December 2025 FET

[CoolSummer89]

Is anyone going to have a FET in December?

I was expecting to have one in January but when I went to the clinic yesterday they are going to try and squeeze a natural FET cycle in before the Christmas break!

I am 36, had my first egg collection last month but wasn't suitable for a fresh transfer. If my cycle plays ball my transfer will be 15th-17th December.

Hopeful for a lovely Christmas present but also being realistic given age and first transfer etc.

Just catching up again:

• Exciting about maybe starting your pessaries tomorrow @AnonTTC , does this mean transfer will be next week?
• Great news that four fertilised @Sequins04, is your next call on Saturday? Or will they give a day 3 update?
• Hope the EC goes well today @RavenWillow
• Best of luck for transfer tomorrow @BellaTink647@whysohardtogetusername

My timeline so far
Egg collection - 22nd October. I didn't have an HCG trigger because I was doing a freeze-all (high progesterone), which meant my bleed came quicker
Withdrawal bleed - 28th October
Ovulation - 15th November (CD19 which is 5-6 days late for me)
Period - 29th November
Predicted transfer date - 16th-18th December. So two months all in all

I am doing a natural cycle, so no trigger. I will have progesterone pessaries for support after ovulation. Because of this my clinic were able to fit me in before Christmas. I have been speaking to someone at the same clinic who has had to wait a bit longer because they are doing a fully medicated cycle.

Early testing
@zirafica @Peonies94
Everyone is different on this, I have found. Some people get really triggered by negative tests and would rather wait until period arrives. Other people find the uncertainty the most difficult, and would rather test a bit earlier and know either way.
I definitely fall more into the second camp and when I was trying naturally I would do one early test on 9dpo, and then just move on with my life. I wouldn't test every day, but just wanted to be able to look ahead if that cycle was unsuccessful.
The time between fertilisation and getting the 5 day embryo results was probably the hardest few days of my life. I was in agony. Logically I knew there was nothing I could do. And that there wasn't an answer yet, as the embryos were still developing and doing their thing. I told myself that whatever the result was I would feel better then because I would know
My plans for this FET is to test on Christmas Eve which should be 7dpt, but just because if it's negative I can relax on Christmas Day. There are sensitive family reasons why I don't really want to be seen as not drinking if I don't need to be.

If it wasn't Christmas I would try and hold out for OTD. I have decided to do something a bit corny to help me hold off testing. I am going to write a diary of all the days I spend carrying the embryo(s), then hopefully one day when they arrive I can share it with them. And obviously the longer I believe they are sticking around, the longer I can write in the diary for. I haven't tried it yet, so who knows if it will work! But hopefully it will keep my in the present a bit more, which I find hard to do.

Best of luck to everyone ✨

@CoolSummer89 youve summed up how I feel! I agree that the 5 days wait is definitely the toughest and because they’re away from you! Once inside you feel more in control, which is stupid as I’m really not, but little things help me feel better! One being testing early! Ohh that’s so close to Christmas for you! I was nervous my cycle was going to land that way but my period ended up being brought on much earlier with meds than expected!
I tested today at 4dpt and I’ll test again at 6, and 8! Il probably continue to do so until official yet date then!

good luck with your transfer and hope it’s the Christmas news you want! ✨

@zirafica huge congrats on being PUPO! It's so interesting how different people have comfort by testing early or waiting until official test day. I'd love to test daily, but will try to force myself to hold out, as I think I'd find it hard to keep taking the drugs, if I thought it hadn't worked.

@Peonies94 that's wonderful news you have a faint line, but totally get it must be tough waiting.

@RavenWillow I'm so sorry to hear how hard your pregnancy journey has been - you're a real warrior! Thinking of you today with your egg collection.

Thanks so much @zirafica @BellaTink647 @AnonTTC and @CoolSummer89 (I hope I haven't missed anyone) for sharing your FET process/timelines. I feel a bit deflated that we have to wait, but am equally quite relieved to have a bit of a break from the drugs.

@CoolSummer89 we get an update on Day 3 as well thank goodness as like you, so far I'm finding the wait agonising! I'm super worried they'll all fall over, but am trying to keep positive. I reckon that's a good plan to test Christmas Eve. Let's hope it's the best Christmas present ever. I've been keeping a diary too! Find it quite relaxing writing to myself all my ramblings. Looking back at the entry on egg collection day was hilarious - quite clearly off my face 🤣

@Sequins04 haha - I bet that entry is going to be one that you revisit every year!
Yes I am glad that I have had the opportunity to squeeze in before end of year, although there are added complications of christmas parties. Even if it doesn't work this time, I am grateful for the chance.

@Sequins04 thsnk you! Where are you in your cycle?
yes I find the TWW is the slowest of times ever!!

I had egg collection on Monday and am wishing the day away waiting for the day three embryo update tomorrow. Hoping my withdrawal bleed comes soon too, as feel so bloated.

@Sequins04 ohh it’s 5 days of torture isn’t it! Sending love and hope the news brings you good news! How many eggs were collected?

Thanks everyone. My scan was great and everything looked as it should, so I start pessaries on Friday and transfer is next Wednesday (10th)!!! Feels very surreal now and I can't get my head around the fact there will be an embryo placed back in and we will know one way or another in a few weeks!! I think because we're not doing the usual TTC acts or tracking ovulation it all feels very odd haha.

My official test date is 23rd, so 13 days after and I'm super glad it will be pre-Xmas. On that though, I saw there was a bit of a debate about when people test etc. Have to say I fall somewhere in between because I'm deffo not an early tester but I wouldn't say I wait until recommended either.. I reckon I'll probably end up testing around the 21st (11 days post transfer). For me, I like to live in the 'ignorance is bliss' bubble for as long as possible and know we 'could' be pregnant, but also I have previously tested early and if it's been negative spent HOURS googling the likelihood of getting a positive if it's negative on 7DPO for example and it just wasn't good for me mentally so since then I've always waited until a day I know it's likely to be accurate so I'm not wondering 'what if', usually about 12DPO. Think everybody's minds work differently though don't they and it will be funny to see if I eat my words and I'm testing a week after our transfer 🤣 (seems like people tend to get a positive by then if they're going to get one!)

Thanks everyone for your responses on testing, looks like I'm not alone with avoiding early testing!
@AnonTTC - the clinic told me to test on day 11 so I'd say that's definitely not early! And the ignorance is bliss - that's exactly where I am. Whichever way this goes it's going to massively impact the next couple of months of my life so I feel like this is my last little dash of no-responsibility/worry before it all kicks off properly.
I also completely understand testing early if you've got an event (like a Christmas do or family gathering) - tbh my test date perfectly aligns with the Christmas do, if it didn't I'd still test that morning with a couple of tests (to make sure it's not a fake +/-) and that would definitely impact my decision on how to act the rest of the day! But that's all sensible to me while things like "testing out the trigger" I find so anxiety inducing and unhelpful for anyone's mental health!

Thanks lovely. Seven eggs were collected and by some miracle all of them were mature. We had ICSI and four had fertilised when the embryologist called yesterday, so hoping they keep growing! I was meant to have a fresh transfer this Saturday but they've moved it to a frozen to try and get my womb lining thicker. It's definately a marathon rather than a sprint this IVF malarkey! Actually more like a marathon with no map and some obstacles chucked in on the way.

@Sequins04 that's a very good description of it haha! you literally never know what new obstacle may lie around the corner, and you spend ages waiting to reach that bloody corner as is!
Hopefull your your day 3 and 5 updates, and glad you get a bit of downtime before the FET. it's all quite challenging (I didn't struggle at all with the 5 day wait but very much struggled with the 3 weeks waiting for PGT-A to come back!) but i think it all ends up aligning as it should in the end. Fingers crossed for everyone, sending baby dust all around!

@AnonTTC That's so exciting to have a transfer date. I'll keep everything crossed for you that you get the best Christmas news!

Totally agree.. I tested out my trigger once (mainly just to see what it was like to see 2 lines on a test 🤣) and it didn't really help me in the sense that the line took soooo long to disappear that by the time I was confident if it was positive it would be accurate, I was like 12/13 DPO anyway so was all a bit pointless really. Like you've said, I think there's enough anxiety around the actual outcome of this I like to enjoy any period I can of 'limbo' if you like. I feel like we're in that bit now, where we're waiting for the transfer and it all feels very exciting etc. so if I can enjoy a bit of excitement for a bit I'm taking it!! Ha. I'm just hoping it's met with even more excitement on test day because my brain actually won't let me imagine how I'll feel if it's negative. This feels the closest we've ever been to being pregnant so it's equal parts exciting and terrifying!! When did you say your test date is again? Sorry I've completely forgotten!

Hahahah no I can't do that to myself honestly! The idea of seeing two lines and then them disappearing and then the dread of checking if they'll reappear? HARD PASS

Total limbo! I've felt the same! From the moment we had the baseline scan on day 11 and got a confirmed transfer date I was like ok this is the last period of actual freedom before all the big stuff kicks in! I'm loving the limbo and I love the idea of PUPO, it's like Schrodinger's cat! I may be pregnant, I may not be pregnant, we will never know until we open the box, and both are equally true until I do the test! I actually find it a bit exhilarating!

Omg I don't know what I would do if it said positive!! Like if it says negative, I've got the next steps all nicely lined out, I stop the pessaries, call the clinic, tell them to PGT-A test the remaining embryos which will take A WHILE, giving me ample time to relax and have a very merry boozy Christmas before it all kicks off again in the new year!

But if it's positive, I'm like ok, then the PROPER dread starts off! Will it still be positive by the time they schedule me in for my next scan, then the scan after that, then getting to the 12/14 weeks when it's considered safe to tell people, being sneaky in the meantime and not drinking and like what then? WHAT THEN? if it all works i get huge and have a baby what am I supposed to do with a baby??? Like what if it dies in its sleep? What if it dies at childbirth? Or ends up being blind? Or autistic or with heavy learning disabilities?

The way I see it, if this ends up working out and we do end up having a healthy birth, I am in for roughly 3 years of intense panic and worry, and then maybe less intense but still ever present panic and worry about them till I die...

To sum it all up - LONG LIVE THE LIMBO 😆 official test day is morning of 13th Dec! no blood, just regular preggo test, they said use the one that says pregnant/not pregnant vs the lines one as "they tend to make people crazy" lol

@Sequins04 rberything crossed for your 4 fertilised 🤞🤞 that totally sums it right up!

Oh bless you @zirafica . Here we are worrying about the next 14 days and you are worried about the next 18 years+ :)
Well I am hoping all your worries come true in 9 days time!

Ha, yes agree with everything you've said. I'm quite excited to know we're technically 'pregnant' and also know that everything that everything is lined up for a good chance of success (lining, embryo grade, my age, doing everything in our control etc) because other than that I think it's pure luck as to whether it's successful or not. I know there's still a pretty much equal chance the test could be negative, but I can't really comprehend how gutted I'll feel until I'm in that moment I don't think. And equally, because of the hundreds of negative tests I've seen I definitely can't comprehend how I'll feel if it's positive!!!

I think if we do get a negative I'll naturally be gutted but it's the time that will frustrate me more than anything. If we could just go again next month I think I'd feel better but for various reasons I think it would likely be early March before we could have another transfer and I think that is what will make me feel pretty rubbish.. but anyway, no point dwelling on that right now!

Honestly, I bet the elation is so short before the anxiety kicks in 🤣 Interesting your clinic say use a word test, mine said the other way round and use a line one! I've already decided I'm going to do one of each though and me/my husband can open them at the same time. I think it's just nice to have the reassurance of seeing the lines alongside the word and vice versa (unless they both say different things then that would be a head f**k, ha!!)

@CoolSummer89 thank you haha! this is it, i think that's why i'm more chilled about the next 10 days before testing cause, lord, the can of worms it will open if it's positive is absolutely petrifying!
@AnonTTC oh i understand, i just double checked my odds on chatGPT, claude and perplexity and they're all giving different percentages, like not even AI can agree on this 😆but I'd say 50% is a fair estimate and like, how is that fair? after everything we've all been through we're still at only 50%?!?
i think yours probably said to use a line test as they will show weaker lines, but the way the nurse explained it to me is that the word test should pick up hcg over 15, and by day 11 i should be in the high hundreds, so the binary yes/no works fine and there's no room for second guessing. while with a vague line i'd probably think there's a line, but is it thin, what does this mean, is it a chemical, you know the drill. so i quite like the yes/no idea. i am gonna buy about 4 of them cause i can't risk it being a false negative considering what i plan to do for the rest of the day in case it is an actual negative 😆

Wow lots to catch up on today!

@zirafica I'm with you on not testing early. I'm pretty sure I'll be sticking to whatever day the clinic suggest. A) I love to follow the rules haha but B) I don't want the uncertainty of getting a negative early and then messing with my head thinking maybe it will be become positive. Also don't want to risk an early false positive!

I can't quite believe we'll actually get a transfer tomorrow... feels very surreal. I'm glad that either way we'll know by Christmas so that will hopefully be a nice distraction and time off work if it isn't good news.

Good news on your egg eollection @sequins04

Thinking of all my other 4th December transfer buddies!!

@AnonTTC that's interesting about the different type of test. I was planning on doing a word one so there's no ambiguity buy I'll see what my clinic advise. God imagine if you did both and they were different!!

@BellaTink647 I AM SO EXCITED FOR YOU! sending you all the best vibes, and can't wait to start the countdown with you. good luck!

Oh man you sum it up @zirafica 😂😂😂 I had to be talked down from a similar speech before! I am also planning to NOT test early. My clinic offers a bloodtest so I will wait. I've said it here before but I have this feeling that I am just unable to have a positive at home pregnancy test. I feel like I could have a positive bloodtest and still no second line because a second line seems impossible for me. So it almost feels like I'd be jinxing it by taking a home pregnancy test. I know it's crazy. 😀

@Waitingforday6 omg we’ve all got our little things don’t we! Ok but do one thing for me, if your blood test comes back positive do 10 normal ones at home so you get used to the pluses // two lines // the word Pregnant confirming you had nothing to fear ♥️

I also have to get a blood test, I didn’t last time as I couldn’t face getting a blood test when negative! thr clinic ask that I test the day before going in so I know my result but the bloods are 2 within 3 days of each other to check numbers if positive or a chemical. If negative it’s just the one blood test!

we’ve been told a line test not digital, but also plan to do both!

goodluuck to everyone having their transfers tomorrow 🤞 can then join the TWW!! Will be good we’ll all know by Christmas anyways as at least that’ll be a distraction for us!

Yesss good luck to everybody having their transfers tomorrow. How exciting!! ❤️