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 ❤️

I'm feeling quite down. No positives so far and not really any symptoms (though I'm trying to convince myself that all the symptoms from my first try must have been due to the stim meds).

Today is day 8 after the transfer, so I know it could still happen but it's all so confusing. When you Google it says you need to wait until at least 10 days after the transfer (weirdly 12 days after ovulation, so why the difference when the transfer is theoretically 5 days past ovulation) but when you look at forums it seems the vast majority of people got their BFP around day 4-6 past transfer already.
It's really tough as maybe once or twice a day I feel hopeful it can still happen and then if I think about it too much I get really sad and lose all my hope. The TWW is definitely the hardest part of ttc and icsi for me

I guess you'll have your transfer in roughly 18 days then. Best of luck.

@Omgdnswv sorry to hear that.
Personally, I found the tww ok when not thinking about testing. I focus on work and I try not to think about it much, then only t3st once on the recommended day, so the disappointment hits me only once. I don't know if it makes sense and of course, it won't work for everyone but I found that this approach really helps me.
It's still early for you, patience for a few more days, it might happen!

Yes, based on my rough estimation my transfer will be on 13th May. 🤞

@Omgdnswv when is your official testing day? Is it this Friday, 2nd of May?

@OrientalPinkLily my bloodtest is tomorrow morning. I'm still testing negative so I guess I'm out again.
I'm going to research some additional tests and ask to discuss which ones might be useful to do based on my circumstances.
I don't know what all those emma or alice of killer cells stuff is, but I think one of them is to check if my uterus has negative bacteria. I looked a little into testing the blasts, but apparently the high quality ones are very unlikely to be fragmented.

DH and I have a mini trip planned for this weekend, so hopefully that will take my mind of things

@Omgdnswv yes, after 3 or 4 failed transfers, they do those tests (in the UK, maybe you can do thebtests whenever you like in Germany?). I think one has to do with bacteria as you say and another has to do with immune system? It's good to look into that.
It's so sad, I hope your mini trip will help you relax and not overthink things...
We just came back from hols.
My monitoring scan is on the 7th May.

@OrientalPinkLily So the clinic confirmed that this transfer failed too. As that was the 3rd one, they now want to do a few more tests.
First of all I'll have to make another appointment at a genetics clinic (we did have our genes screened before starting ICSI) this time they will test for blood clotting problems. The clinic also suggests doing a biopsy of my lining to check for NK cells and plasma. For that I'll first need an appointment to speak to the Doctor herself about it.
I asked about ERA/EMMA/ALICE (although the HFEA seems less than convinced about ERA) and they said that is getting a bit ahead of myself. Having looked at what the plasma test actually does, it sounds like it's similar to EMMA/ALICE anyway, as it can diagnose chronic inflammation.

Lots to "look forward" to. Wishing you the best of luck with your transfer so you don't have to do all this as well. At least it sounds like the collection of the lining sample usually doesn't hurt. And it's effectively an endometrial scratch as well, which a friend recommended as it was highly praised when she went through it all (although it has since fallen out of favour with professionals it seems). But if it's essentially happening for free as they are rummaging around there anyway it might do some good.

@Omgdnswv ok, so what are the next steps? Are you booking appointments with your doctors/clinic for all these tests? Do you have a rough idea about when your next transfer/cycle will be?

@OrientalPinkLily it's a little confusing. The blood clotting test I have to book separately, I'll do that tomorrow as I can't with work today.
For the biopsy I first need to have a call with the doctor and they will let me know when I ring in with my period. There was talk of maybe taking my pills a little later for the next period to fit the tests in and they can tell me for sure when I call as well

@Omgdnswv ok! I hope it all happens quickly and that you'll get your answers!! And hopefully you will be very well prepared for the next transfer!
I never thought it'd be so difficult to make a baby, I always thought that it would be very easy. It's emotionally exhausting but hang in there, once it happens, all this will be in the past!

@Omgdnswv how's everything going? Started on your investigations??
I had my monitoring scan yesterday and all looks good. My transfer is booked for Thursday 15th May. However, I am so negative about the whole thing that I am not good at all with my meds this time. I forget to take my pills, I don't take them in time etc. I just don't believe it will happen and I am just doing it to use up all my embryos and see what next steps will be.
Blood t3st on Weds, transfer on Thurs, that's what I'm do8ng next week.
Hope you're OK!

@OrientalPinkLily hey, I've been meaning to send a message to update and ask how you've been getting on but I was still waiting to hear back on some things. Getting the notification gave me the needed push to call the clinic to chase up on that so now i have the full picture.

I've started my period on Monday, next week I have an appointment for the blood clotting test, which will then take 2 weeks to get the results. Near the end of the month I have a phone appointment with the doctor and a couple of days later I'll go in to have the biopsy of my uterine lining for the NK cell and the Plasma tests. It seems I will take my hormones as normal on a rest cycle though (without them my cycles can be up to 70 days long, making it impossible to schedule appointments for) so at least this cycle shouldn't take longer than any other one. Hopefully with the results coming in I can then have another transfer right after.

I'm sorry to hear you're struggling with it all. Can you set yourself reminders on your phone to take the meds? Or ask your husband if he can double check that you're taking them? Even if you don't believe it will work, it's best to give it the best shot you have.

@Omgdnswv ok, sounds like you will have answers in June and maybe a transfer in the summer. It sounds good to be fair, no time wasted.
I didn't realise your cycles were so long if not on meds. We suffer from male factor infertility, my cycles are good and I thought it would be easy for me to conceive via ivf, but no...
He does try to remind me when we're together but I don't know what's happened to me this time, I don't have the same sense of urgency. Anyhow, it is happening, my lining was good and I start progesterone on Saturday.
I'll keep you updated. I hope all goes well with all your tests and that you get answers that will help you have a good plan for the next transfer!

@Omgdnswv We have a mix of male and female factor, which is why the clinic recommended ICSI instead of IVF.
I'm quite glad the additional test were easy to sort. My fertility clinic doesn't do the blood clotting test themselves but found one of the specialists I'd seen previously for other tests does them and recommended I try there as existing patients sometimes get appointments quicker than new patients. I think there was also some luck involved cause when I phoned they offered me a single appointment the following week and if I hadn't been able to do that one it would have been next month, so I assume someone else cancelled theirs and I was lucky enough to have called at the right time.

I'm glad to hear your lining is looking good. Hopefully you'll have more luck, especially transferring two this time. It is probably just a question of odds, I found some statistics on how many people are pregnant after how many transfers (all age groups combined into one statistic) and after 3 transfers approximately 6 out of 10 women are pregnant. 4 Transfers and you're at 2 out of 3, 5 Transfers 7 out of 10. As far as I'm aware, those were from Data in Germany, but I can't imagine the UK being very different.

@Omgdnswv yes, we did ICSI too, we didn't have chance with simple IVF...
I'm glad luck was on your side and you managed to get appointments sorted quickly!
Oh those number look great tbh, they are a relief somehow. My consultant keeps saying that it is a numbers' game and he is very positive it will happen at some point. However, this doesn't negate the fact that I am going through it month in month out and that it's disappointing when it's not successful.
Let's see when it will happen for both of us! I hope it will work for both of us soon.

@Omgdnswv hey how are you doing?
I've had my transfer last Thursday 15/5. Transferred my last 2 embryos. Not great quality embryos, low chances of implantation.
I tested today, I am 4 days past transfer and it was negative. I am reading that it's still early but some people do get their positive on 4th day.
I will test again in the next days, not waiting for official day this time.

@OrientalPinkLily fingers crossed. Some get a positive as early as day 4, but it seems most positives happen around day 6/7/8 ish.
I had my blood taken for the clotting test but need to wait for the lab results, the plasma and NK cell test isn't until next week, they need a good lining for that so near end of cycle. I hope those are quick to get results so we can try another transfer next month

@Omgdnswv do the results for clotting take long to come back?
Oh I hope everything happens quickly for you and that you'll have your transfer next month - given that's what you want!
If mine doesn't work this time, I think it's will take a break, focus on myself a bit and try again when I feel ready.

@OrientalPinkLily I've been told to expect the results after about 2 weeks, and they will come by post. So I'm not sure if the results are ready after 2 weeks and then someone will type them up in a letter, label it all, and wait for the post, or if they usually arrive in the mail box after 2 weeks. But I should get them at the end of the month roughly speaking.

Never thought I'd be hoping to have a clotting disorder, but it seems an easy enough thing to overcome in terms of ttc and a slightly increased risk of thrombosis for the future doesn't sound too life changing to me all things considered.

@Omgdnswv 2 weeks is reasonable for results, sounds good.
Ha how would you ever guess that you'd prefer to have a clotting disorder.... oh dear, what do we go through!
I hope you'll get the results you want 😉

@OrientalPinkLily how are you doing? It's been a few days, you're official test date must be coming up soon. Have you taken any more home tests?

@Omgdnswv hey! I have actually, I got the faintest of the faintest lines at 6dpt, which is 2 days ago. I tested yesterday and today and I am getting a faint line. However, I don't know how well it's progressing at the moment. I will test again tomorrow and I hope I'll see a darker line. I am very nervous, worrying about a potential chemical but atbthe same time, when I am thinking the positive scenario, I get really excited.
I'm googling non stop at the moment, reading up similar stories, seeing other people's tests etc.
Fingers crossed it sticks 🥹

Any news from you and the testing? Have you done your plasma and NK cell tests?

@OrientalPinkLily omg, congratulations! Now I guess the next question for you is if there is one or two in there.

My NK and Plasma test is next week and I think the results of the blood clotting test should arrive around then too

@Omgdnswv thank you! I have very reserved excitement at the moment. My official test day is the 28th, if I have a nice thick line on that day, I will relax.
I was thinking that, if it was twins, my lines would be darker as I would be producing more hcg?, I tested again today (9dpt) and there is definitely a line but not very dark.
As long as it sticks, one or two, doesn't matter.

Oh OK, sorry, I thought these tests were happening this past week. Ok, next week will be big for you, you will start getting some answers. All the best!

@OrientalPinkLily How's your line looking? Are you nervous about the test tomorrow?

I had my biopsy to extract some lining. They expect to have the results in 2-3 weeks, so it looks like next cycle will also be a wait and see one. If any treatment is needed (antibiotics if I should have an infection in my uterus) then that would happen in that month, so hopefully wouldn't delay any further. Blood clotting results should come any day now I think. I'm also going to use next month to get back into healthier habits, more excercise, less sweets. I did really well last month, but when the transfer failed I lost the drive to keep at it.

@Omgdnswv my line is progressing. I have been testing every day and I am optimistic that it will still be a positive tomorrow.

I have quite a lot of symptoms as well. Extreme fatigue and breathlessness and I am very thirsty all the time. All positive signs i believe.
What I get anxious about is embryo progressing and not being an ectopic. I don't believe my clinic does hcg blood tests, I think they will book me for a scan, I've read online that it should be wk6 or 7, which will be end of June.

Ok, I'm glad all is progressing on your end with the investigations. I hope you will get answers and that next cycle will be the one!
From what I understand you're aiming for next transfer in July?