IVF October 2024

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Hi 👋
I'm due to commence IVF next month (injections to start 2nd October).
Thought I'd start a group for anyone going through the same thing at the same time to support each other ☺️
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Hey @Feliciacat glad it went well. Fibgers crossed for good news! Let us know.
I'm not stressed now. I am talking about during the 2ww. That's when you need to stay cool calm and collected and stress does have an affect on your body in general and that's the time I get most stressed. The anticipation and waiting is the hardest part.

You will go through that part next after the transplant and understand. Also my advise for that is do not test early even though you want to so bad. You can get a false negative or if hcg still in the body a false positive and that's a rollercoaster from what I've seen here.

I'm just talking from experience. Your first go is far from over yet hun and my fingers toes and everything else crossed for a great outcome.

@ClaireBear101 that is so kind-thank you! I’m sorry if I didn’t read your post properly regarding stress. I bet the 2WW is indeed stressful!

@Feliciacat its the longest 2 weeks of your life honestly. This journey is all ups and downs.
First time can work but it's more of a trial to see what works for you.
Mine was positive but just need more time for follicles and eggs before retrieval. So this time I'm very calm so far. Also having been through it already helps.
I do hope you're one that gets great news on first go.
Stay positive. Only way to be.

Unfortunately I think i am out and it hasn’t worked. Had some spotting yesterday & then this morning and then did a FRER this morning 6dp5dt using FMU and it’s negative. I know it’s early and I wasn’t planning on testing but I felt in my gut it hadn't work and appears to be the case.
it appears you should probably see a faint line on sensitive test by this point.

@Purpleflowers17 don't give up all hope. Spotting is normal and can happen during the 2ww.
It is still early so please wait and test again day 14.
If you get a full blown period before then, then you know.
This is a tough time. Just wait a bit more.

@Purpleflowers17 I don't want to give false hope, you know your body, and I would like to think I could feel when AF is brewing. But, when looking for guidance on when to test myself, I read an old thread where a lot of women didn't get positives till 10 days post transfer.

@Purpleflowers17 I know exactly that feeling. When is your OTD, you've probably told me already. I'm 10dp5dt today, roll on Wednesday. I had minor spotting from 6dp & still tiniest amount, just brown. No other side effects this time, no stomach cramps, sore boobs or bloating. I was super ill last week, wondering if all my focus was on that.

I normally test 10dp, but I have a board meeting today and tomorrow and whatever the outcomes is, I think my mind would have been wandering, so I'm holding out.

@wateringcanface I just want to say a huge congratulations on being PUPO! You are now in with a chance, and with two embryos on board you have higher odds than 1.

I'm so sorry that there wasn't anything to freeze and that you weren't given hope by being told it was a "great" looking embryo. I've read so much over the two years I've been on this journey and if there's one thing I know it's that it doesn't matter what it looks like. If it's genetically normal then you have a great shot!

They do say the first round is like a "trial" which infuriates me so much, even more so when you're paying out of your own pocket. I don't expect anything I pay hard earned money for to be considered someone else trial! All that being said, if you do need to consider another round ( hoping it's not needed for you 🤞) you have a great starting block now. My first round was average, second round worse, But my third has been my most successful round. They do learn more with every egg collection & transfer & test they do. Only saying this to give you hope as I find having some hope going through all this helps.

@ClaireBear101 my consultant has stressed that stress has nothing to do with it. So don't be hard on yourself. She said it's either going to work or it isn't.

@Feliciacat huge congrats on those conversions! That's a really great start. They say to expect a 50% drop of on average to day 5, I'm not too sure what the rate is to day 3 and my clinic don't do a day 3 update. I'm hopeful for you that your number is higher! On my last round I had 12 eggs, 12 mature and 11 fertilised. I ended up with 5 day 5 embryos and 2 that caught up the next day. I'm currently 8dp5dt with one fresh and we have sent the other 6 for testing as I keep having chemicals and we think it might be chromosome issues. I'm praying for a upload or two as I tested today and BFN so think this transfer hasn't worked 🥺

thankyou @ClaireBear101 and @Feliciacat

I'm pleased to have made it this far; I just feel a bit de-thatched from the 2ww, the staff were lovely, but it was just such as flat and pessimistic atmosphere, we both walked out, and my DH said "yeah...I don't think they are expecting this to work".

My concern is there is not much that can be done to better our odds next time, I produced lots of eggs, all but one was mature, I was limited in that they could only retrieve from one ovary, but next time I will push for them to go in surgically to the other ovary (there is a fibroid blocking visibility). The low-quality embryos are unfortunately down to my husband as it was surgically retrieved sperm, and there is not much we can do about that.

My only recommendation for a remedy to stay calm is to keep busy. I did not stop yesterday after transfer, was on my feet all day, shopping, cleaning, dog walking etc. But I felt better for it.

Sounds odd but I think I would be less calm if they put in embryos' they were confident about, as you would feel you are in with a real fighting chance, like I imagine if you were in a marathon, you feel more tense if you are in the running to be the top 1 - 3, than if you are dawdling near the back 😂

Have you had your update yet Felcia?

@charja100

Thank you, yes, I don't appreciate it being thought of as a trial, it is a lot to go through as a 'trial', and just adds more pressure for the next ones. We are extremely fortunate that our area of the country funds 3 rounds, however, despite being generous with rounds, they seem quite strict on what they will freeze.

@wateringcanface are you going through the NHS? I’ve heard they are mega strict about what they will and won’t do. I’ve heard of couples being offered three cycles but then having this offer retracted after the first cycle due to not getting ‘good enough’ results. It sounds horrible! I’m sorry they won’t freeze your other embryos. It sounds like that’s their harsh policy though. Seems almost a bit pointless to offer NHS fertility treatment when they have so many rules about who can get it and what they’ll do for patients. Everything crossed for you.

I don’t want to give positive news if it will trigger people but then again, maybe it provides hope? All six of my fertilised eggs are at at least 6-8 cells if not more! The embryologist said it’s very unusual to get such good results (I’ve had no attrition since my retrieval of six eggs). She said they’ll call me Wednesday AM with the day 5 update.

Because I thought my egg quality must be the problem then I’ve been taking Proceive Max sachets, Proceive Omega 3 capsules and Coq10 with Ubiquinol (600mg). I’ve also made my husband take Proceive Max sachets. We’ve both abstained from caffeine since June and he doesn’t drink and I only have one beer a week. I suppose these tactics must be working! We are no spring chickens; I’m 37 and he’s 42! I think these supplements must be decent if we’ve got these results so far.

@Purpleflowers17 when is your OTD? I really hope things can turn around. As someone else said, it can take 10dpt to see a positive. I’m hoping you’ll be one of those people.

@Feliciacat yes NHS, so far, they have been good. If they dared tried to cancel further cycles due to poor results they won't hear the end of it, considering it was the NHS who put us in this situation in the first place (botched abdo surgery for my DH which severed a nerve in his pelvis).

Your positive news does not trigger me, that is great, fingers crossed for Friday that you have all 6 to work with.

I have made a note on my phone of the changes you have made. Part of me is worried now, as the reason we were doing ivf is male factor, e have just all assumed that I have no egg quality issues, because the generic tests have all come back fine. But I guess we don't know if I am fine? If this round fails, I will use the gap between now and next round to throw everything at egg quality.

@wateringcanface at 31, you are unlikely to have egg quality issues. However, those supplements are just Rolls Royce supplements and it would never hurt anyone to try them. They’re often 3 for 2 at Boots (apart from Ubiquinol and Coq10 600mg which I got off Amazon). The thing about caffeine and alcohol usually is just generally good for fertility too as it keeps blood pressure and hydration levels at an optimum.

But don’t worry if this round doesn’t work; as someone else said, the first round is often an experiment unfortunately. I hope you don’t need another round but if you do, they’ll know more and can make tweaks.

My OTD is Monday. I have had a call from the nurse she was really nice, the spotting is now red and not looking good. She has said it appears the transfer has failed but to do a test on Saturday and they will call Monday to go through next steps.

I think it’s to do with my progesterone levels I mentioned before to them I got spotting on day 22/23 of my cycle and that’s exactly what’s happened this month as well. I’m only on two pessaries a day so I’m certain it’s been a factor. Frustrating to say the least

@Purpleflowers17 that is indeed frustrating. I hope they listen to you next time. You know your body better than they do.

I had my HCG blood test today which came out positive, but at 20.3, so too low for a pregnancy to continue at this stage. completely gutted.

This was our only frozen embryo, so we're back to square one :(

I think we will probably look at going abroad next due to cost

so sorry @Ru19 xx

Hi Girls.

I've two questions

(1) I've so much bursulin left in 1 bottle can I top up from a new bottle?

(2) can you be intimate during the ivf cycle?

@Ru19 I'm so sorry. Sending you lots of strength. It's so hard and so u fair.

We're exploring abroad if this final cycle doesn't work. Have you thought about any particular countries?

@Feliciacat hubby and are are both 39. I'm 40 in feb and we've done the same, both been taking supplements and I've also been taking 600 coq10, no caffeine or booze snd and we had our best egg collection and conversions this round even though we're almost 2 years later since the first retrieval. Your attritions is very high. We had 12 eggs, 12 mature and 11 fertilise. I ended up with 5 day 5 embryos and 2 day 6 embryos. They said to prepare for 40 loss or more but we did better than that. Hopefully you ah the same results.

This journey is so hard. You have every right to be pleased with your results. You have to find the joy in the moments that it comes I'm so happy for you! 😊

So sorry to hear that.
It's just so unfair 😞

@Ru19 sorry to hear this, it’s so crucial this process honestly I wouldn’t wish it on anyone

@Scorbunny2 I just move onto second bottle I don't move from one bottle to another to be safe.

Also on the intimacy thing, here's what my clinic advise Although you’re trying to get pregnant, it is important not to have unprotected sex during your IVF cycle since you are stimulating your ovaries to produce multiple follicles. Protected sex won’t have any impact on your treatment, but keep in mind that superovulation can be uncomfortable for some women.

@Clairebear101 thank you . Clinic rang today they have pushed my scan out another day.