Refusing to take a pregnancy test after embryo transfer

[Becomingmom]

I just don’t see the point. I either am or I’m not and I’ve scheduled an ultrasound with my gyno 4 weeks after transfer. I’m now 8dp5dt, both embryos put in, 5 day hatching blastocysts. I’m sick of over analysing and I’ll just wait this one out.

Who said you have to take a test?

Also Good luck

The clinic stated I have to take a beta on the 15th and I’ve just refused. Surely relaxing at this point is more important and testing would just make me more anxious. Also, thanks for the luck 🤞

I don't blame you. I sometimes think really early pregnancy tests can cause more heartbreak. At least with the old style ones, you'd have missed a period before you'd take a test, so you weren't constantly having your hopes dashed.

I really hope this goes well for you OP, and it seems a great idea just to relax for now.

I can see that and my heart goes out to you, the wait and disappointments are pretty rubbish. Here's some reasons why you might want to take a test even though it feels grotty to do so .

1. IVF is diagnostic as well as therapeutic. If you do an early test (after trigger shot has gone of course) you will pick up any chemical pregnancy which subsequently doesn't last until your scan. This might help diagnose implantation failure, which could be due to blood clotting, blah blah - might not apply to you but ivf on repeated cycles is so expensive why wouldn't you get as much information about this cycle as possible.

2. Early news of any ectopic pregnancy- you've had 2 blasts put in, if they go wandering up the fallopian tubes you will know if you do tests and the numbers aren't doubling as they should, rather than waiting to see if you suddenly feel unwell.

Take care and all the luck x

Are you taking any additional meds such as progesterone? If you are won’t you need to test to know whether to continue to take them or not? Also the advice above about IVF being diagnostic was true for me, I had 2 chemicals which led to more tests which then helped me have a successful pregnancy. Good luck, I hope it works out well whatever you decide.

My clinic (NHS, but fully self funded) did a blood test as a pregnancy test, you get the results no more than 2 hours later, progesterone that is prescribed and the blood thinner injections are are only prescribed up to this date, if the test is positive you are immediately prescribed mord to last til 12 weeks, you definitely need the progesterone,.
Would your clinic be providing enough to last to the 4 week scan?
I was also under the impression that nothing can be seen until 6 week scan ?
So a 4 week scan may prove inconclusive.

To add sorry, I've been in your position 4 times , the wait is horrendous, however 4th and final attempt is laid asleep at the side of me, never give up!

@Wdib78 4 weeks post-transfer of 5 day blastocysts is the approximate equivalent of almost 7 weeks pregnant (measured from LMP) so would be ok.

@Wdib78Our 6th transfer is 11weeks old and smiling away at me - OP, it’s awful but bite the bullet and do it. For me, it was repeated early miscarriage after transfer and blood thinners were the only thing we tried differently this time - we wouldn’t have known without the tests. I felt like you did every single time, so disillusioned by it all that on the day of the transfer I bought myself an expensive bottle of wine to drink when it inevitably failed! Good luck x

Agree with testing in a couple of days time as you’ll need to know for the meds - more or stop - than anything else - is it 11days post 5dt you can test on (can’t recall) - but only a couple more days to go. My clinic also did a blood test to confirm which is more accurate too. Good luck

I agree and wanted to do this. I’m not one to pregnancy test left, right and centre but ultimately I had to to know whether to continue with meds - I only had enough up to the test date. I know it’s shit x

thank you all for your inputs, actually some very good points of view. I can tell you what my protocol looks like currently:
1000mg metformin
100mg aspirin
16mg prednisone
4 x 200mg progesterone pessaries per day
6 x oral estradiol
1 x vaginal estradiol
1 x progesterone injection
1 x blood thinning injection

my clinic is abroad so they are sending me home with it enough to last, we came abroad because I wouldn’t have rested at home, I’ve got my horses there, my 2 daughters 6 and 8, the dog who just had 14 puppies and I have no roof, we are doing major renovations. My husbands idea was to come out here to Cyprus and stay so we’ve been here 12 days now. (Egg retrieval was April I got over stimulated.

This, my 5th transfer failed. After which I looked into taking 75mg of aspirin a day to help blood flow. So I started taking it in the hope the next transfer would take…I got pregnant naturally the following month after a decade of trying, miscarriages, ectopic pregnancies and IVF. Don’t know if it was still hormones in my body from IVF or the aspirin or just how it was meant to happen for us.

@Becomingmom wishing you all the luck in the world. The wait is awful so I don’t blame you wanting to just relax and not overthink it all.

YANBU. I’ve had 4 failed transfers and taking the test is horrific. Sending you the best of luck.

It can be important to know for meds and for clinics scheduling ultrasounds and for future information if more cycles are required (to know if there was a pregnancy at any point) but if none of those apply it shouldn't be an issue.

When I had my first cycles my clinic did blood tests but they had stopped doing them by my later cycles because they said it didn't give them any extra information in most cases.

This is amazing congratulations! I am very happy for you that after all that you got your little miracle x

I have been someone to test on different tests throughout the day for days on end and I’ve just got to a point where I think I either am or I’m not, why cause myself more agony. They’ve given me all I need for 12 weeks because the clinic is in Cyprus, which I feel great full for.

So you don't want to test for 4 weeks after? Why would you want to pay for medication for those extra weeks if it hasnt worked? Personally I would test on OTD and if positive crowd my fingers as that wait is so hard. I don't see how waiting is going to make it any easier to be honest? You will have to deal with it sadly. I have been through IVF too. I know how hard it is.

Was it with Dr F?

You shouldn't sustain the womb lining with progesterone if you're not pregnant. I really wouldn't do this.

Test on otd and take this cycle from there.

I’ve already paid for it, as I have to take it home from Cyprus. Either way I can’t get it so easily once I’m home. And it’s not about affecting the outcome it’s about putting my feet up while I wait to find out.

It was with Dr F yes, what experience did you have of her/make of her? Personally I found the clinic good, clean and professional and we’ve been well taken care of we feel. I am under a private obs at home and I’m seeing him Thursday to go over my protocol at home and check that what I’m doing is not bad for my health, he has already said that it’s not an issue for me through.

Op wishing you shed loads of luck.

My last and probably final attempt I was scared to test. I wanted to cling to hope as long as a could.
I got a call from the clinic after blood test, while I was shopping. She assumed I'd done a home test. My bundle is in school but that call feels like yesterday

I’ve felt the same way. It’s a bit Schrödinger's cat isn’t it and you might as well enjoy that little bit of ‘it could be’.

The medication does complicate things though.

My double transfer turned into a ruptured heterotopic pregnancy that nearly killed me (drama Queen alert 🚨).

I think you should always have as much information as possible. However, I fully understand, and I do mean fully, that the headfuckery does weird stuff and you have to get through it however that may be. Wishing you luck.