Due to start Stims any day now…! Anyone else?

[ivfjourneyandme]

Hi all,

I know there is a November thread but most ladies seem further ahead. I’m waiting for AF to show (4 days if she behaves) and then start stims

This is my first cycle so would love to go through this with as many as possible.

36yr old, AMH 1.9, AFC 3 and severe MFI. We’re having IVF with ICSI, DP is providing a sample next week as well to be frozen as a precaution incase he doesn’t produce many on the day.

Much love to all the incredibly brave ladies on this journey ❤️

@Omgdnswv best of luck to you too!

@OrientalPinkLily
Hi, I've been meaning to update for a while, sorry. I got my period on Monday and started the new pills. The last few days I've just been feeling a bit blue, not sure if it's just a coincidence or if it's the new hormones. The first ICSI I was so happy and excited, now it feels a bit hopeless. Actually I'm pretty certain it has to be hormones because I was still so excited and hopeful all the way up to a couple of days ago.
Had a similar thing while I was on Letrozole in the past, where the first day of each period I was worrying that my husband would either stop loving me or that he would die and I'd be lonely forever. I never normally have periods affect my mood so that was an "interesting" experience.
Can't wait until I'm done with all the pills and potions. How are you holding up?

Hey @Omgdnswv! I am.on estrogen pills for 12 days now and it's hard, i am so emotional and my mood is so low, it's not fun... it's definitely the pills.
Other than that, I'm doing OK, I had my scan today, to see if my lining is thick enough and if my ovaries are quiet and it was all good, I'm ready for a transfer.
I start progesterone on Thursday and I have my blood test (for progesterone) on Monday. If all good, my embryo transfer is booked for Tuesday!
Aaaaaa fingers crossed it works this time.
Do you have your dates? How are you getting on? Sorry, it took me a few days to come back to you.

@OrientalPinkLily
I don't have any dates yet as I'm a few days behind you, my scan is Friday morning.
It's crazy how much hormones actually do affect you, isn't it? I haven't actually been thinking about it too much the last few days but that's only as DH and I have been (and partially still are) quite ill at the moment. I'm certain I'll be fine by the time my appointment comes around but I hope it hasn't had any effect on our chances this month.

@Omgdnswv good luck with your scan on Friday! Let me know how it goes!
I hope you feel 100% soon and that there was no impact to your treatment.

@OrientalPinkLily scan this morning was good, 9mm lining. The doctor said 1 more day of pills just to make sure and then it's progesterone and less of the pills. 3 or 5 day transfer will depend on numbers and development but should be good for a 5 day blastocyst, so looks like a valentine's day transfer.

@Omgdnswv very good news!!! You'll be 3 days after me, fingers crossed our transfers are successful this time!
I started progesterone yesterday, I don't like the pessaries 😩

@OrientalPinkLily how are you getting on? Are you going to test early?
Had the transfer today, 1 day 5 blastocyst out of the 3 eggs they thawed (6 left in the freezer). They said its good, about the same as the last one.
It had a weird lumpy looking bit inside on the photo and I asked what that was and was told that would be the bit that should develop into the baby while the rest turns into the placenta. The last one had the lump too, but on a different layer, so it wasn't as visible on the photo (looked like a blurry shadow to me, so I didn't realise it was something that's actually there).
They said on the 26th I can go in for the blood test, if I go before 10am I'll get the results same day. I already know that I'll be testing early at home though, as I would just get more and more anxious the longer I have to wait.

@Omgdnswv hello, I'm good thank you. I had my transfer on Tuesday. Everything went very well. This embryo wasn't as good as the first one but still a good embryo. My testing day is Monday 24th. I don't think I will test earlier again, I will wait until the 24th.
I'm not positive and I think it's because of the failed first round. I hope you're not like me!
All the best to both of us

@Omgdnswv hey how are you doing? Have you tested at all??
I haven't, Monday is my testing day and I'm dreading it.... 😫

@OrientalPinkLily
My blood test is on Wednesday, but I'm fairly certain I'm out. Tests are all negative so far but mainly it's because I just don't feel anything. Last time the tests showed by now and I had little aches and twinges in my uterus the whole time from just a few days after the transfer.
I think it was two days ago that I realised the lack of symptoms and it's hit me really hard. Having to wait again. Less cells to try with and less to have left over for a sibling in the future. Another birthday and Christmas without a baby. It all feels so unfair. And to really rub it in there were two birth announcements on Facebook this week.

How are you feeling? Are you leaning toward optimism or pessimism?

@Omgdnswv sorry to hear that 😔
Very pessimistic here for the exact same reason, I feel nothing, exactly the same as last time and I knew very well I wasn't pregnant last time.
I woke up this morning and bynthe time I opened my eyes I realised I'm 11 days past transfer and I have no symptoms, I was so sad.
I have not tested yet, will do first thing Monday morning.
I have already started thinking what my next steps will be. I only have 2 frozen embryos left. Most likely I will choose to transfer both next month but this will be my last chance. If I wanted to try again, I have to start all over.
Very stressed, very low, very disappointed 😞

@OrientalPinkLily I'm having similar thoughts, 6 eggs left which seems to mean 2 more transfers (as last time 3 eggs turned into 1 blastocyst).
Part of me wants to go all in just to be done with them and be quicker at getting a new batch. I'm wondering if the sperm wasn't too good (I know they chose good sperm for ICSI but obviously they can only go by looks).
DH has been on hormone injections as he had very low testosterone and some of the low values on his spermiogram have multiplied eight fold!!! When we did the egg collection he was one and a half month into the treatment and the new sperm test was after 3, so a new batch might have a better chance.
I know that logically I can't draw any conclusions on the quality of the eggs we have left, not with just 2 attempts (especially with one implanting for a few days) but at the moment it does feel a bit hopeless, especially as I hoped to have some left at the end for a sibling.

I don't know if I'll actually go through with transferring 2. It's my decision but they very strongly advise against it until you're at least 37. I'll talk to my doctor about it when the paperwork for the next transfer is due. Part of me thinks if it was twins then at least our family planning would be done in one go without having to lose more years, plus you wouldn't have to get a toddler used to a new sibling because they'd have always been together instead. But a twin pregnancy sounds really scary, breastfeeding difficulties, very high likelihood of C section, and twice the bloody hard work of having your first baby.

I can't remember if you said how old you are. I'm 30 so I think my doctor will probably talk me down from the idea, because it is risky. Although whenever I see someone with twins I just think how lucky they are.

@Omgdnswv I am quite a lot older than you, I'm still 38, will be 39 in June! Not a lot time left for me to try for a baby.
I th8nk by the time an embryo develops to a blastocyst, the sperm was fine. The think is: is it euploid? What other factors affect implantation.

Anyhow, hard times. To be honest I'm sick and tired of the medication too. 😔

@OrientalPinkLily
Well, I thought if it isn't euploid (which we don't know if they are or not) that means at least one set of genetic material has some sort of problem with it. Isn't that the reason for most of the very early losses? The ones that happen before you even miss your period so most people don't know about them. That could be because of a problem with sperm (or egg) I thought.

If you're 38, what did your doctor say about the number of blastocysts to transfer? I guess the first few times they might still prefer to only do one at a time just to see if that's enough to get your pregnant before risking a twin pregnancy.

@Omgdnswv ah you're talking about euploid or aneuploid. Yes, sperm or egg or both can have an impact on the number of chromosomes the embryos have.

The consultant did approve of me transferring 2 embryos after my first failed transfer. I chose not to go with it on the second transfer as I was afraid of a multiple pregnancy. But now I think I will just transfer both my 2 remaining embryos.

I'm out, i tested negative this morning.

@OrientalPinkLily I'm out too.
I guess the question is whether you're prepared for the risk of twins, health, finances, family dynamics etc. Compared to the "risk" of needing twice the number of transfers (again, health, finances, time).
I guess it's an easier decision to make with the two lowest quality embryos as opposed to the two highest quality embryos.
You have a whole month to think about it anyways.

Sorry to hear, i wonder what has gone wrong. To be honest, I thought it was going to be easier when I started the process of ivf.
I have decided already, we will transfer both in April, based on what's happened so far, I believe it's unlikely I will have multiple pregnancy. I'll be very lucky if one of them implants.

@OrientalPinkLily yes, this 2nd failed attempt really hit me hard. I guess I was somehow convinced that I wouldn't need more than 2 tries to get pregnant.
Chances at my age are about 40%, and I know statistics don't work that way, but part of me feels like that should mean it's almost guaranteed to work with 2 tries.

Still waiting for my period to start, last time it came after just about 24hrs without the progesterone, but nothing yet this time. To be fair, last time there was a whole mix of drugs to sort out everything throughout the cycle, I wonder if the lack of ovulation this time might be the reason for the late period.

@Omgdnswv when did you stop taking your meds?
Previous time, my period started the same evening I stopped taking progesterone. This time, I stopped on Monday ans period came on Thursday, took a couple days longer.

Second failed transfer did hit me hard too.
Do you take any supplements at all?
I only take vitD and folic acid.

@Omgdnswv took the last progesterone on the morning of the 26th of Feb, as that was when my bloodtest was.
Vitamin D and Folic Acid, yes. I have since come across a fruit-mix juice specifically for Women, enriched with Vitamins and Minerals, so I'll be having 200ml of that every day from now on. I'm also planning to get omega 3 supplements as I don't eat a lot of fish (been trying to eat more, but after a week or two I just slip back into the usual dinner habits). I also recruited my husband to help me cut down on sugar, as he has a "treat yourself" mindset, so from now on he's not allowed to buy sweets that I like.

Are you trying anything new for the next transfer?

@Omgdnswv I've not started taking anything else yet but I was thinking of CoQ10. And I also thought about acupuncture. However, acupuncture benefit is blood flow and thicker lining but my lining has been quite thick both times, I'm at 11mm, so I am not sure I need it.
Pffff I really don't know, I just feel confused.

@OrientalPinkLily I know. I used to do so many vitamin/supplement type things. I gave them up up when the NHS said there's nothing they can do and to call once we qualify for IVF. Now I can't seem to remember what most of them were or did. Although, I think most were to balance hormones or improve egg quality, which won't matter for FETs.
I might delve back into research on that front. I think acupuncture also helps with relaxation, so if you are stressed or have a lot going on it might still have a positive effect.

Anyway, I got cramps a couple of hours ago, so I guess tomorrow will be day 1 again.

@Omgdnswv oh that's nice and quick 😊 I had my.nurse planning appointment yesterday, my meds are ordered for next week but I'm expecting mybperiod around the 27th of the month. From my calculations embryo transfer will be around the 15th of April.
Let's see if we'll be lucky 3rd time... if not, I've got nothing left, I will have to start over. But this time I will freeze whatever I get and send them for PGT-A testing. But let's see how things go with this last transfer.

@OrientalPinkLily yes, fingers crossed for 3rd time lucky.
If it doesn't work I think I'll ask the doctor what she thinks could be done differently or if the genetic testing is worth it.
I'm getting more and more convinced by the idea of transferring two, so that should use up all I have in the freezer too. If it doesn't work I might have more luck with a fresh lot of cells.
I started taking the fish oil/omega 3 pills and they made me healthier in unexpected ways: they're so big and annoying to swallow, that it's making me eat more fish so that I can skip taking the pill for the day that I had fish 😂