Frozen embryo transfer or not?

[Nk11]

After a failed fresh transfer in December we have the option to have our one remaining embryo transferred but it is a Day 6 graded 5CB and our fresh 3 day transfer didn’t take at all which was graded the highest quality at the time of transfer. I got my AF like nothing had ever happened just before Xmas…fabulous.

We knew our issue was male factor due to low on all areas but DH recently had an ultrasound that showed a varicocele and 2 cysts. Now thinking we need to have this treated as is now causing DH discomfort but wondering whether we should have the FET or not. Worried it may be poor DNA quality since the fresh one did not work and varicocele can impact DNA frag.

DH has also just started taking Proxeed so we are thinking maybe we will have a better shot if we repair the varicocele and give it a little time but undecided whether to use the frozen embryo or leave it in storage. Kind of feels like we should give it a go and expect it to fail but it’s another £2000 to do this plus the £1000 to pay for the freezing of it. Does anyone have any similar stories or advice on what you would do?

For context I am 30 and have a good egg reserve, only had Bemfola 100 stims so did get 9 eggs but only 2 were progressing at day 3. We can do another cycle after varicocele treatment it is just what to do about this frozen embryo! Would also be nice to hear of anyone going through something similar.

@TL037 sorry forgot to tag.

@Nk11 thats really positive. Really hoping this transfer works for you and at least you can go into knowing that you have loads of plans until the summer and if for whatever reason it doesn’t work, hopefully by the summer there will have been enough time for your partners analysis to improve ready for another try if needed.

I think the communication has been really poor too, before my frozen transfer in December I received a private prescription for the meds in the post after my pre treatment consultation and I contacted my patient coordinator because it hadn’t been explained that I’d have to collect privately myself (I’m lucky that I live quite close to the clinic so I ended up just collecting it from there and paying for it)! I think that’s always an option if you live close to yours? It was £25 per box and I’m not sure what it would be collecting from a pharmacy. This time round I still have some leftover from my last cycle (enough to get me to the day 10 scan) so I’ll pick up more from the clinic when I go for the scan. Sorry it’s so stressful and I remember thinking this in December!

I have read the same about trying to transfer in a natural cycle with having to abandon if ovulation falls on a certain day, I think you’ve made the right choice knowing you want to press ahead with this cycle so you don’t have to risk it being cancelled. I love the idea of that too, especially as you know you’re body will be in sync and not relying on the hormones, but I think I’d be gutted having to wait for another month if ovulation did happen on a day the clinic was closed.

To be honest when I had the follow up and mentioned the blood test they said that it’s not offered because I’m not with create, but if I wanted it I could pay for it (£55) on the day of the transfer. I have read elsewhere though that if you call your gp you can request a blood test with them for progesterone, so if the timings work I guess it could be done by them the day before or day of transfer, or in the grand scheme of things I’m of the view that I’ll just pay ABC if I need to to be sure! I can’t even think about the overall costs of it all… x

@TL037 Currently on Day 3 of Progynova after the absolute stress of trying to get hold of it. Patient co-ordinator was late sending the prescription out - I paid Monday she didn't send it until Friday and it turned up Sunday morning when I needed to start meds that day! Clinic was closed so ended up driving and calling round about 20 pharmacies that all said it was out of stock. Ended up being able to get the last box from Asda and have to go back for the pessaries as they were out of stock. Honestly I don't think this clinic could get much worse at their communication. Not to mention I had nothing that told me how many to take so I had to google it and decided to wing it with 3 a day. Apparently that is correct and if I hadn't started taking them on Sunday or I'd only taken 2 they would have had to cancel the cycle!

Anyway apart from them making me light headed they so far haven't been too bad.

Did you have any update on where you are at?

@Nk11 ahh what an absolutely nightmare! Glad you managed to get hold of them though and you’re all set for this cycle at least! I’m one day behind you as I’m on day 2 of progynova. I’ve got my scan booked in for next Monday and think based on rough calculations the transfer will be on around 6th feb if all goes to plan! So nice that we are in this at similar times! Will you book any time off work after your transfer? In December I had the day of the transfer off and then worked (from home) for the rest of the week but I’m going to just take it all off this time round I think.

I also don’t have any pessaries either so I’m hoping I can just get them from my clinic at the scan. I’ve asked to try cyclogest this time instead of utrogeston (just because I found them messy and they mentioned I could try cyclogest instead). The communication side of usually stresses me out and has done before, but so far I’ve found the nurse who did my pre treatment consultation brilliant which has made a nice change!

Glad you’re not feeling too bad, I am feeling okay too but just on off light headaches but that could easily be because I’ve gone cold turkey on caffeine, not that I drink loads of it but it could just be that! So I’ve been trying to drink loads of water which seems to be helping!

@Nk11 hi, how are you getting on? Hope you’re feeling okay with the medication. I’ve just had my treatment scan and I’m scheduled to have the transfer next Monday!

Hi both, do you mind if I join? I’m currently on day 1 of elleste for my FET (think this is the same as progynova!?) and also with ABC. I’m having my lining scan next Monday 6th so about a week behind you guys. How did your scan go today @Nk11 ?

Really interested as I’d also like a progesterone test - do you know wether it’s best to have it on the day of transfer or day before?

@TL037 @Ttc91
Hi I had my day 10 scan today and my lining was 6.6mm so they weren’t fully happy with it as want it to be over 7mm so I have to do 2 more days and go back for another scan Weds then should be booked for transfer next Tuesday 7th Feb so will just be one day behind! Was everything with yours ok? I’ve been taking 3 progynova a day.

I’ll have to ask about progesterone whether it’s worth paying for an extra test or not I’m not sure. It won’t be something they will do with abc for sure as it’s outside ‘protocol’. @Ttc91 how have you found abc and which clinic are you with?

Hi @Ttc91 of course! Yes I’m on elleste too which they said is the equivalent of progynova. How are you finding it so far?

@Nk11 6.6mm is still really close so there’s time in the next couple of days for it to increase, fingers crossed all on track for your transfer next week! Its really good that they are giving you the extra scans too to make sure it’s right.

Mine was only just over at 7.3mm but today is day 9 for me so she said to just keep everything as it is and continuing to take the oestrogen (3 a day too) and will start the progesterone on Wednesday.

I asked about the progesterone today, and I have been kind of reassured that our bodies should be absorbing enough but if I do want to get it checked then I can pay for the blood test on the day of the transfer. If it comes back slightly low then they’ll contact me to increase it (it shouldn’t have too much of an impact on the embryo either by increasing after transfer - really not sure about this but that’s just what I was told). She also said there’s not much evidence on how much progesterone is actually needed to sustain a pregnancy which is why they don’t offer the blood test as a standard. So basically I have no idea if I will get it checked or not now!

@Nk11 im with the Hertfordshire abc clinic but have had egg collection at St. Paul’s. Communication has been okay… I struggled with the embryologist calls to be honest - we had a really poor fertilisation rate with icsi (about 25%) and they didn’t really expand or give any reason why…

@TL037 I’m finding it okay so far although it’s only been a day so I’m sure some side effects will kick in! So interesting on the progesterone - I think I’ll push for it for peace of mind but who know if it makes a real difference?!

Are you both having day 5 transfers? We actually have a frozen day 3 they are going to thaw and attempt to culture to day 5. If not then we have our one and only blast!

@TL037 I’m thinking not to test the progesterone for me now but it’s up to you if you wanted it for peace of mind. I watched a panorama on fertility clinics ‘add ons’ not having any evidence that they actually made a difference so it’s made me think maybe it’s not necessary. Fingers crossed for you we’ll be at similar times all being well.

@Ttc91 mine is a day 6 blastocyst the only one I have frozen after I had a fresh day 3 transfer in December that failed so I’m not overly optimistic but I asked for a follow up call with the embryologist and they made me feel better as they said the grading really only matters in terms of what it looks like under the scope but that in reality the poorest looking ones can do well.

That was my first cycle. What does your story look like if you don’t mind sharing? I don’t personally know anyone who has been through ivf so I definitely find this really helpful.

@Ttc91 yes mine will be a day 5 (or day 6) transfer. I’ve got a day 5 4BC and a day 6 5CB - my first FET was in December which didn’t work and in that one my “best” embryo didn’t survive the thaw so they went to the next one which was a day 5 3BB. So hopefully whichever one they think is best will survive this time round 🤞🏻.

Fingers crossed your day 3 will culture to day 5 and then you’ll also have the spare day 5 one to use too. As @Nk11 has said, I was feeling quite low about the gradings of mine but the clinic have reassured me that how they look really doesn’t matter as some they don’t look as good are genetically normal and vice versa!

@TL037 scan today came back as 7.2mm so transfer will be Tuesday. Fingers crossed for us both then x

@Nk11 great news, so pleased for you! Fingers crossed xx

Ah that’s great news for both of you! Fingers crossed for your transfer in the coming days!!

I’ve just booked my day 9 scan in for Monday so hoping I’ll have similarly good news!!!

@TL037 another update my OH just got his varicocele embolisation booked for 20th Feb so I feel like now if this transfer didn’t work we will have another step straight away. Trying to think positively but it helps me to have a plan. The sooner they try to sort that the sooner it might work naturally or at least be able to have another round.

@Ttc91 best of luck xx

@Nk11 that’s so good it’s in for then, that appointment came through quickly. As annoying as it is to have to pay privately at least you know it’s getting sorted quickly and now have a proper plan going forwards!

@Ttc91 best of luck for your scan, you’ll hopefully only be a week behind. It’s so nice to just get to this point with the transfer x

@Nk11 @TL037 how are you both getting on? I’m due to start progesterone on Saturday for (hopefully) a Thursday transfer!

Hi @Ttc91 thats great, bet it feels more real now you know the date for your transfer! How are you feeling?

I had my transfer on Monday and did end up getting my progesterone checked, they called me on Tuesday morning to say it was low so added lubion injections. I’m now just quite sceptical about how this transfer will go to be honest considering my body obviously hasn’t absorbed enough of the pessaries in the five days leading up to it. Just trying to stay positive and hope for the best now 🤞🏻

@Nk11 hope you’re okay and not going as mad as I am in the TWW!

@TL037 Oh that has me a bit worried as I didn't have the blood test...

I had the transfer Tuesday and then yesterday had cramps and some light bleeding. Same again today but not really any bleeding perhaps a little spot that's all. I've been using the Utrogestan pessaries the other way as last time found them too irritating using them the way they are instructed and the nurses told me that it was ok to do that. Never like the sign of bleeding though as I typically always spot a bit up to a week before my period is due.

@Nk11 no please don’t let it worry you. It’s really not done as standard as most people absorb enough from the pessaries! I only decided last minute because of my period arriving 7/8 days after my last transfer so thought I’d kick myself if it happened again and I hadn’t checked it.

I also had some light spotting on tueday, the day after my transfer and when the doctor called about my progesterone result he said that light bleeding is nothing to worry about at that point because the cervix may have been irritated by getting the catheter. Completely get why you’re taking utrogestan the other way - I’m on cyclogest and I’m doing the same! I feel like it’s much cleaner and it all stays in - sorry for TMI!

@TL037 @Nk11 Hope you’re both doing okay in your 2 week waits!? Must be so hard. Have you both decided when you’ll test/ wait until official test day?
I’ve just had my progesterone blood test this morning and had a call to say they’ll be thawing the egg today! So nerve wracking!

@Ttc91 i’m glad I’m into week 2 of it! I stupidly did an early test 6 days after the transfer and then again yesterday (7 days past) and it was negative so not going to do one again now until Saturday which is my OTD, but tbh I have no symptoms at all so not convinced it’s worked especially with the negative tests! I’m feeling okay, think I’ve mentally prepared myself for the news now! Sorry if this sounds really negative.

Ahh that must make it seem so real! are they thawing your day 3 to try and get to day 5? have they give you a time for Thursday? Hope everything goes well and through your progesterone result comes back normal too, at least you’ll have a couple of days to top it up if you need to 🤞🏻

@Ttc91 good luck so are you having the transfer today?

I haven’t yet tested my official test date is Friday but I don’t think I’ll wait until then. I have so far got no symptoms. I just had slight bleeding a day after transfer and cramps / electric shock type pains for 3 days after then nothing since I feel perfectly fine. Honestly can’t imagine it will have worked because I’ve never had a positive test so I just feel like it hasn’t worked regardless! Not knowing isn’t easy though. I run my own online business though and have 3 horses so I am kept busy which helps.

@Nk11 those symptoms in the days after transfer sound promising! 🤞🏻🤞🏻 (massive well done for not testing yet, I regretted it immediately and then felt the need to do it yesterday so now going to avoid for a few more days)!

@TL037 a negative is always so horrible to see but it’s still such early days!! So I’m sure there is absolutely still hope! I don’t think I will make it to official test day without testing either… so hard!!

@Nk11 your symptoms definitely sound so promising!! No my transfer is on Thursday. They have a policy of freezing the best egg on day 3 and thawing it and culturing it to a blastocyst right before transfer. Hopefully it makes it to blastocyst otherwise we have one frozen 4BB waiting for us. I am terrified that we will be in the small percentage who don’t survive the thaw! Such an awful waiting game isn’t it!