Multiple IVF failures...what now?

[oneof14]

Mo, I am 6w2d today, dr said I was meauring at 6w1d.

 

[whattheiveff]

Awesome news! Congratulations!

 

[michelle01]

Patricia - LO means Little One took me awhile to figure that out!!

 

[oneof14]

haha, got it makes sense.

I got the call and start to ween myself off PIO starting next Tuesday, so I think another week and 1/2 with the PIO and hopefully I am done. I think after that, I am graduating. Its seems so early right?!

 

[michelle01]

Nope, it is not early! I was released to my OB at 7 weeks; once they heard the hb twice, they wanted me to move on. It's bittersweet, but such a great thing cause that means everything is good. Then its a matter of getting used to appts 4 weeks apart from each other; when your with your FS, you get spoiled!

Edit: And yay for weening off PIO shots

 

[septbride]

Great news that you can wean off the shots and graduate! They bundled me out the door at 7w5d, but maybe that was partially cos I wasn't on the shots. Welcome to the weird world of being a "normal pregnant person"!!

 

[L4hope]

Yeah isn't it strange that once they release you from the clinic you are considered a "normal" pregnant woman. Yeah right! I don't think we'll ever be completely normal after what we've gone through.

 

[Lucie73821]

Great news one!

 

[Bluebell bun]

Hi ladies, having been stalking this thread silently and figured I may as well join you. Had my second failed IVF cycle in feb and had my WTF appoint earlier this week. I am 37 and have a high AMH at 44. We are considered unexplained. During our last cycle we had 6 fertilised eggs out of 10 and transferred one blastocyst and a compacting morula. Our consultant basically thinks the problem is with egg quality as we had nothing suitable to freeze. The big question is where to go from here? We are paying out of pocket. Our clinic has just introduced EEVA and he was suggesting a cycle using this would give us a clearer idea about egg quality. Beyond this the next step could possily be donor egg IVF. We started TTC in Jan 11. It all feels a bit surreal to be honest, having gone from believing we have just been a bit 'unlucky' to donor eggs in one swoop!!! My gut feeling is that I am reluctant to give up on my own eggs at this stage. Anyway, just wanted to say hi

 

[L4hope]

How are things going ladies??

Bluebell, welcome! I'm sure you will come to a decision that works for you and your dh. I'm sure it's an unbelievably tough decision to decide to use de. Good luck!

 

[septbride]

Hi Bluebell, glad you joined! So sorry to hear about your failed cycle. It's so hard. I think you mentioned that your AMH was 44...is it possible you meant your FSH? Also, is EEVA the same as embryo banking? I hope you and your doctor can make some headway. In the meantime, know that we've been there and can sympathize!

 

[Bluebell bun]

No, it is my AMH that is high ie well above average for age!! But apparently this just relates to ovarian reserve and does not indicate egg quality.

 

[septbride]

Oh wow! Are they checking you for PCOS?

Good luck!

 

[MoBaby]

You know you are having a girl already septbride? Congrats!!

AMH 44? WOW! Are you PCOS??

I would try another cycle with your own eggs. Were you on a light dose of stims? Probably due to the high AMH? Maybe a different protocol since you got 10 eggs and maybe try to get a few more? OR a higher dose of stims? It is expensive for sure. We could probably have had a bfp by now if we would use donor sperm and iui but we are not giving up on the few swimmers DH has! We pay all out of pocket as well so I understand that.

 

[Bluebell bun]

No PCOS. Normal ovaries, regular periods, ovulate like clockwork, normal sperm sample, normal HSG!! Apparently perfect so why the heck ain't we pregnant!!! This is why doc thinks it may be due to egg quality. It is all so demoralising and frustrating. I just feel totally rubbish about it all

Mo, the doc says I have responded as he would expect. My estrogen does rocket as I stim so need an antagonist protocol and trigger with Buserelin rather than HCG to prevent OHSS. My estrogen levels were > 11,000 last time round! I don't think I am ready to give up my own eggs as yet.

Sept, EEVA is very new I believe. Basically , the eggs don't leave the incubator and are filmed as they divide. A computer works out if they are dividing within the correct time frames. If they divide an hour or two later/sooner than they should be it suggests egg is poor quality or not right. The selection of the eggs to transfer is dependent on what the computer says!! The doc says that it can give useful information about the eggs, which may not be good news!! Transfer is done Day 3 rather than waiting to Day 5. Of course, this costs more money!!!

 

[michelle01]

Hi Bluebell! Sorry for what you are going through and hopefully you can determine what the best next step is. It took me 3 IVF fresh cycles to get my BFP and I will be 40 in january; so age was against me, along with one tube and the rest egg quality. My 3rd cycle I just added in acupuncture and a very aggressive stim protocol since I would wasn't producing that much. Third time worked for us, but everyone is different. If you did decide to do a 3rd round with your own eggs, would they change anything? Have you considered another clinic/second opinion before deciding?

 

[MoBaby]

Has your doc said anything about coq10 or DHEA? They are supossed to improve egg quality. Estrogen over 11,000!! WOW!! I havent heard of the EEVA thing. Sounds interesting. Would the embryologist confirm the findings I imagine? If they say all the embryos are poor do you just not use them or could you put more back?

 

[septbride]

Thanks MoBaby! We just found out yesterday!

Bluebell, EEVA sounds sci-fi amazing. I hope that helps you pinpoint the best embryos. All I know about high AMH is that Metformin can bring it down, but I think that's for people with PCOS? Still, maybe they could give you a low dose of that or something? I wonder if it's worth speaking to a second doctor to see what they would suggest.

 

[michelle01]

Patricia - How are you doing? When is your next appt/scan?

 

[Bluebell bun]

Michelle, it's encouraging to hear you were third time lucky. I did wonder about a change of clinic but the one we attend is very local and I have been pleased with our treatment (despite the lack of BFP!). Other than using EEVA my doc wasn't suggesting any changes. I've just started acupuncture, for stress as much as anything!!

Sept, I've been on Metformin for both cycles. The EEVA stuff is a bit Sci Fi! The pictures are really cool. If you imagine it like one of these films on nature programs when you see a flower opening up!!