FET- success tips?

[Natty2]

Hi all,

We've just had our second round of IVF/ ICSI
Abit of background:

I'm almost 34 no known issues, DH 34 with low morphology, been ttc for 2 years + never had a BFP.

1st round Jan 24
14 eggs, 5 mature and 3 fertilised
1 day 5 blast which was frozen due to my high progesterone levels.

To future proof, and from the shock of my maturity levels we decided to do a second round.

2nd round March/April 24
24 eggs, 16 mature and 15 fertilised
7 embryos frozen this time (huge shock!)
4 day 5 blasts And 4 day 6 blasts
All frozen due to risk of OHSS
(Not sure if the improvements were mostly to do with the change of medication, less stressed during stims, more acupuncture and both on Ubiquinol since Jan)

We've been told our clinic waits 3 bleeds for any FET which seems so long. (Withdrawal bleed and 2 fresh periods) we managed to do our second EC earlier when they agreed to do a day 1 scan to check for any cysts, otherwise this was going to be a 3 month wait too.

Has anyone had this experience before?
How long did you have to wait between your EC and FET?

Does anyone have any FET success tips during the wait time?

Look forward to hearing your stories

[Sherr33]

Im following for any tips.

I kind if wish id just gone on and done another round of EC to freeze as many embryos as possible.

I had my first cycle nhs funded in feb. Unfortunately the fresh transfer failed and now i am awaiting a date for FET. I have a telephone consultation next week on the 10th to discuss how and when we can proceed. Im also 34.

Hoping and praying we get a positive this year

[Natty2]

Hi @Sherr33 I think we spoke briefly in Jan. I'm sorry to hear your first transfer didn't work, IVF is such a tough process
It's good that you had a frozen embryo. Keep posted on your call next week! 🤞

[AnnieStar12]

Sorry I don’t have any tips. But I’m actually wondering if you have any! Hope you don’t mind me asking - what did you do to get such a big improvement from round 1 to round 2?

I did my first round last month - short protocol with reckoville. I only got 3 eggs and 1 3BC embryo which was transferred on day 5 but was a BFN. I’m now getting ready to do a second round, this time we’re going to try long protocol so will start down reg injections in a couple of week. I’ve also asked to change stim meds as I got so few follicles.
So I’m intrigued what might have made the difference for you as 1 to 7 embryos is an amazing improvement. You said you changed meds, what was the first and second round meds? And did you do short or long protocol?

Thanks for any tips and sorry for hijacking your thread!

[Natty2]

Hi @AnnieStar12 I'm sorry your first cycle didn't go well, it's so tough, especially to have to go through it all over again

It's good that you are able to start fairly quickly, I would see if they can do a scan before you start meds just to make sure there are no cysts etc from the first retrieval. That was my clinics main concern, as I wanted to do it within 2 months, once that was clear they were happy for me to start
Both cycles were short protocol, about 12 days of stims and both were ICSI
First cycle i started on 150iu Ovaleap, which was increased to 375iu from day 5. My follicles by the end were really scattered in size
I did an Ovitrelle trigger.

I questioned whether the change in dose caused the original issue, also poor response to hcg trigger (which helps the final maturation process)

Second cycle 300iu of Meriofert (which is meant to help with maturity) I had 37 follicles on my first scan (44 by the end!) so I had oestrogen tests every two days. This was doubling so much, so each time my medication was reduced very few days.
The plan was for a double hcg trigger but due to my risk of OHSS this was changed to half an Ovitrelle and 2mcg of Decapectyl

The meds probably paid a huge part in the turn around, but it's going to be hard for them to know what changed this time!
Other things were;

• I was way more relaxed during stims, injections didn't phase me and I managed my expectations more, so felt much less stressed
• I had more acupuncture sessions (only did 2 before the first EC)
• DH and I took Ubqiuinol vitamins since the end of the Jan cycle

We're amazed at the results and still in shock tbh. I know the FET process could be a long rollercoaster yet but this has helped to ease our anxiety.

Hope this helps and good luck!!

[AnnieStar12]

Thanks so much for sharing. I have heard that just trying something different can help change things around. So I’m hopeful that the combination of trying long protocol and a different stim injection will make a difference for us. I have low ovarian reserve so there’s no risk of OHSS for me. The risk for me is more about getting nothing at all!

Interesting you were able to be more calm with the second round. I was very very stressed throughout my first cycle, especially after the egg retrieval, which I don’t think helped. I know I must find a way to relax this time as I worry the stress hormones would not have helped anything.

I understand it must be frustrating for you having to wait now. Three months is on the long side, but guess they just want to be sure it’s safe for you. Hopefully you’ll have a baby in amongst your frozen embryos so it’s just a matter of time. Good luck!

[Natty2]

Bumping for tips please! 🌟

[Sherr33]

@Natty2 ive read some people taking antihistamines but i cant recall what the sciene and reason behind that was. Im not sure what else will help tbh so just trying to gather as much information as i can (would be ideal to save said info too!)

[waitingforourmiracle]

Following! Think I've spoke to some of you on previous threads!

Started Elleste Solo 2mg this morning, I've been told to take 3 a day and I'm booked in for a scan next Tuesday!

@Sherr33 at what point do people take antihistamines?

A tip I've heard that I'm going to try is chewing pineapple core after transfer and a few grains of Celtic salt on the way home after!

There's so many random things 😂

[Natty2]

Hi @waitingforourmiracle is that part of your medicated FET?
Yes I've heard about pineapple core to aid implantation and salty chips post transfer 😂
I will be doing acupuncture every 2 weeks now until my lead up. Apparently acupuncture just before and after transfer is helpful.

I was wondering if anyone was taking any other specific vitamins? I think I'll try to keep up my ivf diet of limited sugar/ white carbs/ no red meat, just incase that helped my second EC!

I've not heard about antihistamines @Sherr33 but I'll look into it!

[waitingforourmiracle]

@Natty2 yes I'm doing a medicated cycle, as far as I'm aware I'll keep taking 3 tablets a day until my scan then they'll decide if I need to up this to 4 tablets a day and they'll let me know when I should start the progesterone pessaries, I am not looking forward to them!😥regards vitamins the clinic have just said keep taking folic and vit D but I know people try more than that x

[Faith2024]

I am no expert but just to say antihistamines are not really good for pregnancy, unless you are talking the mild ones over the counter and even then I would check with your doctor. I have a year long allergy and have not taken mine (prescribed) since my prep month for IVF.

I have also been advised to keep taking coQ10 as that helps with lining, and the usual prenatal vitamins, and separate high dose Vit D (I take 4000 units a day but that might not be right for everyone).

I think best tips are the evidence based ones otherwise it can get overwhelming.

[Natty2]

@Faith2024 that's interesting that you're still taking coq10 I was on ubiquinol before egg collection to help with quality so will reintroduce that if it helps!

@waitingforourmiracle how are you getting on with your FET?

[waitingforourmiracle]

@Natty2 booked in for transfer on Monday afternoon! Started the pessaries yesterday and it's not as bad as I thought!
Just trying to be positive as well as realistic, it's a very hard to balance the emotions!

How are you getting on? Have you any idea when you will be starting x

[Natty2]

@waitingforourmiracle that's exciting, best of luck! Glad the pessaries have not been too bad, I still have mine all boxed up since first cycle in Jan!

We've just had our follow up and now the consultant is saying that we can start on the next period (I was repeatedly told third bleed!) so that's been abit of a shock. I know my cycle was much longer after first EC but we could be looking to get started again in a few weeks. They want to try me on a natural FET so need to start reading into that!

[Rose301]

@Natty2 im a huge advocate for acupuncture. Had it all during my first successful ivf round and with my recent FET I had it once a week in the lead up to, and on the day of transfer plus a few days after.

My acupuncturist is also a nutritionist specialising in women’s health and I followed all her advice- a high quality prenatal like Biocare or wild nutrition. Beetroot or beetroot juice in the lead up to transfer to improve uterine lining and focus on getting good protein and omega 3s egg, fish etc. a little bit of dark chocolate is apparently good too, but apart from that I cut out all sugar.

there is so much you can’t control with the whole process so I found focusing on the things I could, like eating a really clean diet, exercise and sleep helped me. Good luck

[Natty2]

@Rose301 thank you for the tips! Fortunately seems like I'm doing a lot of that stuff already so that's good to know 😊

[waitingforourmiracle]

@Natty2 little update from me, I got my first ever BFP yesterday!! Still in shock and don't believe it's true, I know it's still early days but what the hell! 😂 I'll believe it more on Thursday when I've had my bloods done! I don't know if anything I've done has helped but I ate pineapple core before setting off to the clinic, put a few granules of celtic salts on my tongue when I got in the car after my transfer, then straight to maccies for fries!!!! I've kept my feet warm all week, socks on constantly and had the hot water bottle on my toes, had no coffee since a couple of days before the transfer, 30 minutes walking every day, I took the day off work the day after but did take my dog on a 1 hour walk then took it easy, no baths just a lukewarm shower 💖

I know it's all down to mother nature but in my head I'm telling myself I've helped haha! X

[Natty2]

@waitingforourmiracle this is wonderful news congratulations! I was wondering how you were getting on?
I think you did a medicated round? How long since your egg collection?
I'm hoping to do a natural fet next month, just waiting for AF which should be in 2 weeks hopefully 🤞🤞
Wishing you lots of luck!

[waitingforourmiracle]

Thank you!! My egg collection was end of feb but did a freeze all due to high risk of OHSS so didn't have a fresh transfer, started meds 8th Feb and transfer was 22nd so exactly 2 weeks. I have irregular cycles so a natural wouldn't of worked for me! X