IVF/ICSI February 2025 🌟 ❤️

[ivfjourneyandme]

Hi ladies,

Starting early with this thread in hope some are on a similar time frame!

36yo, been trying to conceive for 2yrs. Severe MFI as well as AFC of 3 and AMH of 1.9pmol/l

First IVF cycle with ICSI ended with a total failed fertilisation - 4 eggs collected, all mature but no fertilisation.

We have now switched to long cycle and added in DHEA, COQ10, melatonin, vitamin D, omega 3 alongside our fertility vitamins.

I should start my period end of Jan; and then start down-regulating February with transfer hopefully late February if I’ve worked it out right!

Anyone else on this mental torture of a ride?

Hello All. Hope you're welcoming new week full of energy!

@Raegs you're absolutely right, I really appreciate being able to follow this thread; not much opportunity to share, or learn about similar experiences otherwise.
Must say OH isn't very engaged in the process, (although of course 100% invested in the outcome 😊), so it's good to find space where we have similar mindsets and concerns!

@Cherryblossom90 7 follicles is a good number, and it's still early days, others may grow! If you're a bit disappointed, is there room for a conversation with your team about upping your stim doses? Or are you already on the higher range dose?
And when is your next scan?

My first scan is on Wednesday morning, can't wait. I feel absolutely normal for this stage of cycle, so of course I worry nothing is growing. I hope getting an update on the number will help.

On a positive side, this means no side effects and injections themselves are totally painless. I'm on Ovaleap.

@Cherryblossom90 yeh see my first injection was 23rd so I've only done 9 and I'm not doing more. Kind of confused why it's so short when others do much longer and I have some that could potentially grow 😫 this is day 10 but I'm not taking any tonight just trigger

I trigger tonight for egg collection Wednesday too.

@Sell123 & @InGodsHands cycle twins. I actually feel sort of anxious now. Hopefully those 2 12mm take a growth spurt and I get 10 🤞

@spttc I wonder why they won’t allow you to have more days of injections? I guess they’re expecting them to catch up naturally which is still good. You have time. I started on the 24th and I have my last Ovaleap injection 6 hours before my trigger shot.

@Sell123 Good luck! I hope the journeys been good to you so far.

@InGodsHands I asked, they said about studies showing day 9 is optimal for live birth rate - you might get 1 or 2 more eggs leaving it longer but the live birth rate tends to remain the same. Im having to pgt-a testing so they basically don't want me to have too many embryos either as they only test 8. So they're trying to find the strongest 8 I guess. I just have to trust. We all do I guess 🤞

I'm anxious too. I'm glad my clinic uses Propofol for sedation.

@spttc I did 9 days of stims for both of my IVF cycles.

If I remember correctly what my clinic have said, they wanted 3 follicles at more than 18mm the day of the trigger.

The risk with continuing stims for longer is that the big follicles will continue to develop and might become “over-mature”. It’s really hard to find a balance between wanting the small ones to catch-up but at the same time not wanting the big ones to grow too much.

@spttc That makes perfect sense. In that case you’re in a great position.

It’s so good to be going through this with others albeit strangers. At the moment it feels like a giant secret me and my partner have between us 😂

Oh my goodness good luck for Wendsday @spttc @InGodsHands @Sell123
If you feel up to it let us know how it goes!

And hope your appointment on Wendsday goes well @Happibara , Iv got an appointment Wendsday morning too for another scan.

I know what you mean, Iv already had to turn down two requests from siblings to stay with is us over next weekend (it's half term) I really struggled to think of an excuse! I do feel bad about it but I think any extra pressure is a bad idea! I don't usually keep secrets from my siblings its weird!

@InGodsHands @Cherryblossom90 - no one but me and my husband know - my mother in law is staying with us from the USA 😅😅😅 My mother is coming to mind my child during egg retrieval - she doesn't know. We are thinking of excuses to give why we are both disappearing.

I asked the clinic and they said I'm first of the day. Will be fast. 30 min procedure, 1 hour recovery. So hopefully with driving looking at 3-4hrs total 😅

Some great updates for people today! Apologies for not replying to everyone individually, just been catching up on all the messages!

sounds like Wednesday is a big day for some! Some having scans and some having EC! Good luck to all of you 😁🤞🏻 I keep thinking about everyone and manifesting for us all 👏🏻👏🏻

Totally agree this thread is so helpful and having cycle buddies and people who just KNOW, we’ve actually been very very open with everyone about this (like, posting online on social media and basically our entire family’s, friends, coworkers etc know) which is both a blessing and a curse tbh 😅

Basically the first 8 or so years of ttc we kept fairly quiet, except for siblings parents and very close friends who knew our struggles but maybe not the extent of them. It got to this time last year and I basically got really mad and was like “why? Why am I keeping this secret like it’s a big taboo or something to be ashamed of? So many people go through it and by sharing our journey we could help others who aren’t as far along as us” and also I got sick of everyone keep asking us when we were having a baby, so basically that started the decision for me/us. I did a huge fb essay about it and just announced that we were doing ivf to the world lol 🤷🏼‍♀️ It’s been good because I’ve found extra support where I didn’t expect it (including all my male bosses/supervisors at work who’ve been literally amazing about it!) and also had so many private DMs from girls I knew from school or years ago who were like “omg I went through the same, my baby is an ivf child or I’m currently pregnant with one but felt so ashamed to say it” etc. Of course totally understand those who are keeping it quiet and to themselves as well!!

Nothing much happening right now with my cycle, period ended last week and now my meds get delivered next Monday!! So that’s my next exciting step 😁 start norethisterone on the 13th for 9 days and then I’ll be waiting for another period 🤞🏻

My clinic also doesn’t do the updates until day 5, I hadn’t really thought about the fact we’ll probably have to be on the way there before we even know if any made it to blastocyst 😱 my clinic is 2hrs or more away on the train, but only 1hr from my parents house so I’m planning on moving back in with them the day before scans/EC and staying until after transfer lol 😂 then husband just has to find his own way there for EC day and transfer day 😅

Anyway hoping everyone has a good week and gets good news on their scans and retrievals and anything else happening!

@captainsmal yeh agree about being open if you're comfortable. I was very open about my miscarriage for example. And I will be about ivf AFTER the fact. I'm not now as I don't want to feel pressured and watched. People guessing if I'm pregnant or not etc.

@spttc yeah that’s what I would say is the only downside at the moment, especially at work where everyone’s being really positive about it and keeps saying like “omg are you excited?” Or something about “when you have your baby” as if it’s 100% definitely happening, which is definitely really nice that they’re being supportive and most of the time I try and be positive with them as well but you know sometimes you just have a hormonal day or you’re just feeling a bit depressed about it and like the pressure to stay positive when they are asking about it on those days! But luckily I’ve just a handful of those compared to the rest of the time staying optimistic so far 🤞🏻

I did say to everyone though, after transfer I won’t be updating anyone during 2ww or the results of that and not to assume that I’m pregnant if I don’t announce anything 😬

Trigger has been pulled. Actually feeling sick with anxiety for the first time - like fretting I did it wrong or something- my toddler needed me, did shot 2 min early way overthinking it. Google says it's ok. Wayyyyy emotional now as my daughter is 3 tomorrow I can't believe it 🥲😭 kinda bad timing with all the emotions. I also feel so bloated and uncomfortable and tomorrow I'll be getting balloons, baking cakes etc - it's not ideal timing 🥺 Anyone else doing egg retrieval on Wednesday feeling really uncomfortable and bloated. Like I can feel the follicles.

@captainsmal yeh it's a tricky one. My first lo was conceived naturally and easily so I didn't have to listen to the when are u having a baby thing. Then ttc number 2 I had a miscarriage etc had so many people- "why Havnt you had a 2nd yet?" "Do you want a boy or girl" etc etc like really publicly asked at weddings etc. so bizarre, I'd never ask anyone questions like that. sooooo tempting to say oh well actually I was pregnant last month but had a miscarriage thanks for asking 😏🥸

For that reason - there's no way um telling anyone until I'm in 2nd trimester tbh 😅 nice people are trying to be supportive of you though and I do think if u were trying a long time you'd have to tell people purely to shut them up with the silly "why aren't you pregnant" questions

@spttc yep way behind you follicle size wise but feel super bloated, don't try to sleep on your stomach lol way to uncomfortable! Hopefully it's a good sign though! Hang in there youre almost done with the meds!

@captainsmal I have thought about sharing but we have overbearing families on both sides 😂 they’ll want and update after every scan/appointment and would probably want to attend! It’s lovely but adds pressure and invites opinions that we probably won’t agree with.

@spttc Happy to share after the fact aswell. I’m trying to document and journal as much as I can because it’s been a whirlwind. When I turned 30 was when the “When are you having a baby” questions started. It’s good to know at least our baby will be loved 🥰

YES! Especially the side where the most and bigger follicles are. I would say take it easy but you’ve got a lot on. You’re lucky you’ve got someone to look after your little one after transfer too as I’ve heard it can be a lot for some

@spttc I wouldn’t worry too much about doing it two minutes early, I know it’s easier said than done especially if you have a birthday to plan today but try and stay as relaxed as you can today

I read that peppermint tea really helps with the bloating and uncomfortable feeling if you have any of that

Yeah I probably won’t share with even family until that 6 week viability scan (if we do get to that stage!) and with actual friends etc I would wait until after 12 weeks unless I get anything that really affects work like really bad morning sickness etc. Tbf it did actually work out really well with work because if I’d have kept it secret and just used annual leave or sick days for appointments I wouldn’t have got paid/I would have used all my holiday up, but when I told them they were like “oh did you know the company has an ivf policy in place?” So as it turns out, by telling them about it I get 5 paid days per round/cycle to attend appointments etc, and husband gets 1.5 paid days to attend the EC and transfer with me! (We work in the same place lol) So I’m glad I did share in the end but as you say @InGodsHands you do get opinions or people wanting updates at everything lol 😂

Popping up just to say super good luck to those that are due EC & for those that have scans upcoming ✨
Praying for the best outcomes for us all
It's bittersweet being part of this community but grateful none the less 🥰
Hoping for those that haven't had great results in the past for this time to be so much better, Im in awe of the strength & courage of everyone who's on this journey myself included, If you haven't walked in these shoes you simply just wont get it x
This time round i'm choosing to keep it to immediates only I come from a very cultural based family & though they all mean well some "remedies" are just not what i need to hear as im sure many of us have tried all sorts before going down this route x
Anyone on the estrogen patches or have been before?
Im suppose to change the 2 patches every 4 days & not to place on the same area again but i find the other spots i place them dont stick as good🙄 I messaged my clinic & was advised to use surgical tape (orderd online)has to be below waist on the stomach but till that doesnt arrive any advice?TIA x
Scan on the 11th 🤞🏼

Wow, lots going on for everyone this week! Good luck and best wishes for whatever stage of the journey are on!

Just a quick question about meds... Does anyone know if you can pre-mix meriofert about an hour before you give the injection? If my scan goes OK on Friday I will hopefully be starting stims on Friday evening and I will need to do my injections while out. It would be easier if I could pre-mix the meriofert and just take the full syringe with me. If not then I'll just have to take the whole lot and mix it when I'm out! Thanks 🙂

I definitely agree that this thread has saved my mental health! I don’t know anyone who went through IVF in real-life, and I don’t think my husband share the same mental burden as mine. It’s great to be able to chat with you all as we are going through the same hurdles.

Good luck for everyone having egg collections tomorrow!
If everything goes well, I will be having my transfer tomorrow, fingers crossed!

Oh it really is a big support having this thread!
🤞🏼 for you to have a successful transfer tomorrow!So exciting & nerve wrecking too!wishing you all the best x