Hi everyone, I have my first telephone appointment tomorrow with the IVF clinic. And now it's getting real because it's starting. IVF is really not the route I wanted to go down. The thing is I'm a very natural type of person. I try to do things in my life as natural as possible and avoid doctors and hospitals like the plague, so this feels out of my comfort zone to put it lightly. But I am faced with the pressure of not getting pregnant and getting older. I'm 37 and me and my husband have been trying to concieve since we had a miscarriage a few years ago. This has been a very emotional journey and to be honest I do get really upset sometimes as it can be so stressful. I'm so scared about the procedures involved in IVF and really don't want to put to sleep as that's one of my biggest fears. Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you.
IVF anxiety : Hi everyone, I have my... - Fertility Network UK
IVF anxiety
hello I am in my 2 week wait following my first IVF cycle. I was terrified about all the procedures related to IVF but my experience has been that I (and my husband) have been so well supported and well informed by our clinic and this really helped. Totally normal to feel anxious but I am personally have found that the thought of the procedures was worse than the procedures themselves. (That’s not to dismiss how scary they can feel at the time though) remember if you are in the UK your clinic is obligated to offer you counselling either as an individual, or couples counselling if you are doing this with a partner and it’s something you both want. Having a space to share your feelings may be something you find helpful. Also don’t be scared to ask your clinic any questions you want (there are no silly questions). Hope the first appointment goes well. 🙂
Hi, thank you so much for your reply. You have made me feel a little more at ease. It can be all very daunting. Yes I am in the UK and that is good to know that there is counselling there if needed.
I wish you luck and cross my fingers for you 🤞🏻😊
I am such an anxious person when it comes to medical procedures etc (still get teary at the dentist for a check up 😂) and that was my main worry with ivf. I know I have a really low pain threshold as well. I was really nervous but everyone at my clinic was lovely! Made me feel at ease! I asked so many questions and was never made to feel silly. I told them I was nervous and they made sure they took their time. I was terrified on egg collection day, cried walking into the little theatre room but after a few minutes the Doctor was making me laugh, and a nurse held my hand while they put me to sleep. Have to say it was a lovely nap and not what I thought it would feel like at all!
Wishing you all the luck for it all ❤️ x
Hi EllEss, thank you for getting back to me. I am very similar 😂 You made me laugh, I hear you about the dentist 😅 thanks for being so lovely. I feel more confident to say how I am feeling. All the very best wishes to you 😊💗 x
Hi Robynrose67, your post reminded me so much of where I was 3 years ago. Slowly walking through the waiting lists towards treatment and not really ever wanting to get there, but knowing time wasn't going backwards. Terrified and disappointed with the turns my life was taking at the same time and dreading the procedures. Now, I am an IVF veteran(!) and I want to give you all the reassurance I wish someone had given me. Take it step by step, appointment by appointment, injection by injection and you will be fine. I have found it amazing actually how much IVF follows and replicates a natural conception cycle, and it is amazing understanding what our bodies do (or should do) and where ours might not be working properly. The thought of every single procedure is worse than the reality. The clinic staff are lovely and if you tell them when you are worried/terrified they make it easy. I went to sleep during my egg collection chatting about mojitos and dreamed of being in the sun in Cuba during my whole procedure. 🤣 Not what I expected at all. If you can get access to one of the counsellors I would recommend that too. It really does help. Best of luck! x
Hi Willow park, Yeah that is where I am and wanting time to stand still ! Thank you so much for the reassurance and good advice. I will try and take the process step by step.
😂 I hope I have a fun dream like that too !
You've been so helpful, best wishes to you 💖 x
hi there, it’s not the route anyone wants to go down. Everyone hopes it can happen naturally and I’m so sorry you had to suffer a miscarriage ❤️ but perhaps a change of perspective can help here. It’s utterly amazing from someone for whom ivf has worked that you can produce eggs, they can safely harvest them and with bounds and leaps in science they can make life happen with some help. I find it mind blowing tbh an embryo of cells can be stored and thawed and make it through to being a bouncing baby. Try and think how without all the doctors and hospitals ivf would not be an option for anyone so try and flip it on its head. I was positively excited in the end about creating the eggs, seeing my ovaries were ovulating and all the way through to transfer, and seeing my now baby in an egg sac as a growing embryo. Wishing you all the luck, and believe it or not you have time on your side at 37. 🙌 well done for taking the plunge it takes lots of courage and 🤞 all goes smoothly for you ❤️
💚 thank you. It is true when you put it like that, it is an amazing thing and I hope that with my stubborn mind I can flip it on its head 🙃
You've all had me in tears 🥲 thank you so much. It's amazing how I don't know you but you understand and it means a lot.
So glad it worked for you 🌻🩷 big hugs 🤗
I hoped a flip in the way you look at it might help you become excited! I had no idea what to expect and just rolled with it but I know a lot of women struggle unlike me so I wanted to try and explain how I viewed it and how I found it really exciting and a bit of a rollercoaster (until covid came and stopped me in my tracks but that’s another story). My journey was filled with excitement and sadness, and frustration but in the end after 3 years, an MC, a minor surgery and a failed transfer I finally succeeded and now have a lovely 2 year old at my age of 43. 💪 you can do it! 🙌❤️
You are incredible and so strong! Everything you've been through and so glad it worked out for you ☺️🩷Can you send me your positive mind so I can deal with this? 😂 I will try my best! Thank you 🙌
❤️ aww you really made me feel important even though I’m not 😂 I think I’m one of many warrior women who are here. I absolutely want to send you my positive mind so when you feel down send me a message and I’ll try and turn it around. I always thought on injecting myself it was fun, a thing to endure sure, but do in private with my partner which was funny sometimes when we were at his parents house and they didn’t know and we both disappeared upstairs to the bathroom 😂 I lucky had no adverse emotional effects with the drugs but I’m always here for support. Following you from now xx
Of course you are important! And all the women here. Thank you, you are amazing to say that and have put a smile on my face 😊 you make it sound fun and sounds quite hilarious in the bathroom ! 😂 Xx
I was afraid about being put to sleep too but actually really enjoyed it 😂. I woke up feeling like I’d had a lovely nap and was super calm. It’s definitely not something that you need to waste energy worrying about because it’s very very safe and quite fun (for me!) xxx
😅 Well I hope to feel like this! Thanks for saying that, puts me at ease a little. All the best 😊 x
Hi, it’s totally natural to feel anxious. It’s a massive life changing journey you are about to go on.
You’ll learn lots as you go through the process. I would echo what others have said, don’t be afraid to ask questions of your clinic. I often came away from appointments and after having time to reflect and digest had lots more questions; your clinic are there to support you so keep asking! I also wish I’d had the knowledge and confidence to challenge them earlier.
This network has also been a godsend! I’ve felt so comforted and supported by some amazing strong women on here who are full of knowledge, experience and brilliant advice. At times I have felt that although these people are strangers to me, they are the only ones that truly understand what I’ve been going through. So I’d say use this network.
I wish you all the very best. Xx
Hi, thanks so much for the advice! I will be asking the questions. Yeah it's amazing how you have people around you that try to be supportive but sometimes end up making you feel worse but to talk to people that know and understand what you are going through is a great comfort.
Thank you for being so lovely, best wishes to you 😊✨ x
it’s honestly not anywhere as near as bad as you think it might be! Try to not think of it as not being ‘natural’ as science is amazing and all they are doing is giving nature a helping hand 🤗 the sedation was the bit I was most scared of too but it is the best naps I have ever had!! The next step on your journey to being a mum is about to begin! Embrace it if you can 💜 xx
Big hugs to you 🤗 that is true. I will try my best to embrace it 💜🥲 xxx
You got this 💪🏼 🤗 xx
Hello, I have just started IVF too! I am an anxious person myself and I see myself so much in what you are saying and in the lovely comments below.
I do my check ups at the GP and never miss an appointment, but with IVF I am still scared about the hormones that I will have to inject in my body. However, the team has been amazing, and I was surprised that the protocol they give you is what your body needs. I have had so many scans and blood tests I felt much safer. I am still scared to start my injections this weekend, but the nurse has reassured me that the dosage has been decided on my test results. I am not too scared about egg collection, but I still hope it goes well.
What has helped me so far is to be open and honest with my nurse, I talk to my partner about my fears and anxiety, and I go to therapy. I take every single day as it comes, and I am sure that it will be alright. Luckily I was given a short protocol, and in 14 days - hopefully- I'll be done with injections and egg collection.
Hi, thanks for sharing your experience. It's good to get an insight into what happens. I hope it all goes well with your injections. I am talking to my husband about my fears trying to get it out and think I will take up the counselling when it starts.Best of luck with all of it 🤞🏻✨
I am also about to start IVF and am absolutely petrified of having to go through this. We haven’t really been told much about the whole process which has made the anxiety worse going to each appointment.
Wishing you the best of luck on your journey x
Hi Darceynicole, sorry I am late replying to you, haven't been on here in a while. I hope things have gone well for you starting your IVF journey. I ended up putting it on hold for now but if nothing comes of trying naturally. I am set to start it next year xx
hello, I was in exactly the same situation as you 2 1/2 years ago & my son is 11 weeks old & was born 2 days after my 39th birthday. I didn’t even like to take paracetamol so completely understand where you are coming from with your concerns of the whole process & being sedated etc. As someone who’s a natural worrier I can hand on heart tell you the thought of IVF is worse than actual IVF - there’s a sense of relief once you relinquish these worries & accept the help needed from the hands of experts. As Twiglet said the science behind the process of conception is absolutely incredible, it makes you truly realise how delicate the creation of life is & actually how much of a miracle it is when it happens - naturally or with a helping hand. Wish you well on your journey & be kind to yourself 🫶🏼x p.s I secretly didn’t mind the sedation at all it’s like falling into the best sleep you’ve ever had
Hi Kate, thank you for your reply. Sorry I am late to get back to you as haven't been on here for a while. I was all set to start and then I just couldn't and I agreed to put it on hold for a little while. I wasn't in a good place. So I am still set to do it and obviously I still have my concerns. It's a hard thing to accept that you may need help. Thank you so much for your kind word and encouraging words it means a lot💚 xx
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