Sex and IVF - do you go for both each month?

[runnermum]

hi there,
yes, it is a bold question - but I am just curious if those on IVF still 'give it a go' around ovulation time AS WELL as getting a transfer. We figure we may as well, it is like having an extra chance

good luck to everyone for September! Lets make Spring our season!

[Lionfish]

You can certainly DTD but during IVF they will take your eggs before they ovulate so there will be no eggs for the spermies to attach too. Good Luck with IVF

[runnermum]

Not during an IVF Natural cycle ! Sorry, should of been more clear. I have already had a stimulated cycle, and had 7 embies on ice....4 left to go.......so I have a natural thaw cycle now each month, and since I know exactly when I ovulate (because of constant blood tests) thought we may as well have a go a it ourselves - and if 'we' miss, then there is a transfer of an embie 2 days later for another chance....

[happymel]

Hi Runnermum, id definitely go for it!! I think DH and i DTD when we had a FET, anything to increase the chances!! Have fun BD and good luck.
Mel

[*las*]

Runnermum - You are seeing Greg at Ringwood, aren't you??

I know he certainly discourages us from BD'ing if we are about to transfer, maybe check with him???

[Snacks]

A friend was just starting the process of IVF and fell pg. Her doctor got really angry with her! He said she shouldn't have been having unprotected sex. (LOL, she was really surprised and responded, 'but... it was with my husband...')

[runnermum]

Really? wow..........why can't we? What are the reasons not to?

I will have to call my FS now........as we assumed we it is OK......and have not been told NOT to!

thanks, I am glad I asked!

[happymel]

Hi runnermum, yeah maybe would be good idea to check. My FS definitely doesnt ban sex, but with the stimulated cycles you dont really feel like it anyway. But with FET, im sure it'd be ok, because you dont have the t/f until way after you ovulate- not sure if you have blasties or not. My FS told me that one of his patients had twins- and he is pretty sure one is from the t/f and thought maybe one from BD'ing. All FS are diff, so maybe just check with yours. Dont worry so much if you already have though LOL, cant change it now!!!

[runnermum]

well, just rang Freeman's Hospital where I was this morning for a scan and blood test as it is near my ovulation time. I was told that there is no problem what so ever in having unprotected sex - the worst that can happen is that we can fall pregnant natually AND then again by transfer.....so twins. But this is highly unlikely, possible, but highly unlikely.

I was told not to have unprotected sex while on a stimulated cylce - apparently because of the drugs taken to stimulate eggs - no research done on the effects of these drugs and pregnancy...so Snacks, maybe your friend was on stimulation drugs at the time her FS got angry!

Las - well, I have the go ahead (Greg is not my FS) but next time you see him/talk to him, ask him 'why not?'. Looks like a bit of fun is back on the agenda.....!!

[{sarah}]

Yep on our stimulation cycle we were told no DTD whilst on the FSH injections.

[Snacks]

Sorry if I alarmed you, Runnermum! I just thought it was a funny story... Glad everything's good and you're not in trouble

[slyder]

A friend was just starting the process of IVF and fell pg. Her doctor got really angry with her! He said she shouldn't have been having unprotected sex. (LOL, she was really surprised and responded, 'but... it was with my husband...')

That's the funniest thing I've read in ages! I needed that.

Runnermum, I think why some clinics get upset is because they have an aversion to twins due to the greater risks involved. I was actually wondering about the pros and cons this morning before I saw this thread. I think I'd be keen to go for it and take the risk (what a great risk it would be to get two in my opinion).

[Mstickles]

Hi

Just to let you know that I got one embie put in and have ended up with twins, we are not sure if the egg split (the doc is 90% sure of this) or they missed an egg in pick up and we got pregnant naturally - we weren't told not to have sex? ANYWAY I guess what I am also trying to say is I guess there is a risk of your egg splitting as well as a natural conception (triplets!), but I would never have believed any of this unless it actually happened to me.

There are a lot of risks that come along with multiples, and I know as someone who was trying it sounds good at the time but it is not only the medical risks that the babies don't make it - there are also high risks involved with premmie births, including disability. I think pregnancy is harder when you are a long term TTCer and they don;t want you to finally get the result only to lose them. There are also financial (who cares when you've been trying I know) and also logistical.

Please don't get me wrong, I am so thankful every single day for the amazing thing that happened to me, but I will be more thankful when I know they are safe and healthy, it will be so nice because hopefully they will be friends but I do worry that I won't be able to care for them as well and I am going to have a lot of trouble getting around alone as well as not being able to visit my mum who is interstate when I want (need two sets of knees to travel on planes). Anyway, just thought you guys should know there are genuine reasons the doc wants one healthy baby.

I really really hope you get a BFP very soon.

[runnermum]

thanks alot clare for your reply - and congratulations ! I understand what you are saying and yes, if for the small chance that we have to concieve twins or more, it would be stressful in a new way, considering we already have one beautiful boy with special needs. I mentioned your story to hubby and he said that because the egg divided/spilt, it is more likely you have a family history of twins as this would be VERY rare to happen otherwise...not sure if he is right of course, anyone else know? Of course there is the chance of a natural pregnancy for us AND an IVF one.......but like you say, because we have been trying for 2 years, by now it would be a shock/blessing just to get a positive preg result !!

thank you very much for your blessing - and mine goes out to you for a safe and healthy pregnancy and births for your twins! And good luck to everyone else about to transfer again soon or in the 2ww.

[Mstickles]

Thanks runnermum,

As a fellow runner (only half marathons though - you are AMAZING) I have been following and hoping for you for a while now and it took me ages to respond because I know it must sound as though I am ungrateful when I'm really not - just worried that people underestimate the risks and I don't want people to go through their pregnancies worried about if they are going to live AND if you can handle it afterwards. I am currently trying to work out how I can go for runs with them - the double prams aren't as easy.

I have all my fingers and toes crossed for you - good luck!

[butterfly_warrior]

Yep on our stimulation cycle we were told no DTD whilst on the FSH injections.

Something struck me as being very odd with this... It can't be because of the effects of the injections/spray on a pregnancy as they still use very similar protocols with IUI, which really isn't that different to natural conception, really.

If it's because sex becomes extremely painful when you have enlarged and swollen ovaries, then it makes more sense. That's what eventually stopped us, there were no instructions from our clinic regarding whether we could or couldn't.

On a FET cycle, we still go for it. If we were lucky enough to have a natural conception occur, it would still be only just entering the uterus at that stage, so I don't imagine that one would interfere with the other. The chance of a natural conception occurring when we have both male factor and female factor infertility to deal with is so absolutely miniscule, that I don't think twins is something we'd ever need to worry about... but it would be an absolute joy to have to worry about having too many children at once when we're going through so much to just get one.

BW

[runnermum]

I can understand what you are saying Butterfly Warrior - you may as well have some intimate time with hubby if nothing else! best of luck to you...

hey, Clare - I have not done a full marathon since 2005 so don't think I am that amazing, I also stick to half marathons since then (doing the melbourne half soon, but probably can only jog it because of the timing of IVF - yeah, life seems to circle around IVF ). I did do my first half ironman however, late last year (1.9km swim/90km cycle and 21.1km run) and that was amazing.

thanks for your posts everyone and for the good wishes. I think I will getting a FET on saturday.

[sonya1]

wow! - this is so informative. the fact sheets from my clinic advise that its very important NOT to have sex once blood tracking starts for a fet... so now i find out different from you girls. wont tell DH though. i will just act like i wanna be more intimate. i think he would feel 'cheated'. its quite a relief because between day 1 bleed and day 12 bloods there isnt much of a time frame for intimacy IYKWIM?