I have had my proverbial bubble royally burst today and I'm struggling to find the positive. Any positivity-boosters welcome - have tried some walking, lovely pulse point oils and a good old cry so far but I need to flip the script and boost that positivity and strength now.
Started my third round of fresh IVF stims meds last week, and although they wouldn't commit to numbers, the doctor at my 2nd stims scan on Weds said "this is looking so much better than the last round" with a wonderful warm smile. I was buzzing!
Then today (Friday) not so good news (1 week into stims). My smaller follicles aren't growing or responding as well, and I have max 5 follicles at the size they would hope they'd be at. So, it has gone from a conversation about pushing on and having EC in 7 days, to triggering on Sunday and collecting Tuesday, to get these 5.
My fear? even with 17 eggs in the last round only 12 were mature and only 6 fertilised normally and even with oocyte activation and PICSI we only 1 got to biopsy-able stage. So if I only have 5 or 6 to start with this time...the chances just aren't in our favour.
We have thrown everything at this round re acupuncture, nutritional overhaul, supplements until we rattle etc and used the same meds & protocol as our last round - but obviously for whatever reason, I haven't responded as well. I know it only takes one embryo but I also know we haven't ever got to transfer stage to know how that might go for us, or what I'll respond to well there. Sadly, we cannot afford to go again at this stage and I'm now 43 so time isn't there even if the funds were.
So after that ridiculously long wah from me, any tips on positivity in this final push, and acceptance for this change to ride it out in strength?
All the best everyone
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Darcy1996
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I am so sorry it’s knocked you down! I’ve been in a right funk myself after our latest round.
I guess one thing I would say, is I really hope that even with reduced quantity the quality may be better?
I’ve always had poor response and when we collected 1-4 eggs I always got top quality blastocyst (even if they then didn’t implant or stick around long). Then we pushed for more with 4th stim and though my ovaries could only manage to push to 7 eggs collected, it was our biggest ever number, but still our most shocking cycle result with no embryos by day 5. So I am so so hopeful that these 5 you’re collecting are tip top shape and you have some promising embryology updates.
I am finding listening to some good audiobooks (Harry Potter books right now 😂) and getting stuck into a cross stitch project as well as big ol walks, helpful in stopping me stewing and ruminating too much. I can’t say I’ve got the answer though as I’m definitely not in my best mental state right now - sometimes one has to accept it’s tricky times and you are doing your best in this moment. xx
Sorry to hear that for you too - it is just brutal isn't it. Sounds you are doing some lush things for yourself and I hope it is helping x
"I guess one thing I would say, is I really hope that even with reduced quantity the quality may be better?" - I am clinging onto the hope that this is the case and telling myself all of the standards - "it only takes one" and "quality over quantity"...but why not both??
I am so glad it is autumn, my favourite season, and I can put boots on and a big coat and walk and walk next week after EC. So grateful I booked the time off from my (stressful) job.
I am into audiobooks too - I bet the HP ones are charming! I'm not great at meditation or mindfulness but I am trying, but I can definitely have an audiobook playing whilst I (Harry) potter about.
Hi, sorry to hear your experience. At our age we should be considering day 3 transfers if possible especially if you have less than 3-4 fertilised embryos otherwise you risk losing them at 5 blastocyst stage. I suggest keep going but change the stim protocol.
thank you - we discussed this with them, as I saw a fabulous influencer couple have success with day 3 morulas, but because we want to PGTA test, they don't recommend (if we still wish to go this route, which I think we do). Also, as I started stims in my luteal phase, if it came to a fresh transfer, they advised my lining wouldn't be right at that time. SO many if/what/but's 😢
Oh I see...I have had success with a day 3 double frozen transfer at 43 (now 44). All my fresh transfers failed and I tried both day 5 and 3 fresh transfers with adjustments made to dosage with meds plus add ons.
Sorry to hear about your lining... I personally believe frozen is best after a break from stims. Everything has to be in sync with your uterus for implantation to happen.
If you have 5 eggs collected, there would be huge drop-off...is it actually worth paying for pgta?
My NHS clinic froze my 3 embryos (out of 7 eggs) at day 1 after fertilisation (pro nuclei stage). All successfully thawed with one not surviving at day 3. Had double transfer and one stuck. I was at risk of ohss hence my fresh transfer was cancelled. Maybe something for you to consider x
The same questions were a big headache for me (my numbers are low) and I’ve asked doctors and embryologists about this. Their opinion was that their lab culture mimics the human body: if an embryo didn’t make it to decent quality blastocyst in the lab, it was highly likely not viable. My clinic also won’t freeze under grade 3.
After my first round (no blasts), I’d read a study some women would never make day 5 blastocysts and was so worried. The doctor said that while this is true, there wasn’t yet any reason to suspect this would necessarily be me (next two rounds produced one blast each).
My clinic generally seem to think it’s worth pushing to 5-day blast. If you have one one good looking embryo on day 3, and are having a fresh transfer, they will transfer at day 3. But one consultant I spoke to said he didn’t agree with this, and said he would still wait to see if it makes it to day 5.
I’m sorry it’s such a rough time, I never got close to your numbers , I think I managed 9 eggs max per EC. I was 41 when I had my son and I can say that I realised that the timing of when the egg you need makes an appearance, is irrespective of numbers collected.
I had what I thought was a decent response to stims but then half the follicles were empty (which had not happened in the previous 2 rounds) so I only got 3 eggs and only 1 fertilised normally. So I gave up all hope, and felt totally devastated. But he’s now nearly 3 🩵
So, please don’t give up hope like I did, Your numbers are fantastic, try and hang in there and get through the next stages. Wishing you the best of luck for that little egg 🍀🍀 xx
Oh Kitkat10 I love that thank you, maybe it’s the timing & not the numbers. There’s one follicle that’s racing ahead & I know it’s silly, but I wonder if they’re racing to be here 🤣
my last round was the poorest round I ever had in terms of eggs collected- 6 eggs 4 fertlised normally but got 2 blasts. We don’t do PGTA testing (because we only get a couple of blasts dont feel it’s worth it personally) but fresh transfer failed and I’m now 20 weeks from the frozen one. It was the first round in ages I got one for the freezer even though it was my lowest follicle count and egg collection and fertilisation! I honestly believe in quality over quantity so I defo wouldn’t count yourself out with 5 at the right size. Wishing you lots and lots of luck for collection xx 🤞🏽💜
oh Twiglet2 congratulations 💜💜 I’m so glad you’ve got there. When I had the news yesterday, all I could think was our drop offs are so bad, we must be out. But today a little calmer I wonder/hope if all we’ve done might be the change….but I still also wonder if the clinic let me stims longer I might have more. Anyway, it’s not over yet & you’re proof of that. Thank you 🙏🏻
On the topic of Harry Potter; "Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light" ❤️ it's not over til the fat lady sings 😆 Keep ur spirits up, at times it can be difficult to be positive but even watch something funny to make you smile/laugh. I've just finished round 4, (every round I only ever got 7 eggs which dwindled all the way down to just the 1 embryo), last round was positive (23rd Sept) at the end of the 2ww, scan was booked for 14 Oct but on 2nd Oct I bled & lost it. I'm still taking that as a good sign I had a positive test as prev rounds didnt always make it to the end of the 2ww before bleeding. Starting round 5 next month....*ding ding* 🥊🥋😄
oh Rox28 I’m so impressed by the positive you’ve found but so so sorry to hear your loss. We have a comedy show booked for next Thursday - at least I can have a wine and a giggle. And I wish you so much luck by return, for round 5 💪🏻🥚
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Day 8 scan - poor response to stims
Day 6 stims poor response 
Trying to stay positive.....
