BFN at 6dp5dt

[RedPandaFluff]

IVF/ICSI cycle 3, donor eggs, two blasts transferred on day 5. Today is 6 days after the transfer. Used a FRER test, first pee of the day, and not even a shadow of a line. It couldn't be any whiter.

Should I give up? I feel in my heart that it hasn't worked. I feel in my heart that it will never work.

Hi @RedPandaFluff it's so tough isn't it. 6 days post transfer could still be a little early although equally you could have got a positive with a sensitive test. The frustrating truth is there's really no way of knowing. I knew in my heart it hadn't worked after both of my ICSI cycles. One time I was right, one time I was wrong.

Only you know your psychology best. Some people find it easier to assume it hasn't worked, some to assume that it has. The hope is one of the most painful things about IVF - well that's what I found anyway.

Sorry it's such a tough time x

Hi @Janefx40 - thank you for your kind words.

I'm just so tired and sad - I'm not sure how many more times we can do this, both financially and physically. I hoped it would be third time lucky but I began feeling intuitively a couple of days ago that it hadn't worked, and that was confirmed by the test this morning. When I had the chemical pregnancy in the last cycle, I knew it wouldn't last.

Tempted to quit the drugs and have an enormous glass of wine this evening, but I won't.

Hi. With a transfer of blasts I would expect to see a BFP - esp on a decent quality test at 6dp5dt.

I think you should go ahead with an extremely large glass of wine. Your mental health is so important. If you are pregnant it will not hurt. Continue with the meds (progesterone I assume?) just incase.

If you get a bfn - Have you had all the available investigations into your Uterus? Transferring of blasts really should lead to an bfp unless there is an underlying issue. Have you had a hysteroscopy, endometrial scratch, etc

Hi @ItsLikeRainOnYourWeddingDay - I've had an early miscarriage and at least two chemical pregnancies (which I guess are just super-early miscarriages?) before so I absolutely think there's something wrong. I spoke to the doctor before we started this cycle and asked what tests we could do, and she said that the number of possible tests is infinite so there's no point. She did do a blood test to check my thyroid and general health; but she didn't believe there was any issue worth testing for.

I had an endometrial scratch last year, never a hysteroscopy. I do know I have an arcuate-shaped uterus but again it's not supposed to be a problem.

When I had the last chemical pregnancy during the second cycle I took baby aspirin and prednisone . . . of my own accord, just to see. Which I know is bad but I do think there's something wrong with me beyond the premature ovarian failure/donor eggs requirement.

Hi

If a hysteroscopy is something you can afford I would do it. I did it and it revealed small polyps. At the same time the consultant did a light scraping (d&c) to sort of refresh the lining.

The other thing to look at is immunology. I assume you have done this since you mention prednisone? There are tests that fall under the name "Chicago tests". I think they can be done with Zita West in London.

I looked into the NK cells/intrallipid therapy but there seems to be a LOT of conflicting studies and a real question mark over whether it's useful or not. Given that just the tests are £1200, with treatment costs on top of that, I'd want to be a bit more confident that it's not a bunch of hokum.

I took the prednisone during my second cycle on an "it can't hurt" basis, and maybe I should have taken it again this cycle. It's hard to get, though - my doc wouldn't prescribe it, so I got it online (I know, I know).

I'm pretty desperate now. Maybe it's time to push my doc to investigate - she was very dismissive of the previous miscarriage/chemicals.

Transferring of blasts really should lead to an bfp unless there is an underlying issue.

No, because it needs to implant, sort of in the right place and it should keep dividing correctly. If one of those go wrong or if the body recognises a genetic problem it will be discarded. The fact that it's a blast just means that it survived for around 5 days and divided.

It's still a lottery OP. I hope you get your wish.

I know it's tough but personally I would give it a few more days. You haven't reached your test day yet. It won't hurt to keep taking the drugs until then.

It's hard to imagine carrying on when you are in the 2WW feeling sure you have a negative. We all need some time to grieve and recover a little before making the next decision.

The 2WW is agonising. Hang in there. Just a few more days to go

Xxx