Anyone doing IVF in July/August?

allycheer00 · July 2017

@Dwmmwd 22 eggs is awesome! You should get some real good numbers from that. I was thinking this morning about what happens when someone is super late to their ER. I'm glad you made it just in time. My heart would've been racing. I too wonder how he saw there was alot. So many questions still. Hopefully I get a few answers with my check-in call from the nurse tomorrow.
@hopefulmom They're doing ICSI with assisted hatching. Your experience really shows. I had no idea they could try to fertilize ones that aren't mature. Sure wish I knew that this morning. I was thinking that I'll probably have to have everything removed before transfer. Ugh, I hate delays but it sure will be nice to decrease my pain. 4 sounds like a good number to me. Not what you hoped for after all your cycles but I know you will get more this time around.

allycheer00 · July 2017

Has anyone else been told not to have intercourse until their period shows?

baker+RN · July 2017

@allycheer00 we were told none until beta due to risk of ovarian torsion from stimming

edited for clarity

Hopeful_mom · July 2017

allycheer00 I love that your DH is ready to go, nice

My OH would not touch me after a transfer let alone getting a bfp...I did tell him it didn't make a difference but its funny he's a big no no! I would say wait till after beta...and honestly for some it doesn't matter, back when i transferred a girl in her 20's was carrying twins and BD before beta and recently gave birth to 2 healthy beans...so you just never kno.
As for having experience, sometimes it sux as you worry more but I can't help myself I think its the fact my body doesn't respond the way my RE expected that I try to see what works and what doesn't...can't say I really have figured it out. I was destroyed going through a cycle having them all be abnormal, its so hard to go through! Each cycle hurts as you want to get them all back. I'm thrilled I have the 4 YES!! But it also took so much to just get that, its scary. I still have some hope probably why I'm trying to give this one more try!

bionerdsteph wow thats some read - thank you!! It actually makes me feel a lil better that I still haven't had it done, its a very time consuming process! I have taken crazy meds for over a year straight....more like a year and 1/2 now ugh...so the thought of having to keep doing more doesn't excite me in the least. My mom isn't against IVF but she hates all the drugs it requires and thats why she wants me to stop already. Good luck with traveling and work. I changed things around to do work too...but also realized since I"m a freelancer I really need to try and not take these crazy projects when trying to do a transfer. I was SO stressed out there was no way I could expect my body to cooperate.

marioana99 · July 2017

@Hopeful_mom my Dh is the same he even said he will not touch me while I am pregnant, but i really hope he will change his mind. I mean 9 months without nothing????

As for my update, after 10 days of stimms today I had a 16,12 and 9 on the left side, and a 5 on the right that didn't grew at all since Friday. So 3 in total. If I am wrong about DHEA making quality worse in me, I am looking at maybe 1 fertilized...So i have to start thinking seriously at DE...

Momifbysea · July 2017

I have t been on here in a couple of weeks but just to update, my cyst is gone and I have the green light for IVF #3! ER likely will be 8/23ish, which happens to be probably the week prior to our out of state move hahaha... but I'm anxious to get started. BCP the next roughly 3 weeks.

I have a lot of posts to catch up on, sorry! But thinking good thoughts for everyone!

dragonette505 · July 2017

I'll never get caught up, but...
Yay for all of the embryos made!!
@baker+rn Congrats on being pupo and so so sorry the rest didnt make it!
@BusinessWife YAY! I KNEW there would be sperm!!
@allycheer00 Usually they tell you the total retrieved and then you may hear the number mature, immature and atretic (old) then next day for number fertilitzed... congrats on a great number retrieved! As for no sex till period... I think thats pretty standard after retrieval. Especially if you are transferring.
@Hopeful_mom Yay on starting your priming!! My doc gave me the choice of jumping right in this cycle (since we somehow missed my O last go round ) or waiting for priming... Decided to go all in and wait for priming

@marioana99 I felt like my first cycle after being on DHEA was worse and it pissed me off, but i stuck with it and my numbers actually got MUCH better. I went from 7 and 5 retrieved to 17 and 18 last two cycles.
@Momifbysea YAY for that cyst leaving!!! My retrieval "looks" to be happening around that same week as yours

AFM... Period finally started on Friday so just waiting to O then on to Estrogen priming and off we go to IVF. This cycle we are: estrogen priming, Human Growth Hormone using, Picsi as well and obv icsi (always) Still trying to decide if we are using the fancy incubaters and still on the fence about PGS. Not sure if we are going to transfer or bank and do another cycle either.... everything is so up in the air, but i feel pretty chill about that too

marioana99 · July 2017

@dragonette505 I stuck with DHEA for over a year and the quality went down cycle after cycle. When I did estrogen priming I had 9 follicles and only 3 eggs and none fertilized...

dragonette505 · July 2017

marioana99 said:

@dragonette505 I stuck with DHEA for over a year and the quality went down cycle after cycle. When I did estrogen priming I had 9 follicles and only 3 eggs and none fertilized...

Hmmmm
I would definitely ask my doc if it should be discontinued. I did (at the time when i was concerned) look online and saw threads where many women discontinued it and had better cycles after. My current doc is not a fan of it but doesnt forbid it. But she dislikes its testosterone effect and i see youve done testosterone priming so i dont think it would work against you in that way.

marioana99 · July 2017

@dragonette505 My testosterone priming was the worse cycle I had, 2 follicles and nothing fertilized. After that one I started researching and I think I already have a higher natural testosterone than most women (lots of hair, I grow muscle easily) and DHEA only made it worse (I had even worse acne than usual on DHEA). A little testosterone from DHEA is fine if you don't have a lot, but in my case I think it was too much. I stopped DHEA in march after I talked to my RE, and she was fine with it. At this point I think she is willing to try anything I bring up because nothing seems to work on me. After I stopped DHEA I had another IVF, same protocol as now, had 4 follicles that seems to be mature out of 7, but I ovulated on my own the night before retrieval. This time my right ovary doesn't seem to want to cooperate, so I am hoping the left one will bring home the bread

allycheer00 · July 2017

@hopefulmom I'm actually the one that's ready to go. No sex until beta?! I'm doing a FET that probably won't happen until Sept. That's too long!
@marioana99 Sorry you're not getting the numbers you hoped for. Hope lefty gives you what you need.
@dragonette505 and @momifbysea Yay for being able to get the party started!

I received my fertilization call this morning. Of the 14, 12 were mature and 5 fertilized. As everyone feels, I'm bummed because I'd hoped for a few more to get to this point. Wanna hear something crazy? My longtime friend went to the same clinic in 2013 and she had 12 retrieved, 5 fertilized and 3 make it to testing. I hope I have at least 3 as well. At ER, the head embryologist said they'd call back on Wednesday but the one who called today said Friday. I need it to be Wednesday!

allycheer00 · July 2017

Question for everyone. Has anyone ever had any fertilize on day 2? I feel like that's just something they say when people are disappointed. And if one actually does, it'll probably be abnormal?

dragonette505 · July 2017

allycheer00 said:

Question for everyone. Has anyone ever had any fertilize on day 2? I feel like that's just something they say when people are disappointed. And if one actually does, it'll probably be abnormal?

I have heard of people having a normal embryo that fertilized "late" usually not from icsi, though (if anyone has heard diff, comment)

funkykey · July 2017

@baker+RN - ugh, I'm sorry about that call from the embryologist.

Keeping FX for your sticky bean!! This TWW must be killer!!!

@allycheer00 - OMG, 3 tries for the IV? I would have lost it! But congratulations on the 14, that's wonderful! And big congratulations on the 5! I am hoping all make it to testing for you, but definitely 3! I haven't heard of any fertilizing on day 2, but I definitely don't know everything. In fact, I know pretty much nothing.

We were told not to have intercourse before beta in event of a fresh transfer, but not told anything with our frozen other than: "take it easy, listen to your body."

@marioana99 - haha - 9 months of no BD?! Gah! I always am more worried about postpartum BD than while pregnant. I figure we should while pregnant because who knows what the postpartum complications will be! Also, I'm keeping FX for your 3 follies, that one of them is the one!

@Dwmmwd - 22! Holy cow! Congratulations! OMG, how are you feeling? PS. I have watched an episode of Friends from College and I am trying to get into it, but all the characters just seem so unlikable. I get that sometimes that's part of the shtick, but ugh.

Bababatty · July 2017

Hey all, I've been reading through but hadn't had a chance to respond. Lots to respond to now!

@funkykey Oh God, that sounds so stressful re: the delayed blastocysts. I would have reacted exactly the same as you. I'm SO HAPPY that you got three more to pull through to blast. Phew! Now you can concentrate on the polyp and not worry about this anymore. I really hope your transfer--when it comes--is so much less stressful for you!

@baker+RN Awww I love how excited your H is, too. Congratulations on being PUPO!! I'm sorry you're still so bloated and uncomfortable, and also I'm so very sorry about the remaining embryos. Lots of creepy internet hugs, and sticky bean vibes to you.

@Dwmmwd Congratulations on your ER--22! Wow!

@bionerdsteph I'm so sorry your clinic didn't do what you wanted, and in fact dropped this freeze-all on you as a fun little surprise. I'm very late to the party, but I agree with all that I would never implant 4 embryos. That seems insane and a recipe for disaster, unless you're willing to either carry quads or do a selective reduction, if it comes to that.

@marioana99 I'm sorry you're not getting more follicles. Does your doctor want to change your protocol at all? Still, three is more than one--maybe all three will be successful? I hope!

@allycheer00 Congratulations on your ER! Five is still a really great number, but I completely understand being disappointed. FX they continue to grow. I am really sorry that there's so much endo around. I hope you get some answers about the transfer soon. FX it's not delayed.

@Hopeful_mom I am really glad you got good news about your other embaby. Hooray and FX it's a normie!

@BusinessWife Congratulations! That's such wonderful news!!!

@helloworld9 Congratulations on 5 more frozen embies! That's fantastic!

Welcome back, @Momifbysea!

@dragonette505 Hooray for the cycle start!

AFM AF came on Saturday, and I went in for my bloodwork and u/s this morning. I'm still waiting for them to call me with the bloodwork results and to give me instructions to start stimming. I freaked out and called the IVF coordinator about 1/2 an hour ago and she tells me they always call around this time. When I called the pharmacy, they hadn't yet received the prescription. So, still waiting and trying not to stress out.

dragonette505 · July 2017

@Bababatty Are you stimming this cycle (like today??) or priming? I am priming so waiting to O but I def have all my meds in the fridge! I would (and have) freaked out on my specialty pharmacy at the HINT of my stuff arriving close to cycle start! Fingers crossed yours comes soon (or that you can pick it up asap)!

notamyrtle · July 2017

Guys,

I've been a horrible lurker (I did a freeze-all IVF in May and am waiting to do my first FET) but I just wanted to jump in to cheerlead a bit:

@allycheer00 : I don't know about late fertilization, but as you can see from my siggie, I was in the same boat with a relatively small number of fertilized eggs. In fact, I was shocked (though in my case the big shock came on day of retrieval, since I refused to get my fertilization report - too scared). Anyway, just wanted to let you know you weren't alone- I really hope all your fertilized eggs pull through and you never have to do this again!

Bababatty · July 2017

@dragonette505 I'm supposed to start stimming today--assuming blood work looks good, which it should. I'm doing a special program through NYS/our clinic that's structured so I only get 5 days of meds today, and I have to pick them up from a pharmacy in Manhattan (so no ordering in advance). Which is fine, if my clinic actually sends the prescriptions over, which I am not convinced they did even though the IVF coordinator says they did. (The program is a "demonstration" to show insurance companies why they should cover IVF, so I think the goal is to keep costs down by only giving the patient as much medication as you know she'll definitely need at a time--hence the lack of preordering. I'll get the next batch when I go back in later this week.)

dragonette505 · July 2017

Bababatty said:

@dragonette505 I'm supposed to start stimming today--assuming blood work looks good, which it should. I'm doing a special program through NYS/our clinic that's structured so I only get 5 days of meds today, and I have to pick them up from a pharmacy in Manhattan (so no ordering in advance). Which is fine, if my clinic actually sends the prescriptions over, which I am not convinced they did even though the IVF coordinator says they did. (The program is a "demonstration" to show insurance companies why they should cover IVF, so I think the goal is to keep costs down by only giving the patient as much medication as you know she'll definitely need at a time--hence the lack of preordering. I'll get the next batch when I go back in later this week.)

OOOO you're local? I'm in Manhattan too!!!
I feel like that way of getting meds makes sense as long as you get your meds... I tend to stim long and have run out, but my clinics know I'm good for it and will stand me some shots while mine is on the way (I get it overnighted from my insurers specialty pharmacy.

Aera11 · July 2017

Oh wow, I've missed so much on my bump break! I'll try to get caught up the best I can, but I hope everyone's been doing okay

AFM, I'm about to start IVF #4. I was spotting today so I am guessing AF should be here tomorrow. I am still doing Gonal F, Menopur, Cetrotide, Ovidrel trigger and then adding in Omnitrope (human growth hormone), we'll do ICSI + assisted hatching again, plus the regular slew of supplements & acupuncture. Uterine scrape did nothing last round so I'm skipping that this time. I am nervous for the HGH b/c it sounds like people either get better results or worse, and I've had a slightly better response with each round and am truly hoping to not regress.

dragonette505 · July 2017

@Aera11 OMG... I'm going to be stalking your cycle so hard! I'm super nervous about the Omnitrope too! But I cant wait to use it... I feel like we have to try everything!

gfgrump · July 2017

You guys im dying over here. Its 3:30 and they still haven't called with my fert report. Of course Im assuming the worst. Urg!!

gfgrump · July 2017

Ok. Apparently posting that made them call! 14 mature and 13 fertilized. So three more than last time. So now we need to wait until sat for the day 6 report. Fx.
@dragonette505 and @aera11 I was omnitrope. So far it seems like it helped but we'll see. I think my biggest follicles this time around were bigger than my last time so I guess it helped. Although who knows. I felt more bloated this time, and that was the only thing that chabged so Im attributing it to that. Gl on starting everything. Im hoping the meds stuff all gets worked out.

@allycheer00 fx that your 5 are rockstars that all make it to blast.

We were told nothing inside the vagina until period. I think theyre worried about infection mostly. And no pools. Which is sad bc i was supposed to go to my friend's wine country house and hang out in the pool. Darn. Shoulda gone last week!

[Deleted User] · July 2017

@Dwmmwd. Yay!!!! That's an awesome report! Fx for great blasts, too!!!

dragonette505 · July 2017

@Dwmmwd that's amazing!!

Holls214 · July 2017

@Dwmmwd yay congrats! Yeah mine told me no sex until period then you are go to go once you start BC for the FET then no sex again until positive beta or longer.

megmac2010 · July 2017

I'll never get caught up! But happy to see some good news on this board - lots of ERs with good numbers!

I'm on day 5 of stims and I feel like garbage. Headaches, nausea, just a general poopy feeling. Yuck yuck yuck.

Holls214 · July 2017

Yes such great updates!!! Sorry you don't feel well @megmac2010. Get some rest.

Hopeful_mom · July 2017

wow busy fun day - need to catch up!!

marioana99 really hoping that you have quality growing in there lady! When is your next visit as you still have some time. I know its frustrating and thats what makes low amh a bit tougher working with just a few...and then praying and hoping for the best on that! I will just share the cycle I got the most in eggs I had the worst outcome.

Momifbysea hey lady! so u on page one and was waiting to see you pop back up! So excited you are ready to get moving onto another cycle! Glad to share in another cycle together and praying we get great outcomes!! Excited you're ready to go! Sending tons of sparkling golden embay dust ur way

allycheer00 hmmmmm you know my last cycle I did have one that was icsi end up fertilizing late and I have to say for only have 4 at ER I was exciting to have them all in the game, I was proud that embaby kept going and they let it go to day 7 to see if it could be frozen but it didn't make it through. IF I was doing a fresh transfer they feel it might've had a better shot. Its not promising BUT it was nice to at least have hope for a few days. AND I have to say I feel for you being a pin cushion, I had that to and after 3 nurses the dr had to be called up to the plate

I had so many bruises just from stemming they seem to be prepared that I was going to be a pain in the ass. The hand sux ass the most, I screamed on the table when the meds were going in so now I let them poke all over...can't say the wrist was that much more comfortable ugh...glad ur sitting pretty and ready to rock and roll literally

Again i'm like you, when they gave me my directions last time, I was like you see we dont have to wait the whole time. I was like be a man please

Sorry your report didn't give you more with carry so much around - but lets hope this is your golden batch and all you need, lets sprinkle some extra miracle grow!! My girl did it for me last cycle, and it helped!!

dragonette505 glad you're back in it and have a great plan of attack, best of luck to u! I was suppose to start my patch yesterday BUT I'm looking at my numbers from the previous cycles and don't want to prime too much...priming too much didn't give me quality...its my dr guess nothing substantial but seeing this will be cycle 8 for me i'm doing the comparisons myself!

megmac2010 hope you start feeling better! How was your US?

Aera11 woohoo yea girl!!! excited for you to get started!!! I asked my RE about doing the same but apparently its still in the experimental stage and my clinic doesn't offer it...hoping its the magical step for you...on our last cycle, it was successful for one that got her BFP...so let it do the same for you!!

@Bababatty I love what your doing and can get the chance to do it. It really sux IVF isn't covered more. I recently did some reading on what NYS could offer, wish I did that in the beginning too...way to far down the road in this life and OOP to get anything

Thrilled that it won't stress u out, my first go I was nervous about meds but my clinic was great and hooked me up if something was late...and then I gave it back when i got it. What up big apple, so many ny'ers in the house...i feel like some cycles its all or nothing...

Dwmmwd yay! great update thats pretty awesome, hoping they all come back strong for you! I used to love getting day 2, 3 and 5 and 6 updates but last cycle it drove me INSANE!! Each day was a roller coaster of emotions, from being on point to slow growers...to almost out of it to right back in it. Some times its better to just get the final report.

AFM: I really didn't think I was going to have an update...since a lot has happened...for some its old news since you were with me through my roller coaster June IVF. In short I had 3 embabies make it to blast all grades 5AA (which my clinic means they look amazing...i've had these before where one was a normie so i know looks don't mean everything) 2 out of the 3 were abnormal

and then the other I was told had no DNA and was inconclusive. I had to know and wanted it retested. My embaby was strong and was told SURVIVED the thaw NICELY - NICE!!! Gave me hope....AND The results are in my embaby is NORMAL, i got my normie from cycle 7 - I couldn't have asked for anything better...I'd love to take back all the extra hours of crying and sleepless nights...but finally some good news. I'm still in shock and disbelief. I now have 5 normies. I've been banking ladies and this will be cycle 8 for me coming up. I got (TW*) pregnant with twins in cycle 3 with my twins. then MC at 10wks

and due to my age needed to bank some normies before trying a transfer again (TW) SO after 4 cycles back to back I got 5. Dang I worked so hard for those, hoping to just add to this cycle and then on to transfer baby!!

dragonette505 · July 2017

@Hopeful_mom Interesting about your priming... are you just going to begin a day later? I'm trying to remember how long ive primed... its basically always been the same amount of time...like 5 days I think. My new/current doc (have not yet done a cycle with, but fixin to!) said looking at my cycles that she felt they may have started my meds to soon on one or two of my last cycles (i'm headed into cycle #6 sooooo yeah... i'm getting up there too!) and sounds like she was saying she would possibly prime me longer! Makes me wonder if that's a bad idea! lol everything is so confusing!
I saw your posting elsewhere about the inconclusive so I'm so happy to hear its normal!!!! That's so great! now you have 5 normal??? Luckie duckie!!!

allycheer00 · July 2017

@dwmmwd Congratulations! What awesome numbers! I know you're over the moon!

@megmac2010 Feeling better today? You're hopefully over halfway there!

@hopeful_mom Things are really looking good for you! I'm so glad you went back and had a retest. I wonder how many people don't do that and miss out on a perfectly health baby.

Bababatty · July 2017

@dragonette505 and @Hopeful_mom Hello fellow NYCers! I really liked the pharmacy I picked up from last night--Apthorp on the UWS. It felt all fancy because they sell expensive soaps in the front and fertility drugs (and other drugs, I imagine) in the back. I was waiting so long for the tech to finish my meds I almost gave in to the urge to purchase a historic-looking tin of lozanges. That's fantastic that your clinics will spot you until you get the extras from your mail-order pharmacies. I discovered that not having your meds is an acceptable reason to call the clinic's emergency line, so I'm sure they'd help me out if I needed it.

@Dwmmwd Woohoo! Amazing report!!

@Aera11 Welcome back! Good luck!

@megmac2010 Sorry you're having such a hard time.

Hope the rest of the time goes by quickly.

@Hopeful_Mom I'm so happy your inconclusive embaby came back normal!! Huzzah! Good luck with this cycle--may it add nicely to your bank!

My update is that after much stress, I did get my meds last night and stimmed for the first time (150IU Follistim and 75IU Menopur). Both the pharmacy and IVF coordinator are probably REALLY sick of me calling them. DH was really into helping me prep everything, which was wonderful. I felt a bit like we were assembling IKEA furniture since I had all the instructions in front of us. We managed to yell at each other only a little and only had some minor screw ups. Tonight should be much smoother, haha. Blood work and u/s on Saturday.

dragonette505 · July 2017

@Bababatty I got my Lupron from Apthorp last two cycles.... love that place (and I totally got their hella expensive propolis and royal jelly cough drops. Had a cold at the time). I feel like generally clinics will spot you some shots.... at that point they don't want you to fail.

ps... DH and I ALWAYS have a few moments where one of us is freaking out about the shot production lol.... but I feel like this is a team sport so some of that is natural! Usually we end up totally lovely, but I would be a liar if I didn't say we have some tense moments (usually because of me!)

marioana99 · July 2017

@Bababatty and @dragonette505 I am so jealous because you DH helps with the shots. Mine is so scared of needles he leaves the room when I have to give the shots...

Nothing new on my front, I am supposed to go back tomorrow for us and bw. The nurse said to order some more meds, although I suspect I might be triggering tomorrow. Largest was 16, adding 2mm per day (it grew from 10 to 16 in 3 days Friday - Monday) it would be 20 by tomorrow. And the smallest was 9 which gets it to 13. Adding almost 2 days after trigger all 3 should be mature...Well, we'll see...

Momifbysea · July 2017

@Dwmmwd just catching up and those are great numbers!

@Hopeful_mom congrats! I can't even imagine getting to the point I could have anything to freeze! You must have such relief after that stress!

Thank you all for your kind words, it means so much. Even though I don't have many updates until this next round starts I like to see so many good reports!

dragonette505 · July 2017

@marioana99 Your poor DH! I'm terrified of needles myself. I cant look when my DH is doing it. Though i had to do all my own morning Lupron shots, so i believe i could do them all if i had to (but wouldnt want to). Fear of needles is real!
Fingers crossed you are triggering tomorrow!

marioana99 · July 2017

I just got the tracking number for the meds. They are supposed to be delivered tomorrow, and they shipped them yesterday. And I have folistim in the package. I am kind of freaking out now because folistim is supposed to be refrigerated, always comes in a cooler and with ice packs and now they send it 2 days in this heat on the road? It was always overnight until now, not sure what got into them to send it ground...There is nothing I can do now, I guess I will talk to the nurse tomorrow and see what she thinks...

dragonette505 · July 2017

@marioana99 check back with the shipper too. I once thought that happened to me but they told me they prepared the shipment on the one day then shipped it overnight the next day so it wasn't really 2 day shipping

marioana99 · July 2017

@dragonette505 you were right, it wasn't them, they will ship it today. DH ordered something from amazon and I got the tracking number for that

. Whew!!!

Bababatty · July 2017

@dragonette505 I'd be lying if I didn't say I wasn't also intrigued by the fancy toothpastes under the lozenges, haha. I'm a sucker for historic-looking packaging. I'm glad to hear that we're not the only ones with some tension during shot preparation. The Q-cap on the Menopur thoroughly confused us, even though we'd literally just done the training class.

Want a personalized experience?

Anyone doing IVF in July/August?

Re: Anyone doing IVF in July/August?

Choose Another Board

Search Boards