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

time2deal

IVF/ICSI/FET cycles currently ongoing.

Rowingirl: started stimulation on 23/10/13 (short protocol IVF cycle). EC 5 November. Collected 5 eggs

Derby2: Started down-regging on 28th October.
Wonder Woman: Started down regulation on 24.10.13
Time2deal: Started downreg 2.11.2013

lucyloo77: FET planned for late Nov/Dec
Tea Lover: Starting down reg in the coming weeks. (Delayed to Jan)

Ovulation induction (Clomid unless otherwise stated)
cwtw (insolitol)
FrozenPenguin
Part Mouse (Menopur)
goodvibes
Littleme82
MrsDavo
Picklekin

Awaiting FS or other appointment.
Danielley (MRI)
Floaty
lisawood78 (surrogacy)
onestep (adoption)
MrsDavo (5 November)
codemonkey
vesper

ttc limbo
Purcy81
SewIt (waiting to reach the top of NHS waiting list)

time2deal

PartMouse: Has your bleeding finally reduced? Hopefully this cycle is a little easier for you.

Peonie. Happy birthday! I know it's a cliche, but 35 is still young. I started TTC when I was still 33, and I've just turned 37, but oddly I've stopped panicing a bit now. I can't change the speed, I'm doing thing as well and a quickly as I can.

littleme: I read that ICSI article, there was a version in the independant, with less of the DM style comments! I think those articles always give the impression that IVF/ICSI/whatever is something you choose because you are lazy or something. Like it's the 'easy' choice! Totally misses the point of how hard it is to even get to that point.

Gelly123 - Welcome! Never great to be here, but the ladies are lovely.

Who is looking at reflexology? I may do some of that this cycle, and I should restart the acupuncture. Has anyone got opinions on one or the other? I'm never sure it makes a difference, but being relaxed can't hurt.

AFM - I'm a little confused and slightly worried about what I am up to. First the bleeding continues with only a slight reduction from the worst of it on Saturday. Still pretty steady bleeding, and decent sized clots from time to time (sorry, TMI). Pretty painless, but god it's annoying and messy. I'm pleased to be home as it just feels easier to manage in my own space. My period is normally 1 day plus a day of something light, now I'm on day 4 of heavy bleeding, day 5 if I'm completely honest as it really did start on Thursday.

Secondly, I'm doing daily buserelin shots now. I had spoken to a doctor while on holidays and she said Buserelin could be used in place of Synarel. Does anyone know anything about this? I'm nervous about admitting to it to my doctor tomorrow! Anyway, I will book for a scan on Wednesday and find out where I am at and if this cycle can still go ahead.

Back to work tomorrow. I like my job, but for some reason I'm always nervous going back after a break.

Part_Mouse

T2d yes ts finally got a lot better thanks been an awful 10days. Heading off to bed in a mo with the hope this cycle will be shorter.

Can I ask. Q ladies, fr those that are injecting do you bother with one of those alcohol wipes to clean the area first, its just our clinic doesn't provide them I have bought them before but wasn't sure if others used them? Almost run out now.

mrshappy

Rowingirl wrote: »

I've heard boys born vis ICSI can carry the gene for cystic fibrosis gene which affects the development of the vas deferens (passed down from their fathers) so causing low/zero sperm counts. Other problems maybe due to twins/triplets (who have a higher proportion of prematurity & developmental delays) rather than the actual ICSI process. Stats I've seen elsewhere suggest the chance of problems are tiny. Like code said more research is needed.

Delurks to chuck in an opinion on this as hubby carries a CF gene and has no vas deferens. As far as I am concerned, the risk of having a son who may also carry this gene is so low that I'm not letting it worry me. I've got the stats and numbers somewhere. The ICSI itself isn't responsible for any genetic issues-the gene can carry on as men with it can't become a father naturally.
I suppose if wee bean is a boy we will have the opportunity to have him tested.

Hope everyone is well, I am popping in and out to keep up

Wonder_Woman

T2D - the Synarel is Nafarelin Acetate which is essentially the same as Buserelin but in a nasal spray rather than injectable I think. I don't know why but our clinic offers spray first unless for some reason you don't get on with on it and then you can inject but seems the norm for most clinics to offer the injectable. I think the two are interchangeable.

With you on the bleeding, I think another joyous side effect of the Buserelin/Nafarelin is to make it heavier somehow! Hope it stops for you soon, wish mine would b*gger off aswell, it's carp.

Rowingirl

I used the alcohol wipes as all my injections came with them. Good luck with the injections PM, hope they're easier on you this time.

Agree Mrs happy that IVF & ICSI aren't the issue. The papers will use any excuse to shriek about the 'evils' of fertility treatment.

Derby2

Good luck today Rowangirl!

T2D: I'm on Buserelin and I think it is pretty much just an injectable alternative to the Synarel.

WW: How are you doing? When is your down-regging scan? I'm still spotting after 9 days, but I'm taking that as meaning the hormones are doing something at least!

I read a horrible article on the BBC yesterday about people who have had IVF that has been unsuccesful and there was one woman who said she wished it had never been invented...now, I don't know about you girls, but I'm bl00dy grateful for any chance I might be given, no matter how small or difficult it is. Grrrr....

fluffnutter

Rowingirl wrote: »

I've heard boys born vis ICSI can carry the gene for cystic fibrosis gene

ICSI is simply a procedure that selects a particular sperm rather than letting nature get jiggy in a petri dish. It can't affect the genetic composition of that sperm. A man either carries the cystic fibrosis gene (which will affect all sperm) or he doesn't - the method of conception makes no difference.

fluffnutter

ICSI *might* carry a higher risk of 'issues' than IVF. In IVF the egg and sperm are simply mixed together with no intervention. Because nature's clever, the most viable and healthy sperm are statistically more likely to fertilise the egg. In ICSI the andrologist selects the sperm (obviously choosing the one(s) that look the most healthy) so is effectively trying to emulate this natural selection process. Unfortunately the andrologist's eye is not as perfect as nature hence the likelihood of a completely healthy sperm fertilising the egg is slightly lower than in IVF.

Additionally, ICSI is already being used in situations where the man's sperm is not top, top quality so proportionally there are probably higher rates of poorer grade sperm anyway.

These differences are tiny and will only be noticeable when you look at large volumes of data. For the individual undergoing ICSI rather than IVF the increased risk of genetic abnormality is statistically negligible. Your chances of having a healthy baby if you have ICSI or IVF or any other fertility treatment are, to all intents and purposes, the same as if you fell pregnant naturally.

SewIt_2

wow ladies, there is so much going on at the moment! Fingers crossed it leads to BFP for everyone.

For those starting/doing IVF/ICSI very best of luck. I hope your side effects are minimal and your follies are plentiful!

Ok, so going to try and comment on the many many topics.

Gonal F - I was on this, it is basically a synthetic version of Menopur (as far as I can tell). I think they use it with lower AMH (like me) as its possibly more potent and they like to bring out the big guns! I found it a doddle to use, its a pen system so no mixing or anything.

Burselin - I got a prostap injection which then had to be topped up after 28 days with a burselin nasal spray. Hated it, was one of the worst bits of the whole process for me.

Alcohol wipes, used them at first when it was all exciting and new, but gave up very quickly. Use them if you want but don't worry if you don't.

Gelly123 - welcome :wave: Hope you are not with us very long!

IVF/ICSI - Like Fluffnutter said, any differences are tiny and they have already washed the sperm so it should be all good stuff in there anyway.

Derby2 - I read this article too. Even if IVF doesn't work for us, I'd never wish it hadn't been invented as I've seen it work for others and wouldn't take that away from them. It was good to see the other side of the story though, its not the miracle cure that the general public think it is. My husband told people at work who said 'congratulations' when they heard we were going for it. Its an odd reaction I think.

T2D - could it be that now you are having a 'normal' period and all your periods before where lighter cause all the blood wasn't getting out? Whatever it is, hope it clears up and yippee for DR starting!!

Could I be added to the TTC Limbo list please - SewIt (waiting to reach the top of NHS waiting list)




AFM - My AF came this weekend, on the day that a family member made a hurtful comment about us not having children. He doesn't know we are struggling, but nonetheless it really upset me (and still does 3 days later). Also, I'm slightly freaked out by my discovery on Friday that we'll reach the top of the list sooner than we thought. I'm not sure I'm ready for the whole thing to start again!!:eek:

I know that there are lots of us really struggling at the moment. Infertility really sucks, its a massive kick in the nuts and only us ladies (and gents) who have been through it can really understand how draining and exhausting the whole process it. Thanks for all your support!

big big hugs ladies!:grouphug: