Back to Back IVF/ICSI cycles

[JoyfulStar]

I am currently doing a 3 cycle package of embryo banking. So far, I have completed 2 out of 3. My 3rd and final cycle is about to start. I am just waiting for AF to arrive.

My first cycle was in January and second was in March. So doing it every 2 months. After my second egg collection, I had more symptoms than the first time. Also I have felt more twinges and niggles this month so beginning to wonder if I am putting my body through too much stress. My symptoms are very mild though.

I am doing it at this speed due to my age- I will be 44 in June. I already lost two months due to Covid. I did not have it but was told to self- isolate by the contact tracing app in November just as I was about to start stims. 😒 AF was due around Christmas time so December was out as well! ☹️

Has anyone had back to back cycles of embryo banking? If yes, how quickly did you do it and did you have any “side effects” when you were not on any medication?

[winniep]

I am just starting to think of doing this but didn’t know you could do 3 cycles back to back. Can you please DM me the name of your clinic and the cost please. Good luck with everything. ❤️

[JoyfulStar in reply to winniep]

Thanks 😊 Will do xxx

[miracleneeded]

Hey. I didn’t do banking but I only got 1 embryo each round so I ended up doing 3 egg collections in 6 months. I don’t know how many eggs you got, but I was hyper stimulated for two of the collections and it took months for my ovaries to go back to normal size. It definitely does put a strain on your health, with the fluctuation in hormones etc but I’m sure your doc wouldn’t do anything they thought was risky. Chat to your doc about it if you’re concerned. 🙂

[JoyfulStar in reply to miracleneeded]

Thank you so much for responding. It is reassuring to know that I am not the only one that has done so many egg collections in a short space of time.

I have had mixed results from my egg collections so far. I good with 2 embryos frozen and one with none that made it to blastocyst.

I did ask my doctor and he said the IVF drugs leave your system. My dose of stims has remained the same all 3 rounds. My symptoms could just be enlarged ovaries like you have said. I have had a baseline scan and they have not highlighted anything to really worry about so I may just be overthinking it.

Thanks again ❤️

[Hidden]

Hi, again I haven't done banking but I have done back to back ICSI fresh transfers twice, once last year and once the year before. I didn't really have any negative impacts of those cycles going back to back per se but having done six fresh rounds and transfers I do now have issues around ovulation - it is very very painful (like take to my bed painful on occasion) for about 24 hours and I assume thats because my ovaries are scarred from the collections.

I think what I am saying is I don't think doing back to back as opposed to spacing cycles out will make the longer term impact any less or more!

Masses of luck lovely x

[JoyfulStar in reply to Hidden]

Thanks my dear ❤️

Thanks for sharing your story. It is reassuring to know that even if I space it out, the impact will be more or less the same.

I am glad this is my last cycle and hoping it all works out well 🙏🏾

[Jumpppy]

In case it is helpful...

I did 5 cycles back-to-back, had planned to do 6. In theory, the idea is you are "riding" cycles so you ovaries are well primed and should respond better each cycle both in terms of quality and quantity. More niggles during stims and earlier is a good sign and means you've likely made the right choice (back-to-back sometimes has no impact).

I knew 5 was enough and not to do a 6th based on egg collection not stims. For the first 4 I had no to minimal post EC after effects. Number 5 was miserable and I took it as a sign that my body was telling me "you're done."

6 isn't uncommon in the US for banking as the thought is after 6 you've captured a year of the best eggs and if it doesn't work, then more cycles is unlikely to improve things unless you change something like the egg source or sperm source.

I've known people to do 8 - 12 banking cycles.

Good luck!

[JoyfulStar in reply to Jumpppy]

8 - 12? Wow that is intense! 😳

Glad to know back to back cycles can be done with minimal side effects. You are a trooper for doing 5. I have only done 2 and I am questioning if it is too much.

Thank you xxx

[Ivfgotadream]

I did back to back - months 1 and 2 were fine but nr 3 struggled to get going, I ended up waiting 40 days to get my period which is unheard of for me had a lot of corpus luteus left over from the previous egg collection wks hormones were totally out of whack and had to abandon cycle. We then went into the first lockdown last March so had to wait until the May to finish my 3 cycle package

[JoyfulStar in reply to Ivfgotadream]

Thank you for sharing. My period was also delayed before my last treatment. It was up to 35 days when it is normally 27 days.

I am not sure if it will be late again but I am already cramping so hope not! The idea of abandoning this cycle does not appeal to me- the doctor thought it might be an idea to wait for more follicles but I did not agree.

I am hoping I made the right decision. 😬

What was your overall outcome if you don’t mind me asking.

Thanks again xxx

[Jumpppy in reply to JoyfulStar]

Yeah I didn't mention, but funky period timing and cysts were a definite side effect. I am regular like clockwork and never had a cyst...until IVF. But my RE said it is par for the course and doesn't mean anything more than your ovaries are in hyperdrive and your body is thinking "baby."

I should have mentioned it's all worked out for me so well worth it. Good luck xxx

[JoyfulStar in reply to Jumpppy]

Thank you so much and Congratulations! 🎉

[Ivfgotadream in reply to JoyfulStar]

I had 2 blastocysts banked cycle 1 and 2 blastocysts from cycle 2 - all great quality - cycle 3 I had to drop the tamoxifen as makes my lining too thick for transfer (so it became more of a mild ivf protocol rather than natural modified) - cycle was a bust and took ages to get going - only had one egg and didn’t get any blastocysts. I felt like it was my body’s way of saying it had had enough (I’d done 5 egg collections and 3 transfers by that point). We thawed 2 of the frozen ones and both stuck and I had twins in January x

[JoyfulStar in reply to Ivfgotadream]

Oh wow! What a great story. Congratulations on having twins! 🎊🎊

[Ownyee]

I am currently on the 3rd cycle of a multicycle plan. I only had one month break between the 1st and the 2nd one because my ovaries were swollen after the first cycle. But I did not have the break after the 2nd cycle. It does take a toll on your body but I found that I had a better outcome on the 2nd round. I am hopeful it would be a good outcome on the 3rd round.

[JoyfulStar in reply to Ownyee]

Oh wow! It looks like we are currently on similar paths. My 2nd cycle had some successes and disappointments but I had no side effects. Just feeling some lingering effects now.

Have you started your 3rd cycle? I definitely will have you in my thoughts and prayers. 🙏🏾💫🌈

[Ownyee in reply to JoyfulStar]

Thanks a lot. Yes I have and should have my egg collection on monday. 🤞 crossed for you too. Hope it goes well

[JoyfulStar in reply to Ownyee]

All the best on Monday! 🙏🏾