First Cycle… How Do You Stay Positive?

[BirdGirl001]

My husband and I finally started our first IVF cycle last month, we were so excited and perhaps a little naive if I’m honest. Everything seemed too easy and I remember telling the nurse that during one of my scans. Only three follicles stimulated, only two eggs retrieved and neither fertilised, end of first cycle just like that. No one prepares you for that bad news phone call… horrible.

My question is how do you keep smiling and stay positive? And also has anyone experienced low follicle stimulation that’s gone on to have a higher count second time around?

[Zbez88]

I was the exact same on my first round, I had 2 eggs retrieved, both fertilised but resulted in a bfn. My second round was 3 months later and they doubled my meriofert and I had 4 eggs collected, 3 fertilised and one of them is now my 11 month old and the other 2 were good enough to freeze, I also started acupuncture just after my first round ready for my second round x

[BirdGirl001 in reply to Zbez88]

Thank you, never considered acupuncture but will look it up x

[Minminminminh]

I have found no two cycles are the same in my own experience. My situation is a bit different from yours, but I definitely responded better on a short vs long protocol. I’m hoping your clinic now has a better understanding of how your body works, so they will have a few tricks up their sleeves for next time. Allow yourself time to grieve, it’s a tough journey so it’s important to not be ok in order to be ok. Hope that makes sense. Lots of hugs to you, I know how you feel x

[BirdGirl001 in reply to Minminminminh]

Thanks for the kind words, my clinic basically said the same thing, they will know a lot more for next time round which is a positive take away from this x

[StarsAllAround]

My advice is be kind to yourself, give yourself a treat for getting this far you deserve it. Make sure you keep communicating with your husband, don't bottle up your feelings. Plan nice things to do with your partner, like a day trip, meal out, cinema etc. Try not to let this journey consume your lives. As for treatment its very rare that it works for first time for anyone and I think most of us were quite naive when we started this journey. I was devastated when our first attempt failed. Every cycle is different when you have your review of this cycle ask what can be changed in your protocol for next cycle, like a change in meds, adding in ICSI etc. I went from low low egg numbers to high egg numbers so it is possible. You can read my treatment cycles on my profile. Good luck x

[BirdGirl001 in reply to StarsAllAround]

I will defo have a read through your treatment cycles, thank you. My clinic have mentioned that next time around they’ll go straight to ICSI so that’s something. Positive to hear your egg numbers changed x

[Hidden]

So sorry for your disappointment. IVF first rounds are so hard as we sort of expect them to fix everything, and everyone knows a friend of a friend who it worked for first time so you sort of just expect it to be you too.

Definitely take some time for some TLC and treating yourself. The good news is that they will have learnt so much from this first round. Our first round we got 3 eggs, 2 fertilised and they put them both back in day 2 because they looked so dodgy they weren't sure they would make it to day 5 and it was a BFN of course. That was a long protocol round and they changed us to short protocol for round 2 and we got 13 eggs, 9 fertilised, 3 made it to day 5 and we actually got a BFP (unfortunately miscarried later for other reasons). So rounds can be completely different, so don't lose hope x

[BirdGirl001 in reply to Hidden]

I think that’s part of the issue, we all hear the positive stories of that friend of a friend but no one talks about the cycles/attempts that didn’t work out. Thank you for your kind words, they do make a difference x

[PenguinBlue]

hello! Ivf is such a mindf*** tbh and I’m so sorry your first cycle ended so suddenly. As others on here have mentioned, yes different rounds can yield different results so don’t give up. My first round I did a low stim and only got 5 eggs, 3 fertilised and 2 made it though. My second round I had 18 eggs, 12 fertilised and ended up with 5 in the freezer (after transferring 2). I had a completely different protocol second time round.

In terms of staying positive, do things you enjoy that can help take your mind of it - date nights, holidays, hobbies. If journalling or acupuncture help you manage your feelings and stress then do those (or anything similar!) but do what works for you! All the best for your second round 💪🏽 You got this xx

[BirdGirl001 in reply to PenguinBlue]

Wow such a different egg count second time around! I’m sure the clinic will be using all this first time data to improve things second time around but hearing real people’s stories does help, thank you x

[Christianbaby]

Sorry about your failed first cycle. My first cycle failed too. We changed clinics to a clinic abroad and started to use donor eggs. I'm sure you still want to try with your own eggs so try to be back into your positive frame of mind.

[BirdGirl001 in reply to Christianbaby]

Thank you x

[Christianbaby in reply to BirdGirl001]

I suppose you are trying again on your second cycle? When will you start?

[Amywoz84]

heya

I have done 4 cycles in total, all 4 egg retrievals have been totally different. My 3rd round I only had 3 eggs (1 fertilised)

4th round I had 10 eggs, 8 fertilised and 4 made it to day 5 blastocysts. I never had any suitable for freezing before.

They may try to change around your medication slightly, often the first round is a bit of trial and error but do not worry, just because you didn’t respond well this round it doesn’t mean that you won’t the next time. It really does change month to month.

I also took zita west supplements so worth looking at the website too.

[BirdGirl001 in reply to Amywoz84]

thank you x