First IVf transfer - miscarriage at 5.5 weeks

[Sofie1994]

Hello, hope you're all doing ok.

I'm Sofie! I'm 29, with low AMH, endometriosis, adenomyosis, and my partner has 1% sperm morphology.

I recently had my first transfer of an embryo, it was a high quality day 5 embryo. I had lots of symptoms, most probably caused by progesterone, and on my OTD I got a fairly faint line line and 1-2 weeks on Clear Blue. I was of course overjoyed. To me that didn't seem dark enough but my clinic said it was fine. Sure enough at 5 weeks 3 days my symptoms faded and by 5 weeks 5 days I started bleeding.

My clinic said that this was a chemical pregnancy. However the Early Pregnancy Unit who spoke to me because I had pain on my right side for a few days before the loss said it had progressed beyond a chemical at the point.

I don't really know what my question is. I suppose I'm so sad that it has ended this way, I was so excited.

I will be moving onto a FET in January. The clinic said the loss was most likely a chromosomal issue and because of this they wouldn't look at doing anything differently in the FET because for all intents and purposes it worked and implantation happened. They were firm that nothing would be investigated as such (it's NHS but I have to pay for the next transfer) and they wouldn't even tell me what the FET protocol would be

I'm worried my progesterone may not have been high enough (never tested) and I'm worried that the pain in my side was relevant (EPU wouldn't scan me because by then my pregnancy tests were negative).

Does anyone think the clinics approach is the right one? I'm so worried about this happening again.

Thank you for sticking with me and for any and all advice. 💕

Hi, just wanted to say in a similar position to you. Had my first transfer, day 5 embryo, also have endometriosis and low amh, plus MFI too. I also tested positive on normal tests and then the blood test, but about a week after first positive test had lots of pain and bleeding. They said to wait two weeks and then confirmed it had ended by an ultrasound.

The next steps are the same, frozen transfer..they haven't confirmed when. Hopefully in the next couple of months (private). They basically said they wouldn't do any more tests at this stage, as statistically normally for it to not be successful first time. If I lose the next one they will though.

They said for frozen I'd be on patches, two types of injections and extra progesterone pessaries. I was worried id lost it due to progesterone, but the Dr explained it to me as (fresh cycle though not frozen) when you ovulate you produce progesterone, and when you produce lots of eggs like you do in fresh cycle you make a lot of progesterone. So if you are then also on progesterone pessaries you are getting a huge amount of progesterone. So it shouldn't be the reason.... Hopefully? You can pay to get progesterone tested..I did it via super drug. Im pretty sure they then did it again as part of my first tests via the NHS for fertility though.. did they definitely not check that?

If they've not checked you for such a basic thing as progesterone, wouldn't scan you and won't tell you the fet process they don't sound great... If you're having to pay now anyway could you look for clinics with better reviews and switch?

Anyway not sure if any of that is any help, but couldn't not post as you're in such a similar position!

Hello, thank you so much for replying! We are in such a similar position aren't we. I'm really sorry about your miscarriage too, it's so hard especially when it takes so much effort to get that BFP in the first place. Hope you are feeling ok

Your protocol for the FET makes sense. I do remember when prescribing me cyclogest for the TWW, they said if it was a FET they would add progesterone injections too. Are these the injections you will be taking? I wish you the best of luck.

The staff are lovely but nothing seems very thorough. They tested my progesterone when I was first referred there in maybe March and I think it was ok but yes not tested since. They vaguely said to me that adenomyosis causes progesterone resistance but there isn't anything they do for that in a fresh cycle. They don't do HCG blood tests either. I didn't know you could test progesterone at super drug so that's helpful thank you.

I think because this round and fresh transfer was NHS funded it's a bit limited in what they can offer

I thought that if this FET doesn't work I will definitely be changing clinic but I think there are quite a lot of costs involved in moving embryos and I only have one frozen!

Thanks again for your help

Hi, I was in my early 30s and lost my first transfer(an FET) of a 3AA embryo at 8.5 weeks. Same as you - low AMH, low morphology for DH plus a blocked tube on my side. I had the same response from my clinic - likely a chromosomal issue so no changes to my protocol/ extra testing. My third transfer worked and is now 6 months old. I did medicated FETs, depending on what you choose (natural, modified or medicated FET) will depend what your protocol looks like.

it’s such a crap period of time but your clinic is probably right, it most likely was an issue with the embryo that was therefore unavoidable. As pp said you can test progesterone privately if you want to.

Big hugs through this period for you and good luck with the next transfer.

Hi @Zypig thanks much for replying. I'm so pleased your third transfer worked - I needed to hear that success. But I'm sorry it was also such a tough journey for you.

The temptation to give up is real but I know that's just because I've had a tough couple days and I'll feel motivated again soon.

I'm not sure sure whether medicated or natural FET are best, or whether the clinic offers much choice! I'll have to look into that. Apparently we can go again after Christmas

Thanks again

Hi @Sofie1994! I'm not in the exact same boat, but didn't want to read and run!

I had a FET on the 30th of September and currently pregnant, however at my 8 week scan last Thursday our baby was measuring 6 weeks and 1 day but with a heartbeat. From doing A TONNE of research, I reckon there's a chromosomal issue and I'll eventually miscarry, so I'm already looking at what extra tests we can have done for our next round. But I anticipate a battle on our hands to get extra testing... our clinic have been amazing so far, but like another post said, I reckon they'll say statistically the first round isn't expected to be successful. Even though we'd happily pay for extra testing.

We luckily get 3 NHS funded goes at this, so I don't want to waste our 2nd round without further testing. Just want to say I empathise with the constant questions in your head as to whether you're doing the right thing by following the experts, or whether we should push for more testing if we feel like we want it.

Hi! Yes one set of injections will be progesterone (lubion) and the other are blood thinners. They did also say they could give progesterone in tablet form I think, if even more is needed. We also weren't given a choice or even explained about natural and medicated fets!

I'm sorry, it's so stressful and upsetting isn't it. Especially when this is your last embryo. It does feel like such a huge amount of effort to then miscarry and be told.. statistically we didn't expect this one to work anyway. It would also be hugely unfair to miscarry your last one and then have to start at the beginning again if further testing could have prevented that. As you're paying maybe you could push to pay for further testing before transfer??

Wish you all the best with it, hoping your next one works!!