Anyone else preparing for FET April 2024

[blahblahetc]

Hello, wondering if anyone is preparing for an FET in April?

This will be my 3rd transfer. 1st one implanted but early loss, second (euploid) and third (untested) did not implant. I'm waiting to do a hysteroscopy next week + an ERA following week prior to transfer in April.

We decided against testing this time, and are wondering whether or not to do a double transfer. Our embryos are AA/ABs so want to feel hopeful but fully aware of the possible failure(s) ahead of us..

@charliegirl77 so sorry to hear about your negative results. Have you thought about your next steps?

@2024forthewin welcome to the thread. There's so much in IVF that is unknown that you will always feel like you don't know enough! MN Infertility Board is really good, you will definitely learn a lot here and feel supported.

@charliegirl77 Sorry to hear that, such a difficult journey.. what is your plan?

@2024forthewin Welcome! Can I ask what put you on progesterone injections? I'm still wondering if I should ask to be put on it.. Although I will already be on 400mg 3x cyclogest a day..

@Serendipity24 Hope you are feeling positive! When do you plan to test?

My CD10 scan is tonight and hope I get the all clear to transfer next week!

@blahblahetc Good luck for the scan today, hope all goes well 🍀

I have always tested only on OTD. But I am keeping FRERs handy in case I want to test earlier 😊

@Sunflower360 Sorry that you are not feeling positive about this FET. But isn't it too early to get symptoms? If you don't mind me asking, what symptoms are you looking out for?

@charliegirl77 sorry to hear that, hope you get your results soon, the waiting is the worst I find.

@blahblahetc good luck for the scan, hopefully you get the green light to proceed!

@Serendipity24 well when I had the natural chemical I had cramps, spotting but this time I did not have cramps. Although oddly I had light pink spotting last night when I wiped and then brown spotting this morning but got a bfn yesterday so chances are its just the Progesterone or at most a chemical, but I would need to produce hcg for that. I won't test today as I'm conscious it could be nothing and don't want to go down the rabbit hole of testing every day. I do normally spot before AF but its normally just brown and starts a few days before, my AF is due Sunday so could possibly be due to that

@Serendipity24 its the same pink spotting I got during the chemical so I'm wondering if its tried and failed to implant. But in any case its not usual for me, its hard to know when you're taking hormones like Progesterone. When I had the chemical I had lower back pain, tender breasts and headache too...tbh the full works but this time nothing except the pink spotting which could in fact be AF getting messed up by the Progesterone

@blahblahetc @Serendipity24 @Sunflower360 i’m still waiting on results that is the worst. We had said as this was our last embryo and we already have two kids we would not try again and that fate would decide if we had a third. Yet I find myself looking at trying again..

When will you test again @Sunflower360 and are you an early tester @beachbum85? If I have missed anyone in tww when will you all test?

@charliegirl77 hopefully you'll hear soon. Completely get about wanting to keep trying, I'm already thinking about another EC if this or another FET does not work. I'm not sure, I may just re test on AF due date this weekend unless more symptoms pop up.

The spotting is definitely still there and brown now but liquidy when wiping a couple of times...if that makes sense, sorry for the oversharing! Normally it is drier and brown/dark blood when its before AF. Kind of sick of this tww now! If anything it appears to have changed up my symptoms that I would look for before AF arriving.

My Progesterone levels were good before transferring so in any case if this is a definite BFN not sure if extra Progesterone would even be worth it next time round. I didn't spot until AF due date last FET.

Anyway will see what happens!

@2024forthewin best of luck for today! I definitely felt the same way first time round but these threads are great for asking questions and getting advice 😊we'll be here through the wait xxx

Thank you @Serendipity24 ! Congrats to you on being PUPO and glad to hear your progesterone test was fine... how are you feeling so far?

Congrats to you as well @MotherOfShihTzus ! My friend was teasing me about the Christmas due date, saying that, if nothing else, that alone would increase chances of it working just because it's a bit of a logictical nightmare (for us at least) and you know, Murphy's law 😅

@charliegirl77 we spoke on the other thread, but sending a hug here as well xxx
The only time I tested early was the FET in Feb and it was horrible... I definitely won't be doing that again. Just OTD which is the 21st!

Thanks @Sunflower360 and I'm sorry about your negative test and the spotting. Not sure what it means if it's different from AF symptoms, bu still keeping everything crossed for a happy surprise on OTD... But I'm glad to hear your clinic are good with going right into another cycle, if this one hasn't worked! I had almost no monitoring for our natural FETs at all... bloods to check TSH and prolactin at the start, then a scan on day 9/10 to check lining and dominant follicle, and ovulation tests at home.
I'm wary of the complications that come with multiples, especialy knowing that there's a higher risk of IVF embryos splitting if they do implant, but it's all very personal and I'd base my decision on embryo quality, age, previous transfers, etc.

@blahblahetc I hope your scan today went well!

@LouP87 great news that your cycle started and you're going ahead! I'm not really sure but I think that if it's a medicated cycle the transfer day doesn't really matter, it's all about how long you'd have been on progesterone, like @blahblahetc said. I've read that FETs are generally on the 6th day of progesterone for 5-day embryos, so if they fertilise them the day you start progesterone the timing should be fine.

Hope everyone else is well xxx

@beachbum85 thank you. I've spoke to the clinic and they've advised having a 3rd pessary a day until OTD and if spotting continues I can have a blood test on Monday-its more data if anything for another FET. I am thinking its perhaps tried to implant and then failed if there's no hcg? I'm mainly thinking that as I don't get pink spotting, only brown usually, only ever got pink spotting in my natural chemical so something has tried to happen. Which in itself is more than the last FET. Suppose the connumdrum will be why its not completing implantation if it doesn't produce hcg. So frustrating as I got my head round it having failed yesterday and now I'm in limbo again, would rather know either way

@blahblahetc its bizarre I was just thinking about getting my prolactin done, do you have any symptoms of high levels? I've had galactorrhea since I had the implant (progesterone based) 18 years ago and its continued intermittently ever since despite not being om any birth control past 4 years. It's got worse since I hyperstimulated in Jan, seemed to settle and back now. Waiting for clinic to get back to me on whether I need bloods done. Might have to submit e-consult to gp as well as I had MRI head done Dec for increased migraine and neck pain, that could get reviewed for pituitary issues 🤔
I just don't want to waste embryos when we don't have many and we've already had 4 egg collections

Thanks all, literally counting down to my scan! Should have booked an earlier appointment😅

@kerrym87 No symptoms that I'm aware of, not sure if very light and short period is a symptom? The Create doctor said as long as I have my period I'm ok.. the (private) NHS doctor seems to think best to manage it..

For context, my prolactin level back in 2022 was over 1000. The last test taken few months ago was 598.. which is still on the high side but nothing too concerning so the NHS doctor's not ordered a repeat but asked the GP to give me a presciption for it.

The irony/annoying thing is (and this happened back in 2022) - the GP for some reason won't give it to me and said to go back to NHS for it.. and I think the NHS doctor will want to charge me now just to write the prescription, which, thinking about it makes my prolactin level rise!

I havent heard back from my Prague doctor (think they have an Away day today) and should hear back tomorrow.. I'm not sure if it's going to be too late to start on the medication too if I only get the presciption next week.. FET is hopefully on the 19th.

Have you asked your IVF doctor is they can test you for anything else with your symptoms?

@blahblahetc I spoke to nurses and they said a doctor will get back to me tomorrow. She did ask if I asked GP but they are not always willing to do bloods like that on a whim when I'm seeing a private fertility clinic who might not even want it. Also takes weeks to get an appt to get bloods taken sometimes.....🙄

@kerrym87 I feel the private fertility clinics should oblige really.. it’s not always a simple case and I think mine was overlooked because it appeared uncomplicated.

If all else fails, try Nuffield bloods, they have a list for fertility. Prolactin is on it if you want to get it checked for peace of mind. I am assuming they are nationwide. There are also a lot of private phlebotomy labs around too but they do charge extortion rates.

Scan is done! All looking ok I think, 9mm triple layer. There is a 14mm fibroid in my right ovary.. not had that previously.. hoping that isn’t a roadblock.

@blahblahetc I think my clinic in Ireland offer the injection as standard. I did ask them today and the nurse said a lot (but not all) of their patients are put on it but didn’t explain why. I’m on one progesterone injection per day, x2 crinone progesterone vaginal gel and then the x4 2mg estrofem tablets.

Succesful FET today 😊 so happy as only had one frozen embryo and was so nervous it wouldn’t survive the thaw!! Was feeling pretty emotional before it weirdly - damn hormones!

having quickly scanned some messages on this thread today I asked for my progesterone levels to be taken prior to the FET so will have results tomorrow. As someone said, good to have that data for future use.

Is it just me or do you feel like IVF is a case of learning as you go? The nurse was taking me through the process today and mentioned some people get a “glue” for their FET - first time I had heard of this. Whilst she did say it would only be a possibility for me way down the line, I just feel so in the dark and there’s no overall outline of what other tests might be good to undertake. Unless you research it yourself. I.e that NK cells one or sticky blood - surely that would be good to know at the outset? Sorry this is my first transfer and having only one embryo I really hate the thought of it going to waste over not having had one other test

Hi,I've been following this thread through April. I'm 41 and had my 3rd transfer last week. Such a stressful and emotionally draining process. I didn't really do much the first two in terms of preparation. The first was a 5aa fresh and the second a 4ab frozen. The 3rd time I told the hospital I felt too old to keep going and that I also could afford to keep transferring so they agreed to transfer two 4ab embryos last week. The in the lead up to this one I took mini asprin and had acupuncture each weeks for the two weeks leading up to transfer and then on the transfer data again. Annoyingly I felt REALLY ill on the day of transfer, felt like I came down with flu so I went into it with low expectations, then had a really stressful week with all kind of things happening. I felt nothing at all and was convinced I was testing early to rule it out again at 6dpt and it was positive. I was ruling it out in my mind, no symptoms at all. Absolute state of shock. These threads are so helpful and supportive and I honestly didn't think it was real that people feel nothing...but it's definitely true. Good luck everyone

Couldn't* afford

@OchreDeer what an amazing story, congrats to you! Can I ask what you mean by “baby aspirin”, what’s the daily dose of normal aspirin?

God my heads all over, I meant mini asprin. 75mg, I take two each morning. There's quite a bit of research about it, have a look, I took it unprescribed after years of trying.

Sometimes I find these threads quite daunting and overwhelming-first of all because this is a very unique journey and alot of the stuff you guys talk about I have no idea what it is haha Different countries have different testing obviously 😆 and secondly there are so many of you now that it's hard to keep up. I guess the knowing that there are so many people out there doing this is comforting.

I am currently on day 2 of TWW. Took 2 weeks off to try and reduce stress. Taking progesterone 3 x daily. I had cramping yesterday and the day of. Not sure if it's positive or not 🤔 With the transfer my embryo actually got stuck in the tube the first time they tried and they only injected an air bubble.

He went in fine the second time. Doc reckons it is good to have a 'sticky embryo' so fingers crossed.

Nice to see some positives popping up on here now ❤️

@beachbum85 thanks, I am doing okay, trying to stay positive and relatively stress free, easier said than done!

@blahblahetc Your lining is very good. I am sure you wouldn't get the green light if those fibroids were an issue. When is your transfer date?

@OchreDeer congratulations and thanks for sharing your positive story!

@2024forthewin congratulations on the successful transfer! With IVF you do learn more as you go along. And I totally agree with you, they should do all tests and investigations before starting the treatment. It's bizarre they don't do it.

@Lasagne30 congratulations on the successful transfer! Sticky embryo sounds good!

Sorry is this is TMI. For those taking Progynova - has anyone experienced a really heavy and painful period when you’ve started taking this? Mine is really unusual - waking me up in the middle of the night painful and very heavy. Where usually I have one uncomfortable day, with slight pain and moderately heavy. And 3 days of no pain at all and light/medium flow.

I’m concerned I’m having some sort of bad reaction to the medication, as nothing else in my life has changed!