IVF / ICSI AUGUST 2025

[VioIetMoon]

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

@VioIetMoon Yes we’re nurse led, haven’t spoken to a Dr since our very first consultation back in April but I assume the nurses have along the way. The misinformation from different people is so confusing, and now we’ve kicked off for a literal non-issue (literally just misinformation provided by 2 nurses that weren’t aware their clinic does ECs 2 weeks out of the month and not 1 🤪).

Makes sense that they’ve increased your dose and also letting you stim for longer as your follicles need more time to grow. Did they come to this conclusion themselves or did you push for an explanation on the low stim/early trigger? I’m concerned about “overcooking” as well as we’re 2 days behind our initial schedule/injections they planned but EC next Monday makes it 3 days… I guess we have to put trust in the injection preventing ovulation and trust the trigger will be what actually causes ovulation/ the eggs to be in the right place for EC. As far as I understand you do lose a few eggs if they’re the bigger ones (or run the risk at least) because they go for the biggest batch that are growing together- so fingers crossed this is a positive change for your cycle and getting more eggs 🤞🏼 My nurse today said she couldn’t possibly tell me right now if we’re likely doing a fresh or frozen transfer and wouldn’t know until EC, but I’ve previously been told they’d change my trigger if we go for a freeze all so think she was talking crap tbh haah

@Waitingforday6 I agree, some of them are so desensitised for sure! I got no reassurance with the first nurse I spoke to today- maybe she was having an off day or had to deliver bad news to a previous patient, but it was really frustrating me she didn’t even know what day stims I was on, or what dose, or what injections I’d taken so far… which is so weird because the other nurse literally knew all that and increased our dose without us even asking.

I do feel a little ridiculous for complaining but it’s for sure all the unknowns and last minute changes that set you on edge… You just want everything to go to plan to give us the best chances of a baby!

Thanks for letting me rant, I hope that’s the end of that and our next few appts go more smoothly haha 🤗

Rant away @Georgiaivf whatever gets you through this! I think if you trigger with Ovitrelle then it can be fresh or frozen but if it's Buserelin it has to be frozen. In my case they didn't let me trigger with Ovitrelle as they had already decided at the final scan that it was definitely frozen as I was at risk of OHSS but maybe they'll do Ovitrelle with you to keep options open depending on how you feel/your blood test?

@Waitingforday6 ah I see! They haven’t told me the frozen option but good to know the name of one of them. My schedule says Ovitrelle but I’m on the cusp of fresh/frozen so it could go either way tbh- I’ve currently got 20 follicles growing and they said if you have over 20 it’ll be a freeze all (that’s what the dr said at our consultation anyway!). I think it’s unlikely I’ll be doing a fresh but it probably is too early to tell haha, the not knowing really does drive you mad!

How are you finding this in between bit? Have you had your post EC bleed yet or has it not been long enough?

I have started the post-EC bleed (apparently it starts quicker if you take Buserelin rather than Ovitrelle in a freeze all) and the nurse warned me it would be full on as the lining can get to two or three times the usual thickness. It was definitely more intense but thankfully not painful. I've been enjoying all the treats since EC but ordered a book on prenatal nutrition and am going to knuckle down and try to really use the next 2-3 months to prepare as best as I can. Of course I don't think if I do this it will definitely work or if I don't it definitely won't (and people get pregnant naturally all the time without thinking about food or alcohol or anything like that) but I followed a 'fertility diet' before EC and if nothing else it made me feel healthy. 😆

Can't edit for some reason but just to add not diet as in calorie restriction but I had lots of salmon and vegetables, eggs, bone broth, reduced UPFs, eating veg before meals and walking after. Man I sound annoying and in no way do I think it's needed (and also I'm no IVF expert 😆)

@VioIetMoon I think I am feeling less emotionally involved compared to my previous cycles, probably as a coping mechanism as I have had so many disappointments. In a way I am relieved that we have decided this will be our last cycle. We are trying to bank embryos before doing any transfers because I had 2 MMC so we want to do PGT-A testing. So far we have one euploid banked, I really really hope we can get a few more!

I have my first scan tomorrow, I am a little but worried about how many follicles they will find as my during my last IVF cycle I only had 2.

It’s good that your clinic decided to delay the trigger, hopefully more follicles will be mature with the additional few days of stimulation! Your clinic sounds very frustrating with all the confusion and mistakes!

@Georgiaivf it’s shocking to hear how your clinic are managing your cycle, I am sorry you have to deal with more stress because of them!

@Waitingforday6 it can’t hurt to be healthier, I will also try to eat healthy during this cycle, with a lot of vegetables and healthy fats!

@Waitingforday6 Ah that’s interesting to know! Glad it wasn’t too bad, I hope mines the same! You deserve all the treats after EC. I’m of the same opinion that people of all different variations of weight and health go on to have pregnancies so don’t stress yourself out too much with it, but I will be doing the same - I was trying to eat healthier in the lead up to stims etc but since going back and forth to the clinic for our tracking scans it has thrown our diet a little off as we tend to grab lunch on the way back (there’s an M&S foodhall down the road lol). I’ve been eating things like avocado, more veggies, a Brazil nut a day (I’ve no idea if this works lol but it’s not a hardship to eat one a day haha). That reminds me I do need to be going on walks more often!

Good luck for your first scan @YellowTack. And thank you, it is very frustrating to be worrying about the admin/scheduling side of things more so than what my body or follicles are doing but hey ho!

@Georgiaivf Haha yes the constant running to the appointments , it's hard to stay on track sometimes. I've had a few skipped breakfasts and had to grab a sandwhich on the motorway some days . Some nights I've been so exhausted to make dinner as I'm so tired and not sleeping enough and ended up just eating carbs like just bread for tea. However I didn't do any prepping with diet last cycle and we still managed 3/3 blasts and it gave us our son so I take the diet thing with a pinch of salt. I think its a roll of the dice. Sometimes you can do everything right and it still fails and then you could nothing and it works. It's such a cruel game. I really think at this point is pot luck. I've been trying to eat better this cycle , more nuts, more veg and fruit daily. Ive been drinking liquid liposomals that make me want to vomit and i bet it'll probably have a worse outcome 😆

@YellowTack best of luck for your scan today . Hopefully this cycle you get a few follicles.
Most of my follicles don't seem to contain eggs. I think it's probably pcos related and possibility my age wouldn't be helping. On my last cycle 70% of my follicles were empty

@VioIetMoon yep can relate to the carb-y dinners haha, I had chicken goujons and chips last night, but to balance it out I added some cucumber lol. I feel for you being so far out from your clinic! Yesterday we were out of the house for appt shenanigans for 3 hours and I was exhausted, I can’t imagine a longer drive on top. Hopefully only 1 more appt for you before EC if yours is on Friday?

I agree I think it’s pot luck and whilst diet probably does help fertility somewhat, I think there are many other factors that go into it that can’t be controlled (without medical intervention) so I’m trying not to be too strict with myself! I’ve really taken on board the “high dairy” advice from the nurses from stims as I can do that easily haha, I am the type of person that happily drinks a glass of milk (with a cookie ofc) and been eating more cheese and yoghurts etc. But that’s more to prevent OHSS.

Hey ladies, I am new here, firstly want to say thanks for setting up the thread and also Christ what us woman have to go through is horrendous, so i am sorry we are all here.

Currently undergoing my first IVF Cycle and on day 6. I have been TTC for last 4 years and had 7 miscarriages, i am being treated for immune issues privately, but my latest loss was a Genetic issue - so trying IVF with PGT-A testing and will hopefully have an embryo to implant alongside a immune protocol.

Hating the injections and already feeling super emotional. I have to start the Fyremadel tonight - which apparently is more painful. Any tips? Had 20 follicles at my scan yesterday - which Dr said was good considering i have a low AMH.

@Jecca88 sorry to hear about your 7 miscarriages. You must be such a strong woman to find the will to try again after all this heartbreak!

Fyremadel always gives me a little rash, but for me it is tolerable. I am starting it today as well.

Welcome @Jecca88, sorry to hear about your journey so far, agree it feels as though we have to go through so much more than most.

I did my first fyremadel yesterday and second one this morning, and just wanted to reassure you that it wasn’t half as bad as what I was expecting! I was terrified from the reputation I’ve seen it online but it really wasn’t bad at all. The needle is only slightly thicker than my Gonal F and I injected into my thigh at a 45 degree angle and bevel facing down, I could barely feel it and i personally didn’t find it tough to inject. There is a sting afterwards for 15/20 mins and I have a hive-looking reaction for a few hours afterwards but this is normal- it feels like a wasp sting or an itchy mosquito bite.

Obviously everyone is different but I don’t ice beforehand and was fine. Good luck! :)

I am back from my scan and unfortunately it is bad news again. There are only 2 follicles and one of them is small, they are not sure it will catch up as my other one is already 15mm after 5 days of stims. I go back for another scan on Thursday and will probably have EC on Saturday of Monday.

This is so depressing, I am only 35 but can’t seem to produce a decent amount of follicles. And my husband has MFI. All this effort and money spent for such a small chance!

I am having a very hard time staying positive as I had 2 follicles as well during my June cycle and we ended up with no embryo. I don’t understand how I went from 5/6 follicles for my first 2 cycles to now 2.

It doesn’t help that I am on my own in Prague where I am doing the IVF cycle, I think I will just spend the rest of the day watching Netflix to change my mind.

Welcome Jecca! I am sorry to hear about everyone who has suffered losses. Let's hope we all get our longed for babies soon! ❤️
My diet definitely suffered in the thick of IVF as well (and not just because we were doing it in Dublin and it turns out they have amazing ice cream parlours 😀) and I agree that while diet can have an impact on anything in your body including fertility I also resent the idea that we were all just one walnut and an extra glass of water away from natural pregnancies 😆

@YellowTack sorry to hear it wasn’t the news you were hoping for at your first scan. I have to say I am low key impressed at that one super follicle growing to 15mm in just 5 days, but understand the frustration and hesitancy in the low number of follicles. Did your clinic have you on a low or high dose of stims? And does this cycle vary much in your protocol/meds compared to previous? Sending all the positive thoughts your way and thinking of you.

lol the one walnut a day and extra glass of water made me laugh 🤣 could’ve made allllll the difference I’m sure

I don’t remember who said something about coconut water but I bought some today, maybe it will magically make new follicle appear 😂

@Georgiaivf thank you for your kind words.

This time I am on 250 IU of Gonal a day and will increase to 300 IU tonight.

My third cycle I was on Gonal 300 IU, and my fourth I was on Pergovaris 300 IU.

My follicles always grow quite fast, so this time they wanted to reduce the dose to 250 IU to see if maybe it would make them grow a little slower, but I can’t say the 50 IU less have made a difference.

I had a little cry in the toilet before leaving the clinic, this process is such a rollercoaster!

Hey everyone! So sorry to hear some of you are getting upsetting results or being treated poorly at your clinics - its hard enough being in this position in the first place let alone the rollercoaster of ups and downs during the journey.

I'm on day 7 of stims now, clinic is taking it super slow due to my extreme high AMH and high risk OHSS. Scan on Mon showed 20 and 31 follicles, all below 8mm so couldn't start ovulation stopping meds, going back tomorrow to be checked again and then on Friday as well so feeling they are keeping a good eye on me. Definitely can feel somethings going on in me, the twinges and aching are annoying but a good reminder to stay positive because things are happening.

How are you all finding the stim meds - any side effects?

Ah I'm sorry to hear that @YellowTack having to take the ivf route is really shit and especially when your out there on your own. I cant imagine what that feels like. Cry all you need too and if you need your rant your more than welcome too.
I always tend to have a dominant follicle way ahead of the rest too. My follicle on the right always grows fast and is trigger ready now but the rest are behind. im guessing thats why they upped the dose.
I know AFC can vary cycle to cycle. Have they diagnosed you with having a low follicle count ?
I was primed with microgynon and that definitely had a big effect on my afc

@Jecca88 I'm really sorry for your loses sweetheart .What an incredibly brave woman you are to keep going. I've had one miscarriage and found that so tough. Your like super woman.

thanks all for your lovely welcoming messages. @YellowTack i am so sorry it is not the news you wanted. really hoping that by some miracle the other one catches up. Sorry that you are in Prague alone too, i was there last august for a holiday, it was so hot - are you managing to do anything for a distraction? I don't blame you for crying at all - i am only on day 6 and i am an emotional wreck.

Thanks for the reassurance @Georgiaivf on the fyremadel - can i ask why you chose the thigh to inject? I am getting my husband to do my injections as i can't face it and work myself up before them.

Thanks @VioIetMoon - it has been a really rough ride and sometimes i can't quite believe i am still going or this is my life. Its amazing how we can still have hope after so many months, years of it. IVF had never been an option for us as we were able to get pregnant, just can't keep it. I am just hoping that with a genetically viable embryo and all the immune meds - it might be the winning combo. Super interested about the Microgynon too.

@hopeanddreams i am on day 5 for stims and starting the fyremadel tonight. I am emotionally all over the place and soooo tired, esp after i take them in the evenings - can't stay awake. How about you?