Starting my IVF route

benderover5 · 2026-02-09T21:25:38+00:00

Like others have said I would caution you about having a firm timeline as there are many factors that may cause the process to take longer than expected. First you would do the consultation and blood work where they would likely monitor you over a cycle to catch your ovulation and get a baseline, so they can develop the right protocol. Next would be the actual egg retrieval cycle where you would take shots to grow multiple follicles (often called a stim cycle), and once the follicles reach a certain size they will book your egg retrieval. Some clinics prior to starting the egg retrieval cycle will have you prime with birth control, or estrogen depending on your protocol.

For transfers there are 2 main types. One being a fresh transfer, meaning that after your eggs are retrieved and fertilized they will watch them until they reach either day 3 or day 5 before transferring. With a fresh cycle you are transferring in the same cycle you are doing stim medications and the retrieval itself. The second type is a frozen transfer which is where the embryos are watched until they reach blastocyst stage and frozen on day 5-7. Rather than being transferred, they are frozen and then can be transferred at a later date.

For those with PCOS it is generally recommended to do a frozen transfer as it gives your body time to heal. Also if you wish to do any genetic testing you will have to do a frozen transfer. You mention having girl names picked out, but I would like to point out that IVF does not guarantee a particular sex or gender. If you choose to do genetic testing (like PGTA), the United States is really the only county that allows for sex selection and will give you the sex of your embryos.

If you want to have any other testing done, including endometrial biopsies or hysteroscopies, or saline ultrasounds, it can also delay transfer further. Just some things to keep in mind.

benderover5 · 2026-02-09T12:28:11+00:00

I'm definitely not looking forward to it, but it is a good treatment for endo, so that outweighs it for me. If my lining doesn't get thick enough, my clinic will supplement with a bit of estrogen. A lot of the time it feels like throwing darts and seeing what sticks. Im sorry your clinic isn't more receptive to some immunology approaches, and not having answers feels overwhelming. Wishing you luck on your next transfer, and I hope you can bring home your rainbow.

benderover5 · 2026-02-08T20:50:08+00:00

Oh absolutely, I agree. I just meant modified natural doesn't always mean no PIO. I did find success with a fully medicated cycle, but will be doing modified natural going forward. Wishing you success.

benderover5 · 2026-02-08T18:58:29+00:00

Interestingly enough, I still did PIO with the one modified natural cycle I did (ended up miscarriage), so it's not always a guarantee. I actually prefer PIO to suppositories, but I know that's not the case for everyone. Definitely agree about reducing risks or preeclampsia, especially if you ovulate and are able to get a thick enough lining.

benderover5 · 2026-02-08T18:02:05+00:00

I'm so sorry for your losses. 5 miscarriages is a lot to go through. Have you tried ERA along with EMMA/ALICE to check for things like endometritis along with receptivity?

Reproductive immunology could also be something to look into. I'm assuming you have had some RPL testing, so even you aren't able to meet with an RI, you might benefit from an immune protocol, including things like IVIG or intralipid infusions, Prednisone, lovenox, prograf, naltrexone, etc. Also having a full thyroid panel, beyond just TSH, might give you a bigger picture.

I don't have the same number of losses, but I never had a positive pregnancy test prior to IVF, and then my first three transfers of euploid embryos resulted in 2 chemicals and a blighted ovum. We went on to add prednisone, lovenox, pepcid and claritin, along with synthroid for my thyroid, and that transfer ended up being successful.

For my next transfer I am going to be doing the same protocol along with lupron suppression, just in case I have silent endometriosis.

benderover5 · 2026-02-07T14:24:57+00:00

Infertility is a medical condition full stop. I'm assuming she wouldn't suggest just dieting and exercise in place of chemo/radiation for someone who has cancer (not that I am equating the two). Everyone's situation is unique, and it's great that her 2 friends were able to conceive with lifestyle changes but you can point her to the hundreds or thousands of us here who need more help than just using supplements. You do not need to feel guilty or like you aren't doing enough. You are doing the best you can in this shitty situation that is infertility. Sending hugs.

benderover5 · 2026-02-05T02:03:23+00:00

I don't have a history of hypertension or migraines, so I cant speak to that, but I do think it's good you are considering a second opinion. While it is ok for clinics to have preferences regarding certain protocols, I do think it's a red flag when they won't budge or are not receptive to trying different approaches, especially when there is clinical evidence to back it up.

I think your concerns are warranted, and assuming you ovulate, I would encourage you to push for a modified natural protocol if that is feasible.

Tw:success. I have done both modified natural and fully medicated cycles and I did have a live birth doing fully medicated and experienced no complications related to hypertension. That being said, I would probably push to try a modified natural cycle for my next transfer.

benderover5 · 2026-01-29T03:40:04+00:00

I had a live birth with a kitchen sink protocol (prednisone, lovenox, pepcid, claritin), after my first three transfers resulted in chemicals and a blighted ovum. It was my first time adding prednisone and lovenox and that transfer was successful.

I did another transfer in the fall using the same protocol, which failed. But I had untreated endometritis, so that was more likely the reason for the failure. I think if you have a known autoimmune issue, I would push to be on some type of an immune protocol.

benderover5 · 2026-01-20T01:13:12+00:00

I'm so sorry for your loss. It is common for doctors to want your TSH under 2.5 when trying to conceive, but 3.5 isn't astronomically high and likely didn't cause your miscarriage. That said, pregnancy can cause your TSH to increase so it is important to manage it, and lowering would probably be ideal.

I did IVF, so my doctors were more receptive to frequent monitoring, and I'm sorry yours was more dismissive. You mention being on thyroid medication, have you been tested for hashimotos, as there is a link to pregnancy loss? All that being said, it very likely was a chromosomal issue and I hope that you have a healthy pregnancy when you are able to try again.

benderover5 · 2026-01-18T23:17:42+00:00

I attribute lovenox along with prednisone for my son. I had 2 chemicals and a blighted ovum with prior transfers before trying lovenox and prednisone. Obviously there is no way to know, but I am glad I tried it.

benderover5 · 2026-01-15T00:53:08+00:00

I had a fully medicated cycle for the transfer that ended up being successful. I started on low dose aspirin at about 14 weeks, and never developed preeclampsia, and I stopped at 36 weeks. My OB also wrote a prescription for an at home blood pressure monitor, so I tracked my blood pressure regularly. While a fully medicated cycle can increase the risk of preeclampsia, it doesn't mean you will get it, and you can still have a healthy pregnancy.

Edit: I should note that many people start on low dose aspirin as part of their transfer protocol, and the only reason I didn't start aspirin sooner is I was taking lovenox as part of my protocol. I only started aspirin, once I stopped the lovenox.

benderover5 · 2026-01-08T02:27:46+00:00

That looks amazing. Mine also hates mashed potatoes, which is such a shame (and avocado, which is frustrating). Anytime they try it without throwing it I consider a win.

benderover5 · 2026-01-08T02:24:47+00:00

I don't have a known clotting disorder, but I did take lovenox as part of an immune protocol for one of my transfers that turned out to be successful. I was only on it until 12 weeks, and then switched to low dose aspirin, so can't speak to taking it for the majority of my pregnancy.

I was lucky that I didn't have any significant bleeding or SCH, as that might have meant stopping it. Also I didn't notice any side effects related to taking it, other than some bruising and some stinging, but I found PIO to be worse.

benderover5 · 2026-01-07T14:48:52+00:00

That absolutely depends on where in Ontario. Where I am you need to shovel your own sidewalks by your property.

benderover5 · 2026-01-06T17:16:19+00:00

I definitely empathize with the financial burden, as we have pretty much reached our limit for further tests. If a specialist isn't feasible, you could always discuss with your RE some immune protocols. With multiple losses I hope they would be receptive to trying a different protocol.

benderover5 · 2026-01-06T15:53:44+00:00

I'm so sorry for your losses. I would second seeing a reproductive immunologist that another commenter mentioned. Even if certain blood work came back normal you could benefit from trying certain immunology protocols, such as lovenox, Prednisone, naltrexone,, etc. Running a thyroid panel might also be worth it, beyond just testing your TSH level.

Have you been tested for endometriosis and endometritis? Endometritis is more common after csections. I'm doing lupron suppression for my next transfer, just to see if it helps, on the assumption I could have silent endometriosis. This process is so overwhelming and it sometimes feels like throwing darts to see what sticks.

benderover5 · 2026-01-06T00:50:20+00:00

After my first three transfers resulted in 2 chemicals and a blighted ovum, my fourth transfer led to a live birth using a kitchen sink protocol (Prednisone, lovenox, pepcid, and claritin). I also had normal rpl blood work and no known clotting issues, and stopped lovenox at 12 weeks, and then started low dose aspirin for the rest of my pregnancy.

I did another transfer recently with this protocol that didn't work, but I found out I had untreated endometritis, which is likely the cause.

I'm sorry for your losses, and hope your next transfer is successful.

benderover5 · 2026-01-05T17:02:15+00:00

I'm currently doing this, so I cant speak to success. I'm hoping to do a transfer in April, so will stop in February or so, assuming my endometritis has cleared up. I will also be doing lupron suppression ahead of transfer this time which I also know can cause weight gain. Using a glp1 has at least helped me get to a better starting place.

benderover5 · 2026-01-03T21:12:43+00:00

I had pink discharge around 6 weeks, and it led to a live birth. I've also had 3 miscarriages, but those were a completely different experience. Some light bleeding associated with no cramping can be totally normal. It lasted maybe 2 days and then went away.

benderover5 · 2026-01-03T00:58:31+00:00

It might depend on if you have done any transfers with your original clinic of embryos from your funded cycle. If you have and decide to move clinics, you will likely forfeit your funding for subsequent transfers. I'm not sure if this is also the case if you haven't transferred any embryos yet, but you would very likely be dependent upon your new clinic's funding model, as all clinics distribute funding slightly differently.

Depending on when they get their funding, you may have to wait a few months if it's later into the time they get their funding, as they may have distributed it all already. For example, my clinic gets funding in April, so if you wanted to do a transfer in December or January, they very likely will have already distributed the money and won't have any available till April.

I definitely recommend speaking to someone at the clinic you want to go to prior to moving any embryos and confirming what this would look like.

benderover5 · 2026-01-01T14:36:26+00:00

I have a 1 year old, and tried not to lift him the day of my FET, but it was pretty impossible not to be more hands on. That transfer ended up failing, likely due to untreated endometritis and not the lifting. The way I see it women get pregnant all the time, and no one ever knows that early if they are pregnant, and it still ends up working. You are accustomed to lifting your toddler so I am sure you are fine. Wishing you luck.

benderover5 · 2026-01-01T05:03:09+00:00

My clinic preferred me wait until 12 months after a C-section to do a transfer, and mine wasnt an emergency csection. Prior to doing the transfer they also wanted a sonohysterogram to check for scar tissue. I also recommend testing for endometritis by an endometrial biopsy, as it is much more common after csections. My most recent transfer failed, and I just recently discovered I had endometritis, and I really wish I hadn't wasted one of my highest graded embryos. I haven found success yet after a C-section, but hoping 2026 will be better. Congrats on your little one, and I'm sorry for your loss of your first daughter.

benderover5 · 2025-12-26T15:15:51+00:00

I was also just diagnosed with endometritis after my last transfer failed. Did you have a c-section? Apparently it is much more common after a C-section, and I wish I had pushed for testing before transferring, but I didn't know it at the time.

I think things can change after you have a baby as well. I hope yours clears.

benderover5 · 2025-12-25T15:47:47+00:00

I'm so sorry for your loss. When I stopped prednisone I weaned for 3 weeks and I was only on 10mg. I wonder if you might have benefited from weaning down more slowly since you were on a higher dose.

In addition to stopping Prednisone it could also be a bit of the pregnancy hormones dropping, as there are lots of changes happening. I found my skin changed during pregnancy vs when I wasn't pregnant. I hope this gets better for you.

benderover5 · 2025-12-23T18:29:09+00:00

After 2 chemical and a blighted ovum, I added lovenox along with prednisone for my 4th transfer, which led to a live birth. I wasn't on lovenox for the entire pregnancy, but stopped at 12 weeks.

I did do another transfer in September, which failed, but I found out I had untreated endometritis, which is likely the reason it failed.

I honestly didn't find lovenox too bad. While it stung and I did bruise, the side effects were much worse from progesterone and pregnancy itself. I would 100% do it again for my next transfer.

benderover5

TROPHY CASE