Round 2 is go! Everything is changing and I'm worried (as per usual 😂)

[Joeysjourney]

Hello lovely people!

So I'm starting again in February! My consultant is putting me on the pill to control my cycle and I'm starting that in the next few days. So it's all happening so quickly!

On my first round in sept/Oct with nhs, I did ivf and long protocol. 13 eggs collected, 12 matured, 2 fertilitised and transferred day 3. Bfn 😭 I'm 40 and never been pregnant after years trying.

This time (private), I'm doing icsi and short protocol.

My consultant also felt that my stims dose was too high for my amh (12.7 in 2019, but had it retested 2 weeks ago and its 16.9). I was on 300ui bemfola and he wants to reduce it to 250 or 275ui (different name drug, can't remember it now) and that was even before my retest results.

Changing protocol is nerve-wracking as I'm so worried I won't get to transfer. I'm not fixated on getting 13 eggs or even close. I am happy with fewer better quality eggs. I just worry with only 2 fertilitising the first time, I might have even less chance of getting some to blast or even to fertilise with a new protocol. Does reducing stims mean fewer eggs?

I just pray this change of approach yields better results for me. I've been reading that short protocol can produce more immature eggs. But I've also read it is a little easier on the body and you can get better quality. With such low fertilitisation, I gotta change something.

To be fair to my poor new consultant, I grilled him! I shone a light on him and asked why not long protocol, why reduce my stims, why not try this or that, and he had reasonble answers for everything. He's a keeper lolol (Ps some wise ladies on here told me to be my own advocate and I took that advice on board, don't be afraid to ask questions. My consultant encouraged me to challenge him, as a good consultant would).

Any advice/reassurance out there?

Worry is the thief of happiness and honestly, what is the point of me worrying so much. It just means I stress myself out twice!

One thing I've learned from this forum is the one thing you can rely on, is that nothing goes to plan and to expect the unexpected. I'm just hoping the unexpected is a positive result!

Hope you're all OK during the festive season. It really does suck a bit doesn't it x

[KiboXX]

Hey lovely,

I’m younger (34 when I was having treatment) but have a lower AMH (9) than you. I did three rounds of long protocol, always had poor fertilisation rates (around 40%) and no success. I moved clinics for my fourth round and they switched me straight to short protocol, out of 8 eggs collected, all were mature and 7 fertilised. We got three embryos from that round (I’d never had anything to freeze previously!). The first embryo is my 14 month old and the second I’m 22 weeks pregnant with. I know change can seem scary but it might be the best thing you ever do. Short focuses on quality over quantity and it made a huge difference for me. 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻 It does the same for you xxxx

[Pnw2020]

Hi. Sounds like you have a good treatment plan with the new clinic. You should get about 70% fertilisation with ICSI and if you still get a decent amount of eggs that puts you in a good place. Enjoy Christmas and wish you well with your new cycle x