New to this site - advice please for a 43yr old.

[sarahmo]

Hi everyone

I am new to this site. Could someone explain the abbreviations for me. I have worked out a few but not all of them.

I am 43 got married in 2002 to my hubby who is 45 next week. We have been trying for a baby for over a year after he had his vasecetomy reversed (He has 3 kids from his previous marriage).
He has a low count but at least they were there. My doc wouldn't do anything until we had been trying for a year even though he told me age was not on my side. I have had fibroids in the past which were removed and I thought that I was fine.
On Friday Feb 13th went to see the consultant who informed me that I am ovulating but I have a fibroid that will have to be removed and the chances of us having successful ICSI would be 5%. He recommended the Lister in London if we wanted to go this route.
I am having the fibroid removed in April and wanted some advice on the ICSI and if you think I'm too old to try.

[DebraP]

Hi Sarah, welcome to the board. I don't have any answers to your specific questions, except for the abbreviations....I found the glossary (scroll down the dark blue info list on the left until you get to Resources) really helpful, most of them are there.

Hope that helps, and good luck
Debra.

[SBROWN]

Hi Sarah,

welcome to the site....I cant believe your DR made you wait a year....

ICSI is quite successful I believe.... We did ICSI but unfortuantly I got OHSS so did not have a fresh embryo transfer. We did a FET in sept which was -ve and am starting another FET next week.......

My husband has low count/poor motility and on a +ve note for ICSI they collected 17 eggs from me of which 10 fertilised and 9 were good enough to freeze............Once you have the mebryos the success rate is the same as IVF..........The good thing about ICSI is it only takes one sperm!!

If you are able I would give it a sshot. You have nothing to lose and there are quite a few ladies on this site who are ealy 40s who have had successsful tmts.

Re abbreviations, hope these help:

AF Aunty Flo(period)

DH/DP darling husband/partner

ET embryo transfer

FET frozen embryo transfer

EC egg collection

TMT treatment

OHSS ovarian hyper stimulation syndrome

Good luck with what you decide
Sarah
xxx

[Nickie88]

Hi Sarah

I don't know whether you may be interested but I am starting ICSI this month at the Lister hospital for the first time and I am more than happy to keep you updated with what's going on. It's all new to me too but if you have any questions then I am more than happy to answer them (if I can).

All the best
Nickie

[jane]

I can't help with any of your questions but good luck anyway. If there is a chance of having a baby - its worth a go isn't it? I've just done my first ivf , on the 2ww (2 week wait to see if I am pregnant). Its been tough but not unbearable and I would do it again if I had to.
Good luck to you and I hope everything works out.
From Sophie-Jane.

[Friendly]

I'm 43. I've had two attempts at IVF. 1st attempt I got pg with twins but later miscarried last year when I was 42 (2 months off 43). 2nd attempt didn't get pg. Just about to go for IUI and then another IVF in April if that doesn't work. Here is a site for mothers over 40 that I find very good http://www.mothersover40.com/ There is a page there called UK fertility clinics that lists all the clinics that will treat women over 45 (so you know they will treat you at 43).

UK Fertility Clinics Treating Women Over The Age Of 45 are

Birmingham Women's Hospital (maximum age 50)
BMI Priory Hospital (50)
Cardiff Assisted Reproduction Unit (50)
Centre for Reproductive Medicine, Coventry (49)
Diana, Princess of Wales Centre for Reproductive Medicine (50)
Essex Fertility Centre (50)
Hartlepool General Hospital (50)
James Cook University Hospital (48)
London Female and Male Fertility Centre (50)
London Gynaecology and Fertility Centre (55)
London Women's Clinic (50)
Maidstone Fertility Centre (55)
Manchester Fertility Services (50)
BUPA Hospital Leicester (49)
St Jude's Clinic for Fertility & Gynaecology (50)
The Cromwell IVF and Fertility Centre (58)
The Peninsular Centre for Reproductive Medicine (50)
University College Hospital (49)
Washington Hospital Cromwell IVF & Fertility Unit (58)
Winterbourne Fertility Centre (50)

I personally have attended St Judes Clinic and Care at Nottingham.

I joined http://www.fertilityfriend.com free. On this mainly american site there is a page for women in their 40s trying to conceive and also a further sub division for women in their 40s trying to conceive (ttc) using Injectible IUI/IVF/ICSI.

Another good site is http://www.fertilityfriends.co.uk (also free to join) which has a page called Older and trying IVF/ICSI Here you will find women aged 40-46.

Yes our chances are reduced but it is not impossible.

All the best to you

Jenny

[Friendly]

I also post on http://www.babycentre.co.uk (free to join). There is a topic there called over 35 and ttc. Quite a few of us ladies are 43 on there. Feel free to join in if you would like although it is not an IVF/ICSI site but I post there and need to have treatment to get pregnant. Just remember you are not alone in your hopes to have a child at 43

All the best

Jenny

[Rhonda Richards]

Hi there Sarahmo

Just wanted to welcome you to the board, I am sorry but can;t advise you on treatment as I am am pretty new too.

Hope all goes well for you and DH, and look forward to your posts.

[sarahmo]

Hi Sarah

I don't know whether you may be interested but I am starting ICSI this month at the Lister hospital for the first time and I am more than happy to keep you updated with what's going on. It's all new to me too but if you have any questions then I am more than happy to answer them (if I can).

All the best
Nickie

Hi Nickie

Thanks for the info. It would be great if you keep me updated on what's going on. Also did you go to their open evening they hold on the first Monday evening of each month? If so did you find it useful.
Good luck
Sarah

[sarahmo]

I'm 43. I've had two attempts at IVF. 1st attempt I got pg with twins but later miscarried last year when I was 42 (2 months off 43). 2nd attempt didn't get pg. Just about to go for IUI and then another IVF in April if that doesn't work. Here is a site for mothers over 40 that I find very good http://www.mothersover40.com/ There is a page there called UK fertility clinics that lists all the clinics that will treat women over 45 (so you know they will treat you at 43).

UK Fertility Clinics Treating Women Over The Age Of 45 are

Birmingham Women's Hospital (maximum age 50)
BMI Priory Hospital (50)
Cardiff Assisted Reproduction Unit (50)
Centre for Reproductive Medicine, Coventry (49)
Diana, Princess of Wales Centre for Reproductive Medicine (50)
Essex Fertility Centre (50)
Hartlepool General Hospital (50)
James Cook University Hospital (48)
London Female and Male Fertility Centre (50)
London Gynaecology and Fertility Centre (55)
London Women's Clinic (50)
Maidstone Fertility Centre (55)
Manchester Fertility Services (50)
BUPA Hospital Leicester (49)
St Jude's Clinic for Fertility & Gynaecology (50)
The Cromwell IVF and Fertility Centre (58)
The Peninsular Centre for Reproductive Medicine (50)
University College Hospital (49)
Washington Hospital Cromwell IVF & Fertility Unit (58)
Winterbourne Fertility Centre (50)

I personally have attended St Judes Clinic and Care at Nottingham.

I joined http://www.fertilityfriend.com free. On this mainly american site there is a page for women in their 40s trying to conceive and also a further sub division for women in their 40s trying to conceive (ttc) using Injectible IUI/IVF/ICSI.

Another good site is http://www.fertilityfriends.co.uk (also free to join) which has a page called Older and trying IVF/ICSI Here you will find women aged 40-46.

Yes our chances are reduced but it is not impossible.

All the best to you

Jenny

Dear Jenny

Thanks so much for all the info. It's a great help. I will have a look at the websites you mentioned.

Good luck with the IUI

Sarah

[Traci]

Hi Sarah and welcome to the mad house!!!! if you like roller coasters then you will be ok here!!! no its not that bad cause we are all there to cusion you . I am 37 next week and Hubby 46 with a vasectomy reversal 10% motility he has 2 children from previous marriage. NOW as long as you are ovulating and you have an ok FSH level you will be fine . Alot of doctors dont really know much about infertility so I would only listen to the clinic that you choose. The motility isnt a problem if you are having ICSI cause they will pick the best ones and taxi them into the egg , the main problem which I find is if you are on the older side then the chances of your FSH are greater for getting a high reading which makes it difficult to respond to the drugs hence not getting many eggs . HOWEVER It CAN be done so YOU MUST GIVE IT YOUR BEST SHOT

GO FOR IT GIRL , YOU CAN DO IT , ITS WORTH THE TRY

[Nickie88]

Sarah

I did go to the open evening many years ago when I found out I had to have IVF to conceive - my Mum and I decided to go and find out all about it although I wasn't (at that time) in a position to start treatment. We found it very useful and well worth going.

Since then though I have found out that my partner and I need ICSI which doesn't faze me (just added cost that's all)!! I will definitely keep you posted.

Good luck with everything
Nickie

[sarahmo]

Thanks for the advice and happy birthday for the 13th!

[alisonn]

hihi sarah
When u see these consultants, i suppose they realy have to be honest
and give u all the stats, but it doesnt mean to say that u could not
be one of those stats with a +itive.
I was 42 (last year) when i started treatment i was at the london
womens clinic, due to my husbands low motility i was told icis was the
best treatment for me, i was very fortunate that i produced upto 10
eggs each time of which 5/6 fertilised after my 3rd failed attempt
i changed to the Lister hospital, and my miracle happened, ( had
just turned 43) so yes it can happen !!!!
Must admit on the last attempt i started accupuncture, and started
a course of vitmins/supplements (had a hair anaylis to find out what
i was lacking in). Also my dp was advised to take zinc ace daily and
it improved his sperm count.
So what im saying is yes it is possible, i must admit i would have
continued with a 5th go, and not sure when i would have stopped.
i hope everything goes well in april.
take care alisonn

[Friendly]

Alison - that is wonderful news I'm just about to have IUI and then my third attempt at IVF in April if that doesn't work so it is great to hear your story as I am 43 as well. How far along are you?

Jenny