IVF and Fertility Treatments

[DMD12345]

I've finally been referred to IVF on the NHS due to low AMH, they completed the referral form today, does anyone know what happens next? I've read a lot about waiting for funding to come through, how long does this normally take?

I started IVF in January on the NHS and am now 11 weeks pregnant so have some recent experience of this. We were referred for IVF in November, had our initial consultation within a couple of weeks and started straight away. Technically we could've started in December but the lab was closed for Christmas so it was pushed back to start in January (it also depends on when your cycle falls as I had to phone the clinic on CD1 to then book in for the first scan to start the process).

This could be completely dependent on where you are in the UK though as funding approvals and wait lists vary up and down the country but I was really surprised that we could start straight away! Good luck, I hope it all goes well for you

 

[InstaHunDone]

So, I'll be starting the stimulation process, aka injecting hormones, very soon (my period is predicted on Friday), and I'm extremely nervous. This will be my first time doing IVF (after four IUI's, one of which resulted in a pregnancy and, sadly, a miscarriage). I know what to do and how to do it (I watched a really good video about it), but I'm a negative Nancy, so I can't stop thinking how I can screw this up.

For those who have gone through this, is injecting as straightforward as it seems?

I'm about a week behind you, starting injections next week so no advice to offer but also nervous about injecting. Friends I've spoken to have said it's fine when you get used to it.

Best of luck!

 

[Elisha97]

Parking myself here as my referral was processed today! Hopefully I’ll have more to share/ ask about soon 🩷

 

[make-mine-whiskey]

Lining is good, I’ve got 6-7 follicles they can count already and we’re starting injections tomorrow with next monitoring scan next Friday (15th) it’s feeling very real now

 

[wishiniwasskinny]

Hi all, followed this group as we seem to be suffering from unexplained infertility. Trying for 2 years, no success. Had my ultrasound and bloods and my husband had his semen tests and all came back normal. My periods have been really light the last couple of years and i am worried I am going to get bad news and only blame myself that I left it too late. I’m 34 - 35 in April - and my mum went through early menopause in her early 40s same as the previous poster.
i have my first gynae consultant appt next week and just wondering what I should expect

 

[Lola UK]

Such a shame that you’re discounted from treatment if your partner already has a child! It’s disgusting actually! I’m sorry you’re being penalised for that.

I listened to a podcast yesterday with Jo Joyner talking about IVF (it was giovanna fletchers podcast, I don’t actually like her but did listen), what was funny is that she was talking about being part of an online forum talking about IVF and no one knew it was her. So strange a bunch of ladies were chatting to Tanya Branning from eastenders and had no idea

 

[rageinducing]

You’re not evil at all! I hope your round of Ivf works, fingers crossed for you x

We have just had our appointment to go over why the ivf failed and honestly it just makes you feel so disheartened! There is nothing really we can do differently which will make a difference on the outcome. My husband says I shouldn’t be so negative as I just feel like a failure, being told we had no issues and ivf should work for us and then it doesn’t!

Oh I know how you feel. This whole inability to get pregnant/stay pregnant just makes you feel like such a failure. It’s so easy apparently, at school they’d basically tell you that every time you had sex you’d get pregnant. If only! I would say to try and go into each cycle with hope. It’s even a miracle that treatment is available to give it a try. Wish it wasn’t so bloody expensive when the odds are against you. You never know though, next time could be the lucky time for you!

 

[wishiniwasskinny]

Hycosy done. It was uncomfortable and some mild pain (like period pain) but that was it really. I was told that my tubes looked ok and she said everything looks good around there having done the scan. Just got to wait for my consultant to get in touch for an appt for next steps.

 

[MrsWolf]

Hello all!
Just thought I’d pop back and give an update, I started my injections yesterday! Was much easier than I thought it was going to be doing it on my own, I had a proper meltdown before I did it. Getting myself all worked up and then after I was like oh..that’s it?
I mean, I know this is just the first one, I have more coming but I’m choosing to be positive!

I hope you’re all okay

 

[eppingforestbambi]

I've just finished my first course with embryo transfer on Monday and now in the dreaded waiting period to see if its worked. It honestly wasn't as bad as I thought it would be! (I've even got used to tablets up the bum which horrified me at first) Good luck! X

Good luck babe.

Just wanted to post on here to say I’m two weeks away from giving birth - which was the result of our 4th transfer.

First one worked but then led to MMC. 2nd and 3rd didn’t work. 4th is now almost a full term baby.

We didn’t do embryo testing, and all of our embryos were average grade. I’m 39 and we had to do IVf due to my husband having had chemo in 2020 (plus my age and having PCOS). We have a previous child that we had before my husband’s cancer, that we conceived through normal conception using clomid (due to my PCOS).

So many times I felt like IVF won’t work - but I’m glad I stuck at it. I found the final cycle different as I decided to approach it differently - I took the entire 2WW off work as sick leave, and just sat and relaxed the whole time. I meditated and wrote manifestation lists in the lead up to get my head in the right space. I did fertility acupuncture at the Kite clinic for about 6 months too.

Hoping everybody ends up with some very happy news. It’s a painful and gruelling journey, but from what I’ve seen most people I know who’ve been through it do end up with a child in the end. Whether that’s via egg donor or from their own egg, it can and will happen hopefully. I also have friends who have adopted a baby and are living on Cloud 9 right now.

Good luck to everybody x

 

[ItsAKatsLif3]

Hello all warriors (if you're struggling with infertility you're a warrior!).

An insight on my story.
TTC for 7 years got brushed with the same old paintbrush "pcos symptoms will go away if you lose weight"....I was even under clinical trial in UK (bambini trial) I lost weight under the trial but did it make my symptoms go away? Like f**k did it! Gynaecology/fertility won't even touch you for 1st 2 years of ttc. Even when I was reffered to fertility I waited a year for my 1st appointment. Partner was tested and has low count. Booked 2nd appointment got cancelled 3 times in 1 year then opted for IVF abroad. Appointment was ready April 2020....COVID LOCKDOWN!

Fast forward April 2022 had HSG blood tests etc ready for IVF in May. Everything looked good (apart from 1 blocked fallopian tube). I arrived for treatment May had USS and found a polyps the size of golf ball (this is what was blocking my tube) so I had polypectomy and had to waited for next cycle to transfer embryos (retrived/fertilised 12 eggs and 7 made it to day 5 embryo). Transfered 2 embryos. 1 split to twins so ended up with triplets!....unfortunately miscarried. Had tests on endometrial lining etc and have very abnormal endometrial function (95 percentile) which means I'm prone to miscarriages & need steroid treatment for FET. I have also been diagnosed with estrogen dominance endometrial hyperplasia (atypical cells). On high dose of steroid treatment & progesterone to suppress estrogen. Got 2nd endometrial ablation in and biopsy in March to check progress. If all clear then FET in May. If not then low dose chemo treatment or hysterectomy.

Throughout all this I felt like my Gynaecologist in the UK failed me for always brushing me off. Every appointment I had with Gynaecologist they didn't even examine me or ultrasound it was simply check height and weight then tell me I'm too fat lose weight. I lost weight got BMI to below 30 then they said get it to 25. So was always pushed away for my weight when my sister in law is size 22 had IVF and it worked for her.

That's my story. Please tell me yours

 

[make-mine-whiskey]

We've just had our first consultation with our fertility clinic to move from IUI to IVF with ICSI. Feeling a bit daunted about it all but they've given us a 51% chance of success so I know it'll be worth it in the end.

Me and my husband have just started our first found of IVF with ICSI, I will report back and let you know how bad/good it is haha! Have just finished the 10 days of norethisterone with monitoring scan on Tuesday

 

[Ouch]

Hello everyone, We've been trying for a baby for 5 years and we're currently due to start IVF in January (hopefully.) We've had all the tests and all is good with his results, all is mainly good with me, the only problem is that I have "really low" AMH levels according to the specialist. My mum went through early menopause at 42 so it kind of makes sense that my AMH would be low at the age of 37. The diagnosis is "unexplained infertility".

No IUI offered here so we have 1 round of IVF on the NHS and the specialist is managing our expectations by telling us that the quality of my eggs might be too low even retrieve let alone to create an embryo but Dr google tells me an AMH level of 1, although it's low, it's not as low as the consultant is making out (i.e not much hope of IVF working with my eggs) yet I'm still getting really ahead of myself thinking I will be growing a baby by February and this time next year baby will be with us (I know, I shouldn't be)

We have our appointment with the nurse on Wednesday which I'm kind of terrified about because i know that's when we will be taught how to do the injections and I'm petrified of needles.

We're both healthy in terms of all the BMI parameters, vitamins we should be taking etc, but i'm just wondering if anyone can advise on questions we should ask the nurse on Wednesday?

 

[make-mine-whiskey]

Hi all!

Thank you for making this thread! I'm 28 and hubs 27, trying for a year and half and been referred to the the fertility clinic, done all the GP tests and found male factor infertility, low morphology if anyone is similar?

I'm sorry that you ladies are having to go private that is so unfair, I have seen a petition going around socials to get this changed, I will see if I can find the link to share if you ladies would like me too?

 

[Its_Me]

I've learned today that my first FET failed. I had two embryos transferred to increase our chances (it's recommended where I live if you're above age 35) It was our first try at IVF. Age 38, no previous pregnancies, husband tested fine, everything seems perfect on paper but it did not work. I never wanted kids before my marriage at 35 and now I blame myself for being late for everything.

Please be kind to yourself you don’t know if it would have worked if you were any younger. Sometimes it just doesn’t work, don’t blame yourself x

 

[cloudbursting88]

Hi all, followed this group as we seem to be suffering from unexplained infertility. Trying for 2 years, no success. Had my ultrasound and bloods and my husband had his semen tests and all came back normal. My periods have been really light the last couple of years and i am worried I am going to get bad news and only blame myself that I left it too late. I’m 34 - 35 in April - and my mum went through early menopause in her early 40s same as the previous poster.
i have my first gynae consultant appt next week and just wondering what I should expect

Your situation sounds very similar to mine, we too have been ttc tor 2 years and told unexplained fertility. I hope you get a positive outcome

 

[cloudbursting88]

Sorry for jumping on this thread, I’m going for embryo transfer today, I had my egg retrieval last week and they got 11 eggs but only 1 has made it to embryo stage! I can’t help feeling all kind of emotions about , scared that it won’t work. Then we will have to go through the whole process again! I know you only need one good egg! But I just worry that it won’t work! I wish I could be more of a positive person!!

 

[Its_Me]

I wouldn’t go by reading reviews especially if somewhere has otherwise been recommended, people are more likely to leave negative feedback than positive

 

[ScoutFinch]

I will have a look at them thank you! Did you look at a couple before you decided? We’re going to save for a bit longer but it’s good to know they do finance if we need it!


Have you found them to be ok so far? Yeah I like the more natural IVF idea!

They’ve been great so far. They recommended a mild cycle for me as I have polycystic ovaries so I wasn’t injecting for very long but still ended up with OHSS. They were so lovely at my collection and kept me up to date with what was happening and how our embryos developed. I haven’t had my transfer yet so can’t comment on that but so far so good. It’s also good that you can use their Liverpool clinic as a satellite clinic for scans/bloods if it’s closer (which it is for me) and then just travel to Manchester for treatment.

There’s an ABC/Create support group on FB if you use it, which is quite helpful.

 

[Its_Me]

I kept this in the freezer to ice my tummy before injections still stung a bit at times but I’m probably in the minority and actually looked forward to doing them everyday I never had anyone else help me, other half would probably have been the one to F it up!