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?

@Splishsplashsplosh93 exciting! Wishing you all the best for the egg collection! I know what you mean about trying to stay realistic, think my odds are 30% chance for each transfer.

I had to do freeze all as I got 40 eggs at egg collection (I have borderline PCOS) so there was too high a risk of OHSS for them to put them back in. Also we went for genetic testing - which I don’t think can be done for fresh transfers.

@ALittleExpressive and @magpie234 congratulations on being officially PUPO! How are you feeling so far? The TWW is torturous isn't it. Yes we've pgta tested but because it's our fourth full round and fifth transfer and not had any success so far so felt like the next step for us.

@PlanBFertility amazing news to have had such good fertilisation! Really hope that good news continues for you!

@DenimJoker honestly, I don't know how I feel about acupuncture. I did it during my first round and I didn't find it particularly relaxing. I didn't feel it did anything for me to calm my mind and I didn't feel any different but I obviously can't say if it improved blood flow or not. My round did work but then again I also transfered multiple embryos but only one took, which i think is down more to the embryo than anything the acupuncture did but I suppose if its claims are true and it does improve blood flow then , it can't do any harm can it?
I did reflexology aswell and would highly recommend that. It may vary per practice but at mine I got to lie on a hot bed with a hot towel around my head , listening to meditation sounds while she worked on my feet. Hell of a alot more relaxing than sitting with needles stuck in you. My acupuncturist is recognised by the board so should know what they are doing but I still ended up with painful bruises . The slightest flinch and it hurt. I literally had to remain still, no movement during the session. Definitely don't fancy it again.
I've booked in for my reflexology next week and will skip the acupuncture this time

Rang the lab, couldn’t help it. All 4 are 4 cell stage at day 2 and looking ‘lovely’. Here’s hoping they continue to do what they need to do ❤️

@PlanBFertility Get in! So happy for you. I hate the wait for the embryology updates. Keep going little guys/gals!

@FancyGoose Sadly not PUPO for me just yet as my cycle got cancelled. But hopefully soon after my period (hopefully!) starts later this month and I can start my natural/modified natural go! I think you meant @Timetotryagain :)

@FancyGoose fingers crossed for yours! Are you doing medicated?

@PlanBFertility yayyy still doing well then :D

@magpie234 fingers crossed for your next cycle! How come it was cancelled?

I am 1dp5dt and already losing my mind! When would you guys test? With my successful pregnancy i got a positive at 10dpo (a strong one) and with my miscarriages i got them at 11/12dpo but i didnt test before so i am like ahhhh do i do it at 5dp5dt or 7dp5dt? Or do i just wait haha

I am soo tired from the progesterone and having some lower back pain too

@Timetotryagain you are asking the wrong gal in me as I am so impatient! I would be 5dp5dt testing for sure. That is not to say that is the wisest course of action by any means… and my husband is on the other foot!

My medicated FET got cancelled as I reacted badly to the estrogen pills and felt unwell with migraines and constant nausea. Given I would have had to be on them for 12 weeks or something if successful, and my periods are usually very regular, with no other problems yet diagnosed, my consultant suggested stopping them and going again with a more natural approach next time. TBC exactly what that means as not got our appt with him for a couple of weeks yet… sigh! And TBC when my period will actually come after taking a week’s worth of estrogen…

@magpie234 ah so sorry about that and sorry your cycle got cancelled as well. Do you know what the next steps are? Its such a roller coaster of a journey with one step forward and two steps back sometimes.

@Timetotryagain ah so exciting but nerve wracking! I am doing medicated yep. On estrogen atm and starting pessaries and lubion tomorrow ready for transfer Thurs. Was yours medicated too? I'm going to try and hold out until official test date which for my clinic will be 9dp5dt. There's no right answer though and I've been a bit of a serial tester in the past. I've already given my partner the pregnancy tests to hide from me 🤣

@PlanBFertility that's wonderful news. When will you get your next update? Have you done anything different this round?

@FancyGoose thats a good idea to get him to hide them haha! Omg same literally i think some cycles i have tested multiple times a day from about 7dpo honestly ttc for a long time makes women insane haha!

@magpie234 yeah hopefully with your natural cycle it will be better for you if you reacted badly. Mine wss natural cycle too, no trigger shot just progesterone pessaries from 3dpo :)

@DenimJoker Looks like we're on the same schedule, I also started stims on 2nd July and it's my first cycle too.
I have been doing acupuncture, not sure how much it really does but I had a kind of 'in for a penny' attitude with throwing everything at this I can if it might help. Most of the research I read was based on acupuncture before and after transfer to increase success rate.

@DenimJoker i didnt do accupuncture because the needles make me a bit stressed so would negate any relaxation its supposed to give me haha

@Timetotryagain Oh great! Nice to hear from a fellow natural cycler. How do you know when you ovulate? Do they just take it as the first time you get a solid smiley on the test? How often were you testing? Keeping everything crossed for you!

@magpie234 Yeah so they monitor you until you have a folicle of a certain size and then you take ovulation tests until you get a positive (either the two solid line ones or the solid smiley on cb tests) snd then 6 days after that is your transfer. I tested 3 times a day at like 8am 2pm,, 8pm just to be sure haha

@Timetotryagain Thanks! I am so excited to try again. Kind of like having something to do with the testing too tbh. I think that will suit me well. How are you holding out with the TWW so far? Distracting yourself OK?!

@FancyGoose this cycle was completely different.

First two cycles with a clinic - both ended in no fertilisation after hitting me HARD with mega high doses. First round 4 eggs, all mature. Second 7 eggs, only 3 mature.

This round 7 collected, all mature. Growth hormone and DHEA for month before. Lower growth hormone throughout stims, 10 days of steroids and lots of stim drugs

Praying for good news tomorrow (Day 3 update)

Congrats to those who are currently PUPO!!! How exciting.

Good luck for those heading into egg collection and for everyone waiting for day 5 updates i hope you get good numbers.

I have thought about putting a hold on ivf this month. Im stressed out of my brain and my life feels like it has just turned to shambles. My husband says we need to just take a minute and breath. I also really hate the pill im on, there is a big possibility that its them that is making me feel overwhelmed and stressed, they also make me sick and give me headaches. Also still spotting and my period was suppose to end 4 days ago. I missed calling my clinic yesterday to talk to the nurses because i was out all day. To add to it all my cat ended back into the vets for more surgery at the beginning of the week and I got to pick him up late evening yesterday. I could scream!!!

Oh @Miraclemuma03 sounds like a really rough time and it makes sense youre thinking about a pause this month. Figuring out whether the pill is affecting your stress levels or whether external factors are triggering them is tricky. I also recall you've had a hard journey with IVF to date, so I could imagine you may also be thinking about the merits of powering ahead nonetheless.

Are there any external factors, this month or next month, which are significantly different in your life? Would these impact your decision as to whether to take a little break from treatment at this point?

@ALittleExpressive i think honestly i have taken on too much. About 4 months ago we took on a friend and her sons 3 dogs and they are taking over our entire lives, they are locked in the sheep holding area as they are unable to mingle with my guardian dogs, they also kill my ducks and chooks and they also attack my cats and i havnt trusted them around my sheep. I cant have visitors as I have no where now to lock up my guardian dogs so really we are isolated in our own home. I was unable to put on a 10th birthday party for my daughter, but I fixed this issue and gave her a maccas party . I cant have a 40th amd celebrate with my family so decided instead hubby and i will go away on our own and i can have a break. Also these people do not pay for their dogs, I pay to feed them, worm them, tick treat them and flea treat them, their treatments cost me nearly $300 a month and i spent $80 a week to feed them. Also they still have not desexed their dogs as they promised which means I could end up with puppies to also look after, feed and vet care so now it looks like il have to be financially responsible to desex at least the male pup so more financial stress. My cat has just cost me $3000 and iv been told he has a life long issue and more surgeries will most likely be needed. Also we took on said friends kids for 1 week while she was having a baby then we brought her home to look after her from surgery in our home for another week . Then I spent 2 weeks driving back and forth to her house to do her housework, help with kids, help with washing and all those things. Travelling to her house is a nearly 2hr round trip. Plus then on top of all that I have my own animals, my own kids, my own house, my own appointments and hubby has just started a new job with longer hrs. My sister inlaw has just stopped talking to me strangly enough because I bought a horse for my daughter which makes no sense lol so now my brother is limited with his conversations with me and I lost my best friend of 10yrs because I want another baby and her husband wont let her have another baby so for some reason thats my fault and unfair. So thats everything in a nutshell. I usually have pretty big shoulders , im great at handling things and I usually manage pretty well, but seems like since starting the pill its all gotten too much and life is falling apart.

Oh dear @Miraclemuma03 . You've got a lot on, by anyone's yard stick measure 🥲

As you well recognise, you have pretty big shoulders, though everyone has their limits. I would imagine being on your particular pill could be reducing the broadness of your shoulders as well, in this instance, perhaps. Pill hormones can really muck with your ability to cope, hey.

Dogs, in particular, are a handful at the best of times, but to be minding three on top of everything else is a lot to manage.

What would it look like if you told the dog owner you're not managing at the moment? That IVF is impacting your mental health and your energy needs to be devoted to your self preservation for the next little while? Would there be a reality where your mate could organise to relieve you of the dog minding?

I actually rang her yesterday and told her the pups have to go. She let her son buy 2 puppies while they were not in permanant housing, hence why I have them. I initially told her no I wouldn't take them but she assured me it was just for a couple of weeks and as soon as I took these pups on plus one old dog they have, her story has changed. I told her the dogs need rehoming to people who will love them, train them and give them a good life and freedom. I told her I want them gone before starting treatment for ivf. I need one thing off my shoulders and her dogs are having a huge impact on how we live in our home which essentially is my biggest stresser since I cant utilise every part of my own home. Like I said, these dogs have taken over my entire life.

I did also tell her that id take them to a local shelter if they cant care for their own animals themselves. I cant keep them, they dont work in our home, they are a danger to my other animals and they can not be in the main yard with my dogs as my dogs are there for a job amd are not mingling type of dogs..

@Miraclemuma03 good for you for setting a healthy boundary there. Sounds like you've got a plan in place to relieve yourself of that particular situation, which'll hopefully create space for you to focus on you 😌

@ALittleExpressive i think iv come to the realisation that im always helping people and I miss out on my own thing. We have always taken on other peoples problems and we get the raw end of the deal, we have taken on whole families in our home and our home has gotten destroyed each time, we have taken on people's pets and im always responsible for their vet care, monthly care and daily food . 3 of our friends have had babies and we have bank rolled them because we get the sob story that they are broke or have no money and are struggling. But we are on our own, no one has ever helped me with my family, no one has ever bought me something nice for my babies or pay for lunch or even a coffee and dont get me wrong, i dont exepct absoluteltyanything from the help we provide but im finding everyone has a sob story and always has their hands out . Im also mad that I have been considering cancelling my ivf cycle that I have tried to do since our April cycle was a fail, because of outside stress of others and their problems that have made them my problems. Today has been a huge feelings day and I have no one around me to talk to about it lol especially now iv lost 2 more people in my life for just living my life my own way, I dont understand how people just stop talking to you and being in your life for just living your life your own way. Obviously its some sort of jealousy?? Have no idea. Hubby wants to go ahead with a ivf this cycle and said he will fix all my problems if I would let him but i dont think I'd like how he would go about fixing them.

@Miraclemuma03 I’ve just read through your last few messages and wow you have far too much going on. You need to start prioritising you and your family and there is nothing wrong or selfish about that. When you are the person that helps everyone all the time then people start to expect it as opposed to appreciate the kind gestures you do. You need to set up boundaries (as hard as that sounds) and treat your home as that special space for your family and your bank account is yours and yours alone. Nobody else, no matter who they are or what their sob story is, has any entitlement to either. If they value your friendship then nothing should change and if they don’t then you deserve to have better friends. I know it’s easy for me to say but you do not need people in your life that take advantage of your kind nature and always expect you to put their needs above your own. If your priority and wish is to do IVF and try for a baby then remove the other noise and stressors. Those that stay to support you are true friends and the others you are better off without. Sending you strength and positivity x

@Miraclemuma03 Gosh this really does sound like a lot and you have got some solid advice from the others that I echo. Sorry things are so hard at the moment. Putting up boundaries should help - as hard as it is. I would also say though that if your current medication is making you feel mentally and physically bad for a prolonged period of time then talking to your doctor about an alternative might make sense? It is hard to give up on a cycle especially after waiting - I have just done this and my last transfer was April too - but nobody should feel unwell throughout this process in my opinion. Our health and lives do also matter which any decent clinic should support. Likewise I would hope your husband would too as it is your body going through this. I am waiting to start again towards the end of this month with a natural or modified natural cycle which takes out the estrogen (the pill that made me feel like you say you do with constant headaches/nausea/low mood). Best of luck with putting yourself first now.