NHS funded FET timeframe after failed fresh

[Twomumfamily]

Hello,

I have just had my first funded IVF with a fresh embryo transfer at Guy's ACU which unfortunately failed - straight up negative and AF started 4 days before official test day. (Same sex couple using donor sperm - tubal issues).

I have 2 more funded FETs and am waiting to hear back from the clinic, but I wondered if anyone had had a funded FET after a failed fresh (especially at Guys) and could let me know the timeframe? I would love to go again straight away however I am guessing I will be back on a waiting list? Does anyone know how long the waiting lists are atm?

I have heard that for NHS cycles they do not look into why it failed until you have 3 failures so I don't know whether to go and get some further testing done elsewhere prior to the next transfer? For example I would like my progesterone testing as I have never had that and may need injections etc.

If anyone has any advice it would be much appreciated.

Hi sorry to hear about your failed transfer! I had a failed fresh transfer on the NHS in October and was advised to have two cycles before the next round of FET, hopefully it should be a similar timescale for you too! The wait is difficult as you really want to try again so I planned a holiday to take my mind off it in Dec which helped!

I’ve had several rounds via the NHS, times varied due to circumstances of each round. However, the quickest round was 3 months. Had frozen implanted end of November 2022, the next fresh round begun in early February with implantation towards the end of February 2023.
My clinic used to like at least 1 cycle between rounds, however, due to the wait it was always longer.
Good luck with your treatment :)

Also, my clinic never tested progesterone levels, I personally thought this was part of the cause so paid for private tests on my 4th and last round.

@Tas77 Thank you, sorry to hear about your failed fresh also. Good luck for your FET. I think two cycles is doable, fingers crossed we can do a FET in March!

@SH998 Thank you also, it’s mental how different clinics can be. I feel they don’t test progesterone at mine either. How did you go about getting your levels checked privately? Did you have to register with a new fertility clinic?

@Twomumfamily i only actually thought of this on my 4th cycle, I kept spotting after the failed attempts within 7 days of the transfers (on the second transfer I was actually spotting on the day of transfer so knew that would fail before it even started) so was adamant that I needed more progesterone.
I looked online and found a private practice close to me that carried out various blood tests. I had the results in about 24 hours.
At this point I had insisted that they increase my progesterone meds for the 4th transfer which thankfully they did without question. The NHS didn’t check the results as it was confirmed by the private practice that the levels were through the roof. X

Hello! I’m sorry to hear your fresh transfer was not successful and hope the get went well! I’m starting at guys with fet soon too and wondered what happened with your get in the end? Did they let do a back to back transfer or did you have to leave a month in between?

thanks!!

Hi @SamVan sorry for the delayed reply! They would have let me do it on my next cycle (so just one month wait between) and they were super fast at organising the delivery of the meds. I unfortunately had to cancel that cycle as I was unwell, so now looking to do the next transfer in August.

Good luck with your cycle, I have found Guys to be wonderful! x

Hi @Twomumfamily @SamVan @SH998 hope you are doing well! I will be doing a frozen embryo transfer and was hoping you could tell me what the process is like- waiting times, how long is treatment cycles, what are the meds etc, how many appointments? any info would be massively appreciated x x

Hi @Olivia788 Good luck for your FET. I have only done medicated cycles so it might be different if you are doing natural. I was able to go one cycle after our failed fresh in Jan, so it was in March. I emailed on day one of my period and started oestrogen tablets on day two. On day 14 of meds I had a scan to check my lining and then I started lubion injections and progesterone pessaries and 6 days after that had the transfer.
My clinic didn’t have a waiting list for FETs so I could go after I had had one natural bleed, but I know some do.
Hope this helps, do let me know if you had any other questions! X

@Olivia788 Hi, pretty much the same as @Twomumfamily as I had medicated cycles too.
There was approx 3 months between cycles, some were longer as I was waiting on further investigation bloods between transfers.
start off appointments are more as you need blood work, internal scans etc. Once the cycle starts I only had 2 appointments per cycle to check the follicles/lining maybe day 5 and day 10 (it’s been a while so might be slightly off with them days) The third appointment was the actual transfer itself.
Hope this helps, if you need anymore info please don’t be afraid to ask x