October FET

[InfertilitySWS]

Hi! I’m starting the process of a FET in September, transferring a 4AB early October. Trying for baby number two. Anyone else? Would be great to have people to talk to amongst the symptom spotting, line eyes and general freak outs ☺️

@Waitingforday6 Thanks girl! To be honest it was a bit painful as we tested 7 and only got 1 euploid (and 1 mosaic), but we do still have 6 on ice so we’re hoping there’s a couple more in there as the average should be 30% euploids at my age so the 1 was a shock! But I suppose we only need one and we can only transfer one at a time so we can test the rest if that one fails. Such a rollercoaster! How are you doing?

@Sara237 my AF arrived last week but I’m waiting on a scan this Friday to confirm down regulation has been achieved before I can start my oestrogen…. Really hoping I feel better once starting as omg do I have a short fuse atm my poor hubby has had the brunt of it this weekend I hate being like this but struggling to control my moods 🙈 just try to keep reminding myself that this isn’t me it’s the drugs!!

@SarahAndQuack welcome to the group! I think a few ladies here have started their oestrogen recently and r waiting lining scans so lots of ppl on similar timelines, im hoping to get the go ahead to start mine Friday/Saturday so will be about a week behind xx

@zirafica massive congrats on your euploid embryo! We are also transferring a euploid (our only one 😬) and nice to know u have some in the freezer just in case but hopefully this one is the one 🤞🏼🤞🏼

Hey all, hope everyone is okay! AF finally arrived over the weekend and I started my patches yesterday! Scan booked for 3rd October and transfer provisionally l booked for the 10th! I'm trying low dosage aspirin this time, has anyone else tried it? X

I've also been to the GPs this morning to get bloods done to check vitamin D levels and thyroid I think it was to see if they can find anything that could be causing my early miscarriages!

@sunflower1906 thanks so much and all my fingers and toes crossed for you!! Help me understand the process before FET please? What’s down regulation?

@zirafica just caught up on the thread, happy your transferring a euploid embryo and still have some frozen! Did they just pick the 7 at random? We got 10 embryos this round but didn't test because of the cost of having them all done!
I'm doing a medicated cycle so I'm using oestrogen patches, I have a scan on the 3rd to check my lining and they'll also advise when to start progesterone x

@zirafica down regulation is part of a medicated treatment cycle where drugs are used to suppress the leutenising hormone that causes ovulation, after ovulation in a normal cycle, the lining would thicken due to increased progesterone and the uterus would be ready to receive the embryo but for a FET, the clinic may not be able to synchronize with this optimum window for implantation and so they are effectively controlling when this time is through the drugs. Down regulate to switch off the ovaries, then oestrogen to build up the lining, then usually a scan to check lining is ok and then progesterone shots to create the receptive environment the embryo needs. So basically re recreating what would happen naturally to have control over timings or to improve levels of hormones in woman who need the boost! Hope this helps. I can understand you being in shock after the testing. Honestly though, you've saved yourself a lot of time, money and heartache by identifying which would give you the best chance and as you say you've got the other frosties...it is a shocker though. Remember the guy wrenching disappoinment I felt after my first cycle of 14 eggs, 1 blastocyst and a negative outcome. But the next cycle gave me my son! Everything crossed for you.
@waitingforourmiracle I'm on baby aspirin too. I've read mixed findings in research but don't think it'll do any harm so sticking with it. Sounds like they're being thorough to try and understand your losses. Hope your scan is fine. Mine is on 6th. 🤞
@sunflower1906 oh I hear you re the mood swings. I started oestrogen on Saturday and perhaps it's a coincidence but I've slept better, feel much more myself and actually have energy! Even my hair looks better! Hopefully you'll start soon. Hang on in there.

@waitingforourmiracle thanks so much - I am genuinely so happy we got one but also upset we got ONLY one! So the clinic chose embryos, I am not sure how they did it, I assume they just chose the best rated ones even though they said they were all rated good so no idea honestly. I did ask if they wanted me to choose but they said they were developing so quickly it would be best if I let them decide which to biopsy and I was like ABSOLUTELY I have no idea what I'm talking about anyway!
Yeah we had 14 (but one developed from one nucleus even though they're supposed to develop from 2 - or the other way around - so the clinic said it looked good and could still be ok, but that they wouldn't freeze it before we tested it so I decided to let them discard that one as we had 13 other good ones), but yeah, paid for 7 and now have to pay for the 6 ones we've got frozen plus an additional £950 fee for defrosting them. But we spoke about it and since we're funded by the NHS just said this sounds like the best thing we can spend money on, especially since I'm 39 when these genetic things tend to crop up more (as witnessed in our poor one euploid!).
Ok, so it can be medicated or unmedicated (I assume unmedicated is when they just follow your body's natural ovulation)? Does the estrogen start with the 1st day of your cycle? Is the only thing they're looking at the thickness of the lining?

@Sara237 thank you so much, that was such a great and detailed explanation and I understand what down regulating is now! So basically I don't have to worry about guessing when I'll ovulate cause the clinic will control that. Love it!!! Thank you again for your kind words <3 I don't dare be hopeful that I'll be one of the lucky ones that gets to get a baby from just 1 go, but I would be so over the moon if that turned out to be the case. But I know there are so many things that can go wrong :(

@InfertilitySWS how are you getting on? Feeling any better on the oestrogen or still hot and bothered? You're ahead of me, is your scan soon? Hope all ok.
@SarahAndQuack I've had two full cycles of IVF and 2 FET. Spread out over past 8 yrs. I have a son and I'm using donor eggs due to my age. This is our last attempt!

Thanks for the welcome @sunflower1906. I'm in the same boat as you - just one euploid.

I did a cycle last winter and got 4 blasts that were all aneuploid; this time I got three but the other two were aneuploid.

Good luck, @Sara237!

@SarahAndQuack @sunflower1906 all join the one euploid bus! We have... erm... HOPE!

@zirafica I got my son from my first ever transfer so u just never know, I hope you are as lucky as I was 🤞🏼🤞🏼 most medicated FETS start day one of your period by starting oestrogen which usually stops you ovulating and then you have a lining scan around day 10-12 to check thickening and for the triple layer which means it should be receptive, then you will be given a date to start your progesterone then usually 5 days later transfer itself. With down regulation it starts the cycle prior and they use medication administered on day 21 to put you into a menopausal state prior to starting oestrogen - I have had 2 normal medicated FETS fail and with my suspected endo my consultant decided to down regulate me this time to try calm things down as she’s had good results in clinic and I want to throw everything at this last attempt - plus with my successful transfer I was also down regulated prior to my collection then fresh transfer xx

@waitingforourmiracle il also be on low dose aspirin until I switch to injectable blood thinners just before transfer, I just had low dose aspirin with my last FET but was unsuccessful. The injectable blood thinners are new for this transfer though willing to try anything and everything at this point 🤣🤣

@Sara237 glad to hear you have more energy on the oestrogen! I have been napping every day since Saturday which is not normal for me at all just so tired come early afternoon 😴😴

Firstly to @sunflower1906 and @Sara237 you're doing gods work by keeping up with this thread because I created it and my ADHD does not let me organise myself enough to keep up with everyone! It’s too overwhelming 🤣

@Sara237 how are you feeling on oestrogen? When’s your lining scan? Yeah I’m okay, scan on Friday, transfer hopefully the following Friday! I’m not feeling hot and bothered anymore, had a few days of feeling really exhausted but the past few days it’s been more nausea and headaches, could be the meds, could be me not keeping myself as hydrated as usual, I’m not sure 🤔

@sunflower1906 i feel you on the short fuse thing, I remember that from when I did full cycles! Hope your down reg scan goes well

@InfertilitySWS Sorry to hear you're feeling so ropey. Headaches and nausea are so draining. Really hope you feel a bit better soon. I remember not feeling great on progesterone in the past but seem ok on oestrogen. But I'm only day 3. Have scan on Monday. Dreading it as something always seems to go wrong. Early ovulation, polyps...I'll be so nervous, just want to get to transfer. Then I have the whole issue of 1 or 2 embryos? With my age, one is safest, but equally with my age, 2 is like an insurance and I feel a bit tempted...urgh, roll on next week!
@Georgiaivf how are you getting on? Are you still in IVF limbo waiting for something, anything to happen?! Hope you are ok and soon things start moving for you.

All I remember on progesterone is sore boobs! And bloating I think? Crazy how you forget. Aw I hope there’s nothing complicated and all is good for your scan. So much anxiety with this process. Oooh that is a tricky one. I really want another one but I’d sh*t myself if there was two 🤣 understand being tempted though. Do you follow Cole and Abbie? Eagerly awaiting finding out if both of theirs implanted!!

@Sara237 hey! Yeah just in limbo tbh, I had some brown spotting on Friday so assumed my period was coming but it never did so now I’m thinking that was actually my body gearing up to ovulate and the blood was just old blood from the irritation caused by egg collection. Will discuss timings etc with nurses on Wednesday and hopefully port out meds for FET cycle.

Hope you’re getting on ok? I’ve been rubbish at keeping up with this thread so apologies.

I also follow Abbie and cole and awaiting them to update their findings with their viability scan lol.

Iv just caught up on the thread, im a bit behind everyone else. My app tells me my period comes around the 10th October but really who knows when its due to come. The last couple of cycles they have been between 10 and 20 days late so sometimes nearly missing a full cycle.

Good luck to those who have had their embryos tested and ready for transfer, wishing to the stars that your transfers are successful. Will anyone be testing early? Im actually thinking this time not testing at all and waiting for my beta.

@Sara237 I've read mixed things too, I'm not fully convinced it will help but like you say there is no harm in it! Hope your doing okay!

@zirafica that makes total sense! I was quoted something like 6 grand to have them all tested but after just paying for a 2 round package that was out of the question! Maybe later down the line if I end up with less embryo left we'll look into it! Yes started patches day 1, I think they are checking for lining thickness and to make sure I've not naturally ovulated which I think is unlikely? Not sure!

@sunflower1906 oh no not more needles for you!! Hopefully they help! Sorry if you've already said and I've missed it but what number transfer is this for you?

@InfertilitySWS I'm also following Cole and Abbie! They commented on either post yesterday to say everything looked good they had just been busy 😊I usually get bad headaches on any sort of ivf meds but I've been okay since I started my patches this time but I'm only 2 days in, there is time haha!

@Miraclemuma03 I am absolutely an early tester and a then an every day tester!! My last 2 transfers I've tested from day 6. I think this time I'm going to TRY not obsess over tests because as I've learnt, the progression for me doesn't really mean anything, they progress and I've still miscarried both times

What age are you, @Sara237? (No need to say if you'd rather not!). My clinic said they basically don't do double transfers because, increasingly, the evidence doesn't support them giving any better chances. Not that I have the option! But I remember them saying it.

I am finding today a bit hard, not sure why.

Can I ask what might be stupid questions? I promise I am actually reasonably intelligent and sensible - I read tons when I did my first round of IVF last year and I think emotionally that's why I can't manage it now. The clinic sends us these terrible chirpy information videos and I just cannot bring myself to listen to them. So ...

Waiting for my lining scan on Thursday. As I understand it, they're checking to see if the thickness is ok. I've been on oestrogen since day 2. But they're also checking to see I've not ovulated naturally, is that right? And is there anything else that could happen? I assume the random stuff like finding a cyst or whatever, like you have with IUI (have done IUI before).

I'd just like to feel prepared, but my heart is sinking at the idea of watching yet another info video, 90% of which will be walking me through explaining the menstrual cycle as if I were 12 years old!

@SarahAndQuack yes at the lining scan they're checking the thickness and that the ovaries are resting, as if you've ovulated then the optimal window for implantation may have passed. If there's a dominant follicle then they'd trigger to control timings. They'll also check for any polyps, cysts etc which could need treating before transfer. Ideally they'd check this before day ten to save all the drugs and time being wasted.
Double transfer isn't recommended by NICE due to risks of multiple pregnancies but a lot of clinic stats show higher chance.

I'm feeling dreadful today; don't think its treatment related. Think I might have tonsillitis...throat killing me. Going to bed as soon as my husband gets home!😭

Thanks, that's really helpful!

Yes, I was surprised my clinic said their stats actually don't indicate higher chances any more.

I hope you feel better soon! That sounds horrible.