miscarrying at 5w 5d following IVF frozen embryo cycle

[inconceivableme]

I had a 5 day frozen embryo transferred on 16 October. I had light brown spotting ever since which is common with IVF pregnancies. Last Thursday I had some red streaks when wiping after the loo. I called my clinic who said to go in for a scan the next day. Just hours later I had red blood gush out - was at home luckily - and went on to pass clots, one the size of my palm. I was 5w 4d at this point and that's a certainty because with IVF you know exactly when you conceived.
I went for the internal scan at the clinic the next morning. No sac or heartbeat was seen, only further large clots which I was told to expect to pass soon. I was given painkillers, Miscarriage Association info and a referral to the local EPU for a week's time.
I had collected the material I had passed, including what I thought was the 'baby' and took it to the clinic in case they needed it for testing. The Dr inspected it and said it was just clots and there was no material from the placenta or fetus in it. At this point, she said they'd take blood for an HCG test which they'll repeat on Monday to compare the levels and this should be conclusive that there's no ongoing pregnancy, but I should keep taking the hormone support that's standard for IVF pregnancies, just in case.
I'm so confused. Feel in limbo but am resigned to this being a miscarriage. The bleeding has been lighter, like a period, since the large clots passed, and I only have slight backache.
I have no pregnancy symptoms though. I have one 2 year son from previous IVF and can't remember when I got symptoms with that pregnancy.
Our infertility was unexplained. I have polycystic ovaries but do ovulate on my own.
We had so much invested in this cycle. We really want a second child. So many of my mum friends are having / have had their second children and people are always talking about the next one. The whole treatment has been a rollercoaster - tablets, injections, appointments, scans, worry if embryos would survive being thawed, worrying before testing and worrying about bleeding. So sad.

[bakingtins]

So sorry IM a suspected miscarriage is even tougher when you went through so much to get pregnant in the first place. fwiw I've MC 4 times at 8-10 weeks and only once identified the sac/foetus, the rest of the time it's been lost amongst the clots. At 5+ weeks a foetal pole is 1–2mm and the sac about a cm, nourishment comes from the yolk sac and there is no placenta to speak of. The NHS won't test the products until you've had 3 consecutive miscarriages but I don't know whether IVF/private treatment would affect that protocol.
I hope Monday brings you good news but I am in the camp of prepare for the worst, while still hoping for the best.

[Selinasupreme]

I'm sorry to hear could you have just had some clots that you have passed? I have read online that this happens to some women and the baby is still ok. It's hard to go through this because you build yourself up by trying to maintain positivity and hope that the baby is ok and then reality hits and you have to remind yourself that it could be a misscarriage. It's a rollercoaster that I am currently on myself and the wait is heartbreaking. You are in my thoughts x

[Selinasupreme]

And yes bakingtins prepare for the worst while hoping for the best is exactly how I would put it x

[inconceivableme]

Thanks for your comments baking and Selina. Selina sorry to hear you're going through similar too. I'm still bleeding but much lighter. Monday will be hard. I'm preparing for the worst and DH is convinced it's all over. My only hope is that the sac may have been obscured by a remaining clot. Unlikely in the extreme but worth clinging onto?

[inconceivableme]

Got results of last Friday's HCG blood test - 5000 ish. Clinic drew more blood this morning and will get that tested asap. We'll have the result after 3 today and by comparing the two results, will know more. I'm expecting the results to confirm a miscarriage. I'm still bleeding but it's more like a regular period now

[CritterPants]

Hi IM - just wanted to post as I am going through the same (mc after frozen embryo cycle after IVF, polycystic ovaries).

I had almost exactly the same experience as you after an FET, at 5 weeks 4 days, in July - spotting, then red bleeding, then large clots, then period-like bleeding (which lasted about 10 days). It unfortunately did end up as a miscarriage. It takes about a month to 6 weeks for the pregnancy hormone to be out of your system, and then you can do another transfer if you have more frozen embryos - sorry if insensitive to say, but I was desperate to get going again (I also had a full term neonatal loss in January).

I am right now probably about to have a second miscarriage with heavy bleeding at 5 weeks after another frozen embryo transfer. It's miserable, especially after IVF. I'm sorry you're going through it. I will be hoping that you get good news. In the meantime - am thinking of you.

[ARD1983]

Just stumbled across this thread and my wife and I are in a similar boat. I know it's been a very long time but, how did you journey end? Fingers crossed it was a happy ending!