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

[hockey24]

Good luck Greenfingers! Keep us posted on your progress!!

 

[sarahincanada]

GreenFingers thats great news, FX'd for you!!!

JanetPlanet any news?? who else is nearing the end of their cycle?

Ladies you had lots of fun on this thread last night, I didnt read through everything so I hope I havent missed anything!!

I went to see my FS today and so below will put a long update for anyone interested!!

so I met with my fertility specialist this morning! the day didnt start out well. I left my house at 7:15 for my 9:15 apt, and at 9:15 was stuck on a street about 5 mins away not moving due to construction Finally I park and get there at 9:30 after running from parking lot to clinic, I was so worried they would say Id missed my time.

it went well, and funnily enough all my questions she actually brought up first!

first she said she wanted me to do the AMH....she said my FSH in normal and follicle count is great for my age, but she just wanted another measurement seeing as the last 2 cycles I only had 1 follicle. She said thats not unusual, and that in fact me responding with 3 and 4 the first couple of months was more unusual. So I went for the AMH right after, including my yearly blood tests as we last went to the clinic a year ago now. They took 6 vials out of me! I think a beta might be in that too, so I might know before the weekend if Im pregnant (even though it would be very low). Im so convinced that Im not pregnant that Im totally fine with knowing before my bday. The AMH they send out in batches, so not sure when I will know the result and they will only phone if its really low so I will have to ask about it next time.

She said she has upped the dosage of my gonal-f for next month, to 150ml, but perhaps I would like to consider IVF sometime soon. So I said well funny you should say that and said we were thinking about it for November. I asked her how many IUIs do they usually do until they suggest IVF and she said 3-4, Ive had 3. So then I asked whether to skip the next cycle or continue....I asked whether having a month at the 150 gonal-f would be useful for when doing the IVF dosage, and she said not really, and I didnt need to take a break either so its totally up to me. I asked her opinion and she said perhaps skip it and use the money for IVF as its a much better success rate.

She said I dont need any extra tests, but should just come to an IVF class in October so I booked that for Oct 13. I asked her a little about IVF but she said everything would covered in the class, but that she would recommend ICSI straight away due to my age. So the base price is $7200 for IVF and ICSI, and then the drugs which she estimated at $3000, so perhaps it will be nearer $10,000 than $12,000.

And thats about it, it was nice, even though I was late I didnt feel rushed. I did ask her why the success rates are so low in general, and she said its just chromosomal abnormalities in eggs and that a healthy 20 yr old often has 30% of eggs that are abnormal and that raises with age, and by 40's about 80%. I felt quite positive leaving there and excited about the class in 2 weeks.

So the question is....continue with next cycle or skip? I need to talk to hubby about it, but Im so unsure. Some of me would love to try the gonal f at a higher dose and see if I get more eggs, and perhaps we would save ourselves $10,000. But another part of me is fed up, would love a month off and to just save the $ for the big guns. This is a hard decision to make!! opnions welcomed, although they might confuse me more

 

[dachsundmom]

Sarah...glad to hear you had a positive appointment!

My honest opinion, save the money and head straight for IVF/ICSI. I only say this bc I know things are tight right now and I think the $ is better spent where you can have the biggest chance of success.

When you get your BFP, I really doubt that you will question if you could have saved $ by doing one more IUI cycle.

 

[readyformore]

Sounds like a great meeting Sarah!!

It's really hard to give advice. You know my history (success with the 4th IUI while doing IVF classes), but I was also 25.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[sarahincanada]

thanks ladies, its nice to talk to you about this stuff as i dont think hubby will be much help.

dachsundmom you are right, Im not going to look back if I get my bfp! my only worry is skipping this month and then not having the $$ for IVF in November due to not getting paid on time. But I think i can come up with it, was doing some calculations today. And even if I couldnt I could just continue with the IUI in November, its not the end of the world to have skipped a cycle (Im just panicing as Im 39 at the end of the week!!!).

ready haha I forgot about that! I was joking to my hubby that if we skip next month that will be the month we get a bfp!! imagine, a 'free' (no cost) BFP!! those seem sooo unlikely.

The other reason Im thinking of saving for IVF is I love the idea of *possibly* getting some to freeze for later use. I know its not guarantee, but Id like the chance. If I got pregnant now that would be amazing, but I will be almost 40 when I give birth and might not be ready for another till a year or so later, so will be using older eggs and we've all seen the stats. I love the idea of being able to freeze some embryos at this age, even though I know it might not happen.

 

[dachsundmom]

Sarah, since you know you will be getting paid, can you open a new credit line and then just pay it off when the checks come in or does your clinic offer financing?

 

[readyformore]

I like the idea of freezing too

 

[sarahincanada]

Sarah, since you know you will be getting paid, can you open a new credit line and then just pay it off when the checks come in or does your clinic offer financing?

we wouldnt get approved for any additional financing as we are already carrying high balances on existing cards quite a lot of it will be paid off by january, so I have to not get too hung up on doing the IVF immediately, if I cant as thats not far off.

could be worse, I think LL paid close to $30,000...could be better, some people in the UK get it covered! I think all governments should treat infertility like any other disease and cover more of it. in canada quebec does cover a large portion Ive heard.

 

[Indigo77]

IVF all the way!
Plus, a cycle without meds might be good for you!

How much do you think you have spent so far on the IUIs?

 

[sadie]

I will be switching to a plan in january that will pay for 3 IVF's. I'll just be responsible for $100/month as a fee for the plan. I feel lucky about that. Unlimited IUI's are paid for under my current plan.

We all deserve coverage for fertility!!

 

[sadie]

I will be switching to a plan in january that will pay for 3 IVF's. I'll just be responsible for $100/month as a fee for the plan. I feel lucky about that. Unlimited IUI's are paid for under my current plan.

We all deserve coverage for fertility!!

Side note. My current plan insists for 6 cycles of IUI before doing IVF. I will be 42 in november and 6 seems a bit ridiculous.

 

[dachsundmom]

Sarah, since you know you will be getting paid, can you open a new credit line and then just pay it off when the checks come in or does your clinic offer financing?

we wouldnt get approved for any additional financing as we are already carrying high balances on existing cards quite a lot of it will be paid off by january, so I have to not get too hung up on doing the IVF immediately, if I cant as thats not far off.

could be worse, I think LL paid close to $30,000...could be better, some people in the UK get it covered! I think all governments should treat infertility like any other disease and cover more of it. in canada quebec does cover a large portion Ive heard.

I remember a long time ago, before we all lost our PMA when you kept saying you would have a BFP by January...if you had to wait, you'd still be right on schedule.

I know this means travelling to the clinic in the winter, but it also means you won't be fat and pregnant in the winter, so no weather worries. If your family visits you in August, your mom would be with you to help get ready for the baby. How perfect is that! And, you can still go home for Xmas.

 

[sarahincanada]

IVF all the way!

thanks I thought youd say that after your screw natural comment the other day!!!!

Plus, a cycle without meds might be good for you!

true, Im liking that idea and think it may be better to have a rest before the big dosage comes. my husband just said his first thought is to continue next month, and when I started telling him the reasons to skip Ive realized I think Ive made up my mind!!

How much do you think you have spent so far on the IUIs?

1st cycle: Clomid & Ovidrel $160
2nd cycle: Clomid & Ovidrel & IUI $485
3rd cycle: Clomid & Natural Surge & IUI $405
4th cycle: Injectables & Ovidrel & IUI $1073
= $2123
...not bad, I know it costs a lot more in the US.

 

[sarahincanada]

I remember a long time ago, before we all lost our PMA when you kept saying you would have a BFP by January...if you had to wait, you'd still be right on schedule.

makes me sad, that we've all lost our pma. do you think we can get it back as everyone does ivf and gets their bfps?

I know this means travelling to the clinic in the winter, but it also means you won't be fat and pregnant in the winter, so no weather worries. If your family visits you in August, your mom would be with you to help get ready for the baby. How perfect is that! And, you can still go home for Xmas.

thank you for the thoughtful comments

 

[dachsundmom]

IDK if the PMA comes back, per se...but maybe some sort of excitement for the future.

To be honest, we are all going to find new things to worry about, but I am hoping that NOT worrying about TTC will make everything else seem easier.

 

[sarahincanada]

IDK if the PMA comes back, per se...but maybe some sort of excitement for the future.

To be honest, we are all going to find new things to worry about, but I am hoping that NOT worrying about TTC will make everything else seem easier.

very true, we will worry about betas, scans, getting into 2nd tri, even 3rd tri can be worrying, arrgghhhh!

we should do a list of everyones names and when they are possibly doing IVF, I cant keep up

 

[dachsundmom]

IDK where anyone is anymore, except for being stuck in TTC hell, lol.

 

[readyformore]

IDK if the PMA comes back, per se...but maybe some sort of excitement for the future.

I am excited about being done, regardless of outcome.

 

[dachsundmom]

IDK if the PMA comes back, per se...but maybe some sort of excitement for the future.

I am excited about being done, regardless of outcome.

 

[sarahincanada]

very true, we will worry about betas, scans, getting into 2nd tri, even 3rd tri can be worrying, arrgghhhh!

actually just realized my mother still worries about me all the time, and Im 39, so the worrying never stops!!

I was also thinking oh my, what if it takes 2 or 3 goes and I have to spend $20,000 or $30,000, I would feel terrible. but I had a revelation: thats nothing compared to what you will spend on them in a lifetime, so get over it!

however if you spend that money with no results, urgghh I dont even want to think about that.