Natural or medicated FET?

[Scottishgirl85]

So my AF has just finished following failed fresh transfer and we're looking ahead to a FET on my next cycle. I'm with Reprofit in Czech republic.
Just wondering what opinions are on natural vs medicated FET? My clinic have given me my protocol. I've to start estrofem on day 2 then ultrasound on day 12, then progesterone pessaries will start at some point before transfer on day 19, 20 or 21. So it's a medicated cycle.
My cycles are about 30-35 days, so since they aren't completely predicable I think medicated is better for me?
What is more popular? more successful? Any opinions or experiences?
Thanks x

[Scottishgirl85]

Anyone want to share FET experience??

[SilverLinings2014]

Hi Scottishgirl. Sorry your fresh cycle was unsuccessful.

I had a medicated FET in April and was told it was the only option without reliably regular cycles or if cycles are longer than 35 days. As mine can be up to 42 days I had no choice but to have medicated.

It does give the clinic more control as they can coast you for a few days if needed to time transfer at convenient time, which might be good if you're travelling back and forth?

You will start the progesterone pessaries the number of days +1 that you're frosties are old. So if it's a 5 day blast, 6 days before the transfer. I hope that makes sense.

I found the FET drugs harder to tolerate than the fresh cycle, but I did short protocol for my fresh cycle with no down regging and all stims were over in 10 or 11 days. The buseralin for down regging with the FET gave me awful PMT symptoms and insomnia. I was on it for just over a month so it wasn't much fun. However it was successful so totally worth it.

Good luck

[Wifeandstepmum]

Reading with interest scottishgirl as planning a FET at reprofit later in the year.

Good luck to you

[Scottishgirl85]

Thank you silver linings! Congrats on your successful FET! So did you have a failed fresh and then go onto have a FET that worked? I'm worried that our whole batch will be rubbish because the fresh failed. We have 4 frozen.
Why did you have to down-regulate for FET? I start estrogen on Day 2 with no down-reg.
You've helped put my mind at ease by mentioning that for natural the cycle needs to be really regular. I do ovulate each cycle but it isn't predictable and can vary by a few days either side. Think I'm more comfortable with medicated FET, but my worry is that my body maybe didn't like being messed about with for the fresh, so maybe more drugs for the FET won't be good either?

Good luck wife! Have you done a fresh cycle at Reprofit already?

xx

[SilverLinings2014]

Thanks Scottishgirl.
My fresh cycle was in 2014 and was successful, we have a beautiful 2.5 DD. Tests before that cycle showed I wasn't ovulating, hence no DR then.

Our FET WAS self funded through the NHS and I think they just put me on their standard protocol and although I'm pretty sure I still wasn't ovulating, I wanted to just crack on with the cycle rather than have all the tests again, so didn't really challenge it.

I understand your worries about the frozen embryos after the fresh not working. So maybe people go on to have successful FET in the same circumstances though so the statistics are on your side. 4 Frosties is great at well. I've seen some recent research suggesting that FET is preferable to a fresh cycle because the drug regime is less demanding. Some clinics now do freeze all cycles for this reason. It gives time for the woman's body to recover from the ovarian stimulation and be more receptive to implantation a month or two later.

[SilverLinings2014]

*many. Not maybe!

[Wifeandstepmum]

Hi yes we did a fresh cycle and gave three embryos in storage. Good luck. It's so stressful!

[JustTrixie]

Hi
I'm currently pregnant following a medicated FET, fresh cycle failed and we tried a natural FET but got to day 18 with no dominant follicle so was cancelled. My cycles tend to be 29-34 days. Had to wait a few months to start our medicated FET as was NHS.

[JustTrixie]

ps good luck!

[lulahbelle]

Hi scottish, I've just done a natural FET following an unsuccessful fresh cycle in April. Medicated wasn't even offered to me as an option - maybe because I have a fairly regular 28 day cycle. I found the natural cycle very easy - I just had to call up on CD1 and book a scan for somewhere between CD2 and CD5 to check my lining was thin and that my ovaries were quiet. It turned out that I was having a ridiculously short cycle for some reason as I already had a triple layer lining and a dominant follicle at the scan on CD5, but it was all fine and just meant that the transfer happened a week earlier than I expected. The only medication I had to take was a trigger injection (so they can time the transfer for the appropriate number of days after ovulation - 5 in my case) and progesterone pessaries. I'm now (fingers crossed!) 5+5 so hopefully I'm proof that a failed fresh cycle doesn't mean that all the embryos from that cycle will be duff Sorry for the essay - just thought it might help for you to know exactly what happens in a natural FET - at least at my clinic! Good luck with your FET - will keep my fingers crossed for you!

[MelbourneClown03]

Can I join the gang?
Just returned from a consultation with our fertility clinic, where they have recommended a natural cycle FET.
I previously had a FET last year which was successful but miscarried at 11 weeks. Had another FET in April that didn't implant.
I'm a bit weirded out by the idea of a natural cycle, after 2 fully medicated goes but I think we should try our best on it and try to remain upbeat. We'll be using embryo number 3 of 4, so the stakes feel high not to mention the financial implications!