BFP after IVF/ICSI May/June 2023

[thislittlebird]

I feel really ridiculous starting this, feels like it isn’t real and I’m jinxing myself. But I don’t want to hassle my friends on the infertility boards, I know how hard it is when people get to move on, so thought I’d see if anyone else was in the same boat, or wanted to point me to an existing boat on here that I can join? I couldn’t see an existing board for people who just got their BFPs from IVF/ICSI.

My story so far: 39, trying since October 2019, never had a BFP before. Husband has MFI and I have progesterone issues.

Sep-Nov 21 - 3 months of Letrozole - BFNs
Feb 22 - EC - 4 embryos frozen
April 22 - FET 1 BFN
July 22 - FET 2 BFN
September 22 - FET 3 BFP

Online calculators say I’m due on June 6th if all goes well, yesterday I had a migraine and thought it was all over but I tested today and I’m still pregnant this morning. I’m not naive enough to think this untested embryo will definitely go to term but today I’m pregnant so here I am feeling very much like an imposter in case anyone wants to join me to chat.

Massive congratulations to you, how exciting the next few months will be for you :)
Im in a similar situation, age 39, been trying for the past 6 years with unexplained infertility for us.
Had my first round in July 2022 with the first embryo sticking and staying for 8 weeks until I suffered a miscarriage. Like you it was my first BFP which I actually couldn’t believe and was doing daily tests pretty much for the whole 8 weeks.
Seeing that line for the first time ever after so many years of struggles is a feeling like never before.
Wishing you all the best in your journey, I’m sure you will stress over every detail but also try to enjoy your pregnancy, you’ve worked hard to get this and deserve it so much.
Good luck :) xx

@SH998 unexplained seems to be a huge headache, it sounds trite but hopefully you like me will take away something from being able to implant at least and to cross that getting a BFP hurdle. I’m not kidding myself and may end up miscarrying but I’m trying to take the positives from it right now, which is that I can get pregnant and it currently isn’t a chemical.

I absolutely freaked out when I saw that line earlier this week, just a crazy crying mess of self doubt. But the first hurdle is achieved and that’s a big thing for all of us who have never had a BFP before.

Thank you! Do you have next steps planned?

Unexplained has been a nightmare, at least if they find an issue we could possibly get some answers.
I was absolutely heartbroken after the miscarriage but on a positive note, thought the same as you - I can actually get pregnant which is something that has never happened before. That was a massive step forward and I’m sure the next time will take me to the next step.
Im sure you will be absolutely fine, this step is huge for you and you need to celebrate and enjoy that :)
Seeing that second line for the first time ever is something we will never forget.
We are lucky enough to have a frozen embryo so just waiting to hear from the clinic with details on how to proceed. The miscarriage was only 4 weeks ago so maybe a little too soon to proceed, although I physically feel fine and am eager to move on.
Please keep us updated, I would love to hear about your happy ending xx

@SH998 did they do icsi or ivf for you? We had to have icsi because of DH’s results and we were pleased to make 4 embryos. One didn’t survive the thaw, I was supposed to have a double transfer of my remaining 4BB and 5AC but the 5AC didn’t make it, which was not a surprise, it was always an iffy one. Fingers are crossed my 4BB sticks around.

Honestly the getting pregnant and getting two lines feels like you’ve won some prize, you’ve achieved that thing you’ve worked so long for but then the what happens next kicks in.

Happy to provide updates and fingers crossed for your frozen embryo, hopefully you can transfer in the next couple of months? The waiting is very hard when you’re 39/40, time is not our friend.

The age thing has been my biggest worry, we originally seen the GP 4 years ago and it’s taken this long to get this far (lot of setbacks, long waiting lists, Covid etc), at our age we really are on a timeline.
Im lucky enough to be in an area who allows 3 rounds before the age of 40 so the race really is on.
We done IVF and managed 14 follicles but only 2 made it to blasto, we were offered a double transfer which we were going for but last minute we decided against after speaking to the embryologist which I’m now glad we did. Losing 1 was bad enough but if I had lost both embryos in one go I would have lost my mind. To see that double line on our first attempt was better than winning the lottery.
By the looks you’ve had a rough few months with numerous BFN’s, now this is finally your time to get excited although I’m sure you will continue to worry every step of the way.
It will all be worth it in the end xx

@SH998 yeah I get that, that's the first thing on my mind tbh. IF this fails I'll be even older by the time we can do another EC. We were moving into private after this cycle, this was our only funded round and since this was our last embryo = we'd be starting again.

Setbacks are very familiar! We had a nightmare being told there was nothing wrong with us when our results were abnormal, it was a long and stressful process.

We got 15 eggs collected and luckily managed 3 embryos, and that's what it took to get a BFP. I can see why they say people need multiple rounds.

Yeah, definitely worrying lol. It's a very long road when you've been through infertility. I hope you're right, finger crossed for us both x

Hi both,

I'm 4+6 after our second round, second transfer of an icsi embryo (4BB too!) - so an early June due date too.

We are a same sex couple and I thought it would just happen right away for us as we did IVF by default not because we had fertility concerns. But our first cycle ended in total fertilisation failure and our second cycle was cancelled before collection due to lack of response to the stims. Finally, we got 5 embryos - 2 of which were strong enough to transfer/freeze. We had a chemical in July and now I'm on tenter hooks... I think I'm waiting for the same to happen again. It's been different this time but...

I've been spotting on and off (stops if I bed rest) for 9 days now. I have strong positive lines on every test I've done (I've been testing every day because I'm so anxious about the lines fading and disappearing like last time). My clinic have offered bhcg tests but they're £70 a pop and we don't know if it's worth it any more than just waiting. I think I'll call the EPAC on Monday and see what they suggest.

I feel like IVF just turns you into a puddle of worry about every twinge and makes you question everything.

Fingers crossed for all of us 😊 nice to know I'm not the only not quite believing I'm here.

@SH998 sorry, I misread - I'm so sorry you lost your last pregnancy. I hope you are taking it easy and building yourself back up for the next transfer. It's such a balance between feeling the losses and pushing forward. Fingers crossed your little frozen embryo is the one x

@SockwithSpots morning and welcome! I'm 4+5 today I guess, which is very weird to say. I'm counting the days to the next milestone now, 5 weeks is the first goal to achieve. Another 4BB? Wow, go on those 4BBs! My failed ones were 4AA and 4AB, but I was on a few more meds this time.

That sounds like an unfortunate series of IVF events, and with DS you'd probably go in expecting better fertilisation. How long has the process been for you and your partner? IVF really is a rollercoaster, they don't prepare you for all of the potential problems enough imo.

A chemical or miscarriage is what I'm scared about right now, I've never been pregnant before, I don't know what it means for me and we have male factor so it's hard to know if this embryo will make it. I know exactly what you mean about the twinges, I'm questioning all these twinges and have no idea what I'm doing. What have you noticed that's been different for you?

I spotted from days 6-10pt roughly, which was my first sign it might have worked. It seems to have stopped for now. Did you have the spotting you're getting now last time?

It feels way too early to be here still, I'm too keen

I'm also not sure what to do about tests. My scan is on 20th October. Feels a long way away.

Morning @thislittlebird,

5 weeks was my goal too. As we didn't make it there last time, it feels big. 5 weeks today and got a positive on the clear blue digital with '2-3 weeks' which we also didn't get last time. Little achievements! Although, I'm going to have to do one again later in the week to get the 3+ now!

I suppose we're 11 months into IVF. 11 months doesn't sound long but it feels like forever - I take my hat off to those on the IVF journey for years, it's exhausting!

Your spotting sounds just like implantation should! Hopefully it's all snuggled in there now. I thought that's what mine was but it just hasn't gone away.
Last time the bleeding didn't start until after we'd had our positive and got redder and more period like over three days. My tests also weren't so strong so I'm hoping it's something else this time.
I've got some bowel and stomach discomfort as well but I think that's the Progresterone pessaries and a right side twinge that keeps popping up by my hip. No other 'symptoms' I can name really. It's still early days, I suppose...
How about you? Any particular twinges?

@SockwithSpots thank you, it’s been a harsh few months but I’m staying positive, I managed to get pregnant on the first attempt so that’s a massive step for me.
Hopefully next time I’ll ho all the way.
Wishing you and your partner all the best and a healthy pregnancy xx

@SockwithSpots 5 weeks today 🙌. It’s great that you’ve got to the first milestone. I’m scared to do those CB tests. I did one on OTD and it said 1-2 weeks so I’m hoping things have developed from there. Vaguely tempted to get HCG bloods done, I don’t know whether to or not.

My 7ish week scan is Oct 20th, when is yours? Can’t decide if I want to know now if things are bad or just relax and see what the scan brings. I’m a bit of an anxious Annie in general so I’m not looking forward to how this sends me.

11 months is quite a while without the whole naturally trying process so not insignificant. Our actual IVF started in Jan/Feb and I didn’t have a fresh transfer because I was having some anxiety meltdown. I was so worried about OHSS I got into a right state 🙃. I’m honestly not sure how people can do it for so long. Trying for 3 years has been so horrendous and after those two transfer failures I think I’d decided two more private rounds was the limit. It’s either going to work or it isn’t and I’m already 39. At least now I know we can get beyond transfer.

Yeah I was relieved the spotting has stopped for now, it’s stressful. Have you spoken to your clinic about it? A lady on my other thread had a full bleed and she’s ok, some people do have these things to content with which must be very stressful.

Yes to the twinges. Also mostly my right side quite low below the hip, it was bothering me because I couldn’t decide if it was a pain or a twinge. It’s really hard when you have no gauge for what’s ~normal~. I’ve had it the left side too in the same low down spot a few times today. I did have nausea on and off from the Friday after transfer but that could be the progesterone, I’m on 3 per day. I don’t have any other symptoms to speak of but I don’t even get PMS symptoms each month really, beyond migraines.

@SH998 first time really is a massive step. Hopefully next time it’ll go to plan.

@thislittlebird it's all so stressful, so I can see how you got in a panic. Some people say frozen transfers are the better option because your body isn't so full of hormones from the stims. Let's hope it's true for us!

My scan is on the 25th - 8 weeks.

Today I feel a little calmer. I don't know what has caused this change but I'm going to take it. Got to get through another week now to hit that 6 week mark!

My wife always reminds me to take it one day at a time - today we are pregnant. Keep that mantra going until you get to the scan I reckon. But it's easier said than done.
I think I'm going to do one more clear blue digital later this week to aim for the 3+ - the HCG has to be high to trigger that. I'll feel more relaxed if I see those numbers change... I hope 😅 it's all relative really but life must go on!
Hope things continue to go well for you this week x

Hi all,
I'm 5 weeks too - had fresh transfer on 14/9/22 of 5 day blastocyst 5ba. Had bfp on 25/9 and have my first scan booked for 17/10 (as an early scan at IVF clinic). I've continued progesterone supplements 25mg lubion morning and cyclogest 400mg pessary at night. Clinic were happy for me to stop them but I'm worried about progesterone deficiency and so opted to continue. This is my first pregnancy and first IVF but have been trying since Jan 2020.

My symptoms so far - increased urination, raised resting pulse by at least 10bpm, increased breathlessness on exercising biking or running (have backed off loads compared to normal) craving fatty foods - sausages in particular, fatigue, some waves of nausea mainly in the evening but that has settled down a bit over the weekend. Silly, but I kind of wish I had more as it would be reassuring!

My main worry is about having a missed miscarriage due to the progesterone support but I've decided that there is nothing I can do if I'm going to have a miscarriage. It's tempting to test all the time but going to try to stick it out until the scan.

It would be great to be part of this thread for support.

@Upthatmountain welcome! We seem to be a small crowd here but it's nice to have a few folks in the same boat.

Continuing with your progesterone seems sensible, to reassure you at the very least.

I don't even have those symptoms, but obviously I'm a bit worried it'll go wrong soon. You sound very active which I'm sure is good, I'm a bit scared to do much after the bleeding (mentioned below).

@SockwithSpots did you have a medicated or natural/natural modified transfer? I did natural modified so I'm only on progesterone.

6 week mark is a good goal. I have the same one and it all feels so long away. Your wife is right though, I'm very much having to go day by day right now.

Good luck with your test! I think I'm one of those people who have low hcg based on my tests, or its failing, I might be wrong but it means I'm too scared to take more.

I'm 5 weeks today, I didn't think I was going to make it here. I ended up in urgent care with bleeding yesterday but that was entirely pointless, all they did was refer me to the EPU and say my test was light, which I knew anyway. So I don't know if this will continue but the bleeding seems to have returned to spotting or nothing for now. I still have twinges and cramps low in my pelvis, and my boobs started being a bit sore in the night so I'm hoping that's a good sign.

Welcome @Upthatmountain and congratulations! Those symptoms sound positive. I've got the frequent trips to the loo but nothing else yet so fingers crossed those are some good signs for you.

Oh @thislittlebird that sounds so stressful. I'm sorry. I'm glad the bleeding is easing off though! I don't think there's much they can tell us at this stage and it's infuriating! I hope you're taking it easy today and finding some distractions. Take time to appreciate the 5 week mark.

I'm having heavier bleeding/spotting the last couple of days and some cramping today. I caved and paid for a betaHCG at our clinic this morning. I just need some answers as I'm going mad. We've got a scan at the EPU on Monday but that seems too far away. I've taken time off work again because I worry I'm making it worse by busying around. I am not enjoying this at all.

I'm on oestrogen and progesterone as we did a medicated cycle. I'm glad for the extra hormones but just hope the HCG is doing it's thing too!

Fingers crossed for us all xx

Hello ☺️ so glad to see this thread.

@thislittlebird I actually remember you from a ttc thread around Jan/Feb 2021 (I have a different username now) congratulations on your BFP, so happy to see.

I’m currently 7+2 with a 3AA , so a little further ahead. I’m feeling so grateful as it was our first FET. I had suspected OHSS when we did the egg collection in Feb this year so they wouldn’t let me transfer, DH and I then decided to take a few months to ourselves as we hadn’t realised how consuming IVF would be.

I’m worrying everyday but I had a scan last week at 6+3 and we saw the heartbeat which was lovely and really reassuring and I have another scan on Friday this week.

I had some bleeding week 5 and 6 (hence the early scan last week) and everything is still fine so hopefully it’s nothing to worry about. They told me the slightest thing can irritate the cervix, it’s so nerve wracking though. Are you on cyclogest for the progesterone?

@MariaMc1 welcome! What was your username then? I’ve been on mumsnet too long, still nothing to show for it 😩

Congrats on getting to 7+2! Glad your scans have been good.

I am on Cyclogest because I have low progesterone but I use it rectally so the likelihood of it being that is slim. I’m not sure what’s happening right now but I’m cramping and passed a small clot. I’m feeling like it’s over tbh, but I guess I’ll just have to wait it out.

@SockwithSpots it’s so stressful. You’ve been through it so you know what I mean. I feel so disappointed in the level of care, I feel so unprepared for who I should go to if it goes wrong. I really don’t want to start all over again but might have to.

When do you get your HCG test results? I’m cramping quite a lot now, also not enjoying this.

I'm right there with you @thislittlebird. I had a really heavy bleed yesterday, with clots and light cramps, and it's still spotting red today. I'm basically staying horizontal until we go for our next blood test.

HCG was 4427 which they were really happy with and felt my bleeding could be a sub chorionic haematoma... But I just don't feel confident anything could have survived after the blood loss yesterday. I went through 2 sanitary towels in 4 hours. Repeat bloods tomorrow and we'll see what's happening.

Have you got a scan booked with the EPU now?

@SockwithSpots I'm sorry we're both in weird situations.

It sounds like it was heavy? Could be a SCH. I know some people do have full bleeds, it's not impossible but at least your HCG was good.

I'm pretty sure my HCG will be non-existent. No symptoms really, cramping last night and I've already been for a scan today at the EPU which showed nothing at all. Not even a sac. They've diagnosed me with a pregnancy of unknown location but it isn't really, it's just classed as that until they get my HCG results tomorrow.

Oh well, it was good while it lasted...sort of. More stressful than good. I'm pretty upset at how old I am now and how long this is all taking to make progress, never expected to be over 40 when I had a kid, if I ever do, and I'm really not loving the idea of being 41/42 by the time this works.The positives are I can implant, I guess. I have a private consultation booked with the Lister on October 13th. I'd love to take a break but there's no time to lose at my age, there's a limit to how much time I'm willing to spend doing this. It's just too traumatic.

Hopefully some of you can continue the thread through your pregnancies, I definitely jumped the gun on venturing to the pregnancy boards. Lesson learned :/

Oh @thislittlebird I am so sorry that this how it's going for you. It's so so hard.

I completely understand your time panic and I'm 35. You have to do what feels right moving forward. It's just so frustrating and so drawn out with IVF that it feels like an endless cycle of what ifs and waiting. I think it's important feel the tiny accomplishments when they come - take it one day at a time and celebrate those mini milestones.

All the best for your next efforts and hoping you can have a peaceful time while you cope with this.
Xx

@SockwithSpots honestly starting all this all over again just feels traumatic. But I guess we will. Good luck to you and everyone here x

@thislittlebird So sorry to hear this, I’m 39 so feel the pressure of getting older. I have a virtual appointment on 12th to discuss my next try.
Hope your appointment is positive, thinking of you xx

@SH998 I hope so too, fingers crossed for you!