Looking back at how my first round of IVF went

[M365]

The decision to go ahead with IVF was by far the hardest decision I've ever made. Endless reading about what can and can't happen, possible side effects, outcomes etc, am I rushing this decision, am I not, who do I or don't tell what we are going through.. this went on for months! Once I made the decision I definitely felt like I was taking control and had a sense of relief.

I am 38 and we have been TTC for 14 months with unexplained infertility. My age has been the biggest stress in how long we waited as I know that most people can take up to two years to conceive. I am also grateful that no one has told me I can't conceive although my AMH is low at 4.9

I just want to let anyone thinking of going though IVF know that although the injections and drugs can seem daunting my experience was a positive one as I didn't really have any negative symptoms and up to ET the whole process went like clockwork. Buserelyn did it's job, stimulation drugs did their job and trigger injection all went smoothly. EC although not a nice thought also went well and didn't put me off doing it again. I only had 7 eggs collected and two made it to blastocyst grade A and B.

Unfortunately I fell apart emotionally after EC and I got a negative result which my grade A embryo so it's my emotions and anxiety that I really need to work on next time but I just wanted to reassure ladies that although there are always a lot of risks and side effects it doesn't happen to everyone. I went into the process thinking it would be horrendous, hot flushes mood swings etc and I was very lucky that I didn't get much of that at all. The progesterone was the only one which effected me and that was feeling hot in the early hours of the morning which kept me awake. Oh and my period is is currently the worst I have ever experienced although I think that is understandable given all the drugs and the toll it has taken on my body!

Good luck to everyone on their journeys and I am currently trying to stay positive for FET in the coming months when I feel emotionally really to try again... I am going to start a course of acupuncture to see if that helps... 🤞

[Beanybeanz]

Great positive message even despite it not being the positive test yet at the end of it! Xx

I feel like this too - I’d hate to see people scared off from ivf from all the bad experiences, mine was generally fine - little bit of nausea, funny tummy and wooziness while on stimulation drugs but generally fine. As strange as it sounds I enjoyed my partner and I’s morning and evening routine doing injections together!

We were very lucky and it worked first time (started back in august 2020) and I think it’s good to reassure people looking into it that that is a very real possibility, as is the other way of it taking much longer and lots of rounds - it’s all so unknown. But I just wouldn’t want anyone to think it’s not a possibility for them xx

[Beanybeanz in reply to Beanybeanz]

P.S I did acupuncture and although I’m a bit of a cynic and it’s not something I ever would’ve dreamed of doing years ago, I actually really enjoyed my visits- it was a bit like counselling aswell cause she knew all the terminology for ivf and the next steps and hints & tips etc! She specialised in fertility so was able to tell me all sorts of stories about other women she’d treated over the years which I found both reassuring and prepared me emotionally for anything that may happen, good or bad! Xx

[KLADY123]

Hi M365

Thank you for sharing your experiences with us.

I am starting my stims sometime this week. I was wondering what side effects of the injections but this has given me hope that there may not be too many (I know every woman is different of course so I will have to wait and see).

I started accupunture as soon as I got the go ahead to start my cycle, which was a few weeks ago. Strangely I have had some positive effects already, they could be coincidental but my accupunturist thinks I just responded very quickly. Every month after ovulation I get painful breasts.... never changes it's one of the ways I know I have ovulated, I also have a slightly sluggish digestion and wasnt sleeping well. I had no pain this month, digestion has speeded up and my sleeping is so much better. She did say that I perhaps should have started sooner but I did have a budget in mind so 3/4 months was just to much for me! Point is I think its defo a good idea and I'm now a massive advocate. Whether it helps with the cycle is yet to be seen!! Fingers crossed...

Meditation has also been beneficial for me as I generally suffer from anxiety but since making time I have been much more relaxed. Give it a go! I read a brilliant book called 'calming your anxious mind' which is all about being mindful and mindful meditation- I would recommend that if your a book reader.

All the best for your FET x

[M365 in reply to KLADY123]

Thank you for your reply, it's good to hear positive things about acupuncture and I will look into buying the book you recommend. Good luck with your journey 🤞

[luthien]

Thank you so much for posting about what you've gone through / going through.

This really helps; we have yet to start our IVF journey, and I'm worried and concerned for exactly the same reasons as you. I'm 37, with low AMH (5.6 ), we've been ttc for about 2 years, husbands all good. I have endometriosis and an ovarian cyst, which was all treated in my latest op back in Jan this year (2 ops prior to that hence ttc inbetween as that's the best time window). So we're all good to go in the next few months once I get my thyroid levels in the right range - I have Hashimoto's which I only found out about in December last year.

We've had our initial consultation with our fertility specialist and she's happy - pretty much a "let us know when you're ready to start".

I'm just worried about all the medicines, when to take them, have I got them right, when do I do what, and what appointments do I need to remember, and mood swings so I keep talking myself out of it! It all seems really scary.

[RhinoCat]

It ain’t easy but it’s a journey with the hope of a happy ending . Just do one day at a time 😘💐 Best of all, this wall offers support and the knowledge that none of us travel the hardest road .... alone. Live and hugs to ya 😘💐💖 You can do it 😘💐