Looking for advice first time IVF

[COH1981]

Hello Everyone.

Completely new to this site and looking for some advice and support. Im 39, about to turn 40. I had a late miscarriage at 22wks when I was 32 and a missed miscarriage last September. (The gap was due to splitting up with my ex and getting with my current partner) I got pregnant as soon as I came off the pill, but have had no success since that miscarriage last year. I’ve paid for a private fertility assessment and have been told I’ve got diminished ovarian reserve and IVF is probably my only option (which blows my mind given to got pregnant straight away last year). Thankfully I can have one round of IVF in the NHS. I’m awaiting my first appointment with the nurse. Obviously in the current climate this is taking a bit longer than it should, but I have no idea what to expect with timings.

Can anyone tell me the timelines of it all? How long did you wait to see the nurse? How long after that does treatment kick start? How long until transfer?

Thanks in anticipation. I’ve really no idea what to expect. X

[Runnergirl40]

Hi I was exactly in the same situation as you. Once I had agreement for funding, it happened quite quickly and needed the treatment to start before my 40th birthday . I have got very low AMH and need donor eggs. From getting agreement for funding took a couple of weeks to have a consultation with the Dr, then had implications counselling next day, took 2 weeks for eggs to be delivered. Had blood tests and scans in between. Took total of 7 weeks from consultation to transfer. I was lucky as all this needed to happen before my birthday. Using your own eggs I imagine is a different timescale.

[COH1981 in reply to Runnergirl40]

Thank you for your reply. Yes this will be to try using my own eggs. That was a really quick process, I only hope I’m half as quick as you have been. I had my consultation where IVF suggested on the 27th July, I still haven’t had an appointment slot through for the nurse appointment and have been told probably end of Sept/early Oct. Fingers crossed it’s not much longer, I’m not that good at the waiting game!

[Chiefy]

Hi, I can really recommend the book "Get a Life: his and hers guide to ivf". I found it so useful and so did my husband, every chapter is written from both the male and female perspective. It takes you from start to end of the process. The couple who wrote it had 3 rounds and they are really open about their failures and successes.

Wishing you all the best of luck x

[COH1981 in reply to Chiefy]

Thanks for the recommendation! X

[Pnw2020]

Hi.

I am not sure how IVF works on the NHS and presume you have had all the necessary tests? You will have an appointment with a nurse to discuss the treatment protocol. Short protocol is quicker as there is no down regulation. You will probably have 10-12 days of stimulation drugs then egg collection 36 hours after the trigger injection. If you are doing a fresh transfer this would be day 3 or day 5 post egg collection.

Have you read ‘ It starts with an egg’? Interesting read with suggestions for supplements, diet etc.

Wishing you well x

[COH1981 in reply to Pnw2020]

Thanks for this. Yes I’ve had bloods and scans and partner has had his tests too. We did those privately to try hurry the process along x

[Jesswestnor]

I was in the same situation. 39 and had to have treatment before 40 on nhs. This was 2019. First appt in Oct, transfer in March. I got pregnant on the first go (fertility issue is with my husband) and have a daughter, we froze 3 embryos from that round and I’m now pregnant again from a frozen transfer at 42. I hope my success shows it can happen. I wish you all the best. Jess.

[COH1981 in reply to Jesswestnor]

That’s great news. I hope we’re as lucky as you! Sadly the issue lies with me though, but fingers crossed x

[pink_lemon]

You can get pregnant with low AMH, it just becomes more difficult faster and at 40 egg quality is an issue (early miscarriage is more likely). You might want to ask about PGS testing just to make sure embryos put back are viable, so you don't potentially lose more time with more miscarriages. Best of luck xox

[COH1981 in reply to pink_lemon]

Thank you. Yes I was reading about this. It sounds worth while expense to prevent wasting time. My AMH was low but not dire low, I know there’s people in worse situations, but the Dr did say it was more like due to my egg quality x

[jengi]

I too have finished ovarian reserve. My first IVF cycle started 4 months after my initial appointment with the NHS consultant which I thought was quite quick, this was pre-covid. Between the consultation and start of cycle there were a number of investigations done, AMH, hormone level and HyCoSy (this checks your Fallopian tubes). My AMH was really low for my age. Due to poor egg quality, I had to give up on my own eggs and move to donor eggs but now I have the most beautiful 5 month old boy. I wish you lots of luck. My only advice is to keep your mind open to your options and try stay positive. The infertility journey isn’t always a nice one so look after yourself. Physically our bodies bounce back quickly after treatments but our minds can struggle. I struggled a lot but found counselling really helpful. My only regret is not starting counselling earlier. In hindsight I should have started when I got my AMH result but it took me 18 months to realise I needed that help. Why don’t you phone the clinic and ask for a rough timeline. Best of luck Xx

[COH1981 in reply to jengi]

Thank you so much for your reply. I have to admit I’m struggling with the idea of egg donation at the minute, so your suggestion of counseling is a good idea and hoping this will be offered when the IVF process starts. If this has to be the road I go down, I hope you wouldn’t mind if I sent you a direct message to get your advice? X

[jengi in reply to COH1981]

Moving to donor was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. It took me a entire year to get my head around it. And when the consultant first mentioned it, I was in no way ready to hear it. It broke my heart. Hopefully you won’t need to make this decision. But if you ever find yourself seriously contemplating it, please feel free to private message me Xx Best of luck with your own eggs Xx