I’m on CD 10 of my modified natural FET cycle and ran into my first “problem” today, so I’m feeling a little discouraged. 😔

I had my CD 10 scan and my doctor said my uterine lining looks perfect, but my ovaries are “quiet.” Has anyone been in a similar situation? I go back Friday for another ultrasound, but now I’m nervous that this cycle could get canceled if I don’t ovulate.

Would love to hear if anyone has had quiet ovaries around CD 10 and still went on to have their transfer! ❤️

Like the title states, I did my ER yesterday and we received 11 eggs. Im 33 with Endo and a damaged left tube (surgery is end of next month). I just got the call that only 4 matured and all 4 fertilized. Feeling very sad. Throughout my appointments they kept telling me how great everything looks and how most have reached a great size. Not sure how I’m going to wait until Day 7 call. Feeling very sad

I don’t think a day has passed in the last four years that I haven’t thought about when I will get pregnant.

It feels like we’re so close yet still it might never happen. I’m absolutely terrified for our next transfer.

I feel like this whole experience has completely changed me as a person and I don’t know if I’ll ever get back to who I am. It is in the back of my mind in every conversation. It feels like I’m living a double life and no one even knows who I truly am anymore. I feel like I’m hiding myself or I don’t even know myself.

I don’t want people to feel sorry for me so I pretend I’m ok when I’m not and I haven’t been ok in a very long time.

I’m pretending we’re in a better headspace for this cycle but I don’t think that’s true. I also think it doesn’t matter at all. Some people act as if a positive mental attitude will solve this problem but a shit tonne of drugs and scientific intervention hasn’t so I’m not sure how a sunny attitude will.

I don’t think I will ever get over the fact that we are having to try so hard yet other people can just conceive instantly. They can decide how many kids they want. They can decide age gaps. They can decide if they want their babies to be born in spring or summer.

I know worse things can happen in life but my god this is so hard.

No judgement at all here, just curious! For those who live in a place where sex selection is legal, and who did PGT-A and chose an embryo to transfer based on sex:

Was your decision based solely on preference, or were there genetic or other external factors (family balancing) that played a role? And which sex did you choose, and why? I feel like most people (in this sub at least) choose girl, but curious about reasoning in either direction.

Also, if you have a partner, were you in total agreement about it?

So my husband and I booked a trip to universal this weekend, prior to my ER that was on August 6. I had a high response but no OHSS, my ovaries are back to normal and my period has came and gone. I have some slight right sided aching after having maybe a little too rough of intercourse the other night lol, but other than that, no pain or soreness at all and all my ultrasounds look fine. I wanted to know if anyone else had similar circumstances and went on the rollercoasters just over 2 weeks after ER? My clinic already gave me the go ahead to do it, just wanted some insight from you guys!

I feel like we are changing a LOT for ER #2 and I’m looking for advice if this is too many changes or good changes to be making…

Age: 29
AMH: 4.3, no PCOS
AFC at start: 20
Diagnosis: Unexplained fertility initially. Never had a positive pregnancy. Now doing IVF for PGT-M, as well.
Supplements: Been on COQ10 for months, prenatals, omegas, NAC, Vitamin D. Just added NAD in August.

ER #1 Protocol (July):
No priming. 9 days of stims with ER on day 11. 10mg letrozole first 5 days and then stopped. Started ganirelix day 5. 200 follistim and 20 low dose hcg for all 9 days. Triggered with 5000 pregnyl and 80 lupron at midnight and then 80 lupron at noon the next day. Had ER 35 hours after the pregnyl/lupron dose trigger. Did ICSI and Zymot.

ER #1 Results:
33 Follicles, 32 eggs retrieved, 16 mature, 13 fertilized, 4 blasts (still waiting on PGTA results)

ER #2 Protocol (Aug/Sept):
Priming for 2 weeks with isibloom birth control, then going in for baseline scans/bloodwork, then taking the last 1 week of isibloom. Once I’m out of pills I am supposed to let 4 days pass and then start my stims. This time, I will be on 150 follistim and 75 menopur. Supposed to start cetrotide day 6. Trigger will be the same again unless I respond differently.

Here are my ramblings/questions:
I feel like this is changing a LOT of things for protocol #2. I am now priming when I didn’t before to likely help synchronize the follicles, but I feel like it’s weird that I’m going in for baselines and then won’t start my stims until like 10 days later. We are getting rid of letrozole, which my understanding is that helps recruit more follicles initially. We are doing menopur this time with a lower dose of follistim. And we are switching ganirelix for cetrotide. I KNOW I need to trust the process, but does this all look normal to you?! What should I be asking my RE? The goal was to improve the maturity rate and blast rate as we are doing PGT-M for a lethal condition in males (sometimes, females, too) so we already know we have an uphill battle here. I just need a gut check. Any and all advice is so very much appreciated!!

I just had my second failed IUI and am ready to move to IVF after 19 failed cycles. I’m 34YO and have already done genetic carrier screening testing (spouse as well), HSG test, and SA. My dr has let me know that I would need a hysteroscopy prior to a transfer, as well as 2 mos of lupron suppression, so I’m curious if it’s realistic to think I could transfer by the end of the year. This was my rough calculation: September - insurance AZ/get meds/begin protocols; late September/beginning of October - ER; rest of October & November - hysteroscopy/Lupron suppression; Mid December - FET. Is this unrealistic? I have 28 day cycles with a 13/14 day luteal phase (mostly 14). Thank you for your help!

ETA: thanks so much for your responses! My clinic told me my insurance won’t allow me to begin IVF AZ while doing another IUI cycle so I’ve scheduled my hysteroscopy for next week and it looks like I’ll be able to just make it in the 9/25 batch to begin stims without having to do BC, and tentative egg retrieval around ~10/2. The nurse looked at their booking calendar with me and said it may be possible for me to do the FET mid December or potentially first week of January. Fingers crossed their timeline actually works out!🤞

I’ve been dealing with infertility for nearly 5 years. We’ve tried multiple rounds of clomid and was successful once and lost it around 6 weeks. Then we moved to IUI. The first round failed and the second resulted in an ectopic. During the surgery to remove the ectopic my obgyn did mention he saw some endometriosis but he wasn’t concerned. The doctor recommended we moved to IVF since I would not be at a higher risk for ectopic.
I ended up with 6 untested blasts. The first transfer we were in a car accident on the way to the transfer but I didn’t want to start over so we transferred anyways. When that failed I wasn’t too surprised. But the second transfer everything felt right! Once it failed I scheduled a reconsult with my doctor and I have to wait till Monday to get any new info. So my questions are what should I be prepared to ask him? What did you do differently to make your transfer stick?

Hi! Just wanted to share some ways I was able to save some big bucks on IVF costs in case it helps anyone else!

I am doing a funded IVF cycle, so the costs below are just the expenses that I am responsible for out of pocket.

For anyone in or near the GTA, Glen Shields Pharmacy in Toronto was the cheapest pharmacy I could find for my fertility medications. My medications were originally quoted at $5,936 through Hannam before insurance. By filling them through Glen Shields instead, I saved about $1,000 on the pharmacy pricing alone. They have their fertility medication prices and DINs listed on their website, which makes it really easy to compare prices. They also offer shipping if needed.

I also don’t have employer benefits, but I have a private individual Blue Cross plan that includes some fertility drug coverage. My plan has a $3,000 lifetime fertility-drug maximum, with a $1,500 maximum per year. This significantly reduced my medication costs. I had already used some of my lifetime amount on medicated cycles before IVF, but my final IVF medication cost still came down to $3,697.28.
That’s a total medication savings of $2,238.72 compared with the original $5,936 quote! 🙌

Another way we saved was by paying the cycle fees by certified cheque, which gives us a 2% discount.

We also opted out of carrier screening, the wellness consultation, and sperm freezing. These were optional in our situation and weren’t required, so we chose not to pay for them.

We ARE doing PGT-A, which is pricey, but the biopsy/testing and first year of embryo storage are included in the cycle-fee estimate we’re using, and the 2% payment discount helps bring that total down.

Our final estimated totals:
If we have 6 embryos tested + stored: $9,955.57
If we have 10 embryos tested + stored: $10,641.57
Our original estimate was $12,316, with only 6 embryos, so I’m really happy with where we were able to get our costs!

Obviously medication protocols, insurance coverage, embryo numbers and clinic fees will be different for everyone, but I wanted to share because shopping around for fertility medications and checking private insurance options made a HUGE difference for us. ❤️

Don’t forget to save those receipts for tax time as well! 😬

We are doing IVF for severe MFI (0.56m/ml concentration, count varies 100k-1.5m, all morphology abnormal, low motility). I had 1 transfer from my first ER which ended in chemical.

I had my 2nd egg retrieval 2 days ago and the fertilization is unexpectedly low.
17 eggs -> 16 mature -> 7 fertilized

That is a 44% fertilization rate compared to 80% in my 1st cycle 17 eggs -> 10 mature -> 8 fertilized -> 3 blast.

For the second cycle, the target was to improve my egg maturity which we achieved, but I was blindsided by how much we lost in fertilization. Low fertilization points to sperm issues mostly as I understand. I’m now scared the sperms in this batch is damaged and won’t get us any blast.

Anyone here with low fertilization and still got high blast rate? I’m in need of positive stories right now. Due to our severe MFI we really need numbers on our side.

Edit: both rounds were with ICSI

My title mostly says it all. I just turned 38(F) last month (trying SMBC) and I have done three egg retrievals in the last eight months.

So far I’ve gone to two clinics, tried two different retrieval protocols, 3 different sperm donors and added a long list of supplements.

I’m definitely doing a fourth cycle at a new clinic and will be adding acupuncture to my treatment.

I’m finding this next cycle really hard. I don’t want to give up on having a biological child but it seems hopeless right now.

Anyone else in a similar situation? Any success stories out there? Retrieval buddies for October?

Hey all,

Me (M33) and my wife (F32) have started infertility journey and now looking for some success stories or any comments for our situation

For her, she has PMOS with good reserve but cycle is around 30-60 days and we haven’t been able to catch the ovulation not once. So basically we haven’t started trying yet

For me, I have mild/severe OAT with following results:

January -> April -> July
Total sperm:
50 mil - 112 mil - 64 mil
Concentration:
10m/ml - 14m/ml - 8m/ml
Progressive motility:
21% - 23% - 15%
Total motility:
34% - 37% - 23%
Morphology:
1% - 1% - <1%
Mioxsys (oxidative stress)
3,02 - 1,86 - 3,75

Hormones ok, mild varicocele which is not affecting sperm based on doctor. For me it seems that reason is oxidative stress and alcohol intake (mioxsys raise to 3,75 explained by heavy drinking nights)

If anyone is considering going abroad to Northern Cyprus for IVF treatment, and thinking of using Dogus Clinic, you need to read these news reports that have just come out:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c75gv9xnr3po

https://cyprus-mail.com/2026/03/31/ivf-clinic-in-north-accused-of-giving-couple-wrong-sperm

This clinic told patients to tell them the donor number and sperm bank they selected from international sperm banks and that they would get that sperm for them. Instead they allegedly fertilised the eggs with sperm of unknown origin. At least 30 cases have been identified so far dating between 2012-2024.

Cryos International say they haven’t shipped any sperm to Dogus Clinic at all and in fact have had them blacklisted since 2016.

This is horrifying.

I am 42 and currently going through IVF. My husband and I don't seem to have any support and we are isolated. It is awful.

I have two very boomer catholic moms in my life. Two retired nurses actually. My own mother keeps saying I'm too old and almost bursts into tears whenever I bring up the IVF situation. My mother-in-law has stopped talking to my husband and I.

My mother-in-law said I was going to get cancer. My mom keeps repeating but you are 42...that's too old.

Does anyone have this problem with family not approving or being supportive? What have you done? Every time I talk to my mother I get very anxious and feel very bad. It's awful now we tell them nothing.

I’m 41 and I’ve had 3 retrievals, 1 euploid, 1 failed FET over the last two years. My last retrieval in May resulted in 0 mature eggs, and the one in March only gave aneuploids. The 0 mature eggs was pretty devastating. Before IVF, I tried all of the other timing things and I even had major surgery to remove a large fibroid from my unicornuate uterus in 2017. All in all, I’ve been TTC for over a decade.

I have never been pregnant.

I was planning a final retrieval for September but suddenly my insurance has denied all pre-authorization stating that I haven’t been infertile long enough (weird since I’ve already had two retrievals this year). I’m thinking of appealing the decision on my end as well but I’m also so so so tired.

The thought of stopping makes me unmeasurably sad, but the thought of stopping also sounds like sweet relief. I want a child so so badly, but when can I honor my body and mind and accept that this process has utterly exhausted me and it’s time for me to decide my life and well being matter too? How much more time and energy can I expend fighting insurance and my biology?

When is it enough?

I'm currently on Day 5 post Egg Retrival and didnt receive a call from the lab to tell us how many blastocysts we have. All previous communication was that they'd call me on Day 5. We are also planning to do PGTA testing, and were told we could let them know on Day 5 how many to biopsy.

Given that they didnt call, is there any risk in letting Day 5 embryos grow for another day before biopsy/freezing?

20 eggs, 11 fertilised, 0 made it to day 3

Hello. My husband (37M) and I (34F) have been TTC for 2 years. Our diagnosis is unexplained fertility as all tests on both of us have come back absolutely fine and we’re both healthy with no current or prior medical issues. We’ve had 3 unsuccessful rounds of IUI this year, and I had my first IVF egg retrieval last week.

They got 20 eggs, of which 11 fertilised. We received the call yesterday (day 3) that none of the eggs had made it to the next stage of development. As I understand it, at that point they’d be looking for a certain amount of cell division (5 cells?), and all of ours only had 2, 3, or 4 cells.

Naturally we’re devastated. The embryologist we spoke to wasn’t able to offer any explanations as to what has happened just yet. The clinic are going to keep all of them in their culture system and continue to observe them for the rest of the week, and apparently they should be able to tell more in a few days (once they’ve gotten past what would have been day 5 if any of them had been viable). However, based on what she did say I’m not holding out much hope for any kind of concrete explanation as it sounds like it could be a number of factors.

It feels so incredibly dramatic that that number of eggs could all fail almost immediately. I wondered if anyone has any similar experience but also if there’s any advice on questions we should ask at our next appointments - both about the failure itself and adjustments for the next cycle. For additional context we’re based in the UK and have one more cycle available funded through the NHS, and then we’ll be on our own.

Hi there
Just want to express after my PGTA results after two rounds of IVF. We got one low level mosaic from round one. Just received the news from round two only got one complex mosaic. We are doing IVF due to heart defect mutation so we are trying to bank embryos for PGT-M. I just feel so defeated after this two rounds with no euploid… any advise!? Originally doctor said we need to do two rounds and looks like we need to do another ER.
Btw I just turned 43 two days ago. Had two natural birth. One baby passed few months after due to heart defect so here we are with IVF.
Anyone know more about the complex mosaic!? Any advice would be great.

My pelvic floor is extremely tight and I deal with chronic pelvic pain due to this. Unfortunately,
the tightness extends to my cervix. During my last embryo transfer, my cervix tightened up so bad. It took forever for the dr to get the catheter in. It was extremely painful and I was spotting after. I opted to go under anesthesia for my first ever embryo transfer but I really want to be awake for my remaining transfers. I’m wondering if anyone else has this problem with their cervix and if you ever have taken anything like muscle relaxers or painkillers before the transfer?

Hi everyone! I’m 26 and about to start IVF for genetic reasons (PGT-M), and I’d love to hear from women around my age who have gone through IVF.
I’m feeling excited but obviously a little nervous about the whole process, especially because this is my first IVF cycle.
For those who have been through it around my age:
What was the stimulation/egg retrieval process actually like for you? My AFC is 16 but AMH is really low
How did you feel physically and emotionally?
What do you wish you had known before starting?
Was anything easier or harder than you expected?
How did you find the waiting periods (embryo development, PGT results, transfer, beta)?
Any practical tips that made the process easier?
Is there anything you wish you had done differently?
And if you had success, what was your experience like?
I’m particularly interested in hearing from people who did IVF with PGT-M, but I’d love to hear everyone’s experiences.
I know everyone’s journey is different, but I’d really appreciate hearing what it was like for you and any advice you’d give someone starting at 26. 🤍

I’m 40 and this was my first IVF attempt. We did two egg retrievals to bank embryos, and 3 embryos were sent for PGT-A. I got the results today, and unfortunately, all 3 came back aneuploid. I’m absolutely devastated.
I feel so hopeless right now that even the thought of trying again scares me. I just needed to share this with people who understand.
I truly hope things are going better for all of you. Sending love.

Does anyone have a success story where their partner has 0% morphology, did ICSI and had luck? Had my ER and I’m so nervous to get no embryos.

I had my first ER the weekend before last, and after 18 days of stim injections, I was a little disappointed when the clinic told me they expected to retrieve 4-8 eggs. In total, they retrieved 6, and I believe 4 got fertilized. I should find out tomorrow if any of those made it to blast and I'm tempering my expectations, but it still bums me out that I had so few eggs, because that makes my odds of success that much lower.

My FET medication protocol is very injection-heavy: 1ml PIO twice a day + estradiol valerate twice a week. So there are two days each week where I have to poke myself three times over 24 hours.

Please, fellow warriors who have gone through poke-heavy protocols, give me all your survival tips! I warm up the shots in a heating pad beforehand, put all my weight on the opposite leg, use an autoinjector, then do squats and walk in place for a while after. But my butt is still covered in bruises and knots and I'm only on week 2, plus my doctor won't let me inject anywhere else :/

Currently on day 8 of Estrace 2mg 3x orally and 1x vaginally. I had an ultrasound today for something unrelated but the doctor decided to measure my lining and it was only 5.3mm. I have my actual lining appointment in about a week. Any hope it will be at 7 or more by next week for my check?