Trying for a baby (12+ M/not straightforward)

epsilondraconis

liloandstitch wrote: »

Well put toniq. Im glad I pointed you in the right direction with the website, I still couldnt remember so glad you found it!!!!

Did they have any theories as to why you didnt fertilise? Was it egg quality - in which case would you be better not force growing the embryos? I dont know if your clinic does it but mine does 'natural' IVF where you work with the natural cycle, and the natural produced follicle is harvested and the egg is fertilised (using ICSI if necessary) this is a lot more gentle and for various reasons this is the only way we proceed now, and suits me as I can only have one embryo put in at a time anyway. If you want any more info I can point you to the website (I have no connection with them other than using them and am posting this for help only)

Lilo

They didn't know why it didn't fertilise - or at least they didn't tell us. Visual inspection of the eggs indicated that they were okay; however they said that it is likely to be an egg issue. The consultant said that visual inspection is not always an indicator as to the quality of the egg. They said that if it was an egg issue that they wouldn't be able to do anything about it.

You mention in your post about 'natural' IVF. I must confess, I'm a little dumb when it comes to ladies' bits and bobs . This is my understanding of what happened to us last time (N.B. this is probably nothing like it):

1. Wife took some potion that we had to store in the fridge.

2. She down-regulated and we then kept popping back to the clinic to see when it was the right time - they were looking to see how big the follicles were. All of that went well.

3. On the day they took out 9 eggs and I did my sample. They used the ICSI method and then the following day they phoned us to say that none of them fertilised.

In terms of the 'natural' IVF approach that you were describing, is it the case that she wouldn't take the potion we had to store in the fridge? i.e. the one that causes the body to go mad and produce all of the follicles.

Do some clinics believe that this technique will produce better quality eggs? i.e. They have the view that it is better to have fewer 'better' quality eggs rather than lots of poor quality eggs?

If I've understood it correctly, we will definitely ask the clinic about this approach and see what they say.

The problem currently seems to be that the clinic didn't know the reason for the lack of fertilisation and they could offer no other routes, apart from just repeating it again.

Thanks for the feedback, its very much appreciated.

lisawood78

Just a quick one to say we were at Coventry University Hospital CRM (previously called Walsgrave) for 5 years and 4 failed cycles and are now at Midland Fertility Services with 1 failed cycle.

We have one frozen blast and a follow up on June 8th, we are going to be having Immunology tests before trying again.

We are much more hopeful with our new clinic despite the failure, we have been ttc for over 8 years now.

Good luck everyone

lisawood78

Epsilondraconis,

We have had egg quality issues in the past, lots of eggs produced with very very low fertilisation.

We were advised to move to the short or flare protocol, where you do not down reg at all, this was supposed to produce less but better quality eggs.

We did this on or last cycle, and although it was still negative we produced lotd of good quality embryos, the most we have ever had and made it to blastocysts, with one to freeze.


If you have any questions please feel free to ask, unfortunately I know so much about this subject cos I have been doing it for so long.

epsilondraconis

Thanks for that LisaWood78.

Also, thanks for the offer of answers any questions we have, at the moment we'll read around the subject a bit more so we know the right questions to ask.

I have to say that I feel a little annoyed with Oxford now because we've had two consultations with them since it failed last year (each time with a different consultant) and when we asked them if there is anything that could be done to improve the quality of the eggs they said there wasn't and that we should just repeat the same process again. I even asked whether there were any other techniques that they knew of, that even if they didn't have statistical proof of better results, that would give us a little bit of hope. They never mentioned any of this. I understand that this isn't the answer to our dreams, but it certainly gives us more hope.

Thank you very much to everyone that has contributed to this thread. I never thought it will be so useful or encouraging. Coupled with that, my MSE 'thanks' total has increased as well and so it seems like I'm even more popular than I really am .

liloandstitch

Glad we can help epsilondraconis. I have PMd you

Lilo

nottslass_2

Hello Ladies,

I've stopped sulking now !!!!!!!

I think that I needed a reality check and remember there are many on this forum that have had a lot harder time than me.

I'm genuinely touched by everyones thoughts - you lot are so supportive and it really does help when times are tough !!!! FE thanks for the PM - you really are a sweetheart.

OTD is on Sunday,but as it feels as if AF is on her way I don't think we'll get that far.But hey,miracles do sometimes happen !!

In the event of a BFN,me & OH have decided that plan B will be to look into using donor eggs.
Because the chances of success with DE are so much better (for a geriatric) it seems a bit silly to keep trying with my own.
As I was adopted at birth,I have no issues with going down the donor route, I know from first hand experience that genetics don't make you a parent !!!

toniq - Great result,you couldn't have wished for better !!

Although I wanted to keep away for a bit,I didn't stop me popping in to see how you were doing - Its looking good that you'll get a BFP(not that there's any pressure on you.lol)

Whens OTD ? are you working during the 2ww ? I got a sick note but I'm now regretting not being at work,as I spend all day symptom spotting and knicker checking,oh and eating chocolate ! (not good as I've got a bikini to fit into in 3 weeks)

Take care & look after your precious cargo X


sarahs999 - my thoughts are with you X

epsilondraconis - I don't know if its relevant to your diagnosis,but over the course of about a year, my OH had several semen analysis done,all with the same result.
Basically every aspect of his sperm (quality and quantity) was rubbish and we were told that our only hope of conceiving was with ICSI.
With nothing to loose,I force fed him Zinc,a multi vit and a selenium tablet every morning and 3 months later (DEC 08)when we came to have our 1st IVF his semen was good enough for straight forward IVF and when we had our 2nd go (last week) his sample was described as "normal".It just seems Ironic that now my eggs are appear to be past their "best before date".


Hope that my other IVF comrades are doing OK.

Baby dust to you all and happy BDing to everyone doing it "the old fashioned way"

nottslass X

jiblets1

nottslass, glad you're feeling so much better.

I'm seeing the consultant tomorrow. AF arrived this morning with a vengance (the end of a 48 day cycle). I can't even put my finger on what delayed Aunt Flo this time. My work life is generally quite stressful at the moment, but that's the normal state of affairs... I was hoping she might put me straight on the chlomid - would I have to wait a whole cycle again to start? I'd only be on CD2!
I'm really wary that she's going to want to go in and clean up the rogue tube...

toniq

Nottslass xxxx

It aint over till its over, dont lose hope yet, honestly the amount of women i've heard say they feel af symptons so they r sure it's failed when it hasn't must be hundreds,

Im gonna start testing friday im a self confessed poas addict and friday will be 12 days past egg collection so i should get something showing?!? xx
I aint got my hopes high, u know the feeling living in limbo land want to dream but dare not, everything taunts u etc etc, but i wont rule out that i might be like u shouldnt xx
please hang in there, been thinking of u xxxxx
I don't work, i'm lucky as him on couch has a good job with computers in the city so i can stay at home and do housey things xxxxxx
hugs xxxxxx

ginvzt

Hello everyone!

Lots of development here. Good news toniq - best of luck!

Sarah and notlass - don't lose hope. I know you are in different situations, but I hope things will turn to the best for both of you.

I am still fighting with my cough and tiredness. Went to see my GP on Friday as I am still knackered everyday and can't stop coughing. He was very sympathetic, but unfortunately, he said it is a viral infection and that is why antibiotics did nothing good and I just have to wait till my body fights it off (I had it for 6 weeks now!!!!!). He enquired how things are going with referral and about me moving to private care, an he had good experience with the consultant I am going to see, although not in fertility issues. It made me feel much more positive. I am seeing the consultant next Tuesday (the day AF is due!!!), so not long to wait. Besides, I am away with work this week again, so it takes my mind of it a bit as well. I hope he will be progressing things a bit faster than NHS, and I will know what is going on soon enough.

Also - looking to book summer holidays somewhere exotic, which gives me something to look forward (although, it doesn't stop me thinking what if I get pg!!!!)

Oh, and today I realised, that it is the first cycle since we started ttc, that I had no idea what the due date would be if we got lucky this month (had to check as was updating our finances, and we put a future expences when the baby arrives).

becs

Ah Nottslass I'm really hoping for you! Just as you say there are women on here who have gone through alot more than you, well you've gone through alot more than me and some others and I really do hope all you IVF'ers get your BFP. You've all invested so much in your dream for a child and I mean so much more than financially as well. The hope that we all feel in that 2 ww is unbearable but it must be even more so when you know they've put a fertilised egg back in,it must be off the scale! I have so much admiration for you all and I really hope I can get a BFP without going down the IVF route as I just don't think I would have the courage and strength that you all show.
Only fingers crossed for you all though I'm afraid as can't afford to cross anything else!