IVF July 26 - egg collections

[sunflower1906]

Hey, just wondered if anyone was planning a fresh cycle in July? I’ve seen the July transfers thread but appears most people are having FET and not retrievals. It would be lovely to have some people at similar stage to me who just get the highs and lows of it all!

I’ve been down regulating with buserelin most of June and had my scan today and given the go ahead to start my stims tonight! I was a bit shocked as last time it was several days wait to start after my scan but here we are! Egg collection provisionally booked for 6th July 😱 and hopefully fresh transfer 🤞🏼

I had a pretty terrible round back in March with nothing to freeze and only a poor grade embryo put Back Which would have been too poor to even freeze so no surprise it was a BFN so hoping after a few changes to protocol and supplements this one goes a bit better 🙏🏼🙏🏼

I have a DS from a successful round back in 2022, and had 3 FET all last year from the same batch all unsuccessful, but for some reason I just can’t give up on the wish of a sibling for him and our little family.

xx

Im in the july transfer group but im also going to be behind everyone there as I have to do a full cycle as I also dont have any embryos on ice. This will be my 4th egg collection. I had a transfer in November of 2024 with my last embryo from a 2021 cycle but that ended in a chemical. We did one cycle with no fertilisation, our next cycle got 2 embryos, one was a negative and the second transfer was of a day 6 embryo that we got a positive beta for but ultimately ended up as a mc at 7 weeks. We did another cycle which gave us 2 very poor embryos, one was transferred in hopes it had a better chance inside of my body and the other was too bad quality to freeze and that was another negative beta which I already knew there was no hope. So going for a 4th egg retrieval,, going in with higher medication in hopes I can get more follicles to grow to increase my chance of getting better quality embryos. Im waiting now for my period to start so I can start the pill for 10days and then about 3 to 5 days later should get a new bleed and then start my stims on day 2 of that bleed. So if all works out then I should have a fresh transfer nearing the end of july.

@Miraclemuma03 were u in a march group by any chance? I think I recognise your user name. Im so sorry to hear of your struggles and loss it doesn’t get any easier does it? How r u feeling about the changes to your protocol? We have also made some changes so im trying to be optimistic but also a bit realistic too so trying not to get my hopes up too much but its just so hard as i suppose going through this process gives u that glimmer of hope. This will be 3rd retrieval and im not sure how many more i have left in me and age is also not on my side 🙈 it was my birthday last week so another year older but im hoping my eggs haven’t realised that yet 😂😂

@sunflower1906 i am going on 41 in july and I feel as i have gotten to a point that maybe im kidding myself if that makes sense. I was in the april group im pretty sure. How are you feeling moving to the next cycle. Im with you that I think im coming to end of treatment. I cant seem to get embryos, or good quality embryos.

Hello @sunflower1906 I'd love to join! I had joined a June cycle thread but I was behind everyone else as I have also been on down regulation for most of June. Its brutal isn't it! My egg collection is also provisionally booked for 6th July and we are hoping to do a fresh transfer. Its our first round, after a history of recurrent miscarriage and two ectopics so I have no idea how my body will respond.

Sorry to hear about your last round, fingers crossed this one's better for you. How has your protocol changed this time round?

@Miraclemuma03 wishing you all the luck for this round, sounds like you've had a really hard time with it so far. Will they be changing your protocal this time?

Welcome. I hope you have a good round . Will you be testing your embryos due to recurring mc ? Yes iv got a different protocol this time including a medications increase.

@Miraclemuma03 thank you and you too. No we aren't going to test the embryos as to be completely honest we can't afford to and my current clinic doesn't offer it anyway. Have you had any of yours tested previously and are planning to test them this time round?

@Miraclemuma03 im trying to be a bit more zen going into this round as my anxiety was sky high last time and I’m hoping I just had an unfortunate cycle as I’ve seen many women on here have a bad round then next round is completely different so here is hoping I will be one of those lucky ones 🤞🏼 I keep moving the goal posts in regards to coming to an end with treatment it’s just so bloody hard knowing when enough is enough, I’m really hoping you get a better round this time too.

Hey @Notaflatwhite looks like we might be retrieval and transfer buddies if things all work out as they should! When is yr first monitoring scan? Mines Tuesday next week so day 8 of stims 😱 sorry to hear of your losses, I really hope u get a good response and lots of eggs/embryos 🤞🏼

so protocol wise we changed my down regulation meds, have increased my stims and are going for a triple trigger, I’m already also on an immune protocol so steroids, intralipids and enoxaparin, lubion and pessaries, it’s a lot but hopefully worth it in the end!

I had one embryo tested previously, it was thawed and tested then frozen again. Came back euploid but on transfer day it never fully re-expanded which Dr Google tells me was not a good sign it would work only 15% chance or something silly like that, it was a BFN so won’t he testing again as like u said it is expensive! We have no plans to test as not made enough embryos so it doesn’t feel like the right choice for us currently xx

Hi there! Please can I join? I am due my period on 1 July and will be going into an egg collection cycle and hopefully fresh transfer.
We are very lucky to have naturally conceived our DS without much difficulty in 2023. Been trying over a year now and had a MC in December 2025 at just under 10 weeks which was devastating and no positive pregnancy tests since then. Husband has some mild morphology issues so we will be doing ICSI.
Very apprehensive as new to all of this! Wonder if anyone else might be in the same boat with secondary infertility? Means we’re having to do it all privately - chose our clinic because 2 of our friends had success there and tbh it’s convenient for work!
My stims will be 5 days of Gonal-F then switching to Menopur. And I’m 35!

@sunflower1906 yes hopefully if all goes to plan my first scan is next wednesday. Although I had a blood test today and based on the results they have advised me to increase my dose of stims so I'm really hoping the scan goes okay next week. Wow you've got the full works with that protocol, but most definitely worth it if it all works out. That must have been difficult last time around, hoping you get a better result this time. Its just so hard to know how your body will react so we can only keep trying.

Hi @Lgn90 wishing you all the best for your first round. I am also going through secondary infertility, my DD is 9 yrs old and from a previous relationship so there's a much bigger age gap. My DP has slightly low sperm count and we've also had recurrent mc's and ectopics. Do you know how long you'll be doing stims for?

Hi @Notaflatwhite sorry to hear you’re in the same position! I’ve been told 10-12 days of stims but I’m pretty sure this can change as you’re monitored etc. I’ve only bought the first 5 days of medication in case doses change too (and obviously I am still hoping that my period will never come, annoyingly that has happened to quite a few friends of ours in that they’ve got pregnant the cycle before they’re due to start which has probably given me false hope)

Welcome @Lgn90 not technically secondary infertility as we had IVF to conceive our DS but also struggling to have a sibling so totally understand how u are feeling and the struggles and comments that go with it, I’ve probably heard them all now! It really hurts because unless ur in that position where the decision to have a child is taken away from you no one can fully understand it and how the well meaning comments of oh just stick with the one it’s easier and at least u have one etc is actually so painful to hear. Anyway u are among friends here so all feelings are totally valid ❤️ I am really hoping yr period doesn’t come for you so u don’t have to go through this hell of a ride as I’ve also heard lot of stories like this too and also foolishly thought I might be one of those that has IVF then conceives naturally after but 2 years later we r still not there yet and I’m not sure we ever will be but I’m not going down without a fight first 😂

@Notaflatwhite thats great they did a blood test and are changing yr meds accordingly hopefully you will have a good response, we just have to wait till scan to see what’s happening, although already having some aches and heaviness so I think something is happening 😂 although I had similar last time but later on so might not mean a lot either 🤷🏼‍♀️ they do say the first round can be sort of a practice as everyone is so individual and ppl respond differently etc and there are always changes that can be done.

also can’t wait for this heatwave to be over so I can stop worrying about the temperature of my meds 🥵🥵 it’s bloody stressful anyway 😂😂

@Lgn90 fingers crossed your period doesn't doesn't come and you get your bfp. If not, I don't think you'll be too far after us with your egg retrieval.

@sunflower1906 ahh that is such a horrible wait until your first scan. The feeling of heaviness definitely sounds like a good sign though. I've not had any signs of anything working yet so I'm not convinced the scan will go well on Wednesday but hopefully the increased stims helps. Are you having any other side effects from the medication? I'm definitely preferring this phase over the down regulation. Good luck Tuesday, not too long to wait now!

@Notaflatwhite for some reason feel like it’s come round super quickly this time round, probably because I’ve been trying to keep busy it really helps! Some ppl won’t feel much of anything so try not to stress too much, I’m probably just sensitive to the discomfort so it’s making me a bit snappier than usual and having sore boobs but that’s about it. I down regulated this time with buserelin and found it so much nicer than zoladex (used for my last retrieval and FET) Hardly any side effects from it which was lovely. Sorry to hear yr down regulation wasn’t pleasant was it mainly side effects? How much have they increased yr stims by? I’m sure weds will come round quickly for you xx

@sunflower1906 how did your scan go today? Really hope you had good news 🙏 I'm still not really having any physical side effects, it's more just feeling emotional and snappy. I'm feeling much better today though as it feels like the end is in sight xx

@Notaflatwhite glad you are feeling alright, I’m right there with you on the emotional and snappy side of things! Just want it all over now, scan didn’t go as well as I was hoping only 3 good size follicles and 2/3 smaller ones, I was so dissapointed and frustrated I ended up crying to the nurses there. I know I should feel happy that I have something going on in there but was hoping for more chances at a few more eggs. I just don’t get it, my follicle count just before treatment was 20 so where are the bloody follicles now?! So no idea why I’m so uncomfortable cause there’s no a lot going on in there, it’s like my body is cruelly taunting me. Anyway continuing on the same dose in the hopes the smaller ones catch up 🤞🏼🤞🏼 and scan again on Friday. I hope your scan goes well tomorrow 🙏🏼🙏🏼

I'm so sorry it didn't go as well as you'd hoped. If the smaller follicles catch up, that could still mean 6 follicles for your egg retrieval, so it's definitely not a bad result. I completely understand why you're upset though, I would be the exact same. It just seems crazy that you can take all these drugs, follow the plan exactly and still not get the results you expect. And it's so hard because you can't really judge anything by your symptoms. You're just constantly waiting for the next scan or results.
I hope you feel a little better about it tomorrow once it's had a chance to sink in. You're still on track for your egg retrieval, and one of those eggs could be your bfp ❤️ Thank you. I'll update you after my scan tomorrow, and then I've got my next one on Friday too 🙏

@Notaflatwhite thank you for your kind words and positivity, today is a new day and I’m feeling much better about it all and either way there is not a lot I can do to change the eventual outcome I just have to let it go …. Easier said than done as I’m a complete control freak 😂 but I’m trying 😂 I do feel thankful to have something going on in there at least as I’m aware many ppl would be over the moon to be in my position.

thinking you today at yr scan hope it’s positive for you ❤️ xx

@sunflower1906 I'm glad your feeling better about it, it's such a roller coaster isnt it 😅 my scan was quite similar, I had two good sized follicles and then 4-5 smaller ones that might hopefully catch up. Do you have your final scan tomorrow and then ER on Monday all being well?
I hadn't thought this far ahead and just realised I don't really know what happens on ER day! Any tips? I'm getting nervous now its so close xx

@Notaflatwhite it really is a roller coaster! I hope those smaller ones catch up for you 🤞🏼 yes final scan tomorrow and ER Monday that’s the plan, are you still on the same timeline?

As for tips, there’s a fair bit of waiting around before actual retrieval so bring something to keep you occupied while u wait, comfortable clothes are a must, snacks and a drink for after as can’t eat or drink that morning which kills me as I always wake up hungry 😂 and I usually bring a sanitary pad to wear after as it’s common to spot or bleed a small amount, also get something that hubby can cook for dinner that night so you can rest. I was so nervous before my last ER in March but it actually wasn’t as bad as I had built it up in my head to be if that makes sense?

do you also have your scan tomorrow? Xx