Was it a tough decision to go for IVF?

[TheresaDe]

[Hidden]

We are not quite there yet, still in the early stages figuring out our options. But it seems that IVF is not an unlikely step for us eventually. I find it tough just thinking about it.

Correct me if I'm wrong but I think it's tough on your body, your mental health and your relationship. But so is the fact that you might not be able to have children. So I guess it's a matter of how much do you want a biological child (ok there are surrogates as well) and how much are you prepared to do for at. I personally find that I would do it but I am sh*** scared of it at the same time.

We have put ourselves on the IVF waiting list.

What position are you in? What are the things that are holding you back?

Good luck!

[Hidden]

For me no, it was an easy decision. After years of trying, and basically the odds falling the longer we went on (we'd reached the 5% chance if we kept trying), this was the only thing that we could do to help improve those odds. For me, the actual treatment was fine. Dealing with the disappointment after failure was hard as I really thought we were going to be successful the first time.

[Treacle]

I am very lucky to have a child already, conceived naturally after many miscarriages - and still the pull for another child was such that after over 2 years of not being able to get pregnant and being diagnosed with unexplained secondary infertility, our only option was assisted conception - and to be honest, neither me nor my husband ever questionned going ahead with it.

Yes we were worried, and frightened, and apprehensive, but we were prepared to try anything we could to give our son a sibling and experience what we've been lucky enough to experience so far with him.

I had my 1st cycle, ICSI with PGD (because of a chromosomal disorder) just 3 months ago and I found the actual physical process easier than I'd expected. I had a friend who'd been through a cycle with the same clinic the previous year and she'd filled me with horror stories of the drugs and injecting process, the scans and the blood tests - so I was ready for it to be awful - but it really wasn't and I hear that from many other people.

I didn't have any physical side-effects from the drugs and it was only after my egg collection, which again, was nothing to worry about physically, that I developed a minor complication that is fairly rare and only then was I a bit ill.

Emotionally, its harder - but in some ways, if you've had to expeirence the monthly disappointment of your period arriving, for more than a few months, its a similar feeling and one that does subside slowly.

I was unlucky enough in our 1st cycle that none of our 9 embryos were healthy enough to transfer but despite the sadness and grief that caused for us, we start our 2nd cycle next week!

Everyone seems to cope with IVF differently - for me, the expeirence was mainly positive and thats why I'm going through it again - just ensure that you read the basics, ask questions and maybe join some blogs or sites with women who've been through it and can help and support you - and take a big breath, hug your partner tight and go for it!!

Good luck

x

[kelmar]

hi,we had been trying for nearly 5 years and then we had ivf easy to make the decision,but did find the whole proccess hard.Was lucky as we had a baby boy on are 2nd icsi try.But i wont ever forget the way the whole proccess made me feel.

[sphyg]

After nearly five years of unexplained infertility and two miscarriages, it's almost a relief to try something else. We're currently trying to decide whether to try IUI first or go straight for IVF.

[LittleEms17]

For us, IVF felt naturally the next step having had high FSH level results indicating that my egg quality may be diminishing. It actually felt like quite a relief to be finally given a helping hand having had so much dispointment in trying to conceive naturally. Physically we found the IVF process not too bad at all, it is mentally tough waiting for the results however as you are investing so much time, emotion and often money in it.

[lotus1975]

I have been undergoing fertility treatment for 2 years and my Dr. suggested I undergo IVF treatments. My husband and I feel this is our last chance to have a child and therefore we are ready and willing to do so.

[Hidden]

Thank you all for your replies. Turns out we really have to go for IVF, no other realistic options anymore. It's good to hear that some of you did not have to many problems with the medications and process. I guess the biggest challenge is the emotional challenge. There are so many questions. Thank you all and good luck!

[Becky29forever]

Hi,

Just wanted to say that I hope you are getting on ok. We've been down the IUI route but without success and so have decided to go down the IVF route as, to put it bluntly, at 37 I don't have the time to waste if I want help from our PCT.

I think that once you know what to expect it is half of the battle, it's up to your approach how you let each part of the process affect you. As I have done the self-injecting on IUI I am hoping that will be the same and to be honest, although a little scared at first, it was quickly like second nature and no problem at all. The internal scans aren't very dignified but I just remind myself that these people spend all day doing it so its water off a ducks back to them and I try and forget about it. I have had the insemination in IUI (similar process to putting the eggs back) which again isn't dignified but wasn't painful - I think my husband found the stirrup set up much more alarming than I did - I wasn't expecting his reaction.

As far as the mental side of it goes, some days are better than others - just like in life. It was upsetting not to be successful with my 2 attempts at IUI especially as I do try to stay positive and believe it will work, yes it can be heartbreaking when it doesn't work but as someone else said above it is just as heartbreaking as being unsuccessful every month naturally anyway. I try to embrace each stage individually and see them as little victories on the pathway. I have heard a lot of people find acupuncture helpful and I gave it a try on IUI and will again once we start IVF (we are just waiting for our first appointment).

Good luck with your process and remember to try to be kind to yourself. x

[buttacup]

is this treatment very painful