anyone over 35 going for fertility treatments this year? IUI, IVF etc

[Goldy]

That's my hope too, guess you are looking forward to your ultrasound. Wishing the best for you for Monday. My first day at work today really sucks!! Miss my couch.

 

[DaisyQ]

Update - so I'm switching RE's. It's a little nerve wracking to switch RE's at this point in the game, but my conscience is telling me to go where the success rates are higher...

Luckily, this new RE (who btw is very nice an thorough and helpful) is willing to take me on mid-cycle. Now I just have to "break up" with my old RE. So nervous to make that call!

No idea what my new protocol will be - we are waiting on my AMH level, which btw, had never been tested before. If it's OK, I'll probably still do a lupron protocol. If it's low, I then it sounds like an antagonist protocol.

Antral follicle count today (on day 11 of my cycle and after 8 days of BCP) was 15. Hoping that bodes well for a decent response.

This new place only does 6 day transfers.... so scared my embies won't make it to day 6. Might sign up for a clinical trial that will get us free PGD.

New RE doesn't think we need ICSI but we will do another SA before making a final decision. Honestly, even if she says we don't need it, I'm going to push for it. I'll be beyond devastated if only a couple (or no) eggs fertilize.

 

[DaisyQ]

So I just broke up with my old RE - sort of. I told them not to expect me tomorrow for testing or the IVF class, but that I would let them know definitively later this week what I"m doing. That's just like a guy telling you "he's not that into you" without actually breaking up! Of COURSE I had to do the break up with my absolute favorite receptionist! Oh well....

 

[Rona]

Hi ladies, I am back!

Welcome Goldy . Drsquid and Hockey, seems like we all will do the IVF around the same time.

Did my polyp removal surgery on Friday, 27 April 2012. So far so good. My Dr. found 2 polyps instead of 1 that he saw on the ultrasound.

If my menses on time, I will start my 2nd IVF soon. I will do Estrogen Priming Protocol (EPP). Just got calendar details from the nurse. It looks like:

1. When menses arrive, I have to call the clinic, go for baselines test

2. On day 21 of my cycle, will start lupron 10u and estrace 2mg pill twice a day daily for 7 days then stop

3. Call on my next menses and go for baselines again and will start high doses of stimulation meds of 300iu bravelle and 300iu menopur, also take dexamethasone and prenatal vitamis (Will be on these meds for approximately 10 - 12 days)

4. When follicles are big enough, will start Cetrotide and then trigger.

Have to plan my hotel stay, flight tickets and rental car

 

[hockey24]

Welcome Goldy!! 5DP5DT - wow! FX'd for you that you get that BFP this weekend! When is your beta scheduled? I had no idea that stuff in your ovaries could drip down into your uterus and cause implantation issues.

DaisyQ - 6 Day transfer? Don't hear people having those to often. I have to think if you have alot of eggs retrieved / fertilized that getting eggs to a 6 day transfer will be easier. Will they do one sooner if the numbers are low? But you would definitely know you have a good egg if its making it to Day 6!

Rona - welcome back! Glad you had the procedure to remove the polyp - considering there were 2. What is the estrogen priming protocol?

 

[noasaint]

I wonder if getting pregnant with fertility and having a child can 'reset' the system somehow as Ive heard of this a lot. I probably wont be trying naturally after as will use my frosties but it would be interesting to know. How many of you are planning another after?

I'm not planning on having any more but I do hope my system resets in regards to PCOS. In some women it actually starts fairly normal cycles when previously they had no cycles or very few.

Glad everything went OK Rona!!!

Has anyone had their DH have a really good SA then a few months later turn around and have a horrible one? I'm having DH do another one, it will be 6 months in between. I'm sure it will be fine, I'll just feel better after another one.

 

[Rona]

Welcome Goldy!! 5DP5DT - wow! FX'd for you that you get that BFP this weekend! When is your beta scheduled? I had no idea that stuff in your ovaries could drip down into your uterus and cause implantation issues.

DaisyQ - 6 Day transfer? Don't hear people having those to often. I have to think if you have alot of eggs retrieved / fertilized that getting eggs to a 6 day transfer will be easier. Will they do one sooner if the numbers are low? But you would definitely know you have a good egg if its making it to Day 6!

Rona - welcome back! Glad you had the procedure to remove the polyp - considering there were 2. What is the estrogen priming protocol?

Daisy,

Basically it for poor responder or high FSH. I am bad about explaining thing, but here what I found. Basically it to make the eggs growing at the same size and better quality.

The estrogen is taken in the luteal phase to dampen down your body's natural FSH. It's a form of suppression, but is not nearly as suppressive as BCP's, and works well for some women with DOR. It's not generally the first protocol considered, but is worth asking about. Here is a link that explains a bit about different IVF protocols:

https://www.fertility.ca/2009/05/the-best-ivf-protocol/

 

[crystal443]

Rona- I did estrogen priming in my last IVF cycle...they were patches but I did BCP as well, my FS decided last minute to throw in the estrogen

Daisy- 15 antra follies is not too shabby at all We switched FS between cycles as well, you really have to do what you feel is best. It was the best move I made, he didn't get me pregnant with IVF but he ended up setting me up for a natural BFP so I can't complain

Hockey- I am sooooo excited for you to get started on your cycle..so many ladies cycling around the same time its going to be an exciting few months

 

[DaisyQ]

Hi guys! Thanks for the support and feedback. I'm excited so many of us are cycling soon.

So hockey, they actually only do 6 day transfers, which scares the crap out of me - worried mine will not make it to day six. But, they do have very high success rates, so... apparently the have an excellent lab, culturing system and embryologists - and it sounds like their data shows greater success with day six transfers - they are very big on putting back blasts at the exact time implantation should happen. The doctor said that with their lab, an embryo that doesn't make it to day six in the lab would be unlikely to make it in utero. Hard to know though, isn't it? I just gave to trust their higher success rates. If for some reason this doesn't work out (and it's because I didn't have good embies on day 6), I'm going to consider going to Colorado (CCRM) for another try.

 

[Goldy]

Welcome Goldy!! 5DP5DT - wow! FX'd for you that you get that BFP this weekend! When is your beta scheduled? I had no idea that stuff in your ovaries could drip down into your uterus and cause implantation issues.

DaisyQ - 6 Day transfer? Don't hear people having those to often. I have to think if you have alot of eggs retrieved / fertilized that getting eggs to a 6 day transfer will be easier. Will they do one sooner if the numbers are low? But you would definitely know you have a good egg if its making it to Day 6!

Rona - welcome back! Glad you had the procedure to remove the polyp - considering there were 2. What is the estrogen priming protocol?

Hey Hockey, how have you been? Thanks for the well wishes. Am now 6dp5dt and dreading to test. My beta is Monday May 7th. The fluid I was referring to is actually in the tubes that's why I had to have an adiana procedure to literally block the one tube which had the hydrosalpinx.

Daisy you will be fine. One needs to follow ones heart on RE decisions. I applaud you for taking that step.

Sarah on the system correcting itself, I think it works for some. My sister had conceiving issues and once she had one baby through clomid another followed right away.. Whilst she was breastfeeding!

 

[Rona]

Rona- I did estrogen priming in my last IVF cycle...they were patches but I did BCP as well, my FS decided last minute to throw in the estrogen

Crystal, that's give me hope ....I am glad the company I am working with very flexible with unpay leave without hassle. Imagine in 3 months in a row, 8 to 10 days out of work. I have all my meds ready except 2 more Cetrotide. Will order that in June

 

[hockey24]

Very excited about the possibilities these next couple months. Several ladies on IVF plans with all different protocols so I'm anxious to follow the progress!

I just ordered some DHEA that I am going to start taking. My doctor didn't think it would hurt so figured why not - hopefully there will be no side effects.

FX'd ladies!!

 

[sarahincanada]

good news, got my screening results back: negative with a 1 in 94,000 chance of downs. slightly better than the 1 in 100 our age group has!

Im excited too hockey, I think theres more BFPs coming on this thread very soon

 

[DaisyQ]

Sarah, great news!

Goldy, good luck!

And while I'm at it.... to the rest of us too.

I can't remember if I mentioned this an this thread or not, but neither RE feels icsi is necessary for us. We are doing another SA to make sure the morph problem isn't more serious, but if it looks ok, my doc is recommending regular IVF for us. Because we are unexplained, I'm terrified fertilization is our problem. I'm considering pushing for icsi regadless... At least 50%, what do you guys think?

 

[sarahincanada]

Sarah, great news!

Goldy, good luck!

And while I'm at it.... to the rest of us too.

I can't remember if I mentioned this an this thread or not, but neither RE feels icsi is necessary for us. We are doing another SA to make sure the morph problem isn't more serious, but if it looks ok, my doc is recommending regular IVF for us. Because we are unexplained, I'm terrified fertilization is our problem. I'm considering pushing for icsi regadless... At least 50%, what do you guys think?

Daisy I would push for 100%, I dont know why clinics resist as you have to pay for it right? why risk them not fertilizing or losing any at all (its too late after if they find out there is a problem). Unless they have good reasons not to ICSI but Im unaware of any issues with it. Ask them about the hard shell issue...most clinics seem to concentrate on the SA to determine whether ICSI is needed but we didnt have semen issues at all and my FS suggested to just ICSI all of them because of the age of my eggs. Just say you want the best chance of fertilization and really hope for some frosties so would like to add it.

 

[DaisyQ]

Thanks Sarah, I agree the risk is too great to NOT use icsi. I am going to apply for a clinical trial actually for this IVF cycle that would necessitate icsi... It's part if the study protocol. I think we would have to pay for the icsi, but we'd get free pgd out of the deal.

 

[sarahincanada]

oh thats good. so excited you moved to the clinic with great success! I think I remember telling you about a lady on here in our age group that did 50% icsi, and the icsi fertilized about 6 more eggs than the ones not icsi'd. Well what if those 6 eggs happened to be her strongest eggs. I didnt have the comparison as did 100% icsi, but all mine fertilized so I really promote it.

 

[hockey24]

good news, got my screening results back: negative with a 1 in 94,000 chance of downs. slightly better than the 1 in 100 our age group has!

Im excited too hockey, I think theres more BFPs coming on this thread very soon

Yeah Sarah! Great news!! I would most definitely take those odds!

I'm all for ICSI too - is there some risk involved when you do it that doctors are concerned for? Otherwise, I don't know why you wouldn't always do it?

 

[DaisyQ]

I think that there is a small increased risk of birth defects and sex chromosome abnormalities, but the increase in risk is VERY small, and they are not sure yet whether it's from the actual ICSI procedure, or because there were underlying genetic issues with the father's sperm (which also resulted in low sperm count).

The only other reason I could see for her NOT recommending it, is for diagnostic purposes. If we have a great fertilization rate, then she can rule out egg quality and male factor... If our fertilization rate sucks, then we know what the issue (or one issue) is. I just don't want to take the chance of it sucking!

 

[crystal443]

Sarah- so happy for you that is fantastic news!!!

Daisy- def push for ICSI, they can pick the best of the best sperm to fertilise the egg You want as many to fertilise as possible so you can hopefully get a few frosties as well