TTC no.2 after successful IVF for no.1

[Chocoholic85]

Hi,
I’m just after some advice and to see whether anyone is in the same boat!
Just found out that my 3rd FET failed.
We are very lucky to have DD who came from our first fresh transfer. We were also very fortunate to get 5 frozen embryos from that round so have been trying for a sibling. 1st FET was BFN, 2nd was a chemical pregnancy/early miscarriage and 3rd now is failed. Down to the last two and starting to feel the pressure and also wondering why on earth it isn’t working?!
We have unexplained infertility so nothing was ever found with our initial tests and I was 34 when we had out first IVF round so odds were in our favour. I read somewhere that at 34 around 50% of embryos are abnormal so I guess out our 6 maybe the last 3 were all abnormal. I’m also worried something has changed since I had to have a csection for DD. I did have an ultrasound which showed the scar had healed fine and there no niches, I’m wondering if there are adhesions that might not have been seen on the ultrasound though.
Would love to hear any advice for what to do next or from anyone else in a similar position. Thanks x

Hi everyone - how are you all doing? I am currently down-regging on Norethisterone, which I've never done before, as our clinic does all the embryo transfers in 'batches' and on certain dates. So far so good - wasn't sure if I would have any side effects but feel fine. We shall see how it goes! Planning on transfer in mid-August hopefully. Taking some supplements but could probably be doing a lot more to be super healthy - think I might be past the point of believing that lifestyle habits really make that much difference (except if you're smoking 40 a day maybe 😂) and just trying to survive life with an exuberant toddler!

Hope you're all well x

@loulamay lovely to hear your update. I have used Norethistrone for all my 3 cycles and as part of my current medicated FET. It was worse using it during winter with side effects or my body just got used to it, but it wasn't so bad last 2 times. I am hoping to have a medicated FET this month. I did the down regulation with Norethistrone endnof June and I had a baseline scan last week. Today is day 6 on prygonova (estrogen )and another 6 days to go before scan to check lining. If all is well then I will get a date for transfer and start luteal support meds. I will also be taking blood thinners and steroids as part of the medicted cycle which I am not looking forward to. Having said that, I feel very at peace and ready to get this process going.

I hope all is going well for everyone else.

Hi everyone, it's been a while. I hope everyone is doing well. I have been keeping an eye on how you all are but just didn't have the energy to comment in...just stuck in the trenches!

We are currently in the tww of cycle number 8 since my son was born. (He was born cycle number 2)
This cycle has been a complete f up, 5 eggs collected, 2 mature, both fertilised but neither made it to blast on day 5...by day 6 one was showing signs of the right direction and the other was still cell stage. I also did ovarian prp in hope that it would have improved egg quality and maybe quantity but it's done nothing apparently.

I took at test yesterday at 5dp6dt which of course was negative. I never expected this cycle to work after the embryos didn't make blastocyst but goodness it is so so tough. I've had 3 friends announce pregnancies in the past week too.
I just don't know where to go from here...
Has anyone done natural ivf? I am still keen to use my own eggs, I'm only 34 so feel they should be a lot better quality than they actually are but I have been googling egg donation the past few days....

Hi everyone, hope you don't mind me jumping onto the thread. I am currently waiting to start another IVF cycle in a few months. This will be my second FET. My first was successful last August but I gave birth to my son this May and he contracted an infection and was born sleeping. Our clinic told us we need to wait 6 months from birth to do another FET and we only have one embryo left. I am absolutely terrified that it won't work. We too are considering egg donation if the FET isn't successful as I contracted a serious infection with my last egg retrieval and ended up in hospital for a month so am not keen to do another!
I have been looking for others going through their second attempt with IVF who can relate and found this thread, which sadly has a lot of us with similar struggles 😕

@Hopefullyonedaysoon I am so sorry to hear your story. That is beyond tragic and I am in awe of your strength. How awful you went through so much after your egg collection too. Was your son your first transfer? We are a mixed bunch on this thread with various different experiences but all wanting the same outcome. My brief history is we had our daughter via IVF in 2021, only viable embryo from our first egg collection - very lucky. We several rounds last year unsuccessfully to try and conceive a sibling. I unexpectedly fell pregnant naturally at the beginning of March but that ended in a miscarriage in May. We have decided not to pursue any more fertility treatment but for now are continuing to try naturally. However we will draw a line under that at some point too. I was becoming more comfortable with the idea of 1 child, but falling pregnant naturally has thrown a psychological curve ball. Wishing you well in the months ahead. Are you thinking end of this year to try your next transfer, or sooner?

@Eggling how are you doing?

@loulamay hope the down reg is going well? How are you finding the drugs?

@Faith2024 hope all has gone well with your appts and you've had your transfer now?

@TTC6 I'm really sorry this round was such a fiasco. Did your tests remain negative? When you say 8 cycles do you mean you've transferred 8 embryos since having your son, with all failing? If so, that does sound like too many to just be bad luck. Apologies, lost a track a bit on what tests etc everyone has had. Have you done any additional testing yet? I personally don't have any experience of natural IVF to add. I am sorry, it's just so exhausting going through disappointment after disappointment. Sending lots of hugs.

@SErunner yes my son was my first transfer, we were so incredibly lucky it worked first time and so now I am worrying that this second embryo won't work, almost like we used up our good luck and so this is doomed to fail, if that makes sense??
I'm so sorry to hear of your miscarriage but it's encouraging that you managed to fall naturally. I understand why you would want to draw a line but equally that natural conception gives that glimmer of hope again and it's hard to let that go.
We have no children my son was our first so the thought of stopping is just not something I can even contemplate.
Yes next transfer will be around November time. I wanted to do it sooner but my doctor was adamant he wouldn't do a transfer before 6 months following my son's birth.
I think the hardest part of all the treatment I'd just the sheer lack of control you feel over your own body. Keeping everything crossed for you that you have success TTC x

I can understand. I wouldn't be stopping either if we didn't have our daughter. The lack of control is so frustrating isn't it. And the amount of time that seems to be wasted eg waiting for your next transfer. That said, if you went against medical advice for your next transfer and it didn't work you'd be kicking yourself thinking that was the reason, so at least by following their recommendations you can avoid that feeling. Has your period returned yet? How is your partner coping? Several of us on this thread have had therapy along the road for TTC - it can be very helpful if you find the right person. Such a positive that your first embryo worked and this one is from the same round. And to remember, luck doesn't work like that! The outcome of this embryo will be in no way affected by the outcome of the last, the clock resets. Is there anything in particular you've been advised to do between now and November?

Honestly the amount of time sitting around waiting is so frustrating, I'm so desperate to try again it's like torture. No period yet, although mine have never been regular, have started acupuncture to try to help them.
I know logically it doesn't work that way I guess with everything that has happened I've become a bit paranoid.
Husband is doing ok, a lot better than me, I think he is worried I'm pinning too much of my recovery on getting pregnant again.
Doctor just told me to replenish my vitamins so vitamin d and folic acid and get a new smear done...the joy!

@Hopefullyonedaysoon that sounds really tough but wishing you all the best for your next round.

@SErunner transfer day is today! All done and it went smoothly.

I hope you are well & feeling good about the next stage. It’s really nice of you to share your experience and knowledge with others on this journey, I certainly have found it helpful.

Hi everyone,long time no speak!

Congrats on being PUPO @Faith2024 - fingers and toes crossed for you.

Good to hear from you @SErunner, hope you're doing ok!

@loulamay how is down reg going?

@TTC6 sorry this cycle has been so hard. I've read quite a bit about natural cycles but not done one (as my cycles are all over the place naturally!). I think some people find better quality eggs but that might often be when egg reserve is lower. We are the same age so know what you mean about egg quality should be decent. It's so hard when you don't know the problem.

@Hopefullyonedaysoon I'm so sorry about the loss of your son, I can't imagine how hard that has been. I really hope this next FET works out for you. My daughter was our first transfer too.

I'm doing alright - moved house and had a holiday for my brothers wedding in the last few weeks which has all been a good distraction. I actually had a spontaneous cycle - or at least a period - after this failed FET which I can't remember the last time that happened. I had a hysteroscopy this morning which was ok. They found a bit of scarring at the top of my uterus which they have cut out, don't know if that would have impacted things or not. My c section scar looks fine. Follow up ultrasound on two weeks then we can plan next steps. I'm hoping that that scarring has been causing the issues but who knows!

oh @Hopefullyonedaysoon I'm so sorry to hear your story. What a bunch of warriors IVF women are - I think that all the time. You are amazing - sending you so much love and hope for your next steps.

exciting news @Faith2024 - when is test day?

Lovely to hear from you @SErunner and @Eggling - so hard to keep on keeping on, but glad you both sound ok. Hope you've been enjoying some sunshine. We're in the Lake District and it has been few and far between!

@TTC6 never done natural IVF. Is that where the stims dose is lower, so you're trying for quality over quantity of eggs?

Down reg was ok - didn't love the Norethisterone - gave me some spots and felt pretty tired, but it's done now thankfully. I'm on day 5 of estradiol for my lining and go in for my first lining scan a week on Monday. It's bizarre how 'easy' this has all felt with not having to do an egg retrieval. I suspect I feel ever so slightly detached from it in a self-defence kind of way too - neither of us wants to get our hopes up too much. Sometimes it feels like such a fine line between wanting to believe and giving it your all, versus guarding your heart against more possible disappointment.

Looking at possible transfer week of 12th August if all looks good!

@Eggling good to hear your updates & that your procedure went well. I could really use a holiday, we prioritised treatment the last 6 months so hopefully we can book something in soon now that I have a breather.

We had lots of big life celebrations this month, one birthday and one anniversary celebration postponed thanks to transfer.

@loulamay 12th August is so close, that’s exciting! Well done for surviving the Norethistrone, never liked it. Fingers crossed for you all goes well. I understand the weird limbo of trying to be positive and have a dash of realism at the same time.

I tested on 7dp5dt on Monday and got a surprisingly strong positive line on the First Response Early Result Pregnancy test. It wasn’t my plan to test so early but I wanted to know if I was having a chemical to inform next time as we only have 1 more embryo after this. Official test day is 5th but ai was advised by doctor I could test 1-2nd. I will test again on Thursday 1st which will be 10 days post transfer and book for a blood test later that week to see if numbers are where they should be. Funny how I was zen throughout the whole ivf process but stared to get anxious with a positive. Anyway a positive is a good start of a long journey.

Congratulations @Faith2024! A strong line is a great start 😊 I totally get the anxiety, but statistics are on your side and hopefully it's smooth sailing from her on for you

@Faith2024 aww excellent! Congrats 💕

Thank you @Edf & @Eggling . Very early days yet but hopeful.

Does anyone have experience with taking lubion for transfer? I take it twice a day and it has left localise rashes and bruising. Clinic told me to try my thigh but I am too scared it won’t he as effective on the thigh? Am I being paranoid?

Ah, what IVF does to us! It won't make any difference in the thigh at all. We did it for a past transfer and I switched sites all the time because of bruising. xx

Thanks @loulamay , wrote that in a rush.

Such lovely news @Faith2024 ❤️ how are you feeling? How did your test today go?

@Eggling great to hear from you too. Glad you're working towards a plan and that your hysteroscopy has been done. Also glad you've had some distractions.

@loulamay glad you're well on your way with this cycle and coping okay with the drugs. I totally get the detachment, I think I got like that with our last few transfers too. I think it's okay to just feel how you feel and try to work with that.

I've had another curveball in the form of a positive pregnancy test yesterday. I'm honestly flabbergasted. I had my first period post miscarriage starting 12th June which was heavy and I'd had a negative pregnancy test before that. Had a very light bleed for 5 days starting 13th July which assumed was due to the miscarriage. Tested positive yesterday on cycle day 19 with a really strong line as I've been having unmistakeable morning sickness. Sorry for the too much info but we've not really done what would be needed to conceive this cycle! So think it must have been last cycle, as also can't imagine getting a line this strong so early, but so perplexed by the 5 day light bleed. I don't know where my heads at now. My reproductive system has clearly gone haywire after 7 years of putting no effort in whatsoever...

@SErunner congratulations that is incredible news! Wishing you a continued and healthy pregnancy. Will you be getting a scan to get some idea of how far along you are and if everything is as it should? How exciting.

I did a digital clear blue test today and it said 2-3 weeks which is a relief. I will be doing blood test and progesterone levels on Saturday. I hope the next two weeks go faster so I can get to a first scan stage.

Wow @SErunner that's amazing! Are you going to get hcg or an early scan to try and work out how far you are?

Thanks both. I feel like such a fraud writing on an infertility forum having just conceived naturally twice so quickly. Albeit without the desired outcome yet. I asked the GP for a referral to EPU but they declined. They said I must almost certainly have conceived last cycle and are happy to work off that, and no need for a scan unless I have more bleeding. I think I will book a private scan in a few weeks when I should be 8-9 weeks and will hopefully get quite a definitive answer as to how things are looking. I don't think I can wait until 12, especially knowing last time I had no signs of the miscarriage and could have easily continued to the 12 week scan none the wiser.

@Faith2024 that's great news - over the first hurdle! Keeping everything crossed for you. I guess you'll have a scan with the clinic around 7 weeks?

@SErunner no one can help when or how pregnancy happens so please take any ease you can get, you more than deserve it. Hopefully the next few weeks will go smoothly for you.

The clinic will do the scan beginning of week 6 so week of 19th. I had my beta test today and it was a nice high number according to the nurse. One hurdle overcome for now.

Thank you @Faith2024. I'm glad your HCG levels were looking okay and really hope your scan goes well. I'm feeling awfully sick which is much more like my first pregnancy with my daughter compared to my miscarriage when I didn't experience it anywhere near as intensely. I have been having some brown spotting the last 24 hours but it seems to have stopped and I'm trying to keep calm about it. I know it can be normal, again I had some with my daughter. I'm not sure what to do about a scan as I'm not sure about dates and don't want to go too early but equally would like one sometime soon.

How is everyone? I'm feeling rather low again this evening. I've had a couple of episodes of brown bleeding and last night woke up to some red. It did quickly turn to brown after the initial bit and there's been very little all day, but I just feel like this pregnancy is doomed to fail as well. I've got an appointment at EPU tomorrow for a scan. Struggling to have any hope at the moment to be honest. It feels really cruel that when my body has finally worked out how to conceive naturally, I now can't seem to maintain a pregnancy. Sorry for the offload, it's just been a rough few weeks. Looking forward to getting past tomorrow whatever the outcome. Hope the rest of you are okay x

@SErunner sending you loadsa good luck tomorrow how far along are you now? Sorry this is happening to you it’s just bloody unfair!! If it offers any consolation I had 3 episodes of 3 days of spotting between 6 and 9 weeks- was terrifying but all working out so far 🤞I really hope all is ok 💕