Feeling deflated and needing some advice. Ivf natural modified cycles

[amcd79]

I’m 43 yrs old (just) . Myself and my husband have unexplained fertility and have been trying to conceive for over 4 years. My ovarian reserve is on the lower side. No male fertility issues. We are on a natural modified ivf cycle package. We have had several cycles cancelled before starting stims. We have gone for egg collection 6 times , first two collections 1 egg retrieved didnt fertilise , collection (2) 2 eggs retrieved zero fertilization . At that point felt pretty broken so took time out booked a holiday in the sun over New Year and had a good break. 3rd collection (with a change in medication) we had two eggs retrieved , 1 fertilised and we have a day 3 , 8 cell grade 1 embryo frozen. So grateful and it gave us a much needed boost. This was end of Jan 22 since then I have been for a further 2 collections and I’ve ovulated hours before retrieval so instead of losing the cycle have had this converted to IUI , both have failed , we knew it was a long shot but feel grateful we didn’t lose the cycles. I went for egg collection this morning , scanned before sedation , follicle looking great ! Woke up in the recovery room to be told there was no egg retrieved. Dr advised there was no egg in the follicle . My E2 levels 4 days ago was 948 with one leading follicle. I’ve since spoken to my own Dr who thinks I’ve ovulated just as I’ve been put to sleep or just before the egg has been collected but there was definitely an egg there . I was on double centrotide which brought my LH levels down to a low level. I have such an amazing Dr who said they’re learning all the time but this journey is such a rollercoaster. I wondered if anyone has unpredictable ovaries that don’t behave 🤦🏻‍♀️ and wondered if you’d been able to get on top of premature ovulation hours before collection? I’m normally quite a strong person and always try and see the positive in everything but this has really got to me. Thank you for taking the time to read my post 💕

[Hopecontinues]

Hi,Really sorry to hear of your journey. I don't have this particular issue, but I take inositol to help with regular cycles. I don't know if that will make much difference to you.

Hopefully someone on here has relevant experience and can help.

Good luck and stay strong.

X

[amcd79 in reply to Hopecontinues]

Thank you so much for your reply. I will into inositol and give a go . I’ve been taking Impryl since towards the end of last year and we achieved a grade 1 8 cell day 3 embryo that’s been frozen , maybe coincidence but have stuck with this. My E2 levels always read well and I’ll only ever get 1 or 2 eggs per cycle. It’s just getting them at the right time. Thank you again ☺️

[ValaI]

I don’t have any similar situation to compare just sorry to hear all this going for you guys. But i would say have you thought changing the clinic? And are in UK?

I am 42 with same story like you and after a year of wait with NHS due to Covid period, we moved with a renowned clinic in London who specialises in embryo/egg batching. We had 3 cycles with 4, 1 and 2 eggs collected and 2, 0 and 1 fertilising to day 5 and after a PGS test left with 2 embryos. 1st FET with them was unsuccessful and as I wasn’t getting proper care or focus with them, we just changed clinic few months ago.

We tried a fresh transfer and for first time I had a chemical pregnancy. And I know is not ideal but I at least I know that with different medications and different approach my body can make it.

We had out consultation with the main doctor and we were amazed with his positive attitude, advice, thoughts which was completely different from the previous clinic consultation.

Again what I say not help much, but I want to say that a simple change of clinic may bring different results.

So keep hopes high and if more id needed pls dm me.

Xoxox wish you good luck 😘

[ValaI in reply to ValaI]

Sorry for the typo, if more info is needed feel free to drop me a message 😍

[amcd79 in reply to ValaI]

Thank you so much for getting in touch. We also had one round on the Nhs delayed due to Covid , it didn’t go well at all so did my research and found a really good clinic in Manchester. I’m on a natural modified 6 cycle package. We are 3 rounds in and have 1 day 3 8 cell grade 1 embryo frozen. Since my medication has been tweaked my E2 levels have been great. I think my problem is my LH levels are elevated early on in my cycle so they’re trying to get this under control. Double centrotide did this , day 8 it was 16.5 but they managed to get it down to 6 . My problem seems to be the double trigger ovitrelle , as you’ll know egg collection is 36 hrs from trigger but I’m falling short only by a matter of hours , I can actually tell when I’ve ovulated as I feel a twinge each time .. I will maybe suggest if they can take me in earlier so mayb 24-30 hours after trigger and see if that’s a possibility. I have to say the clinic we are at seems very good. Always listens to suggestions I may have and takes them on board. He said he likes a challenge and is confident he can get us to our goal. He’s very positive so I will stick with them for the 6 cycles we have. The nhs doctor gave me a 1% chance conceiving with my own eggs 🤦🏻‍♀️ I wish you all the best for your treatment. Sounds like you have a very good doctor. Please feel free to dm me anytime aswell ☺️

[tryingfortwo]

Hi, I can't really help with your query but I'm 44 now and while I've never had fertility treatment I've been tracking my cycles for years and I've noticed that ovulation is becoming more unpredictable. I used to ovulate on day 14/15/16 but now it tends to be earlier, this month day 13. That may not seem like much of a difference but previously I kind of knew from the cheap strip tests when ovulation would be in that the second line got progressively darker over a few days until it showed up darker than the control line and that indicates ovulation will be within the next 24-36 hours. Now I go from having an absolute negative test with no sign of a second line to 12 hours later a definite positive test so ovulation seems to come more suddenly. I have for many months now checked this with the clear blue digital test that shows an open circle/blinking smiley/static smiley and I've gone directly from an empty circle to a static smiley, so in that sense it would be much easier to miss ovulation. I'm sure this has all got to do with age and you've most likely discussed this with your doctors already. This comment probably hasn't been much use to you but I wish you all the best going forward. It can still happen at your age...that's easy to forget, a friend of mine just had a baby days before turning 45...so don't give up hope.

[amcd79 in reply to tryingfortwo]

Thank you so much for your reply. I agree with everything you’ve said ! I’m exactly the same , no lines then all of a sudden dark so can be quite easily missed. I tend to ovulate around day 12 so I think when the cyclle is going past this timeframe my ovaries are wondering what’s going on and dying to pop an egg out 🤦🏻‍♀️🤣 we are literally falling short by a few hours. I have naturally elevated LH levels early on in my cycle most likely my age but lucky in the sense I ovulate every month and still get a period . They will be having a meeting about this cycle and after discussing with my doctor yesterday he’s still very positive and learning all the time , he said he likes a little challenge and is confident he can get us there so fingers crossed 🤞 thank you again for getting back to me , really appreciate it ☺️

[tryingfortwo in reply to amcd79]

I am so happy to hear you have a supportive and enthusiastic doctor. That really is an amazing find as all of the medical profession I've come in contact with have been super negative due to my age but have been so since I started trying for a baby initially at age 38. The very best of luck and positivity to you on your ongoing journey🌞👍🌸🌻😎

[Azzurra79]

Hello, have you thought about trying naturally alongside IVF? is there a specific reason why you wouldn't conceive naturally? If you had sex any other day as you approach ovulation you may have higher chances? I once read that older women have very similar chances with or without IVF it is all about catching the one good egg. I also have a feeling from reading others' stories that sometimes ovaries go through one last flurry of activity before shutting down in perimenopause. If you catch that fleeting period you might have chances .. but maybe that is just my wishful thinking (soon 43 as well)

[amcd79 in reply to Azzurra79]

Thank you so much for your reply. We have unexplained infertility although I’m pretty sure it’s my age. We were trying naturally for a couple of years and getting no where. We had a round on the nhs which was a disaster. My amh is on the lower side for my age so tend to only have 2-4 follicles per cycle. I will only ever get 1 or 2 eggs with ivf that’s why we opted for a naturally modified multi cycle package with a clinic that specializes in older women with low ovarian reserve. This month we started with 6 follicles which was unusual for me but was lovely to see. We do try naturally in between cycles or if I decide one month to have a bit of a break. I’ve learned also to let ivf work around us as oppose to ivf taking over life. For a while it felt like we’d stopped living and stopped enjoying life and purely focussed on ivf and what not to do / eat / drink etc. after a failed cycle last November I had a complete change of mindset , stopped obsessing , booked a hol and got my nails painted ! 😂 the very next cycle we achieved a grade 1 3 day 8 cell embryo which gave us a much needed boost. This is frozen for now. I have such an amazing doctor who apparently likes a challenge. I truly believe if he can figure out how to stop me ovulating too early we will hopefully get a couple more embryos to give us the best chance. Thank you again for your reply , I really appreciate it ☺️

[Azzurra79]

I wholeheartedly wish you find the good egg i also would look into NMN supplement plus mehtylation support. The results with animal trials are very promising