IVF / ICSI AUGUST 2025

[VioIetMoon]

I thought I would create an August support thread for anyone that may need it ❤

There was no refund option unfortunately for me as I am currently 39, ive paid for 3 cycles at a reduced rate without meds. Hope your baseline scan goes well and you can get started, im on 450 iu Merifort atm so the highest dose, but heard some stories where it hasnt worked as well when on this dose, but will see. I have my first scan whilst on stims 1st August eagerly waiting to see how many follicles I can grow x

@Hopeful786 Do you mind me asking how much you paid for the 3 cycles with access? If you don't want to share, thats absolutely understandable. Our bill for this one cycle seems to be standing around 10k and that's not including extras such as anesthetic / nurse for retrieval should we chose to use it as that doesnt seem to be included in our cycle cost. We were quoted another £400+ for that , so realistically were over the 10k mark now.
I have a scan this week so assuming we get the go ahead I should be starting stims this week at some point. On my last scan I had a cyst so I'm hoping I don't have a reoccurance as that would effectively cancel the cycle for another month. I've been prepped with the contraceptive pill to start and I absolutely would not be willing to take it for another month

@VioIetMoon not all all, we have paid around 13.5k for three cycles not including meds, meds for each cycle will be around 2.5k and we paid around £500 for initial scans, bloodwork and consultation. Ive had alot of headaches with Stims, so trying to stay hydrated to help and so fatigued its unreal, took two days off work and just slept. Fingers crossed you get the go ahead soon xx

Has anyone else been/is on norethisterone? I took my last dose yesterday and wondering when to expect a bleed. I’m meant to start stims on Sunday but have to wait for a bleed first!

@Georgiaivf for me it was always within a few days ( about 3) however I know women that it's taken 10 days so it's very hard to pinpoint when you'll bleed.

I'm also waiting for a bleed post pill but no signs of showing yet

@VioIetMoon ah within 3 days sounds reasonable- a lot of people seem to start around day 5ish from what I’ve seen on here/online.

I’m hoping it’s before Friday otherwise I have to message the clinic for what the game plan is if it doesn’t arrive by Sunday and then all my tracking appts & EC will be pushed out which is a pain.

When did you take your last norethisterone pill?

@Georgiaivf I only took the combined contraceptive pill this round ( no norithistherone) I'm on day 4 now but still no sign of a bleed.
I saw the nursing team today and the nurse did say the lining is quite thin so I may or may not bleed but the plan is to start stims even if I don't bleed . They haven't given me a start date yet , they said its dependant on my bloods but likely Saturday but tbc

@VioIetMoon I think I’ll be similar to you in terms of waiting, I'm on Day 3 now and no sign of a bleed- had some slight twinges but no cramps but I have been having awful night sweats! Literally sweating buckets!! I imagine it will be the drop in hormones? I usually only would sweat like that if I’m extremely unwell lol but I feel fine.

That’s good you’re able to start stims without the bleed, hopefully you get your start date confirmed soon! I’m going to message my clinic tomorrow if I still have no sign and ask what they want me to do if I don’t get it by Sunday (or if it comes on Sunday, am I still able to start).

@Georgiaivf Yeah , I would contact them and ask for their advice .
I'm not sure with regards to norithistherone as I've always had a bleed promptly after finishing that medication but it's not unusual for it to take as long as 10 days for some women. With the combined contraceptive pill which is what I'm taking this time, it stops the womb lining growing so I don't think a bleed is relevant to a cycle starting as I've read you can start without a bleed after using it. They want your lining to be thin around this stage of your cycle.
With norithistherone, I believe your womb lining continues to thicken while taking it and then you'll shed it with your period. They may just advise waiting a few more days

My bleed started this morning . I had absolutely no warning sign 😳 which is most unusual for me
I would say what your experiencing likely is due to a drop in hormones.
I felt terrible yesterday . I had a migrane , I was vomiting and felt dizzy. I definitely think that was from the hormones dropping.
I've taken medications to bring on a bleed alot in the past due to irregular cycles and I've always found synthetic hormones definitely effect you differently than when your hormones naturally start dipping

@VioIetMoon Yeah I’ll be messaging them tomorrow regardless tbh!

Ah good you got a bleed even though they weren’t sure you would/it wasn’t a requirement before proceeding with stims- although not so good you had no warning! Sorry to hear you were so unwell yesterday- I hope you’re feeling better now? All these medications are rough for sure!

Hi all, I am due to start IVF and had my AFC scan yesterday. My AMH is pretty low (4.7) and I am approaching 40 so I’m really nervous about the outcome. I had previous success (my daughter was born almost a couple of years ago through FET and we have no Frosties left). Looking for some support as it can be a very challenging journey.

Welcome @Tinkerbell098, completely understand how you feel. What’s your protocol/stims meds this time and how does it differ to your protocol with your daughter?

@Tinkerbell098 Welcome, I also have very low AMH and turn 40 next week! I have been on long protocol and finally have my day 10 scan today the first one since I started stims, hopefully they will tell me I can trigger soon, its been a long month.

Just had my scan, only 3 follicles on the mature range for my right ovary 1 x 16, 1 x 17 and 1 x 19, the left had a few but around the 6mm range. Feeling disappointed with the numbers but I do have low AMH so trying to stay realistic and positive at the same time. It only takes one 🤞🏾

Welcome @Tinkerbell098 your not alone , ill be turning 40 at the end of the year.
I'm extremely nervous aswell. Success appears to be such a roll of the dice doesn't it?
Any idea when you'll be able to start?

@Hopeful786 Understandable. When will you trigger?
People say it over and over and you do get sick of hearing it but it really does only take one.
On my previous cycle , from that collection we ended up with only 4 mature eggs, 3 fertilised. All 3 got to blastocyst stage but only 2 were suitable for transfer due to quality. We did a double transfer and both those embryos were of low quality 5cb and 3cc, the cc would have been discarded aswell had we chose not to opt for a double. From that cycle I was blessed with my son.
I really thought we had no hope given the low number of collected eggs so stay positive.
I'm not sure how this round will fair out. I seem to be on a slightly lower dose of meds this time around 🤷‍♀️

Hello!
I just started my stims (follistim and menopur) last night! Anyone currently going through the stims part of IVF?

@Bees28 I start stims tomorrow.
How are you feeling?

Thanks @VioIetMoon let’s see what happens

@Bees28 Im on day 10 Stims, should be doing trigger any day now, just waiting for a call from my clinic x

@VioIetMoonThis is my first IVF cycle. I do have one kiddo I conceived naturally so this has been secondary infertility for me.
I’m feeling decent. A little on the shakey side and fatigue, but other than that I’m ok.
@Hopeful786nice! You’re almost there to that ER!
how has it been for you?

@Georgiaivf thank you, I’m on a short protocol, same as three years ago. I haven’t had the meds list yet, they’re going to issue my prescription at the injections lesson appointment, which is in a couple of weeks.

@Hopeful786 three mature ones are good. Are you still stimming or triggering soon? It’s quality over quantity so stay positive!

@VioIetMoon we are going away for my 40th at the start of September so we decided to start stims after my sept period which will fall towards the end of the month. So we still have a couple of more months to go. Can’t believe I’m back on this after three years. It brings back so many memories (especially as our first transfer ended in a miscarriage). Good luck with stims!

@Tinkerbell098 i did my usual meds today, clinic have said they will contact me tomorrow about the trigger timings, i think it could be tomorrow night x

Hi all
Just joining in as due to start norithistherone in a week. First attempt at ICSI due to MFI.
Bit apprehensive about the whole process and initially wondering about side effects to the meds, but also keen to get started as it's been a long process to get to this point through the NHS!

Hi @BellaTink647welcome :) we are doing our first round of ICSI/IVF for MFI also.

I’ve just finished my norethisterone 5 days ago and finally started to get my bleed today so should be starting stims tomorrow evening. How long will you be on the norethisterine for before starting stims? I’d heard horrendous things about norethisterone before starting but it was pretty manageable for me, I was on microgynon for a month prior and that seemed to wreak more havoc with my emotions tbh!

Glad it was ok for you! I'm due to take it for 10 days. How long did you have to take it for?
Hope the injections start OK for you.