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?

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

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!!

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!

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 :-)

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?

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

Wow great numbers all the best for your TF!

Hi fingers and toes crossed for us. I also had my transfer of two embies today (Thursday):pray: 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. :pray::pray::pray:

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Hi fingers and toes crossed for us. I also had my transfer of two embies today (Thursday):pray: 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. :pray::pray::pray:

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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

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.. :)

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!

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:redface:

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

Today is 7dp3dt..Hmmm feeling suspicious like AF symptoms..lower back and heavy tummy etc..:o 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..:rolleyes:

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

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

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. :wall:

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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. :wall:

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Hi JustJuice just read your post and I was so sad for you. Just wanted to send you a big cyber hug..not that that helps any..but..:comfort: It's so hard to know when to stop..much harder than the decision to start treatment..sorry have no advice or answers..xx Rant away whenever...

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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. :wall:

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So sorry you're having so much trouble, Justjuice, we may be in the same boat soon when we start IVF. I'm 39, too. How hard is it to see pregnant women and women with babies when it just isn't happening for you. It's killing me, too. I don't know what to say. Just (((HUGS))) and try, as hard as it is, to never lose hope.

I'm new here so not sure how to respond to everyone else on this thread except to say good luck and hope you have your BFPs soon :)

Thanks for the support (and hugs). And good luck to you guys too. Perversely, it helps to hear that others are having problems too (sorry!). Oh, and to those just starting IVF, don't believe the newsletters and the stories that go "With our first cycle of IVF I got pregnant and now I have a beautiful boy/girl". Even though it might be true in a small number of cases, you need to be prepared to have multiple cycles. We thought we'd try 3 cycles and there would be a good chance of success. Five failed cycles down, one chance at FET to go, and then who knows.

I have started to tell everyone about us doing IVF now, because I'm tired of the questions about when I'm going to have kids. So just recently someone I'd told announced to me "Good news! XYZ (a mutual acquaintance) has just had a baby boy!" When I looked less than pleased she said "I thought you'd be happy because you're in the same situation." People just don't understand.

Hi Ladies,

I thought I would create a post on this thread as I've been through quite a bit of IVF 6 years ago when we started our IVF journey I created a support group on facebook called IVF/Infertility Support thinking there may be other women out there that would like to talk to others going through the same experience. I didnt realise BellyBelly talked about TTC! I attempted 6 cycles fresh and frozen transfers, found out I was pregnant naturally last November so you never know what is going to happen. If anyone wants to check out my support group on facebook feel free to have a look :)

mum2be2010 when I had my daughter I had her naturally, as I was just about the start IVF after years of try as the pressure was kinda off, not as lucky this time, so Justjuice you never know what could happen. It is hard to know when to stop, I wasnt sure if I should reply as I do have one child but (GBH's) If you speak to the counsellor they might give you coping strategies, which could help manage the stress and the feelings you feel. Maybe worth while if you do decide to do another cycle.

Have you tried acupunture or a naturapath in conjunction with a cycle. There have been studies about the increase sucess using acupunture.

Hi All. I had my ER on Sat We got 4 eggs..I am a bit disappointed and nervous as I don't usually have great fertilisation rates. I am hoping for two blasts to transfer on Thurs.. Fingers crossed How is everyone else doing?

fx'd mumoncemoreplease simular to me but I had 5 eggs and got 2 to tansfer

ATM 1 more week of 2ww

Thanks for sharing that! :) Best of luck Trishy. Did you have a 3 or 5 day transfer?

5 day

ATM I think AF is about to hit though, any symptoms I've had are disappearing. So feeling really lost at the moment

trishy : Sorry you're feeling lost..fingers crossed your body is playing tricks on you and your mind. It is the worst part of the 2ww. Thinking of you..

I had my transfer today and was thrilled to have 2 blasts to transfer. Grade 1 and Grade 2.. Yea!! After only getting 4 eggs at retrieval I am happy with the result. Ok next step the dreaded 2ww!! BT 26/7 Monday 8.30!! Please snuggle in embies!!

Trishy..How are you going? Hope AF is staying away? Crossing fingers for you..

Unfortantly I got AF last night.

Fx'd for you mumoncemoreplease

Hi ladies,
Could you please keep general TTC and/or cycle discussion in our existing chatter threads?
Older Women TTC
LT TTC & Assisted Conception

Thanks,