FET booked - but should we try naturally beforehand?

[GoldenRetriever1]

Hellooo! Trying to put a long story short - myself (31) and husband (38) have been trying for 2+ years. I have lazy fallopian tubes, stage II Endo and low AMH (8 pmol). We had a failed IVF cycle in March and the the cycle straight after, we had a natural pregnancy that ended in a chemical at 4.5 weeks (I know, wtf - I did a post about it when it was happening). The IVF response was good - 22 eggs, 14 fertilised, 6 good embryos, 1 went in me and 5 in the freezer. So.. we have the 5 waiting for us. My FET is booked for my next cycle.. my question is..

Should we continue to try naturally? Or just wait it out for our FET in May? I am high risk for ectopic because of my tubes and have no idea why the random chemical happened. HCG didn’t go above 30. And it was my first ever positive test/pregnancy. I’m so flipping tempted to see if the IVF has just made me fertile.. to see if it will happen again. But if another chemical or ectopic happens, it will surely push back our FET. Conundrum. My gut says yolo.

[GoldenRetriever1]

N.B. Any success stories with FETs after a chemical?

[Peonies12]

Given your FET is so soon, I’d probably wait.

[GoldenRetriever1]

@Peonies12 My Mum says the same. She’s like ‘stay away from the husband’!!! It’s just tempting to see if the IVF has done my body a favour.

[GoldenRetriever1]

Anyone else have any experience with this?

[longingtobe23]

I imagine it is highly tempted to just try and see but you're prepped and ready so id wait for the transfer now lovely! 🤞 Very best of luck to you xx

[SadieBarts]

I'm a silly one and continue to try naturally while having FETs - I obviously do not tell the Drs this. We have MIF, so chances are low. This month I took different medication and released 3 eggs, slightly panicked by that! My FET is either Monday or Tuesday, just waiting for the surge.

[GoldenRetriever1]

@longingtobe23 it is so tempting. I know my brain says wait and just go with the usual plan… but the shock/elation after a real natural pregnancy (despite its failure), makes me wonder if it’s doable again. My consultant wouldn’t care, I know that - but it’s just the whole notion around tempting fate.

[GoldenRetriever1]

@SadieBarts Wow three eggs! That would have been interesting…
In some ways, I don’t know why I’m questioning it because I never did for the first two years of trying 😂 now I’m suddenly concerned about an ectopic cropping up.

[Fallopianfun]

I’m intrigued about ‘lazy fallopian tubes’ is this a thing ? I’ve had 2 ectopics and slow flow on a HYcosy test so wondering if this is actually a thing ?

[GoldenRetriever1]

@Fallopianfun I had a laparoscopy and HSG last October, the dye went all the way through (I.e. not blocked), but it took a very long time to go through. My consultant said that means my tubes are lazy and puts me at risk of ectopics, because the embryo will nestle in the tubes and not reach the uterus. In the photographs I saw, my tubes were also convoluted/bendy. She said it could just be a congenital defect, born that way.
It might mean you have the same as me - hence why we were scurried down the IVF path. 🥴

[Fallopianfun]

@GoldenRetriever1

@Fallopianfun I had a laparoscopy and HSG last October, the dye went all the way through (I.e. not blocked), but it took a very long time to go through. My consultant said that means my tubes are lazy and puts me at risk of ectopics, because the embryo will nestle in the tubes and not reach the uterus. In the photographs I saw, my tubes were also convoluted/bendy. She said it could just be a congenital defect, born that way.
It might mean you have the same as me - hence why we were scurried down the IVF path. 🥴

I’ve never heard this before - it makes total sense though ! My dye was slow to go through and although it did flow all the way through I was worried as have had 2 ectopics (treated with methotrexate) I’m worried the cilia are maybe damaged somehow in my tubes. We were going to keep trying naturally but now I’m wondering if ivf is safer ? I’ve never heard of anyone with similar issues all I’ve heard is it’s good of the dye goes through but it worried me how slow it was and obviously something isn’t right. They wanted to remove my tube with the second ectopic but I said no

[Fallopianfun]

Also in case it helps I’ve been taking magnesium as heard that it helps with fallopian tube health (not sure how exactly but worth a try!)

[GoldenRetriever1]

@Fallopianfun it might be worth considering IVF if you’ve already had two ectopics. I haven’t had one to my knowledge.. that’s what I’m obviously concerned about by trying naturally. Are you able to approach your doctor with the idea of IVF? It can be a bit of a hefty process, but some breeze through it. I was on the highest highest dose due to my egg reserve and I didn’t suffer too much. Anyway, I really wish you luck on your journey! We will get there eventually.

Spooky about magnesium… I’ve been taking it religiously for the last month. Maybe that’s why the natural chemical pregnancy happened.

[Fallopianfun]

@GoldenRetriever1

@Fallopianfun it might be worth considering IVF if you’ve already had two ectopics. I haven’t had one to my knowledge.. that’s what I’m obviously concerned about by trying naturally. Are you able to approach your doctor with the idea of IVF? It can be a bit of a hefty process, but some breeze through it. I was on the highest highest dose due to my egg reserve and I didn’t suffer too much. Anyway, I really wish you luck on your journey! We will get there eventually.

Spooky about magnesium… I’ve been taking it religiously for the last month. Maybe that’s why the natural chemical pregnancy happened.

Ye so think this has made me think that perhaps IVF is a better option for me . Interesting about the magnesium I wonder if it does help. I wish you all the best too and all the luck in the world for your FET 🤍

[longingtobe23]

@GoldenRetriever1 also noting

I also had a laparoscopy and floppy lazy tubes - high risk of ectopic again they would fill and spill on consultant screen but very slowly
the early pregnancy unit were great and I was seen at 5 weeks to confirm in the right place then again at 7 and 10! ☺️
It was a worrying time but all was well I fell pregnant 3 months after the surgery 🤞🏻

now I also want to say sod it just go for it haha! But you’ll know deep down ✨

[GoldenRetriever1]

@longingtobe23 Well, this is a great and reassuring story. It’s crazy what goes inside our bodies isn’t it? Like, why do some of us have curly weird tubes? A very strange world.

Thank you for sharing your story with me. I’ve said to my husband maybe we try once and if something happens, it was fate. X

[SadieBarts]

@GoldenRetriever1 I have issues with thin lining. Once i naturally released 2 follicles and my lining was super thick, so using letrzole helps release more than one. They wanted to mimic it and it seemed to work, but with 3.

Thats what I say, hasn't happened in over 5 years for us, chances of it happening naturally just isn't going to happen. May as well carry on

[GoldenRetriever1]

@SadieBarts I really hope your miracle comes soon. Fingers crossed for us all x