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thread: IVF and> 38 years old

  1. #1
    Registered User

    May 2010
    9

    IVF and> 38 years old

    Hi, I am turning 39 this August and have just started on my 1st IVF cycle.
    Like to hear from similar women my age with their IVF experience.
    Currently on 10 units of Lucrin and 175 units of Puregon.
    Was previously on 225 units of Puregon but estrogen levels have shot up the last 2 days from 2089 to 7500!
    Hopefully with the lower dose of Puregon my estrogen levels will fall.
    6 decent size follicles spotted on my second scan - 3 x 15MM and 3 x 12-13mm
    They need to grow to around 16-20 mm!
    Like to hear if women over 38 yo have similar number of follicle count?

  2. #2
    Registered User

    Jan 2008
    Brissy
    1,292

    i am the same age as you and will be starting my second full stim cycle IVF/ ICSI very soon.

    last time i was on gonal- f and synarel spray

    i got 11 eggs and 7 fertilised

    i had a fresh transfer and 5 frozen transfers last time all with BFN. negative results

    am hoping for a better result this time as don't want to be over 40 and doing this still and DH has said this is it. if no BFP then thats it.

    hope you have a better result than i have had so far.

    acupuncure helps with the stress.

    good luck

  3. #3
    Registered User

    Jun 2009
    Melbourne
    11

    I am 38 and doing my second stim cycle after my first stim & first FET were both BFNs.

    I too am a bit anxious about my age. I feel like time is against me and I've started this whole TTC process way too late.

    My first stim cycle I got 7 follies at egg pick up, of which 3 fertilised. One was put back and 2 frozen.
    1st FET I had both frosties put back but BFN so now I'm back stimming again.

    Best of luck with your cycle!!

  4. #4
    Registered User

    May 2010
    9

    Thank you for all your responses. Definitely know what you mean about feeling anxious at our age.
    I kept it too late as well and I am now having to face the reality that falling pregnant is going to be a
    challenge. But I was never ready for motherhood when I was in my late 20's or early 30's. Did not get
    married until I was 35. So trying to focus and stay positive and cest la vie

    Got my EPU tomorrow at 9.15 am. Starting to freak out a little now becos only getting sedation and local
    anasthetic. So fingers cross I won't find the procedure too uncomfortable. As suggested I booked myself
    in for accupunture straight after.

    Excited but nervous and hoping to get good quality eggs tomorrow!

  5. #5
    Registered User

    Jun 2009
    Melbourne
    11

    I was the same - met my partner in my mid 30s so not ready for motherhood until now. But plenty of women successfully do IVF in their late 30s and early 40s. Hopefully we will be among the success stories!

    Best of luck for EPU tomorrow :-)

  6. #6
    Registered User

    May 2007
    Perth
    113

    I was 38 and 39yo respectively with my first two IVF cycles (2 mths apart).

    With my first cycle I had puregon of 250 I think. I had four follicles, four eggs, four fertilised and two were transferred at day three. I had a chemical pregnancy.

    Later (last year) the remaining two were thawed, one survived whichw as transferred, and I had a miscarriage at 8.5 weeks (baby son had trisomy 7).

    With the second fresh cycle (i was just turned 39) I had a similar puregon dose (perhaps a little higher) and had 7 follicles, 4 eggs, four fertilised, but one stopped developing. I had two transferred and one frozen. I became pregnant with my DS on that cycle. Subsequently the frozen embie failed to thaw.

    I dont knoww hat my antral follicle counts etc were as they didnt do them at that clinic, but my first FSH was 20 (though it has subsequently tested lower). Hope this helps?

  7. #7
    Registered User

    May 2010
    9

    Hi, thanks for thata
    I just had my EPU last Saturday. I was so nervous about the whole process that DH & I had a huge fight
    the night before as I was upset he did not want to join me in the procedure room for the pick up
    Anyway he eventually did and that made a huge difference for me on the day
    We collected 11 eggs, 7 fertlized and now waiting for Thursday to do the transfer.
    All very exciting. Hopeing we will have a strong embry to transfer and a few more to freeze

  8. #8
    Registered User

    Aug 2006
    Melbourne
    2,890

    Wow great numbers all the best for your TF!

  9. #9
    Registered User

    Jun 2010
    Vic
    40

    Transfer Thursday too..I'm 39 too :)

    Hi fingers and toes crossed for us. I also had my transfer of two embies today (Thursday) I am 39 and have had 7 failed transfers so really hoping this might be it this round!! Last cycle I had ectopic and right tube removed. I had BFP on round 4 too but m/c at 6.5 weeks. I am unexplained IF. One natural pregnancy with my 4 yr old son.

  10. #10
    Registered User

    May 2010
    9

    Thumbs up

    Hi fingers and toes crossed for us. I also had my transfer of two embies today (Thursday) I am 39 and have had 7 failed transfers so really hoping this might be it this round!! Last cycle I had ectopic and right tube removed. I had BFP on round 4 too but m/c at 6.5 weeks. I am unexplained IF. One natural pregnancy with my 4 yr old son.
    Hi mumoncemoreplease,
    I got my fingers and toes crossed for us too! We had 1 embryo transferred and 2 were "slow" but the good
    news is that they made it and will be frozed. I am due for BT on the 28 June, 11 days after ET. Hoping the
    HCG levels will be what they are looking for. We are also unexplained both DH and I are fine according to
    the tests we have done so wishing for our 1st precious if this all goes according to plan
    With 2 frozen we can attempt a second child!

    All the best to us and keep me posted with how you go

  11. #11
    Registered User

    Jun 2010
    Vic
    40

    naismith and

    Hi Danemum.. Did you have a 3 day or 5 day embryo transfer. I had 3 day..they said one better than the other.. a 4 cell and 6 cell.. So far I'm feeling 'reasonably' calm.. long way to go..I am 4dp3dt today..Hope you're feeling good..positive vibes your way..

  12. #12
    Registered User

    Nov 2006
    Perth
    1,171

    Hi all,
    best wishes to everyone starting the cycle or had a transfer. I'm 38, and although my first IVF was when I was 36, I've always had a low antral follicle count (get about 2 eggs from a high dose) - my first IVF transfer (only egg retrieved) in 2007 was only a grade 1.5/4 , 6 cell embryo, and was a BFP! DS is now 20 months. Mumoncemoreplease- fingers crossed I hope you have the same good news for this cycle! Danemum - hope it all goes well and you get those numbers on the 28th June!

  13. #13
    Registered User

    Jun 2010
    Vic
    40

    How is everyone doing? I am starting to get impatient/grumpy/worried..Don't feel anything.. wish I had something going on.. I know I'm being irrational..but..Tomorrow will be 6dp3dt..Good luck everyone.. Is anyone going to test before BT? I think I might try and hang out til my Beta..I think

  14. #14
    Registered User

    May 2010
    9

    Hi mumoncemoreplease,

    I am feeling unusually tired, have a bit of ache in my lower back, slightly bloated around my lower abominal
    and feeling nausea at times. Not trying to read too much into those symptoms as it could be the Crinone.
    Today is my 6dp5dt and I will hold out until Monday. Dont have the urge to use HPT

  15. #15
    Registered User

    Jun 2010
    Vic
    40

    Today is 7dp3dt..Hmmm feeling suspicious like AF symptoms..lower back and heavy tummy etc.. Trying to be positive but feel this round slipping away.. Please surprise me body ...sory to be be pessimistic..I am normally a positive person..

  16. #16
    Registered User

    Jun 2010
    Vic
    40

    Hmm..well BFN today..yes I tested..Prefer to get bad news at home in private than over the phone from nurse..I am 9dp3dt so pretty sure we are over this cycle..

  17. #17
    Registered User

    Jun 2010
    Melb
    478

    I've only just found this thread must have missed it when I first joined.

    I have endo and PCOS. I lost my left tube last year due to an ectopic.

    I have one DD who is 2 and 1/2 fell pregnant just before I was due to start pill for IVF.

    I have my transfer tomorrow, they collected 5 eggs. Not sure if they all worked will find out tomorrow. We are doing a day 5 transfer.

    GBH's to you all and sending you lost of baby dust

  18. #18
    Registered User

    Jul 2010
    19

    Wondering if it's time to give up

    Hi. We're a 39yo couple, been trying naturally for 5 years, and IVF for 1 year. We have unexplained infertility. So far we have had 5 cycles. The first cycle didn't even produce an embryo. We have only had a maximum of two embryos so had day 2 or 3 transfers. These have all been ICSI. This cycle (5th) we tried without the ICSI, and let them fertilise naturally. Ended up with 4 embryos. Two were transferred and it all seemed very promising. Period hadn't even started by the day of the preg test, so we started to get hopeful. But of course another BFN. So realistically it doesn't look like it's going to work for us. We're starting to get very angry and depressed, because we can't see any point to life without children. So we keep trying even though it's probably time to give up. Not sure if we should keep inflicting psychological damage on ourselves or just give up and live out our meaningless days watching TV and being stabbed emotionally every time we see a child or someone asks us when we're going to have kids or a friend or colleague struts by with their huge belly, or else take up sky-diving and hope that one day the chute won't open. People keep telling us we should have counseling, but that can't give us children so there's no point. Or we get told to subscribe to the IVF newsletter from our clinic. We did that for awhile and got tired of all the stories of people getting pregnant. As if that would make us feel better.

    Ok, sorry for the rant. But that's the only option we have left.

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