July IVF/ICSI/FET

[DeeKel]

I didn’t see a thread for July IVF yet. I am due to start stims around 18Jul with estrogen priming starting the week before that. Collection will be the end of July all going well.
This will be my second IVF and I will be using ICSI. I will be 40 during treatment and 41 come collection. I have a child from my first IVF 3 years ago. Since then I had a chemical pregnancy Dec 2024 with my only other embryo from my 2022 cycle and a failed IUI in Feb this year.
I found the discussion board really helpful and supportive in my first IVF round as we all understand the crazy ups and downs of this rollercoaster. Wondering if there are any others with similar timing?

I’m sorry to hear of everyone’s news today, it’s so tough isn’t it, I hope you all have lots of support around you xxx

What sad news to come on today and read everyones sad news, im so very sorry this cycle was not the one for alot of us.
What is everyones plans moving forward?

Another round for us, this time with ICSI I think. My consultant says I can go again at the end of this month but I had thought you were supposed to leave a few months between rounds - has anyone else done egg collections close together? I did one mid-July and the next would be early Sept. I was lucky and had an easy ride with my meds, etc.

What’s everyone else doing now? Hope everyone who’s had rubbish news is doing ok xx

@FridayFinch and @Miraclemuma03 I’m meeting with my consultant on the 22nd to find out what they suggest in terms of protocol change. I definitely want to try again. It’ll be ICSI. Just not sure whether I’ll go with them or someone else. Care seems to have the monopoly in our area.

@FridayFinch I did two rounds back to back, exactly 4 weeks between egg collections. We did ICSI both times and we used zymot the second round and got a much better fertilisation rate. I had a bit more pain after the second egg collection but I’m not sure whether that had anything to do with the time frame. I wouldn’t have any concerns personally with doing two collections close together

I'm also with Care @StorkVisit - there are other options in our area, but overall I've been happy with them (other than their fairly opaque pricing 🙄) - as my issues is really just my age and resulting chromosomal issues, I think I probably stand a good a chance with them as anyone else. How have you found them?

That's interesting, thanks @Pinguino24. I hadn't thought about Zymot and no one at the clinic has raised it although I've just looked and they do offer it. At this stage I'm willing to do anything that might help!

@FridayFinch It could be worth a try! The first round I had 8 mature eggs and 5 fertilised, 2 made it to day 5 blast. The second round the clinic started using Zymot for all patients. I had 9 mature eggs and all of them fertilised, with 4 making it to blastocyst. The only other changes between the two rounds were 1 extra day of stims, eating a bit more protein and drinking more water.

I’m thinking I might see if I can transfer my last two blasts in one cycle given they are untested and have a low probability of taking. I’m not sure if my clinic will do that. I would like to go straight into FET prep as soon as I can. I just want this all over and done with to be honest so I can close the chapter on it. I won’t do another round due to my risks with clotting and DVT. I need to make the right decisions and make sure I am here and healthy for my daughter. I’ve to wait until my beta Tuesday which feels soooo far away- 13 days from transfer feels a long time to wait for bloods!

@FridayFinch I just finished dual stim which was 18 days between egg collections, before that I had 2 back to back cycles which worked out about 6 weeks between. I had to have the withdrawal bleed and then start medication on my next normal period. So you should be able to start again quite quickly.

I’m having a lovely break from IVF at the moment, although I am still recovering from EC so I’m impatiently waiting to go back to swimming and other exercise. I haven’t had a bleed yet since my EC last Monday, I have to let the clinic know if it doesn’t arrive by Monday next week. After that it’s starting to prepare for transfer which will likely involve some immunotherapy and maybe a hysteroscopy, although I’m hoping they may be able to do this at the same time as the transfer. I don’t want more procedures yet!

Our clinic can't get us in for the review appointment until September but that us probably a good thing as it gives us some time to process before having to make some decisions.

So sorry to hear this month hasn't worked out for so many on this thread. Sending hugs to everyone and good luck if you are moving forward with further treatment.

That sounds good. I am on a break as well as my cycle was a freeze all and because of work and holidays and the way my cycles fall we won't be able to attempt a transfer until October/November time. But I am finding the break really positive. I knew from the start that it would likely be a freeze all due to my AMH level so it wasn't much of a shock (although I did briefly get my hopes up that we might be ok for fresh but by the time EC rolled around I was so swollen and uncomfortable I was quite happy to stop any meds and just let my body recover).

Hopefully we will all find success in our next step. There has been so many ups and downs in this thread and just goes to show there is nothing predictable about IVF but also how strong and resilient we all are. Sending sticky baby dust to all.x

yes wishing you all the best in your next steps. Ive got an appt with a new clinic next week so no break for me - I just feel with my low AMH the more waiting just stresses me out even more. But I am all v new to this, so who knows how I’ll feel after my next round.

one thing someone has mentioned to me that might help with my low amh situation, and with that I imagine not great egg quality, is DHEA. Does anyone know if this is worth looking into? There’s such a lot of info and research that you can get bogged down in! xxx

@RainbowFluff enjoy the break before your transfer. I think we are going to try and do a fet in September or maybe October. Not sure yet.

@Bloop123, I feel the same as you. We only got 5 eggs last time and with only 8 follicles. I don’t really want to wait.
In plan on starting again in September or October at the latest. I haven’t heard of DHEA but will do research and I’ll see if anyone on here has.
im going to ask about zymott too.

@Bloop123 I read “it starts with the egg” and went on the Zita West egg quality supplements for four months before my cycle. They cover most things but not DHEA, when I looked into this it needed to be prescribed. The clinic I went to for these cycles said that they would recommend if I needed it but said that I didn’t based on the blood tests (my AMH is good for my age).

@FridayFinch i think Care were fine. Communication was good, they had different options for appointments but I did feel it was a “no frills option”
we had one scan on day 9, no bloods taken. I think others in this group were monitored much more heavily.
im not sure if this was because I’m NHS right now.
i want to see what the new plan is in terms of protocol and monitoring before deciding whether to stay with them

@StorkVisit i feel that I wasn’t monitored at all either, had one day 10 scan, and no bloods. even when I called in worrying about progesterone levels due to break through bleeding. But that was also my NHS round. I’m going to ask Care in my appt next week, but I assumed as we’re now going to be paying for that they kinda have to monitor more closely if we ask for it, don’t they?😂

I also think because I’m 32, the professionals in my first round have all had the perspective that “you’ll be fine, your eggs will be healthy”. So I’m really hoping they’re going to take me more seriously now, as I’ve known for a few years that something is up with my body. Hard when it feels like you’re hitting your head against a brick wall sometimes!

@Bloop123 From what I understand DHEA stimulates testosterone production. So you have to be careful not to overdo it. For this reason I felt it was too complicated to work out, but you could definitely ask your doctor if it would be beneficial - you would need guidance on how much to take. For what its worth I took CoQ10 (Ubiquinol 400mg per day), Omega 3, 2000iu Vit D per day and Pregnacare.
I don't want to be insensitive about sharing good news given this month hasn't gone as hoped for many people. But in case it provides some hope to others - we found out that 3 of our 6 embryos are genetically normal. I can't really believe it - I was hoping for 1 so 3 it feels wonderful. Have an appointment tomorrow to find out about next steps for a frozen transfer.

@Pinguino24 - massive congratulations! It’s not insensitive at all. We all tried this month for good news! Really pleased this ivf journey seems to be working for you. Hopefully the rest of us will have better news in September/ October.
@Bloop123, I plan on asking lots of questions to see how they plan to tailor the treatment now I know more about it and I’m paying. I’m going to look into another clinic and I’m also considering a clinic in Greece. My friend’s sister used them and they’re doctor led.

@Pinguino24 oh this such amazing news, please don’t feel sorry for sharing. We’re all on the same journey and hearing positive news fills me with hope, so happy for you.

i have actually just ordered some ubiquinol :), so will deffo get on those other supplements you’ve shared. If you don’t mind me asking @Pinguino24 have you struggled with your embryo quality before? do you have an idea of what you did different in this round? Xxx

@Pinguino24 sorry I can actually see you’ve basically answered my question in the posts above x

@Bloop123 my doctor recommended COq10. I was told to get 600mg.

I started taking it on 1st June (as soon as he suggested it).