I have no insight to share unfortunately but the same happened to me. It was our first transfer, also on 10th October. Everything was textbook. We were referred due to male factor 0% morphology which he managed to resolve to 7%!! While we waited for appointments up to egg collection.
Things were going really well, 7 eggs, 100% fertilisation. 4 made it to day 5, we carried out PGT-A testing and had 3 euploid embryos frozen.
Scan for lining was trilaminar with 8.4mm thickness.
First FET failed. I cannot accept this was bad luck.
I had my follow up this week and without prompting the consultant has made some revisions for next time.
They are starting me on Prontogest and Ultragestan ahead of FET. The last cycle I only took Ultragestan and started the prontogest on the evening of transfer.
When a small follicle and low progesteron uptake were reported in the last cycle I asked whether it was wise to proceed with FET as I would rather cancel and save the embryo than continue with the try and see approach some clinics seem to take. I was assured the follicle was not large enough to secreate levels of progesterone early enough to have clinical significance on my lining structure. My progesterone was within the acceptable range to proceed from ultragestan, they just felt based on recent research chances would be higher with an elevated level. But didn’t start it for a further 2 days.
My ‘day 1’ and starting of oestrogen on reflection I dont think set me up to succeed either. I had 5 days of spotting and ‘day 1’ fell on a Saturday, I spoke to the clinic on the day but the protocol didn’t start me on oestrogen until the Tuesday, 8 days after the spotting started . While the average says starting this anytime from day 2-4 of full flownis fine, I did grow a small follicle so clearly for me this didn’t align to suppress my ovaries correctly.
The consultant follow up was useful in that he admitted changes are needed for the next attempt at the end of November. However I did have to push hard for information.
We have 2 euploid embryos remaining and I do not want to waste them on experimental calibration of my regime to then find there are other issues we have never investigated. We were referred due to male factor, so there have been no investigations on my body past referal scans and bloods. The FET was also really complicated as it turns out I have an S bend in my cervix. This has never been discovered as ive had smear tests, but never an IUD so not something that was known until FET day. It took almost 40mins for them to get the (second) catheter through. I experienced a lot of cramping in the following days, which they tell me is probably progesterone. We will never know.
Oddly I was super chilled in the two week wait, which surprised me more than anyone. But I am confident I can safely rule out stress being a factor.
I asked what happens if a second FET fails and he said they would investigate my clotting and immune profile. I have arranged to have these bloods taken on Monday as I would prefer to spend £600 and be confident there are no other issues before we do another FET.
I feel for us the 0% morphology for my husband was just the beginning. It’s been a bit of a whirlwind week after a year of waiting to start ICSI/IVF to now be potentially starting investigations on me.
F37/M41
I think asking for next step options as a recommendation is a good course of action. They will have a protocol they have to follow, but there is nothing to stop you asking about the next, next step and making a decision on how to proceed.
My £600 of tests might be seen to be a waste to some, as I have none of the indications. But if it triggers further considerations we save wasting our emrbyos and have the opportunity to change our course.