List your IVF and IUI experiences here

Hi all

Welcome RUNSUZYRUN.

I am in my 3rd week of the frozen cycle and am on 4mg os progynova to help build the lining and will be doing my 1st scan on Wed. If all goes well and my lining is ideal then I suspect that transfer will take place some time next week that is IF the little embies make the thawing process Sooo many IFs.
The cycle has been very pleasant thus far. The 3 weeks of injections has been a breeze, don't feel it at all.
However I am not looking forward to those progesterone oil injections in the butt arrrgggh!

Any advice on aid for implantation?

Thanks for the advice Sarah B, I'll be sure to find some sweet pineapples.

Good luck and all the best on your cycle Bea. Keep us posted.

Morning ladies,

Bea, good luck with your IVF journey, crossing all fingers and toes for you!! Try to stay positive and be kind to yourself, its one hell of a ride (exciting, nerve wracking and emotionally exhausting) but sooooo well worth it all in the end. The meditation cd I used was one I downloaded from the Internet - www.anjionline.com/pages/InfertilityMeditationCDs.html - I used the one specifically for IVF cycle, and I think it did help. It was the first time I have ever tried meditating, so took a bit of getting used to (found it hard to stay awake til the end on some occasions!) My sis-in-law fell pregnant on the 1st round of IVF so hopefully that will be the case with you too. If not, then remember that the FS knows a lot more about your body and how you respond to the meds after the first round, so can tweak the meds accordingly. It WILL happen though, so just remember that - yay!!

Runsuzyrun - welcome and also wishing you all the best for the road ahead! I have heard quite a few stories of girls who have had HSG and then fell pregnant straight away afterwards so certainly worth a try. Often a good flush of the tubes is what is needed. I also know that Stamino Grow is a good multiple-vit for both you and DH to take, it is especially good for improving egg and sperm quality I believe. Worth a try maybe. Google Stamino Grow fertility and see what you think.

I am now 11 weeks and time is DRAGGING in!! That is the one bummer about IVF, you are waiting on that result from the moment your cycle begins, not like the lucky natural ladies who maybe find out at 5 / 6 weeks! Its also long for any friends and family who know you are going through it. I think my poor mother in Ireland has the chapel near burned down with candles blazing all this time!! Only another 2 to go until I get over this first trimester hurdle and hopefully then the Irish firebrigade can breathe a sigh of relief.

Keep us posted ladies, good luck!!!

Hi ladies! I am relatively new here. Just started seeing an FS after 2 yrs of trying and it looks like DH has very loe morph and motility so FS is recommending IVF/ICSI. Just waiting for results from DH's urologist for next appt with FS. In our firstvmtg he did suggest an HSG or Lap to make sure there no other issues with me, but he says it might not be needed since all my blood tests came bk fine and I don't show any symptoms of PCOS or endo. But I am thinking about waiting a few months before IVF to really make sure I am in top form and asking for a lap or HSG and taking supplements etc. I really don't want to waste money on a cycle only to find that we should've tries something first. So i will raise this with my FS.
am also an American who moved to Durban about 10 months ago for work so this is all kind of scary especially with no family and haven't really made "good" friends yet. Glad to fins this form! Have also found fertilicare.org which has a good forum on IVF.

Thx!

Hi SarahB, just want to say congratulations! Sorry, I've never participated again after my initial post below!

Waiting4U - good luck with your next IVF - where are you now in your cycle?

My first IVF session will probably be in the first week of June. I'm currently waiting on the results of my AMH levels. I want to get excited, but I'm also very nervous that things won't work out. I know, negative thoughts won't help - must stay positive!

Hi Waiting4u

Good luck with this next cycle, I am holding thumbs for you and hope to hear good news soon! I read an article a while back about how pineapple is really good for lining, so maybe add a few slices of that every day too? Might be an old wives tale for all I know but certainly can't help to try!

Really hope this is the one for you, sending tons of good wishes your way.

Sarah

Hi Sarah B

Congratulations! Wishing you a happy and healthy 9 months Keep us posted on your progress.
Im so inspired after reading your thread, thank you.

With both ivf cycles my problem was lining issues Day 8 scan always revealed a lining of 4mm where the reasonable measurement is considered 8mm. FS decided to increase my dosage of progynova to 6mg and a viagra pill for increased blood flow to the uterus. IVF1, i only managed a lining of about 7mm with ET being day 3. The only symptoms was cramping 2 days post 3dt and the result BFN.

IVF2 was nearly cancelled since the lining had not responded to the increased dosage of progynova and the viagra, reaching only 5.3mm on day of trigger. FS decided to keep me on cetrotide and folicle stimulating hormone for 3 more days to give the lining chance to catch up otherwise all embryos will be frozen for a future cycle. That evening I scheduled an emergency acupuncture session, I wasnt going to give up that easily. I went back for the scan 3 days later and much to everyones surprise, the lining was at 9mm. I was good to go.

And here I am again with a medicated frozen cycle where everthing will be artificially prepared I have scheduled successive acupuncture sessions from the day I start estrogen priming for the lining.

I will keep you posted.

Hi ladies

I am currently 8wks pregnant after the 2nd IVF attempt. 13 wk scan seems so far away!!

Total rollercoaster of a journey, so many ups and downs. First IVF didn't even get to ET stage, a hurdle I didn't even foresee. They did ER on day 10 which I felt was very early, considering I normally ovu on day 17. 2 eggs were immature and 2 they fertilized by ICSI day after ER. One was corrupt and the other just didn't develop as it should. Was a horrid waiting game as they would phone every day for 5 days saying they were still watching the wee guy and "let's see what tomorrow brings". Finally at 6dpt they pulled the plug.

2nd IVF now in March and I just didn't feel prepared. Was a stressful time at work and hadn't really wrapped my head around the whole thing. My stim meds were zooped up high to try get more follicles than last time but by end of 2nd week they were still too small so FS called us in for a chat to discuss ending the cycle. He said the follicles were too slow growing with some even showing signs of shrinking and considering that we live far to consider calling it off and to think about options for the future ( poss egg donation) He left the room to give us time to chat and I just broke down. It was a Friday (and my 39th birthday!) so we decided to give it until Monday and then see. If not, then we would try one last time and if that also failed, consider our options. FS did not hold out much hope.

Went straight to accupunture that afternoon then to health shop to stock up on extra supplements. Had read a lot about bee pollen and royal jelly to help with egg quality so grabbed some of those. Downloaded a cd on meditations for IVF and spent weekend meditating, doing accupunture and juicing (green veggie & fruit juice) and just concentrated on growing those wee eggs. Took spirulina, macca and wheatgrass powder in my juice daily and added royal jelly and bee pollen to my sups of folic acid and vit B6. Went back on Monday for scan and FS was surprised at results! Follicles had shown considerable growth over weekend so he decided to keep going. ER was scheduled for following Friday (a full week longer than last time) and we got 3 eggs. 2 were fertilized by ICISI and then transferred back on day 3. Did a home test on day 8 which showed BFP. Was worried after last time so followed with another 4 tests and all showed BFP!! Blood test next day confirmed and scan last week shows we are pregnant with one strong wee heartbeat!!

My word of advise from my experience of IVF is just don't give up, no matter how grim the situation looks. Take sups and try stay positive and be as healthy as you can, trust your body. It's still very early days for us, so hoping that all goes well from here on. Basically IVF feels like the Grand National, so many hurdles to get over, and it doesn't stop once you get that BFP. Now concentrating on getting over the 12 wk one, fingers crossed!!

Good luck with your journey girls, I am holding thumbs for you,

Sarah x