FET February 2024

[kirstysmbc]

Hi, just thought I'd see if there was anyone else doing a FET cycle in February that is looking for a cycle buddy?

I'm due to start meds at the end of this month, hopefully with transfer mid Feb. This will be my first donor embryo cycle after final attempts with my own eggs failed last year.

Embryo safely in and now to wait and hope! Felt really emotional about it in a way that I didn't when we last did this in 2022 so keeping absolutely everything crossed.

Congrats @Skylab24 on also being PUPO! I've been given a test date of 12th but to POAS, my clinic don't get me in for bloods to check. Consultant gave me a huge hug afterwards - she did my egg retrieval pre-chemo in 2018 and then our transfer in 2022 and said she rarely gets people coming back after chemo so I'm just feeling very very lucky to be here for this!

Awww congratulations @MrsWindrush on being PUPO! That's lovely she gave you a hug ❤️

Welcome @IWouldRatherBeOnHoliday - I've never heard of them freezing on day 3 before and then continuing after they thaw. Those are great numbers though. Everything crossed for good numbers going forward

@seekingbabyk Think while the NHS are funding it, we will continue. As soon as it stops, the frozen are being transferred out, def not using their Private side. From my understanding and they have clarified this 3 times, 1 full cycle now, is the collection and all those frozen embryos used up from that collection (Im high risk to OHSS so no fresh transfers). Doesn't make sense to me, but that is what they confirmed. If that is the case, I still have 3 to go.

@kirstysmbc Have tried just pills on own, but pills and patches this time. I personally think my estrogen levels were too high, I was bleeding heavily and that's a sign.

@beachbum85 Must have just missed each other. There was only one lady sat in the reception area when I left. They now want to see us face to face next Tuesday. And I have even booked acupuncture in, I found a place near my office by Harley St that specialises in fertility acupuncture. May as well give it a go. Not telling the clinic, they will say well have the natural with that. The acupuncture place were surprised I havent been told to use baby aspirin and viagra and even said start taking baby aspirin now daily.

Good luck everyone :)

@SadieBarts I have been put in 75mg of aspirin alongside progynova and this is my first FET. Definitely worth taking it anyway as it can't do any harm. Yes sounds like you had too much estrogen. If there's one thing I've learnt in the last 18 months of seeing posts on here it's that you really have to advocate for yourself and do your own research!

Omg how exciting @MrsWindrush & @Skylab24 ❤️ Congrats on being PUPO!

What a beautiful story @MrsWindrush!
So lovely that your Consultant was there for all of it ❤️ I can see how that would be very emotional 💕

@IWouldRatherBeOnHoliday Welcome!
That's very interesting, I've not heard about embryos being frozen on day three and then defrosted and allowed to develop further. That's pretty cool 😊

Looks like you will be transferring tomorrow like me then? ❤️😁

@seekingbabyk Is this your first ever transfer or just the first frozen one?

This is my first FET but I have a 19 month old boy from a fresh transfer in 2021 ❤️ (and also a 13 year old home made boy before all of our fertility struggles)

Congrats on being PUPO @MrsWindrush ! That does sound very emotional indeed - how lovely of your consultant, and great that you've had the same one throughout 😍keeping everything tightly crossed for you 🤞🏼🤞🏼

@Skylab24 great that you have lots to do in the meantime, and well done you for agreeing to wait those extra couple of days! 💪🏼

@SadieBarts yeah, we must have - there was one lady in the reception when I arrived so maybe she's the same one 😅
That's really good that you have all your FETs from that collection covered! I thought that a round includes one transfer, but I know it differs by CCG, so glad you've got a good one there.
I hope you enjoyed the acupuncture and it helps with the stress. I wouldn't tell the clinic either... I don't really tell them about that or anything non-medical, because I feel like they really don't care. Definitely agree with @seekingbabyk to advocate and push for the aspirin or anything else you think could help. Good luck on Tuesday and do let us know what they say!

Hi @IWouldRatherBeOnHoliday great to hear that you have 10 embryos this morning, and that those tablets got your lining where it needs to be! Best of luck for tomorrow 🤩 and to you too @beibikeiks (similarly, this is my first FET but I have a 20 month old boy from a fresh transfer in 2021!)
It's so nice that so far everyone has had a transfer twin!

Hope everything is going smoothly for everyone else.

@MrsWindrush how lovely! Congratulations on PUPO

@seekingbabyk @beibikeiks sorry for confusion in my earlier message, they were frozen the day after collection, so defrosted on day 1 (Tuesday) and I had my day 3 update on them yesterday 😊 its hard not getting a day 4 update today!

@beibikeiks ooh yes we are both tomorrow then, fingers crossed all goes well for us both!

I couldn't bring myself to try acupuncture (hate needles!) but I've had a few sessions of reflexology. No idea how much it makes a difference but it is very relaxing and surely that can only be a good thing 😊

@beibikeiks yes first FET. We have a fresh one on our first round Sept 2022 but it didn't take.

Good luck for tomorrow @beibikeiks and @IWouldRatherBeOnHoliday

Hi all. Do you mind me joining? Happy for those who’ve had transfers and sorry to hear about others that haven’t worked out - brutal business this IVF! This is not my first rodeo.

Sorry this is a long story but for background (and in case this helps anyone) After 5 early MCs from natural conceptions Inc identical twin boys (genetically tested fine), I went through all the tests and all the experts (though what felt like a lifetime of my own research) and embarked on IVF and was lucky enough, that my one frozen PGA-tested embryo (out of 5), resulted in my DD 2021. Partner had direct retrieval (which saw sperm quality go from bad to top quality). I was tested positive for NKcells and MtHfr gene (potentially an overactive immune system and potentially lack of folic/vit b absorption and potentially blood clotting issue though not confirmed!). And so had a natural cycle, baby aspirin, progesterone (went up to 25 weeks with it after a bleed at 19 weeks) and steroids for 12 weeks.

And here we are again - We went through another round October time (different clinic as we moved house) and once again, have one embryo pga tested (out of 4) which was transferred yesterday. This is our last chance saloon as I've always said I’m very lucky to have my DD and I can’t keep doing this personally. I admire everyone who has to go through this ordeal even once - so brave and you’re all incredible people. I’m on a medicated cycle this time - morning of transfer they said my prosgesterone levels are low (20 - they like 45) and do I want to abandon or supplement with pricy injections… I cried and already feel a little defeated! Decided to go ahead went for the injections - reason being I didn’t get tested in my last cycle so there’s a chance that it was the same then. This clinic also have me on Inhixa (bloody thinning injection instead of baby aspirin). So the TWW begins….

I have my fingers, toes and legs crossed for you all xxx

All the best for today @beibikeiks and @IWouldRatherBeOnHoliday
✨️ ✨️

Congratulations to you also @MrsWindrush good consultants make the journey a lot easier.

Welcome @Lindyloolou and any other newcomers I may have missed.

Wishing you all a happy weekend 😊

Welcome @Lindyloolou. Sorry for the tough journey you've been on, and congrats on your daughter. Wishing you all the best for this cycle. For what it's worth, with my first FET my progesterone was in the 20s on transfer day and I started lubion 3 days later. It worked and my daughter had just turned 2. It was expensive, but very worth it!

Good luck today @IWouldRatherBeOnHoliday and @beibikeiks Fingers crossed everything goes smoothly today.

And congrats on being PUPO @MrsWindrush Sounds like you have a wonderful team at your clinic 😊

Agh I’m so annoyed 😩😩😩 my period has just started early as we’re packing to go on our night away. It’s never ever early. Bloody bodies do what they want, and best laid plans get ruined. Just weighing up whether I ignore the clinic’s instructions not to use tampons so I can go in the hot tub… they said it was because of the risk of forgetting I had one in, so I guess as long as I don’t do that I’m fine?! Lord knows.

Best of luck to everyone with transfers today. All going well, I'm expecting ours to be around the 16th.

@muddlingthrou That's typical for an IVF cycle! My clinic have never said anything about not using tampons before an FET and I always do. I'm sure you'll be absolutely fine.

Thank you all ♥️♥️♥️

I'm PUPO 🎉
Had a really good transfer and now it's just waiting 😅😩 🙏

I hope you had good results with your embryo and that you had/will have your transfer today @IWouldRatherBeOnHoliday 🤞♥️

Congratulations @beibikeiks - fingers crossed for you!

That's definitely typical @muddlingthrou I was 3 days late this month waiting! I've never heard that about tampons either so I think you'll be fine ☺️

Thanks so much for the good wishes 🥰

@Lindyloolou ooh you've certainly been on a journey, so sorry for your losses. Keeping fingers crossed your 2WW has a happy outcome.

Congratulations @beibikeiks fingers crossed for you too!

I'm also in the PUPO camp now. Bit of an unexpected twist this morning as the embryologist rang to say none of the embryos were far along enough for her to grade them so she wanted us to put back two! I really didn't want to give us such a big chance of twins and, having read the HFEA report on multiple embryo transfer on the way to the hospital, I really didn't think it was a good idea (it's our first transfer, no issues other than PCOS and 9 embryos still in the running, so it seemed an unnecessary risk). Thankfully, 4 hours later when we were taken in for transfer, one of the embryos was ready for grading and we had a single 3BB popped back in. Just hoping some of the rest are good to freeze tomorrow! Bur very happy to have a single embryo inside and hoping it settles in nicely.

Also, please can I ask when everyone has been told to test? I thought 10/11dp5dt was standard but I've been told to wait for 14 days?

Wasn't intending on being an early tester, but I'd have thought 11 days was a perfectly reasonable time frame as that would translate to the same as testing on day 1 of a missed period for natural conception?

@IWouldRatherBeOnHoliday - yes, 14 days does seem late! My clinic says 10dpt, but they do get you to come in for a blood test to be absolutely sure.

@IWouldRatherBeOnHoliday firstly, I too would rather be on holiday 🤪 I’ve been told to test 13 days after FET (5 day blast). My previous cycle I did test 2 days earlier and the second line appeared quite a while after I did the test (I was in tears before checking it again a good 10 mins later and then seeing a very faint line - my DH still to this day said he didn’t see it) - got stronger each day after that and resulted in my now 2 year old DD. So… will I do it early again… I’m going to TRY to resist but knowing me, probably be too keen. Not sure if that helps at all.

@IWouldRatherBeOnHoliday My last transfer my clinic had moved OTD from 11dpt to 13dpt. I am a serial early tester and have always tested from 4dp5dt and have always had a result by 5dp5dt. I've never been a patient person!!

Well done @IWouldRatherBeOnHoliday and @beibikeiks glad to hear your transfers went well and congrats on the PUPO status!

@IWouldRatherBeOnHoliday the clinic had advised to test (urine) 14 days post transfer or bloods at 12 post transfer.

@kirstysmbc can you test as early as that and get a result?! Wow- I didn't know.

@IWouldRatherBeOnHoliday
My OTD is February 16th, just a home pregnancy test myself.

But I'm definitely going to test earlier than that 🙈

My period should start around the 11th, so I would rather test before and be ready in case I'd start to bleed

@Skylab24 It is definitely not advised by a clinic, but if you are using a sensitive test, then you can pick up a positive much earlier than two weeks. There's a great Reddit thread on it that explains - https://www.reddit.com/r/IVF/comments/fljrfi/whenshouldditesttaninformativee_post/

I prefer to know what's coming, or to know if there has been implantation that later failed (chemical). But I understand why it's not for everyone. It can be fraught with anxiety - will a negative turn positive or a positive fade away?

Just dug out my notes from my first FET in 2021 and my pregnancy test date then was advised at 9dpt (I tested day 8), so actually, this time (and a new clinic) they’re suggesting quite a lot more days ahead at 13 days?!?! This cycle is medicated verses natural which I did previously, could that be why? Otherwise I’ll probably test day 8-9.

Hi all,
can I please join this chat. I had my first FET on 31st Jan and am currently driving myself insane in the 2WW. My clinic has asked me to do a at home test on 11th feb and that feels like an eternity away.
I currently have no symptoms at all so I am preparing myself for a negative test!!