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.

@LimeBird sorry to hear about your abnormal embryo. I have also told my husband if this doesn’t work out I am getting a golden retriever puppy!

I am still waiting for the PGT-A results for my one embryo from our last cycle, it’s taking a long
time!

Thanks @YellowTack , good choice! We are thinking Labrador or a Springer but I know how mad Springers are 😂

@LimeBird really sorry to hear the results of the testing. Sorry if this isn’t helpful but did you ever look into DHEA? I’ve heard of some folks responding well to that who have previously had no/low blastocysts.

@K8113 hope your appointment was okay and you got some clarity.

@FluentTealGuide what a lot you have on your plate! Glad they can check it out soon but not helpful to have another thing to think about. I’m still waiting for my withdrawal bleed, two weeks later. Did you get yours?

@CloudyIvy55 Thanks for asking! They rang this morning and said we have 4 left, and they look pretty good quality at this point.
They said statistically for my age, they would expect 40% to make it to blastocyst from here, which means that we are hoping for one or two on Friday/Saturday. So relatively good news for now, but I felt totally exhausted after the call! This is my first time and maybe you get a bit more used to it, but I'm finding it hard to understand how people manage life and IVF at the same time, it's so tough!

Hi ladies so an update. My HCG on Monday was 248 and today 130 and internal scan showed bleeding in my womb. So I am miscarrying! Wow this never gets any easier. Thanks to everyone checking in and sorry for my ranting xxx

@K8113 I'm so sorry to hear that, it's so brutal. I had two miscarriages, one month after the other earlier this year (each time we thought we had narrowly avoided IVF and then had the let down). I hope you do something nice for yourself over the next few days or once you are past the physical aspects.

@K8113sending you love. I’m so sorry you have to go through this x

@K8113 so so sorry you are having to go through this. Sending lots of love x

@K8113 im so sorry for you. I was so happy for you when I saw your positive result so I know how awful you must be feeling now. Sending you lots of love ❤️ look after yourself

@Pinguino24 that's great news! I had 5 eggs, 5 on day 3 and 3 made it to blastocyst. I’m also 40 but didn’t do PGT-A testing (wish I did now as my day 5 transfer failed). Hope you get good news on Friday/Saturday ❤️

I’m so sorry @K8113 :( it’s so cruel and unfair and I’m thinking of you x

Hello @LimeBirdim so sorry for hear your news. After all the work leading to an egg collection it’s just so so unfair :(

@CloudyIvy55 if we’re lucky enough to get to transfer, I’m going to go for medicated. I think I just don’t want to leave anything to chance if I can help it. I’m sure the science says either way has the same results but I think I just want to throw everything at it xxx

@LimeBird That must have been so frustrating, no wonder you were angry. Have you thought about transferring your blastocyst anyway? I’m sorry to suggest as I’m sure it’s a really sensitive topic, but I read an article recently about the tests sometimes being inaccurate. I can try to find the link if you’re interested but totally understand if not.

@K8113 I’m so sorry that it didn’t work out for you this time. I hope you can do something nice for yourself this weekend.

Love all the people that are thinking of getting dogs! I’m really looking forward to a glass of wine, I gave up drinking last April before my first cycle and really didn’t think it would all take this long. Hoping for duostim with my next cycle so maybe I can have one after.

Well ladies as this is me now out, I’m sat in bed with a glass of Prosecco … LARGE! I’ve just booked a last minute holiday for me and my little girl (5) for the weekend and saying a big f u to this entire thing!
wishing everyone still going all the best! I have 3 embryos on ice so when the time comes we go again but for now … me time xxx

It’s really helpful to see all your messages. I’ve done 3 rounds of IVF privately, first one resulted in pregnancy but early miscarriage & the 2nd & 3rd failed.
My clinic has advised RIF - recurrent implantation failure tests but their communication is a bit poor. Can anyone suggest the most important tests to have?
I feel a bit like giving up now but when I see others who are continuing after failed rounds it gives me hope. I am 42 though but there are no specific issues with my partner or myself
thanks x

I’m so sorry for you, look after yourself and maybe try and plan something you can look forward to x

So sorry to hear @K8113 I hope you have some support around you and look after yourself this week :( holiday sounds like a great plan!

thanks @HelloPippa0 I was actually taking DHEA for about a year, prior to my first round (nhs) last year. My first round produced one blast which failed to implant. Then when I started my 3-cycle package last autumn, they told me to stop as my levels would be high ( no blood test was done though to confirm this). So I stopped and haven’t had much luck getting blasts since! only the one from Nov which turned out abnormal. Although that may also be age but does make you wonder.

@Hopeandfaith1990 I know right? So much work and sacrifice to even get the eggs, and we had such hope this time getting most eggs we’d got over 4 rounds.

@RainbowFluff I would have transferred anything they’d let me at this stage, but they said it had an extra chromosome, something about ‘19’ which I can’t remember so she said it’s not one they’d allow me to transfer 😔

Thanks for all your support ladies, really hope everyone is ok x

@K8113 so sorry to hear your news. Glad you can spend some quality time with your daughter this weekend.

@LimeBird Interesting they didn’t do a blood test but I guess they are right that they don’t want it getting too high. I took it for a short time as a blood test had indicated that it was low, although it got back up to the right level fairly quickly and with quite a low dose.

@Roo666 sorry to hear you haven’t had much luck with implantation. I’ve seen a lot of people talk about the CRP clinic in Epsom - think they specialise in autoimmune issues etc. Looks v pricy though.

@Pinguino24 be kind to yourself, it sure is exhausting and I’m not sure if it gets easier each time or you just get knackered/numb to it but I think you’re doing great and we are all very strong women to be doing this! But we need to take good care of ourselves as it’s a hard process x

@K8113 so sorry to hear this, thinking of you, enjoy your Prosecco and your holiday! Big hugs x

@lemonandsugarpancakes Thanks so much for sharing, that gives me some hope! I'm sorry to hear your transfer didn't take. The PGT-A seems so expensive and when we are already forking out a lot for the treatment so I can see why a lot of people choose not to do it. For me, I just wanted to minimise the risk of another miscarriage as much as possible so decided it was worth the extra.

@LimeBird That's so true - it's more just knowing what to expect in terms of the emotional rollercoaster than it feeling easier. Until each step happens you can only imagine how it actually feels. For our next round I'm going to book some kind of activity to take my mind off it on days 2 and 4 - If I'm sitting at home I have very little willpower to just not think about it!

@Pinguino24 it is so expensive and I was so worried about losing normal embryos in the process. We have now decided to test our remaining two embryos but the clinic won’t let us start this process until we have had our follow up (next friday) and then there’s a 9 week turn around for the results 😩 you’re right though, the thought of another miscarriage is terrifying and I would do anything to prevent that

@Roo666 so sorry to hear you've had a tough time. I'm on an autoimmune protocol after recurrent loss, its on the NHS via Dr Shehata who is the main Dr at CRP mentioned above. Do ask if you've any questions.

We've had our PGT-A results back and we've got some normal which I'm so grateful for. I have been trying to not even think about a transfer in case we didn't get there but I'll hopefully be doing one next cycle.

Thinking of and sending love to all. xx

@Hopeandfaith1990 I’m new on here and so grateful for your message. I do have some autoimmune issues so maybe this could be a solution for me.
As I’m 42 & find IVF so emotionally stressful, I’ve been thinking I just want to do a final 4th round & then that’s it, what will be will be. But I think I actually need to press pause, really look into potential issues before trying again,
all the best with your journey x