The Trials and Tribulations of Trying to Conceive when its just not happening (12m+)

Part_Mouse

Good vibes, thanks just wish there was a light at the end of the tunnel.

Whattodonow

PM wishing you luck luck lots of luck for tomorrow xxx

I said i'd write up my notes from patient info evening in case anyone will find it useful. They explained everything in simple terms so it was extremely useful to me as i was clueless. So here goes:

• Confirmed Hewitt Centre is no longer doing AMH test as results are not accurate reflection of fertility. Letter in pack also confirmed the company supplying the tests have had problems with the equipment. Therefore they are now sticking to FHS tests only
• After all required tests and consultation, you ring up on day 1 of you period to start treatment. No unprotected sex in treatment cycle
• Treatment lasts about 5 weeks. Two weeks of 'down-regging' where they 'switch off' your fertility. Then two+ weeks of superfertility drugs to make you produce loads of egg. Hewitt no longer use Menopur or Gonal F. No reason why and didn't say what they do use. Lots of scans to see how you're responding and to ensure you don't get OHSS. Very small minority get OHSS.
• When eggs are ready, you go in for egg collection and partner provides sperm . Proceedure is pretty painless due to lovely drugs Takes about 15-20 mins
• The day after egg collection they phone you to tell you how theyre doing. If all OK, you go in for embryo transfer, which was described as like a smear test. Good quality embryos are then frozen for if you have to have a second attempt
• Hewitt only put back one embryo (boo!!) because the new timelapse technology they use (where they don't have to take embryos out as they are monitored by cameras) mean they now have a 57%!!! pregnancy success rate!! Pretty good I thought
• If treatment unsuccessful, you have to wait three cycles before trying again
• Most of England gets two attempts, Wales gets one.
  
  ICSI is used for couples with sperm problems - they inject sperm directly into the egg rather than just mixing them together and letting the eggs get fertilised 'naturally'

I know most of you will be all familiar with this and think its basic info, but I really found IVF confusing before going to the PIE. So I hope this helps someone a bit clueless like me

xx

Wonder_Woman

Thanks WTDN, that's really useful. They didn't tell us the no unprotected sex part or the waiting 3 cycles between attempts bit!!! Will read properly tomorrow

Rowingirl

time2deal wrote: »

Really! When? We are currently waiting for visa approval and will be on the plane in less than a year hopefully.

(Well - sort of hopefully - it's Australia or pregnancy. But at least if the pregnancy doesn't work we will be off soon enough.)

Why are you moving?

We're the same - pregnancy or Australia next year. We'll move in the summer if I'm not pregnant otherwise we'll wait until our baby's a year old (based on time taken to apply for a child visa). We have permanent skilled visas and want to the better weather, outdoor lifestyle and an adventure. The original plan was to apply for a visa (2 year waiting time), have a baby, had baby to application then go when it was granted. Well we're half way there . If IVF doesn't work here then we'll save up to try again in Australia although that will be in about 3-5 years time as emigration is a money burner.

Good luck with your DH's application. I remember all the paperwork and the waiting; the process seemed very tickbox orientated so if you meet all the criteria & the visa quota hasn't been filled then the govt grant the visa. PM me if you want to chat about it.

Whattodoknow - 57% success rate sounds fantastic. HEFA is encouraging clinics to transfer a single embryo (if clinically indicated and the couple/women agrees) to reduce the risks associated with multiple births. This website might be useful: www.oneatatime.org.uk.
I recommend Infertility for Dummies - it's written by a fertility specialist, a nurse and an IVF patient so covers the medical & emotional aspects of infertility and all treatment options without the jargon.

mrshappy

Congrats on passing your viability day BZ so pleased for you, but your wee bean will hang in there til the very end

We were told the no unprotected sex during out ICSI cycle, but this cycle-using donor eggs- were told it didn't matter. As for age gaps- my DS will be 17 this year, eeek.

Have spent most of this evening googling 5dpt3dt-am going a bit insane, hubby waffled about peeing on a stick, did one about an hour ago which was of course bfn, waved it in his face and went in a huff. Which is very impressive considering I came home from work, did a bit of tidying up, then stomped off announcing that I would be back when I was in a better mood. A better mood was achieved by half an hour with coffee, cake, a book and peace and quiet in Sainsbury's cafe. Am SSing so much I'm boring myself now, but feel very different to last 2ww.
My latest crazy "thing to do which might help" is having pink candles lit in the house, I have been told that pink candles are in general good for women's problems and fertility. Got nothing else to lose at this stage eh?

Hope everyone is good, I am feeling a touch deranged these days, but it will pass

tea_lover

That's interesting about no unprotected sex during treatment, we weren't told that at all. Although in our case there's so little going on sperm-wise they probably didn't think they needed to be that careful with us!

mrshappy - in my 2ww after ICSI I know I googled xdp5dt every single day until OTD (which for us was 12dp5dt). Every day, without fail, usually before I'd even got out of bed in the morning . Have everything crossed for you. Ooh, and the candles sound lovely... I love a good candle .

tea_lover

Aargh, forgot to say good luck PM, sorry!! Really hope you get some good news at today's scan. If not, just cling onto the fact it's friday

Part_Mouse

Thanks tea no good news again today, still no change and no follicle that looks like it would be dominant.

tea_lover

Ah poop did they change your dose again?

Part_Mouse

Yep increased again 3.5 weeks injecting and no follies looking promising. Boooo.