Trying to conceive baby#2 following ivf treatment for #1

[lucieloos]

I thought I would start this thread as I can't see anything similar. We underwent many rounds of icsi and following a couple of bfns, and an ectopic pregnancy we were finally blessed with our beautiful daughter last year.

We recently started thinking about baby no 2 and had 4 frozen embryos of which 2 had been tested and found to be chromosomally normal so are meant to have a better chance. We didnt have the other 2 tested.

A couple of weeks back we had our first fet with one of the tested embryos and got a bfp super early at 4dp5dt. Sadly by 8dpt the line was barely visible and resulted in a chemical pregnancy. I've been feeling really down about it as this was meant to be a super duper embryo with no genetic problems which they said was the main reason embryos fail.

I thought it would be easier trying for #2 and of course it is in a way as I realise how lucky I am to have had a baby but I can feel the infertility fog starting to descend again as I realise although I've had a brief respite I will never be like my fertile friends and I do really want another baby and a sibling for my little girl.

Im feeling a bit negative at the moment. We will probably go back for the other tested embryo in the near future but I can't see how I would ever get lucky enough to get 2 bfps in a row. These things just don't happen to me so just not too hopeful about it at all. We said that if we used all of our frosties with no success we would be happy with what we have but already I am thinking should I do more fresh cycles. I will be 39 soon though so time isn't on my side for that.

Anyway just wondering if anyone else is in a similar situation and would like to share the journey. Please come and say hi.

Fab news @lucieloos and good luck!

I'm not sure when I'm supposed to have the next or of intralipids, I'd better ask my clinic!

Had my second beta this morning, just waiting for the results.

The levels aren't doubling. Only gone up to 135 from 128. Really scared and clinic is on holiday as it's Greek Easter. I'm at work and not sure what to do.

Oh twinkle. How stressful. It is not a great sign tbh but all hope is not lost. In terms of what to do you need to book a third beta for Monday. Also, assume you are on progesterone support (pessaries)? I would double the amount just in case you are not absorbing progesterone properly.

Hand hold - am sorry the second beta hasn’t given you the comfort you need

Thank you. I've managed to get an emergency appointment at my doctors and am on my way now.

Good luck. I suspect they’ll say there’s not much you can do but wait and see. Too early for an ultrasound. Try not to stress (easier said than done!). Keeping everything crossed.

Oh twinkle I'm really sorry to hear that. I agree with what snow has said. May be worth you doubling up on progesterone pending outcome of next beta.

Just boarding flight. Has anyone had their progesterone and estrogen levels monitored for fet?

I am taking a vaginal progesterone cream, not pessaries this time.

The GP told me to wait until Monday for another blood test to give more time for the levels to rise. My clinic got back to me and told me to go tomorrow. I have told my clinic what the GP said and am waiting to hear back his advice.

Praying that the bloods are wrong or it's a vanishing twin.

Did your bloods include progesterone? I would definitely look into switching to pessaries if you don’t have that info.

It’s not unheard of for them to have a mix up with the bloods but if you can I’d wait until Monday - it’s more than likely that tomorrow’s will be unconclusive and just stress you out more.

lucie do you mean post transfer? I had mine monitored this time as had problems absorbing progesterone last time round so they kept an eye on it.

Progesterone is 285.7. Off to google what that means.

That’s REALLY high. Don’t worry about that!

Ok

Keeping everything crossed for you twinkle. Not a fun weekend

Don't lose hope. I am now pregnant after my second frozen cycle, the first just didn't take at all. You still have a good chance with both your remaining embryos. Good luck x

Wow yes your progesterone is super high twinkle! What was yours snow? Doc says my level is fine but wondering whether to up it a bit just incase.

Is it a good sign that it's high?

I'm not sure really twinkle I think those sort of levels would be expected in third trimester. It may be because of the progesterone cream you are using. I haven't heard of anybody using it before so maybe it's super strength or something.

This last failed round it was 40 but last time (my successful fet) at my first beta it was 75 and then it fell to 25 on my second beta 2 days later so I was put on PIO to bring it back up - my doctor said anything over 30 is fine.

Over 200 is super high and if the beta wasn’t comparatively low I would have said you were having multiples twinkle.

So confusing.

I have heard back from my doctor. Feel bad for bothering him while he's on holiday but he's being super sweet.

He said I can wait and test on Monday so I think that's what I'm going to do. Give myself a few days and hope the levels rise.

Thanks snow mine was 38 which my doctor also said was fine but I've heard a lot of people say around 100 is meant to be best so I'm going to take another cyclogest just to make sure as you can have too much progesterone. I was 75 on my successful one as well but that was fresh so my body would have been producing progesterone too.

Yeah I think 38 is fine but it can’t hurt to add a bit more.

Hope you got some rest twinkle

Have you ever had your estrogen levels monitored snow? Not sure how important they are in a fet?

I didn’t last time round (the round that resulted in DS) but when I did this last natural fet that failed my doctor did do a blood test when I thought I was ovulating that looked at estrogen and progesterone. I never got the exact numbers back but he was happy with it. I guess it’s not relevant in a medicated fet as they KNOW your levels are ok as you’re taking the tablets??

Are you worried about your levels?

I don't know to be honest. I asked for progesterone and estrogen blood tests this time. The doctor said both levels are fine but from past experience I've learnt to double check everything myself. My estrogen is 107 which seems quite low. Others have said anything from about 200+ and then other places I've read have said it doesn't matter and doesn't effect the outcome maybe because like you say I'm taking the tablets so am getting estrogen but I'm not sure really. My lining was 11mm at my scan so I must have been getting plenty of estrogen for it to grow to that and I thought at this stage of the cycle it was the progesterone that maintains the lining but I just don't want to regret anything this time around and want to make sure I'm happy with everything.

Hmmm. 107 is definitely on the low side but 11cm is great. Triple line? I wouldn’t worry about estrogen too much - as you say, it’s the progesterone that maintains the lining at this point. Might be worth doing a bit of digging to find out whether there is anything else you could do. My understanding is that there is no correlation between serum E2 levels and pregnancy success - but as you say unfortunately we need to double check everything through this process.

Yes it was triple line great lining. Maybe I'll just do an extra estrogen tablet as well to be on the safe side as if it's on the low side that can't see it would hurt. Finding it very hard to find info on it as not that many have estrogen levels monitored for fet.