IVF - How bad is it?

[travelcat7]

Hi all,
We've been TTC for the past five years.  My husband had two vasectomy reversals (2nd one worked) and yet we still couldn't conceive despite his amazing numbers (completely normal range).  I started infertility testing 7 months ago and have been on clomid only for 3 months and now clomid, HCG trigger, progesterone & IUI for the last few.  Next week is my last IUI.  If it doesn't work, they recommend considering IVF.  I'm 35.

All of this has been so far out of my comfort zone, but I have pressed on.  I admit, I'm a wimp and hate needles so the thought of injections and the retrieval freak me out a bit, but I know the end result would be worth it.

Nine people in my department are pregnant right now, as is my best friend.  That certainly doesn't help. :)

For anyone who hesitated, has it been better or worse than you thought?  How many cycles did it take for the BFP?

Thanks & best of luck to you all.

[bree08]

I hope your last and final IUI brings you a beautiful BFP!!!

As for the IVF I actually really enjoyed the actual procesdures now when I look back at it! The needles don't really hurt bad at all. The progesterone shots were the worst for me. For the retrieval I was put to sleep for it. I was sooooo scared of being put to sleep. Right when they brought me back to a little surgery looking room they gave me some meds in my IVF that made me really relaxed. Once the RE came in they gave me meds in my IVF and I was out. For the retrieval I took a valium before hand and that just felt like an IUI.

I've only done one IVF and it was a BFN : ( Good LUCK to you!!!

[seattleview]

This was my first (only?) IVF cycle. I've had 4 BFPs on hpts and am eagerly awaiting my first beta hcg results which I should be receiving this afternoon.  I'm a total wimp, too, and after my one and only IUI ended in an ectopic pregnancy last September, it took me seven months to find the guts to commit to an IVF cycle.  I hope you're ready to hear about my REAL experience....I thought it would be impossible for me to give myself the stomach injections considering I had gotten to the point of tears with every other day blood tests after my IUI.  But I surprised myself by just doing it.  After the first day, it seemed kind of easy for a few days.  Then, I had a few breakdowns where I didn't think I could continue the stomach injections, much less the whole cycle.  It's all so unnatural and I feel like a lab rat rather than a human being.  I was terrified of the egg retrieval, I hated the invasiveness of the every other day vaginal ultrasounds and blood tests leading up to the retrieval, I thought I was going to die from the bloating prior to and after the retrieval, then I thought I was going to pee my pants while holding my pee before the transfer...the daily injections in the butt are, to say the least, a pain in the butt, and then I was massively bloated again Friday-Monday.  My first beta hcg was this morning (I'm currently awaiting the results) but of course I caved and started taking hpts on Sunday.  All four have been positive, but I'm still anxious.  Will it all have been worth it if it results in me holding a baby in my arms in February?  I hope so.  Would I do it again if it's not successful?  I'm not sure.  Even though I'm going through it myself, it feels like an awfully strange way to make a baby...

[darlabubbles]

i can understand your hesitation regarding this but i would do it. i got pregnant the first time doing ivf this year. what seattleview stated would be a good indicator of what to expect. although she didn't mention having to pee lying down in a bedpan after the transfer (since you have to have a full bladder before hand ). trust me you want to make sure it's full before or else you will have to have a catheter and they pump you full of water and that was painful. it's itimading looking at all the meds you have to take just for this process but this will get you that much closer to your goal of motherhood. it really is not all that bad in the end and the shots become easier to deal with. i had to do pogestrone shots everyday and now i have to do suppositories (which i hear are messy) but at least it's just a couple more weeks before i am finally done with the ivf stuff. good luck to you and keep us posted on your progress.  baby dusts and sticky vibes your way!

seattleview-congrats on your bfp!!!!!!!   :D  

[seattleview]

I actually didn't have to pee in a bedpan since 1) my bladder was actually TOO full when I arrived so I had to pee 1.5 cups right before they did the transfer, and 2) they only had me lie down for ten minutes after the transfer.

darla - big congrats on success after only one IVF! I'm hoping for the same...

[usuk]

three years ago i said i would not interfere with god, etc. that whatever happens...happens. that i would not want a "test tube" baby,

welllllllll - then i had a miscarriage at 14 weeks (not IVF and no drugs). by then i had seen about 10 ultrasounds and knew it was a boy. that changed me. i saw my husband cry hysterically. i wanted that baby back and i started to get more involved. went to RE and took clomid and got PG without even IUI. but lost that one. then clomid and IUI and got PG again - lost that one. so now i am doing IVF. it will eliminate some of the risk factors due to my age. you need to schedule time to do it and get tested every two days for progress. it's about 10 days of drugs and then 2-4 days of retrieval and waiting for transfer. you have to be on call. so you need a flexible job and if you want to keep it private, you have to make a lot of excuses :)

agree with the above ladies that the worst part is the progesterone shots after retrieval.
but i hope you do not need it.

[nshapland]

Are the shots in the stomach subcutaneous like they are for iui?  If so, they weren't bad at all (I was on follistim for iui--unsuccessfully).
Our next step is ivf, too. What are the daily injections in the butt? Is that before or after transfer? Does everyone get bloated? What's that from?
Why does retrieval take 2-4 days? I thought it was a one time thing...

[seattleview]

The first round of medications leading up to egg retrieval are subcutaneous shots...three or four different ones a day depending on your regimen (I did one in the morning and two in the evening).  Then, to get your body ready for implantation and pregnancy, you have to start doing progesterone shots in the butt a day or two prior to transfer and continue them several weeks into your pregnancy.  I think most people get bloated because of  overly stimulated ovaries.  Unlike IUI where they're looking for one or two good follicles, they've looking for up to 20 (depending on your age) for IVF, so they give you lots of stimulation medication to make sure that happens, resulting in lots of follicles and fluid bloating you up.  I was not fitting into my jeans within about a day or two of egg retrieval and still can't get back into them.  I think usuk was referring to the whole process of retrieval and transfer since your transfer date is undetermined until the embryologist has had a chance to observe the growth of your fertilized embryos.  The retrieval is one day and then depending on your doctor, embryologist, and your embryo quality/quantity, the transfer can be anywhere from 2 to 6 days later.  Like usuk, you kind of have to be on call during that time because they can call you the day after retrieval and say "your transfer is tomorrow" or they can call and say "we'd like to wait another day or two, we'll call and update you tomorrow".

[sjsmiling]

I promise the injections are not that bad!  The trick is to use a little bit of ice to numb the spot and your all good.  The HCG/trigger shot is much bigger and is only one time.  Probably two days before the retrieval.    Again, I really focused on numbing by behind with ice and I barley felt it.  

The biggest thing I would prepare for is the amount of time you'll be spending running back and forth to the doctor and pharamcy, as well taking to the dr. on the phone.  Hopefully, you or your docotor have a flexible schedule.  While some people may see it as a hinderance I really appreciated the thouroughness of my doctor.  

It'll seem very overwhleming at first!  We had to attend a class with one of the nurses and she trained us on how to give injections, timing of meds. etc.  I was so concerend i wouldn't be able to remember it all and somewhere along the line make an error.  The nurse reassured me that millions of people have completed this protocol and I would too!  And we did!  We are now 7 weeks preganant with twins!  Our first time with IVF!!!  We are so darn excited!!!!!  Wish you all the best!

[pregnancylove12]

I am DEATHLY afraid of needles and that was my biggest concern going into IVF. But we tried IUI 4 times and it didn't work, so this was our only option. I am not going to lie because the box of meds that came to my house was a little intimidating. My hubby did all of my shots and I NEVER looked at the needle and to be quite honest...it wasn't to bad. It was a lot easier than i thought it would  be and a very good friend told me that I wouldn't remember the needles when I was in the labor room. Well the first IVF worked and I don't even remember the needles now and I am only 18 weeks pregnant! It is truly worth it in the end (it even brought my hubby and i closer together in a weird bonding way)
Lots of sticky vibes.....
P.S. the only shot that ***** is progesterone and that doesn't start till after the retrival, so get a nice warming pack and apply it to the area and you will be as good as new!

[seattleview]

Want to let you know I got my official BFP today!  HCG = 268.  Back in on Friday to make sure level is increasing appropriately.

[travelcat7]

seattleview - congrats

Congrats to all of you have had a successful journey so far.  Best of luck to the rest of you and thank you for sharing your experiences.  

[feather2e]

I did 6 IUI's that were cancelled  due to overresponding to meds. I got pregnant with my first IVFand my son is now 19 months. I would have skipped the IUI's and did IVF right away if I had not got pregnant naturally the second time.

[nshapland]

Do most REs use the progesterone shots?  My RE said he uses the Crinone gel.  Has anyone used the gel for IVF?  Or did everyone do the shots?

[mysty2001]

I highly recommend using donor embryos!
It is more successful, less stress on your body, much cheaper and you save lives by doing it!
Good Luck

[duckiebearie]

IVF gives u a good chance. Don't worry about the needles and medications.. just focus on the end results. I had my 1st IVF in may and am now in week5 of pregnancy. and I am 39.
go for it...

[mlb1234]

I just finished my first IVF and just got a BFP (still very early though).  I am 40y and was like you - very hesitant at first but for some reason just kept marching down that road.  I did not like that it would not be very "natural" (as in mother nature choosing the egg and sperm) but if I get a child out of it I don't think that will bother me.   I fretted about freezing embryos that wouldn't be used but most people don't have any to freeze (as was my case).  As I was going through all the injections, etc I did not think it was bad but I did have to be organized.  It was a lot of work but once you see that BFP it is worth it.  The subQ injections are cake - no need to worry about those.  The IM's are more difficult but some Re's don't have you do any - it just depends on what they prescribe.  They don't actually hurt much just hard to do to yourself.  The days before the retrieval - depending on how many eggs you have - can be uncomfortable but not terrible.  I was glad to get them out though.  The transfer again is very easy.  If you really want a baby IVF gives you the best odds in the shortest amount of time.  Just don't wait too long - it is more successful the younger you are.  

[mlb1234]

My Re has you do progesterone shots until you get a positive beta then you switch to the crinone gel.  Both are fine.

[pregnancylove12]

i did progesterone injections for a month or so and then i switched to crinone gel till i was 11 weeks pregnant. crinone was a million times better than injections but they say injections are more effective. so it is a balancing game.

[Kimber1101]

How often do you have to go in for monitoring during the IVF cycle?  Is it really every other day or is it just in the beginning while your taking the stims?  I am concerned about how much time away from work - not a flexible company.  Just curious how others have dealt with it.

[seattleview]

For me, it was every other day over a period of eight days while on the stims. But it's not just the monitoring appointments, you have to be available to take phone calls later in the day after each of the those appointments as well, which might be challenging in a non-flexible environment.  Then you'll miss 1-2 days for the egg retrieval, and another 1-2 days for the transfer.  I am very lucky to work in a flexible environment with a supervisor who doesn't ask questions.  I just told her I was having "two medical procedures" done that week and that was that.

[Chelsea74]

Travelcat7 - thank you for your question on all the extremely helpful information from those who responded! I hope your next IUI brings a BFP and a ticket off this rollercoaster!

I am at a similar point to you in my ttc journey.  I am 35, got pregnant naturally but miscarried, then tried clomid (3 cycles – no preg) and follistim with hcg trigger - chemical pregnancy on the 2nd cycle (currently in the 2ww of the 4th cycle). It seems it is time to move on.

I always thought that if you could get pregnant ivf wasn't much help but my RE says otherwise and it fits with what you said usuk about eliminating risk factors - I still don't fully I understand though so any more information you can provide would be very welcome :)

Having used follistim (commonly used to stimulate follicle growth in an ivf cycle) I can tell you those injections are nothing to worry about, and while the HCG trigger is bigger it's still no problem. I haven't had to do butt shots but I'm sure we will both tackle those too as others here have. Question though, is it possible to do the butt shots yourself? My DH has serious needle phobia so if I can't do it myself I'm pretty short on options there.

The point usuk made about the difficulties with keeping it private are not something I had considered yet - how did others deal with this?

From reading all the posts, it sounds like ivf is challenging but doable and well worth it! We were going to wait until mid July to start ivf but just found out that mid June is an option - I almost wish it wasn't as that is so soon but we are thinking maybe we should just close our eyes and dive in the deep end - and as duckiebearie said, just focus on the end result.

Seattleview – huge congratulations and thank you for your account of your experience with ivf.

Huge congrats to all who got a bfp!! It’s very exciting and encouraging to read your stories and to see how many were on the first try.

Travelcat7, nshapland and Kimber1101  - Please let me know what you decide.

Chelsea

[seattleview]

For me it's not the injections themselves that are so bothersome. They obviously aren't my favorite thing to do every day and some days they definitely hurt worse than others, especially the daily progesterone injections in the butt, and sometimes the pain does make me cry. But to me the worst part of the injections is just the whole idea of them - their symbolism and meaning I guess you might say. Hope that makes sense.

My husband will be out of town for my last daily progesterone injection, and since I have read online that many women seem to be able to do these on their own, I asked my IVF coordinator about it and she said there is no way I should attempt to do this myself because there's too much risk of doing it wrong and/or hurting myself.

We have been able to keep our process private the entire time and do not intend to ever tell people about it. It helps that we both have flexible jobs and non-questioning supervisors. For the week of the ER and ET I simply told my boss I was having a couple medical procedures done and that I would have to take a couple sick days that week. For all the lead up monitoring appointments, I told her I had doctor appointments - and I told my staff I had "appointments" without even adding what kind. For all the phone calls, I either close my office door and try to speak quietly, or go find a faraway unoccupied area of the building to make/take calls. No one's asked and I don't think anyone has suspected. The one thing I have been a little anxious about is maybe having surprise visitors to my house before I have a chance to hide all the meds, needles, and other supplies. So far so good!

[jamaicababy]

As all the other women said, the needles and procedure sounds worse than it actually is. I too was afraid of needles before starting the process, my husband did all my injections and they weren't as bad as I thought they would have been. Some days I did feel really horrible but i think it was mainly the stress of it all and the side effects.

This was our first IVF and unfortunately it was not successful :( we will be doing a FET in July hopefully.

The ER was ok a bit painful at the end but I had some issues which isn't the norm. Was bloated and uncomfortable before and after but it passed after about a week. I just kept thinking of the end result and the feeling we would have when we got a positive alas it was negative. I do believe though that it will happen and i am keeping my positive thoughts.

Good luck and just be positive, try and avoid stress. I am a high stress person but kept focused. It will not be as bad as you imagine and hopefully your first go will be successful! I didn't do progesterone shots I did suppositories and those were a pain. Also it is true you have to have a flexible job as the check ups are often and the retrieval and transfer all take time. I am lucky my job isn't that flexible but my boss knew what i was going through so it became flexible.

Good luck to you all waiting on results and congrats to those who got a positive.

[mlb1234]

I have had to do almost all my progesterone injections myself.  dH works ights and that was when they said to give it.  If he gives it to me it is easy and I can't even feel it.  To give it to myself I have to use a mirror.  Because I can't put the needle in as fast it hurts just a tad as the needle hits the skin but once it pierces the skin I can't feel anything.  It is slow to inject and I have to do it with one hand.  I have found it easier to do on my left side and save the right side for when dh is home!  It's not the best but you get used to it fast.  I don't think it is dangerous to do to yourself as long as you know where it is supposed to go.  I had the nurse draw circles on my backside so I knew where to put it the first day!!  

I also was able to keep the IVF quiet but I have a very flexible job.  I just stop there in the morning on my way to work.  Many Re clinic have early hours so you are able to do this.  For the transfer I just took a sick day as I was supposed to be on bedrest anyways.  My retrieval was on a weekend so that didn't matter.