New here - hoping for some advice/tips

We’ve today had our initial consultation with the NHS to discuss initial bloods and semen results and next steps. We went privately for an MOT after 10 months of TTC and my partner’s semen results were pretty poor and my AMH was 2.2 (at the age of 28?!)

Luckily I am still ovulating and hormones are at normal levels, but it has really hit me that egg retrieval could be difficult.

We have been put forward for ICSI and now have to wait for the initial consultation for the treatment and next steps.

I’m just really after any tips or advice that anyone can give, whether that be tips to keep anxiety down, things we should be asking consultants for and so on.

I’ve also been told to buy the supplement DHEA and after a quick google search it has baffled me (I thought it would be an easy buy from Amazon!). Does anyone have any details for a reputable website for this?

Thank you in advance! Xx

[Bookbroad]

Welcome! I would really recommend this book. I whizzed through it over a weekend and has some great practical advice for both you and your partner. It’s also got a load of really helpful questions to ask at each stage and every stage of the process explained. amazon.co.uk/Get-Life-Hers-... I’m just in the stim stage of my first ICSI cycle. Everyone told me that I would feel much better once I got started and that’s definitely been the case, the prospect of starting just felt so overwhelming but taking each day at a time really does do so much for my anxiety and sense of hope. Wishing you well with the process. It’s a great community here and so supportive!

[Hidden in reply to Bookbroad]

Amazing thank you, I’ve just ordered.

Thank you for the advice, days feel like weeks at the moment but I am just hoping emotions will get easier to handle as time goes on.

I wish you all the luck and hope your first cycle is a successful one 🤞🏻

[IVFat40]

The book 'it starts with the egg' is often recommended on here and I did find it really helpful for improving egg quality (although a little overwhelming, but I found if I took it a bit at a time, and tried not to stress about doing everything she suggests, it was good)

[Hidden in reply to IVFat40]

Thank you - I’ve ordered and will keep that in mind x

[Hidden]

Hi CJohns for me I think the anxiety and worry was the build up to starting IVF and when I actually had a plan and started on the meds it wasn’t as bad or scary as I’d built it up to be. Start to think of some things you can do to help relax you - book in some massages/reflexology/acupuncture - whatever works for you. The get a life book recommended below was great for us to read too before we started our first cycle. My husbands sperm motility and morphology was borderline too, I was lucky he was open to trying acupuncture and after 3 months it massively improved into the normal range, we’ve had two rounds one IVF and one ICSI - so that might be something to think about for him too. My AMH level was low too (I was 36 when we started) I’ve never got big numbers at egg retrieval, 4 and then 5, but I’ve been lucky that they’ve been mature and managed to get 4 good blastocysts out of those 9. Try not to focus too much on the numbers, it would of course be nice to have more, but it really is quality over quantity. Best of luck with your journey! Xx

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Tilly, I struggle with lack of control so I am sure once there is a proper plan and dates in place I will feel more reassured.

Someone else on here has mentioned acupuncture, so I will definitely look into that and I have ordered the book too.

Thank you for the pointers, I really appreciate it. I see you have recent successful and I wish you a healthy pregnancy 😊x

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

I totally get you there, it was the lack of control and all the tests which I found the most stressful part of IVF and part of the reason we went privately as I wanted to be able to control when we would have treatment and where - it was about the only thing we could control!

Acupuncture isn’t for everyone but I did it throughout treatment and around transfer dates. I also tried fertility reflexology which was super relaxing. Just look at doing what will help keep you calm and still for an hour a week!

Ahh thanks very much - it still hasn’t really sunk in. I think sadly fertility struggles and loss take away a lot of the excitement of pregnancy, but trying to be positive and grateful for every day that I am pregnant. Wishing you the best of luck on your journey and I hope it all works out for you xx

[Purpledoggy]

DHEA is prescription only in the UK but you can buy it perfectly legally from the US providing it is for personal use, so I suggest not buying more than 2 bottles at a time. I got mine (and most other supplements) from iHerb - it's a huge online pharmacy in the US, somewhere between Boots and H&B. Shipping with Hermes is free.

Even though clinics seem pretty variable in recommending this, having your DHEA level tested would be a good idea before you start (unless you already have) as it is easy to overdo it, given it is a hormone. The usual starting dose is 75mg a day but that is far too much for some women (obviously check with your clinic what dose they recommend). If you did want to check the level and your clinic don't do it, you can have it done through Medichecks with a finger prick blood test (they use UKAS accredited labs so they aren't shady!). I have used them for various tests (DHEA, progesterone, HCG etc).

I also recommend reading It Starts With The Egg. Another supplement recommended in there is melatonin, which has the same status as DHEA, so if you want some get it from iHerb (or wherever you get the DHEA). Most other things you can get from H&B although they are more expensive than iHerb and Amazon, and often don't have the higher concentration supplements you might want (eg 200mg ubiquinol or 5,000IU vitamin D). Read the book and this will all make sense 🙂

Starting IVF is a bit overwhelming as there is sooo much information out there - not just on the process itself but on all kinds of tips, like the supplements, to boost chances. Just try to take it one step at a time, ask lots of questions, and don't panic! Although your AMH is low, your egg quality should hopefully be really good at 28 so the eggs they do get are much more likely to be healthy.

xx

[Hidden in reply to Purpledoggy]

Ah thank you, that’s helpful. The nurse told me it wasn’t available on prescription🙄 but it may just be easier to order online in any event. I’ve not had my levels checked, and they did mention a 75mg dose, but perhaps I’ll get checked to be on the safe side.

I’ve ordered both books recommended on this post, so will see how I get on.

Thanks for taking the time to reply and offer advice, it’s humbling to see how helpful everyone is on here x

[Purpledoggy in reply to Hidden]

Oh, just some suggestions on good US brands for DHEA etc-Life Extension, NOW, Dr’s Best, Solgar, Jarrow Formulas. No doubt others are fine but those are the ones I know are good quality xx

[Hidden in reply to Purpledoggy]

Amazing, thank you!🥰 x

[xIVFWarriorx]

The best advice I can give is just take each stage at a time. Don’t panic about egg retrieval/transfer etc when you’ve only just had your first consultation. Set the goal to get to the next stage and celebrate when you achieve it. No part of this journey is guaranteed, so instead of panicking about something that is in the future, focus on the now. I think that’s how I’ve managed to keep my anxiety and stress levels to a minimum throughout my ICSI cycle. My AMH level was normal, but my a few factors of my husband semen analysis came back low. We’ve had one full cycle through NHS and got our first ever 2 pink lines in almost 5yrs of trying, so it can happen! Just keep the faith and celebrate the small wins along the way. All the best to you both 🥰 x

[Hidden in reply to xIVFWarriorx]

Thank you - I am sure you are right and I’ll feel better once things really start progressing.

That’s news amazing after 5 years, congratulations and I wish you a healthy pregnancy ☺️ x

[xIVFWarriorx in reply to Hidden]

Thank you 🥰😬 x

[Crazy_girl]

Your journey could be different to others. Suggest not to compare the results with people of your age. Just focus on what you will be told during your consultation and for opinions and how others got on, you always have this forum to fall back on.

Take one day at a time. Do all the ground work. Start eating healthy, alter your sleep patterns. Get good rest. Eat lots of nuts.

I felt accupuncture really helped me to calm myself down. It also helped me in regulating my ovulation. My eating habits improved to a major extent. I had a lot of positive changes with accupuncture.

Here’s wishing you the very best for your journey. Bottom line is to remain patient and also to stay focused.

[Hidden in reply to Crazy_girl]

I had never considered acupuncture as being a stress reliever and something I’ll definitely look into.

Thank you for the words of advice, I really appreciate it x