What does a FET involve?

[welshweasel]

We were lucky enough to have one successful IVF cycle and now have 22 month old DS and 3 frozen embryos.

For those that have been through the FET process, what does it involve? I’m assuming drugs are needed? What sort of timescale did you do it over? Do you still need lots of scans? If anyone has been through the process and could share how it went for them I’d be really grateful.

A FET is so much easier. I took oestrogen from early in my cycle and then started cyclogest a few days later. I also took aspirin but you may not need to
There was a scan to check the lining about day 10 I think. Then had the transfer on day 20 - it was a blastocyst transfer.
The actual transfer itself took about 30 mins most of which was just resting after the actual transfer.
Went back to work the next day.

Different clinics do it differently, we were on a protocol which was meant to be 6 weeks but ended up being 8 weeks due to womb lining not being thick enough for original transfer date so more drugs needed to build to suitable thickness.

After charting periods to get cycle for couple of months downregulation drugs started to stop ovaries producing any more eggs then it was 7.5 weeks after that for transfer in the end, thawed one embryo, it was always scheduled for day 4 transfer long as it was doing its thing (compacting which it was), popped back, as above, out in 30, light duties next day, 2 weeks later pregnant!! 😁 nearly 8 weeks

Thanks both and congratulations minster!

Thank you! Forgot to say yes there was about 4 or 5 scans in total for us as everything was going well then the lining stopped building so had to had 2 more scans to check that the following week after doubling drugs, we thought it was quite set in stone, we didn’t realise it needed to be as fluid and that was very emotional so be prepared for things to change and drugs to change and doses etc! It needs to be fluid and eyes on the prize

Medication for me was estrogen oral tablets for about 19 days prior and progesterone pessaries starting six days before transfer. One scan (can't recall which day, around day 10 maybe) before transfer. Super easy and no needles! Estrogen and progesterone continued until 12 weeks pregnant. Now 21 weeks pregnant. It's honestly so easy! Good luck! I remember you from way back, I have a 2.9 year old dd. Xx

Hi Welshweaseal
Would you know if you do a medicated or natural FET?
I did a natural Which my clinic always try First. It was so much easier than fresh. I think I had a blood test on one of the first days of my cycle, then a scan and bloods around day 10/11. Then back for bloods every couple of days and then one day they said tomorrow is transfer. I was also having immune treatment alongside.

I took NO drugs in the lead up. Then I took progesterone and the steroid (can’t remember name but that was for immunes) after transfer. Simples really!

I did a medicated FET so, as above, estrogen pills from Day 1 of cycle + progesterone pessaries from 'ovulation' (which doesn't actually happen in a medicated cycle). The clinic would normally do only 1 scan but I had 2 as my lining was rubbish so needed to take more pills. If your FET is successful, you just carry on with the pills and pessaries till 12 weeks.
In a natural FET, they just monitor your cycle to transfer on the correct day and then leave it to nature.

I’ve not actually seen the clinic yet - just thinking through options. I currently work away during the week so just trying to decide if we’d be better transporting the embryos closer to where I work or if I could get it done by taking some annual leave. I suspect it would be medicated as my cycles haven’t been that regular the past few months.

You’ll only need time off to check the lining is ok + a day off for the transfer. It might even be possible to start the pessaries (that trick the body into thinking that ovulation has occurred) on a day to suit you + do a Sat transfer.

I’d make an appointment at your clinic and ask them to talk you through the process as every clinic works differently. Then you would be able to assess if you need annual leave etc.

If that clinic worked for you last time and are familiar with it then would you really want to transfer somewhere else? I’m pretty sure I’d be all for staying at the same clinic.