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?

@lovelivelaugh63 yes agree with the above info depends on clinic and protocol. But just to give you an idea in the Lister for me they always do a nurse consult where they tell you what meds you will be taking. The nurse sends the prescription to pharmacy who deliver the meds a few days later. If you haven't got bloods done yet or a recent scan they usually do these on the same day as the nurse consult (Iv done these via my gp already). They then give you the green light to start the meds on the first day of your next cycle if all is well and you have had your meds delivered in time Obvs (which is what I'm getting jumpy about)

@Allnew2021 @Cherryblossom90 I don't know if I should rush into it or wait a month or two. My meeting is with the nurse not the consultant. Is this normal?

What prep are you guys doing to prepare for ivf. Which vitamins are you taking? And are you doing anything else in terms of diet?

Taking 'pregnacare before conception' have been taking it for 3 moths already.

@ivfjourneyandme this might depend on your clinic? I had a meeting with the consultant last year after my initial fertility investigations and he told me that ivf would be the best route etc... I needed a procedure prior to starting ivf, after this the consultant reviewed everything and wrote the protocol but it is the nurse that I will be meeting with to go through everything now. I haven't actually seen the consultant since February last year! I did speak to him on the phone once in November after my follow up scan post my procedure whew he confirmed I could start IVF but other than that it's been nurses.

@lovelivelaugh63 I’ve been taking Pregnacare ‘before conception’, Coq10, Vitamin E, Vitamin D, Vitamin C and Omega 3 since September last year.

In terms of prep I've been taking Zita West vitafem for the last few months, and extra vitamin D (this was advised by my clinic since I had slightly low levels). I have cut out alcohol now and cut back on caffeine. Other than that just trying to eat lots of greens and lean protein and I have switched to wholegrain pasta/rice etc.
I am also having acupuncture, I'm not sure if this actually does anything for my fertility but I find it relaxing!

Hi all, I wonder if I can join in this thread with you all? I have been TTC almost 4 years now with no luck. 6months of ovulation induction+trigger last year. Unexplained infertility.

Never done ivf before and I thought I was fine but now I’m bricking it and mourning that I haven’t been able to have kids “naturally”.

I had my ivf consultation with a Czech clinic on Tuesday and got my suggested protocol today. Rekovelle 15mcg and Orgalutran/Fyremadel 0.25mcg. And this would be done alongside my natural cycle or I can choose birth control option for specific dates. Hoping to start in February!

Hey everyone, just jumping in to join this thread as I got my protocol on Tuesday and I’ll be starting my first ever IVF with my next cycle!
So we’ve (Me F33, Husband M38) been trying for 9.5 years now. Tried starting the process a few times but things got in the way, mostly covid and then moving house etc. Finally went back to GP Sep 2023. First hospital consult April 2024. Did a bunch of tests including hsg etc and got referred for NHS funding Oct 24.

First IVF consult with Care Tunbridge Wells was Dec 24 where we got unexplained infertility as the diagnosis. I’m essentially fine, but I was found to be severely deficient in Vit D. Husband was fine in everything except morphology which was a 1 and needs to be a 4, but she said that shouldn’t really be a reason why we’ve struggled for this long tbh. Anyway decided on IVF with ICSI and we also paid for Zymot which isn’t covered by the NHS funding.

Had nurse planning 14/1 and got my schedule and protocol!! So excited
I’ll be on: end of Jan normal period
13/2 norethisterone for 9 days
Withdrawal bleed after stopping that
28/2 start Gonal F in the evening for 5 days
After 5 days add in Ganirelix in the mornings for 5 days
10/3 scan… if scan is all good then 12/3 egg retrieval!
If progesterone blood test is all okay on the day of egg retrieval then fresh transfer 17/3!

It all feels so real now! This is my first cycle so if anyone has any tips, advice, or if anyone is on the same protocol or similar dates to me let me know!

Hi, welcome! Glad your feeling excited about this! Hopefully you will have sucsess first time! 💛
I'm starting my cycle hopefully on 29th Jan so will be approx a month ahead of you. Wishing you all the best and keep us updated how it goes!

@UserL95 welcome. I always think the same and some days are more difficult and weigh heavier than others.

I guess what keeps me going is knowing that we are so fortunate to have IVF which will help us have children.

What are the benefits of low doses/ natural cycle? And when do you start your meds?

@captainsmal So excited for you!

I would advise taking a prenatal, coq10, vitamin D, omega 3 fish oil supplement. Vitamin C, and E. Having a high protein low carb diet & staying away from toxins.

What changes have you made?

Im due my appointment in two weeks to discuss and plan my protocol and it all feels so surreal at the moment. Im more scared than excited

Hiya, yeah so I’m on Vit D 4000iu for the deficiency, that was for two months which is the end of Jan and then I’m dropping down to 2000iu. Also got a general folic acid supplement too. My husband is on Vit D 2000iu which the dr recommended and we bought Impryl for him as well to improve the sperm quality but hopefully because of the Zymot/ICSI they’ll obviously just be choosing the best ones on the day anyway. Tbh I’ve not had to make many lifestyle changes as I have a pretty good diet anyway, non smoker, don’t ever drink alcohol except maybe a glass at a wedding or Xmas! I’m just focusing on drinking tons of water, I’m upping my protein now as well and I’ve been having a lot of electrolyte drinks. I did used to like a red bull so I’ve given those up in the last couple of months and I’m only having one cup of coffee per day now instead of two or three!

My husband has had to make the biggest changes, quitting smoking about a year ago using vapes and then quitting the vapes too, and cutting right back on his alcohol and caffeine.

I was quite nervous about the protocol but I think it feels better now having the set plan and rough dates timings etc, so hopefully same for you after your appointment! I’m also autistic so this whole waiting thing isn’t great for me hence why I feel better now I have a set plan lol. It definitely still feels surreal though, I think when the meds get delivered it will sink in a bit more! They look fairly straightforward on the training videos though, ones a pen and ones a single use syringe and I had a bit of training with that sort of thing in my old job (NHS) anyway so I’m sort of tentatively confident but I don’t think I’ll know until the day!

I’ve been really surprised with how quickly it happens now too, we waited so long for GP and NHS tests etc to be done but now with the clinic they’re so speedy and I think the next month waiting to start the meds is going to go so quickly!

I’m counting down the days until my period starts so I can go again!! So scary knowing we may be told it’s game over but everything crossed for a miracle

@ivfjourneyandme Fingers crossed that everything goes well for you!!

Hello everybody, it's good to see you and read your stories! I'm looking forward to a lot of good news updates 💖

@ivfjourneyandme what is the plan for your next cycle? it's long protocol, right? What will that mean in terms of timings / meds you'll need to take?

I've just started taking my Norethisterone yesterday, as a start to flare protocol. After that & bleed I'll be having a single shot of prostap, followed by ovaleap and then trigger shot.

Don't feel any different today, no side effects so far. But it's good to feel we're finally moving, after all the waiting 😄

Best of luck to all of you!

@Happibara I inform clinic on CD1, then I believe form CD21 for 2-3 weeks I take drugs to turn off my ovaries, when confirmed they’re asleep (so to speak), I start stims

@ivfjourneyandme thank you for sharing very excited for you ❤️ I hope this will have positive effect.

That actually doesn't sound bad, and it makes sense if your clinic team are thinking of having better control over egg production / quality 🤞 Does it actually make the whole cycle much longer than your first one?

Either way, lots of patience and positivity for you!

@Happibara it will make it around 7 weeks longer in all x

Hi all 👋 I just started my first (hopefully only) cycle of ivf. Starting cycle day 21 with 2mg Femara 3 times daily. For I think a week? I guess they scan then and start stimulation then after that from cycle day 1. Egg retrieval is provisionally booked for Feb 5th 🤞🤞🤞🤞

CD1 today and I called to see if I could get an appointment this cycle…and I did! Absolutely buzzing to get going. This is my first ever cycle. I’m on a long protocol so I got an app for CD21, they will take bloods and I will get a Prostap injection. I will then have an appointment 2 weeks after that for a scan and to collect my stims. Excited!

Welcome to everyone new to the thread! I'm glad we have this platform to find and offer support to each other.

My meds arrived yesterday and I start my buserelin injections on Tuesday which is exciting (and a bit scary!) 😆

@Allnew2021 isn't it just! I didn't anticipate that getting that box of meds will be such a big deal, but opening it made me very emotional.

Both wildly excited to be finally close, and very maudlin... just reminiscing and sad over the road leading here. I think I needed full day to get over it 😅

Now I'm just minding my pill schedule for another week, a bit anticlimactic!

Hi! Just reading these messages I'm thinking quite alot of you are on long protocols. This was never something we were offered (maybe becuase it's male factor we are having ivf for?) It looks like it's a real game changer for some ladies though! I really hope we get a good embryo(s!) this time but if not Im definitely going to ask about long protocol in the future! Anyone else on short protocol on here?
Agre with you@Happibara I found last time I did an ICSI cycle that a photo on the introduction video of a blastocyte made me cry 😂took me by total surprise! hormones!

@Happibara absolutely! When I opened the box it really hit that I am doing this. It's been such a long road to get here that I didn't expect to still feel a bit sad over everything. I feel better today the excitement and nerves have taken over now and in ready to finally get started (although I'll be down regulating for about 2 weeks so it's a bit longer until I start stims!)

@KayEmmSquared if period behaves, I’ll be few weeks behind you!