Post egg collection update

[Rol81]

I got the call!! 7 eggs collected , only 4 mature and only 2 fertilised . They have already frozen the 2 .

After having a really crap day physically and mentally I’m trying to get back to having hope. Yesterday for the first time I kept thinking I’ll never be a mum and had a right old cry. But today I feel a bit better, I’m not going to give up just yet.

I just need a day or two to accept I won’t be doing a transfer this week and I’m just going to have to go through some more waiting!!

My follow up appointment is on the 7th June.

The whole frozen transfer is completely new to me. What worries me is will they survive they thaw, but also they have frozen them on day one, they might not even be good quality once thawed? Is it normal to freeze day one? I’ve had eggs get to day 3 in the past abs not be viable .

And how does the FET cycle work, will I need lots of injections , which ones normally and what day of the cycle do you start?

Thanks to everyone for your support x

[Babyrainbow]

Our posts just crossed.

On my FET cycle, I had injections for estrogen and started progesterone pessaries on the day of the transfer. They did control my ovulation during that with the estrogen injection.

Good luck to you and all positive vibes. 🍀🤗💕

[Rol81 in reply to Babyrainbow]

🙈🙈 hi x thank you. I was really hoping to freeze 4 but it’s better 2 than nothing. When did you start injections? Is it day one or day 21 of a cycle? Thanks xx

[Babyrainbow in reply to Rol81]

I started day 2 with the injections. Around day 16 for the progesterone.

[Rol81 in reply to Babyrainbow]

Thanks.xx

[Tnthketnf]

Hi There are different protocols for FET.

There's the natural one where you don't take any medications, they monitor the natural cycle and transfer after ovulation (the day will depend on the embryo stage). You can get a modified version of this where they give you a trigger shot to time ovulation more precisely. Or sometimes they give you some extra progesterone for luteeal support.

There's the medicated HRT protocol, where they suppress your ovulation with an injection and a spray. They then give you estrogen (usually tablets) and once you lining has thickened enough they start you on progesterone (usually pessaries but can be injections) and transfer the embryo after 3 or 5 days again depending on the embryo stage.

There is also the mild stimulation protocol whereby they try to stimulate the ovaries to produce their own estrogen and then perform the transfer when the lining is thick enough. They again give you progesterone . I would like to try this one but my clinic doesn't offer this. 😕

Anyway I hope you're feeling better and wish you good luck with the next step!

[Rol81 in reply to Tnthketnf]

Thank you for all the details , I have a feeling it may be the HRT protocol you mentioned. Never the easy way for me 🙄🤭

[ki50]

Hi again Rol,Glad you've got some frosties! I didn't realise it was possible to freeze at this stage as mine won't do it before day 5.

I did an FET before, it was definitely less intense than the whole fresh process.

X

[Rol81 in reply to ki50]

Hi xx Yes I was a bit worried when she said they froze them, I’ve no idea what grade they’ll be or even if they are actually good enough to use at all. But I wasn’t given a choice. Seems like she was saying that freezing them at one cell is less complicated which means a less complicated thaw process leaving minimal damage . That’s what I understood from what she was saying anyways. 👏

[Rol81 in reply to Rol81]

Good to know FET is less intense xx

[MofM]

I have been told by my clinic that freezing them earlier and thawing them a few days before transfer gives more "metabolically active" embryos with more chance of implanting after a FET.

[Rol81 in reply to MofM]

Hi xx thank you for this. Maybe it’s a good thing then. Just hard not knowing what grade they are. But maybe it’s for the best . Thx xxx

[PinkPanther1234]

Hi Rol, firstly congrats on getting two to freeze, that is great. I don't know much about freezing at that stage, but I know how hard it is when thoughts are all going round in our head. I would trust your clinic, they will want the best results for you. It always seems a long time to follow up doesn't it, but it will be here before you know it. There does seem to be a lot of choice on FET protocols! I have only done one FET (3 fresh), none have stuck yet unfortunately. But the FET do seem so much easier on the body. I had mild OHSS on each of my fresh transfers and wonder if hormone levels were just not what they should have been, so perhaps not very receptive. It's great your clinic have monitored your levels and advised what is best. Some clinics even say freeze all gives the best success, to let the body recover.

I noticed on a previous post you mentioned you have elevated NK cells, they are almost at the same level as mine (my level is 21.7). Could I ask what protocol you have been recommended for this please? Hope you don't mind me asking!

I hope you are having a well deserved rest after all your hard work 😊 xx

[Pinkbox]

Congratulations on your 2 😊 the good thing about FET is that there are miles less injections!

[Rol81 in reply to Pinkbox]

Thank you. Good to hear, it was a lovely feeling today not having to inject my tummy, was very bruised this cycle. So less injections is a positive xx

[Redsequin]

Congrats on your frozen two! And sorry you have to wait for transfer, but hopefully your body can recover a bit and you can find some lovely things to do on the break! Xxx

[Rol81 in reply to Redsequin]

Thank you, I wish they were 5 day embryos like yours 🙈 hope all is going well with you.👏X

[Redsequin in reply to Rol81]

Yeah, I know 5-day blasts can seem reassuring but hopefully putting them back early into the right environment gives them the best possible chance 🧡🤞🏻🧡🤞🏻Xxx ps all is well - thank you 😊

[Rol81 in reply to Redsequin]

Thanks, I guess it’s out of my control now, hopefully won’t be too long a wait. Congrats and glad it’s going well for you xx

[Redsequin in reply to Rol81]

I will be keeping everything crossed for you 🧡

[Rol81 in reply to Redsequin]

❤️❤️

[Lozzagriffiths]

Hi hun, I only like doing frozen transfers as it’s kinda forcing your body to accept it. Rather than a natural cycle where your body has to accept it etc with your ovulating.I had 2 failed fresh cycles and then got my little girl from a frozen one. I just had a transfer on Monday from a few of my blastocysts being frozen 2.5 years ago. The ladies were very happy with the thawing of it and said it looked great.

Honestly I wouldn’t go back to a fresh cycle, I normally stress so doing it myself is not going to happen. I like the force of it if that makes sense.

Even if this doesn’t take I would request we keep doing frozen ones.

[Lozzagriffiths in reply to Lozzagriffiths]

Oh and you still start on day 1 of your period, you take tablets to stop you from ovulating and they check your lining etc for implantation. And it depends what meds you get, a friend was on different stuff to me. I’m on clexane (far out it hurts), Solone, progynova and aspirin oh and a lot of progesterone. Haha

[Rol81 in reply to Lozzagriffiths]

Hi lozza, thanks and congrats on your baby girl . I hope this FET is successful too. Im coming round to the idea now, I had just waited so long to get this cycle started, it just felt like another setback initially . Tbh it’s just that my eggs aren’t normally the best quality , if it was a blast they had frozen or even day 3, I’d have a bit more confidence . I haven’t seen anyone on here that’s frozen on day one without grading .

May I ask why you are on clexane, is this normal with frozen?

Thanks x

[Lozzagriffiths in reply to Rol81]

It will be. Think positive. :)Honestly they say good things take time and believe me this set back would feel like the end of the world but your little one could be the next cycle.

Oh they just froze your eggs and not combined with your partners sperm? Hmm I haven’t done that before.

My mate was also on clexane with her frozen transfer but different other meds so I’m not sure if it is. But it worked for me last time so they won’t switch it up til it fails this time. And it won’t. I am trying to be positive.

[Rol81 in reply to Lozzagriffiths]

Sorry , no, they did icsi on 4 and the only two that fertilised, they froze. It’s called pro nuclear stage .

[Rol81 in reply to Lozzagriffiths]

Defo stay positive, it worked before so I’m sure it will again this time . Thank you for your supportive words x

[Rollercoastersmiles]

Hey, I hope you’re doing ok. This was my FET protocol but I think they vary at different clinics. I started buserelin injections on day 21 of my cycle, then after 17 days I had a scan to check my ovaries were quiet after which I started oestrogen tablets. 11 days after this, I had another scan to check my lining was all good, and started the progesterone the following day (this is when I dropped the buserelin), 5 days later, I had a transfer. I’m currently 9w. On the oestrogen and progesterone for another week and then I’m drug free for the first time since 21st Feb. Hope that helps.

[Rol81 in reply to Rollercoastersmiles]

Hi xx well that does sound a bit easier re: amount of injections. Which progesterone did you take, was it cyclogest or injection? Congrats on 9 weeks . Brilliant news

[Rollercoastersmiles in reply to Rol81]

I’m on utrogestan daily and then injections (prontogest) every other day! I won’t miss those! My bum is very lumpy at the moment. They seem to cause a bit of a local swelling/reaction…but relatively painfree!

[Rol81 in reply to Rollercoastersmiles]

I have prontogest in the drawer, was meant to have them if I was doing a transfer. Only used lubion in the past and was dreading the prontogest 🙈 I’ve a feeling I’ve not escaped them and will be used for my FET xx thanks x

[Jana483]

A frozen cycle is sooooo much easier than a fresh cycle and very few injections and you need only to worry about you lining reaching the right thickness (give through 4 fresh and 2 frozen)But I understand the fear of them not surviving the thawing (I always freeze on day 3)

Wishing you the best!

[Rol81 in reply to Jana483]

Thanks less injections is welcome … think that’s my biggest fear is not knowing if they are even good quality , as I’ve never heard of freezing on day one.x

[Jana483 in reply to Rol81]

I hope they are good quality that'll make you an amazing mom. After undergoing 6 transfers myself (all 3rd day) you sometimes transfer the best quality and it does not work... And then you transfer an okay quality and it works so you honestly never know!

Crossing my fingers for you!!

[Rol81 in reply to Jana483]

Thanks Jana, I suppose I’m a bit annoyed they didn’t give me a choice about when to freeze. But your right about quality, In a few days I will begin to accept it is what it is 🙈 thanks.xx

[Jana483 in reply to Rol81]

The whole ivf process is so upsetting I totally understand how you feel.Hop you will feel better soon!

[Rol81 in reply to Jana483]

Thanks, just a bit fed up the just few days. Maybe my period is coming 🤭🎉 The support on here really helped me . ❤️