take Provera but I thought that was supposed to prevent cysts so I am confused. The doctor asked why I took Provera and I was like because the nurses and previous consultant told me to. Was pretty surprised by the question to say I am heartbroken is an understatement. The consultant has now asked me to take norethisterone 5mg twice a day for 3 weeks and they will do a scan to check if the cyst has gone. I am trying to put on a brave face and go to work but inside I am so broken. Hopefully, everyone else has better luck since I only have till mid-June to complete the IVF.

@grhrn1984 so so sorry your facing more delays , it’s so upsetting
hope you can take some time out and just try to relax / do something for you

fingers crossed they come up with a fresh plan for you

xx

@Rebekah77 Thank you for your kind words. For now will take the tablets and see what happens in 3 weeks.

Fingers crossed for you ! After a year of delays I fully understand how horrible it is xx

I'm so sorry @grhrn1984 you must be devastated. One of my cycles got cancelled due to a cyst in the past and so I know how heartbreaking it is. Did your clinic test your blood to see if it was producing hormones? It's so strange as when I had my cyst I was prescribed provera to get rid of it and it did after takin provera for 3 weeks. Did they tell you what type of cyst they are?

I know right now it sounds like the worst thing in the world but it is so much better to have to cancel now rather than having a whole cycle and having a poor result because the cyst interfered. They can suck up the stims so the cyst gets really big and the follicles don't get enough stims. I think they can also absorb all the trigger shot so when it comes to egg collection not all the eggs have matured. I know it's really hard but try and see it as a positive thing that your clinic is super on the ball and will help you to have the best IVF round possible. At my first clinic they didn't do baseline scans and turns out I had a cyst on that cycle as it started growing rapidly during stims. Come egg collection day I got 13 eggs and only 3 were mature. That's a shockingly bad maturity rate and I do think it's likely it was because I had a cyst on that round.

Having said that, I know how gutting it is ☹️☹️ I sobbed when my round was cancelled. Sending hugs Xx

@lemons44 No the clinic didn't do any blood test for the cyst and I don't think she mentioned what kind of cyst it was. I am going to take norethisterone now 10mg for 3 weeks so maybe she is trying something different to see if it helps. I completely agree after days of crying you are right it's better to be cancelled than go ahead for the sake of it. I think my only concern is time is ticking and I only have till June. After speaking to my husband we have agreed if the IVF happens it happens if we lose the funding it wasn't meant to be I can't beat myself over it. Thank you for explaining why they don't do the IVF while there is a cyst it makes sense now. I don't think the consultant had the time to explain everything fully as there were so many people waiting to be seen but she was lovely. Hopefully, everything is going well on your end have you started stimulation?

Hi @grhrn1984 just wondered how you are getting on?
Was thinking of you and hoping the cyst goes.
I had my frozen embryo transfer yesterday so now just need to wait and hope x

@lemons44 and @Rebekah77 thought I update since it's been a while. My cyst did go after taking provera for 3 weeks so I was ecstatic that I could finally start the injections which I had for around 10-12 days. The injections were fine and they collected 16 eggs. The egg collection was fine as well but I had to have buscopan when I woke up for the cramps and codeine which disappeared very quickly and I took the rest of the day off. I found out that the next day only 5 had fertilised and by day 5 only 1 egg had reached the blastocyst stage. They did the egg transfer and everything went well they even mentioned the egg was a good quality egg although there was nothing to freeze. I did have diarrhoea a day after the egg transfer which is just recently settling could be due to the diclofenac suppository not sure but that was my only side effect. I also took progesterone pessaries, progesterone injections, estrogen tablets and blood thinning injections which were so painful. I had no other symptoms during the 2 weeks and I was convinced that it hadn't worked but found hope with some saying they never had any symptoms with their pregnancies. I didn't wait till day 14 after the transfer but did the pregnancy test 13 days later which was sadly negative. The pain and heartbreak are unimaginable and I have a tremendous amount of respect for women who go through IVF. It made me feel worthless but it was my 40th 2 weeks ago so thankfully we had booked a trip to New York. I am not sure why it didn't work I even took 2 weeks' leave after my egg transfer but I guess I will never know. I have been informed that I will get an appointment to see one of the gynaecologists at UCLH but not sure when that will be. I am going to try IVF again but not here in the UK as it's too expensive. I'm hoping to hear some good stories from you ladies.

@grhrn1984 sorry to hear it was a negative but positive you got one round done . Definitely U.K. is so pricey !! Hope you can have some time away and reset

I’m no closer after a zillion rounds of provera and thousands spend . It is such a crap process

hope you find a fab new clinic xx

Hi @grhrn1984 so sorry to read that your embryo didn't take. I've been in a group with a few other ladies doing IVF abroad and it does seem much cheaper with some really good clinics.

Sadly I don't have any good news to report. I had my frozen transfer and it was also a negative test on testing day ☹️ it's so hard isn't it.

We decided to dive straight in with another FET. So I went back onto the provera, had a baseline scan and they found a cyst! They took a blood test and fortunately it is not producing hormones. So they gave me the green light to go ahead. I am just on medication to prepare to transfer my frozen embryo. Transfer is scheduled for 8th July.

I had two embryos so if this one doesn't work we will do another egg collection.

@lemons44 @Rebekah77 I am so sorry to hear that
@lemons44 Sending you all the baby luck and hope this time you will get some good news please do keep us updated

Nearly there now .. day 2 of no food 1 more day to go

just hoping they have space before my bloods expire yet again ! Thank you lovely

Thank you @grhrn1984 I am wishing you all the best for your next steps too. Do you know when you will aim to start a cycle abroad?

@Rebekah77 how are you doing? Are you on the provera again? I know you found it hard- I really hope things get easier for you and you're able to go ahead as you've been waiting so so long.
Please be careful cutting out all food! Is this because your clinic is watching your weight? Your body needs nutrients to get good quality lining and eggs and I wonder if fasting your body may be why your periods were out of synch. xx

not yet waiting to see if any slots for august surgery @lemons44

they’ve been suppressing cycle since October , I’m normally like clockwork it’s all so annoying and costing me £1200 every delay with bloods expiring !

it’s so hard .. if I was younger I would take a year out but I haven’t got time ! They’ll cancel if I go over by surgery day and the meds pack weight on

it’s the time you want to be nourishing your body but I can’t even be 1lb over ! So much pressure