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?

@StorkVisit good luck 🤞❤️ will be thinking of you on Wednesday. Is it warm where you are? Hope you’re able to take your mind off it all and have a relaxing time!

@StorkVisit Will be thinking of you and wishing you all the luck for your transfer.

Sadly my HCG test was negative as I expected. I still have embryos frozen so in theory I’m starting again with my current cycle but just waiting for some blood test results to come back to make sure there was nothing that caused it not to work.

Hi girls. New to this thread but triggering tonight for egg collection on Thursday. They made me stim for a dates 3 days and today my follicles were showing in size from 22-26mm. I’m worried this is too big and they are now over mature? Anyone had any experience of this?

@Bloop123 its been between 16 and 20 degrees. It’s 2 degrees at home though. I’ve been to the beach, spent time reading my book. I’m trying to relax whilst keeping myself distracted. Please send positive energy. I’m feeling pretty nervous. It’s tomorrow!
@RainbowFluff im honestly so sorry it didn’t work. I was gutted last time when it didn’t work. I think it’s a numbers game.
@Costa44 i stimmed for 10 days the first time and got 5 eggs. Stimmed for 11 days this time and still only got 5 eggs. I think maybe that’s a maximum number you can get . I hope egg retrieval goes well for you. I’d recommend using a hot water bottle and paracetamol and codeine. I don’t love the experience but hopefully it’ll be worth it 🤞

@RainbowFluff im so sorry to hear that ❤️ I know nothing we can say will make it any easier, but good that you’ve got more embryos. So do you wait for your ovulation and go again straight away? I hope you’re finding time for some self care x

@costa44 welcome! This is a lovely supportive group. Good luck tomorrow, let us know how it goes🤞

@StorkVisit how did today go? Xxx

I think it went well. The embryologist said that she thought they’d been harsh with the grading and that our embryo is better quality than they first thought. Originally I was told the grade was 4BB. She said it was 4BA. I was also told he/she would start to implant on Thursday or Friday.
@Costa44 how was egg retrieval? How was your day 1 phone call?

I found out yesterday that the most recent transfer failed. How are the rest of you getting on? How many transfers did you have before you had success?

Hey @StorkVisit I’m so sorry to hear that, this whole process is so hard, I hope you’re doing okay. Have you had some time off work? Did you say you had a plan for if it didn’t work out?

it was the first day of my cycle yesterday so my clinic are going ahead with the next protocol, due to start stims on 6th Jan. Did you stop drinking alcohol the month before your rounds? Such a hard time of year for it! xx

I'm so sorry @StorkVisit! Thinking of you. No transfers here yet but others will be able to share their number of attempts I'm sure.
Good luck @Bloop123 . I did cut out alcohol personally but not sure a moderate amount would make a difference.

I’ve been better! My mum is poorly. We’ve had 2 failed cycles close ish together and a big argument. I had 4 weeks off to go to Greece so I’ve had no time off since I found out it failed. I’m headachey and stesssed ☹️
I gave up alcohol, caffeine, crisps, chocolate and sweets. Drank fruit juice, ate fruit, veg and lots of protein.
i found the diet restrictive and stressful and it also didn’t work. My doctor said a glass of wine wouldn’t hurt but not to drink to excess. I wouldn’t want to be as restrictive next time.

@StorkVisit that sounds like so much on your plate, sorry you’re going through it, has your work been supportive about it? I’ve already prepped my manager that i might need some time off if this next round doesn’t work. I hope you’re finding some time for yourself through it all. Yeah I think I’m going to allow myself a drink here and there over Christmas…

@Bloop123 work have been good. I phoned in sick on Thursday and Friday. They were lovely and just told me to put my feelings down to the hormones and treatment and said to take the time I needed.
I think a drink here and there is fine.

That’s good. I’ve told my manager that I’m going to go off sick over my next round, especially if we make it to transfer for the TWW - I don’t really care what they say, some things are more important aren’t they!

Hi everyone, I went a bit AWOL as I had a horrible time post transfer. Two really heavy bleeds only 2 weeks apart, nearly went to A&E with the second one but thankfully it settled down. I had to wait for my cycles to return to normal before starting again but I’m now gearing up for the next one, number 2 with this clinic and number 4 altogether.

I gave up alcohol, caffeine and gluten for 18 months and to be honest I think it made things more stressful especially the gluten because it’s almost impossible to get food when you’re out anywhere. I haven’t gone back to that yet but I’ve had the odd coffee the last couple of months and the odd glass of wine, after having none at all for so long it feels like a real treat to have any so I’ve stuck to one or two a week.

Hey @RainbowFluff sorry to hear you’ve had a tough time. When’s this next transfer booked?

ive literally just had my egg collection, they managed to get 6 eggs :) which im pleased about as this is two more than last time - woohoo. Now I wait for the phone call tomorrow about how many are mature/ fertilised 🤞🤞

how is everyone else getting on? Sending hugs to you all xxx

Hi Bloop and Rainbow Fluff. My mum has been ill for most of 2025. She was in ICU for a couple of months. That coupled with two failed transfers meant that I’ve been pretty stressed out.
I turn 40 in May. Me and my partner had a big argument over Christmas and now I’m really feeling the pressure. Id like to be in a good place emotionally and relationship wise before round 3 but i also don’t want to leave things too long. Im thinking of going for E.R soon but not doing transfer for
a couple of months.
really.
sorry to hear you’re having a rough time @RainbowFluff. @Bloop123 really hope you get some good news over the next few days. I know how stressful waiting for those calls are.

I’m sorry to hear that @StorkVisit sounds like you’ve had such a tough time. This takes a toll on so much of life doesn’t it. It makes total sense to wait until everything feels more stable, you’ve got to have that support around you after all! If it makes you feel any better, my consultants have always said that waiting a few months isn’t going to make a big difference fertility/quality wise - and I have low amh!

I’m in the dreaded wait period atm. This clinic don’t update us on day 3 so I have now idea how the embryos are getting on - just hoping not to get a call to say they’ve all failed 😬 x

@Bloop123 2025 was the worst year I’ve ever had an 2026 didn’t start off amazing. Hoping things improve. I’m going to talk to the doctor about options (freeze eggs, embryos, taking a slight gap) and get some guidance.
Have you had the call? Are you doing your transfer this month? Really hope you got a couple of embryos.

@Bloop123 Wow 6 eggs, that’s amazing! Have you had an update on your embryos, you must have done by now? I have everything crossed they were good ones for you.

@StorkVisit I’m sorry you had such a tough year alongside IVF. It already leaves so little time or energy for anything else, it’s such horrible luck when other things happen as well. I hope 2026 will be better for you.

I’m 5 days into the TWW so trying not to go slowly mad. I had major immunotherapy this time which cost a fortune but at least it’s another potential avenue explored. I feel like I’ve had everything the fertility world has to offer by now!

Hey @StorkVisit @RainbowFluff, thank you and yes we managed to get 5 fertilised and then 4 made it to blast, I’m currently 4dp5dt with the one they transferred. We only got one day 6, C grade blast last time so this was quite a shock, feeling v grateful.

i do not feel very pregnant at all atm though, feeling all my usual endo pains so not feeling massively hopeful about this one.

@RainbowFluff we’re pretty much on the same time line! How are you feeling? What does the immunotherapy consist of, it is something I’ve worried about as I have hashimotos and suspected endo.

@StorkVisit really hope 2026 improves for you and turns out a whole load better than 2025. Good idea to talk to the doc about options, it always feels better when you’ve got something booked in doesn’t it xxx

Hey @Bloop123 im best of luck! 4 is good at least you can try again without starting again though really hope this time it works.
im not sure if my partner wants to do another round at all. I think I’ll go ahead on my own if he doesn’t. That’ll be a big change from where I things were headed. :-(

@RainbowFluff really hope this time works for you too! It’s so hard I remember trying not to symptom spot then noticing things and googling. Hopefully time will go quickly and you’ll both get some good news

@Bloop123 I so hope that everything is continuing to go well with your transfer, have you had any symptoms yet? I had intralipids for my transfer in October and then I had IVIG this time around. It’s because when I had immune blood tests some of my cytokines were elevated, and it was something else to try! I spent extra money having embryo glue this time as well, although these are day 3 embryos so it might be that they wouldn’t make it to blast anyway.

@StorkVisit the time is definitely going quicker not being at work as I can distract myself more. I’m on so much progesterone that I have symptoms from that but I haven’t had any pregnancy-specific ones yet. It’s so hard deciding whether to do another round, for us it feels like our lives have been on hold for years waiting for this to happen and we’re both fed up with it.

@RainbowFluff if you don’t mind me asking, how much does it cost to get the immune test done? I’ve heard it can be pricey. Unfortunately I’m testing negative, so definitely not happened this transfer. But I am feeling grateful for 3 in the freezer - of course my mind is racing through why I might not be implanting etc etc - so much to worry about isn’t there.

when are you testing? Keeping fingers crossed for you this round! Xx

@Bloop123 we’ve done 2 rounds and only have the money for a 3rd. I’m not ready to give up. I don’t know what that means for
my relationship. I’m waiting for a call with the doctor as I’m thinking of freezing eggs.