How do you know if embryo transfer was unsuccessful?

[Gabby1234]

Hi, sorry if this brings back horrible memories for anyone, but I'm slap bang in the middle of the TWW after my FET and wondering if there are any signs when an ET hasn't worked, other than just a negative pregnancy test? I'm past the day of when my period is due. I'm guessing no bleeding/spotting etc is a good sign, but would all the progesterone I'm taking stop me bleeding even if the embryo hasn't implanted?
So tempted to do an early test, but I don't want to jinx myself. If I get a faint line I know I'll just stress out, I've had quite a few early miscarriages/chemicals.
Would anyone mind sharing their experiences?

I haven’t had a BFP before so can’t provide my own experience but from being on these threads for a while the only way to know is the test. Many people get no symptoms and end up with a BFP. For those with cramps and bleeding, these are non specific, most symptoms that people can experience can be explained by success or side effects from meds, anxiety, etc, so again they don’t mean anything. A doctor at my clinic told me there isn’t implantation pain in FET (I found this quite surprising but he was adamant it doesn’t exist). On my fresh cycle I bled from 8dp5dt which I’m told is normal since it’s the equivalent of 13dpo, the progesterone didn’t hold the bleed off. In the medicated FET I just had, the estradiol held any bleed off.

I test early since I know I’d convince myself it was successful and then be heartbroken on the OTD if it isn’t (which it want and I was prepared for it), but everyone is different.

Thanks @Gardenlady543, that's interesting that the estradiol held off any bleeding, that's what I was wondering. I'm not too bad with symptom spotting, in my various pregnancies I have experienced different things and most ended very early. I was lucky enough to have a successful fresh transfer a couple of years ago and felt absolutely no symptoms that time! I only tested on OTD that time so I think I'm being superstitious and wanting to keep things the same this time. Don't know if I'll hold out though...
Thanks for sharing your experience.

Also @Gardenlady543 when you say you test early, when do you test from? I'm now 9dp5dt. If it's worked, do you think I'd be likely to get a bfp soon?

@Gabby1234 I’ve searched a lot about others experiences and most people seem to bet BFP by 9dp5dt especially if you use a sensitive test and I’d advise you to use the first urine of the day. I started testing from 4dp5dt. There will always be a handful of people who get BFN right up until OTD, but I think in the days after 9dp5dt if tests are negative, it is pretty much game over, that’s the conclusion I came to anyway.

I’m 12dp5dt and am feeling quite sad - my clinic give me two OTDs - yesterday’s was a BFN and I have to test again tomorrow. I feel like it’s over though. I tested this morn and BFN. No bleeding but my body is doing all the usual stuff it does right before a period - big break out of spots and loads of dark neck hairs coming through (I have PCOS). I also feel really hot in the mornings the last few days. So I feel like I just need to come off the meds and let my body have the bleed. Will keep taking them until tomorrow though - maybe a minute glimmer of hope it could be a late success. I had waves of nausea and mild cramping episodes for quite a few days and had convinced myself these were pregnancy symptoms but now I think most likely it’s side effects of the drugs.

I am lucky though to have a child from a previous FET and I don’t remember the details of that 2ww 100% but that time I do remember being woken in the night twice with really quite severe cramping that came and went quite quickly - I am convinced that that was the implantation feeling. Haven’t had that this time.

My clinics OTD was 9dp5dt - which in a non IVF situation would be 14DPO which is when 99% of tests would show a positive. Most tests are accurate at least 4 days before or more anyway?

Progesterone will hold off having a period so no bleeding isn't necessarily a sign of success at this point

I've always tested from 4dp5dt which would be 9DPO

@Snowpaw I'm so sorry you're feeling deflated. It's just such a hard time. Definitely keep going with the meds, you never know.

@ivfbeenbusy thanks, I thought that was the case about the meds holding off a bleed. I might just give in and test tomorrow which will be 10dp5dt. Don't know how I was so zen about it last time!

I do feel like because of previous early losses I won't be over the moon with a bfp anyway as I know it can end so easily.

I didn't get a positive until the evening of 8dp5dt and it was very faint. I had no symptoms and had cramps which were 100% the same as immediately before my period. (Every now and again I'd think I maybe felt a twinge but I often felt that way in 2ww when I got BFN, so it was definitely all just in my desperate, hyper-aware, symptom-spotting mind.)

Best of luck to you! Do update us

the progesterone stops you bleeding so not having any period is not a sign of anything I am afraid. as others have said 9dp5dt seem to yield the most accurate results. Before about 5dp you may end up with trigger in your system still giving a false positive.

Thanks @Yokey. I realised that today is actually only 9dp5dt but caved and tested anyway and got a bfp! It's a decent line, although it is on a FRER. I think I'll do another in a couple of days and then try a less sensitive clear blue on OTD which is Tuesday.
Not really got any symptoms, other than general tiredness, but in lockdown it's hard to distinguish from lethargy...
Thanks for the advice everyone, it is really helpful. X

Oh congratulations! Excellent news. As I said, I had no symptoms... until about 6 or 7 weeks and the sickness hit me hard! A case of be careful what I wish for!

All the best for a happy and healthy pregnancy

great news. congrats!!

Thank you @Yokey and @Bells3032. Fingers crossed all goes smoothly from here on. I get a blood test to confirm on Tuesday and a 7 week scan with my clinic in a couple of weeks, so after that I'll start feeling less anxious!