IVF/ICSI/FET December 2024

[camelinastorm]

Any peeps having IVF/ICSI/FET in Dec.
I am due to start meds 1st Dec this will be my frozen transfer from my 2nd cycle in August have stocked up on beetroot and pomegranate juice, looking for any tips 🙏🏼

After my day 5 transfer (3AA) yesterday I found out they've frozen 2 more today.
But a 5BC and 4BC
Not great quality - in fact, from Google it seems borderline as to whether they'd discard them or not 🤷‍♀️

Anyway - will focus on the one on board for now!!

Who's next for transfer day?!

@spamOFtheDAY i find the grading so confusing, I assume AA is what we want? If collection goes to plan AND end up with some to transfer, I’ll be transferring next a week today. Eeeekkk! Still seems like so many hurdles still.

Thanks @OrientalPinkLily I'm finding it a bit weird to think that there are seven little blobs of cells in a dish in north London, waiting to find out if they are going to get to be people!

I found this page quite helpful on embryo grading www.sensiblesurrogacy.com/quality-grade-of-embryos/
It seems like pregnancy rates go from 65% with a 5AA to 33% with a 4BC so it's obviously a lower chance but it's not no chance. 3AA sounds very promising @spamOFtheDAY I hope that's the one that works for you!

Sorry you haven't been feeling great @tpeas I hope the meds help and fingers crossed for good news on Friday.

To all those who have had egg retrieval

When does the abdominal pain stop?

The nurse mentioned it would be like menstrual cramps but mine is nothing like that at all. The whole of my abdomen feels bruised. Or as though I did 1000 abdominal crunches yesterday without warming up. I'm fine if I don't move at all. Pain is there when moving or coughing, laughing etc. I thought I would be fine for work tomorrow but will have to cancel.

Any tips???

I had my EC on the Friday and felt fine by Monday ☺️ however I have low AMH and only collected 3 eggs so wasn't as invasive 👌

Best tips are to rest and drink plenty of water ☺️

I've had no pain at all really, very mild discomfort. Were you at risk for OHSS? It might be worth checking in with your clinic if it doesn't start improving?

@Harshtruth1111 sounds very different to my experience, although we are all different! I agree with. @PrincessofLiechtenstein, sounds like you should check in with the clinic!

With regards to embryo grading, I read that page too @PrincessofLiechtenstein but also found an interesting analysis of the grading system and subsequent discussion by health professionals here:

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/emma-whitney-ivfthe-worst-embryo-grading-chart-ever-don-activity-7208932347231006720-0B8K

The author is a very experienced embryologist:
https://www.evewell.com/team/emma-whitney/

@ivfjourneyandme @spamOFtheDAY It gave me some peace of mind that even the experts can't agree on how useful the grading system is so try to be kind to yourselves if the grade is not what you were hoping for.

I should add that my clinic didn't tell me the grade but one "good" one was implanted, one of "similar quality" frozen and one more had progressed enough at day 6 to freeze. Being a first timer I didn't know enough to ask but maybe the ignorance is a blessing here, I just don't know!!

Thank you - those links are really useful 😃

Hi everyone!

I've just had a monitoring scan today and had an FET confirmed for Wednesday 18th. It will be my 5th transfer, 2nd FET out of three egg collections. Is anyone else transferring next week? Would love to have some company!

@Harshtruth1111 my first egg collection was very bruised and tender for 3/4 days. They said they couldn't reach my left ovary so had to push about a bit to get to it. Other ECs haven't been as painful as my first but I find it takes me 3 days to feel less tender / less bruised. Water definitely helps. Hoping you get some relief soon. They say a hot water bottle can help. Just not after a transfer xxx

@charja100 I had my lining scan today for FET transfer and will transfer on 19th Dec

Trigger injection tonight and then progesterone pessaries starting on Sunday (two a day).

This is my second FET

Are you on a similar protocol? I was worried today about lining scan etc as my period has been between 28-32 days so wasn't sure we'd get it at right time and 22nd Dec is the last day for transfer but I had a follicle at around 16mm and told lining looked fine so was happy

@charja100 - all going well with EC tomorrow and if any make it, I’ll be transferring on the 18th. Eeekkkk

@charja100 sounds like you have been through a hell of a lot. Were any of your transfers successful? I'm about to start downregulation for my second transfer and feel fearful of it not working again xx

I had similar pain to you @Harshtruth1111 . I was alright after about 3 days. I found doing some gentle exercise - yoga two days post then a decent walk the day after - seemed to help things feel more normal. Hope you'll be feeling better v soon

@pinksheetss I've been on a fixed oestrogen protocol of 2mg 3x a day for 9 days. I'm not having a trigger but I start lubion injections and cyclogest pessaries tomorrow morning. I've previously had an ERA as part of an Endemetrio test so they have calculated my receptivity timings to ensure we replicate the window so I have to get up at 5:30 so I'm awake enough to do an injection at 6am 🤣 There are no follicles showing for me which is what they wanted so they didn't need to match my cycle. I have to have transfer under sedation as I have scar tissue on my cervix and transfers are painful so I'm pleased we snuck this FET in before Christmas as the last day the anaesthetist was around is Wednesday!

@ivfjourneyandme good luck with EC! Keep us posted, hoping for some great quality eggs and a wonderful fertilisation rate for you!

@Eagerlywaiting1990 unfortunately I successful transfers. I've had two chemicals. One made it to 6weeks but the embryos were never tested so we didn't know if it was implantation issues or the embryos. I'm 39 and know that ages has a part to play for me. We took the first half of this year off to do lots of tests as in January I had the loss at 6 weeks. We identified that I have high NK TH1 cytokine cells and they can cause spontaneous abortion. I'm now on an immune protocol. I also got healthy, ate well, and took lots more vitamins, we had my last Egg collection in October. It was my most successful EC. 12 eggs, 12 mature, 11 fertilised. 7 blasts. 6 sent for testing, 3 euploid embryos. 1 fresh transfer failed.

My 2nd EC we got 11 eggs, 9 mature, 7 fertilised, 1 day 5 embryo ( resulted in ten chemical / early loss at 6 weeks) 2 days 6 embryos that came back abnormal.

I'm on intra lipids, steroids, very high doses of progesterone and will also be on blood thinners from day of transfer.

Praying this is our time. Scared to get my hopes up after so much heartbreaks but trying to be positive! I understand how you're feeling. It's such a hard journey. I'm happy to talk any time you need to. Other ladies on here have really helped me over the years xx

My tests are coming back negative now so I’m out for this month as I believe it’s another chemical (or faulty test) for me. Sigh. I’m hoping to squeeze in another transfer on January 6 if we can get timing to line up. It’ll be my first medicated transfer (previously natural modified) to time it well and avoid the Christmas break. Good luck to all still in with a chance this month.

I'm really sorry to hear that @SamVan I hope you are doing ok? Hope that you get the go ahead for your next transfer in Jan.

@SamVan sorry to hear this. Lots of self care and nice food/drink this weekend!

Sorry to hear @SamVan are you having a blood test to confirm?

@tpeas good luck for test day!!

@SamVan I'm really sorry. I hope you can take some time to look after yourself this weekend.

@PrincessofLiechtenstein @Cosyseason1234 @charja100 @tpeas thanks all ❤️ I’m taking it a lot better than the last failure. I think it’s because I was more prepared and also I’m just living my life now and not putting things on hold like I did before. Currently writing this whilst skinny dipping in an infinity pool overlooking the Maldivian sea which somewhat cushions the blow. @tpeas i think my period will come before I get back to the uk for a blood test but I’ve got all my drugs ready for next round with me. Good luck do your test!! ❤️

@SamVan absolutely fair play to you!! Have the best holiday you 100% deserve it 🏝️ 🍹 just on the way to a little UK break in the rain on the motorway,doesn’t quite hit the same 🤣

@ivfjourneyandme I hope your egg collection has gone well and it wasn't too scary. Let us know when you are up and about.

Glad you are enjoying your holiday, I guess if you do have to have bad news an infinity pool in the Maldives isn't a bad place to deal with it! Hopefully the relaxation will be just what you need

Got a bit of a disappointing call from the lab this morning. Only 2/7 have made it to 6 cells, although they will keep the others going and see if they catch up. Quite possible that we won't get anything to freeze.

Hi all,
im alive!! No idea what i was worried about 😂 4 eggs collected. Will find out tomorrow how many fertilised. Then daily updates. Endometrium is not as thick as they’d like so another scan Tuesday and if any get to day 5 and lining isn’t thick enough; will need to freeze