Bec, it's a tough place to be in, and I don't think anyone has a magic answer for you. Just a few thoughts and comments from me...
As egg collections are done via ultrasound, they aren't going to pick up any problems that a regular internal scan won't find. There are some things (like endo) where they would need to actually see into the abdomen, so it may be worth requesting that they do one. I've heard of several women having no symptoms of endo at all, but when they have finally done a lap, they've been found to be riddled with quite severe endo.
Have you had further blood testing? There are a few different conditions (usually autoimmune or blood clotting) that can impact on whether IVF will actually work or not. There's a range of tests that they do in cases of recurrent implantation failures that can pick up stuff - but my clinic tells me it is standard procedure to not run these until you've had 6. I'm not sure if that's standard across all clinics, a sign of just how many transfers it can need sometimes, or just a hidden sadistic streak in my FS.
It is, ultimately, a numbers game. For some it works quickly, others... it takes much longer. In those moments where I felt like giving up, I'd think of Sushee - it was only on her 8th (I think!) transfer that she managed to get Charlie, which was a little beacon of hope to me that it may be taking a while, but it CAN work anyway, it just takes perseverance and the ability to save the money for the next cycle ASAP.
Finally - when it comes to avoiding OHSS, you may remember my history with it. First cycle I toughed it out at home, second cycle when I was in less pain I ended up spending a week in hospital and a month off work. Third cycle we finally managed to avoid it. My FS had me taking half a nizoral tablet on each day of puregon injections (apparently it helps reduce the amount of VEGF in the body, which is what makes the ovaries leaky and causes all the problems, I was put on it after each egg collection with OHSS), and before and during the cycle I was following a VERY strict low-carb, low-GI, high-protein diet. We started that about a week before I began lucrin, although my FS would have preferred to have me do it for about 4-6 weeks before beginning lucrin, but it seemed to be enough - just! I only had one slip up on the diet, it was towards the end of my puregon injections and the resulting jump in E2 was pretty obvious as I was on daily blood tests at that stage.
Has your FS suggested anything to improve DH's sperm? Our last cycle was done in the days before menevit was readily available, but he did have him on folate and massive amounts of vitamin C. I think they suggest 3 months at least to see if this has any improvement. He was also on a regime of daily ejaculations while I was on puregon to continually flush the sperm through and make sure we had the freshest available. As we had to do ICSI anyway, any possible drop in numbers wouldn't have been a significant issue.
Finally - it was our 5th transfer that gave us Munchkin (with another 3 cancelled transfers on top of that), and I was so convinced that it wasn't going to work, that neither of the two frozen embryos we had would work that I spent my TWW planning out how long a break we would take from IVF and how much money we needed to save before we could go again and how quickly we could do it... The rest, as they say, is history. Hopefully that's a little encouragement for you.
I'm sorry if it's not outside the box enough, but adoption, fostering, donor eggs/sperm/embryos weren't an option for us so our thoughts never went that way.
BW - Thats actually a huge help. Lots of things for me to think about and take back to my FS.
Honestly I feel really helpless right now, I never planned this far into it. I always thought that IVF would work, if not the first couple of attempts, then at least by number 7!
I just read your post and wanted to say that although i don't have any answers for you, i do know exactly what you are going through. My DH and i have now done 3 fresh IVF transfers and 5 FET and never had any of them 'stick'
I am about to go see my FS and demand more testing. As a healthy 30 year old with "beautiful embies" and no reason not to fall pregnant - they keep telling me the same thing "you will eventually fall pregnant" But WHEN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Surely after 8 attempts I have been extremely patient.
I have considered some alternatives but hubby is not interested in adoption or fostering and although i have a beautiful sister who would be a surrogate for me, unfortunately it's not legal here so that option is out.
I honestly don't feel like i have the energy to go on, especially when all of my friends either have children or are pregnant. Sometimes i just want to pack up everything and run away.I know it sounds selfish but i just don't feel like i have the strength to be happy for one more pregnant friend.
So if you ever need to have a chat or a cry just know that i feel everything that you feel
I'm another one that was told that I would be an 'easy' case... well,7 yrs of trying I'm still here waiting
Finally, now though, after getting an excellent 2nd opinion and changing FS we have found an answer that has been there since my DS was born in 1998 and no one else, despite numerous laparoscopy's could find
DON'T GIVE UP HOPE xxxx
There is always another thing to try with IVF - I've definately learnt that over the past few years.
My advice would be to get another opinion... see an FS that specialises is miscarriages/failed transfers/ etc.
Can tell you of a wonderful one, but you would have to take a trip to Sydney
Am hoping Sushee sees this thread as she is a wonder of info - and being in Perth can probably help with specialists & clinics, etc better than I can
My thoughts are with you - and I second everything BW has said.. you haven't had (from what I've read) any auto immune tests and extra BT done yet, so there are STACKS of other options.
Keep positive sweetheart.. there will be an answer, sometimes its just a harder search
Wow - I could have written many of these posts myself.
I have recently been asking myself the same questions after our 5th transfer. We had one pregnancy which resulted in a m/c and unfortunately I've not come close since.
I've recently sought answers from my FS looking for answers. He couldn't really give me anything except to suggest blood tests for clotting. I recently underwent blood tests for anti-thyroid (I thought the clotting was part of this but apparently not ) which came back fine.
The other things the FS mentioned were studies that looked into low dose asprin and high doses of folate which may help implantation, so that's something else you may wish to discuss.
BW has provided some good advice as you've already acknowledged. The only other thing, although it will have a cost, is trying accupuncture and traditional chinese medicine if you haven't already.
I wish I had some easy answers for you, but this road we all are travelling on in our quest to conceive is certainly not easy. All the girls have given some terrific advice, especially BW , lots of stuff there to talk to your FS about. I agree also with getting a second opinion and perhaps changing FS or clinics. I myself have been doing some research into the different clinics in Perth and success rates/procedures that they do.
I have also started seeing a naturopath, she is in Mt Lawley, I can give you the details if you like. She just looked at my diet, did a saliva test to check all my estrogen levels plus progesterone (which was quite low in fact). So I am now taking a herbal supplement plus eating a lot more variety of vegies with each meal, cut right back on my coffee intake, to just one cup every week or so (mainly if we go out). Also eating a lot more organic foods, plus I always make sure that I now buy free range chicken. I am also thinking about giving accupuncture a try - there are a couple of threads here in BB about accupuncturists in Perth.
Good luck, keep us updated on how you are going. Take care sweetie, wishing you all the very best.
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks