IVF / ICSI June 2025

[GLizzie88]

Hi All!

I might be early to it here, but thought I'd start a threat for anyone who knows they'll be going through it in June this year!

I'm based near Sheffield, and will be going through the treatment in sheffield. I'm 36, will turn 37 during the treatment. We've been through one failed round last August, so we've spent the time since getting further private checks done, and now we're ready for the next round. We came back as 'normal' on the nhs tests, but we found other things with these private tests! We've had all of our follow ups, catch up consultation appointments. Next appointment is our nurse appointment on the 5th May, then after that it's waiting for my next cycle to start at the very end of May / beginning of June.

From the further tests we've had done, I'm now on thyroid medication to bring my thyroid down to fertility recommended levels, my partner had DNA Frag & Oxidative Stress tests done and we've made improvements based on the results of these. I've also been having some acupuncture, which I've also feel has helped my sanity!

Please share your stories and hopefully we can all support each other during this. I'm much more nervous this time, even though I know we're better set up than we were last time.

@KayEmmSquared thank you!! Sorry just read this. I'm here waiting now. Feeling nervous.
Good luck to you too. I'll let you know how I get on 🙏🏻🙏🏻

My clinic called to say my partner’s DNA fragmentation results are back but he hasn’t called me yet to say what they are. I’m torn between wanting them to show something because every test I had in the last 3 years hasn’t found a problem, so it would be such a relief to finally know what the issue is. But then if it is bad, what do we do next? Just want some answers before I do yet another cycle.

@FluentTealGuide thats great news!! We had 8 of 9 fertilised which was a relief. I’m honestly starting to wonder if our clinic pushes everyone to frozen due to the ‘OHSS risk’ just to make more money - everyone in the recovery were all recommended frozen. It’s such a blow to have to pay such a large chunk more. I knew my oestrogen was high (but follicles not especially so) but they’d given me letrozole to bring it down. They didn’t even test to see how the letrozole was working before they told me it would have to be frozen.

@CloudyIvy55 the procedure itself was so so fine. Felt a lot more formal than anything so far as obviously it’s in a hospital environment but it was incredibly straight forward. Honestly most of my blood tests were worse 😂

@HelloPippa0 Those are some great stats! I was advise to freeze as my progesterone was too high – 5.5 – which the doctor said decreases the chances of successful implantation. I looked it up at the time and it seemed to track with what I saw, although researching it again now there seem to be some more recent studies saying it doesn't matter. That said, I've seen some stats shared about frozen having better results anyway (though can't account for variables as they were very similar) – and at the very least, the doctor will be working with her success stats in mind, so we're both have motivation for the same result!

Wow! 29 follicles @CloudyIvy55 that's amazing! But definitely an OHSS risk so may be a freeze all for you.

I have 6 follicles, all growing nicely according to the nurse. I’m back on Monday for another scan with a possible EC on Wednesday if I keep progressing as I am 🤞🏻

@FluentTealGuide thats very true, they did say to us about frozen possibly yielding more success generally. Just feel a bit hard done by that we’ve had to fork out so much more than planned when I can’t really see (from the research) that I was in a high risk camp!

Just had a call from the clinic and it's going to have to be a frozen cycle. Don't know why but it's completely thrown me, I'm pretty upset even though I know it's for the best. Currently at work and hiding out in the loo's 🤦‍♀️😂

@CloudyIvy55 this is a really emotional process and then add in all the hormones we take. Have a cry and hopefully you will feel better after. Hope you can escape for the weekend soon x

Unfortunately I work shifts at the weekend, so working until 11pm tonight and then tomorrow and Sunday - I've taken myself off for a break/drive though. Can't go home because my mother in law is there to look after the dog and she doesn't know we are doing IVF and I'm currently a crying mess. I've done pretty well managing the hormones and emotional side of this so far, and I knew the chance of us having to freeze all was likely so I don't know why it's got me so upset.

I'm hoping a good cry in my car will sort it out and then I'll head back to work.

Oh I understand that feeling and having to hide ivf meds so they don’t see them. Hopefully you will have an easy breezy evening and people won’t annoy you x

@CloudyIvy55 wow 29!! I had 20 and felt the effects of that so you must be feeling very ready to have those eggs out! My doctor said anything over 20 is considered risk for OHSS.

I felt similar when I knew I'd have to have a frozen but I kept telling myself that the end goal is a successful implantation and that that is the most important, a timeline is just something I've made up in my head and doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things. I do still feel upset but trying to tell myself the above!!

@HelloPippa0 Agree re having to pay more. I don't really understand why a frozen isn't included in the price in the same way a fresh is? There seems to be no consistency between clinics either which makes the pricing even more confusing ha.

@KayEmmSquared glad it went well! We are very similar hopefully EC on same day. They said everything looks good to me & scan again Monday late morning & all being well EC weds too. I think from what she showed me I have 8 follicles. She said I have some fluid on uterus but not to worry just now it will hopefully have gone by Monday. So I'm praying it does. My drugs stay the same until Monday do yours?

@Rayofsunshine22 that's a really good number of follicles! And how exciting for maybe the same EC day! Yes, my meds have to stay the same for the weekend then a scan on Monday morning 🤞🏻 from what the others have said in this chat I think the uterus fluid should clear up quickly so hopefully there’s no issues with that for you and it’s gone by Monday!

@CloudyIvy55 I hope you’re feeling a little better after your cry/drive ❤️

@KayEmmSquared thank you! You too! Yeah I hope so she told me not to worry or Google anything & hopefully by next week it's cleared. She said it could be mucus or blood that hasn't passed yet.
Hopefully next week is our week! 🙏🏻
Looking forward not having to inject twice a day!

Today is just not my day. As the day has gone on I've become increasingly uncomfortable. Cramping, feeling extremely bloated with the odd sharp twinge. Anyone else felt like this?

Hi @CloudyIvy55! sorry I can’t remember, have you had your collection? I’m sorry you’re not feeling well. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! And if you’re in a bit of pain, take paracetamol and ibuprofen. I took them both for maybe a week after my collection, 3 times a day.

Good luck everyone ready for their egg collections. I hope you produce lots of beautiful embryos..

Still waiting around over here. Im becoming inpatient. I just want to begin already.

@CloudyIvy55 did you have your EC? I usually felt ok on the day but sometimes had pain the day after, paracetamol was enough to get rid of it. During stimulation phase I definitely had a lot of bloating, there were times I could have passed for 7 months pregnant! Loose floaty dresses and walking helped. I couldn’t stand up for more than 5 minutes with my first and third cycles without pain but was ok sitting down. Hopefully either way you will feel better soon.

@CloudyIvy55 hope you are feeling better! I definitely felt quite bloated though that’s gone down now. I’ve felt quite lightheaded since EC, especially on waking up, also v tired.

@FluentTealGuide any day 3 update? I don’t really understand the grading but we got 2x 8 cell/ grade 1, 3x 8/2, 2x 9/2 and a compacting morula. They clearly think the 8 cell grade 1 is the best but Google seems to (maybe) suggest the compacting morula is the better option. They are going to freeze one 8 cell one and leave the rest to day 5.

@Miraclemuma03 sorry it’s a long wait - I can understand the desire to just get started!

Our clinic doesnt really talk about grading if im honest so I dont understand it at all. We apparently had a perfect embryo transfered in November 2024 it was a 4AA and the outcome was still a chemical so didnt really make a difference that it was apparently a perfect embryo. The only reason why I know that is because the fertility doctor told me what grading they had on it but told me it doesnt matter. I have no idea what any of my others were graded. When the embryologist updates with our embryo progress they just tell us the cells and how many and they dont talk about grading. Though also to be honest, iv never asked.

Still bloody waiting. I feel like im so far behind everyone and il never get there. I have just spent the last month in two minds about going again and whether its the right thing to do or not, hubby convinced me to it was and if we dont try we will always have the what ifs and now I cant even have a period to get started. Today I have had a headache all day and im in a bit of a bad mood but that could be because the last week iv been on and off pain medication and sleepers and they always seem to put me in a bad mood and I had a can of soft drink today which could have set off the headache so doesnt indicate a period is coming. Guess we just continue to wait. Its so true that when you dont want them they always seem to come on but when you wait for them they are fashionable late hahah how is everyone going after their egg retrieval? Is anyone having fresh transfer or are most of you doing a freeze all due to testing and OHSS scares?

@Miraclemuma03 sorry to hear your feeling fed up today. It's got to be really frustrating waiting for a period. Mine was only one day late and I was googling how to kick start a period haha. Hoping it comes soon!

I've got my trigger injection tonight for egg collection on Tuesday. I'm very bloated and little uncomfortable. Frozen cycle for me unfortunately due to OHSS. Initially I was gutted but it's for the best and I'm trying to plan a few nice things to do during the wait for my frozen transfer.

@Miraclemuma03the headache maybe a sign it’s en route. It will happen and I agree with your husband about the regret if you didn’t try. Hoping AF arrives soon for you

@Miraclemuma03 oh bless you. The waiting is such a drag in all of this isn't it. Aways waiting for everything & nothing seems to happen quickly. Really hope your period shows soon for you 🤞🏻
I'm hoping for a fresh transfer but will have to see what my scan shows & if this fluid has gone.

Anyone else had Buserilin as there trigger injection? I've just done mine. Opened the packet and didn't realise I had been given three different needle sizes. I saw the large needle first and completely panicked- there was no way I could do that! Then I saw the small needle, felt relieved and used it to inject. Only then did I see the medium sized needle and now I'm wondering if I've used the right size. I'm sure the clinic would of said if needed size mattered but I've just given myself something else to worry about 🤦‍♀️😂