Starting IVF Monday 26th Jan 09

Sorry, I don't have any tips or advice but I just wanted to say a huge good luck!!!!

Hi there Shezhoping, just thought I would drop you quick note and wish you all the best for your upcoming IVF.

I am just about at the end of our first cycle of IVF, egg collection is Sunday, eek! And there are a few of us going through it at the moment on the Coping with Infertility Forum, so feel free to pop over and join us there.

Re the injections, they are not too bad once your've done your first, it seems so scary to start with but once your've done one, you'll be away laughing! I didn't really have any side affects apart from tiredness with the injections and I don't remember reading that anybody else had any horrible side affects either so hopefully that will apply to you too.

Anyway best of luck to you, hope it all goes well. Feel free to ask any questions and I will try and answer as best as possible.

Take care.

Good luck Shezhoping!! Let us know how you go

Hi Shezhoping
We are starting ICSI shortly, I am waiting for my period to show up (will be any day) to start the pill. Its then 2-4 weeks till injections. I am 38 yrs and we have been trying for a year. We don't qualify for public funding though. Its been a shock that ICSI is the only option and I am a bit anxious about IVF too.

Sounds like good advice from Lulu.

I'd love to hear how your egg collection went ScaredyCat

I had my first injection at 9.15 this morning. My nurse was right, she said if you pluck your eyebrows it is the same pain! It was just getting over the mental hurdle that was the difficult bit. I felt really proud after that, lol.

Shopa - if you dont mind me asking, how come you don't qualify for public funding? Also, I will keep updating this forum so that you have an idea of what happens along the way.

I had a look at ScaredyCat's forum and she said they had collected 11 eggs... well done

Thank you for all the good luck wishes.

Edited by Shezhoping

Glad to hear you are coping with your injections Shezhoping, its really not too bad once your under way, is it, it is definitely a mind game!! When is your first blood test due?

And I know I wasn't expecting my EC to fall on a weekend, let alone a public holiday, but I guess they have gotta come out when they are ready!!

So I had EC yesterday which all I can say is I'm glad its over, the worse thing about it is the unknown but its really not too bad. I know this is really hard but try not to think too much, which was my biggest problem, overthinking the whole process!!! And the nurses and doctors are brilliant and it was all over in about 5-10 mins.

They managed to collect 12 but only 11 were eggs and 9 were fertilised over night. And all going well we are booked in Wednesday for transfer back in.

Good luck to both you and Shopa, I hope everything goes well for you guys. I'll pop in here from time to time and give you an update.

ScaredyCat that is great! congratulations I would be thrilled with that!

Really good to hear the injections are not so bad Shezhoping.

I am waiting for my period which is late. The nurse today said if it doesn't arrive by next monday they will arrange a blood test. I said the Dr told us there was little chance we would conceive naturally... but she said they can tell when it might show up from the hormones ect. I am likely to be on the pill for arund 3 weeks b4 injections. I am alternating between excitedness and anxiety. At least now I have some real hope.

Shezhoping, my hubby had a vasectomy and a reversal last Jan but has antibodies. The fact that he has had a voluntary reversal takes our points way down so we cannot qualify :(

Best of luck to you ScaredyCat and Shezhoping.

Well had the transfer today and that was a breeze, so all good there!!

I had an eight cell, grade 5 transferred (not that I know what that means really!!) but they seemed to be really happy with it, so so am I! And have four others frozen today, plus maybe three more tomorrow if they keep developing correctly.

So now I have the dreaded two week wait, not going to be easy but will try and keep busy with work and trying to relax and take it easy.

I can totally relate to your feelings Shezhoping of "am I ready for this", I had a major bout of that just before I started the IVF journey and like you we have been trying for years too, I think it may have had something to do with nerves and not wanting to go through the IVF process, but once started it was ok and really its not that bad, would do it again tomorrow if had too!

So I have my fingers crossed for you ladies, I hope your journey is a successful one! Take care and good luck!

Thanks gannet, me too!

All the best ScaredyCat.

I am not so patient probably just a bit despondent, an dreading another test. I have waited so long to start trying for children and every month last year was so difficult when I got my period or BFN's. Also after monitoring my cycle last month I was unsure if I ovulated or if so then it was late into my cycle so am not surprised it is late. And I have no symptoms at all. Still I did get a test pack yesterday and was going to do in the morning but then woke up around 4am with cramps and was so certain I was getting AF I took a neurophen and went back to sleep. But nothing today at all..I really would like to just get on with the IVF now.

Wit the menevit I don't think you can get it in the pharmacy but the Fertility Associates can write a prescription for your hubby. It is about $90 for a 3 month supply. They get it from Aussie. It is susposed to be very good. The nurse said some of the main ingredients zinc and selenium would also be good for my hubby to take. He has been on multi's, zinc, folic, vit e and anti-oxidents for the last month. They say though that it takes 3 months to make sperm and if he was to start menvit now it would not likely be useful for when the sample would be needed. Also not sure it as helpful for my hubby.

Stay positive and best of luck to everyone out there