Getting back in the game.

[Mantaray75]

Had our review appointment today post failed cycle in November. Feeling a bit more confident but also wonder whether this IVF game will ever end.

Have decided to try a different clinic for a variety of reasons and our consultant took it really well. We'll still have to go to her for scans etc and will probably be flying to Auckland for our treatment. Just feel the bigger centre can offer a bit more technical expertise than here.

This is our last cycle in NZ. If this doesn't work then we're consider coming back to the UK and going to the Lister for either one more cycle or start thinking about egg donation.

We're considering a short protocol this time as the Lister consultant felt this would give us more eggs. Anyone much experience of this?

[Georgina78]

Hi Mantaray, nice to hear from you and where you're up to. I have wondered how you were getting on but have needed a little break from all things fertility over Christmas, NY & my birthday this month, so haven't been on here much at all.

I'm glad you have a plan and are feeling fairly optimistic about it, a new centre and access to more advanced technology will hopefully be the answer and 2017 will look a lot brighter for you.

I don't have any experience of short protocol as I've always been on long too but I hope it's the answer for you. I am currently on a three month prostap injection (which shuts you down like down-regs, but for longer obviously) because of my endometriosis. I saw a private consultant for a second opinion on this option and he was optimistic that it could help calm down the inflammation endo causes, hopefully enabling an embryo a better chance of implanting. It's an option I wish I didn't need as the side effects can be pretty unpleasant but I'm hoping it'll go fast then we'll go straight into the stims part of our 4th round of IVF.

Wishing you lots of luck at your new clinic, keep us posted if you feel up to it xx

[Mantaray75 in reply to Georgina78]

Thanks. Hoping 2017 is the year for both of us.

I know what you mean about trying to avoid all things fertility (even though you think about it every day). I got my BFN on my birthday and then I really struggled being back in the UK at xmas with all the new babies to meet so have tried to have a break from it all for a while.

x

[Georgina78 in reply to Mantaray75]

It's really hard isn't it, I remember you saying you were home for Christmas and all the children, that must have been tough. Not sure I would handle that so well. Was it really hard on you?

It is on your mind so much, although I have to admit it's been nice to be out of it all and 'normal' (as normal as you can be while in between cycles) for a while. In fact when I was at the clinic getting my prostap injection, I sat waiting watching other couples in & out and ladies shuffling around in their robes post EC and had such a strange feeling, like I was watching it as an outsider, not someone who has been through it many times and is about to again. I was thinking how much these ladies put themselves through, like I wasn't one of them. It was a really strange feeling. I guess I'm just a bit jaded after three failures and the same as you..will it ever end 😕

Let's hope this is the year it does end for us, with positive results 🙏🏻 Xx

[MommaBear16]

Hi Mantaray, it's great to hear that you're getting going again and feeling more positive about it. Our consultant did consider shorter protocol but feels that, as last time we did conceive, we should try long protocol again. I agree with him, though I wouldn't hesitate to switch should this cycle not be successful. If you have faith in your consultant I would go with whatever they recommend to keep your mind at ease and not be second-guessing anything.

Wishing you huge amounts of luck my love, keep in touch x x x

[Jwed80]

Hi there, I am in the process of my first IVF and we did a short protocol as I think our consultant was worried I'd over-stimulate. From my baseline to second scan the follicles really seemed to jump and in the end I produced 7 eggs with 3 of those maturing and had ICSI. Two medium grade blastos put back but unfortunately the 3rd one did not succeed. Just waiting to find out the outcome and have everything crossed. Not having tried a long protocol I can't comment but I found the whole thing really easy and stress free - which is more than can be said for the 2WW!!!

All the best to you xxxx

[Mantaray75]

The consultant at Lister thought a short protocol is better for older women as their ovaries are already shutdown to a certain extent and a long protocol makes it worse.

I did consider that we got pregnant with Gonal F on a long protocol so maybe we should go back to that. I'm not really sure why after a successful cycle we changed to Menopur which only gave us two eggs but our consultant at the time thought it would give us quality rather than quantity. I guess we'll have that discussion when we meet the new consultant.

[pm27]

I hope this cycle brings success. Good luck.

[Hidden]

I have done short protocol 3 times as I have low amh, I did get a BFP on our 2nd cycle but sadly a week later we lost the pregancy. We are just about to start our 4th cycle but 1st with DE so excited, I know it may not work but this is the highest chance we have ever had xxx

[Mantaray75 in reply to Hidden]

I really hope it all works out for you this time. I think we'll be looking at DE after this. x

[Hidden]

I went to the lister wasn't impressed at all after 7k. Their only answer was try again yeah ok I took 2k worth of tests for nothing and I could have got them done for a fraction of the price 800 pound blood test which could have cost me 175....

Anyways good luck xx

[Mantaray75 in reply to Hidden]

Thats interesting. The consultant we saw in December seemed really good and wasn't pushing any extra testing even though thats what we wanted to discuss with him. Its so hard trying to make the decision about the extra stuff and where to go. This whole game just seems like guesswork most of the time. x

[Nesfin]

i just had my first short protocol (third IVF cycle) and it worked wonders for me. The side effects were a lot harder this time around, whether from a different drugs, protocol or just plainly that it was my third cycle since July last year, is anybody's guess.. i would argue that a different approach is a good thing to shake things up and see what might work for you! I only got three follies each time last year (one cancelled cycle, one MC and afterwards a Xmas with a newborn nephew 😢) but had 6 taken out this time and two high quality blast to put back in and two to freeze - never thought that would happen!! So best of luck and all the best for you - do not give up hope! New clinic and new protocol is exactly what you need to boost your confidence xoxo

[CheshireKit]

Nice to see you back and it's good you're feeling positive. I'm afraid I can't advise on short or long protocol but I guess it's good to get the advice of your consultant and maybe some of the ladies on here could help advise too. New Year, new clinic, new start hope it all works out for you this time All the best of luck 🍀🍀🍀xx