Medicated or natural FET

[Flowers07]

Hi looking for advice from those who have had a failed fresh transfer and gone on to have a successful FET? Suspected chemical pregnancy I was testing positive and then Started bleeding early on this was around 4-5 weeks my lines where not getting darker and just fading, my first failed fresh transfer. We have been advised we can go again when where ready from my next period and it will be my decision whether to have a natural or medicated cycle the clinic themselves advised medicated as it’s more structured. Is there anyone who has experienced both and has had

live births? Thanks

So sorry to hear about your failed fresh transfer and your loss 😞

I did try for a medicated FET but I ovulated anyway when I wasn’t supposed to. I really didn’t get on with the estrogen so I pushed for a natural cycle.

I ended up having two natural modified cycles - using a trigger - one failed, one successful! Personally found it very straightforward and really enjoyed not being on the medications! Also quicker than medicated cycles.

I guess it depends how much you value the structure… With the natural cycles you obviously can’t plan exactly for when things are going to happen, although of course you’ll have some idea. I quite liked having the trigger, took the pressure off tracking ovulation and I knew they would get the timings right. Although still would have been straightforward without - my clinic said they would just schedule the embryo transfer for 6 days post LH surge.

Does your clinic have any difference in success rates between medicated / natural? I think generally they are about the same. They still check your lining with the natural cycle so won’t implant unless they are happy.

Is your clinic open 7 days a week? Mine was closed on weekends so there was the risk of having to delay a month if the transfer date was going to fall on the weekend…

I’ve had 1 medicated FET and 2 natural modified. The second natural FET got a bit stressful as ovulation came sooner than expected (I was having ultrasound scans and using ovulation sticks) so I did need a Saturday transfer. The stress was due to having to travel, I already had flights booked as my clinic was abroad so had to get new flights at a peak travel time. Saying this to illustrate that the stress of early ovulation in itself wasn’t the big issue.

My clinic has pretty similar success rates for both. As it happens my first medicated FET was successful and the reason for subsequent FETs being natural was that I was breastfeeding and they preferred to avoid some of the medication.
The failed FETs could be bad luck, I don’t think natural ‘caused’ the process to fail but my preference was definitely the medicated cycle. After all the meds for multiple egg collections the medication for a FET seemed minor in comparison and I didn’t notice any side effects.