Hello, I'm 39 (40 in two days) and we are four days into our first round of IVF and I'm on Ovaleap & Menopur. Just started Fyremadel today. I am finding this experience deeply unpleasant. Am so tired and listless if not cramping or dizzy.
We have been lucky enough to have had the support from family to access private care and I don't know what I was expecting, but I feel we could still use more care & attention... failure to answer messages, inconsistent schedules... etc...
Is this everyone's experience? Is having a child worth this struggle? This isn't even the hardest part! Still a few days off the EC....
Anyway... just putting it out there. (This sucks.)
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Venster
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All I can say is best of luck in your journey!! this is truly a rollercoaster of emotions, between all the hormones you'll have to take and all the changes your body goes through, plus the uncertainty , waiting times etc.
1 cycle can go very quickly (if the stars align) so fingers crossed this is your case!, Regarding the side effects just try to drink plenty of water, eat healthy and sleep well. A hobby to take your mind off it also helps!! the most important thing is to be kind to yourself and take 1 day at a time, you'll certainly be going through a lot of new changes and emotions.
Ask anything to your clinic's support line, I was with NHS clinic and they were great to put my mind at ease so many times, this group is also great for guidance into what to expect on more practical level, just put your questions out there and hopefully you'll get a few responses and lots of support.
In the end once our dream has come true, it will definitely be worth it and all of this forgotten, best of luck, you can do this xx
Hey lovely, yea it's a rough ride. The meds are tiring and injecting yourself isn't fun.
The wait between egg collection and finding out if they fertilise / grow / are decent grade is stressful and then waiting to find out if it's worked - hard.
BUT for me it was 100% worth every single ounce of pain and stress. My little boy is my world right now - the best thing I've ever done.
I'm sure there are others who have different opinions and ultimately only you will know if it's been worth it all.
Your clinic should be better though - communication / schedules need to be clear - I had a few moments with mine where they'd forgotten to add the right drug on to the schedule, or had forgotten to add it to an order - and I had to check and pick them up on it. Sadly I think a lot of clinics are like this (although definitely not all). I turned in to a gremlin with them - left lots of voicemails and emails - I'm sure they hated me, but I had to do it to get it done!
IVF is incredible though, the chance to give people who otherwise wouldn't be able to have kids the possibility - however slim - really is mind-blowing.
It is a really really tough ride and with all the added hormones you just dont feel like yourself at all. The only thing that kept me going was how much I wanted it to work. Good luck <3
I’m sorry you’re feeling rubbish. The meds are rough and everyone reacts differently to different ones. It’s possible you might feel better on a different protocol, if you have to do it again, and also you will probably feel better after EC. All I can say is try to keep your eyes on the prize. It sucks to have to go through it when some get pregnant so easily but we do what we have to to try and get what we want. When it works, it’s amazing and all the discomfort etc is long forgotten. Use whatever support you have available to you xx
it’s a really difficult journey especially if you don’t feel like you have support. Speak to the doctors we had fantastic support throughout our journey. We had 5 transfers and a number of rounds/egg collections and I couldn’t fault the clinics guidance at all. I know some people aren’t as lucky xxx I hope you are ok. It really is worth it. We have just had our beautiful girl after 5 years of having ivf id honestly do it all again every single injection xxx keep going … you’ve got this xxx
Our clinic was fantastic. Our nhs iui was terrible thought. Our ivf was at a private clinic via the nhs and I can’t speak highly enough. My friends were at a different clinic and they were terrible, the point they missed out on funding and had to appeal. And yes, I think that no matter what it took, that it is all worth it, every single second. All the best for your cycle ❤️
Yes it’s a million % worth it but you’ve got to weather the storm to get there. I weathered a few storms but yes it is most definitely worth it and you honestly forget the whole process really even happened once your baby arrives 🍀
it’s such a journey, from my experience it doesn’t get any easier as it’s all just one hurdle after the next. All I will say is hang in there! I’ve got my son who is 2.5 years and it’s a love like no other. So answer to your question it is so worth it. I am 4dp5dt and the process is still just as hard. It’s so hard because we want to be a parent so bad. Don’t give up and hang on. Use this forum as much as you can it helps so much. Good luck lovely xxxx
it’s super tough. The injections aren’t fun, the wait to see what happened next is even worse. The agony of it fails is deep and dark. But it’s 100% worth it…. So much so that after going through 2 egg collections to get our son, we went through 3 more to get a sibling.
It’s a horrible journey, and it’s not fair that we have to go through it - but it’s worth it…. 💪🤞🤞💫
I’m sorry you feel crappy I can tell you though it is worth every single second! In fact you will feel even more proud when it works as you’ve been through so much! Sounds pretty common your experience too and in terms of communication etc. so you do have to advocate for yourself a lot which is why forums like this are so helpful hormones really do make everything feel a million times worse though but hopefully you will be in for long haul with them as they only get crazier when pregnant 😊 best of luck! And egg collection isn’t as bad as you might think 💜 xx
hi, ivf is tough, the hardest thing i have ever done, every day brings a new hurdle, a new worry, when all around you it seems everyone is getting pregnant and having babies. I honestly wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy. But yes it is 100% worth it, if it works, when it does it is wonderful, when you hold your baby in your arms the pain starts to fade. It took me 3 years and 5 transfers, 2 surgeries to have my little girl…and looking at her I would go through it all again just to be her Mama. I know it’s tough starting out. There was a time when the happy end stories didn’t help me at all. Just know everyone here is rooting for you. Feel free to vent any time. 💕💕
The journey completely sucks and I can't sugar coat it. I have been on the journey for the last 7 years and still haven't gotten my miracle.
All I can say is try to take one stage at a time, as it can become quickly overwhelming. The changes the meds mentally and physically take is not something anyone prepared me for. I sometimes think it is on purpose, as if we were truly informed on how hard this journey is I am sure we'd think twice. I think twice at each decision I make and then some.....but it doesn't stop me from giving up and I will probably continue until someone tells me I can't try anymore, as the desire to be a mum is just so strong.
Don't let your clinic off the hook, whether private or public (I have done both) you can sometimes feel you are on your own. IVF is such a lonely journey despite how many people are involved in trying to make your dreams happen.
Take time for yourself, be kind to yourself and take breaks when you need, esp when your constantly told you don't have much time. I am 41 and I found I was always made to feel that I had no time to waste and would jump into another cycle when mentally I was far from ready or prepared.
Do your own research and advocate for yourself - you deserve to know what is happening at all times.
I hope your journey is quick short and successful, wishing you all the best 💛🍀
Thank you everyone for your thoughtful messages. Really helps to know that many of you have been successful and could hang in there! I am not sure that I will last beyond this first round. It looks like we only have four follicles, so the chances are very slim. (Hey, you never know!) Thank you all a lot for the support. It means a lot.
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hormones really do make everything feel a million times worse though but hopefully you will be in for long haul with them as they only get crazier when pregnant 😊 best of luck! And egg collection isn’t as bad as you might think 💜 xx 
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