3 MC's. Starting IVF & PGD, any advice?

[Sara69]

Cuddlepie: Yes I think we're both very lucky to be with SIVF and able to hopefully benefit from PICSI. When will you be starting? I am pill popping at the moment and will start Lucrin on Nov 12 -- my FS is away from Nov 5 - Nov 24 that's why I am starting later than planned, have decided to rather wait for her than to go with her repalcement, also means that I can squezze in a one week holiday bushwalking on the Great Ocean Road before starting, really looking forward to this.

WTH: Agree with you, the more research I do, the more worried I get. Good that the levels are improving, will keep fingers crossed for your ultrasound on Monday.

[Cuddlepie]

I start Provera next Monday and Lucrin next Friday...I am with kent street clinic.

I hope PICSI is the answer for us. As lots of research we found now are old and seems like that we are doomed. Even with ICSI, some reports mentioned concerns over potential birth defect, childhood cancer or offspring infertility, sounds pretty scary. I hope the new technology will improve our chances.

I am a natural worrier, all these exercise do not help much ...I now really think even I am pregnant my worries will never stop...

[Sara69]

Hi Cuddlepie,

I think I am with Kent street as well.

I'd say let's just go with Meredith, if Monash IVF's (Melbourne) head Andrologist doesn't believe in the validity of the test than there should be some hope.

My FS (Dr Alison Gee) also seemed to think it wasn't as bad as I had first thought. She said recently one of her patients with a 40 to 50 result got pregnant. And from all that I see a bad result does not seem so rare, think about Tam's hubby, his result improved a lot over just one month. I know it's hard but I think we must try not to worry too much and I will try to stop googling so much either.

Sorry this is probably a really stupid question but what is Provera, I thought I just start Lucrin and haven't heard of Provera, have I been missing something?

Sending lots of baby dust your way.

Sara

[butterfly_warrior]

Red lady, provera is just progesterone tablets. Some clinics will use it in place of going on the pill before down regulation, others will use primolut, which is (I think) just another form of progesterone.

It's not something that is essential to a cycle, just part of the slightly different ways that different clinics will do things.

Sorry I can't help with the DNA test - that's the one aspect of DH's sperm that came back ok.

BW

[minniemouse]

Evening Ladies...

Aren't we all glad it's Friday..???? My best day of the week!!

WTH - let me give you a little hope... My levels also started quite slowly last cycle (July). They then seemed to rise pretty well after my Gonal was raised. I ended up cooking about 2 full weeks - I usually take this long and all turned out fine in the end. This time (I'm 6 days in) I started on the dose that I was put up to last cycle and so far so good. So try and keep those positive vibes flowing....

[MeredithD]

I am with you all on the endless worry! I can't help googling but it almost always gives me more to stress over. Wouldn't it be great to just go back to the days when we all thought you just had sex... fell pg... and out popped a healthy baby 9 mths later! I find it hard to remember those days and even harder to accept that for the majority of the population its totally true!

I think i am glad Monash IVF aren't doing the SCASA test. I get anxious reading about all of you girls and your DH's. can't imagine how I'd be knowing a result which may not be good. Knowledge may be power but ignorance sure is bliss!

[Cuddlepie]

Thanks BW for explaining what Provera is, I couldn't have done better...

Meredith, I am with you on 'ignorance is a bless'...google is not a good thing to do and I will try to stop.

Sara, I had a bit vent with DH tonight and felt better. We will have a chat with FS next week to see if he suggests to go ahead with next cycle. I am sure he would as he also didn't really think it was a big problem, as a matter of fact, the way he put it when he first told me was 'ah everything is fine except there is a little problem.." ah, A LITTLE problem? . I was a bit annoyed with him at the time as I think he just didn't take us seriously, maybe I am blowing the whole thing out of proportion. But after so many years of not knowing what's the reason behind our infertility, I seem like a dog with a bone not wanting to let it go easily...

Oh well, tomorrow's task - getting a juice fountain and feeding DH a glass of antioxidant every day.

Have a good night ladies and wishing you all a relaxed weekend...

[Sara69]

Meredith you're absolutely right. Will try to stop worrying and concentrate on enjoying the weekend

BW - thanks for explaining the Provera, it's really great having you on this threat.

Cuddlepie - love the juice fountain idea, you know I am actually going to get my old juicer out this weekend. Great that you feel better, it's a good idea to talk to your FS, let me know what he says.

WTH - hope you're hanging in there, that should be good news th what Minniemouse is saying. Hope your levels keep rising.

Off to the organic market buying antioxidants

Sara

[Sara69]

Hi

WTH, How are you going, hope your ultrasound and BT went well yesterday.

Cuddlepie, hope your FS was able to come up with some answers.

Sara

[Tam83]

Hi Ladies,

Wow this is a busy little thread.

WTH Just waiting to see your BT results. That you got some great news.

Cuddlepie When FS told DH and I his results he said that same thing that it isn't that bad. He also said that if you have a nice healthy egg usually it doesn't matter if the sperm have DNA fragmentation as the egg will replace what is missing. I know that it is still hard to come to terms with.

Meredith well done with your comment I know exactly what you mean. That paragraph runs through my head almost everyday. I sure would like some of that ignorance back.

Red lady The great ocean road what a beautiful place, I hope you have wonderful weather over the week that you go you never know miracles happen maybe the clean air will bring you some

AFMAF turned up yesterday late of course! Now I can start my 1st cycle of clomid. FS has started me on 25mg. I have spoken to other ladies about the dosage and they said that you usually start on 50mg and there hasn't been any success on the dosage of 25mg. I am thinking about just taking the 50mg. What do you think?

[Cuddlepie]

Hi ladies, I hope you are all doing well...

WTH, looking forward to hearing some good news there...

Redlady and Tam, thank you so much for thinking of me and the PMs, that cheered me up a lot this morning. I have absolute no interest in work at the moment. Anyway, DH had a conversation with FS today and basically he explained that 30 is the figure showing across the board rather than a straight 30% bad sperms and 70% good, but he also said that 30 is not too bad and by using PICSI we can select the best one and maximize the chance. He also said that you can't change DNA and there is no point to do another test before EPU (here is where I get confused, so what's the point of taking Menevit etc. and this is totally different from what Tam's FS said). We also asked the polylight BW mentioned before and he said that is IVFAus been doing in the past 6 months but he said SIVF is not doing it because believe limited benefit.

Anyway, he said there is no pint delaying this cycle and we will do best we can. So the good news is that I am absolutely have no reserve of starting this cycle now, at the same time, I am also a bit depressed by the fact that you can't improve DNA result. Regardless of all these, we are going to be healthy as we can before the EPU and see what fate brings us. Seems everything is left in God's hand now.

Redlady, when are you taking off for Great Ocean Road, so good you have a bit down time from all this TTC stuff...

Tam, good luck with the clomid cycle, is this the first cycle that DH's result back to 9%? If it is, I bet you will get pregnant this cycle!

[MeredithD]

WTH - just wondering how you are. Praying some nice big follies growing well up there in Sydney.

CP - I am medically trained ( vet!) but still don't really get the whole DNA fragmentaion thing. Guess i haven't really looked into the SCSA test to see what is actually being measured. However, I sort of get what both your and Tam's FS are saying. DNA can't really be "changed" ie your DNA is your DNA- can't get around that. But, spem is made continuously and I assume in some men, for whatever reason, some sperm's DNA becomes damaged in the process, meaning some genetic info is missing etc. The menevit is supposedly aimed at helping reduce that potential damage during the sperm making phase.
Praying your next cycle is THE one - just takes one good egg and sperm!

Tam -best of luck with your upcoming cycle. Lets hope those healthy spermies do the trick!
As for the clomid dose, I would consider ringing you FS and asking about upping the dose.
Back in the early days of us TTC (seems like eons ago!), I did a few rounds of clomid. My FS started me on 25mg as well. I did ovulate but seemed very "weak" and certainly no BFP. The next cycle we did a monitored 50mg cycle which was much better and did result in pg although we sadly lost that little girl.
Peronally, I would want to go the 50mg but I do not know why you are taking it, other issues etc. Your FS is really the one to trust on that and I wouldn't up the dose without his ok.

[Cuddlepie]

Thanks Meredith, that makes so much sense, I feel very spoiled to have my very own BB medically trained team here... I think I have enough questions asked and now only one thing left to do is Where are you at ATM?

Tam, can't help with dosage question but hope you will find the solution soon.

Have a great afternoon chickies!

[Where there's hope]

OK guys. As you can see by my new glorious signature my cycle was cancelled. I did end up growing a wonderful 11 follies and had much higher estrogen - I thought all was well. But this IVF business is a bit more complicated then I thought. I had 3 over 10mm and they wanted more. They chose to halt my FSH after just 10 injections. I am really disappointed. My clinic gave me the option to take the trigger injection last night and then we DTD tonight/tomorrow morning in a hope of catching the egg. In desperation we have chosen to do this.

But, as you know, this defeats the purpose of IVF with PGD. It is such a gamble for us. I am hoping my FS (who I am seeing on Friday) will let us try a different type of cycle using Orgulutran (spelling?) when my AF comes. Otherwise, if we do a down reg cycle, I will clash with the Christmas business hours and they will not let me do another cycle until next January. I just don't think I can hold out that long.

So that's the latest from me. In general, only 5% of cancels (with SIVF) are cancelled so please do not think this will happen to you. But it was time my luck got a little better...

Take care
WTH

[Cuddlepie]

I am so sorry to hear your news WTH but don't give up hope though given this is only your 1st IVF cycle, it is a bit of test and trial and I hope Friday's FS appointment will give you a solution you want...and don't have to wait till next year...ing for you hun!

[Sara69]

Really sorry to hear that WTH. I am very much hoping your FS will give you the answers you want.

Take care

[minniemouse]

WTH - so sorry about your cycle...sadly it happens sometimes. I am currently freaking out about my follie level but am trying so hard to be positive. Am not sure they will rush you to do a short cycle with Orgalutron. I have done many cycles on this (my preferred as its so short) but it can lead to less eggs for some. So glad you are looking ahead and remaining positive - this is what will get you thru. All the best with the FS on Friday..

[Where there's hope]

Hi MinnieMouse - Yes, I have heard there are less follies on an Orgulatran cycle, too. If we are allowed I will still go ahead with one. Basically because other wise the Christmas break will delay our chance at another IVF chance until January. I just can't throw away two or three months. I was happy they got 11 follies. I do not understand why I could not let them cook a little longer (had been just ten days). My theory is I was over-surpressed by the Lucrin so it took a while and more FSH to kick-start me. I am hoping a different protocol will help. But I am so new at this I am probably just talking out of my backside!

Cuddlepie and Redlady - yes, it will be good to go to the consultation on Friday and fire a few (friendly) questions at my FS. In the mean time, DH and I have put in a pretty decent effort to fertilise my lead follie. it is a normal and healthy eggie to start with.