Anyone doing FET/IVF in Jan 2013 till everyone's BFP (Everyone Welcome)

[MoBaby]

Ash that does sound wacky.But when you stop the bcp it will come probably a bit heavier.

Mossip how exciting!! I'm glad to have a UU buddy on here

 

[ashknowsbest]

Well I'm going right from BCPs to follistim and meonpur ... so I guess I'll just have a crazy heavy period after the IVF cycle .. or not at all because I'll have a baby!

Mossip - exciting! Hopefully they don't change it anymore.

 

[alicatt]

Mo/Ash - when do your embryos start to fade? If they make it do day 3 then fade, then it is the that is the issue, but if they fertilize and then fade right away, then it is the egg that is the issue.

There are things that can be done to improve your eggs/ I would talk to an acupuncturist or a herbal medicine type person to get a good understanding of what you can take to improve things.

To improve my eggs, I took Maca Root, Royal Jelly and CoQ10. DHEA (a prescription) can really improve egg quality.

I had issues with but I was using a donor so I just switched donors So I am not as clear as to what you can do to improve the quality of your DH/OH So it might not be you that is causing the issue, it could very well be your DH's that is causing your embryo quality to not be as great.

Here is hoping that things go better for you this time around!

 

[MoBaby]

B/n day 3-5/6. It's sperm for us. I had dh on fertile aid last cycle which helped some I think.

In my crazy thoughts I'd like to transfer 3 day 3 embryos... But I know re wouldn't.

 

[ashknowsbest]

Well mine is a bit confusing .... I don't know about the first time so I'm just going to talk about the second time. We got 25 eggs, 16 were mature, 7 fertilized, 3 made it to day 5, the other 4 arrested 3-5/6 days after fertilization just like Mo. So lame! I asked my doctor about all of those vitamins and he said it's not worth stressing over because it's not going to improve them THAT much (which I don't really believe him about that) but decided to listen to him this cycle anyways. I also think it's way to late for me to start taking those vitamins considering my IVF is starting in 4 days. I just hope it works already!

 

[ashknowsbest]

And Mo I don't think you're crazy for wanting to transfer 3 on day 3. I've actually been thinking that if my egg quality doesn't go up much this time around, I'm going to ask my doctor to transfer 3 just because I haven't had success with anything we've tried (the 6 IUI's, year of naturally TTCing and the IVF's). I will make him do it! It's my choice and my insurance money!

 

[alicatt]

Well mine is a bit confusing .... I don't know about the first time so I'm just going to talk about the second time. We got 25 eggs, 16 were mature, 7 fertilized, 3 made it to day 5, the other 4 arrested 3-5/6 days after fertilization just like Mo. So lame! I asked my doctor about all of those vitamins and he said it's not worth stressing over because it's not going to improve them THAT much (which I don't really believe him about that) but decided to listen to him this cycle anyways. I also think it's way to late for me to start taking those vitamins considering my IVF is starting in 4 days. I just hope it works already!

Are they doing ICSI? I find it hard to believe that with 16 mature eggs you only got 7 to fertilize? Sounds like you have an egg and sperm issue!

Maybe this time around things will be better!!!

 

[ashknowsbest]

Yes we're doing ICSI and that's what I'm saying! It's crazy that I only got 7 out of 16!! I mean it is ALMOST half but still, wtf! I'm only 25, I should have all of them being fertilized! My OH has no sperm issues, they've tested him about 7 times total and he always has a huge count, normally in the 100 millions, he has great motility and morphology. Unless there is something else going on that they haven't tested for yet I really don't think it is him. He also has a son from a pervious marriage. My doctor is changing the protocol because he thinks the LH BEFORE ovulation is really effing my eggs up ... that's how he put it anyways so that's why we're taking lupron out of the equation. He doesn't see why else I would have bad eggs because I have no sign of DOR or anything like that.

 

[Em260]

Mossip - yay great news!!

Ash - I did the antagonist protocol for both of my IVFs. I used 225 Gonal-f, 2 vials of Menopur and Cetrotide which is the same as Ganirelix. My RE said the same things about quality over quantity and that's the reason he uses it. Hopefully this protocol will be just what you need!

 

[Mells54]

I'm going to put my 2 cents in (which doesn't amount to much)...we got 11 eggs and they all fertilized with ICSI. Not bad for someone with DOR and "old eggs." My embryos were slow growing and only 1 got to a blast. The doc said definitely an egg quality problem, but would change my protocol and do a 3 day transfer if we tried again with my OE. Since this is the last fresh cycle we could afford, we went with DE.
Ash, I think you have plenty of time and insurance to continue trying different protocols to see what helps before turning to DE. IVF is such trial and error and an expensive one at that. Hang in there...I think this will be the change that you need to get a baby and some frosties too!

 

[alicatt]

It is always so interesting to see how each of us respond. My first cycle I had OHSS and had 20 eggs, but only 12 were mature and 9 fertilized, 7 were looking great on day 3, with 7-8 cells and 10% or less fragmentation, but only 2 made it to day 5. So he said I think you need to find a new donor.

So I changed donors spermy and made all sorts of dietary and supplemental changes, added in acupuncture. We also changed from the antagonist protocol to the long lupron protocol and I got 17 eggs, 15 mature, 12 fertilized and 6 made it to blast looking as near perfect as can be!

Since we changed so much it is hard to pinpoint what actually made the difference for me, was it the new donor? My diet? The supplements? Acupuncture? Different protocol? It is hard to say, but I'm 40 and my AMH was around 3.8, and all of my hormone levels were in the normal range on day 2 (so nothing elevated which can be a sign of DOR).

I'm just hoping that switching things up for you will be the ticket and you'll have a great cycle!

 

[sekky]

ali - Thanks for the info about the menopur and ganerelix! I do always respond almost too well, it's kind of annoying getting so many eggs though and only getting a small amount that fertilize. The first time I got 25 and 10 fertilized, the second time I got 25 and only 7 fertilized. We need to fix this!

Mo - I always jump to the worst conclusion it seems! Jason (my OH) and I have had conversations about DE ... very light hearted ones and we'd be okay with it if that's what it came down too but I think you're right. With the right protocol I will become pregnant unless I have this intralipid problem and my body is attacking the embryo ... that would be so annoying!

sekky - I don't know much about the antagonist protocol since I'm just learning about it now but what I do know and I've read is that it's less shots than the lupron protocol so that's a good thing I always heard you tend to get less eggs but they tend to be SLIGHTLY better quality but every woman is different and many women get beautiful embryos from the long lupron! I wish you the best of luck and hope it works for you!

Will ask more question on my next visit. I have PCOS. I started with BCP on April 3rd for 21 days then down reg with suprefact. So the only thing I know for sure is that am on the long protocol

 

[FirstTry]

Great news, Mossip! My left ovary always hides.

Ash: I don't know much about the specific protocols, but with each try, the RE learns about how your body reacts and can tailor the protocol better for you. Fingers crossed that this is your time

Sorry I've been out of pocket. I was actually traveling, but I was keeping up on everyone's progress when I was able to get internet access.

AFM, I'm back home and had my pre-FET appointment this morning. Lining = 12mm triple pattern. Just waiting to hear about the bloods. If all good, transfer is next week

 

[Anxiously]

FirstTry I'm jealous of your lining

 

[alicatt]

ali - Thanks for the info about the menopur and ganerelix! I do always respond almost too well, it's kind of annoying getting so many eggs though and only getting a small amount that fertilize. The first time I got 25 and 10 fertilized, the second time I got 25 and only 7 fertilized. We need to fix this!

Mo - I always jump to the worst conclusion it seems! Jason (my OH) and I have had conversations about DE ... very light hearted ones and we'd be okay with it if that's what it came down too but I think you're right. With the right protocol I will become pregnant unless I have this intralipid problem and my body is attacking the embryo ... that would be so annoying!

sekky - I don't know much about the antagonist protocol since I'm just learning about it now but what I do know and I've read is that it's less shots than the lupron protocol so that's a good thing I always heard you tend to get less eggs but they tend to be SLIGHTLY better quality but every woman is different and many women get beautiful embryos from the long lupron! I wish you the best of luck and hope it works for you!

Will ask more question on my next visit. I have PCOS. I started with BCP on April 3rd for 21 days then down reg with suprefact. So the only thing I know for sure is that am on the long protocol

Yes, sekky, you are on the long lupron protocol, it is warranted for women that have PCOS as the BCP and suprefact (which I think is lupron) helps to keep your estrogen in line. OHSS is a real issue for women with PCOS as we respond really well and often too well and then we get OHSS. So by using the lupron, we can help mitigate that and hopefully get better quality eggs. At least that is how it was explained to me. It did seem to help in my case.

However as I said to Ash, we are all different and I'm not an MD so there are probably plenty of reasons to choose one protocol over another depending on your labs. I will say that my FS waffled back and forth over doing the antagonist protocol and long lupron. I was like.. make up your mind!

 

[Sandy83]

Mossip, Great news that your ovaries were just playing a game of hide and seek. Good luck for next week

First, Great news on lining. I'm with anxiously jealous!!!!! Fx'd for next week

Sekky, how you doing on injections cycle buddy?

Hope the rest of you ladies are doing well xx

 

[alicatt]

Great news, Mossip! My left ovary always hides.

Ash: I don't know much about the specific protocols, but with each try, the RE learns about how your body reacts and can tailor the protocol better for you. Fingers crossed that this is your time

Sorry I've been out of pocket. I was actually traveling, but I was keeping up on everyone's progress when I was able to get internet access.

AFM, I'm back home and had my pre-FET appointment this morning. Lining = 12mm triple pattern. Just waiting to hear about the bloods. If all good, transfer is next week

Your lining sounds perfect! So it sounds like they'll put you on PIO and then you'll be doing your transfer 5 days later!

I'll be about 1 week after you! I hope we have some good news in late May!

 

[FirstTry]

Mossip, Great news that your ovaries were just playing a game of hide and seek. Good luck for next week

First, Great news on lining. I'm with anxiously jealous!!!!! Fx'd for next week

Sekky, how you doing on injections cycle buddy?

Hope the rest of you ladies are doing well xx

Sorry, I don't mean to make anyone jealous, Sandy and Anxiously.

Ali: I'm glad your FET is finally coming. It will be great to get our BFPs around the same time Yes, if all is good, I will start PIO shots tomorrow, and continue the estrodiol shots too.

I hope everyone's bellies and bottoms aren't too sore from the shots!

 

[Anxiously]

Any of you ladies on estradiol patches? I have 4 on me, to be changed every 3 days. I've changed 3 times now but they've been giving me the itches of a lifetime! I'm scratching around them so much, I'm leaving some scratch marks. Could I be having an allergic reaction?

 

[Sandy83]

I think I'm starting to get the hang of the shots now as no bruising or bleeding or soreness this time around either I'm getting better at them or my stomach has grown a thick skin!!!! xx