Failed transfer - tight cervix

[Kw1311]

Fell at the last hurdle. Has anyone else been unable to transfer due to a tight cervix we had no idea at all until transfer day. My consultant tried for an hour and 40 minutes various speculums catheters to no avail.. I’m devastated they have suggest completing a dummy transfer under sedation but I’m so scared it won’t work. One little blastocyst frozen and I feel like a failure x

Oh, that must be so upsetting! I'm so sorry.

When I went to have my hycosy done, the doctor just couldn't get a catheter through my cervix at all. She recommended I have a hysteroscopy, just to check if there were any problems, and at the same time have my cervix slightly dilated as apparently the effects of this then last a while and can make transfer easier. So, I was able to have transfer OK and haven't had any problems since. But she did say she wouldn't have thought to do a mock transfer for me and was surprised there was a problem because there was no reason to expect one.

Were they able to freeze your embryo(s)?

I’m so sorry and know exactly how you feel. This exact thing happened to me in June.

It was a bolt from the blue that nobody saw coming. However, I have a positive happy ending.....

After failed transfer I was referred for a hysteroscopy and cervical dilation, which I had to wait for on the NHS. Had this in October, the waiting was hard, but then had my successful transfer that same month and it was successful. I’m almost 17 weeks now.

I think it is extremely rare but will hopefully be quite easily fixed for you too 🤞. Have they said what they’re going to do?

The plan is to complete a dummy transfer under sedation on Monday to see if they can try to get it thru whilst I’m under. I’m privately having treatment but I saw my gp today to see if they could get me on a list to review my cervix should the transfer fail and she refused and advised cervix dilation is dangerous and can cause long term issues with keeping a baby.. I’m at a total loss 😢

I am sorry to hear this. My clinic do a trial transfer so they know what is what and what size catheter to use etc. They do this to avoid this problem on the day as you would have no doubt been very anxious by the end of it, I know I would have been. As your clinic about doing this prior to your next transfer x
Wishing you all the very best of luck.

Windy2909 that a positive story congrats on your 17 weeks thank you. I thought my gp would be willing to at least put me on a list for the hysteroscopy and dilation but she wouldn’t at this stage. I just wanted to get ahead of the game.

Here's a study you might find useful if you're discussing this with your GP again...

academic.oup.com/humrep/article/19/8/1791/2356339

You shouldn’t have to go to your gp for a referral. I was private too and my consultant at the clinic did the referral himself.

The NHS consultant who did my hysteroscopy and dilation said that many woman go on to conceive naturally after these procedures, so I think the risk of problems with cervix afterwards are low (I hope!)

See how you get on on Monday first but there will be other options if you need them. If I can answer any questions in the mean time, I’d be glad to x

Same thing happened to me when had a dummy transfer

Good thing we had a dummy one or the embryo would have had to been refrozen if had gone straight to transfer

Tbh all clinics should offer a dummy transfer but many don’t

My first clinic didn’t and sure was why ec was so painful

I ended up having my cervix dilated twice as it ‘shut like a clam’ as I was told

Had the operation done abroad as ivf was abroad - by same surgeon who then did my fet month or so later

Think was about £800 including flights for df and I

UK was going to be £3.5k and didn’t have time to wait for nhs as 2yr wait and I was over 40

Anyway had dilation - first fet failed but the 2nd attached and is now my 22mth daughter

My ivf gubernatorial surgeon said there was no risk and I would believe him over a normal gp

Hi there! I know this thread is old, but I just came across it and wondered if you had any success kw1311? I’m sorry to hear about your situation. I am in the exact same situation, and after 1 failed transfer with a tight cervix, I’m wondering what’s the best step to take.

Hi I am in the same position and wondered how it went. I had a failed transfer today and it is disheartening.

@Bethy13 and @Aleahny sorry to hear you had same experience as me

have you been advised to have a cervical dilation

basically under a general they will stretch /cut you so that a transfer is possible

they advise the next month for the fet as cervix’s can shut again. My did

ask your clinic the cost if they do this surgery

They were able to do it on the 5th day and was lucky they did it under sedation. I also have a tilted and reversed uterus so could have been that rather than tight cervix 🤷🏻‍♀️

They were able to do it on the 5th day and was lucky they did it under sedation. I also have a tilted and reversed uterus so could have been that rather than tight cervix 🤷🏻‍♀️

hi all, i know this post is from a while back but the exact same thing happened to me on Monday. Got to the point we had been dreaming of and i feel like i failed again. They tried for over an hour and i was in agony. Been referred for a dilation/hysteroscopy via the NHS. Apparently the referral has gone down as 'urgent' due to IVF, but I have no idea how long it will be. Feel like nothing is going to go right. Any success stories, advise etc would be most welcome x

I’m sorry this happened to you. I had similar issue and after hysteroscopy, transfer was a breeze.

Coming back here to share a success story.

After my last message I also did a hysteroscopy and they managed to dilate me to 9mm. My second transfer still failed and I was so down and at a loss, believing I would never get pregnant.

I then did an ERA biopsy which included a BCL6 test. This is a relatively new test that can indicate whether you have endometriosis (which they suspected I did). It showed that I had endometriosis in my uterus lining (called Adenomyosis), so I then went on Prostrap / Lupron for 12 weeks (which is supposed to surprise endometriosis), and after that my third transfer worked! I now have a health 8 month old baby.

the journey is hell but sharing in case any of this information is helpful. You will get there I promise. <3