Super thin lining - is all hope lost?

I just wanted to say thank you! This is the only post I’ve found that can relate at all to what I’m going through.

Currently had my first cycle of Letrozole cancelled yesterday due to no dominant follicle on day 25, despite Menopur daily injections for the last 10 days. My lining got to 7.6 which is amazing for me, previously only 2mm max and that was through using an oestrogen patch (and all the things you mentioned above- couldn’t do anything more if I tried I don’t think!).

My consultant said there’s a really low chance of this working for us and suggested we use these follicles to transfer to IVF today.

We’d been holding out hope for NHS IVF as I also have lean PCOS and stage 4 endo but they’ve said we’d need to try for another year first so whilst it’s so much money privately, I am tempted to pull the trigger and go for it so we don’t lose more time waiting.

anyway thanks to you both for sharing and it’s been so comforting that I’m not alone in this

I just wanted to come back to this thread and update on things i did to improve my lining the cycle i fell pregnant. Currently 9w+6d today.

I did castor oil patches on my tummy daily until ovulation

I drank beetroot and pomegranates juice daily.

I ate lots of iron rich food to improve blood flow like beef and spinach, with spinach in most meals.

I ate brazil nuts and only had warm water.

Lastly i went for a daily walk for atleast 30 mins.

My lining got to 7.6mm the cycle i’ve caught! so it is possible on the thinner side of lining! Hope some of this stuff helps others as i spent hours searching mumsnet in some hope.

I was taking letrozole.

Ahh @Optimistic66 CONGRATULATIONS!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️

That is amazing news!! I’m so pleased for you.

You have given me some hope! Wishing you all the best with everything xx 😘

@JadeCat wanted to come back to give some hope! I've just tested positive with a 7.6mm lining Letrozole cycle! Praying this is a sticky baby! 🤞🏽

Wish you so much luck! ❤️❤️

@JadeCat - ahh thats rubbish that the patches didnt help! I'm nervous about that too. I never was on the pill so dont know what is causing my thin lining.

How many rounds do you get on the NHS? I'm also consider going straight to IVF rather than do many rounds of let due to lining issues. However I am private so everything just costs lots of money.

Yeah so think its 'within' so still trying to hope that I have a small chance. Its all so deflating isnt it.

@Optimistic66 I was on patches and injections this cycle. Feel like my body just doesn’t want to play ball after years on the pill.

He recommended moving to IVF but a frozen transfer so they could spend time building the lining before transfer. The NHS won’t go straight to frozen so I’ll have to see how I respond to the IVF meds.

I decided not to trigger as I didn’t want any more hormones in me and I can ovulate on my own. I’m just going to DTD every other day and see what happens - not expecting anything even with three follicles!

I think 7.6mm is really good. I think the minimum for a IVF transfer is 7mm. But I know the feeling it’s hard to be hopeful when you’ve had so much disappointment. All the scans make you feel like you’re on a rollercoaster of information.

@JadeCat ahh i'm so sorry to hear that your lining was so thin. I have the same fear regarding IVF and lining... but i presume as they give patches etc it will help? what are the doctors view on it?

Are you still going to try or are you going to abandon?

Yeah i'm the 2ww and actually don't feel as crazy and i think im just so disheartened at the moment that im just trying to forget about it until my period arrives. I'm happy it got up but wish it got to 8mm. is 7.6mm even thick enough to hold a pregnancy?

@Optimistic66 sorry I’ve only just seen this!

7.6mm is amazing 🤩 fingers crossed you managed to catch it, but at least it proves your lining can get thicker!!

I’ve had a disappointing month on the injections My lining was only 5.9 yesterday on CD14. As I had three follicles at 22 / 23mm I was told to abandon the cycle due to being at risk of multiples.

I don’t know whether to ask if I can continue being scanned to see if it grows anymore?

I can start IVF next month but now I’m worried my lining won’t get thick enough for a transfer.

@JadeCat - How did injecting yourself go?

My lining got up to 7.6mm today - CD16 so acceptable or at the least better than last month.

Ovulated already so hoping i managed to catch it as didnt get a peak on OPK at all.

@JadeCat good luck! I'm definitely going ask about injections for next cycle

Ahhh the anticipation of doing it is definitely the worst! Fingers crossed for this cycle! Which cycle is this again?

I'm so down about my lining! Just wish it would play ball. I've added in aspirin to the mix to help.

@Optimistic66 Sorry to hear that. Could you get another acupuncture session in before your next scan? To see if that boosts things?

Don’t lose hope - we are going to get there!!

If you need a positive story Megan McKenna from Towie has recently announced she is pregnant via IVF - she has PCOS and said her lining was 5mm before treatment. So it can be done!!

I’m just on my way to my baseline scan to pick up my fsh injections, my husband is out tonight so I’m going to have inject myself for the first time. Not looking forward tonight.

@JadeCat CD11 today and lining was 4.1mm, my follicle was 17mm - next scan is CD16 due to bank holiday.

so disappointed at my lining - feel like i'm losing all hope that it is going to happen.

IF this cycle fails - going to discuss going down the IVF route with my doctor. Although then i will still be concerned that lining will be an issue

Sounds like you’re doing everything you can! I really enjoyed going to acupuncture I think it does help to improve the lining and some people have really good results. I’ve taken a break from it to help with costs.

Last ovulation induction cycle I got up to 7.2mm using FSH injections and estrogen patches. I’m hoping I can do the same or better this month.

Ive been taking Nutri Advanced pregnancy multi vitamins, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Coq10 and an omega 3 fish oil. It all adds up!! Not sure they’ve done too much to help the lining it makes you feel like you’re doing something.

I just wish I hadn’t stayed on the pill for so long. I feel like it’s the main culprit behind thin linings!

@JadeCat Thank you!

I've gone for daily walks, acupuncture, beetroot juice, broccoli etc. and vitamin e.

Genuinely couldn't do any more than what I am doing.

I will definitely discuss what's next if lining isn't where I want it to be.

How was yours last cycle? What vitamins etc do you take? xx

@Optimistic66 thank you. Feel better about things today and more optimistic.

If it isn’t where you want it tomorrow, just remember day 10 is still early and it can still increase from day 10 to day 14/15/16.

Do you think they will offer you alternatives if the letrozole doesn’t thicken the lining to where they want it this cycle?

Hi @JadeCat

Ahh that's good to know you have IVF in the plans. Sorry to hear you've just come on! i know how devastating it is. This process is just shit.

I think IVF works better as they can give you estrogen medicine to support it whereas in letrozole cycle it works by suppressing. I'm CD10 - so will see what my scan says tomorrow- nervous my lining will still be poor.

@Optimistic66 - sorry to hear last months cycle didn’t work. It’s so disappointing isn’t it.

I came on yesterday - feeling a bit sad about it even though I knew it wouldn’t have worked. We have also been approved for IVF on the NHS. The wait time is around 2-3 months. Feel daunted by it in case my lining doesn’t play ball.

I’m going to do the injections again this month to try and thicken things up.

Best of luck for your scan on Thursday.

@JadeCat how many DPO are you?

I'm on CD9 - unfortunately cycle one for me was a BFN.

I definitely ovulated cycle one, which is good news. I've got my first scan for the cycle on Thursday so hoping i have thicker lining this cycle. Added in all the beetroot, socks etc.

How was your lining?

@Optimistic66 - how did you get on after the trigger?

I think I’m out for this month.

@Optimistic66 forgot to tag!

I know it’s really really shit, i’m convinced my thin lining is caused from 10 years on the pill. I wish I’d stopped it sooner. A couple of my friends are pregnant who have never taken the pill which has made me feel worse.

It’s the one with the dye - not looking forward to it.

I stopped doing my BBT as it made me go a bit obsessive about temp spikes etc. It became another thing to worry about.

My doctor just said do it as much as possible we did it day before trigger, day of, 2 x the day after and day after that. Then we were exhausted so stopped! To be honest I don’t think it matters that much, next month I might just do 24 hours after trigger - 36 hours and then every other day.

How long have you been TTC for?

@JadeCat - sorry didnt tag you above.

I know it so disheartening - like in my heart of hearts i know it wont work this cycle but will know i will be so upset too.

Fingers crossed that it goes well - is that where they have a look with a camera? The hycosy was more painful - i found the camera relatively ok.

Yeah i still felt disappointed with 6.5mm - it so sad like why cant my body just do what its meant to??

What day did your doctor say to DTD after trigger? i've done every night since trigger (sat) and think i'll do today for good measure.

Do you do BBT? my BBT has not risen yet.

@Optimistic66 I know I was so upset. I wasn’t expecting it to work after just one month but was still gutted, as you feel like you’re doing ‘everything’ and it’s still not enough!

I can’t do the injections this month as I have a HSG test on the NHS which is booked for this week (part of pre IVF investigations). My private doctor said it would be best to take a month off as they could interfere with the test and then re start in May. I’m currently on CD7 actually looking forward to a scan free month!

Really pleased to hear your lining has got up to 6.5mm. I think that’s a good sign, as it’s got thicker. Good going on the DTD - it’s bloody hard going after the trigger, there’s so much pressure! Fingers crossed for you xx

Hey @JadeCat sorry didn't see your last post!

Sorry to hear your cycle didnt work! Honestly it so devestating - Have you started injections again?

I had a scan saturday - my lining got to 6.5mm and I was told to trigger but doctor still thought it was thin so not holding out much hope. We DTD sat, sun, mon and will do tonight and then officially in 2WW.

You cant help but get your hopes up can you.

Next cycle there will be a baseline scan CD2 - and then go from there in terms of how to get lining thick or do more tests.

How are you feeling now? What CD are you?