morganelizabeth123 Hi, yeah most doctors will tell you what you want to know... if you don't ask, often you don't hear anything. Your cycle sounds JUST like my first cycle in which I placed myself in the hands of the doctors (figuring they are doctors and I'm not) and hoped for the best. For some people that's is perfect and works the first go round and you never need to know more. For the super curious (some girls are on their docs asking questions first cycle) and for those of us who go on to have subsequent cycles, you start to want to know more (its your money, right? you should know how youre spending it).
The stuff I tend to want to know....
Fertility Questions: 1. What is my infertility dx (if any) 2. What is my FSH, AMH, and AFC
Protocol questions. 1. What type of cycle am i doing/What drugs are you selecting for me (i.e. antagonist, agonist, microdose Lupron, estrogen priming, testosterone priming, down regulating and etc) [this is good to know so that you can go online and google your protocol, and also so you can discuss it here if you like]
2. What are the doses you are prescribing and why (high doses or mini IVF and etc)
3. Might you change my doses during my cycle if needed?
Stimulation Phase questions.
1. How many antral follicles am I starting this cycle with? (it can be different every cycle)
2. What are my follicle sizes (to be asked each monitoring day)
3. What is my lining thickness (and later in monitoring, is it trilaminar/triple layered which is best for implantation)
Retrieval and post retrieval/transfer questions.
1. How many eggs did you retrieve 2. How many eggs were mature 3. How many mature eggs fertilized normally 4. How many embryos are developing on day 3 and embryo grades 5. How many embryos are ready for transfer/freeze on day 5 and grades 6. How many embryos do you suggest I transfer based on my stats 7. What is my lining before and on day of transfer 8. What is my progesterone ahead of transfer
I mean these are basic, but they are broken in groups so you don't have to think of all of them at the same time. When I'm stimming, I'm not worrying about embryo grades and etc. Hope this helps!
I just got the call from my RE and for the fourth time, I have nothing to freeze. I have to be honest I’m really losing hope that IVF is going to work for me. I have one more try at IVF and that’s it because my coverage will be out and I can’t keep living in a separate state as my husband with two rents to maintain forever, now can I? I have always done cetrotide protocol ( I think antagonist?) and RE today when I questioned mixing it up for this next round suggested I think microdose flare or something where he said we throw everything at you that we can. Has anyone else AMA done this and had better success than antagonist?
I just got the call from my RE and for the fourth time, I have nothing to freeze. I have to be honest I’m really losing hope that IVF is going to work for me. I have one more try at IVF and that’s it because my coverage will be out and I can’t keep living in a separate state as my husband with two rents to maintain forever, now can I? I have always done cetrotide protocol ( I think antagonist?) and RE today when I questioned mixing it up for this next round suggested I think microdose flare or something where he said we throw everything at you that we can. Has anyone else AMA done this and had better success than antagonist?
@Momifbysea NOOO! Ugh.... I'm so sorry!!! I can for sure recommend Microdose Lupron! I am back and forth with Antagonist and MDL. I did 3 antagonist cycles (24 retrieved, then 7 retrieved then 6) they told me I was probably just heading into less and less eggs to be retrieved. I asked to try another protocol and my doc suggested estrogen priming MDL. That next cycle I retrieved 18 eggs and froze 4 embies. Cycle after that 17 eggs. I'm back on estrogen priming antagonist (because I'm using growth hormone and my doc prefers if with antagonist) But I feel like without switching to MDL, doctors wouldn't have known I could produce so many eggs at my age.
Also, @dragonette505 did you freeze any from your first 3 antagonist cycles? And was I correct in saying that the cetrotide (I stim with follistim and menopur then Ganirelix) is what I was on? Thanks so much!
@Momifbysea Using BCP's does some of what estrogen priming does, but I'm not 100% sure of all of its impacts because ive never used them for IVF. Estrogen priming does basically 2 things: 1. It gives your ovaries a rest ahead of the intensive ovarian activity of stimms. I feel like that is in part what BCP's will do because its suppressive. and 2. They help with making sure there are no lead follicles going into stims, so you get a cohort of follies of similar size around triggering. I would ask some ladies who've down reg'd or used bcp's ahead to see if they found them to be too suppressive.
As for my first 3 antagonist cycles. In cycle number 1 I had 5 to freeze but they all tested abnormal. In cycle 2 1 to freeze also abnormal. Cycle 3, none to freeze. Since then I have always had something to freeze, thank goodness. I'm not sure about the Cetrotide thingy...? Its another shot as far as I know, used like Lupron or ganerelix and all suppress premature ovulation... Ive not used cetrotide, but ive seen it discussed as analogous to ganerelix. My guess is you did a basic antagonist cycle in the past
@Momifbysea I responded on the >35 check in, but I also saw quite different results with MDL flare protocol (but also natural start - so no suppression before starting, no testosterone priming, subsequently reduced stims, new lab - so several things different).
Details in signature, but my first cycle in which I had 3 fertilize and zero blasts was OCP/antagonist. I didn’t want to do that again, so tried luteal lupron - 2nd cycle got 5 blasts (1 normal), and 3rd cycle we got 3 blasts (no normal). Took the summer off and switched to a new RE. From natural start MDL flare protocol (AFC ~17-20 instead of my usual 8-10 when suppressed - and only stimmed 7 days reducing stims after 3 days then again after 3 more - instead of 9-11 days as I had in previous cycles), we got 10 blasts (4 normals). Sure surprised us. I am a little bit younger than you are (40), but making the most of what you’ve got is the name of the game! Trying something different could be just what you need.
I think OCP and estrogen are supposed to help with preventing a dominant follicle so they all grow together - at least that’s about what I was paranoid with the natural start. I have no idea if it works this way, but it *seems* like as long as there is a high enough dose to start, there’s enough for (to recruit) everyone, then once they’re all going, as my RE put it, they require less stims later. Also maybe the OCP helps with cysts and stuff? But I’m fortunate that I haven’t had to deal with those.
The natural start was great because I didn’t have to do/take anything before, just waited for AF and went in on CD3, started everything (the MDL 2x daily, gonal, and hgh) that day. So it was super quick since I only had to stim for 7 days.
About me: Married 6/18/16 (Me 42, DH 44), TTC #2 ***TW***
Natural BFP 8/10/16 --> mc our NIPT-normal little girl at 11w5d on 10/1/16 As of 12/2016: AMH 1.42, FSH 6.1, AFC ~10 Self-benched Nov-Dec 2016 for IVF #1 Jan-Feb 2017 (OCP, testosterone primed antagonist w/HGH - ER 2/2/17 - 12R, 7M ICSI'd, 3F, 0B) IVF #2 Mar-Apr 2017 (testosterone primed agonist/luteal lupron w/HGH - ER 4/8/17 - 10R, 8M, 8F, 5B, 1 PGS normal) IVF #3 May-Jun 2017 (testosterone primed agonist/luteal lupron w/HGH - ER 6/4/17 - 14R, 5F, 3B, 0 normal) **New RE** IVF #4 Sept 2017 (natural start microdose lupron flare w/HGH - ER 9/28/17 - 33R, 18F, 10B, 4 PGS normals!) FET #1 (medicated) of one PGS normal 4AA XX 11/2/17 - Beta #1 11/11/17 (153), Beta #2 11/13/17 (324), mc at 5w1d on 11/19/17 IVF #5 Dec 2017 - Insemination of 9 frozen eggs from 2012 (8F, 1B, 0 normal) Jan 2018 - Natural cycle ERA (normal/receptive) & stimming for IVF #6 Jan-Feb 2018 (natural start microdose lupron flare w/HGH - ER 2/3/18 - 17R, 6M, 4F, 0 blasts) IVF #7 Feb 2018 (natural start microdose lupron flare w/HGH - ER 2/26/18 - 19R, 9M, 9F, 4B, 2 PGS normals) FET #2 Apr 2018 (natural cycle w/o trigger, w/P4 support) of one PGS normal 4AA- XX 4/5/18 - Beta #1 4/14/18 (67), Beta #2 4/16/18 (231) Rainbow baby girl born 12/16/2018 (via c-section, induced at 39 weeks)
----- TFAS! FET #3 Dec 2019 (natural cycle w/o trigger, w/P4 support) of one PGS normal 3BB XY 12/16/19 - Beta #1 12/24/19 (139), Beta #2 12/27/19 (482)
@artemis618 Hmmmm they let you do hgh with MDL? my current doc doesn't prefer that, but that's precisely what id wanted to do! Also I did also have to reduce meds on MDL, but that was because I had soaring estrogen levels and got OHSS both cycles I did MDL... But I don't regret it one bit since I got so many more eggs!
@dragonette505 Yup, I’ve done hgh with all of my cycles. Actually 3 vials instead of two (over fewer days) with this last one. I was guessing I had to reduce meds since I wasn’t on OCP or lupron before starting (so was more responsive)? Or maybe they really should have been reduced in previous cycles (my E2 was 5900 the morning before trigger day on my 3rd cycle - I think only got to 5700-something with this last one, but no OHSS - though as you may recall I did the cabergoline just in case). Must just be your doc’s preference, but maybe ask why?
About me: Married 6/18/16 (Me 42, DH 44), TTC #2 ***TW***
Natural BFP 8/10/16 --> mc our NIPT-normal little girl at 11w5d on 10/1/16 As of 12/2016: AMH 1.42, FSH 6.1, AFC ~10 Self-benched Nov-Dec 2016 for IVF #1 Jan-Feb 2017 (OCP, testosterone primed antagonist w/HGH - ER 2/2/17 - 12R, 7M ICSI'd, 3F, 0B) IVF #2 Mar-Apr 2017 (testosterone primed agonist/luteal lupron w/HGH - ER 4/8/17 - 10R, 8M, 8F, 5B, 1 PGS normal) IVF #3 May-Jun 2017 (testosterone primed agonist/luteal lupron w/HGH - ER 6/4/17 - 14R, 5F, 3B, 0 normal) **New RE** IVF #4 Sept 2017 (natural start microdose lupron flare w/HGH - ER 9/28/17 - 33R, 18F, 10B, 4 PGS normals!) FET #1 (medicated) of one PGS normal 4AA XX 11/2/17 - Beta #1 11/11/17 (153), Beta #2 11/13/17 (324), mc at 5w1d on 11/19/17 IVF #5 Dec 2017 - Insemination of 9 frozen eggs from 2012 (8F, 1B, 0 normal) Jan 2018 - Natural cycle ERA (normal/receptive) & stimming for IVF #6 Jan-Feb 2018 (natural start microdose lupron flare w/HGH - ER 2/3/18 - 17R, 6M, 4F, 0 blasts) IVF #7 Feb 2018 (natural start microdose lupron flare w/HGH - ER 2/26/18 - 19R, 9M, 9F, 4B, 2 PGS normals) FET #2 Apr 2018 (natural cycle w/o trigger, w/P4 support) of one PGS normal 4AA- XX 4/5/18 - Beta #1 4/14/18 (67), Beta #2 4/16/18 (231) Rainbow baby girl born 12/16/2018 (via c-section, induced at 39 weeks)
----- TFAS! FET #3 Dec 2019 (natural cycle w/o trigger, w/P4 support) of one PGS normal 3BB XY 12/16/19 - Beta #1 12/24/19 (139), Beta #2 12/27/19 (482)
@artemis618 OMG! crazy you didn't get ohss! Yeah, I remember you did the cabergoline! My doc did say she just finds antagonist is better for egg quality (I did ask why I couldn't do MDL, but not why specifically she prefers hgh with antagonist). I honestly am nervous doing these antagonist protocols because they've gone so badly for me before I'm also going to see her tomorrow instead of Monday because I basically want to not prime forever and a day like I did last cycle.... It turned out ok, but it was probably more priming than I needed.
Momifbysea I am so sorry!! I’m with you on always doing cetrotide and don’t have any success stories to share I’m afraid Thinking of you and wishing you all the strength to continue, must be extra hard living apart from your husband during this incredibly hard journey.
I had my retrieval this morning and we ended up with 4 mature eggs, just as we hoped so at the moment I'm pleased. Also the fifth was retrieved but as expected it had not caught up in size. I'm still feeling very calm but I know I'll get more nervous by this time tomorrow when they should call with the fertilization update.
Back from monitoring and looks like everything is good (will have to wait for BW to totally confirm). She said she is very pleased about how everything is looking. My lining is 9 (I normally have a thin lining, though after my TW mc's, and taking a few months off stimming, my lining was 11, so maybe its the meds) which is great for me. She counted about 12 antral follies (though one is a 7 and she says we may lose that one). She also said she thinks my cycle might start sooner than last time because most of my follies are larger than they were at this point last time. I will likely start priming tonight or tomorrow morning! Yay... With so much disappointment and delays, its good to hear some good news for once!
@dragonette505 Good luck to you!!! There’s rainbow after a storm.
@Momifbysea I can totally relate to you for living apart from your husband. I too, will be moving closer to my Center and away from my husband for the rest of my monitoring/cycle. Hoping it’s all worth it in the end
@dragonette505 Good luck to you!!! There’s rainbow after a storm.
@Momifbysea I can totally relate to you for living apart from your husband. I too, will be moving closer to my Center and away from my husband for the rest of my monitoring/cycle. Hoping it’s all worth it in the end
dragonette505 YAY!! That's great news! Your lining is awesome! AFM 3 out of 4 fertilized!! DH and I are both so happy right now. Since this time we are going for blastocysts only, Sunday is going to be our transfer day, I pray.
Are you ladies aware of what is your clinic's policy on flying after transfer? I have a work related trip that will be a week after the transfer. I think it should be fine, I do not stress about flying and will be packing light.
@maggier79 Thank you! I did not do PGS testing. Is PGS testing pretty common here? I know that 13 of the 15 retrieved were fertilized, but they didnt tell me how many made it to day three or five, and I havent been told if any were frozen. So of the 13 I only know about the one they did the transfer with. They did give me a picture of the one they transferred, which was pretty awesome.
@dragonette505 You just described me exactly. I think I was so overwhelmed starting this that I thought it would be better if I just put myself in their hands. The end result is that I feel confused and out of the loop about my own body. Your list of questions is amazing, thank you so much for putting that together! I feel so much better prepared for the next time I do a cycle.
@IfYouCanDreamIt Thanks! My beta is on the 26th. Do you know when yours is? Also, I did some reading last week about flying after a transfer and from what I read doctors generally prefer that you wait 24 hours to fly, so a week later should be fine.
@IfYouCanDreamIt ooops just saw that you asked about flying after... i think usually you can fly after a day of recovery... I did fly the very next day after which is probably why I caugh a bad cold and was a hot mess.... @morganelizabeth123 it’s pretty common... I wish my first cycle had worked so I didn’t have to learn all this stuff!! Lol I would say at this point just chill until Beta and don’t poke and prod too much.... it may just stress you more. But even if you get a positive, I would definitely get the info on your embies. I can totally see maybe not being told about your follies, but to not get your embryo reports, I don’t get it!
@dragonette505 You sure have a handle on this IVF stuff. I know we all focus on our eggs as being the issue but what about the sperm? My DH's semen analysis was normal and 8/12 of my eggs were fertilized. Four of my embies have made it to freezing. Does that mean that our unexplained infertility is not a male issue? Or is that not determined until we get PGS and embryo quality results? Just curious....thanks!
@morganelizabeth23 You are very welcome. I would definitely use @dragonette505 's questions as a conversation starter for your next cycle (hopefully not needed though : )
@Momifbysea, this isn’t my first cycle so it comes with limited knowledge. I did my supression cycle with BCP’s and it definitely suppressed follicles. So I think it depends on your starting place. I usually have AFC of high-20’s to 30’s. My RE did antagonist to avoid OHSS given my high starting place. I started this cycle with closer to 20.
@maggier79 yep... unfortunately I’ve done this faaar too many times. Hoping none of y’all need to do a ton of cycles! It’s totally possible to have male factor issues... there’s even some threads about it! Usually when nothing shows up on your Dh’s SA they look to egg quality issues to explain embryo problems... if your blood work numbers are generally good and they can find any secondary issues (like tube issues, structural uterine issues and etc) then there might be some non obvious genetic issues with either mom or dad. My dh and I did the counsyl genetic screening to rule out anything like both of us being carriers for something. Do you know what your ratio was from day 3 to day 5? To a certain degree the sperm is powering the embryo after day 3 up to blast. I have lots of loss after day three. Losing half after day three can be normal, but I can go from 8 to 2 (or 12 to 4) which is pretty poor (but for my age, it’s ok).
On day 3, I had 7 embies and ended up with 4 day 5. That is interesting.. that sperm powers embryo after day 3. One of the most frustrating things about unexplained is that we cannot pinpoint what issue is. DH's SA came back normal. He had SIX semen analyses and his numbers were always extremely good: most recent results--700+ million; 45% motility; 8% morphology (most recent). DH is 34; I am 38.
@maggier79 That's a pretty good ratio.. better than half made it to blast! I think if his SA's are coming back normal then the only other things you can kinda do (that I know of... the other ladies with MFI will probably know many other) is either do genetic testing on you two and do something like picsi which is a higher level selection process of sperm. So your dx is unexplained IF? Sometimes it just takes a couple cycles and voila, youre good. Sometimes people find out they have autoimmune issues or implantation issues. If your next cycle doesn't work you can do a complete battery of testing for less typical issues: thyroid, inflammation, genetics, endometrial receptivity and etc. I'm guessing your AMH and FSH were all good and your afc?
AMH/FSH were normal. AFC was 12 which doctor said was good for my age. Yes, our diagnosis is unexplained infertility. I have two children from previous relationship but had those before age 30. DH does not have any kids so he thinks that "he" is the problem. He has seen several doctors (which explains the six SAs) and all have told him that he is fine. One went so far as to tell him to stop getting SAs. DH is very much type "A" personality and wants to reason things out. I feel bad
Yeah... most likely his sperm is fine... 6 SA's are pretty definitive, I would think. I know people who have perfect stats for the most part but are still having unexplained if... One girl from insta has found out she has elevated natural killer cells, but even after addressing this and transferring a pgs normal embie, her cycle failed.... Obviously there may be more immune issues or something else entirely.... Sometimes you just have to find that lucky embie... but in the meantime, sorting through the other possibilities cant hurt. DH and I are type A too (I'm pretty sure you can tell I am! lol) so we are always working on our "strategy" lol
lol @dragonette505 .....yea you remind me of my DH. I really hope your "strategy" works for you. You seem like a really nice person. Would you ever consider donor eggs?
@maggier79 I am definitely considering DE... I haven't told my DH... I think he would do anything I want, but I'm not sure how much he would want to do this. You should have seen me after this last cycle when only two of 8 lovely (well 7, one was kinda wonky) embies made it to freeze. There I was, supposedly on Vaca in the Austrian Alps, but sick as a dog laid up on the couch while DH was off at a cray awesome music festival in some alpine vally watching the Rolling Stones... While he was rocking out, I was peeping at DE sites... I didn't go so far as to register, and honestly I feel like it would be super hard for me to find a satisfactory match (find me a fair skinned, red head with freckles who's African American, European, native American, Middle Eastern, oceanean and i'll probably jump on her eggs!) or anything close even... But I laid there taking screengrabs of profiles...lol
I think one never knows what one will be willing to do until you reach that road. Right now, no one is suggesting I go the DE route... I guess because for my age, my numbers aren't heinous and on good cycles I seem to at least produce a good number of eggs with decent quality embies with some that make it to blast. I guess the choice may ultimately come down to no kids or DE.... and I'm still not sure what I will choose.
Re: October IVF
For the super curious (some girls are on their docs asking questions first cycle) and for those of us who go on to have subsequent cycles, you start to want to know more (its your money, right? you should know how youre spending it).
The stuff I tend to want to know....
Fertility Questions:
1. What is my infertility dx (if any)
2. What is my FSH, AMH, and AFC
Protocol questions.
1. What type of cycle am i doing/What drugs are you selecting for me (i.e. antagonist, agonist, microdose Lupron, estrogen priming, testosterone priming, down regulating and etc) [this is good to know so that you can go online and google your protocol, and also so you can discuss it here if you like]
2. What are the doses you are prescribing and why (high doses or mini IVF and etc)
3. Might you change my doses during my cycle if needed?
Stimulation Phase questions.
1. How many antral follicles am I starting this cycle with? (it can be different every cycle)
2. What are my follicle sizes (to be asked each monitoring day)
3. What is my lining thickness (and later in monitoring, is it trilaminar/triple layered which is best for implantation)
Retrieval and post retrieval/transfer questions.
1. How many eggs did you retrieve
2. How many eggs were mature
3. How many mature eggs fertilized normally
4. How many embryos are developing on day 3 and embryo grades
5. How many embryos are ready for transfer/freeze on day 5 and grades
6. How many embryos do you suggest I transfer based on my stats
7. What is my lining before and on day of transfer
8. What is my progesterone ahead of transfer
I mean these are basic, but they are broken in groups so you don't have to think of all of them at the same time. When I'm stimming, I'm not worrying about embryo grades and etc.
Hope this helps!
@Momifbysea NOOO! Ugh.... I'm so sorry!!! I can for sure recommend Microdose Lupron! I am back and forth with Antagonist and MDL. I did 3 antagonist cycles (24 retrieved, then 7 retrieved then 6) they told me I was probably just heading into less and less eggs to be retrieved. I asked to try another protocol and my doc suggested estrogen priming MDL. That next cycle I retrieved 18 eggs and froze 4 embies. Cycle after that 17 eggs. I'm back on estrogen priming antagonist (because I'm using growth hormone and my doc prefers if with antagonist) But I feel like without switching to MDL, doctors wouldn't have known I could produce so many eggs at my age.
As for my first 3 antagonist cycles. In cycle number 1 I had 5 to freeze but they all tested abnormal. In cycle 2 1 to freeze also abnormal. Cycle 3, none to freeze. Since then I have always had something to freeze, thank goodness. I'm not sure about the Cetrotide thingy...? Its another shot as far as I know, used like Lupron or ganerelix and all suppress premature ovulation... Ive not used cetrotide, but ive seen it discussed as analogous to ganerelix. My guess is you did a basic antagonist cycle in the past
@Momifbysea I responded on the >35 check in, but I also saw quite different results with MDL flare protocol (but also natural start - so no suppression before starting, no testosterone priming, subsequently reduced stims, new lab - so several things different).
Details in signature, but my first cycle in which I had 3 fertilize and zero blasts was OCP/antagonist. I didn’t want to do that again, so tried luteal lupron - 2nd cycle got 5 blasts (1 normal), and 3rd cycle we got 3 blasts (no normal). Took the summer off and switched to a new RE. From natural start MDL flare protocol (AFC ~17-20 instead of my usual 8-10 when suppressed - and only stimmed 7 days reducing stims after 3 days then again after 3 more - instead of 9-11 days as I had in previous cycles), we got 10 blasts (4 normals). Sure surprised us. I am a little bit younger than you are (40), but making the most of what you’ve got is the name of the game! Trying something different could be just what you need.
I think OCP and estrogen are supposed to help with preventing a dominant follicle so they all grow together - at least that’s about what I was paranoid with the natural start. I have no idea if it works this way, but it *seems* like as long as there is a high enough dose to start, there’s enough for (to recruit) everyone, then once they’re all going, as my RE put it, they require less stims later. Also maybe the OCP helps with cysts and stuff? But I’m fortunate that I haven’t had to deal with those.
The natural start was great because I didn’t have to do/take anything before, just waited for AF and went in on CD3, started everything (the MDL 2x daily, gonal, and hgh) that day. So it was super quick since I only had to stim for 7 days.
Married 6/18/16 (Me 42, DH 44), TTC #2
***TW***
As of 12/2016: AMH 1.42, FSH 6.1, AFC ~10
Self-benched Nov-Dec 2016 for
IVF #1 Jan-Feb 2017 (OCP, testosterone primed antagonist w/HGH - ER 2/2/17 - 12R, 7M ICSI'd, 3F, 0B)
IVF #2 Mar-Apr 2017 (testosterone primed agonist/luteal lupron w/HGH - ER 4/8/17 - 10R, 8M, 8F, 5B, 1 PGS normal)
IVF #3 May-Jun 2017 (testosterone primed agonist/luteal lupron w/HGH - ER 6/4/17 - 14R, 5F, 3B, 0 normal)
**New RE**
IVF #4 Sept 2017 (natural start microdose lupron flare w/HGH - ER 9/28/17 - 33R, 18F, 10B, 4 PGS normals!)
FET #1 (medicated) of one PGS normal 4AA XX 11/2/17 - Beta #1 11/11/17 (153), Beta #2 11/13/17 (324), mc at 5w1d on 11/19/17
IVF #5 Dec 2017 - Insemination of 9 frozen eggs from 2012 (8F, 1B, 0 normal)
Jan 2018 - Natural cycle ERA (normal/receptive) & stimming for
IVF #6 Jan-Feb 2018 (natural start microdose lupron flare w/HGH - ER 2/3/18 - 17R, 6M, 4F, 0 blasts)
IVF #7 Feb 2018 (natural start microdose lupron flare w/HGH - ER 2/26/18 - 19R, 9M, 9F, 4B, 2 PGS normals)
FET #2 Apr 2018 (natural cycle w/o trigger, w/P4 support) of one PGS normal 4AA- XX 4/5/18 - Beta #1 4/14/18 (67), Beta #2 4/16/18 (231)
Rainbow baby girl born 12/16/2018 (via c-section, induced at 39 weeks)
-----
TFAS!
FET #3 Dec 2019 (natural cycle w/o trigger, w/P4 support) of one PGS normal 3BB XY 12/16/19 - Beta #1 12/24/19 (139), Beta #2 12/27/19 (482)
Married 6/18/16 (Me 42, DH 44), TTC #2
***TW***
As of 12/2016: AMH 1.42, FSH 6.1, AFC ~10
Self-benched Nov-Dec 2016 for
IVF #1 Jan-Feb 2017 (OCP, testosterone primed antagonist w/HGH - ER 2/2/17 - 12R, 7M ICSI'd, 3F, 0B)
IVF #2 Mar-Apr 2017 (testosterone primed agonist/luteal lupron w/HGH - ER 4/8/17 - 10R, 8M, 8F, 5B, 1 PGS normal)
IVF #3 May-Jun 2017 (testosterone primed agonist/luteal lupron w/HGH - ER 6/4/17 - 14R, 5F, 3B, 0 normal)
**New RE**
IVF #4 Sept 2017 (natural start microdose lupron flare w/HGH - ER 9/28/17 - 33R, 18F, 10B, 4 PGS normals!)
FET #1 (medicated) of one PGS normal 4AA XX 11/2/17 - Beta #1 11/11/17 (153), Beta #2 11/13/17 (324), mc at 5w1d on 11/19/17
IVF #5 Dec 2017 - Insemination of 9 frozen eggs from 2012 (8F, 1B, 0 normal)
Jan 2018 - Natural cycle ERA (normal/receptive) & stimming for
IVF #6 Jan-Feb 2018 (natural start microdose lupron flare w/HGH - ER 2/3/18 - 17R, 6M, 4F, 0 blasts)
IVF #7 Feb 2018 (natural start microdose lupron flare w/HGH - ER 2/26/18 - 19R, 9M, 9F, 4B, 2 PGS normals)
FET #2 Apr 2018 (natural cycle w/o trigger, w/P4 support) of one PGS normal 4AA- XX 4/5/18 - Beta #1 4/14/18 (67), Beta #2 4/16/18 (231)
Rainbow baby girl born 12/16/2018 (via c-section, induced at 39 weeks)
-----
TFAS!
FET #3 Dec 2019 (natural cycle w/o trigger, w/P4 support) of one PGS normal 3BB XY 12/16/19 - Beta #1 12/24/19 (139), Beta #2 12/27/19 (482)
I'm also going to see her tomorrow instead of Monday because I basically want to not prime forever and a day like I did last cycle.... It turned out ok, but it was probably more priming than I needed.
Momifbysea I am so sorry!! I’m with you on always doing cetrotide and don’t have any success stories to share I’m afraid
Thinking of you and wishing you all the strength to continue, must be extra hard living apart from your husband during this incredibly hard journey.
When are you planning to do your next round?
Fibroid removed August2013
3 cycles on Glomid 2015
IUI#1 August2015 - BFN
IUI#2 October2015 -BFN
Fibroid removed December2015
IVF#1 June2016 (6 eggs retrieved, 5 matured, 3 fertillized, 1 transferred 1 frozen) - BFN
FET#1 August2016 - BFN
IVF#2 November2016 (3 eggs retrieved, 3 fertillized, transferred 2 ) - BFN
IVF #3 January2017 (5 eggs retrieved, 3 fertillized, transferred 3 ) - BFN
IVF #4 March2017 ( 4 eggs retrieved, 4 fertillized, double transfer ) - BFN no frosties
IVF #5 June2017 (1 egg retrieved, polysermy) Mini IVF - Bust
IVF #6 August2017 (4 eggs retrieved, 4 fertilized, transferred 2) - BFN no frosties
IVF #7 October2017 ( 4 eggs retrieved, 3 fertilized, transferred 1 early blastocyst - BFN no frosties
IVF #8 December2017 ( 1 egg retrieved, 1 fertilized, transferred day 3 embryo) - BFN
IVF #9 February 2019 ( 1 egg retrieved, 1 fertilized, transferred day 3 embryo) - BFN
IVF #10 April 2019 ( 2 eggs retrieved, 1 fertilized, transferred day 3 embryo) - BFN
morganelizabeth123 welcome and congratulations on being PUPO! When is your first beta?
Fibroid removed August2013
3 cycles on Glomid 2015
IUI#1 August2015 - BFN
IUI#2 October2015 -BFN
Fibroid removed December2015
IVF#1 June2016 (6 eggs retrieved, 5 matured, 3 fertillized, 1 transferred 1 frozen) - BFN
FET#1 August2016 - BFN
IVF#2 November2016 (3 eggs retrieved, 3 fertillized, transferred 2 ) - BFN
IVF #3 January2017 (5 eggs retrieved, 3 fertillized, transferred 3 ) - BFN
IVF #4 March2017 ( 4 eggs retrieved, 4 fertillized, double transfer ) - BFN no frosties
IVF #5 June2017 (1 egg retrieved, polysermy) Mini IVF - Bust
IVF #6 August2017 (4 eggs retrieved, 4 fertilized, transferred 2) - BFN no frosties
IVF #7 October2017 ( 4 eggs retrieved, 3 fertilized, transferred 1 early blastocyst - BFN no frosties
IVF #8 December2017 ( 1 egg retrieved, 1 fertilized, transferred day 3 embryo) - BFN
IVF #9 February 2019 ( 1 egg retrieved, 1 fertilized, transferred day 3 embryo) - BFN
IVF #10 April 2019 ( 2 eggs retrieved, 1 fertilized, transferred day 3 embryo) - BFN
Also the fifth was retrieved but as expected it had not caught up in size. I'm still feeling very calm but I know I'll get more nervous by this time tomorrow when they should call with the fertilization update.
Fibroid removed August2013
3 cycles on Glomid 2015
IUI#1 August2015 - BFN
IUI#2 October2015 -BFN
Fibroid removed December2015
IVF#1 June2016 (6 eggs retrieved, 5 matured, 3 fertillized, 1 transferred 1 frozen) - BFN
FET#1 August2016 - BFN
IVF#2 November2016 (3 eggs retrieved, 3 fertillized, transferred 2 ) - BFN
IVF #3 January2017 (5 eggs retrieved, 3 fertillized, transferred 3 ) - BFN
IVF #4 March2017 ( 4 eggs retrieved, 4 fertillized, double transfer ) - BFN no frosties
IVF #5 June2017 (1 egg retrieved, polysermy) Mini IVF - Bust
IVF #6 August2017 (4 eggs retrieved, 4 fertilized, transferred 2) - BFN no frosties
IVF #7 October2017 ( 4 eggs retrieved, 3 fertilized, transferred 1 early blastocyst - BFN no frosties
IVF #8 December2017 ( 1 egg retrieved, 1 fertilized, transferred day 3 embryo) - BFN
IVF #9 February 2019 ( 1 egg retrieved, 1 fertilized, transferred day 3 embryo) - BFN
IVF #10 April 2019 ( 2 eggs retrieved, 1 fertilized, transferred day 3 embryo) - BFN
Fibroid removed August2013
3 cycles on Glomid 2015
IUI#1 August2015 - BFN
IUI#2 October2015 -BFN
Fibroid removed December2015
IVF#1 June2016 (6 eggs retrieved, 5 matured, 3 fertillized, 1 transferred 1 frozen) - BFN
FET#1 August2016 - BFN
IVF#2 November2016 (3 eggs retrieved, 3 fertillized, transferred 2 ) - BFN
IVF #3 January2017 (5 eggs retrieved, 3 fertillized, transferred 3 ) - BFN
IVF #4 March2017 ( 4 eggs retrieved, 4 fertillized, double transfer ) - BFN no frosties
IVF #5 June2017 (1 egg retrieved, polysermy) Mini IVF - Bust
IVF #6 August2017 (4 eggs retrieved, 4 fertilized, transferred 2) - BFN no frosties
IVF #7 October2017 ( 4 eggs retrieved, 3 fertilized, transferred 1 early blastocyst - BFN no frosties
IVF #8 December2017 ( 1 egg retrieved, 1 fertilized, transferred day 3 embryo) - BFN
IVF #9 February 2019 ( 1 egg retrieved, 1 fertilized, transferred day 3 embryo) - BFN
IVF #10 April 2019 ( 2 eggs retrieved, 1 fertilized, transferred day 3 embryo) - BFN
She said she is very pleased about how everything is looking. My lining is 9 (I normally have a thin lining, though after my TW mc's, and taking a few months off stimming, my lining was 11, so maybe its the meds) which is great for me.
She counted about 12 antral follies (though one is a 7 and she says we may lose that one). She also said she thinks my cycle might start sooner than last time because most of my follies are larger than they were at this point last time. I will likely start priming tonight or tomorrow morning!
Yay... With so much disappointment and delays, its good to hear some good news for once!
@Momifbysea I can totally relate to you for living apart from your husband. I too, will be moving closer to my Center and away from my husband for the rest of my monitoring/cycle. Hoping it’s all worth it in the end
AFM 3 out of 4 fertilized!! DH and I are both so happy right now. Since this time we are going for blastocysts only, Sunday is going to be our transfer day, I pray.
Are you ladies aware of what is your clinic's policy on flying after transfer? I have a work related trip that will be a week after the transfer. I think it should be fine, I do not stress about flying and will be packing light.
Fibroid removed August2013
3 cycles on Glomid 2015
IUI#1 August2015 - BFN
IUI#2 October2015 -BFN
Fibroid removed December2015
IVF#1 June2016 (6 eggs retrieved, 5 matured, 3 fertillized, 1 transferred 1 frozen) - BFN
FET#1 August2016 - BFN
IVF#2 November2016 (3 eggs retrieved, 3 fertillized, transferred 2 ) - BFN
IVF #3 January2017 (5 eggs retrieved, 3 fertillized, transferred 3 ) - BFN
IVF #4 March2017 ( 4 eggs retrieved, 4 fertillized, double transfer ) - BFN no frosties
IVF #5 June2017 (1 egg retrieved, polysermy) Mini IVF - Bust
IVF #6 August2017 (4 eggs retrieved, 4 fertilized, transferred 2) - BFN no frosties
IVF #7 October2017 ( 4 eggs retrieved, 3 fertilized, transferred 1 early blastocyst - BFN no frosties
IVF #8 December2017 ( 1 egg retrieved, 1 fertilized, transferred day 3 embryo) - BFN
IVF #9 February 2019 ( 1 egg retrieved, 1 fertilized, transferred day 3 embryo) - BFN
IVF #10 April 2019 ( 2 eggs retrieved, 1 fertilized, transferred day 3 embryo) - BFN
@dragonette505 You just described me exactly. I think I was so overwhelmed starting this that I thought it would be better if I just put myself in their hands. The end result is that I feel confused and out of the loop about my own body. Your list of questions is amazing, thank you so much for putting that together! I feel so much better prepared for the next time I do a cycle.
@IfYouCanDreamIt Thanks! My beta is on the 26th. Do you know when yours is? Also, I did some reading last week about flying after a transfer and from what I read doctors generally prefer that you wait 24 hours to fly, so a week later should be fine.
@morganelizabeth123 it’s pretty common... I wish my first cycle had worked so I didn’t have to learn all this stuff!! Lol I would say at this point just chill until Beta and don’t poke and prod too much.... it may just stress you more. But even if you get a positive, I would definitely get the info on your embies. I can totally see maybe not being told about your follies, but to not get your embryo reports, I don’t get it!
@morganelizabeth23 You are very welcome. I would definitely use @dragonette505 's questions as a conversation starter for your next cycle (hopefully not needed though : )
Do you know what your ratio was from day 3 to day 5? To a certain degree the sperm is powering the embryo after day 3
up to
blast. I have lots of loss after day three. Losing half after day three can be normal, but I can go from 8 to 2 (or 12 to 4) which is pretty poor (but for my age, it’s ok).
DH and I are type A too (I'm pretty sure you can tell I am! lol) so we are always working on our "strategy" lol
I think one never knows what one will be willing to do until you reach that road. Right now, no one is suggesting I go the DE route... I guess because for my age, my numbers aren't heinous and on good cycles I seem to at least produce a good number of eggs with decent quality embies with some that make it to blast.
I guess the choice may ultimately come down to no kids or DE.... and I'm still not sure what I will choose.