IVF/ICSI May 2025

[GamerGirl09]

Hey everyone!

Thought I’d start a thread for those of us starting everything next month :)

Personally, I’m from the UK and will be starting ICSI in Ireland. Just over the BMI limit for the NHS in the UK and have been trying for c.6 years for our first. Had final tests yesterday and consult. Going with ICSI as my husband’s sperm analysis came back teratozoospermic. Other than that, nobody can find any reason we couldn’t conceive naturally, it’s just not happened!

Currently phoning up pharmacies in the UK for medication quotes (struggling to source Bemfola at the moment though). I’ll be on the short protocol and they reckon it’s likely I’ll be a freeze all as AMH and AFC came back decent. If I get get the meds in time, looking like I’ll start at the very end of this month, with egg collection next month 🤞🏼

Would love to connect with others starting around the same time ♥️ Good luck to everyone ✨

@GamerGirl09 @bamboobirdie Thank you ladies, I’ve been worried today my dose was too high or it’s something that’s my fault but perhaps just all part of the process! It’s easing now and I’ve managed to keep drinking fluids and had a few snacks - hopefully tomorrow is better and I get to my first scan on Friday to find out how I’m doing. Thanks again for the advice and sharing your experience 💕

@bamboobirdie how many follicles did they see that’s caused them to decide on freeze all out of interest? My clinic told me at the beginning I’ll likely be a freeze all due to AMH/AFC and OHSS risk but won’t find out until my second scan on Monday. Yesterday’s scan showed 12 on one side and 14 on the other, some above the line where they hope they should be by that point and some below the line (based on size).

@bamboobirdie I had egg collection today and thankfully it was fine…. Anxiety got the better of me and whilst my legs were up in stirrups in a very undignified position and I just cried 😂 but yhey we’re so lovely gave me something to help me relax before the sedatives which I assume was like diazip and just like OliveTurtle above, it really isn’t bad at all! I remember feeling a little dizzy for a slight second when they put the sedation in and then I woke up back on the room as they wheeled me back shocked it had already happened! I know it’s so much easier to say, but if I could go back I’d take the advice everyone gives and that is it really is fine! Best nap of my life too! You really will be fine!

In regards to work, we fly home tomorrow and I’m back at work Monday! I feel okay atm, just a bit sore tender when I walk, cough or something. I was bright and perky within five minutes of coming around… everyone is different though, see you how feel because the sedatives will effect everyone’s body differently etc.

Good luck! You’ll be fine xx

@lemonwrighty Good luck for the start of this crazy journey, it’s our first time too and the over thinking is the worst 😂 it if I could go back I’d tell myself to stay the heck off google because he is not your friend and he doesn’t know anything 😂 xx

@Toryory21 Big good luck for tomorrows testing, everything crossed for you xx

@Bunnymum93 You broke the sedation! 😂 the human body and what I can do is fascinating isn’t it!

Lots of luck the next part of the anxious wishing period! xx

@camelinastorm That definitely looks like a clear positive to me! 🥰🥰🥰 congratulations!! Xx

@DuskyMaisie Hello and good luck! Xx

In terms of numbers, the policy at my clinic is that they do a freeze all for 20 eggs or more. Thankfully we got 18, which means they are still hoping to do a fresh transfer on Wednesday if any of them make it to that stage. We haven’t had a call over the weekend so still none the wiser as to how many have fertilised etc. the waits continue!! X

Glad your egg collection went well, @JDann! I had my EC today too, only managed 5 mature eggs from 9 follicles so we'll see over the next 5 days what happens. We weren't expecting huge numbers anyway, there were only 9 follicles on the scans leading up to EC. Last time we did IVF was 2023 and we got 10 eggs, 6 fertilised and 3 blasts. It's a bit nerve wracking thinking about the difference this time but we've got everything crossed we'll get at least one embryo. It will be our first time doing ICSI too so it'll be interesting to see if that makes a difference.

Is anyone going down the PGT-A route? We're very unsure still, we need to decide by day 4.

@GamerGirl09 they have been measuring the 10 largest on each side and said there were at least 10 others across the two that they haven't been measuring but I'm not sure what their policy is. They've been surprised by how I've responded and it was very much a last minute decision to move me onto freeze all so maybe I'm borderline..

@JDann glad all went well for you today (aside from the anxiety when in the worst possible position! Oh the dignity of IVF 😂) Thanks for the reassurance, I think it was the OHSS risk that made her say I might feel grotty but they've changed my trigger to reduce the risk so hopefully all will be okay and I can just work from home until I'm back to 100%. Hope the soreness goes soon and good luck for all the phone call updates to come 🤞🏻

Well done for getting through Eggy collection today too 😌

similar to you, on our last scan Wednesday they were only tracking 6 on my right and only 2 on my left ovary (that one just didn’t respond well) so we were looking at 8 potential follicles, we will find out tomorrow how many they retrieved when they send us the report 😬 wishing you lots of luck for the updates!

we are doing NGS testing which I believe is just a newer version of PGT-A (someone correct me if I’m wrong lol)
like you we were unsure and mulled it over for a while, because it felt like playing god for the perfect embryo! But ultimately we want the healthiest ones to implant so we went ahead and any that make it to day 5 to give ourselves the best chance at a successful implant.
constant rollercoaster this ride isn’t it xx

@Toryory21@GamerGirl09 thank you both 🥰

@JDanni’ve tried to stay off anything that isn’t great for my MH. I really struggled with coming to terms with infertility and the stress that came with it was soul destroying so I spent the last year flipping my mindset when it come to IVF to make sure I’ve gone into treatment as positively as I can. Fingers crossed for some good news following your EC and have a safe flight tomorrow!

@DuskyMaisie hey, I’m a day behind you and also on ovaleap, aside from the headache which I’m blaming on being sat in the sun all day, I’ve not had any symptoms. Im on 375, what dosage are you on?

Fingers crossed you don’t have any complications, it sounds like they’re doing the best thing and monitoring you well now to reduce the risks though, so that’s reassuring for you too! Wishing you lots of luck for a smooth as possible ride form here xx

That’s great numbers! Wishing you lots of luck for a great call tomorrow and a smooth transfer Wednesday xx

That’s the best thing you could have done, there’s a lot of great info online but there’s also a lot that doesn’t apply to every individual and a lot that can scare you too….. I learned that pretty quickly 😂
positivity is the best thing you could have going through fertility struggles…. I may need to employ you as my Mental Health coach 😂

Thank you for the good wishes, fingers are all crossed! Xx

@lemonwrighty I’m only on 150 so thinking my dose is nowhere near as high as it could be! It’s eased right up this afternoon and evening, I’m just left with some cramping but the nausea is gone now and I’ve managed some bland food and to do my PM injection too. Glad we’re both in it together at the same time though! Hope you have a good day 2 tomorrow xx

@GamerGirl09 EC was yesterday morning! They dug out 29 in the end (only 16 mature) so am feeling a bit like a stuffed Christmas turkey today 😖

@JDann utter madness the human body - I remember them telling me they couldn't top me up anymore or I wouldn't be able to get home (it was in London so was a very real concern 😆) but thankfully I was out like a light this time round.

@DuskyMaisie I've just finished my stims, I was on 150 of ovaleap too due to high AMH. I'd say I definitely felt nauseous and bloated but maybe call your clinic if the actual vomiting carries on as that doesn't sound fun! I'm on OHSS watch now but they should give you the trigger without HCG which will help xx

TW test results

@Bunnymum93 oh my that’s a big number even of the mature ones. I hope you feel back to normal soon. @OliveTurtle big numbers there as well.

@JDann good luck with your numbers today. If it’s lower than expected just remember you only need one. I got 7 this time and …. (tested a day early as in work tomo)

Also to anyone struggling I had an IVF/ fertility coach and it really helped. Can recommend.

Aww what lovely news to wake up to @Toryory21 congratulations, really happy for you 🥰
hope everyone else is ok today.. with it being Sunday I imagine we all just have a day of no updates and a lot of waiting!! X

@Toryory21 wow what a great post to see on a Sunday morning !!!! Super congratulations that is a great positive line

Thanks guys really hoping everyone gets their BFPs this time as well! Xx

Oh wow that is amazing! 🥰 well done and congratulations!

iv never even heard of an IVF coach (off to googl3 lol)

thank you 😌 I haven’t heard anything yet, super inpatient.
I don’t know if it’s a Cyprus thing or just this clinic in general, but I assumed I’d of found out yesterday how many eggs were retrieved 🤷‍♀️

congratulations again! Xx

@Toryory21 congratulations!! That’s a great positive line ❤️

@DuskyMaisie sorry to hear of your symptoms, how are you feeling today? I hope your symptoms eases up for you over the next few days. I’ve not had any symptoms today so far. Just did the food shop and bless DH was picking everything up for me so I wasn’t bending down or picking anything heavy up and carrying the shopping bags, I think he’s being a bit OTT but I could get use to this 😂

TW numbers

we just got our day one update after egg retrieval:

collected 12 eggs:
5 are M2 (mature egg)
4 are GV
3 are M1
5 have been fertilised

form what I can find on Google it looks like they 4 x GV eggs and the 3 x M1 should be written off and unlikely to progress, but again first timer here so I’m not all that clued up xx

@Bunnymum93 were you given the trigger without hcg In your cycle?

@Toryory21 that's looking great!!! Got my fingers crossed for smooth sailing for you for the rest of your journey 🥰

@VioIetMoon yep I had buserelin for mine as it was always planned to be a freeze-all xx

@JDann is it that the 5 mature eggs are the ones that fertilised? I was only told number eggs retrieved, number of mature eggs, number that fertilised and then number of blastocysts on day 5 (and grading 5AA etc etc). I’ve not heard of GV, M1 or M2 before!

@Bunnymum93 thank you! Not out of the woods yet but it’s one hurdle down

@lemonwrighty feeling a million times better the nausea is all gone and I’m just a little crampy but feeling back to normal now! Must have been something unrelated or even something I ate? Glad it’s nothing wrong with me or the stims themselves and I’m hopefully just proceeding as normal with the protocol! Lucky you I had DH fetching and carrying for me yesterday but I was back to cleaning the house and cooking again today 😆 maybe need to exaggerate the cramps a bit for a break!