Completely failed FET. Similar experiences?

[Matilda128]

I had an FET two weeks ago. Our only from our first cycle (3BB). It went completely wrong as I started weirdly bleeding less than 4 days after the transfer. It was much more than normal spotting- dark brown but also reddish and pink with some clots (sorry for way TMI). The brown continued for three days and then AF started and was incredibly painful and heavy. My clinic still made me do a test on the original date which was a BFN (of course).

I'm really worried about there being something wrong and although I will receive a follow-up appointment at some point I was wondering if there is anyone who had something similar and has been diagnosed with something treatable.

It was a natural cycle with no medicine at all which I didn't really trust. Before IVF my cycles were quite regular but now they are all over the place. The first fresh ET was a very early MC. Feeling a bit hopeless about it all so anything will be really helpful. Thanx

I'm sorry it didn't work out.
Was this a private clinic or the NHS? sometimes the NHS offer a basic service not always tailored to your specific needs? It is unusual to bleed so soon after transfer so maybe they transferred too late? Did they track your ovulation before deciding which day to do it?
(I've done drug free transfers and actually trust them more than the medicated ones as it's obviously a more natural process - but really it's only for those that have textbook lining thickness and cycle length) x

Thank you so much for getting back @itwasalovelydreamwhileitlasted

It is on the NHS (which I am so grateful for) but at a clinic which also offers private. I feel the clinic does go for the ‘one glove fits all kind of approach’. I had been regular until the IVF but when I tried to get pregnant the first time (many years ago) I was really irregular - so I have been surprised that in the last 3 years my cycles have been 25 to 27 days long. Now they vary between 21 to 26 and in addition I seem to start spotting much earlier before AF starts.

The time of the transfer was decided after I tracked my ovulation and weirdly my lining has always been textbook perfect.

I just really don’t understand the bleed. I am worried that my anxiety might be affecting my hormones and cycles. I went with the natural transfer in the end because, like you, I agree that it is more natural. But now I feel awful that with the bleed and having such a short cycle (24 days) I didn’t even give this little blastocyst a chance.

Thanks againxxx

So sorry to hear of your experience and disappointment. I’ve just experienced failure too (fresh NHS funded cycle) and now feel it was doomed to fail too, looking at my cycle. They didn’t down reg me, I didn’t start stims til day 7, EC day 21 and transfer day 27. I usually have a strict 27-28 day cycle so sadly it didn’t come as a surprise to me when I started bleeding on day 33. This turned out to be AF and the progesterone did nothing to hold it off.

I’d definitely ask questions of your clinic and if, like me, you’re considering trying again with another clinic, make sure they’ve got as much information as possible. I am going to ask my clinic for a copy of my records, which I believe under NHS rules I’m entitled to do.

I'm so sorry to hear your experience as well @Youngatheart00 It does really sound like your clinic did not pay attention to your regular cycles and to do a transfer on day 27 doesn't make sense. I hope you are ok.

We were going to have the FET the cycle before but the clinic was closed on the day I should have my transfer (very bad luck). That month I spotted quite early which I raised as a problem at the next scan. The nurse said that it wouldn't be a problem as the blastocyst should produce enough progesterone to prevent spotting after being implanted. But if you were on progesterone and still had a problem with AF starting I really don't see how this would have worked. As the blastocyst was in an early stage of development (3) I don't see how it could have managed this in such a short time span.

Thanks for replying. I will definitely ask questions xxx

Although I went in with the best intentions to ask serious questions, I really got nowhere. Our consultant did say that next time he would add some progesterone but he said (to my shock and horror) he would go for a natural cycle again. It's all a bit irrelevant because I need to start a fresh cycle of IVF and would be absolutely delighted if we would be in the wonderful position to have something to freeze. I'm still going mad about the idea that there is something wrong with me but accept there is nothing I can do apart from harassing my GP. Only at three MCs they keep saying

Your progesterone levels were clearly far too low. Can you change clinics? You shouldn't have to have natural ivf and use up all of your funding because your clinic fancies getting their natural ivf treatment better established.

I'm sorry- I put that wrong. The next FET would be natural and without meds. The next cycle of IVF will definitely involve a lot of medicine. During the last I had max. amount of menopur (low AMH).

Thanks for your reply though xx