Any hope left?

[WHeatherW]

Hello everyone

I’ve just had a disaster second round (5 eggs, 3 mature, 2 fertilised but didn’t make it to transfer). I only had one embryo for round 1 too.

I can’t really do anymore than I am (acupuncture, supplements, vitamins, steps, egg diet) and I’m not expecting things to dramatically improve or anything but has anyone experienced having nothing to transfer and actually gone on to get pregnant?

I’m loosing hope fast and getting scared about having to make decisions about how many rounds to pay for / should we consider donor eggs etc

Thank you x

[PRAYINGFORTHISTOWORK]

hello yes my daughters first round she had nothing to transfer and on her second round she only got two blasts (medically there was no reason why her numbers were so low) she was so disappointed and decided to trf both of them, so she could stray again from scratch, however those 2 are now her 4 month old twins.. I know it’s so hard but low numbers don’t always mean it’s not going to work x

[WHeatherW in reply to PRAYINGFORTHISTOWORK]

Oh wow, you all must be over the moon! Did they change her protocol for the second round? They didn’t change anything for me first to second round so I highly doubt they will for my third round x

[PRAYINGFORTHISTOWORK in reply to WHeatherW]

We so are .. Her clinic didn’t but she did she ended up paying a different clinic for an immune protocol it was expensive but it worked.. from her journey I found that you had to do your own research and tell them as they was just happy to carry on the same protocol or slightly different but with no positive outcome, and at the end of the day the clinics are a business and are there to make money so if it dosnt work it’s more money for them if you go again x

[WHeatherW in reply to PRAYINGFORTHISTOWORK]

I’ve found that too. I’ve done so much research (supplements and about dermoid cysts I keep growing) and my consultant is very much like “it’s down to age and you can’t change that”. I was 35 when I walked in their doors (39 now - had two ops in the middle). I hate the feeling of being someone’s “customer” and not “patient”… not like there’s any sort of customer service either! X

[PRAYINGFORTHISTOWORK in reply to WHeatherW]

It’s a very hard journey and when the service isn’t great either it’s an even harder … what area r u based ? Would u consider a second opinion from another clinic ? I know that obviously comes with additional costs though x

[Sja1981 in reply to PRAYINGFORTHISTOWORK]

I had a free short consultation from a clinic in London, and another free one with a doctor at clinica Eugin in Spain, for a second opinion on my treatment plan. Im with Clinica Tambre. I've just turned 43 and for my age group, the doctor has 60% success rate live births at home. He has specific experience working with women my age. You might want to look for a doc like that?

I've wondered too about regulations so that they're incentivised for a successful outcome rather than simply taking your money on repeat. I think they're meant to report their outcomes so actually, unsuccessful results are considered. Therefore you might want to compare clinics and see who has the most success for your age group.

[WHeatherW in reply to Sja1981]

My clinic does have great success rates, but I will definitely take a look at other consultations. Thanks so much and good luck x

[Sja1981 in reply to WHeatherW]

Weirdly I didn't look closely at the numbers as there are always outliers and I didn't feel much value in tying myself into what the average might say about my outcome. Perhaps I'm being overly optimistic. But it was certainly uplifting to hear my doc share that 60perc stat. They have to report all their results, so the stats must be there but I don't know how broadly clinics advertise them x

[Rainbow_23 in reply to Sja1981]

Hey Sja1981.

I am currently looking at Clinica Tambre. Would you mind if you gave me any more info on them? Please feel free to DM me x

[WHeatherW]

I’m in the north west. The clinic I was referred to is actually the best one here but I am thinking of getting a second opinion, just in case. It becomes such an expensive journey doesn’t it x

[Sja1981 in reply to WHeatherW]

I had all my initial tests done in India for under £200 including all bloods and a scan. Check eastern European countries where you can probably go for a holiday and get all the tests, for the same price as the UK!

Now I'm with a clinic in Spain which is about 9k euros for the standard process plus genetic testing as I've just turned 43. It's costing me about £500 to visit next week for 5 days but I'll be on the beach which helps me feel relaxed and I have Spanish ancestry so I'm comfortable with a Spanish donor, fully anonymous.

[WHeatherW in reply to Sja1981]

The thought of going abroad stresses me out a little… How is everything timed when you’re so far away? Xx

[skygreen]

It's so hard and I hope you are doing ok today.

I've had two cycles out of five where I got nothing but have had two successful FETs in ten years so it's taken a while! I'm 42 now and did banking cycles last year - the first we got nothing suitable for transfer and then a couple of months later I got two PGTA embryos, currently 7 months pregnant so each round can be so different! I've got unexplained infertility and endo so I've never had any answers.

I'm also in the North West (Manchester) and my Dr changed up my meds in the second cycle last year and added in melatonin - some good research out there about it. I also took collagen and massively upped my protein intake before my second cycle last year but it's probably the meds that have the biggest impact

Is your partner taking supplements too? Mine took impryl. We did ICSI to cover all bases.

It really is a numbers game but it's so hard to keep on going when it's so unfair, emotional and expensive.

God luck! 🤞🤗 xxx

[WHeatherW in reply to skygreen]

Wow, massive congrats!!! This has given me some hope this morning!

Yes he’s on impryl too. I was tempted to add Melatonin last time but I didn’t thinking I would just be sleepy the whole time. I’ve just ordered some though. Could you let me know how much you took and for how long please?

Thanks so much xx

[skygreen in reply to WHeatherW]

I took 2mg at night at same time started stims. Had the best sleep ever too! X

[Gentleblue]

Hello there, I am sending you many virtual hugs. Hang in there and do not lose hope!!xx I have not done IVF yet, but it is coming.

[WHeatherW in reply to Gentleblue]

Thank you and welcome to the mad house haha! Hopefully you have a more successful journey than me - here for you if it doesn’t go to plan xx

[Tinkertinkerbell]

Hi,

I am currently 18 weeks pregnant from my 3rd cycle - 5th transfer and ended up using donor eggs.

First cycle with my own eggs I only got a morula. They transferred- BFN.

Second cycle with my own eggs I got a morula again and an ‘average’ blastocyst. They transferred both together -BFN.

3rd cycle I used a set of donor eggs. This decision seemed straight forward to me. I just wanted a baby and lots of people use donor eggs. They made 3 ‘outstanding’ embryos. First transfer - BFN. Second transfer - BFN. Paused for the EMA, Alice and ERA biopsy - adjusted for that (it found I needed an extra 30 hours of progesterone and probiotics). Third transfer - BFP! ☺️

Good luck to you x

[Kitkat10]

hi, it’s a really tough time to navigate, I had 3 cycles and never anything to freeze. My third and successful cycle only yielded 3 eggs and 1 blastocyst. It’s an anxious time and I understand how exhausting the egg collections are, but it is true that only 1 blastocyst is needed for success, so try and hang in there 🙏

I was 42 when I tried for a sibling and after 3 failed transfer with OE and apparently ‘top quality’ blastocysts, I switched to DE. My daughter was born 2 weeks ago after the first DE transfer worked. I can 100% say that I love her every little bit as my OE son. It was a hard decision at the time and I was older than you are now but sometimes it can help if you feel like you have another option further down the line if you need it.

You’re doing everything right, just try and keep positive and keep going. Each cycle can be different. I switched from a long down reg cycle to a short protocol which reduces egg numbers but I think must have increased quality. Have you had your follow up appointment with the consultant? They may offer options for the protocol?