March 2018 IVF

baker+RN

I know it's early.... but February is short and my clinic called today to set up my March IVF cycle with freeze-all (round #2 for us) and I need people to talk to and get excited/freaked out with! So who else is planning on a March IVF cycle? I'll be on antagonist protocol with menopur, gonal-f, omnitrope, and ovidrel trigger. We have MFI (husband was born with Prune Belly Syndrome) and will be doing IVF+ICSI. We are on the fence about PGS testing, but since PBS is much more common in males (no specific gene or mutation identified yet) we are strongly considering gender selection for female embryos. To be honest, though, I'll take whichever looks healthiest!

prtykty84

I will be a March cycle but we are not starting until the end of March...my doc will be on vacation. This will be my first round!

Good luck!!!

sbjbrn

  

mcgeeva

Good luck! 

mrsyng

Yay! I was just hoping someone would make a thread for March and ta-da, here it is!! This will be my first IVF and OOP. We are also dealing with MFI. A little history, we’ve been TTC naturally since 6/2015. Eventually, proceeded to IUI - 3 failed with 1 MC and now moving to IVF.

ATM, patiently waiting for the pharmacy to call sometime this week for my Meds and for AF, expected around 2/11 to start BCP for approx 18-30 days depending on lab schedule. So stiming may start anywhere between early to mid March. 

mcgeeva

Good luck!! I start my stims on the 22nd

stephanienj

I'm in on this one. Me-33, DH 39. This is our first IVF, and first fertility treatment at all.  We're dealing with MFI (very low count, motility and morph), and I have poor ovulation and since we've been unsuccessful in trying for the past 8 years, it was determined that IVF was really the only route worth taking..  We'll be doing ICSI, but have chosen not to do PGS (we'll revisit this in the future if we need to). I'm extremely lucky to be one of the few with this covered by insurance. I got my protocol and dates today!.  I'll be on Long Lupron (or Down Regulation). I start my BCP tomorrow. Start date for Stims scheduled for 2/23, and ER expected to be the week of March 5th! So I'll be testing right around St. Patty's day, hoping for lil luck of the Irish! 

sbjbrn

Hello ladies! IVF cycle scheduled to start March 7th.  So nervous and hopeful! Waiting to start my BCP as soon as AF decides to show up.  

After 6 failed IUI and 5 years of trying, we are sooooooo ready!!!

Wishing everyone Good luck! 

mandurz

I hope to be on this board. I have a consultation with RE after trying a new diet for 30 days on Feb 28th and hope to start BCP that day to trigger AF. If I do I am thinking that my ER will be in the last few days of March. Last cycle I stimmed for I think 17 days so that's why I am thinking the end of March for ER. My clinic does freeze all with everyone but even if they didn't we are doing PGS so I would need to freeze all anyway. I am not sure what protocol we will have this time because we tried something new last cycle and it didn't work as well as we had hoped (only have one embryo frozen so we want to add a few more before going on). I have PCOS so my egg quality is the biggest challenge we face. My first ER we had retrieved 25 eggs, 20 were mature, 19 fertilized and only 4 made it to blastocyst (3 years ago). This last cycle was my second ER and we had 13 eggs retrieved, 10 fertilized, and only 1 made it to blastocyst. So that is definitely a hurdle to get over having such low survival rate. But I still have high hopes that this will work. I really hope that timing works out so I can actually join this board. It's nice to see several already having plans for March.

****TW child mentioned***
I won't get into the whole detail of what I have gone through over the last 3 years because it is sad/devistating and filled with loss so now all I want to focus on the positive. Long story short I have a son who is almost 2.5 years old and we are looking to have another.
***End TW***

kyapplb

Hi!!! We are doing our first IVF this March. MFI post-vasectomy reversal. TTC since 2012. I just turned 30. I guess we are totally normal with the exception of hubby having developed sperm antibodies.
We have 2 failed IUI, but the chances were low with that anyways given our particular issue. 
Started BCP today and will take that for a week, then off for a week then back on for two to synchronize my cycle. 
I don’t know what the rest of my medication protocol will be as md hasn’t let me know yet. I am hoping it isn’t that extensive as our insurance does not cover any fertility treatments, so we are paying out of pocket. 

Good luck everyone! 

josiepasta

Hi!  Glad to find a group I finally belong to!!!  This will be my first round of IVF too.  I'm 32 and my DH is 34.  We have been TTC for over 2 years now and have been diagnosed with Unexplained Infertility.  It's very frustrating since all of our tests come back textbook perfect and there is nothing to pinpoint what is wrong with us.  Based on our RE's advice, we are skipping IUIs and going straight to IVF with a FET, which she has high hopes for since my AMH blood test came back so high.  I start BCP today and have my baseline test and start my stims shots on Feb. 23rd.  ER should happen around March 6th, and FET a couple weeks after that.  I was nervous at first but now I'm just ready and wish this month was over already!!!  

stephanienj

Just paid for my meds- they'll be delivered tomorrow! It's all beginning to feel real now!

josiepasta

I just ordered my meds too!  Is anyone else prescribed a Z-pack for themself and their DH?  I was surprised, but I guess that makes sense.

bubblyducks24

Hi everyone! Totally excited for March and what it has to bring. Hopefully everything goes as planned. I'm OOP myself and I plan on purchasing them overseas. So glad there's a group for March. Good luck ladies!  

mrsyng

@josiepasta welcome!! I believe you may be one of the first few in the group to start BCP. Please keep us updated. I’m so anxious to start too but af isn’t expected until 2/11 +/- a day. 

@bubblyducks24 we’re OOP too. Since this is our first ivf cycle I did consider overseas Meds but my RE clinic is against it since the Meds may not be as stable due to different regulations. My sister who’s also a pharmacist also strongly advised against it too. Plus, we want to give it the best chance possible so fingers crossed!! And also keep us posted. 

josiepasta

So apparently starting back up on BCP can cause more bleeding and essentially "extend" your period a couple days.  My RE said that this is totally normal since my body is getting used to the new hormones.  Just an FYI!  I was freaking out

txjewel

Hi ladies,
I'd love to join you.  I'm starting BCP late Feb with my next cycle but will have ER around  March 23rd. 

This will be our second IVF cycle and I am anxious to get going.  Dr is switching up my protocol a bit this time.  We'll be doing menopur and follistim but no lupron this cycle.  I look forward to getting to know you all!

stephanienj

My meds were delivered yesterday! I started my BCP on 2/1.  I start my Lupron on 2/15, and Last BCP on 2/17- Stims start 2/23, ER will be the week of 3/5!  I'm so excited I can barely control myself!

@josiepasta , I wasn't ordered a z-pack, but I was ordered 3 days of doxycycline, and DH will be ordered 3 days of Cipro.

sbjbrn

Started my BCP on the 3rd and will stop taking on 03/03.  Have officially scheduled my IVF consult where we will be signing paperwork and getting our med orders.  This month can't go fast enough!

josiepasta

@stephanienj, we have a pretty similar schedule!  Good Luck to you! 

stephanienj

@josiepasta . Best of luck to you also!  Cycle Buddies

mrsyng

Excited and slightly nervous. Ivf is finally starting!! Today is CD1. BCP will start 2/12 for 3 weeks. We’ll start stimming 3/9 and expected ER will be around the week of 3/20!!

txjewel

@mrsnyg Our stims timimg will be similar.  I should start bcp toward end of feb with projected shots starting 3/9 as well!

mrsyng

@txjewel oh that’s so exciting. I have found a cycle buddy! Do you know if you’ll be doing a fresh or FET? We’ll be doing a FET since the clinic has higher success rates with FET.  

txjewel

@mrsnyg We will be doing FET.  We may actually do two ERs back to back to bank embryos but I want to see how this cycle goes first.  My Dr also prefers FET as well, and we're going to do PGS testing too so that necessitates FET.   

moly416

Hi everyone~I will be doing my second cycle in March. I've been browsing the forums for a while and figured I really need to converse with people who understand what I'm going through especially after my first IVF cycle failed to produce embryos.
Best of luck to everyone!

cheerfulboots23

Hi! I will also be starting in March (pray no complications!). It's been really helpful being on here trying to figure out what's going on with me and hopefully I can help others. Good luck everyone!!!! XOXO

mom2be_sarah

Hi! I will be starting in March as well! Injections start 3/1 with Transfer around 3/15. This is our first round of IVF and hoping we are one of the lucky one's it works with the first time!

prudence9-2

HI everyone! Seems like I will be doing IVF in March... this will be my second IVF cycle... you can see more of my history in the spoiler box... 

mom2be_sarah

My injections got moved up a few days! For some reason that really excites me! I stop the pill on Monday and go in for my ultrasound and bloodwork on Wednesday! Then starting stims Friday/Saturday I am excited to get started!

stephanienj

@mom2be_sarah. We are going to be on same schedule!  I stop my bcp on Sat and Friday the 23rd I have US, BW and start my stims!  

Tomorrow will be my first shot!!! Lupron in the morning!  For a nurse that's given thousands of shots, I've never done my own- I'm excited and nervous.  It's subq, so nothing crazy, I think it's just first IVF jitters! EEEK!

prudence9-2

@stephanienj do you know what the Lupron is for?

I usually use Lupron for FET cycles. How long do you have to use it?

For me, Lupron is the worst, it gives me headaches, makes me bloated and burns as you inject and then for the next 30 minutes or so I’ll have a small rush. Hope it won’t be as bad for you!

josiepasta

I have my baseline tests and start stims on the 23rd too!  For a short month, February sure is dragging along!

knottie3c77aa7e8fefe390

Hey! This is my first cycle of IVF. I stop taking my BCP on the 19th and start my injections on the 23rd (I believe). I know that’s the day of my injections training. So I’m pretty sure I start that day or the following day. My egg retrieval is tentatively scheduled the week of March 3rd and hopefully transfer week of April first. 

Good luck to everyone!

stephanienj

@prudence9-2. Lupron suppresses LH, which prevents ovulation.  I didn't think it burned, I didn't even feel it. I'm taking 10 units in the am and then drop to 5 units in the am on the 23rd.  That's when my monitoring starts, so I'll get daily instructions for stims after that. No headache today, but it's only day 1. My head felt a little foggy though, like I couldn't concentrate at work (maybe it's just because I know I have a 3 day weekend coming up, and I already checked out though, lol)

prudence9-2

@stephanienj I thought that Lupron also causing your ovaries to not be too active. Which is why I’ve been taking Lupron for all my FET cycles. 

I rememebr for my first IVF they had me order Lupron. It was towards the end of stimming though. Not before. And I ended up not needing it. 

As for burning... give it some time. Haha. I think the first few days of Lupron are never too bad for me. Hopefully though it will continue to not cause you any symptoms 

stephanienj

@prudence9-2 - I have heard of women triggering with Lupron rather than HCG, I think they do this for women at a high risk of developing OHSS.  But luteal Lupron is generally used to suppress the natural cycle, giving them a "clean slate" for stims.  This is also a big reason ART women require Estrogen and Progesterone supplementation after transfer, as the Lupron bottoms it out, causing your body to be deficient in these hormones when for women conceiving naturally, their bodies would have a higher naturally produced amount making embryo implantation and viability possible.

prudence9-2

@stephanienj right. At my previous IVF when they told me to get Lupron it was because they were afraid of OHSS. but then they lowered my Gonal and I was ok. So I didn’t have to use it. But I did use that Lupron  in my next FET cycle. 

I hate lupron so much. So far it’s absolutely the worst for me. 

So so far I used Lupron for about 6 months! (6 cycles: 1 cancelled FET, 4 FETs and 1 ERA)

stephanienj

@prudence9-2 Thanks for the heads up.  I did notice it itched for a few minutes after this morning.  I'm really going into all this with an expecting the worst and hoping for the best attitude.  I've read horror stories on the mood swings and side effects from all the meds, but have also read about others not really having any issues.  I generally PMS pretty bad, so I'm anticipating the mood swings to be rough, but fingers crossed. I've already given DH good warning.

prudence9-2

@stephanienj i don’t have any mood swings from the meds. For me, the Lupron side effects are: terrible headaches, being super bloated and it burns as I inject and then a rush at the injection site for about 30 minutes. 

prudence9-2

Just got a big box with all the IVF meds. Let’s get this party started