What to expect with ovulation & second period after a failed medicated FET

[Mudra85]

Hi Everyone,

I need some help trying to figure out what's going on with my second menstrual cycle after a failed medicated FET which unfortunately ended in chemical pregnancy last month. This was my first FET and so I've no idea what to expect.

I had a bleed about 5 days after coming off all the FET medication I was on, and I'm now on day 27 of my second menstrual cycle.

I've been tracking my current cycle (the one since my bleed after stopping medication) to see when I ovulate, and help me figure out roughly when my next/second period after my failed FET will arrive so I can estimate when I can start another round of IVF. The OPKs I've been doing have been showing 'high fertility' for 13 days until today (day 27 of my cycle!) when I finally got a 'peak fertility' result. Yesterday I was almost convinced my period was on its way, as I'd been having intermittent spotting, light pink/brown bleeding and mild cramping, but now I think my cycle this month is completely out of whack due to all the FET hormones.

My cycles normally average around 26 days, and after my egg retrieval my cycle was 31 days, so I'd be really surprised if the FET medication had knocked my cycle out by this much!

Did anyone have a similar experience? When did you start your second period after a failed FET and was your ovulation during that cycle significantly delayed?

Any information anyone can share would be very much appreciated, thank you.

Hi, I had my fresh cycle in November 2020, my ovulation in the next cycle was 10 days late and then my luteal phase was a normal length so my cycle went from its normal length of 30 days up to 40 days. I found that my cycles continued to be a bit longer after the fresh cycle, but seemed to be getting back to normal.

However, after I've been on FET meds (I'm on my 4th now as I've had 2 FET transfers and 2 mock FET cycles for a biopsy), my cycle is a bit longer than usual.

I guess based on my experience my conclusion is a cycle after a fresh cycle is likely to be longer, it takes a few months to get back to normal and in my case the FET meds knock it out and it's longer after them too. I've never had a BFP so not sure how a chemical might impact.

It's a nightmare trying to predict cycles in IVF! When people ask if I have regular cycles I just say, well I used to but IVF has knocked everything out of sync. Specialists always respond in a way that makes me think this is completely normal.

Hi Gardenlady, thank you for your reply! Hearing the experiences of others is really helpful as at least then I have some idea of what to expect.

It seems quite a few people have longer cycles after a failed transfer. Did you also have intermittent spotting and very light bleeding during your 40 day cycle after your fresh cycle, or after any of your real/mock FET cycles?

@Mudra85 I've never had spotting before. I have light periods but this has been a long term issue.

I have never had a chemical before, I'm not sure how that might impact on things.

Thanks @Gardenlady543 I will wait with baited breath to see when this period finally decides to show up. Never a dull moment with ART!

Good luck! Truly there is never a dull moment (or one of peace)