IVF Ninewells

[Lucyloo81]

Hi Everyone,

I'm off for an appointment this Monday to start the process for IVF. Does anyone have some advice and have any stories to tell. There nothing wrong with either myself or husband, unexplained infertility. Thank you for reading xxx

[Cinderella5]

I'm also waiting for ivf at Ninewells. I'm not sure if you are NHS or private so I'll give you my NHS experience so far...! My tests from our GP were ok for my age. Husbands sperm analysis was low count & motility. We got our pack just before our first appt including consent forms. First appt was pretty general with my hubby having a physical exam, bloods to look for genetic reasons of male issues which doesn't affect you. I had internal ultrasound & bloods. We've just frozen some sperm & waiting to get started, which is taking forever but getting closer everyday! I'm not sure if I'm far enough into the journey to offer advice but just wanted you to know there is someone else waiting in from the same area!! Good luck on your journey toots!!

[Lucyloo81 in reply to Cinderella5]

Thank you for replying and well done on starting your journey. I have had all the tests but my husband hasn't had the genetic testing (hope this isn't another appointment). After my HSG came back clear the doctor told me straight away that I would be given an appointment to get started for IVF.

It's nice to hear from someone else that's on the same journey I will lets you know how Monday goes.

Good luck xxxxx

[Cinderella5 in reply to Lucyloo81]

I didn't have to have an HSG as my husband has low count & motility of sperm, this is the only reason he had genetic testing so you may not need this. We had our first appointment in December and we got a letter to tell us we would be starting around May. We've had a few appointments in between for blood results etc. Hope it all goes well on Monday!! It's exciting but nerve wracking isn't it!!😊

[Lucyloo81 in reply to Cinderella5]

I'm allowing myself to be excited for Monday as now we have a chance. Each month with every cramp, twinge etc it's a mental whirlwind, I'm just focussing on starting IVF and relaxing.

I'm really glad I joined this forum to discuss this as it has made me feel like I'm not alone 😘😘 xx

[Hopeful1982]

Hello Lucyloo81,

My husband and I have unexplained infertility too and had IVF at ninewells last summer. I had my first appointment in March/April last year. It involved completely consent forms, having blood pressure taken, weight measured, a few more blood tests etc.

I started IVF meds on day 21 of my May period (which technically meant I didn't take any medication until the beginning of June) and by the end of July we had our BFP! So a positive outcome that I hope keeps your spirits up!

The wait before starting meds just depends how busy they are but you really shouldn't have long to wait now!

If I could give any advice it would be (if you've not already) to spend the time you have before treatment preparing yourself mentally and trying to get yourself as calm and relaxed for treatment as possible. I saw a counsellor, went to tai chi classes (yoga and Pilates are also good) and I also went for acupuncture. It definitely helped prepare me and I do believe it contributed to the outcome.

Wishing you the best of luck! x

[Lucyloo81 in reply to Hopeful1982]

Wow you didn't have to wait that long to start treatment! How did you get on giving yourself the injections? I am a nurse but dread having to give them to myself 😳. How long was it from the start of your medication to the positive result? Congratulations by the way and well done xxxx

[Hopeful1982 in reply to Lucyloo81]

No, after all the waiting it happened really quickly! It took around 8 weeks in total (I started taking brueselin nasal spray to down regulate on the 9 June and began injections around 2 weeks later. I had EC around the 9 July, ET on 14th July and a bfp on 28th July. It's funny how all the dates stick in your head!). The injections are honestly fine. I just found it a bit surreal to be injecting myself but I wouldn't say they were sore (just a little nip!). In the end was doing them in restaurant loos and all sorts! x

[hopeforICSI]

Hi all, I'm also at Ninewells for ICSI and that's NHS. For make factor, did have all tests for husband and urologists found out it's unexplained male infertility where he doesn't produce much sperms to ejaculated and they couldn't explain any further as medical science has no answer for the situation. But urologists found out in his internal scan that they can definitely find some sperms in surgical retrieval process so referred us to Ninewells. Around May 2014 doctors got one vial of sperm through PESA. Then, by ticking all the available information to count viable outlook of sperms i.e. motility, tail etc ( again this is the only criteria scintigraphy known so far, to see quality of sperms, as told by doctors in follow up appointment) they were frozen until my EC in August 2014. Twelve eggs and eleven of them fertilised, 9 of them made it to blastocyst and five top quality chosen to transfer one of them in that fresh cycle (failed), rest of four frozen for FET. Since then until this month, March 2016(such a long long journey!!!) I've been using one by one frostie in FET (one FET failed with BFN, but another with two embryos was BFP but at 7 weeks they found no heartbeat, so miscarriage) now I've used last frostie two days ago!!!!!!

To be honest!!! I'm genuine feeling I'm not living on planet earth!! I'm living on somewhere else in galaxy where only my IVF, it's stresses, it's meds, it's after shocks, social stress, work place stress, being left out from groups of friends and family having babies.... So mine is not earth planet... I'm living somewhere else... Who knows what comes with this ongoing FET...

[Cinderella5 in reply to hopeforICSI]

Sorry to hear your struggle with conceiving! I can only imagine what you have been through already! Do you know if Ninewells does endometrial scratch? Have you been offered this at all? Good luck for a good result!

[hopeforICSI in reply to Cinderella5]

No I've been never offered scratch. They did my bloods after one time BFP/ miscarriage and test was for blood clots. It came out to be clear.

[Cinderella5 in reply to hopeforICSI]

Thanks for replying! I just wondered as I'm interested in it for myself. Good luck this time, fingers crossed for you!!

[Hopeful1982 in reply to Cinderella5]

I wasn't offered the scratch - that doesn't mean they don't use it but I doubt they would have suggested it on my first round anyway. I do know they do use embryo glue as standard as I asked about this

X

[Cinderella5 in reply to Hopeful1982]

That's good to know. Thanks for that!x

[hopeforICSI in reply to Hopeful1982]

That is true. I could ask, but as I remember I was told they don't do it on NHS and scratch is only private. I asked about glue as well and they told the glue is included in all transfers at Ninewells.

[Lucyloo81 in reply to hopeforICSI]

Aw what a journey you have been on to say the least . No wonder you feel like your on another planet 😳. Thank you for sharing your story it's helping me. Good luck xxx

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It seemed to take ages to get to the actual starting point, but one it does it goes so fast. Good luck 🍀🍀