Confused about the way forward - natural / mild IVF?

Hi everyone,

I am wondering whether anyone has similar thoughts and feelings to me. I would love to hear from you if so.

Hubby and I have been trying for a baby for almost 6 years, more than half our relationship. We are not entitled to IVF on the NHS, we did an appeal but it's a no. I have always been very wary of IVF anyway. My body does not react well to hormonal changes and I would be terrified of the impact of all the drugs on my mental health (which has suffered over the years anyway). Also, I don't like the fertility industry. I don't like the way it makes a lot of money out of desperate people, and I think NHS funding should be more widely available.

I have only recently found out that such a thing as natural and mild IVF exists. I feel much more comfortable with the idea of this and am going to look into it more. I still don't think it's right that we have to pay for it, and really unfair on those that don't have parents who can give them the money (I can't leave my politics out of this I'm afraid). However, I don't want to regret not trying IVF in the future and that is the main thing driving me towards it, even more than desire for a baby to be honest (I have pretty much lost hope that I will ever be a Mum).

Can any of you identify with this? Have any of you made a conscious choice not to have IVF? Or had it despite your reservations about it? Have any of you had natural or mild IVF, and what were your experiences?

Thanks so much

[julietyler]

Hi joii I had the mild ivf mine was I only took injections for 9 days to boost my follicals up once they got to 17mm that was it 2days later I wheat fo EC and 3days after I wheat for et hope this helps u a little bit as this was my first time of ivf but it failed so in for a frozen transfer soon xx

[Hidden in reply to julietyler]

Thanks Julie. I really hope the frozen transfer goes well for you x

[julietyler in reply to Hidden]

Thank u Hun xx

[Hidden in reply to julietyler]

Do you mind me asking whether you experienced any symptoms through the injections? Thanks x

[julietyler in reply to Hidden]

The only thing I ever got though the injections was my overys was big and it felt Heavy but I never had anything else apart from that Hun. I hope yours goes well to xx

[Hidden]

Hi there, I was on the short protocol which I think is the same thing as mild IVF. Like julietyler I was on injections for 9 days then EC 2 days later. To be honest it was fine, hardly any symptoms except for the odd headache now and again, some bloating and tender ovaries in the days leading up to EC. x

[MofM]

Hi Joii,

we have tried for a child for two years now. My right tube has been removed two weeks ago due to an ectopic pregnancy, and my left one seems to be closed and/or damaged as well. This leaves me with IVF as an only option, and I may or may not be entitled to a trial on the NHS (as our postcode does not allow us more).

While I do not have any strong feelings on standard vs mild stimulation, I share most of your ethical dilemmas (which I badly vocalised, along with a more detailed description of my history so far here: healthunlocked.com/fertilit.... I always believed that asking for the help of what you correctly call "the fertility industry" is strongly unethical and that a far better choice would be to adopt. However, we are not married, of different Nationalities and without a stable job/life -- which make adoption difficult for us.

On the other hand, in 2 hours, I will have an appointment with a consultant at a sub-fertility clinic, where, 99 out of 100, I will be offered IVF, an offer I will accept -- because, as you said "I don't want to regret not trying IVF in the future and that is the main thing driving me towards it, even more than desire for a baby" (I can't do other than fully quote you here). My only limit here is no donor eggs, sperm, or embryo, which I see as an exploitation of other people (it seems that taking politics out of this is hard if not impossible).

Hugs