When can you do EC or another FET after a failed FET

[FingersXssd83]

Just that really. Am trying to get my head around whether I can get two ECs in this year if my first EC in May (freeze all cycle) results in two FET transfers.

I know that I'll need two bleeds before I can do a FET after EC so the first will likely be July.

Not sure about whether I'll need to bleed once or twice after a failed FET to do another FET transfer or EC.

Be grateful to hear anyone's experiences x

Hey @FingersXssd83 👋 my first cycle at St Mary's I had the transfer in the sept (fresh) that failed, then waited for one bleed and did a FET in the November which also failed but they then used that withdrawal bleed for the next FET in the December. Which also failed. Now they could have been bad embryos but they were all day 5 blasts and the FETs good enough to freeze so I'll never know if they would have worked if I'd taken more time and gone more slowly.

I however, am impatient and just wanted to get pregnant 😢 I then took another 18 months for the next 2 cycles and transfers taking lots of time in between for my mental health as much as my physical so bare in mind that even if they will let you do them back to back, it might not be best. I'm going to do my level best to control myself next time and try to take it slowly and not rush

Hi @FingersXssd83 clinic are happy to do consecutive FETs i.e. BFN, bleed and start the progynova right away. Their success rates aren't affected by it - hoping that could provide some comfort @MrsC2018
but as you say the mental toll needs to be considered too.

@FingersXssd83 just a reminder (to myself as much as you!) that there is even a chance that the first FET could work.
DH and I have it all planned, do 2 FETs, take a break, do another... And nowhere have we really thought about the possibility of one working.

Thanks ladies! Last time I did IVF for my DD my head was all over the place and I've been getting that way recently again so totally take your points about having a break if necessary.

Haha @LongerthanMrTicklesarms, I don't expect to get close to a positive until cycles 3 or 4 based on doing 3 cycles to get our our baby but I guess you never know 🤞🏻

That's great news about back to back FETs. Do you know how soon you can do a EC after a failed FET?

I guess it varies between clinics. I haven't started EC again after a FET but mine do the option of starting stims again immediately after egg collection when doing embryo banking.
They say this can achieve better results particularly in patients with low AMH but it wasn't good timing for me.

I know someone who basically stayed on stims and had multiple EC without stopping the meds, she has a low AMH and was at a specialist clinic.

My specialist is very strict that there needs to be a withdrawal bleed (which she tells me isn’t a real bleed) then a natural cycle with the next treatment cycle starting with that bleed. It really prolongs the process. Perhaps part of the reason is to book in the unsuccessful cycle consultation, talk about changing things and get the new protocol set up. Although I haven’t seen any benefit to date from this approach, I’m 6 months in now having had just 2 (unsuccessful) transfer cycles in that timeframe. I’m pausing for investigations as I’ve discussed on other threads but I’d be no further ahead if I wasn’t. I guess it’s a balance: enough time for the body to recover, but not too much time to get down and think about things too much.

Year 1 I did 2 egg collections and 3 transfers with recovery for a miscarriage and a ruptured ectopic in between. Both freeze all cycles - first due to OHSS and second due to PGS testing

Year 2 I did 2 egg collections in 2 months - would have done a 3rd in 3 months but went into lockdown

Thanks everyone. I'll need to down reg for my FETs so unsure how that will affect things.

I haven't heard of embryo banking before. Wondering if that's different to dual stimming that I heard about on a CARE Instagram video... Sounds interesting, especially if doing FETs.

With me only just having a bleed since my 4th cycle BFP and breastfeeding (it's been over 500 days!), I have no idea how messed up my cycles will be but plan to call the clinic tomorrow to find out how they'll manage it.

I'm hopeful now that I'll probably get two ECs in this year (I haven't possibly considered getting a positive result either @LongerthanMrTicklesarms!!) so thanks for the reassurance x

I'm pretty sure it is called dual stimming, I remember a US-based poster regerred to it as that, effectively you could get two batches of embryos in one calendar month as you'd start stimming again a few days after EC. My clinic also offers mid cycle stims so starting stims after ovulation with the available follicles rather than at beginning of cycle, also may be good for those with low AMH. Or others I suppose but will need more research.
You could get two EC in (if needed!) @FingersXssd83

Ahh I see @LongerthanMrTicklesarms What clinic are you with that offers this treatment?

Although CARE talked about it on their video, when I asked their Manchester clinic about it, they said they didn't offer it so was a bit confused!

I did ec with freeze all, then the next month I did first fet which failed, then the next month the second fet which worked. All back to back. Was short protocol so it was all in time with my natural cycle more or less anyway. I was told I would have to leave 3 months between “back to back” ec’s though.

I'm with a care clinic and they insist on two bleeds between FETs.

@FingersXssd83 my clinic is in Spain, chosen because they seemed a bit ahead of UK clinics generally - but obviously didn't factor in a global pandemic.
I will be travelling there for a FET and because they don't require a bleed between unsuccessful cycles I might stay there for a few attempts rather than travelling back again.

I meant no additional wait for a period after an unsuccessful FETs rather than cycle.