Things that made a difference...

[SB342]

Trigger: Late loss and live birth mentions

Quick list of things that worked for me after 3 years of IVF treatment , 6 rounds, a late loss at 18 weeks, and finally a live birth at 43 years old. I was lucky to have lots of eggs (averaging 14 each collection), good number of blasts (averaging 4 per round) and a higher than average rate of PGT normal for my age (1 in 4) - without that, I'm not sure I would have kept going with OE at 42.

1. Hysteroscopy. Twice. So worth the cost for a pristine uterus. I didn't *need* it second time round, but I think the subsequent inflammation can help blood supply and implantation.

2. hCG wash just before transfer. So cheap! So easy! 5 failed transfers (including one PGT normal) and then bingo - sticky embryo after hCG wash 20 mins before transfer. A new US study is recommending hCG through stims with strikingly positive results.

3. Buserlin for Adenomyosis. My doctor didn't want to treat my mild adeno in case it shut down my ovaries, so we compromised with a short downreg of Buserlin for 3 weeks. Worth a try if you're wary of Lupron etc.

4. DHEA. Jumped up my egg numbers threefold. Don't be scared it will "fry your eggs". My testosterone went through the roof, but doctor said "that's what happens". And my eggs were much better quality too.

5. Prednisolone. I did IVIG too. Not sure if it helped, but prednisone certainly muted my immune response and resulted in implantation.

6. A great clinic with excellent embryologists and doctors that believe in you. Don't follow the crowd. I regret the one (useless) round I did with a popular south London private hospital. I needed much more aggressive treatment and regular access to the doctor (not just left to nurses).

7. IVF not ICSI (unless male factor). I think ICSI is overused. I did one round of ICSI and my fertilisation rate tanked from 85% to 30%. My doctor advocates for ordinary IVF where possible.

8. One last thing- I took expensive NAD supplements - Tru Niagen - one round. That round I produced 8 blasts! Great quality, but only 1 PGT normal of the 6 we tested. Don't know if it works, but the results were interesting.

Good luck everyone.

+++++++

I forgot to add that counselling from SANDS, the infant loss charity, and EMDR from my local NHS provider helped cope with the trauma of infertility and made me prepare for the possibility of not having a baby too. I recommend talking therapies just to survive the awfulness of it all. Counsellors are amazing and I didn't know it until I needed them.

[Ivf41x]

Hi SB342, congrats and I feel truly happy for you It is really encouraging and send me the hope to move on. Thanks for writing the tips for us.

[Gold00]

Thanks SB342 for sharing your story and congratulations!

What dose of hCG did you have administered during the hCG wash? I've never heard of this add-on and I have many similarities with your story (adenomyosis, lots of eggs, hysteroscopies, failed transfers, use of True Niagen/DHEA and in my mid-40s (turned 44 today)). I am hoping that once I finish with downregulation in 2 months time and testing for NK cells, to do the transfer of the euploid embryo. As such, I want to mention hCG wash to my doctor and see if I can have it before the transfer is done...

[SB342 in reply to Gold00]

Not sure dosage, but it was just a vial and so cheap. I also did a neupogen infusion (similar) one round, but that didn’t work for me.

[CarlottaD27]

Thank you for sharing these learnings, so good to hear what worked for you. Many congratulations! X

[Eggfreezing36]

Thanks this is really useful! I am only egg freezing (single) so not all of this relevant for me but feel comforted to hear re DHEA as I was on it for 3 months and my testosterone did go high also. Did you find a particular protocol worked best? Also have you ever tried HGH?

[SB342 in reply to Eggfreezing36]

My clinic did HGH as standard - Zomacton every two days during stims.

[Kichwaa in reply to SB342]

Which day of your cycle did you start the HGH?

[SB342 in reply to Kichwaa]

I didn't prime with HGH. It was prescribed for alternate days of my stim cycle instead.

[Hels5]

Congratulations and thank you for sharing everything that worked for you. Would you mind sending me the name of your clinic?

[40plusTTC in reply to Hels5]

Yes please I'd be interested to hear this too. I'm also wondering if I'm currently at that same south London clinic 🤔

[Darcy1996 in reply to Hels5]

I’d be keen to know as well if you don’t mind sharing. I’m 42 and think I’m near that south London clinic…..

[SB342 in reply to Hels5]

I went to CRGH in Great Portland Street and they were great.

[hoping_for_our_time]

What dosage of pred? and how many IVIG and at what point please?Did you have NK cells testing or did your clinic treat empirically? x

[SB342 in reply to hoping_for_our_time]

Yes, tested positive for NK cells. 20mg Pred. IVIG before transfer, after positive test, and doctor recommended one more, but then I had to have surgery I wasn't able to do it.

[Azzurra79]

Congratulations! Amazing results and thanks for sharing. May I ask you what dosage and brand of DHEA were you on?Thanks in advance!

[SB342 in reply to Azzurra79]

Standard 75mg a day (3 x 25mg). I sometimes reduced to 50mg when I had acne. My egg count went up from 6 to 17. I bought the cheap one from Biovea.

[FirstIVFer]

Wow, this is like reading my own history word for word!!!! Fully agree with everything you said especially IVF over ICSI, made such an improved difference to my 7th cycle, as all prior cycles were icsi. Delighted you're rainbow has arrived safely! Currently 10 weeks pregnant after a very similar experience to you! Xx

[SB342 in reply to FirstIVFer]

congratulations and good luck!

[Kichwaa]

Congratulation.Thanks for sharing your success.Did you use the 300mg Tru Niagen?

[SB342]

Yes. Not sure if it helped, but certainly had an effect...