Christmas IVF/ICSI buddies

[Stillwinston]

Just wondering if anyone else is starting IVF/ICSI around Christmas - I've had confirmation from the clinic that I'll start stims on boxing day (merry bloody Christmas 😂) with egg collection scheduled for the 8th or 10th January.

This is my first time doing IVF so would love to connect with others going through/due to start. For my part, we're doing ICSI for male factor secondary infertility, been trying for our 2nd for 3 years now (1 mc after the first year of trying) and I'm so excited to finally have some control over the process!

Hi everyone, room for one more?

I started stims on Xmas day, after an unexpected appearance from Aunt Flo on Xmas Eve! I have PCOS and totally irregular so was going to have a baseline scan on 31/12 with the view of inducing a period after that, but wasn’t needed in the end! This is my first round.
I am doing a freeze all cycle due to super scary high AMH and AFC.
I am intrigued that some of you seem to know your ER dates already? Maybe it’s my clinic but they’ve kind of just said it’s up in the air! Day 6 today so started the morning injections (Ovaleap at night since day 2, ganirelix in the morning from day 6). I have my first tracking scan tomorrow and then a few more scheduled in every other day to check follicles.
my trigger is going to be Buserelin. Anyone on similar meds?
Feeling for those of you who struggled through Provera, I hated it I was sooo angry and down on it :(.
Wishing you all the best!

Hi @sharkshit

Welcome to the group! How have you been so far on stims ?

I start on gonal F tonight and then add in ganirlix from the 3rd Jan which is day 6. I have two scans before egg collection so although I have a pencilled in date it could change depending on how they go. I think the clinic just like to prepare

Is this your first time doing IVF?

Hey @Anniekent1 thank you!

On Boxing Day (day after first stims) I was so unwell tbh, throwing up and felt awful. Actually considered quitting there and then :(. I tried to contact the on-call doctor and she did not answer or return my call… except she did call back once on WhatsApp and I answered but she hung up and then she blocked me?? No idea what that was about but very unhelpful!! Thankfully I started feeling better a few hours before my next dose was due so I continued and I’ve been fine since! I think I ate too much on Xmas day and then the drug was a shock to the system. My body doesn’t react well to hormones tbf so I’m sure it’s an anomaly!

I hope your first injection goes smoothly (I’m sure it will!) Rewatch videos until you feel comfortable and while doing it, really helps!

Oh I see that makes sense that you have ER pencilled in, but won’t be definitely the date. I guess different clinics have different routines.

I see you’re on freeze all too! Have you got any idea of your transfer date? My clinic said 3 bleeds before that! So I think March time at the earliest, as I am irregular and unpredictable 🙄

xx

Hi @sharkshit sorry you felt poorly on the first day. How awful they didn't answer the phone bless you must have been quite upsetting. But glad you are now feeling better

Yeah doing a freeze all cycle as I am at very low risk of OHSS so they just want to be safe although now wish I was doing a fresh transfer. Bit nervous for the stims but also just excited to start as it has been such a journey to get here can't actually believe we now doing it !

No transfer date yet but said similar to you where they want the bleed after the stims and then a natural one and then maybe after that but it just feels forever away! How you doing with it all though ?

Thank you @Anniekent1 , it was really rough but thankfully went away by the next stim! The injections themselves have been a lot easier than expected and I was nervous too, but all fine so you’ve got this!

I am same with risk of OHSS, but the nurse said it usually the ones they don’t expect that get it - because there’s a risk for people like you and I, they manage it and prevent it. It is annoying though I agree the thought of more waiting! I’m sure you’ve had a long journey getting here too.

It feels a bit surreal I’m actually doing this now, but I am taking it easy and I think it’s going fine now after that first bad reaction. Hoping for a good outlook from my scan tomorrow. Not sure how much they can tell at this point but hopefully something is happening!

Let us know how you get on with first injection! Do you have to mix anything?

Welcome @sharkshit ! How are you doing? How did your scan go?

I had mine today and consultant seemed happy and said I was responding, they could see 10 follicles of varying sizes but dr said not to worry too much at the mo as i've only been stimming for 3 days. I am on 225 IU of Fostimon and 150 IU Meriofert but they have increased Meriofert to 225 IU, does anyone here know if this is a bad thing?!

Hi @Chickenqueen !
Scan was interesting… certainly had more follicles emerging than expected, 123 total to be precise 😳! I had a very high amount before IVF though anyway due to PCOS.

That being said, they were mostly small and a few measuring 8mm. They reduced my stims dose though and hopefully the bigger ones will doubled in size by the end of the week.

I’m glad your dr reassured you at your scan! I am not an expert but I think it’s good they’re upping your dose so early, getting things moving along for you! Are you having a fresh transfer?
How are you finding it all so far? Take care and best of luck!

Hi! Oh my gosh 123! That must have taken a while to count.

Yeah I am feeling ok on stims at the moment, I think because I found the Norethisterone so miserable I am just so happy to not be on it anymore 😂

I am having frozen as we are screening for a genetic condition I carry, which is why I am doing IVF. What about you, are yo doing fresh?

Yes 25 mins with the wand in there poking around… quite uncomfortable! Even with a high amount though it’s no guarantee that they’ll grow enough, that’s my latest anxiety at least.

Was Norethisterone to induce a bleed? I have had provera previously and it was miserable, so I feel your pain. Glad you’ve graduated from that now then!

Oh I see, sorry if you said that before. That’s fair enough and glad the science is there to help people in that way :). I am doing frozen also, but due to OHSS risk.

@sharkshit the Norethisterone was to control my cycle I think, but no one really explained to me, they aren't so great with the detail sometimes!

Had my day 6 on treatment scan today, seems to be progressing well and saw a few more follicles which is great. Feeling very bloated but drinking a lot of water + electrolytes which has helped so much!

How are you getting on? And everyone else?x

Hi ladies, hope you are all doing well.

Had some good news today and finally starting my progynova to start preparing my lining for transfer, back in next Friday for a scan to check progress.

@Chickenqueen and @sharkshit I feel your pain regarding waiting to transfer, I was supposed to start in October but thyroid problems delayed everything. If it's any comfort I've found the transfer process is a lot easier on the body, although still not great time wise if you're impatient like me.

I hope the injections are bearable I couldn't do them myself I made my husband inject me each day haha. Its been a while since I did a ER but if I remember rightly there is a common theory that eating McDonald's chips afterwards can help prevent OHSS as the salt helps the extra fluid absorb. Might be worth a try 😉.

Hi @Chickenqueen I have my day 6 scan tomorrow. Did they tweak your stim amounts at all or are they happy. Can they even tell sizes and numbers at this stage ? I can feel no side effects from the stims so not sure I am on a high enough dosage so worried it won't amount to anything. I'm on 187.5 gonal f and started ganirlix this morning

@Hopefullyonedaysoon congrats on the good news that's exciting. Hope the scans go well next week and you can do your transfer. Also heard about the McDonald's chips so def going to milk that 😂

@Anniekent1 They could see follicles today yes and measured them, they could measure this on my day 3 scan as well so you'll def get an idea! After the day 3 scan they upped my meds, I'm on 225 fostimon and was on 150 Meriofert + cetrotide and they upped the Meriofert to 225.

@Hopefullyonedaysoon aha great tip! I have just pinned the closest McDonalds to our clinic 😂

Glad things are moving for you, the wait is the worst!

Hey @Chickenqueen glad your day 6 scan was successful! May it continue in that direction for you, and you’ll have your ER in no time.
In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if you overtake me now (in getting the ER, not the crazy number of follicles I hope!) as the nurse yesterday said while there is growth, they’re taking it very slow and steady with me. Have another scan tomorrow, and she’s even booked more in for next Monday and Wednesday so I have a wait yet!

Thank you @Hopefullyonedaysoon ! Hope you get your transfer next week! Definitely going to try and get McDonald’s chips sorted for after ER 😉

@Chickenqueen @Gosia19 @ThisSunnyMember hello from another PGT-M mum. My husband and I were very surprised to find out we both have a recessive gene in common. I am just starting my research and was hoping you could let me know how long the PGT-M part of the treatment takes? (The condition is HFEA approved).

Also is PGT-M done simultaneusly with PGT-A? Many thanks in advance and best of luck!

@ToddlerMamma hi lovely - best of luck in your journey! There are two parts for the PGT-M, first they have to make up the genetic test they will use from your DNA and secondly they have to conduct the actual test on the samples from the blastocysts.

We are with CRGH, they have said it takes 6 weeks to do the genetic make-up for the bespoke test. This is once they have blood samples from both of us, and a cheek swab from known relative with the genetic condition. Then the test is made in a lab. They might start my stims in the last couple of weeks of this.

Then I’ll have stimulation, egg collection, fertilisation with ICSI and wait to see which become embryos then blastocysts - the same as other IVF treatments.

If we have any 5-6 day blastocysts, the cell samples from these blastocysts are sent for PGT-M and the blastocysts are frozen. They said I should be able to have a frozen embryo transfer three weeks after collection, and they do the PGT-M test during this time.

We’ve also been told we’ll have PGT-A done at the same time. Hope this helps!!! Always happy to chat.

@Gosia19 thank you for your kind message and the detailed explanation. If it takes 6 weeks to do the test, would it make sense to do 2 rounds of collection since you need to wait anyways?

Im also curious if you don’t mind sharing if the doctors would usually do mild IVF treatment in our situation, given in theory no fertility issues besides needing to benefit from PGT?

@ToddlerMamma That’s a good point. Our doctor hasn’t suggested that but we are NHS funded (eligible for 3 rounds). So perhaps for us they would see whether another round was needed to make the best use of NHS funding. I suppose the other benefit is I could avoid having to do the stimulation (injections, going to the clinic every other day for two weeks) multiple times if there are multiple viable embryos from the first round.

Also not sure about mild treatment, we’ve had our fertility results back (all normal) and the dr explained the protocol but not whether more mild than usual. I’ll ask about this at our next appointment. ☺️

Also CRGH have a free virtual open evening once a month, we found that really helpful and they answered people’s specific questions, might also be useful!

@Gosia19 yes that makes sense regarding the multiple stims and retrievals. I have little knowledge of it all and trying to get ahead of my initial consultation is driving me nuts 🫠

Best of luck and I wish your treatment goes smooth and successful!