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.

🤞

That’s mental that the medication is that price compared to your clinic! Good save for you though! @Faith2024

Thanks @Faith2024 @Sierra26 very exciting!! I’m going into it completely positive that it can work but not completely positive it will if that makes sense- you have to guard yourself a little for disappointment. The set backs were disappointing but if next week doesn’t work that’s a whole different heartbreak but we’ll hope and if it doesn’t I’ll pick myself up and go again.

@Faith2024 thats a crazy difference- good job you shopped around. You’d understand if it was close but that’s shocking.

Thanks all! Still no Lh surge from me so will be interesting to see what the clinic says tomorrow.

@amkw it feels like such a long wait doesn't it! I see you're on a natural FET too so I hope your cycle plays ball!

@Anna531 exciting about your transfer!! Hopefully I can join you next week on the tww. It's our first too so just want to be able to get to transfer day!

@Sierra26 yes, they've been measuring my lining each time. It was at 9mm yesterday so hopefully stays that way 🤞 will you be on natural or medicated?

@Faith2024 it's ridiculous how expensive it all is. We really should have learnt our lesson from our first ivf round. On the second they made me buy all the medication for the cycle and then I didn't even end up using half of it because the dose was too high. Now have boxes of meds worth £600 odd that they won't take back :(

@amkw & @Anna531 I guess there is no limit to how much private pharmacies can make up for profit? I don’t know.

@Natty2 that sucks! My meds were super expensive for the stims phase as I was on maximum dose, like £2200 per cycle and we did 3 so that was painful.

I think it’s a mixture of everything being generally not marked up as Asda pharmacy doesn’t profit from ivf medication and that the HRT drugs are more cheaply available (estrogen and progesterone) but it’s most significant with lubion injections, the difference being £59 vs £135.

Also, yes to positivity! I know it’s hard but from other areas of life trying to save myself from disappointment never made the disappointment any less painful.

This is luckily NHS funded for us so we have to be very grateful for that and the recent changes in legislation will support us massively. I do feel for couples who have to pay, I developed OHSS at ER so I have a good amount of meds too that were never used.

Awh @Natty2 thats amazing, someone to count down the dreadful wait with. I hope it goes ahead as planned and perfectly so 🤞🏽🤞🏽

I start cyclogest tomorrow if anyone has any tips- I’ve never got to pessary stage before and I imagine that’s a whole new level of fun 🫣😂
I don’t hear good things from most people’s experience of PIO but I think I would’ve preferred it, I don’t mind injections.

My period has started around 3 pm today, it's still brown but I reckon full red blood flow will start in a few hours as it usually happens. Do I count today as CD1 or tomorrow?

I have been waiting for the cycle to start and yet I am feeling so deflated now that it's here. Yesterday I got the results of Daye Vaginal Microbiome Screening and I am quite devastated. Apparently I have only 2% Lactobacillus😭I also have Candida which is above the normal range 😭

I have been taking oral probiotics containing different strains of Lactobacillus for the past two years, so the 2% came as a huge shock. I have been taking oral probiotic specific for the vagina for the past 10 days, but do not have any confidence that things will improve by the time transfer takes place. I don't know whether I should cancel the cycle 😢

@Serendipity24 I'm so sorry I'm unfamiliar with what you’re going through, excuse my ignorance- it sounds like a lot on top of an already stressful enough process.
I would count today as cycle day 1.

what would they like your lactobacillus and candida to be at? Does that potentially affect the success of your transfer? I hope you don’t mind my questions.
I’m going to have to read up- it’s scary how much I’ve never known about women’s health and how much you learn throughout the IVF process.

@Anna531 thanks so much for replying. Please don't worry if you haven't heard of it before. IVF is a learning process and we all learn as we go along.

A healthy microbiome can potentially affect the implantation and success of ongoing pregnancy if implanted. Ideally EMMA test (which is costly) would have revealed what's the microbiome like in the uterus. But a vaginal microbiome test is more affordable and can give you some indication as vagina and uterus are interlinked. It would be highly unlikely that the uterus is full of good bacteria when there is so little of it in the vagina and vice versa.

A healthy microbiome would have at least 80 percent Lactobacillus, while mine has only 2 percent. I mean I wouldn't panic even if I had 40/50 percent, but 2 percent?! It's practically non-existent.

My Candida (yeast) level is slightly raised above the normal range but it's the Lactobacillus that is the main concern.

My last FET resulted in a 6 weeks chemical. Now I am wondering whether it was the reason.

@Serendipity24 I’ve been told anything after 1pm start counts as the next day, so tomorrow would be day 1?

I think the Microbiome thing is important to a lot of people but I am not really convinced it’s that critical. I am sure millions of women fall pregnant without knowing the status of their microbe. It’s just that with ivf we are hyper alert about everything. I would check with your doctor and see what they say? It sounds like you were doing all the right things.

Hi, hope it's okay to join.
We have been TTC for over 8 years and never been pregnant all very unexplained as neither of us seem to have anything that has been seen.
I had my EC on 17th, got 69 eggs, 44 of which fertilised and ended up with 11 embryos 🥰
That meant I had OHSS so have had all 11 frozen and had my period less than a week later which is great. Just now to wait for the next period and then having my FET. Have a meeting with the consultant on 13th June to decide best steps for us for the FET.
I'm taking the time to relax before it all happens.

Does anyone have any helpful advice for when I meet with the consultant or any help for anything else I'm very clueless to be honest

Thanks @Faith2024 , as of now full flow hasn't started so definitely not counting today as CD1.

I know microbiome is not a proven thing but there are a lot of anecdotal evidence supporting it's importance. That's why I didn't push for EMMA because I didn't want to spend so much money on a test whose efficacy/usefulness is not completely proven. So the at home vaginal test was a good compromise for me. After so many years of struggles with 'unexplained infertility' I didn't expect my microbiome to be perfect but I also didn't expect it to be so unhealthy.

@Gnatalie16 congratulations on getting 11 embryos, that's amazing. My advice for consultation would be to ask many questions so that you not only understand what the doctor is proposing but more importantly why. For example, medicated vs natural FET. What level of progesterone, if any, they are prescribing. Are they going to test the progesterone level before the transfer, etc. Let them explain everything.

Having 69 eggs is quite unusual, so It's important that they are customising treatment for your specific case. Good luck 🍀

Hi everyone, hoping it’s ok if I join to!

we had our first cycle in March which unfortunately ended with a failed fresh transfer but we were lucky to get 5 frozen embryos from it so we are hopefully now on track to do a FET in June. I have no idea what it will involve really but hoping not too much! (lol how naive of me)

good luck to everyone who has started their process already! Have read through the thread and really feel you on the socialising thing too, we haven’t told anyone except family so it can be hard around friends

Hi! @Capybara95 congrats on your frozen embryos!

Are you having a natural or medicated FET? With natural it is literally just a case of phoning them on day 1 of your period and then they scan you around day 10 to check your lining. You then phone them when you get your surge (from a Clear Blue ovulation test). They then book you in for a transfer about 5 days after your surge. You can have progesterone pessaries with a natural FET too.

@amkw i have just accepted my offer of treatment with NHS this morning so i am not 100% sure yet but it was discussed previously doing a natural cycle with pessaries so i assume that. Do you know when the pessaries usually start from please? The process sounds simple enough just to try and not drive my self crazy with google during it! lol.

Thanks for explaining the process! are you currently waiting on a FET too?

@Anna531 finally got my Lh surge this morning just before my scan appointment! Pleased that the transfer will be next Wednesday and they'll confirm when to start the progesterone tomorrow. Did you take yours this morning?

@Gnatalie16 great news on your embryos. Best thing is to try and work out from the consultant which option is best for you. If you ovulate fairly regularly they may suggest a natural but hopefully they will be able to guide you with the best route.

@Capybara95 the pessaries should start after ovulation is confirmed, my clinic said they will let me know tomorrow when to start as I've been on a natural FET and had an Lh surge this morning. Good luck!

@Natty2 ah perfect thank you for explaining. We have a holiday booked and as delighted that we were to get our letter saying we are top of the list I also felt a bit sad that we might have to cancel our holiday as I felt we really needed it this year but sounds like we will still be going as all my appointments should be after that stage of the cycle! thats great you got your transfer date confirmed, not long to go now

Welcome @Capybara95 5 embryos is a great result and it’s exciting to get started isn’t it! Brilliant you can still have your holiday- we haven’t booked anything this year because of IVF and waiting to see what was happening and I could do with nothing more so have a great time and forget everything!

great news @Natty2 !! I’m so glad to have a TWW buddy. Next week can’t come soon enough but I’m trying not to wish the time away and enjoy a weekend of not stressing and wondering.
I started my progesterone this morning and it’s been fine. I’m on three cyclogest a day. I’m finding the morning one and probably just before bed fine it’s the afternoon one as I’m in work. I came home early today because my diary allowed it but tomorrow I’ll just have to get on with it x

@Anna531 we waited until right at the last minute to book it as we didn’t know when it would happen and then ofc as soon as we booked we got the letter to say we were top of the list! So glad we got the letter though, hate the waiting and seems the timing of our holiday will still be ok anyway hopefully. It’s so hard feeling like you have everything on hold for it isn’t it.

Good luck for your transfer! That’s exciting that it is so soon now

@Capybara95 fingers crossed you don’t have to wait too long until you have your dates, natural is a little more uncertain until closer to the time? But it’ll be great to get an idea of when to plan to (and hopefully around your hol) x

That’s great news @Natty2! I hope it will all go well for you & @Anna531 you too. My transfer had been pushed to July now.

@Serendipity24 I understand. I begrudgingly did the Emma and Alice test as it’s not evidenced based. Out of all the add on tests you could do my doctor recommended it as she said it brings back stuff all the time. I wasn’t convinced because luckily I don’t fit the profile of multiple losses so I went ahead with it anyway as we only have 2 euploid embryos and didnt want to have regrets. I started Norehistrone same day as test hoping it would come back all clear. Got the results today and the ALICE test came back all negative but the EMMA test showed more than usual (11%) type of bacteria so now I am on antibiotics for a 7 days to treat that and my transfer has been pushed back to July. After the antibiotics, probiotics once a day until transfer. The Lactobacillus was 75% so they said we only need to do a little to get that up. I completely get now what you were saying.

@Gnatalie16 congrats on the embryos. I would just look up different types of FETs and maybe go ready with some questions. And ask about any testing you may need to do beforehand or maybe not at all based on your history. They are classed as ‘ad ons’ by HEFA so it’s up to you.

Thanks @Faith2024
thats really disappointing that your transfer has been pushed back - this process can be unbearably lengthy.
easily said but on the bright side hopefully this makes your July transfer all the better and I hope it’s the one!! This is your first transfer too?

@Anna531 my cycle is usually like clockwork so I’m thinking I can work out all the dates etc but will interesting to see what it’s like the month I actually need it to be.

are you doing a natural cycle?

@Capybara95 no were medicated but I’ve found it ok and don’t know any better being our first so I’m just grateful to be headed in the right direction.
We discovered at ER that I have PCOS so I’m doing my research and don’t think I ovulate properly so this is best to ensure my hormones are correct- I think it also suits the clinic so they can plan exactly when my transfer is.

we’ve planned a chilled weekend, booked a Saturday night dinner and comedian and just going to try and distract myself to Tuesday xx

@Anna531 did you do a freeze all round or just your first FET do you mean? Yes I think sometimes it suits the clinic to make sure they can plan appointments etc. I’ve been reading a lot about healthy eating coming up to my cycle and there’s a lot about certain foods that are good for PCOS. Can’t comment on if it actually makes a difference or not.

that’s good to make some plans to try and take your mind off it! I took 3 weeks off work when I had my full round but I think I’ll just take the day of the transfer this time

@Capybara95 we did a freeze all. It wasn’t the original plan but I had OHSS and in hindsight it was the best choice. I don’t think a fresh transfer would have had a chance of sticking.

three weeks was a great idea- you don’t know what to expect first round, well I didn’t fully, and full stims and ER was definitely a lot tougher than prep for the FET.