First cycle IVF/ICSI, and I'm feeling really scared

[sunshine 11]

Hi Elzi,
Please know that the chances of your cycle being cancelled are pretty small, I know it can all seem very daunting, but if you feel comfortable with your FS, he/she will be monitoring you to make sure the cycle is successful - remember that they want it to succeed too!
The needles are soooo much easier than I thought they would be. I did them myself and just put them in slowly which hardly hurt at all.
My 1st cycle we froze at 3 days because I got 4 embryos (one of them is my DD), my second cycle I got 9 on day 3 so we went to blast, and one of them is going to make my DD a big sister in Feb. Remember again, your FS will be trying to maximise your chance of success.
I found BB was an immense support as like you, I didn't know anyone else going through IVF. Make sure your FS knows your concerns too so they can be aware too.
Wishing you all the luck on your journey!

[andi81]

Hi Elzi,

Your story sounds so familiar to me. I was also in denial and put off seeing an FS for 2 years - worst thing is now I wish I hadn't as I didn't realise how long the IVF journey would take.

I just had my first failed IVF cycle and I had 3 day embryo transfer too. I'm new to this site and I've noticed everyone talking about blastocyst and I'm unsure of what it means. FS told me that we'd leave it a little longer before triggering next time but there's never been any discussion about the 3/5 days...I forgot to bring this up at my appt yesterday!

So now that I've seen your thread saying you are concerned about it...it's got me wondering...?

In regards to the needles etc everything was fairly easy and pain free. The worst thing was miss dumb ass - I was so forgetful! (it's good to have something to blame it on!)

I hope everything goes well for you...sometimes it's the unknown that is the hardest part. BB is great for finding people that understand, it's great know that you're not alone

[nicoleh]

Hi Elzi,

Your story sounds so familiar to me. I was also in denial and put off seeing an FS for 2 years - worst thing is now I wish I hadn't as I didn't realise how long the IVF journey would take.

I just had my first failed IVF cycle and I had 3 day embryo transfer too. I'm new to this site and I've noticed everyone talking about blastocyst and I'm unsure of what it means. FS told me that we'd leave it a little longer before triggering next time but there's never been any discussion about the 3/5 days...I forgot to bring this up at my appt yesterday!

With them transferring a 5 day blastocyst I was told your chances are better - my FS does not do any transfer but blastocyst
I looked up the meaning for you so hope this helps!

A blastocyst is an embryo which has developed to the point of having 2 different cell components and a fluid cavity. Human embryos, in culture in an IVF lab, or developing naturally in the female body, usually reach the blastocyst stage by day 5 after fertilization. Blastocyst transfer with IVF can give high pregnancy success rates.

So now that I've seen your thread saying you are concerned about it...it's got me wondering...?

In regards to the needles etc everything was fairly easy and pain free. The worst thing was miss dumb ass - I was so forgetful! (it's good to have something to blame it on!)

I hope everything goes well for you...sometimes it's the unknown that is the hardest part. BB is great for finding people that understand, it's great know that you're not alone

With them transferring a 5 day blastocyst I was told your chances are better - my FS does not do any transfer but blastocyst
I looked up the meaning for you so hope this helps!

A blastocyst is an embryo which has developed to the point of having 2 different cell components and a fluid cavity. Human embryos, in culture in an IVF lab, or developing naturally in the female body, usually reach the blastocyst stage by day 5 after fertilization. Blastocyst transfer with IVF can give high pregnancy success rates.

[kristine08]

I am also just about to start my first IVF/ICSI cycle, so I understand where you are coming from.
In regard to 3 days vs. 5 days transfer my understanding is that apparently with 5 day transfers there is a higher success rate, as the embryo is more developed and therefore it is easier to estimate how good the embryo is. BUT there are A LOT OF success stories with 3 day embryos. I think there was a thread on here a little while back about 5 days vs. 3 days and a lot of people seemed to have success with 3 days. If it wasn't successful IVF clinics wouldn't do it. I have heard that sometimes a 3day embryo doesn't develop into a blastocyst, but still could have led to a pregnancy if it had been put back at 3 days. I think it is better to have a 3 day transfer than none at all. So if you have a low number of embryos then it might be better to put one back at 3 days then risk waiting and maybe being left with none.
If you feel comfortable with you FS then I would trust him in what he recommends.

[Janie71]

Good luck with your first cycle. I have a beautiful 17 month old daughter who was the result of a HRT FET. She had originally been frozen at 2 days and when she was at 4 cells. She was transferred when she was 6 cells and at 3 days. So you can definitely get pregnant from a 3 day embie! I had only one other cycle which was my stim cycle. That was a bfn, but we got lots to freeze (including the embie that became my daughter).

My clinic only do blast cycles if you are over a certain age or have had a number of failed cycles. Trust your fs, that is why we pay them the big bucks!

Hope everything goes well and I think you will be pleasantly surprised at how much the needles DON'T hurt. If you are worried put some ice on the area before hand.

Janie xxx

[Elzi]

Thanks EVERYONE for sharing your words of wisdom with me.

i guess it's just stressful when you feel like you're not in control of the factors that could make or break success.

Also, does anybody know much about whether the pill and synarel gets rid of the immature follicles caused by PCOS? I'm scared of Hyperstim if the follicles are still there - is that even a risk?

Honestly once again i really thank you all for your help... it can get pretty lonely out there as i'm sure you all know.

[JBM]

it's normal to feel like this, i felt the same time the first time around.i was scared that nothing was happening as i didn't feel any different. except the bloating.
good luck to you.
it's not as scary as it seems at first.