Anyone with a 1st cycle IVF story?

[klk43]

Am in the midst of my first cycle... has anyone here had a successful pregnancy with their first IVF try? I'm self-pay and am trying to be optimistic. Any stories would be SO welcome!

[poppan]

Yes--my twins are from my first IVF. We had male factor, PCOS and autoimmune issues... my E2 was sky high and RE wouldn't do my transfer because he was so afraid I would get OHSS. We froze all the embryos right after fertilization and then I did an FET timed with my natural cycle (so no meds except progesterone suppositories). We transferred three and two stuck.

Good luck!

[goldfinches]

It took us 5 years to get to our first IVF. We ended up getting 19 follies, most of those had eggs. Out of those, 11 fertilized, we transfered 2 and one resulted in DD1. Out of the remaining, we have DD2 and baby #3 on the way.

I was self-pay also. We agreed before we cycled that we would only try once before moving on. We also talked the RE into a reduction in price, not huge, but any little bit helps...

[KCMichigan]

We self paid and had success on the 1st IVF

We had PCOS, male factor, and high FSH. We did ICSI and had 4 embryos after 5 days. Did a 6 day transfer of 2 and had twin DDS.

Then attempted a FET with the 2 frozen embies and neither thawed so we had nothing to transfer.

Good Luck!

[lesliesara63]

I have a friend who was successful on her first IVF and then again on a FET. In Canada IVF is all self pay too. Good luck!

[klk43]

Thanks for the encouragement... that's really exciting to hear ... I am 44, my donor is 38 and the RE keeps telling her her ovary (one is out of commission) is 'amazing' and producing follies like crazy for her age. Just had my 2nd US today and was told my lining is 7.2 and that they like it at least 7 (whatever that means). Her US last week came up with 'good numbers'. No problems with the Lupron and estrace thus far for me; donor's response to her stims so far is ok, just some headaches. So I am just keeping my fingers crossed that we stay on track, that she doesn't get OHSS. If we do the transfer will take place probably the end of next week or weekend. I've been scouring the web hoping to find success stories for first time cyclers so I really appreciate all of yours!

[bluehairedwoman]

Yes! Best of luck to you. Here's my story.

I was 37 years old at the time so not very optimistic. By some freak of nature, they retrieved 24 eggs, 18 fertilized. I was ecstatic. By day 5 though, all but 3 had fizzled out and stopped developing. I was devastated. We transferred one fragmented blastocyst and the two other poorly-developing morulae and I had no hope that any of them would stick. My RE was not optimistic at all and told me so.

First beta was 43 and the nurse actually told me I had a chemical pregnancy. Second beta was 103 and the nurse told me it was probably ectopic. Third beta 893 and the finally were able to tell me I was pregnant. Talk about an emotional rollercoaster.

Now I have an absolutely perfect 25 month-old DD, no health problems, very healthy pregnancy despite her starting out as a highly fragmented blast. I don't know what I did to deserve being so extremely fortunate for this to have worked! Good things do happen.

If you can do acupuncture with someone specializing in infertilty or ARTs, I'd strongly suggest it. Best of luck!

[aggieamy]

It looks like we're in the same situation and at the same time! We are doing self-pay IVF for the first time right now. I had ovarian cancer at 17 years old and had both ovaries removed so we have a donor. (She's cute as a button too!) We hoping for a transfer on August 10th and are praying that there are some embryos to freeze too so we can try for future siblings with the same medical history.

[chickeedoodle]

I'm doing first IVF soon too!!

What a great story - thanks for sharing! I'm gearing up for first IVF cycle - we are self-pay, so it's also a one time shot for us.
I'm 40, have 4yo DS from IUI, then 8 failed IUI's and 1 m/c.

I'm hoping it works on the first time, and praying for some to freeze, in case it doesn't.

I'm starting the pre-IVF acupuncture protocol today - and have it scheduled for before/ after ET as well.

Did you do acupuncture???
Thanks!

Originally Posted by bluehairedwoman

Yes! Best of luck to you. Here's my story.

I was 37 years old at the time so not very optimistic. By some freak of nature, they retrieved 24 eggs, 18 fertilized. I was ecstatic. By day 5 though, all but 3 had fizzled out and stopped developing. I was devastated. We transferred one fragmented blastocyst and the two other poorly-developing morulae and I had no hope that any of them would stick. My RE was not optimistic at all and told me so.

First beta was 43 and the nurse actually told me I had a chemical pregnancy. Second beta was 103 and the nurse told me it was probably ectopic. Third beta 893 and the finally were able to tell me I was pregnant. Talk about an emotional rollercoaster.

Now I have an absolutely perfect 25 month-old DD, no health problems, very healthy pregnancy despite her starting out as a highly fragmented blast. I don't know what I did to deserve being so extremely fortunate for this to have worked! Good things do happen.

If you can do acupuncture with someone specializing in infertilty or ARTs, I'd strongly suggest it. Best of luck!

[lkmiscnet]

Age 42, self pay, male factor, ICSI

Have our wonderful DS who just turned one from our first IVF. We still have 3 frozen embies, so I'm stressed about the outcome of thawing them and doing an FET for #2 and whether it will work since I'm now going to be 45 in Dec. and our DS is still breastfeeding while the clock is ticking. I have to get two periods in a row before we can attempt the FET, but with no sign of weaning, that just isn't happening soon enough for me and he's just not ready to wean. Sigh...

Best of luck to you.

[bluehairedwoman]

Originally Posted by chickeedoodle

Did you do acupuncture???
Thanks!

yes, started acu one cycle prior to my stim cycle, and continued through pregnancy. the most important time to visit the acu-ist is the night before, or even a couple of hours before transfer so the uterus is calm and ready to accept the embryo(s).

I think getting acu was a huge part of my cycle's success. It was really weird but about a week after my transfer I had another acu session. That afternoon I started spotting and it lasted into the next day. Of course, when you see spotting we're programmed to think the worst so I was even less optimistic. The day after that was my first beta, which was a low 43. I'm convinced that having that acu session encouraged (albeit late) implantation, which explains my low betas. By the time I had my first u/s everything was all caught up and we were able to see the h/b at 6 1/2 weeks.

Wishing everyone the best of luck!

[chickeedoodle]

Originally Posted by bluehairedwoman

yes, started acu one cycle prior to my stim cycle, and continued through pregnancy. the most important time to visit the acu-ist is the night before, or even a couple of hours before transfer so the uterus is calm and ready to accept the embryo(s).

I have been seeing one regularly for various reasons, but today we started the protocol that leads up to ER. This protocol the do elec stim on certain points. Never had that done before, but it went fine.

My clinic has an Acupuncturist who comes into the room before ET, and then again after ET. Luckily, my regular Acupuncturist knows her, and really likes her too! (my clinic is in a different city than where I live)

I'm hoping this brings us a positive result.

[chickeedoodle]

Originally Posted by lkmiscnet

Age 42, self pay, male factor, ICSI

Have our wonderful DS who just turned one from our first IVF. We still have 3 frozen embies, so I'm stressed about the outcome of thawing them and doing an FET for #2 and whether it will work since I'm now going to be 45 in Dec. and our DS is still breastfeeding while the clock is ticking. I have to get two periods in a row before we can attempt the FET, but with no sign of weaning, that just isn't happening soon enough for me and he's just not ready to wean. Sigh...

Best of luck to you.

I just saw a TV show where the woman was 45 doing FET. She did get pg, and the Dr said it's the age of when the egg was retrieved that is the factor, not the your age when it's implanted. So there is hope!!!

[klk43]

Yes, I have been doing acupuncture and she's quite insistent that I see her the day before and the day after the transfer. I am really hoping it helps.

Donor had 2nd US this morning and we are awaiting the results. Been a bit stressful since donor has gotten lost both times on the way to her US and was late. And this time the nurse didn't seem to see as much/many follies as they did at the first US. I don't know what that means since they said she was responding so well before. But am on wait and see mode till this afternoon.

What does FET stand for? I keep seeing it everywhere and have no clue.

[bluehairedwoman]

Originally Posted by klk43

What does FET stand for? I keep seeing it everywhere and have no clue.

Frozen Embryo Transfer

[klk43]

Well, just got the word from 2nd US... only 5 follicles...I of course burst into tears because I know not every follicle has an egg in it and some die off in the retireval so I'm afraid there won't be any to transfer and I've just taken out this huge loan for nothing. They are bringing her in for another US tomorrow and might trigger her tomorrow night depending on how she looks... I don't feel very good.

[bluehairedwoman]

I'm so sorry. Do you pay a la carte? If they end up cancelling the cycle you shouldn't have to pay for the retrieval and transfer.

What day of stims is she on, and how big were the follicles? It's possible that if they're not too big that other smaller ones could start growing and catch up to them.
good luck.

[klk43]

It's only Day 7 of her meds; they didn't say the size of the follicles; they think they want to trigger her tomorrow night, which is only Day 8 of meds - isn't that early? Her E2 is 546 today which I think is good number. She goes tomorrow AM for another US and bloodwork. I don't understand - they keep saying she's doing realy well but that doesn't seem like many follies to me. Do more follies come about after the trigger shot?

[goldfinches]

Originally Posted by klk43

Do more follies come about after the trigger shot?

No, sorry. It helps to mature those that are the biggest and closest to being ready.
But, remember, it only takes one. (not easy to hear when you are dealing with this, huh?)

[DaisyMae08]

That does seem early. I think I had 10 days of stims before triggering. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you!