IVF march 2026

[sunflower1906]

Is anyone planning a fresh cycle in March? It would be lovely to have some cycle buddies to share all the highs and lows of this whole process as we have been pretty private and not told any friends or family. I have been down regulating most of February and finally got the green light to start stims on the 28th with egg retrieval provisionally booked for Friday 13th March. Thankfully I’m not superstitious 😂😂 then planning for a fresh transfer if all goes to plan and we have an embryo 🤞🏼🤞🏼

Had my scan this morning and looks like i got 6 follicles growing on the right ovary but maybe 3 growing where they should be, but left ovary couldn't be found which is nothing new, it doesnt usually show her face or do much. Not sure what the spotting is from but uterus lining so far is measuring at just under 11mm so we are all good. I have a leading follicle at around 17mm and 2 around 11mm . Not sure if il be ready to trigger on monday but back then for my next scan and bloods. Il get my blood test results from this morning back after lunch today.

Welcome new comers. Congratulations to those who are pupo. Sorry for others who didnt get any frosties but do hope your little embryos on board are successful.

I actually transferred on Monday but I think my clinic just has a really long test date window. When we first started this journey we used to have to do two test, one urine on day 11 and one finger prick blood test on day 13 but they removed the blood one and have just kept the urine test on day 13 now which is a bit weird but is what it is!

If it reassures you, I had brown spotting too. They said it was likely from the hormones from all the stims. I didn't quite get it, but I interpreted it as 'juicy ovaries'. And my left ovary was being a little tinker and sat on top of my uterus (who knew they were so mobile!). It's because they're growing so quickly, they move anywhere they can find space.
Those are great numbers! Try get as much rest as you can, follicles grow the most when you're sleeping.

Just catching up as we were on a short caravan break this week.

@Greentiles67 I went to a wedding dinner after my second egg collection (not to be advised) but generally found after the first 2 days I was fine. I try to just live life as normally as possible after transfer. Only thing I don’t do is drink alcohol, or test early as I found that drove me demented. Only thing I feel randomly superstitious about is my partner and I have ended up wondering around Asda after both our successful transfers so I’ve told her we need to pop into Asda after this one too 😂 McDonalds is also a NO here as tried it once and it didn’t stick.

@wishinghard2 Congratulations on the Frosties! That’s a great outcome. I’m sorry the transfer was so difficult 😞

@SparklyGreenTiger Sorry for your lost, that must have been devastating to have such a late term loss.

@Iloveyellow101 What a time you’ve had. Really hope this one works out for you after all you’ve been through.

@sunflower1906 Sorry to read you didn’t get any to freeze x

RE: testing early in general - last time I tested early was a CP and it just made the whole process awful to be honest as I tested positive on 5dp5dt and official testing date was 10dp5dt. I could see lines weren’t processing and knew it and I told the nurse going in for hcg test it was a chemical. I swore never to test early again and my next 2 cycles worked so for me not testing early is also one of my superstitions now 😂

Ive had a lovely couple of days away which has been good for a distraction. First lining scan today and everything is good to go so start progesterone tomorrow and then transfer will be Thursday. Our clinic does test at 10dp5dt so test date should be 5th April I think. My parents are having a meal together Easter Sunday but I think I’ll make our excuses so we’re not there on test day as my very pregnant sister is going to be there.

I just worry because iv had so many cancelled cycles due to bleeding. I still have the slight spotting but im just going with the flow. Its not getting heavier or changing colour so we are just going to keep going and see what happens.

Have you ever asked your clinic about aspiration of the blood prior to transfer, or cervical dilation?

Im also thinking if I get anything to transfer i also wont be testing early. I actually never use to, I always waited until the clinic called me in for a beta or told me to test at home because of some spotting..I find testing early actually drives me more crazy then waiting . I tested early last transfer and it didnt end well. Think for me if im Lucky enough to have a transfer i want to be in the pupo bubble as long as I can.

@2mumlife thanks for your message ❤️it’s so shit!

RE - your Easter weekend - I think that sounds like a good idea. I’ve had the same situation with my sister - and I’m so happy for others but I do feel a little bit sad about all of the what ifs (what if it all worked!)

I think your thoughts around early testing is defo helpful and I think I’m going to avoid testing.

initially in all my cycles where I was able to fall naturally pregnant I kept a line progression diary which kept me sane until the first scan. After that I had stopped. I think the progression just made me feel like - yes everything is okay and progressing. In the end both pregnancies ended in different ways so the testing and line progression was all for nothing.

I will avoid testing until the 29th and share with you ladies!

@LifeOfRiley63 wow! Monday - they certainly make you wait for ages! My clinic doesn’t do betas but the nurse did say give us a call if you want to do a blood test. I might if I’m feeling anxious. Based on what @2mumlife said - I think I’ll avoid early testing until OTD.

has anyone felt any “symptoms”? I haven’t felt anything huge apart from period like cramps. I usually get this feeling a week in advance … 🫣 a bit nervous as this is my final NHS round!

@Miraclemuma03 I usually find waiting to test fine the first 5 days, because I can rationalise quite well that testing probably would t show anything. So it’s just the second half that requires a bit of will power. Just avoid buying pregnancy tests and flush that first pee away and then the rest of the day is easier 😂

@Iloveyellow101 Ive used the clear blue weeks indicator ones and tested about a week after I knew it really should say 3+ as a sort of half way point to the first scan for sanity. The first trimester is just one difficult wait after another I find. In terms of symptoms I had implantation bleeding on my first pregnancy but not in my second. When I get a positive I actually made it to OTD (I’ve bled early on every BFN) and the only “symptom” I seem to have is actually a strong urge not to test when OTD actually comes 😂 the proper pregnancy symptoms of nausea and for me going totally off coffee and onions and starting to get reflux only seems to kick in about a week after OTD

First cyclogest done here this morning. Sodding hate those things 😂

@2mumlife if you don’t mind me asking, are all your pregnancies ivf?

Ok you’ve convinced me. I won’t be early testing at all.

on the 4 previous occasions after transfer, I never bled despite the BFN. I think they stock me up pretty well on progesterone so I think it’s impossible for me to early bleed … would it be easier psychologically if I just bled rather than waiting for test day… technically my period is due on Thursday!

@2mumlife snap on the cyclogest! I was all ready to hear we would be doing a freeze all cycle so wouldn’t have to start them, but we got fewer eggs that expected so plan is a fresh transfer if we get anything that makes it to day 5.

The drop off feels brutal - 30odd follicles, 10 eggs (which I know is a great start still), 9 mature, only 5 fertilised. I know we still have an OK chance but not feeling super hopeful currently.

Love keeping up with you all—sending all the good vibes back! This weather has been a lifesaver for my sanity lately.
So, we had our first fresh transfer today! What a wild ride. 😅 Currently resting after a walk, and soaking it all in. Progesterone side effects are basically a pregnancy simulation at this point—the bloating!
DH are staying strong and avoiding the 'pee sticks' for now. Our OTD is Good Friday, so here’s hoping for the best news possible. 🙏

Hi All, have lost track of some questions, sorry!

Most important thing is from my 12 eggs collected on Thursday, 10 were mature and 8 fertilised (exactly the same as my 2022 cycle!) that was yesterday morning so feeling very nervous for my update tomorrow morning as so much can happen in those two days. Trying to stay positive but very hard.

If we are lucky enough to get more than one embryo we’ll do a fresh transfer on Tuesday, this would be my first if we get that far. If we only get one it’ll be a freeze all to allow my body to recover. I’m very on edge and very tired!

someone asked if this was my first cycle, it’s not. I’ve had three egg collections previously, first two just gave me one embryo each and one of those didn’t thaw (devastating). My first FET didn’t take. Second FET was my 2.5 year old and my third was my daughter that was a second trimester loss (both from cycle with new clinic).

Sending you all so much support through this, everyone’s journey is so different but I have been where most of you are. For what it’s worth, I’ve never tested early, never even been tempted as I wanted to leave as long as possible and give myself the best chance. After all my FETs I had McDonalds fries, for better or worse 😂😂

And man do I feel you all on the cyclogest pessaries! Hate them! But if they help, I’d do four a day and I think we’d all do the same!

I am with you all on the not testing until OTD however mine is 13DP5DT and on a Tuesday, hubby works away and I don’t want to test alone so we are planning to test on the Sunday so 11DP5DT as I’m sure at that point it will be pretty conclusive either way an I feel like that’s not really testing early as most clinics test then or even before that!

yesterday I was so crampy but a walk really helped and also bloated which is deffo worse this evening (attributing all this to the 4 x cyclogest and lubion daily) otherwise not much else to report, just trying to keep busy and keep myself occupied!

@CrumbleCake98 I know exactly how you feel I was similar only 4 fertilised and it really crushes you but you still have 5 great chances at making embryos so I’m crossing everything for you 🤞🏼

I hope this isn't too TMI, but has anyone noticed their downstairs area smells different? I was wondering if it's down to the cyclogest pessaries.

The hormones and progesterone can make changes to the smell and consistency of the discharge. It can be normal for some changes but if the smell is strong or quite off putting then I dont think that is normal and definitely talk to your clinic.

@Iloveyellow101 Yes, all FETs actually. Same sex couple so we needed donor sperm. We tried 4 medicated IUI first as when we started this I was in early 30s with normal AMH for age and no obvious fertility issues (other then a scan suggesting possible PCOS in my 20s that wasn’t persued for a diagnosis as I wasn’t TTC) but got no where with IUI and actually ended up having really bad response to stims with very few egg collected on 2 egg collection cycles (only 8 mature eggs in total between the 2 cycles). My egg quality has always been good though and the mature eggs I get don’t have the same drop off rates. So all my mature eggs have made it to day 5 and 5/8 were useable. Transferred 4 untested embryos so far - 1 x BFN, 1 x CP and 2 live births.

@CrumbleCake98 Try not to think of the drop off. 5 fertilised eggs is still good. When is your next update?

@sunflower1906 totally makes sense to test earlier when your clinic has a really late OTD

@LifeOfRiley63 Id echo what @Miraclemuma03 said

I’ve never felt that bloated on the progesterone to be honest. Never really had many side effects other than a bit of bruising and the occasional headache from any of the meds though 🤷‍♀️

I’ve re-remembered why I used to do the cyclogest rectally 😂🤦‍♀️

Hi everyone- hope its ok if I drop into the thread late?
Just had FET confirmed for Thursday 26th March. This will be our second transfer after fresh failed in January (so first frozen one)

Sorry I dropped out of the Jan IVF thread once it was clearly a negative and stayed away from the forum since then for my own sanity!

Getting here a little bit of an odd way - I'm on estrogen which should prevent ovulation but had a strong positive LH test and ovulation type pain (which I get every month) so went in for a scan where they expected to see a dominant follicle based on that but there was nothing over 7mm.

My lining was already 7.7 so they said best schedule transfer in case I have ovulated as would muck up timings to wait. Started cyclogest pessaries now.

But now I'm thinking could this be my issue all along - getting positive LH and ovulation pains (and some months when I've checked rise in BBT) but no actual ovulation or ovulating immature follicles?! I'd had no reason to suspect this before as cycles regular and lined up with the positive LH peaks but - it would make sense?!
Anyone ever had anything similar?

@2mumlife that’s amazing!

i’m low amh and i think my quality is generally mid-not great.

Really really wonderful news about 2!! ❤️I always get so hopeful when I hear about any success!

@Iloveyellow101 we’ve been really lucky to grow our family. We were always aiming for 2 but with having 1 little embryo in the freezer and how much it took to make them, I won’t destroy it / let is perish for research, and I don’t feel I can donate it, it feels too much like mine (and it might not be possible anyway because of donor sperm and family limits). So we’re doing the rodeo 1 last time. All feels really mixed as I feel we’ve surely had our share of success now, but whole way through my last pregnancy and past 18 months I’ve not been able to shake the feeling / hope I might get to do it all 1 last time.

I don’t think many people consider what they’ll do with their embryos once they’ve finished growing their family but it is something to consider I think sometimes. If we had multiple embryos left Im not sure what we would be doing with them

@Lovelesslily I’m doing a FET same day as you :) I’ve never tracked LH surge though so can’t really help with your query. Was it only Estrogen you’re on? My clinic used 7 days of Ganirelix injections at the start of FET cycle along with estradiol to prevent LH surges. Might be worth asking the clinic about that if you go through another FET in the future

@Lovelesslily welcome. I hope everything works out and you can do your transfer.

Triggering tonight at 8.30pm for an egg retrieval on wednesday.

@Miraclemuma03 best of luck with yr egg retrieval on weds hope it all goes smoothly and u get some nice eggies 🤞🏼

@Lovelesslily welcome to the group and i hope transfer goes well for you.

ladies that have had fresh transfers does anyone else feel like their ovaries have swollen back up? Mine feel like melons and I’ve been so uncomfortable I’ve barely slept all night …. It’s sending my anxiety through the roof 😥😥