Did IVF work for you?

[needsomehopes]

DH and I are starting IVF soon after nearly 2 years TTC. One early loss a year ago. Unexplained infertility and everything looks good (annoyingly). I am 31 and DH is 34.

If you were in a similar situation, how many transfers did it take to be success for you? Just trying to be realistic but also hopeful.

Hi, firstly I’m sorry you’re on this crappy journey and I hope you’ll be on the other side soon with a happy outcome 🍀

We are similar in age and diagnosis- I went through IVF at 29 nearly 30 and my husband was 33. It took us 2 rounds of ICSI (was recommended to better our chances as at times my husband’s sperm count was on the lower side).

Our first round completely blindsided us- good amount of eggs collected and fertilised, but by the time day 5 came around no blasts. We had two low quality embryos transferred which failed. This we were told is quite common for the first round to fail as it’s a bit of dummy trial as they don’t know how your body is going to respond- however, my best friend has just had her first round IVF baby a couple of weeks ago so it can definitely happen!

Our second round of ICSI went much better. We added in zymot testing and an embryo scope as well as embryo glue which we also used on our first round (who knows if this all actually helped though!). We got 3 blasts- x1 to transfer, x1 to freeze and x1 which wasn’t good enough to freeze in the end. Very lucky to say that our beautiful daughter was that one transferred.

All the luck in the world to you! X

Older than you, with low egg reserve and MFI so you’ve got much better chances.

we’re about to have our 8th cycle (5th transfer) and still no baby

wish you all the luck x

Both 40 and diagnosed as unexplained. We did one cycle that ended up being a freeze all due to overstimulation. First transfer was successful and our daughter is now toddling around. We have more frozen embryos and we're hoping to try for a sibling soon but don't know if we can be as lucky again.

I was 37. Kind of unexplained but doctor not over the moon with results of my bloods. Not entirely sure why now. We had icsi. 5 eggs retrieved but only one embryo made it. Had a day 3 transfer and it was successful on our first try.

Your story sounds similar to mine - never had anything but a glowing report on all hormone levels/lining/angle of uterus etc., keep getting told 'it could just happen' but actually v annoying because it still hasn't after 2.5years! We got 4 embryos from our first round of IVF (17eggs retrieved so a bit low on the fertilisation/survival rate). First fresh transfer failed and waiting on results from our first FET now.

It's a minefield and in my experience there's often a huge lack of concrete answers. Sending you loads of luck. Statistically 1 in 3 frozen transfers should stick so I'm holding onto that for now!

Also just to add - those who have been successful may no longer be looking at these threads so bear in mind the responses here might be negatively skewed, though great to here from PPs who have got their babies now :)

Yes - I’m 35 and had been trying since I was 31. 5 losses along the way, diagnosed with an auto immune condition. Did IVF with PGTA (so frozen transfers) and was successful on the second transfer with a heavily medicated protocol. Currently 38.5 weeks pregnant, waiting to have the baby. X

I’m 9.5 weeks from my first embryo transfer (frozen). I’m 36. This will be my first baby if it works. I had endometriosis - I had the surgery in October, and did embryo freezing straight after (there was a chance of a drop off in ovarian function from the surgery) in November. I was planning to do an embryo transfer in February but unexpectedly got pregnant naturally and miscarried. Tried again in June with a transfer and it’s worked so far.

I found chatGPT really helpful for IVF. I looked at statistics at every stage and kept my expectations as low as possible. Fully expected it to take 3 rounds of egg retrieval and transfers too. Not assuming the worst case scenario to be clear, but just looking at statistics and thinking “this result wouldn’t be great but it also wouldn’t be improbable”.

Having had a miscarriage too I was grateful to know at least our embryo had been PGT-A tested

Good luck xx

Our first round didn’t work but second round did. Our clinic said in our circumstances they’d predict it would happen within 3 attempts on average but it could of course be more or less. We’re also unexplained, similar ages and every test has looked normal, which is hard as in someways it’s seen as a positive but also there’s no ‘problem’ to fix (even though there really seems to be). I’ve gone on to have a second child too and of course feel incredibly lucky but that was more complicated and took several years.

I do know a few people who’ve had success first time and even second time with siblings and no failed rounds. But of course there also people who don’t. Everyone is different and there’s no way of knowing how you’ll respond till you get started. It’s hard to believe it can work sometimes and it can feel like it’s totally random potluck to be honest but then sometimes it just works. I really hope it does for you.

Same sex couple, no known fertility issues, normal-to-high AMH for age, used donor sperm.

We did 4 rounds of medicated IUI when I was 31, all BFNs.

First IVF round when 31 - very poor response to stims, 4 eggs collected, 2 mature, 2 high graded blasts. Fresh transfer BFN, frozen transfer chemical pregancny.

Second IVF round when 32. Frezee-all cycle. 6 eggs collected, all mature, all made to blast stage. Only 3 deemed suitable to freeze (good graded blasts). First FET when 32, BFP, live birth when I was 33. Second FET when 34, BFP, live bith when I was 35. Third FET when I was 36, BFN.

So, 4 IUIs, and 3 embryo transfers (7 attempts in total) for my first baby. It took 17 months between starting treament to getting pregnant. But I got pregnant first attempt with our second child, so it is all really luck.

Wishing you luck on your journey 💛

IVF ICSI 2022 successful first time with our beautiful son. Currently going through FET for sibling. Wishing you lots of luck

Thank you so much everyone. This has been so heartwarming to read but also managed my expectations. I’m quietly (very) hopeful and really hoping it works. We have the appointment with our fertility clinic this week where they will refer us and they said there is no wait list.

In your experiences, how long was it from referral to first appointment at the IVF clinic to starting meds?

It took 5 years for us, but to be fair a lot of that was on various waiting lists and having investigations, which can just take forever. We changed clinic after a few years because the first one turned out to be terrible.

BUT, I am now sat here looking at my son who is about to turn 1, and I can still barely believe he's here.

It's a shitty journey, I can't sugar coat it, nothing about it was good and I'm glad it's behind me. I feel for anyone who has it ahead. I don't know if that's a helpful thing to say or not, but it's the truth.

My biggest piece of advice is to research your clinic, and choose a good one. If you have the money, do the thing that you think it most likely to get a positive outcome - don't waste time trying cheap options (like IUI or cheaper clinics).

I really hope you get a good outcome xx

I had to loose some weight but I hit target in the June and was offered August meds but due changing jobs it ended up being September

We were private, and covid started in the middle of our initial invesigations, but even with that we started the paperwork and checks (AMH, HyCoSy etc) in January and our first IUI was in July (but IUI is a shorter wait list also). We had to wait a few months for each IVF round.

I think generally most people do get success if they stick it out long enough.

1 other bit of advise if start all the diet changes, supplments etc now if not already - you might get lucky and concieve and if not it take 90 days to improve egg quality x

@2mumlifehave been on the supplements for a few months now! Started dietary changes last year and have removed all plastics etc. Got a tap water fitted. Starting with a fertility nutritionist soon. Feeling very hopeful as I know there’s nothing wrong with either of us so really hoping it works! Thank you ☺️

We’ve also had absolutely all our testing done, there’s nothing further they can do so I’m hoping once we’re referred to the IVF clinic we can just get started

It worked for me at 37 after 3 years of trying with one miscarriage in the 3 years . I did pgta and the first embryo worked .just to add I didn’t bother with dietary changes I just took the supplements they told me to take the cycle of the egg collection which was melatonin and coenzyme q10 and I didn’t even take them 3 months in advance .

Sounds like you've just been really unlucky. Hopefully it works soon for you!

@needsomehopesI’m sure your fertility nutritionist will mention this, but daily beetroot juice after your transfer has been shown to significantly improve outcomes:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37459441/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

I couldn’t be bothered to make the full juice - the beetroot watermelon and ginger - but my fertility coach (who was also a nutritionist) said the beetroot is the most important factor so I bought that separately (no beetroots were juiced!). Watermelon also helps so o just ate that separately. The ginger is just for taste (my coach said)

As with all these things so much is out of your control but it definitely helped me knowing that I felt I had given it my best shot. And don’t stress too much if you can’t keep on track with any plan you’re given (once I started the progesterone my diet went out the window!) xx

This is what my acupuncturist said! Hoping our luck changes soon!

@ThisBrightTraybakewhat changes did your naturopathic doctor recommend?

@SlightlyTerrifiedButPolitethanks so much! Will give that a go. Thanks for your advice x

@needsomehopes Also to reassure, with my second child, I did the very basics (folic acid, vit d) reduced caffine, no alcohol, but otherwise did nothing - I was breastfeeding, lifting my toddler multiple times a day, not a beetroot juice in sight, and that embryo still stuck.

Absolutlely do all the things that make you feel like you're making a difference (because they might!) but also be kind to yourself along the journey, because of having not having done x y or z.

The single best thing I did for my successful cycles, was actually just to try to get on with my life as normally as possible and try not to worry about it :)

@2mumlifethanks so much. Honestly, I’m over doing everything as I have been and it hasn’t made a difference. I’m just getting on with it. I’m not sure whether to work after transfer or not though. My job is very intense so I’m not sure what would be better