Please tell me about FET

[theowlwhowasafraidofthedark]

Hi Ladies
We had a successful ivf/icsi cycle which resulted in dd2's arrival last month. . In that cycle we had 3 high grade blastocysts frozen (treatment was at Lister hospital).

Being a slightly controlling type I'm already thinking about how much I would love a dc3! I was just wondering what's involved in a FET. Unfortunately we don't live near the clinic - do we have to go through all the initial testing again? How many trips to the clinic would I have to make? How many embryo's would they transfer? I have so many questions and I know it's too early to be seriously thinking about it but I feel like we waited so long for dd2 and I feel so sad at the thought she might be our last.

shameless bump

I doubt you'd need any initial testing.

Basically they can put back embryo(s) either on a natural cycle (if you ovulate regularly yourself) or on a medicated one (which is the same sort of process as the cycle in which eggs were collected). Obviously a natural cycle is less invasive - couple of scans to check the lining is growing, then peeing on sticks to check when you'll ovulate (think some clinics use blood tests which means more trips to the clinic - you can pee on sticks at home!).

The number they put back depends on your age, how many survive defrosting and continue to grow, and the clinic's policy. Clinics tend to be quite against multiples, so I'd imagine you'd be unlikely to get any more than one blast put back, particularly given your previous success :) Of course, if you're going private you can insist, but you might come under some pressure.

Does that help?

Thanks - do you know if they defrost them all at once? I'm hoping that maybe we could have 2 goes if the first cycle was unsuccessful.

Our embryologist recommended defrosting two together and then selecting the strongest to replace, letting the other perish (we wouldn't have done this btw - as Christians we'd have replaced both). The issue is timing: if you defrost one and it doesn't make it, then it's too late to defrost another since you'll already have triggered/had your surge - you need to ensure that the embryos and your body are in sync otherwise the chances of success are obviously very low.
So they recommended defrosting at least two.

If you defrosted all three, then you obviously have a higher chance of having at least one to transfer, but you also have a higher chance of having to choose whether to let any perish/transfer a higher number and risk multiples. It's a real lottery the whole thing I'm afraid.

Hi TheOwl congrats on DD, lovely news.

I'm having FET at the Lister in the next week or two (just getting myself physically ready with lots of meds!!).

I understand that you can choose how many they defrost and when. I think you can defrost one at a time, or all at the same time, and then refreeze the ones you dont use. I'm sure that's what they told me.

dependent on your age and circumstances you can choose how many to put back. i'm having two (i'm older and had a mc earlier this year after the first attempt).

I have 3 frosties, and believe that they'll start by defrosting two - if they're okay, they'll go in. if one or both doens't make it, they'll defrost the third one. and they can do this 'on the day' or earlier in the day so that they're ready for me...

Hope that helps.

xxx

(should have added that I wasn't at the Lister so things will obviously be a bit different!).

Thanks guys.

It sounds like yet again there will be difficult decisions to make. Argh. It would be so lovely to be able to pregnant naturally this time...

Good luck with your treatment pocket - so sorry to hear you had a mc. You're in great hands at the Lister though.

IVF is just full of horrid choices and decisions isn't it?!

All the best: hope everything sorts itself out for you x