FET June 2024

[amkw]

Hi,

Is anyone else planning on a FET in June? ☺️

I had my second cycle of ICSI in April and now have 8 frozen embryos.

I didn’t have a fresh transfer in April as there was some fluid left in my endometrium from ivf medication. I thought it best to wait till June so by then my body will be fully recovered.

🤞

Hello everyone

It sounds like FETs are as complicated as the rest of IVF. I had a Prostap injection today. She said I would have similar symptoms to menopause- fatigue and low mood etc. and I am like more fatigue?? Guess I have to up the self care. I have been lucky with side effects with IVF meds so far and just hope the next batch isn’t too bad.

I wouldn’t worry too much about others. My closest two friends and my sisters know. Anyone else doesn’t matter and I can’t really prioritise them at the moment.

@Sherr33 depending on how long ago you had the Prostap this may be what’s causing the discomfort? Nurse told me it can take up to a month for symptoms to ease. I would talk to clinic.

@Faith2024 @Sierra26 I contacted my clinic today and they said they will review it on Monday. I had the injection on the 1st of May and straight away my vaginal pain and discomfort started. I actually went to locala to get tested for everything which came back clear because my clinic said these aren't normal side effects. The Dr at locala said they arent normal maybe but they can be. So I informed my clinic about it which is why now il be having the buserilin injection. Im having to have two down reg injections as the first one from 01/05 will expire from system by next week and as my transfer has been pushed forward im having to have another batch of down reg. But yes the pain during sex yesterday was horrible and weird. I hated it. And now I'm scared and thinking all sorts. I've been so emotional and just so tired since the prostap and my bones hurt more. If I could id never do a FET and stick to fresh transfers as I had none of this. I start my blood thinners and oestrogen tablets - elleste solo. Dreading those too!

@Sherr33 Sounds really tough. Sorry to hear that. It’s good clinic can try something else if you responded so negatively to the Prostap. Meanwhile try to take care of yourself do things that bring you peace and contentment.

I would have loved to do natural cycle but lets see how this one goes.

@Faith2024 I honestly pray and hope you don't get any of it. Its so taxing mentally and physically. I feel more low in moods too so trying to just ride it out and hope this transfer works.

@Sherr33 Sorry that you are having horrible side effects, hope the change in medication will help.

@Sierra26 Going to Spain is okay, tickets and accommodations are easy to find even on a short notice. For FET it is only two nights stay, so manageable. We are running out of excuses to tell people when they want to do something with us when we are away! And it seems there is always something on precisely when we can't attend 😩Telling my family has been really helpful though. They not only provide emotional support but also cover for us in social settings.

I have a question- do you know if it's okay to have long haul flights (12 hours) in your FET cycle? I mean after the cycle has started but before the transfer takes place. Will it affect the lining?

Hi @Sierra26 great to hear you’ve picked up your meds and getting started.

I'm having a medicated cycle too, due for check up on Tuesday and if alls well FET on 4th June.
I’m taking Synarel and Progynova at the minute and will ask on Tuesday about progesterone. I’ve read different things about whether PIO injections or suppositories are better- I think I’ll be the latter. This is our first FET and just want to give it the best chance.

@amkw I honestly don’t think your consultant would suggest you could have the progesterone if it would do any harm. I was given it to use for a few cycles we were TTC even though I didn’t have a progesterone issue, I just wanted to try everything!

@Sherr33 the prostap sounds awful, I’d never heard anything about it before! Hope your appt on Monday is helpful, go easy on yourself in the meantime!

@Serendipity24 great you have the support from your family! I doubt that a long haul flight would have any influence on your lining - I’d say maybe if you were tracking ovulation the time difference change might confuse your hormone surges as they’re usually linked to time of day, but it would settle again quickly (I’m speculating - definitely not qualified to say that 😂). Are you planning a longer hol? I’m dying to get away and really want to plan something for after the transfer.

@Anna531 thats exciting, not too long to wait! I’d also understood the injections are better than the pessaries (as they better mimic the natural pulses I think?). I’ve just been given the latter but I’m going to ask about it at my first scan).

I started my elleste solo (oestrogen tablets) and blood thinners today. I am absolutely terrified of any side effects il get on these. ☹😖

@Serendipity24 Good luck with your upcoming trip to Spain. May this one be the one that sticks. Do you ever make a trip out of it or is it a quick in and out?

@Sierra26 where are you in the process?

I finally got a list of all my meds and schedule. I will definitely be asking for a private prescription this time as there is such a variation in price. Also, for abyone knowledgable, I thought you had to take lubion injections for all 10 weeks but it appears I have to take them for about 3 weeks twice a day? Alongside cyclogest. Is this normal?

@Sherr33 I ll also be on blood thinners too but just take it day by day.

Are blood thinners commonly prescribed with estrogen? It’s not been mentioned to me but I have history of migraines so wondering if I should have them!

@Faith2024 do you mean Lubion for 10 weeks if you get pregnant? I’ve heard progesterone would be continued for first trimester so maybe the pessaries are deemed enough instead of the injections?

Im waiting for next period to start which is when I’ll start estrogen and Ganirelix, with scans and transfer 2-3 weeks after that. But I still haven’t ovulated this cycle 😭 so period is still a long way away!!

I have so much respect for you all taking those extra medications - fingers crossed it’s our time this time! ❤️ It may be difficult but it will all be worth it.

I phoned the clinic up yesterday and they told me I’m completely fine to take progesterone pessaries - even though I don’t need them it can be an extra reassurance, so I will be taking them when I start my natural FET. My period is due 8 June so hopefully it’s on time.

@Sherr33 How are you getting on?

@Sierra26 Thanks. The trip is for business, unfortunately no fun getaway. I keep telling myself (and hoping) long haul flights will not affect lining/preparation etc., otherwise people will not be travelling from Australia to Europe for treatments. In an ideal world I would not be doing any long haul flights at this time though, just for the peace of my mind.

@Faith2024 We stayed longer (8 days) for the fresh DE cycle. But all other trips have been short 1/2 nights stay.

I think clinics really have different protocols regarding progesterone, there is no consensus. Some clinics prefer really high levels before transfer while others are happy with just above threshold levels.

Are you told to stop both Lubion and pessaries after 3 weeks, or will you continue with pessaries after 3 weeks? My clinic said that once you are on Lubion only, you should not switch to pessaries. I think you can add pessaries but cannot substitute Lubion completely. But if you start with pessaries, then you can add/switch to Lubion.

As far as I know, progesterone support is given at least for the first 6 weeks, that's what my clinic said. In the US it is pretty standard to continue until 8/10 weeks until the placenta takes over the production of progesterone. If your level is low then you may have to continue until 12 weeks.

@Sierra26 im on blood thinners because I have varicose veins behind one leg and chronic pain. Also my dad has had 3 heart attacks first one when he was 31 and my mum has deep vein thrombosis so all this combined scored me as having high risk of develop a clot hence why the blood thinners.

@Serendipity24 I think the estrogen tablets are doing a number already - really bad headache, tiredness, emotional and heart palpitations 🤦‍♀️ the blood thinning injection hurt me! But im hoping and praying that these are the only side effects. And my body kind of accepts them in the next few days so I don't feel this exhausted and shite

@Sherr33 I also hope those are only side effects too. The nurse did say most people struggle with the blood thinners. What keeps me going is that this could be IT. I haven’t started mine yet.

@Serendipity24 and @Sierra26 thanks. I think I counted the vials/boxes wrong and it is longer than 3 weeks but atill feels like it doesn’t cover the 10 weeks. Just wnat to make sure there is no error. I will check with nurse again. There are progesterone pessaries to be taken more than once daily alongside this but they did say they ll do blood test on day of transfer to see of they need to adjust anything. I have another nurse appointment after baseline scan to go through meds again. My clinic is known to go OTT with meds so ai don’t think I will miss something.

@Serendipity24i would check with clinic about flying but I can’t see how it will affect things?

@Faith2024 in what way did the nurses say people struggle with blood thinners?

I was at A&E. I went to collect my prescription that I need for tomorrow's appointment and on the way back home I started getting sharp chest pains and felt so tired. I started crying assuming the worst. Went to a&e which was a mission in itself, had ecg and bp check which came back normal. And then got sent from pillar to post. Waited 2 hours again in waiting room. And then felt a bit better but just wanted to sleep and wa starving. So asked at reception how much longer and he said 2 hours!! But I'd already been there for 3+ hrs so I just walked out because I was so drained. My partner wants me to stop taking the medication and scrap this round but I don't know what to do 😖☹

@Sherr33 Gosh, that must be terrifying, especially given the history of heart attacks in your family. Your clinic must do something about the horrendous side effects you are getting. Hope you feel better soon.

@Faith2024 That's great your clinic will go over your meds with you again, I think it's a good practice because things can be so confusing sometimes, especially when you want to do everything absolutely correctly.

@Sherr33 that sounds scary. Can you get in touch with clinic? The nurse said people found that it stung and left bruising. Can I ask is there a reason you couldn’t try for a natural transfer? How many frosties do you have? I was recommended to do medicated as out of the 6 blastocyst, 2 were genetically normal which we are so grateful for and right on the 33% stats for my age group. My doctor said if we had more embryos she wouldn’t mind trying a natural cycle but since we only have 2 preferred to do medicated. The advice I got was that medicated was more controlled and they saw slightly higher success rates at the clinic for my age group with medicated cycle so I went with that. There are plenty of women at the clinic doing natural cycles though.

@Serendipity24 there will be a month in between so I appreciate it.

Sorry @Sherr33 to hear you had such a rough time :( Sounds like a very stressful day with the a&e visit. Hope you’ve been resting up since!

Does anyone have any big appts or milestones this week?

I have finally had my LH rise today (CD22, a week late!) so can now start counting down to my transfer cycle. Made me feel loads better seeing other threads on here about people ovulating late after EC cycle.

@Sherr33 ahhh, so sorry to hear that you’ve had it rough. Hope you start to feel better soon.

@Sierra26 good to hear things are about to get moving. EC can definitely delay things. I had to take a prep month in between my last EC in April and transfer.

I will hopefully have my baseline scan end of the week and start oestrogen by Sunday. I am doing a medicated transfer so I feel excited as June is nearly here.

Hi all hope it's ok to join!
I was on the May group but think transfer has been pushed back.
A little background, we've had two rounds of ICSI this year
One in Jan resulted in freeze all due to high progesterone levels pre egg collection. Despite having 14 eggs and being relatively young and healthy the maturity was poor so ended up with 1
We decided as we had to wait anyway for the FET to do another round, to future proof for siblings. This round in March ended with another freeze all due to risk of OHSS

Currently on CD14 of a natural FET cycle. I've had to go in for 3 scans so far. The dominant follicle is growing very slowly at 14mm now, and no LH surge. Back again on Thursday and if there's no surge they've suggested a trigger shot.
I know the natural cycle is better for me, but the lack of control is getting pretty stressful now! Just really want to be able to get to transfer next week 🤞

Hope everyone is well on here?

@Natty2 Welcome! I so hope you can do your transfer next week! I agree the natural FET seems less stressful on paper but it’s the uncertainty that comes with natural that’s worse than if it was a medicated. We all worry no matter what type of cycle though 😫

I had my egg collection on 1 April so it seems like I’ve had to wait ages as my transfer won’t be till the very end of June.

Morning ladies

we had our lining scan yesterday and thankfully all looks well so planning to go ahead with FET next week.
So grateful it wasn’t another set back.
This will be our first transfer and feels like a lifetime to get to this point having started this process back in September- but just a week to go and all our fingers crossed!!!

@Natty2 sorry to hear your transfer was pushed back, it makes you feel like you’re in limbo and living your life around treatment. Hopefully Thursdays appointment goes well and you can get underway with transfer.

@Sherr33 how are you feeling? Did you get any more insight to but you at ease since A&E?

@Natty2 welcome, hopefully it won’t be too much longer for you! Do they monitor your lining in a natural cycle too?

@Anna531 great to hear you’re nearly there!

Ladies I am shocked at the total price for my FET medication that I just ordered from ASDA pharmacy, a total of £600 compared to the clinic associated pharmacy which quoted me £1500! For my ivf cycles I just went with them because it wasn’t worth chasing meds to save £100 but this time around as it’s less complex meds it’s more competitive.

Also our lovely GP doing bloods for us again is so appreciated. Anyway just feeling like it’s a win today.

Welcome @Natty2 & good luck @Anna531.