what to ask consultant

[Twiglet2]

hi ladies

I’m feeling a bit lost- after a failed cycle last month we have our consultation with one of the nicest consultants at our clinic and I want to make the most of the discussion as I feel she really listens to me and any suggestions. They problem is I don’t know what questions to ask her or suggestions to enquire about 🤪 I was thinking of throwing in the towel but have managed to pull myself together for another round if she thinks it’s worth it

Here’s our history (same sex couple using same ESP donor sperm no known issues AMH was ~ 20 I think when tested last year)

6 IUI (all BFNs)

Round 1 ICSI (age 36) 13 eggs- 10 mature- 7 fertilised 6 blasts (was on menopur 75 short protocol)

-fresh BFN, 1st (double) FET chemical, 2nd FET BFP (our little boy) 3rd FET BFN, 4th FET BFN

round 2 ICSI (age 40) 7 eggs all mature 6 fertilised, 3 blasts (was on menopur 150 short protocol)

- fresh (double) BFN, FET BFN (lubion and clexane added)

Round 3 ICSI (age 40) 9 eggs, 6 mature, 4 fertilised 2 blasts (was on 225 menopur short protocol)

Fresh (double) chemical (lubion and clexane added to usual pessaries)

Any suggestions on where we might go from here and questions to ask? They were talking about embryo testing last time but glad we never as only had one blast that could have been tested anyway so was quicker to transfer it and try (obviously it was abnormal 😢)

Any support appreciated 🤗💜 and I have my notebook ready to write down your ideas so I don’t forget tomorrow 🤭 xx

[StarsAllAround]

Hi Twiglet, sorry it didn't work out this time for you. I would ask about vitamins if there is anything you aren't already taking that you could try. If changing protocol or meds could make a difference and also ask about testosterone gel as there is some evidence chaning environment eggs grow in can make a difference. Good luck x

[Twiglet2 in reply to StarsAllAround]

yeah I’m thinking the discussion should centre around the protocol this time the higher stims seem to have got me worse results 🤷🏻‍♀️ never heard of the gel I will look into it, thanks so much xx

[StarsAllAround in reply to Twiglet2]

It's definitely worth asking about I used it for my 3rd round and actually got 7 blastocyst by day 6 only had 1 make it in first two rounds. I did take different vitamins before so not sure if it was the testosterone gel that made the difference or not. Might also be worth asking about an endometrial scratch before starting treatment as it can help implantation. Link below to information about it on HEFA. hfea.gov.uk/treatments/trea...

[Twiglet2 in reply to StarsAllAround]

yeah I’ve asked about the scratch before they don’t do it as not fully proven so would have to go source that myself. I actually (probably against my own instinct) went back to trying the vitimins in the it’s starts with the egg book again (Coq10 royal jelly etc) for the last round, even though when I first tried them years ago they made me feel awful, messed with my cycle and no IUI success and when I stopped them for 8months I had success in terms of blasts and BFP. I think I’m going to go back to good old multivitamin and folic acid for the next one and just watch my diet as my gut is telling me to maybe not mess with things that weren’t broken 😂🤷🏻‍♀️ but I am defo going to ask the consultant about vitamins they suggest, especially at my age, what ones worked for you? xx

[StarsAllAround in reply to Twiglet2]

Both me and my husband took pregnacare pre conceive, 300mg coq10 3 times a day and ate sensibly for just over 5 months before starting our 3rd cycle. I had the mind set it wasn't going to work as first 2 rounds hadn't so didn't put any pressure on us if we fancied a takeaway etc we had one. I also had the endometrial scratch just before starting stims it was painful, the nurse said she got a good sample of tissue not sure what that meant 🤣 and I used testosterone gel every day during stims. X

[Vicster80]

Hi Twiglet2, sorry to hear that you are struggling with number 2. I did as well. Eventually got there though. He was my 7th FET in the end- they came from my first ICSI round where I got my daughter and two separate goes at ICSI.

The things I did differently before my lastFET were new vitamins. I went with Zita West. She does a specific ivf vitamin. And my protocol changed to include the intramuscular injection of progesterone. I was very worried about this as it sounded scary (biggish needle in the bum!) but it was absolutely fine and a lot of people say it is the best form of progesterone. I had previously been on lubion too.

Obviously no one knows if the changes were the thing that made the difference, it may have just been that the other embryos weren’t good and he was, but I think I felt mentally stronger and more prepared knowing that I had made a couple of changes.

Good luck for you appointment x

[Twiglet2 in reply to Vicster80]

thank you 🤗💜xx

[Banana77]

Hope the appointment went well x

[Twiglet2 in reply to Banana77]

thanks lovely it was a bit ‘meh’ tbh… nothing different suggested and just a reminder that I now have really really low chances due to my age! Tell me something I don’t know 🤣🙈 xx