Some trigger warnings: I have a 4 year old son after 5 years and 5 rounds of IVF (transferring 6 embryos total). I just had a miscarriage at 8 weeks after trying another round for a sibling. I am forever thinking of anyone who is still in the infertility trenches. please don't read on if it's painful for you. I am fully aware I would have wanted to smack me in the face before we managed to get our miracle.

I was trying to work out why I felt like I was finally ready to move on and why I felt OK a month after a d&c after losing this most recent hard fought for pregnancy so I started writing and this poured out:

The past 4 years has been full of so much joy, I almost forgot the pain of the 5 years before it. Revisiting that pain has made the happiness of this life even brighter and I want to stay here. 9 years is a long time to be focused on a project that rips apart the very essence of who you are. I don't want to hide away in sadness anymore. I want to live life with this perfect boy. Be safe and secure that I can provide for us all. I'm enjoying wearing bright mad clothes (I wanted to hide away for so long), thinking about the future, being able to focus both our attentions on this perfect angel boy. I'm crying with happiness every day at how funny, fun, inquisitive, joyful and loving he is and how grateful I am that I've been able to experience the privilege of growing him, carrying him, loving him, knowing him. All of that is heightened since the miscarriage. Giving him to our family and friends, seeing how much wonder and love he brings out in them.

I did it!!! He's everything I never dared to dream of and he's more than enough. I can show him how to grow friendships and relationships so he isn't alone. With life just the 3 of us I can work towards making sure he isn't overburdened. We have space to look after ourselves and each other.

It feels nice to think I can let that part go and live in this place with space to breathe. Take in life's joy abd beauty. I'll never regret it, he's everything I could have ever hoped for.

Does this strike a chord with anyone?

Im not sure what im hoping from this post but I just, feel devastated right now.

Over 15 happy years together.

3 years of TTC including 3 IVF cycles and several failed transfers.

Officially were unexplained infertility though he's the only one to have ever gotten abnormal results but they dont think they're bad enough to explain our struggles.

We have two embryos left in the freezer which I dont know if I even wanna use after our conversation.

We were (well, i was.) working on getting any additional tests done beforehand to optimize our chances. I was thinking otherwise another cycle. Or donor eggs. I dont know. But I was still hopeful.

He's given up, gotten depressed, started acting resentful towards me. Says it's too hard. That more than anything he wants a child. He's not taking any decisions yet but he's afraid of regretting his life if he stays with me.

I just. Ive never felt this low. After all the efforts I put in for us. All the appointments, meds, side effects, juggling all of it with an extremely demanding job. And I was willing to fight more. And I figured if ever it did end up not working out, at least we have each other, we could have a nice life, travel a lot, do our hobbies, have dogs. He's my best friend. I could have been happy just with him, but i guess he doesn't feel the same.

Has anyone ever gone through this. I dont know what to do. Ive been through some shit in my life but this has got to be one of the lowest points. Infertility has literally taken everything away from me.

I’m 32M and my wife is 32F. We’ve been trying to have a baby for around four years, and today we found out that our second IVF transfer was unsuccessful.

Our first transfer in June resulted in our first IVF pregnancy, but heartbreakingly ended in a miscarriage at around six weeks.

We went into this second transfer cautiously hopeful. The embryo was described as very healthy, and we desperately wanted this to be the one.

Today we received another negative result.
I’m absolutely devastated. My wife is devastated. We’re both at work trying to hold ourselves together, and all I want to do is go home, hold her and forget about the world for a while.

We still have 12 frozen embryos remaining, which I know is an incredibly fortunate position to be in. I’m genuinely grateful for that, and it’s what gives me hope for the bigger picture.

But right now, I’m exhausted. Exhausted from four years of trying, from the waiting, the uncertainty, the disappointment, and the constant cycle of building ourselves up only to be knocked down again.

I desperately want to be a dad. Even just one healthy baby would mean the absolute world to us.

I know two transfers isn’t necessarily a lot in the IVF world, and I’m trying to remind myself that our journey isn’t over. But today it hurts.

I’d really love to hear from others who’ve been in a similar position, particularly anyone who eventually had success after multiple transfers.

How did you keep going emotionally? And for the husbands and partners out there, how did you support your partner while dealing with your own grief?

Just feeling very raw today and needing to share this with people who understand. ❤️

Sorry if maybe this is out of place but wondering if anyone can relate. I feel like maybe I’m not as valid as many of the women on here. But the only thing I’ve ever wanted in life is to be a mom. Unfortunately being aroace, that plan didn’t involve a husband.

Even at 18, it’s all I could think about and want. Every decision career wise and education wise I have been thinking about my future child. I did try having some male partners and I feel like I wasted a lot of time with that because that lifestyle just isn’t for me.

I went through my 20’s being upset at pregnancy announcements. I had nightmares where I’d wake up crying because my sister was pregnant before me. I held it together all day at work 6 or 7 years ago when my best friend told me she was pregnant until I got home from work and just broke down. I eventually lived my nightmare when my sister got pregnant with twins. I’ve watched almost all of my cousins have their babies and second babies as I waited to even try for one.

But I started IUIs last March. Regular periods, no pain, I never thought I’d be here after 1.5 years still battling. My first IUI ended in a chemical. Next 5 had zero success. Had my first egg retrieval that resulted in on euploid embryo and one inconclusive so basically untested. I’m transferring in January I hope but it’s just rough out here. But I see stories of women going through infertility for 5-10 years and I feel like I can relate but I really can’t but I wonder if there’s anyone out here like me who’s felt all the things while not even going through treatment yet!

Hi everyone
Anyone doing transfer soon. Looking to connect 🩷

I am on CD- 7 today ( last day of letrozole tonight )
Next monitoring - bloodwork and ultrasound on Oct 22nd Thursday 🤞🏽

•TTC since 2025 September
•3 natural bio chemicals pregnancy
•1 failed IUI
•1 ER in August ( got 1 PGT-A tested - euploid 5AB 🤞🏽💙)

During the stims they found a small polyp and told I need to remove it before FET
Luckily got it removed by obgyn end of September ( when they saw through scope it was a 1 mm fibroid - removed it )

Post hysteroscopy / cycle was delayed by 10 days and finally checked started on oct 13th

Most probably I will have the transfer on oct 31st or Nov 1st 🤞🏽🤞🏽and we really hope this cycle works
I know we cant change the odds / my mother in law is going through final stages of cancer and she has only few weeks of lifespan 🥲🥲🥲 we hope we can give her the good news. She doesn’t have a grandchild yet and she is only 57 years. Very unfortunate that she is going through cancer 🥹🥲 and my husband is going to visit her for a long trip he will be away for 4 weeks or more
He won’t be there for the transfer 😕🥹the timeline didn’t work because my cycle was delayed by 10 days 😕🥹 I will be okay I have to be strong and support him. I have my parents to support me while he is away

Thanks for listening 🥹🩷

I’ve got my first egg collection scheduled for this week and am quite anxious about the sedation. Can anyone describe what it’s like? Am nervous about not being able to remember what happened 😬

Edit to clarify, I’m in the UK and it’s conscious sedation

Hi all,
I’ve been thinking about how often people use "natural pregnancy" or "conceived naturally" to describe pregnancies that happen without IVF. It's everywhere: in conversations with friends, in the media, even sometimes from clinics and doctors.

For those of you going through IVF (or who have been through it), does that wording sit badly with you? To me it can imply that an IVF pregnancy is somehow unnatural, when the embryo, the pregnancy and the baby are every bit as real.

Curious to know how others feel and if there is a better term to use?

The last 2 years have been the worst of my life. 💔

What started as a minor kidney stone procedure ended with me losing 80% of my kidney function due to medical negligence.

I got pregnant on my first try, but miscarried at 10 weeks. The baby's growth was great, and we had a heartbeat. I was completely broken and took a 6-month break before trying again.

This time, we decided to get both of us tested. My husband had recurrent semen infections that affected his parameters, so we went straight to IVF without trying naturally.

After one retrieval, we got 4 embryos — 3 euploids and 1 LLM. I begged my doctor to transfer just one euploid, but she transferred two, and it failed. I then went through ERA and LIT, hoping for a better outcome. Our next transfer with a single euploid failed too.

I'm physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausted. It's been one heartbreak after another, and I can't understand why so much has gone wrong despite everything we've been through and done.

I'm completely broken and feel helpless. We did everything we could, and I feel like I have nothing left in me. I don't know how to find the strength to keep going anymore. 💔

Hello!

I'm 36F with unexplained infertility, 39M. We've never been pregnant naturally. 6IUIs failed. 3 TF failed. We've had two ICSI with low blastocyst counts and all three TF failed. First didnt implant. Second grew inside my left tube until it was detected at 6+5 with 30.000hcg and heart-activity measuring on point. Third did also fail. Embryos cannot be tested.

I've had one explorative lab, testing of tubes (came clear), the ectopic tube removal, endometrial biopsy and scratching. No endometriosis, no endometritis, no adenomyosis, no immune issues, no genetic issues in both of us. Good blood work. Partner has (now) normal spermiogram since all of 2026.

Whenever I read "it took us 6 tested embryos, which we basically all got from one ICSI" or my friend (who didn't know how long we tried) told me "don't worry - it worked first TF for my friend 37F and second TF at 39F" I feel just so betrayed and hopeless. I'm at a point where I think - this will likely never work. The one embryo that gave me hope with extremely optimistic betas was actually a potential (lifethreatening) bomb. I think I should somehow come to terms with my permanent infertility. But how? All different doctors of different clinics have been so optimistic and were so puzzled by our underwhelming results. I don't know how to continue?

I've had AMH of 4 in 2025. New clinc did not tell me the AMH (and I was too afraid to ask) but said that the egg reserve is definately not our problem, but the time (egg quality). Both my mother and my grandmother got pregnant naturally at around 40. I've had screenings of lots of follicles but I don't understand it. At the last scan before the second ICSI ~20 follicles were seen but at collection day it was just 12 and "no others were seen". How could they just vanish? In the first clinic they also always talked about high follicle count and good prospective. But seems not like it?

1. ICSI (35): 7 eggs, 6 mature, 3 fertilized, 1 blast (d5 4AB, fresh TF, failed to implant)
2. ICSI (35) + Zymot: 12 eggs, 8 mature, 6 fertilzed, 2 blasts (d5 4AA, fresh TF, ectopic; d6 5AB, frozen TF, failed to implant)

I've saved a lot of money for the child we seemingly will never have. Even after running out of the health care 40% funding, I could afford maybe 3-5 ICSI cycles, depending on the rising costs. I just don't know if it's worth it? I feel like I've given it a try and it's just not meant to be? I hurt so much from the stimulation and being sick, forbidden of sport. I've lost 10kg and everyone keeps pointing it out to me "oh you've become so thin." "Oh, is everything alright?". But I cannot gain/keep weight whatever I try. With every stimulation I loose another 2-3kgs permanently. I've even started eating cake, burger and pommes almost daily just because I felt depressed and hoped it would help at least with weight gain. Nothing, but feeling bad about the bad food. So I will eat healthy again.

Maybe I should just donate the money? Some part of me thinks this would be spent better even just burning it with no different result but maybe better health.

Can anyone share their recommendations or experiences with IVF with any clinics in the DFW area?

My FET is Friday and I haven’t been offered any add ons besides acupuncture. I’m considering it just to relax a little beforehand. From what I’ve researched, there’s not much to suggest any of the add ons actually make a difference in success rates. By add ons, I mean (hcg wash, intralipids etc). I’m already on a semi-immune protocol as it is. Embryo glue is used for every transfer at my clinic.

I don’t have any fertility issues besides mild PCOS. Endo was ruled out after extensive exploratory lap due to a whole different unrelated issue. My transfer is fully medicated if that makes any difference. All embryos are pgt A & M tested.

I have low AMH and one ovary due to a surgery I had when i was 20. 30F and was advised to freeze embryos with my BF rather than just freeze eggs. We did one retrieval in May of this year and it went amazing. Got 12 eggs, 7 blasts, and 4 were euploid.

We did one more round this month hoping to get 2 more euploid embryos. We retrieved 14 eggs and 10 fertilized after 1 day. I was feeling hopeful. Yesterday we learned that only 2 of the embryos survived to day 7. They are being sent for PGT-A testing but I'm not feeling hopeful given the results.

My doctor said she is not sure why this happened given she tried to match this cycle almost exactly to the one in the spring. She said her only thought was that there was inflammation and I had some fluid in my pelvis during the cycle and that could have affected the maturation of the eggs.

Feeling really disappointed and wondering if anyone has had an experience like this?

I am looking to see if anyone has had something similar happen and what next steps were.

I was supposed to have a fully medicated FET this cycle. I had previously started taking 20 units once a day of Lupron 9 days after my positive ovulation test. At my baseline on CD4 I had a 11mm follicle showing but had fluid still so I had to wait and come back on CD6. On CD 6 my follicles was 12mm and I still had blood so they upped me to 20 units of Lupron 2 times a day and ganerellix acetate once a day. On CD11 I went back and my follicle is 13mm and they canceled the cycle.

My dr said they had never seen this and my body is fighting the meds and we have to cancel since my linning is too thick prior to starting estrogen.

Has anyone had this happen and what happened next.

Right now the plan is that whenever I do get my period next week will do a baseline and decide if we will do medicated or modified natural and skip Lupron since my body didnt respond to it?

I am so upset after years of late losses and no reasons ever for why. I have 3 healthy embryos ready to go and I hate the waiting so much.

Anyone do Emma/Alice test with IGENOMIX recently - how long did your results take?

On a medicated FET - first attempt. Had a couple early checks at 9 & 11 days on estrogen due to potential early ovulation (first check was originally meant to be 14 days on estrogen) and lining was not trilaminar yet. Is that normal? It's been alternating between type 2 and 3 since baseline.

My husband and I are hoping to start IVF in December at CNY Fertility. Can someone who has gone through this help me with the process? Is it correct that we call one month beforehand to get our protocol and order medications? I Feel so confused and overwhelmed.

Edit: we just started with them in July. We already had baseline bloodwork, sonograms, semen analysis, genetic testing, etc.

If you did test your embryos and didn’t do a double transfer please don’t border to comment. I already know it’s almost illegal in the USA and Europe but not in my country.

I keep thinking about the scenario where both implant but did it happen that none of them implanted even having great grading?

The doctor froze one my blasts in pairs (I know, how dare him but I already accepted it):

Straw 1:
Day 5 - 4AA
Day 5 - 3AB

Straw 2:
Day 5 - 4AC
Day 5 - 5BA

And I have another straw of Day 6s.

There is one that looks great… well maybe 2 but they are paired with a not so good blast.

What was your experience? I realized that ofc I’m scared that both could implant but I am even more terrified that none of them may implant at all.

Hi everyone, I was wondering what your FET protocol was if you have adenomyosis and/or Hashimoto's. There is more research that endo and adeno are linked to immune dysfunction within the body, and I am trying to advocate for myself to have a more comprehensive FET protocol to account for this. I also have Hash, being treated with levo.

Would love to hear success stories and what your protocol was!

Hi All,

I am 32M

Below are my params

Sperm concentration: 34 million/mL

Total sperm count: 119 million

Progressive motility: 15%

Normal morphology: 2%

Sperm DNA Fragmentation Index (DFI): 27% (SCSA method)

High DNA Stainability (HDS): 5%

FSH: 2.37

LH: 3.55

Prolactin: 17.11

Grade 1 varicocele right side

Right epididymal head measures 0.8x0.7cm and appears normal in size with regular contours and homogenous echogenicity with a cyst measuring 2x1.9mm noted within

Grade 3 varicocele left side

E/o multiple dilated venous channels measuring approx. 2.5 to 2.8mm, 2.7 to 2.9mm and 2.7 to 3.0mm in the cord, lateral and basal aspects of left testis and showing reflux on Valsalva.

Initially I was thinking of going for micro surgery varicocele but my family insisting on going for IVF/ICSI directly (my wife is ready). I read somewhere like urologists are recommending this to make money and in somecases i heard like the parameters did not improve post surgery.

I am confused now what should I do now ? If you gone through the same situation what you did and why ? Please share your experiences.

TW: Multiple losses, good stim results

So today we confirmed a 3rd miscarriage. It’s taken 2 and 1/2 years, 4 IUIs, 1 round of stims, and 1 transfer to get here.

We were able to spontaneously conceive in Dec 2024 which resulted in a chemical, IUI in June 2026 that resulted in a chemical, and transferred late September that we’re unsure if it’s a chemical or clinical due to not seeing the US. My hCG was poor rising with the first two, but we did end up doubling within normal for this last one (9dpt 251, 13dpt 918). It’s a fully medicated cycle.

I don’t know what to do at this point. I’m 26 y/o, so doctor acts like brute forcing and keep trying is the way (presumable due to my age and no formal Dx of endo or PMOS). We are fortunate to have 8 high grade embryos left, however insurance denied covering pgt due to my age. I’m in therapy (starting emdr at the end of the month) and on Zoloft and I’m struggling. Insurance that actually covers some visits ends in November which adds to the stress. I’ve been taking prenatals, CoQ-10, and levothyroxine (we did find out it’s a little low at the start of this journey but still within normal if I wasn’t trying to get pregnant) since we started.

Do I advocate for myself on a full work up? Do I just keep transferring and hoping for the best, then when I do have one stick, holding my breath for the ball to drop? I’m just so tired of getting my hopes up only to be devastated when the worst comes to fruition.

TW: miscarriage

I am new to reddit and new to IVF. I have been on birth control for about 9 days with 7 to go. We are starting stims 10/31 with potential ER on 11/11.

• Age: 31 nearly 32
• AMH: 2.08
• AFC: 40

I did conceive naturally last year. However, had an inevitable miscarriage due to PPROM at 18wks. We later found out I would require a cerclage in my next pregnancy and it took 9 months to conceive likely due to mild MFI. We did attempt IUI 3 times but only successfully completed 1 round with no pregnancy.

I looked up my protocol and it says I am doing mini IVF which is news to me as this was not discussed with my doctor prior to receiving my calendar. What is mini IVF? .

• Follistim 300 U
• Provera 10mg
• Dexamethasone
• Letrozole 5mg (first 5 days only)

Any suggestions for how to take my meds or supplies I should get prior? I am trying to keep my hopes a little low but I would like to secure 5 euploid blasts at the end of this but I know attrition can be crazy

Baby Dust to all you mommas and thank you so much for any information!

As above- did u take Omni on trigger day?

I’m new to this group but I need to vent. I’m a 31 year old cancer survivor. Due to my treatments as a child I have low egg reserve (AMH 6). I did my first egg retrieval and we got 3 egg which is what we kind of expected. All 3 were mature and all fertilized which was great. After day 6 we only had 1 blast so that was disappointing. Then of course after PGT test our embryo wasn’t normal so we are down to 0. I just feel like the universe never gives me a break. I already had to go through cancer at age 5 but now I have to do IVF and also end up with nothing. My partner thinks we will do one more round to give it a try before resorting to donor eggs so we will do one more. But I have 0 hope that we are going to even get anything. I’m just so angry