FET experiences, timescale, drugs?

[LillyLeaf]

While I'm waiting for this miscarriage to start I'm trying to focus on the next steps. Our first IVF was BFP but at the 9wks scan the heartbeat had stopped at 7+3. I knew it was too good to be true. I obviously just want to get on with it and onto the next FET, we have 4 frozen embryos.

How long do people wait after a miscarriage to start a FET? How long is the FET process? What drugs were you on? Was it successful?

Oh no @Lillyleaf I'm so sorry to read this. I remember you from the Oct/Nov IVF board. I too had a miscarriage with this cycle. Taking some time off now to recover, but the last miscarriage I wanted to try again asap. They wanted me to have two periods naturally, and I started medicating for FET on arrival of the second period. That said, I had retained products so we had to wait for the second period.

I'm sorry for your loss. It's so bloody hard.

@orangefolly I'm so sorry you've been through this too, it's so hard and very frustrating after IVF. I actually started bleeding last night and took the medical management pills this morning, it was awful. I really hope I don't need more treatment to complete the miscarriage, I don't feel I'm bleeding enough. I am incredibly impatient, one thing I haven't learnt from doing IVF. Hopefully my first period won't be too long after this. Good luck with your next treatment.

Hi @LillyLeaf I was on the December thread with you - I'm so sorry to hear your sad news, utterly heartbreaking xx Following my CP in December they wanted me to have one natural AF (which arrived a week late), then a one more timed with norethisterone so we could plan the dates for FET (unfortunately I have had to postpone one further cycle due to other unrelated health issues). There are no injections, just tablets and pessaries and the whole cycle from starting norethisterone to ET will be 4 weeks and 3 days (or thereabouts, depending on the lining being ok)

Lillyleaf I am so sorry to hear this and my heart goes out to you. I have not experienced this but I can tell you that when we did our cycle last year, we froze all and they advised 2 natural bleeds before FET. We completed a natural cycle FET which involved informing our clinic when my period started, the following day started aspirin, Progynova, Folic and Cyclogest pessaries. Had a scan on day 8, continued on same meds until day 17 when we had our transfer, still on same meds now.

I'm so sorry to hear of your mcs lilly and orange, i remember you both from the previous ivf threads. No idea on your actual question, just wanted to send lots of virtual hugs and positive vibes for your next transfer 💐

Oh i can actually answer some of your qs. I've had 3 fets now.

For me i had a natural cycle so they monitored my bloods from day 10 every day or two, as well as several scans, to pinpoint ovulation and check my lining. They then gave me a transfer date (ovulation +5 days to mimic my 5 day old blasts in the freezer) and had me start progesterone pessaries every night 3 days before transfer. The actual transfer takes very little time, you go in, various nurses, the consultant and the embryologist come in for a chat and then you go in. You're awake, they pop in the catheter while a nurse holds the ultrasound scanner thing (on your tummy, not internal) and then they shoot the thawed embryo up there. Then you're done!

You have to have a half full bladder for the procedure and they press quite firmly with the scanner thing so that's the only uncomfortable bit.

You can then go and pee, and they say you can go straight away but this time i sat quietly for 15 minutes or so. I started clexane (blood thinners) nightly after my transfer but that's to help implantation as that appears to be my problem. I think we were there for 45 minutes total from walking in to walking out. Dh came in to the room with me, and the consultant let me see the screen to watch the transfer happen.

Then you wait until your blood test 10-11 days after transfer. I know some uk clinics have that as an official test date where you take a hpt yourself rather than get bloods (i'm in australia).

Any questions?

Dammit that had lots of lovely paragraphs that have gone completely missing. Sorry!

Also, I've been poas-ing early and it looks like my third attempt has worked. Blood test is on Tuesday to confirm 🤞

I had an intralipid infusion on day 5 of this cycle to improve my immune system, hopefully to stop the natural killer cells in my uterus from expelling the embryo.

Fet 1 - progesterone only, bfp but chemical on 17dpo.

Fet 2 - progesterone + clexane, bfns, nada.

Fet 3 - intralipids + clexane + progesterone, bfps so far at 8dp5dt.

Lovely to get replies from familiar names. Thanks everyone. Hopefully my body can get back on track asap. I've got a few work trips over the next few months and I think I'll be very lucky if treatment slots in between them nicely.

@CatRen a natural FET sounds great but I don't think I trust my body to play along without the drugs even though I do have regular cycles. Good luck with your test next week.