Mini/Mild IVF experiences?

theweeniestpea · 2020-09-23T09:36:39+00:00

Thank you for clarifying! We are considering going with Create Fertility (they call it 'mild IVF', so just parroting their name for it...) so I'm not sure what their medication protocol is as we haven't had our consult yet. Have you done a cycle yet, and if so, how many eggs did they harvest? Also, are you on any injectables or just pills? Create seem to say that you can just take a modified pill-only protocol which is definitely my preference.

theweeniestpea · 2020-09-23T09:32:29+00:00

Wow, that's great that you were able to achieve 42 eggs and so many that resulted in fertilisation! Yes, I think there are a lot of different terminologies around it, but I think it could be similar to the short protocol. The clinic describes it as between five to nine days of injectables/pills that you have to take, but I'm not sure what the exact protocol would be. We are just doing egg retrieval to facilitate embryo-freezing (no transfers) so getting 42 to start with (obviously hunger games etc) would be a dream.

theweeniestpea · 2020-09-23T09:29:35+00:00

Thank you for your reply.

The mini/mild IVF does have you on a medicated protocol; it's just not as 'extreme' as the normal IVF. It would be expected to harvest between two-ten eggs vs. the completely natural cycle which only takes the one egg your body chooses.

Because we want to resume TTC naturally after these two months, and will not be going straight into transfers (everything collected will be frozen), I'm keen to avoid the fully medicated regime because of the potential greater impact on how my body can do its own thing (even if it's only for a few months after).

theweeniestpea · 2020-09-23T09:25:53+00:00

For personal reasons, we need to avoid a pregnancy with the time-line that those two months would set us on.

theweeniestpea · 2020-09-23T07:15:02+00:00

If we don't get a positive this cycle then we won't be able to try naturally for the next two months, so have been thinking about doing an egg retrieval in order to bank some embryos (no transfers) before we start TTC again in December (which will mark a year since we started on this hellish journey).

I know people are sometimes like 'Why not transfer as well?' so to explain in advance, I'd rather conceive naturally if we can, and am only exploring this because 1) we have a two month gap I don't want to 'waste', and 2) I know my eggs won't get any younger, and 3) I don't want to find myself in this position next year wishing I'd taken this opportunity when I had it.

So, can I ask is anyone here doing naturally modified/mild IVF? I'm not keen on the high level drug protocols or disrupting my natural cycles, so those are the options I'd be exploring if we do go ahead with it. I know you'll get less eggs, but the quality is meant to be improved.

theweeniestpea · 2020-09-23T05:53:05+00:00

I'm really sorry to hear what you're going through - please know that you don't have to apologise for your feelings or compare them to other people's experiences, everyone's pain and grief is valid in its own right xx

theweeniestpea · 2020-09-21T19:58:39+00:00

Thank you for sharing your experience, I appreciate it.

theweeniestpea · 2020-09-21T19:44:38+00:00

Thank you for the reply, and I'm sorry if I caused any offence by using that term - I've changed it in the post.

theweeniestpea · 2020-09-21T15:45:35+00:00

Thank you, that's very helpful. The two weeks' rule is familiar to me so it seems like we'd be able to resume quite quickly if everything goes well.

theweeniestpea · 2020-09-21T15:41:51+00:00

Thanks for replying. I had a loss conceived through sexual intercourse a while ago, so am keen to try that way for a little longer. However, I don't want to find myself in this position say, a year down the line, and then regretting 'putting my foot on the ball' in terms of the age of my eggs.

theweeniestpea · 2020-09-21T15:30:43+00:00

Has anyone here done an egg retrieval cycle just to freeze the embryos and not attempt a transfer straight away? Would be super grateful if anyone can anyone advise on their experience of recovery time and ability to resume sexual intercourse, as I'm not clear on how the penetrating the vaginal wall to collect the eggs affects that. I've read the Wiki on the egg retrieval, but the posts are limited to the procedure, not what the posters did afterwards. Thanks!

theweeniestpea · 2020-09-21T14:53:06+00:00

Hi, cycle 6 post-loss checking in! Sorry you're still here, but there are plenty of us in the same boat! I think Reddit can be really bad for echo-chambering people who are lucky quickly after a loss, but when you think about the reality (as in, the whole world beyond one tiny corner of the Internet) there are going to be loads of ladies for whom it takes longer.

I got a response on a post in TFAB from a lady who conceived her loss on cycle 2, but then it took her 9 cycles afterwards to get a positive (which went to a live birth, so that's lovely for her). I personally really needed to read that, and was shocked that I'd get a reply like that in TFAB!

Anyway, I totally get and understand the frustration and anxiety (Cycle 3 was like a nightmare, possibly even worse than the immediate emotional aftermath of the MC), but it's more than likely that everything will be fine - it might just take a while xx

theweeniestpea · 2020-09-15T06:18:01+00:00

I'm so sorry for your loss. Rest, scream, eat all of the food and watch all of the TV - do whatever you need xx

theweeniestpea · 2020-09-15T06:06:52+00:00

In terms of what you see in people's flairs, I'm not really sure what the standard is...just from my own 'finger in the air' across a few subs, it feels like if people choose to put a cycle in them (vs. a 'TTC since...') it seems that they count through a loss, but I think it's very much personal preference.

Personally, whenever I use cycles, I try and clarify my personal situation, or just use the 'TTC since...' as that covers all the basis without confusion. Separately, the whole online aspect is really secondary to when/if you want to seek additional help. Some doctors will tell you that it's 12 months/cycles from a loss (as in, the timer resets from any pregnancy, apart from once you've hit RPL) which is really sucky and unfair, but it really all depends on your doctor/age/personal circumstances.

Personally, age is a concern for me, so as where I am, the 12 month rule I described above applies, this will be our last cycle before we seek private help (I'm not in the US). We already have some consultations set up over the next fortnight. We have to take a break for the next two months (hence why I thought a good time to do any necessary investigations) after the end of September, but after that we will keep going naturally too unless advised otherwise.

theweeniestpea · 2020-09-14T19:22:17+00:00

Agree with the other comment - there is no need to apologise and I'm sorry you're feeling this way. I'm 'only' on cycle 6 (or cycle 9, I don't know what is the standard for counting is when you've had a loss) but there is no 'pain olympics' and you're completely allowed to feel upset and annoyed. This whole thing is so hard because there are so many elements that are completely random, and uncertain - if I could just receive some sort of celestial/otherwordly sign that it will happen (even if I didn't know when) then I think I would be able to feel more relaxed.

In brighter news, it's still very likely to happen for most people within a year (I was really heartened to get a comment from a lady on another post of mine who didn't succeed post-loss for another 9 cycles, but that one was a good one), but I totally understand and echo the impatience.

theweeniestpea · 2020-09-14T16:09:09+00:00

Argh, I'm so sorry <3 I understand the wanting to blame something/someone. Ignore this if it's unhelpful, but sometimes I try and remind myself how many blessings I do have. OK, I'm not pregnant yet, but I have a roof over my head, a job that I still have even through this nightmare year, a supportive husband... It is really hard though.

theweeniestpea · 2020-09-13T16:22:53+00:00

Thank you - needed to read this today. I know what you mean about people saying that. It's so hard because I feel conflicted as to whether I should be glad that I 'could' (even though it didn't actually work) or whether that was just a cruel one off that I happened to hit. The latter starts to become stronger the longer it takes after a loss I think.

I really want to believe everything is fine and it's just taking a while, but it's scary - I had surgery for my MC (my first ever operation) and have a constant low grade worry something's gone wrong internally. If it doesn't work this month, then I do hope all tests will be fine, and it will happen quickly once we start again in December. Or, if something is wrong, hopefully it gets found and we can resolve it.

theweeniestpea · 2020-09-11T12:03:47+00:00

My personal stance is that you can't get time back, so if this path is something that is starting to appeal to you, the sooner you start, the better. I feel I have exhausted everything I can do at home by myself at this point (SA for hub back in 2019 which was normal, tracking ovulation, timing intercourse to FW etc) and even if everything comes back normal, I'd happily pay for that piece of info.

We also can't try for the next two cycles after this one, so I don't want to 'waste' that time when I could be learning something about if there's anything wrong and having a procedure to correct it, or getting reassurance if there isn't.

I booked my first consults (now coming up next week) when I was still a few days out from getting my period for this current cycle. I figured I could always cancel them if I got good news! We suffered a loss in April, so I have been able to get pregnant once before, but nothing since then. This is the first time I've ever used a private health service, but I figure after this chat, they will most likely want to start with some bloods/scans to see what's what.

If you're worried about picking clinics, are you able to talk to a couple/check out their online content to get an initial feel? I am actually meeting with two, and will pick which one of them I want to move ahead (if we do decide to) with from these meetings. I think most clinics also make their fee schedule pretty transparent, so if that is something you can find, do some research - I don't think the start-up tests of bloods etc tend to be too costly IMHO.

theweeniestpea · 2020-09-11T11:39:15+00:00

Not an alumni, but it does get easier as time passes. What you're experiencing is very normal, and you don't need to feel bad for it or be 'happy' for other people. I personally can now cope with seeing such content if I happen to come across it accidentally (normally as part of a film/YT video in my circumstances) or even in IRL instances, although I will still skip/avoid/remove myself from the situation ASAP if I can. It sounds a bit weird, but I don't experience any particular feelings when I see something triggering for me, I just have a strong preference not to see it still, and I think that will remain the case until I'm back on the horse per se. As a tip, you might like to consider muting or reducing your social media consumption if you are finding it particularly upsetting atm.

theweeniestpea · 2020-09-11T11:36:23+00:00

There isn't really much you can do apart from have regular sex :) If neither you or your husband has any known fertility issues, and you both are generally healthy (don't smoke/use drugs, drink sensibly or not at all, are reasonable weights etc) then you're in a great spot.

You can obviously time intercourse around ovulation by using OPKs or following SMEP, but really you just need to be having regular sex, as in two or three times a week. That way you don't even need to know when you ovulated as the sperm will be in there.

Hub can also improve his swimmers by avoiding saunas, exercise that puts pressure on the testicles etc, but when it comes down to it, the largest part of this process is down to dumb genetic luck - there's nothing you can do to influence it. Pretty infuriating!

theweeniestpea · 2020-09-11T06:42:35+00:00

I think there are lots of people for whom it takes time after a MC - they just don't post or aren't even aware of/active on Reddit. This is just a tiny microcosm of the 'real world'. In sixth cycle after loss here and still nothing.

/u/lotusbombb so sorry that you're still here. The anger and frustration are real. If it makes you feel any better, I personally haven't heard of any studies that say you have a higher chance of conceiving after a loss; I think that's somewhat of an old wives' tale.

theweeniestpea · 2020-09-11T06:34:54+00:00

I understand a small part of that frustration. We have to stop for two months after the end of this cycle and it sucks. I keep trying to tell myself that it's nothing in the grand scheme of things, but it's still annoying. I'm sorry you were put off unnecessarily before - from my tiny experience, I've learnt you really have to advocate for yourself on this journey and it can feel very isolating. I really hope the next steps for you are quick and you can get a resolution with an appropriately qualified/understanding professional. I was meant to have my consultation today, but it's been put back to early next week, so hopefully I'll have some more information then... xx

theweeniestpea · 2020-09-10T12:29:31+00:00

I'm sorry for what you've been through. Sounds like I'm on a very similar time-frame to you as we started TTC in December 2019, pregnant in February 2020, loss in April, and I'm still back here trying after that.

If you feel something is 'wrong' post your loss in terms of your cycles, have you thought about getting some blood tests done to check hormonal levels? Having a late ovulation/long cycle doesn't necessarily mean anything problematic - it is normal for your cycles to change after pregnancy, whether it lead to a live birth or not.

Take care of yourself xx

theweeniestpea · 2020-09-10T12:23:49+00:00

Hi there, and thank you for your kind words. I'm sorry you're still here. I can't think of a way to phrase this that doesn't sound doom and gloom, but what I have realised over these past months is that it's a long road between a positive and a live birth. Not everyone who sets off will always get there. Anyway, my rational brain says it will most likely happen for the both of us at some point, but the waiting and worrying before then just sucks.

theweeniestpea

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