Advice for prepping for first Natural IVF cycle

[Anonymous]

I am proceeding with my first natural IVF cycle next month. Does anyone have any advice or recommendations when it comes to ways in which they prepared, whether scientific or not, that either did or they felt like helped them? Doctor just says you look healthy, numbers are good, doesn’t have any specific advice.

I am already a pretty healthy eater, exercise 45 minutes a day, I do still drink coffee in the morning though, and get decent sleep/water. I try to minimize stress. I am considering acupuncture.

Thank you. Any thoughts appreciated!

[Anonymous]

That it takes several attempts, don’t give up before at least three cycles.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That it takes several attempts, don’t give up before at least three cycles.

Thank you! I am thinking of committing to 3 cycles from the onset.

[Anonymous]

My experience says the time to trigger egg retrieval is at best an educated guess. My third attempt at Dominion, they told me to trigger on the 10th day. The size is right, Dr. Waud said (she wasn't my RE, but she was on duty that day for monitoring). However, we didn't get around to pick up the trigger shot yet, and that was a Sunday so no pharmacy was open. We managed to trigger on Monday 11 PM, and retrieved on Wed, 10 AM, full 24 hours later than they wanted. (originally trigger Sunday 11 PM + 36 hrs Retrieval on Tue 10 AM)

But that egg was a good egg. and my DD was born 9 months later. We'll never know whether that 24 hours delay actually helped the egg mature or not. The fact I didn't ovulate naturally means their trigger timing was early.

[Anonymous]

Take your medications as directed at the same time each day. I applied ice and light pressure after each injection in my second round and it really cut down on the bruising on my abdomen in my first round.
And in line with the above poster's comments, the first round of IVF is sometimes considered a learning experience. I had dramatically better results with my second round (mini IVF, which I think helped with maturity). (To be fair, I also used hgh in the second round as well as several supplements.) Be kind to yourself and try to keep stress to a minimum (easier said than done, yes) Best of luck.

[Anonymous]

Thank you posters. Really appreciate it. I like this idea of not getting too fixated on first try and giving myself chance to learn too in the process.

[Anonymous]

Think of some guilty pleasures that waste alot of time and indulge (too keep your mind off your cycle)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That it takes several attempts, don’t give up before at least three cycles.

+1. My first NCIVF baby took 3 tries. I think the odds of each cycle leading to a live baby is 25%. My second and third NCIVF babies were each conceived on my first try, much to my amazement.

In retrospect, I wish I hadn’t been so devastated when my first cycle didn’t succeed. The egg didn’t fertilize, probably because it wasn’t quite mature enough. In every other cycle, the egg fertilized and the embryo was transferred. I think I did the trigger shot around day 16 after the first cycle, so a little later than most women. So, that was valuable information learned from my first cycle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That it takes several attempts, don’t give up before at least three cycles.

+1. My first NCIVF baby took 3 tries. I think the odds of each cycle leading to a live baby is 25%. My second and third NCIVF babies were each conceived on my first try, much to my amazement.

In retrospect, I wish I hadn’t been so devastated when my first cycle didn’t succeed. The egg didn’t fertilize, probably because it wasn’t quite mature enough. In every other cycle, the egg fertilized and the embryo was transferred. I think I did the trigger shot around day 16 after the first cycle, so a little later than most women. So, that was valuable information learned from my first cycle.

Thank you! And so wonderful to hear of your success with NCIVF - for you and also gives me hope

[Anonymous]

OP here. Completed first cycle which was unsuccessful due to an immature egg. Came back to reread these recommendations which are helpful to look at again. My experience is aligned with much of what was shared. I think we triggered too early (day 14). I followed all directions to a T and doctor said my follicle measured well and estrogen levels were good.

I guess I am wondering what your experience was for adjusting protocol? We are at Dominion and instructions are to call in again on Day 1 for another cycle, no feedback on adjusting protocol from doctor when asked. Response was that my follicle measured well and estrogen levels were good so no adjustment this is just the unpredictable nature of a natural cycle. I think I triggered too early and need to wait longer next time. In your experience what did it look like to get protocol adjusted? Was doctor “on top of it”, or did you have to take lead and make suggestions, push back etc...

Just feeling a little lost I guess and trying to be patient in this. TIA for any feedback or anecdotes.

[Anonymous]

PP here whose first NCIVF baby took 3 tries. I’m sorry your first cycle didn’t succeed. I know how crushing it is.

There’s nothing you need to do. Deciding when to trigger is a bit of an art, as the doctor takes into account estrogen levels and size of the lead follicle as well as your previous NCIVF history. Follicles grow 1-3 mm a day, but don’t necessarily grow consistently (ie, could grow 3 mm one day and 1 mm the next). I think a follicle is considered to be ready at 17 mm, and too mature/beginning to disintegrate at 22mm. On one of my subsequent cycles, my lead follicle was 15 mm one day, 16 the next, and 17 the next. I asked the nurse if she thought I would trigger that night. She said usually they trigger at 17 mm but they weren’t going to do that with me because the egg didn’t fertilize at 17 mm previously. I think I triggered at 19 mm.

Hang in there and best of luck!

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous]PP here whose first NCIVF baby took 3 tries. I’m sorry your first cycle didn’t succeed. I know how crushing it is.

There’s nothing you need to do. Deciding when to trigger is a bit of an art, as the doctor takes into account estrogen levels and size of the lead follicle as well as your previous NCIVF history. Follicles grow 1-3 mm a day, but don’t necessarily grow consistently (ie, could grow 3 mm one day and 1 mm the next). I think a follicle is considered to be ready at 17 mm, and too mature/beginning to disintegrate at 22mm. On one of my subsequent cycles, my lead follicle was 15 mm one day, 16 the next, and 17 the next. I asked the nurse if she thought I would trigger that night. She said usually they trigger at 17 mm but they weren’t going to do that with me because the egg didn’t fertilize at 17 mm previously. I think I triggered at 19 mm.

Hang in there and best of luck![/quote]

Thanks so much PP. This is helpful to know and reading your experience gives me hope! -OP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That it takes several attempts, don’t give up before at least three cycles.

Thank you! I am thinking of committing to 3 cycles from the onset.

Worked on my first try, and my numbers were terrible. You just never know. Good luck to you. My advise is not to freak our like I did. It really was not a big
Deal, and it’s out of your control. As a control freak, I totally get how hard this advice is to heed.

[Anonymous]

I did 2 NCIVF cycles at Dominion, and was not prepared in my first cycle to find that while there was a sac there was no actual egg. It was devastating and I wish I had known that was a possibility.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I did 2 NCIVF cycles at Dominion, and was not prepared in my first cycle to find that while there was a sac there was no actual egg. It was devastating and I wish I had known that was a possibility.

OP here. I can totally relate. I know doctor may have mentioned egg retrieval not working out, and honestly I did not seriously consider this. For whatever reason my mind had focused on fertilization and transfer being where it might not work out so I was caught off guard when they let me know the egg was immature. The more you know! Did your second or later attempts work out?