IVF/ICSI October

[Rorograce]

I’ve looked for an October thread but can’t see one - please direct me if there is though!

Day one of my cycle last Friday (it’s now Tuesday so I’m day 5) - I’m very new to the process, this will be our first time and due to low sperm count after trying for 2 years and not even one pregnancy to show for it.
I haven’t heard back from my clinic yet after letting them know Friday I assumed because of the back log from the weekend! But I’ll chase tomorrow. I think I’m to start tablets from day 19 which will take us into October
anyone else on a similar timeline/journey? I’d love to connect and hear others journeys :)

Hey! Thanks for setting up the thread ☺️

My start date for my first round will also hopefully be in October (depending on when my period shows up!). We have unexplained infertility after trying for 3 years.

What protocol will you be on?

After ttc for so many years I’ve given up expecting it to happen naturally. I’m feeling really nervous about the tww and having the hope that it could have possibly worked. I feel like 3 years of suppressed emotions might erupt! And especially as I think I'll/ we’ll find out if it’s worked around Xmas 🫣 how are you feeling? did you hear back from your clinic?🤞

Xx

Hey! Great to hear from you. Sounds like we’ll be similar stages then. Unexplained fertility is the worst. Have all of your tests come back fine? All mine have been coming back fine (almost great to be honest!) so it’s my partners sperm results that meant we’ve been told ICSI is the best option for us. His first tests came back ‘fine’ though (was with a different clinic) so it was picked up later than it should have been.

yes I think ours will be around Christmas too! Agreed the constant negatives in the 2ww have been awful.

im not sure what protocol I’ll be on, we have a appointment on Friday. Do you know what you’ll be on? They’ve said I’m at high risk of developing OHSS as I have lots of eggs apparently but haven’t mentioned short protocol. It’s likely we’ll have to do a frozen ET at a later date due to this so feel like short would be better? I’ll ask on Friday.

what about you? Is this your first time? Xx

It sounds like you might be on (from what I’ve read on here!) the short protocol- I think it’s meant to be a bit gentler. Also, I think frozen transfers have the same or a slightly better success rate, partly because it gives your body a chance to recover.

My Amh is 10, it’s on the low side but according to the consultant not the reason we haven’t conceived naturally. Both of our tests have come back completely normal which is both reassuring and totally frustrating 😂

This will be our first round. We are very lucky and live in Scotland so are entitled to 3 rounds on the NHS. But the waiting has been endless.

Thats great you’ve got an appointment date! is it with the consultant or the nurse?

I had a video appointment with the consultant and recorded the screen (after hearing about it on BFN podcast). Would 100% recommend it. The doctor talked so fast it’s been really handy to go back and listen again to the time lines and drugs names etc.

My period is due on the 29.09. Really hope it’s a couple of days late so I can start the treatment towards the middle of October rather than pushing the date back into November 🤞

Have you told your work about the treatment? Xx

Oh wow 3 rounds is great! Fingers crossed you won’t need it xx that’s a really good idea to record it, it’s all really overwhelming isn’t it. I’m quite nervous for the appointment tomorrow, we’ve had the consultant appointment and this one is to plan out all the medication and what not.

how are you feeling about the process? I’m quite apprehensive about how I’m going to feel and what impact it’s going to have on me.

I haven’t told work and I don’t think I’m going to specifically say, but rather say I have some medical appointments I’ll have to go to, I’m really not sure - what about you? xx

Hi, hope it's okay to join. I'm expecting my period early October (although I've been known to skip a cycle sometimes, PCOS) and then I'll have a day 21 appointment for some tests and to get given the meds so that with the period after that I'll start taking them. So technically it'll be a November ICSI I guess and hopefully getting a positive before Christmas.

We've been trying for 3+ years and I'm feeling quite bitter about it as the NHS has completely ignored the fact that DHs Sperm is below normal in several categories as well as not realising my Vitamin D levels and thyroid levels were less than ideal, but then even if they had admitted that, we'd have had to wait until 3 years before being allowed to be added to the wait list for 1 funded cycle (IVF in the UKs case as they said the sperm was good enough).
We've since moved to my home country where there is no arbitrary wait to be allowed to have the treatment necessary but there was a whole host of other tests they wanted to do first and it did end up taking about half a year to get to this stage, so it adds up to the same thing in the end, only we now know fun little things such as we have healthy chromosomes and that on thyroid medication I can actually sleep properly and feel awake long before 9 a.m.

@Rorograce good luck today! Let us know how your appointment goes ☺️ The consent videos we had to watch haven’t helped, seems like there will be lots of bloating, headaches and mood swings. I’m quite an active person and am a bit worried about not being able to run on my mental health. But aiming to take it one day at a time.

I’m not sure what to do about work. I work in a very male dominated industry and a colleague recently left, so I’m hoping to get a promotion in the next few weeks. However, I spend half my time on building sites up ladders etc and I’m worried about ANYTHING going wrong in the tww. My line manager is great and such a sweetheart, however, I’m worried about unconscious bias. I keep swinging between feeling like I should say something and keeping quiet!

hi @Omgdnswv! Sorry to hear about your experience with the NHS. You’d have thought a blood test to check the basics would have been one of the first things the GP would do. A friend who’s freezing her eggs had low iron which delayed the collection. After hearing that I went to my GP for an MOT blood test, turns out I was low in vitamin D too (that’s living in Scotland 🤣). That’s great they managed to get your thyroid under control, when the IVF works you’ll need to be able to function before 9am 🤞Half a year to do lots of extra tests that could potentially give you a better outcome sounds like a good compromise, but the waiting is awful isn’t it. My two younger sisters have both got pregnant (very very quickly) in the time that we’ve been trying. I love being an auntie but it’s hard feeling like your own life is in limbo.

Hey welcome!!

That's really frustrating. It's sounds like you're finally getting there though! Fingers crossed your cycle starts soon. Interesting that yours is day 21, mines day 19! Keep us posted :)

Thanks! It went well. All starting to feel very real though. I start my tablets in a week and then the injections on the 18th October!!

And yes I'm 'short' protocol. Still high risk of OHSS so we'll be monitoring and I'm on the lowest dose. I feel sad we might not be able to do a fresh transfer but at least I'm prepared for that and it won't be a shock if it does happen.

I agree with work! I let my line manager know I've got some medical appointments coming up and I'm preparing them that I might be stepping out / having a couple of days off. We have quite a good work policy, it's more just not wanting my team to know because similarly it's very male and I don't want to be passed up for promotions etc! Do you think you're going to tell them something at least?? Xx

@Rorograce eekkk! The 18th will come around so quickly. It’s amazing after years of waiting when things start to happen. It’s good they will keep a close eye on you. Whilst it’s scary to be at risk it’s great you’ve got lots of eggs?

My period still hasn’t arrived. I’m going for a really long run today to try and hold it off for another day or two. If it can hold out until the 1st I should start my drugs on the 21st (if all goes to plan). Although I’ve decided if my period comes today or Monday I’ll let the clinic know just in case. Nothing to lose right?!

I had a meeting with my line manager Friday. They have decided to try and create an extra post so my colleague and I don’t have to fight it out for the promotion 🥳 I’m so pleased as I was dreading the office ‘banter’. I think once the job post has been confirmed I might say something. I’ve got 14 days holiday left to use before the end of the year, so in the meantime I think I’ll just use my annual leave. I work for a council so hr always takes forever. Did your line manager pry? I work with lovely but not particularly pc men in their 50/60’s and they are forever joking that I’ll have a baby soon. It’s not mean but it is awkward 😅

Will you be doing anything to take your mind off it all the next few weeks? Xx

My period started yesterday… just called the clinic and it’s within the October timeframe so I start the injections on the 21st of this month 🥲 can’t believe it’s all finally starting after so many years of waiting.

@Hep1989 yay that's so exciting! I'm only a few days ahead of you then it seems, we can go through it together :) do you have to take any tablets before your injections??

My period started yesterday… just called the clinic and it’s within the October timeframe so I start the injections on the 21st of this month 🥲 can’t believe it’s all finally starting after so many years of waiting

@Rorograce nope, no tablets or anything. As it’s my first round I think I get the run of the mill treatment. Decepeptyl injection on day 21, FSH or hMG daily injections for 12/14 days, an hCG injection before egg recovery then crinone gel for the transfer. The clinic gave me a timeline diagram with the drugs, which is impossible to decipher so put it into ChatGPT and asked it to give me a timeline with dates 🤣

Trying not to get ahead of myself. I’m also trying to work out who to tell. Do not need lots of calls the morning of testing… will you have the collection a bit sooner than me?

Hello lovely people, sorry to jump on here! I'm being referred for ICSI, so it's all very new to me. I'm just wondering how long it toon you all from the IVF referral (not the fertility referral)? We've been under fertility since Jan, and now we've been referred for IVF...but I have no idea how long this will take. Thanks! X

@Hep1989 I find it so interesting how everyone seems to be different, you'd think it'd be the same process? I have to take tablets for 10 days to give me an artificial period then I have a scan and then start injections on the 18th, all being well retrieval will be around 28-31st.

I guess it depends on what our own test results have shown and what's needed?

Agreed on the timeline it's all really confusing. Just trying to take it step by step. I have to take 2 injections from day 5 of starting as well.

I've told my line manager and just said I'll have a few appointments and then a couple of days off - and have given a heads up for around when that will be.

How are you feeling? I'm starting to feel excited alongside nerves!

@Eirlys75 hey lovely. Congrats on starting the process! To be honest mine has taken quite a while but I had issues with test results not being sent over. But the actual IVF referral to now, maybe 3 months? It also depends on timing of cycles as I just missed out on the month before, it also depends on your clinic and their availability! Mine had no waiting list xx

Thanks so much for your reply. I bet you're so excited! I contacted the fertility clinic in South wales that I'd likely be referred to (I think there's only one around me), and they said it would be around a 16 week wait from the referral to forst consultation. So, a bit longer, but at least I have a time frame to go from 😊. All the best this month, I'll keep my fingers crossed for you!! X

Hi @Eirlys75 ☺️ I’m NHS. My local health board don’t do ivf. I had all of the investigations (ultrasound, hyscosy, sperm tests) with my local hospital. I was then referred for IVF in March with a different health board. Whilst it’s been a long wait it’s not been as long as the timeframes quoted during my appointments. So far my experience has been good- they are super quick at responding to emails and calling back if I’ve left a message. Good luck!

@Rorograce was work ok with you taking time off? It makes it feel real when you start to tell people (although not to many people as I don’t need messages on the day of testing). I’m excited but also trying to not get my hopes up too much that it will work first time. Chances are it won’t!! And even if it does, I think the first 3 months will be super nerve wracking. How are you doing? How is your partner? Mine is excited but he keeps forgetting- like suggesting we book a holiday at the end of November 😂 it’s sweet, but he’s got no concept of what’s happening when.

I had an appointment today at a customer’s house. When I turned up they were in their pj’s and described themselves as being full of flu. I told them I couldn’t carry out the inspection and left. I do not need a bout of flu to push back the start date. But it’s made me think maybe I do need to tell my manager… have asked him for a meeting tomorrow 🤞

@Hep1989 yeah they've been fine! We can actually get time off officially for fertility treatment appointments which is great, but still have the problem of not wanting immediate team to know / how it'll impact my progression so I'm not saying why. I agree I'm getting excited now but so nervous it won't work. Have they told you what your chances are? I think we have a 50% chance it'll work which just seems crazy (although I know higher than some peoples!)

Fair play on not going in!! Everyone is ill at the moment, maybe stock up on the vitamin C 😷 how did your meeting with your manager go?

@Rorograce 50% odds seem pretty good!!

I’ve just turned 35 and was told our success rate per cycle is 40%. I’ve learnt quite a lot about statistics 😅 I thought you could just add the 40%’s together… but that was totally wrong and chat gpt put me right. I’m struggling with the difference between per cycle or per transfer. I’ve tried googling it and seem to get the same number. I’m telling myself it won’t work but at the same time I can’t help but think ‘this time next year…’ It’s such a mental tightrope!

My line manager was AMAZING. Told me not to do anything I was uncomfortable with and he would pick up any site visits I can’t do. He said his only concern was making sure work wasn’t stressful and to make it so I want to come back after maternity leave because they don’t want to lose me. Told me not to worry about progression as the senior leadership team are creating an extra senior post for me. I was shocked. I now need to pass an exam in March to accept the promotion. It’s funny, nothing happens for years and years then everything happens at once!! I’m hoping that work will keep me busy and give me something else to think about.

Have you started the tablets yet? How are they making you feel? Any nice weekend plans? Xx

@Hep1989 Ah that's so good about work :) it makes such a difference when you have supportive leadership doesn't it. Exciting about the promotion too!

Yeah i've no idea how the statistics work - it feels crazy to me that everything could be optimal and it still doesn't have a higher chance of working!

I start the tablets tomorrow until the 14th, then i have my first scan on the 18th and start injections that evening all being well! it's a weird balance between taking forever to come around and then also coming all at once! Your injections start on the 21st right? So i'll only be a couple of days ahead of you if the scan is positive, i'm worried it might get pushed back if my period doesn't start the right time after stopping the tablets on the 14th, but we'll see!

Start norethisterone tablets tomorrow finally! 🫣 for 10 days and then I should have a bleed akin to a period. I don't really understand why I have to have it to be honest, I have a regular period and I'm taking the tablets and stopping the tablets at the same time I'd start period 🤔

@Rorograce maybe the stress of treatment could throw your period off? 🤷‍♀️ fingers crossed you breeze through it with no side effects.

Ive become a really germaphobe this week, which is very out of character! I dug out my Covid masks and have been really temped to wear them at the supermarket. I wfh 4 days a week and live very rurally…so I can’t complain but, I’ve started giving folk a wide berth if they so much as cough 🤣 I just want to give us the best chance.

It’s so hard to remain level headed isn’t it. I keep thinking, maybe this time next year I’ll have a 2 month old baby 🤯 I’m struggling to manage my friends expectations. She’s due in February and keeps treating IVF like it will 100% work first time. I’ve explained that it’s not helpful (and I know it’s coming from a really good place), but it’s draining. I’ve decided not to tell her when I’m testing to see if it works. Have you told your friends?

@Hep1989 yeah that must be it! I have to say 4 days and I'm PMS-ing a lot already haha. Feel quite terrible and not looking forward to progesterone pessaries if this is how the tablets are making me feel!

Have you managed to stay germ free?! What injections do you start on the 21st? Mines Ovaleap

Also agree on the managing expectations. I keep getting so ahead of myself, but ive only told my best friend who has a 2 month old. Who have you told??

@Rorograce pms is the worst 🤣 is your partner being supportive/ not being annoying? Any physical symptoms?? I listened to a podcast about putting the pessaries up their bums (apparently less mess!?)😅 I feel it’s a whole new world of experiences we are entering in to 😂

My injection is Decapeptyl, but I’m trying not to google it. I don’t want to know what the side effects are.

A colleague at work has a daughter with chicken pox, so my line manager said I don’t have to go to the office for the next fortnight. I’m so glad I told him. So far all the supplements/ smoothies/ healthy eating is doing the job. But we will see how it goes!

Thats hard having a friend who’s just had a baby. Does she get it? I’m quite good now at staying in my lane and being pleased for other people, but there was a year when I found other peoples pregnancy’s really difficult.

Lots of friends know we are on the waiting list. I’ve got 4 friends who know the start date, but being very vague about what the timeline is. It’s a balance isn’t it, wanting to tell people to get the support without feeling pressure on the day of testing…

what does your week look like? This time next week you will be one step closer!

@Rorograce hows your week been? How are you feeling on the medication? The 18th is coming round fast!