IVF/ICSI April 2024

[Vian67]

Hopefully find others in a similar boat 🙏

Just made my ‘Day One’ call to the clinic this week to set the ball rolling this will be my second cycle, first one failed on 12th Feb 2024.

Bit of background to how we got here, I have had 4 ectopics since Nov 2020 2 resulting in emergency surgery and losing both my tubes. No reason why our first cycle failed, we will be doing IVF/ICSI this time round.

Anyone joining me in the April emotional rollercoaster? X

Hi everyone,

I'd love to join this thread. This round of ivf has snuck up on me after a long break from our previous failed cycles.

I'm in a same sex couple. We started our ivf journey in 2020 but only had our first cycle in the summer of 2021 (following underactive thyroid diagnosis, equivocal rubella result, a polyp discovery and removal lol just generally every test revealed a new issue). Had a failed fresh, then two subsequent failed frozen transfers. Lost one blast in the thawing process.

So we switched clinic and are now doing an NHS round at Guy’s hospital.

After everything taking ages (moving our sperm was the main delay) I did some chasing last week and started my stims today. So @Mrsbutterfly24 we are in the exact same boat. I also had 225ml of gonal f tonight.

So delighted to read @Lucylaughing 's news.

@Lucylaughing that’s great news! ❤️

Still on my norethisterone so I might head over to the May thread, but will check back here too to see how you’re all getting on 😊

@Lucylaughing congrats on the possible BFP!
hoping your symptoms settle soon

Yay! Hello cycle buddy 👋 , glad we can share experiences. Well 1st shot down and wasn't too bad! My hubby did it for me and it was scary for a few seconds seeing him coming at me with a needle but was really just a pinch. I'm glad no menopur for now as least as I read online that burns. Crossing fingers for no nasty side effects. I ordered some electrolytes today as hoping to take one daily with my 2 ltr bottle of water as my afc today was 22 and I really want to steer clear of ohss if I can and get a fresh transfer as I'm on my only nhs round which includes one fresh and one frozen but if you can't have the fresh for medical reasons you forfeit it 😵‍💫.

HI again all, I’m at similar stage to you @Mrsbutterfly24 @Becky105 , first injection was tonight to get started. This is my first cycle. AFC was 18 today at baseline, no idea if that’s good or average or what! Also hoping to avoid OHSS so we can have the chance to try fresh and frozen if needed, per our funding.

what a relief to get started after all the months of planning! 🤞🏻

Nice to see other people at a similar stage.
I’m day 6 of my injections today. Finding it ok,
follicle count was 78 so I’ve been pretty nervous about that but feeling ok so far

Thanks all for the good wishes. I'm too scared to be happy or excited as I know there's a fair chance it won't work out and my husband feels the same.

I had a really good sleep last night and also dosed up on paracetamol as per recommendation of the nurses. Just have to get through one day at a time.

Sending good luck to everyone else on the thread x

Awww amazing news @Lucylaughing hope everything goes well for you tomorrow will have everything crossed for you!

@lemonyfox yeah I had almost instant uncomfortable pains with overleap. Mine haven’t got better really just feel really sore and cramps plus bloating. But at least it’s working!!! Growing as many as possible hopefully!

I had my first scan yesterday I have 8 follicles that are ready then 5 that are close which will hopefully catch up by Friday EC. There was a few more but they were smaller than 10.
are these good numbers? First time doing so I’m getting myself worked up. What was peoples numbers like with ICSI? Did many fertilise?
im getting worried that the next few days are critical and so many things can go wrong.

@Lp96 fingers crossed for your EC on Friday.
what day is that for you since starting injections?

Hey @Lp96 from my experience those are great numbers but it's not really something that you should compare with others. My first cycle I got so stressed and it really spoilt things. So my advice would be to try to change your mindset from worrying about how many things can go wrong... To focusing on this being the most promising position you've ever been in. You've got more eggs growing inside you than you've ever had before... Every one of them could potentially be your future baby. At each step, the ones that make it are putting you one step closer to a successful outcome. Be kind to yourself, your body is working hard to make all the eggies that it can

I’m going to adopt this approach @Becky105 thanks for the good mindset technique! 😊

@Kp1210 thank you! Another scan tomorrow and I’ll find out more about EC on Friday. I started injections on the 6th. Feel like I’ve been doing them for ages to be fair ahah the long protocol is definitely long🤣

@Becky105 I know you are so right it’s just hard to get into that mindset isn’t it. I’ve waited so long to be here I want to enjoy it but I’m also struggling with the lack of control haha. Thank you for your kind words!🥹

@Lp96 thats one thing I’m grateful for. I’m on a short protocol. Started my injections on the 11th.

Got my first monitoring scan tomorrow

I'm day 5 of injections today so also similar to you 👋🏻

@Lp96 reassuring to know you're feeling similar. Good luck for EC on Friday, how exciting!

I know it is really tricky to keep from stressing. I was a manic googling everything like I was training to become an Embryologist. In my two week waits I must have read about 500 different people's experiences and opinions on symptom spotting... I can summarise that the progesterone can cause all the same side effects as early pregnancy and having no symptoms is not an indication either way 🤣🤣🤣 it took so much of my energy though and it really wasn't worth it. So this time around I'm trying not to have cortisol surging around me at every minute of the day.

Well I’ve just started my period! Never been so happy to see it! So calling the clinic tomorrow to start stims. I’m on 300 meriofert for the first 6 days, then go to 150 meriofert and 150 gonal f until collection. I think collection should be roughly around the 29th by my terrible maths!

After 5 years of TTC I’m so glad to finally be here. Hoping and praying to get at least one embryo from this cycle. Anything extra I’ll be over the moon with!🤞🤞🤞

Good luck @HopefulllHolly !

I too was very happy when I got my period - I was so ready to start! It was actually 2 weeks late (which never happens) and it was so stressful waiting for it!

Hi @Lp96 looks like we are the same stage,I started on the 7th,final scan tomorrow and if all well collection on Friday too. How you feeling about it All?

How you finding the injections?

@Crushed23 oh that’s so typical you poor thing!! I was expecting it last night and it came today and that was annoying enough for me!

Thank you! Oh gosh I’m nervous and excited all at once. I really really really hope it goes ok for us. What an overwhelming experience this all is!

@HopefulllHolly good luck!!! 🍀

@Hopingtobe4 yes we sound very similar, my final scan tomorrow too.. I’m trying to be positive don’t know how much of it is real or fake haha.. but what else can we do. Have you already had a scan? Did they say how many follicles were ready etc?
Ive found the injections ok I’m just more uncomfortable and bloated at the moment. How have you found it? How do you feel about tomorrow and Friday?

Hi All,
Joining in the chat as this is my 1st round of IVF. Due to start next Saturday with Care Fertility Northampton. I am super excited but also nervous.
Does anyone have any tips on do’s and dont’s when doing injections and just general things you found help you.
Wishing you all the best of luck xx

Hi I had 10 measuring a good size,however i have one ovary higher therefire more difficuly for them to get the egg from,so waiting to see what tomorrow brings and of course Friday. Due to my ovary they have said I'll be heavily sedated for EC.

My partner does the injections and I turn my head lol.

Hope your final scan goes well.

I'm very bloated now,can't wear my jeans,which were loose 2 weeks ago!

Welcome @Gnatalie16 😊
Not started my injections yet! First one tonight! But from what I’ve read on here use an ice pack on your tummy before the injection and when you’ve injected leave the needle in there a couple of seconds before you draw it out. Apparently it reduces the pain and bruising!

Im scared for the bruising - I bruise really badly. When I last had bloods done I got bruising the whole way down my veins on my arms. It looked awful!

How long did it take others to start feeling symptoms eg bloating after starting Gonal F stims? I’ve had first two injections (150 dose) but worried I’ve not felt any different yet. Most likely over thinking!!