Feeling desperate… has anyone had success after 5 transfers?

[Sunnydaysahead1]

I’m currently waiting to do my 5th FET after four failed transfers (plus losing an embryo to the thaw). I’ve also recently received the results of NK cell testing which came back normal which was quite a surprise, as I was sure that could be the reason why it hasn’t been working. I’ve also done microbiome testing which initially wasn’t good but has improved since taking probiotics etc.
I have endometriosis which I had surgery for last year which I also hoped would help, but had another failed transfer afterwards.

I’m basically spiralling a bit as it feels like it’s never going to work for me, and I was hoping the NK cell testing would give some answers but it hasn’t. The only thing different this time is we’ll be using a euploid embryo (the others weren’t tested) so I’m hoping that will help.

Has anyone else had success on their 5th transfer? And is there anything else I’m missing? I’ve previously done a hysteroscopy which was fine, I eat healthily, do acupuncture etc.. I’m just feeling such a lack of hope and dreading taking a pregnancy test 😩

Ps. Sending loads of love to anyone reading this, it’s such a tough ride ❤️

How old are you?

@sirensong I’m 35, was 34 when the embryos were made. My embryos have always been fairly good grades (4aa, 4bb, 4bc etc) but this is the first time we’ll be trying with a PGT-A tested one

The euploid rate mid 30s is around 55%, and then euploids work about 50% of the time. So you may have just had an unlucky run. Transferring a known euploid is positive!

You could also take antibiotics in case of endometritis.

Sorry that’s a really tough run. Do you know if you’ve had any kind of implantation along the way?
Different situation as I do have a (ivf conceived) child already but it took us 5 transfers trying for a sibling. Unexplained infertility and the doctors just put it down to luck and finding the right one. Knowing it’s a euploid is a big plus. Really hope this next round is the one.

I got pregnant on my fifth transfer - currently 29 weeks 🙏

My previous transfers were missed m/c, around 7 weeks but not diagnosed until 10w, a chemical (bled same day I got the positive) and then two BFNs. Those embryos were the result of 2 x egg collections. I also had another egg collection in between them and my successful round which resulted in a total fertilisatiom failure of 20 eggs 😭 I had my first egg collection aged 32, my fourth aged 34.

On my fourth egg collection/fifth transfer I didn't test my microbiome but I did take steps to improve it anyway (did the pessaries and supplements) as figured it couldn't hurt. I also focused on a high protein diet and lowish carb (25% protein, less than 40% carb) and I was precribed baby aspirin and clexane for a MTHFR mutation. We also used embryo glue for the first time and PGTA tested for the first time. There were also clinical differences - it was a different clinic with a diff protocol (a lot more drugs!) And my partner had an embolism (although prior to that we had used surgically received sperm which was supposed to bypass any damaged caused by the minor varicocele but was what resulted in our total fert. Failure so 🤷🏼‍♀️) and we used a sperm selection technique for the first time so hard to say what may have made the difference or whether we just got lucky.

I didn't do many tests (other than the hysteroscopy and loads of blood tests through clinics and GP and recurrent m/c unit - all came back fine other than mthfr homozygous mutation but the jury is really out on how much of a factor that is likely to be). Our next steps were going to be the ERA/ALICE/EMA tests though and I wad going to do an NK test too but via uterine biopsy as read that was more accurate than blood tests.

Best of luck, I totally lost hope after our third egg collection and just couldn't see it ever happening for us. It was a dark time. So I completely understand how you feel. I think you're amazing for putting yourself through it again and try not to lose hope - it's not over until it's over. ❤️

@sirensong Thank you so much, I really hope you’re right and it’s a case of hoping it’s just a numbers game!

@Strawberrryfields thanks so much for your reply. There’s been no implantation at all as far as I’m aware, have never had any hint of a line on the tests. I’m so sorry to hear it took you 5 transfers to get a sibling, but huge congratulations on getting there, and that’s really encouraging to hear you had success in the end. Did you do anything different at all or it was simply a case of finding the right embryo?

@FancyGoose oh amazing, congratulations on your pregnancy! And that’s so reassuring to hear it worked for you on your fifth try, although I’m really sorry to hear about your losses. I haven’t heard of the MTHFR mutation, what were you tested for to find that? I’m also going to try baby aspirin this time just in case it helps. I’m so sorry to hear there was a dark time for you, I really feel so similar with the fear of it never happening for us, so it’s really comforting to hear it still worked for you after feeling that way, thanks so much for sharing that ❤️

Hello @Sunnydaysahead1 - two rounds, only four embryos in total and two failed. 13 years trying everything else and one miscarriage.

You’re producing viable embryos and you’re young! Yes you have hope and more than likely you’ll have a pregnancy.

Well done for your perseverance.

@Sunnydaysahead1iy sounds like you’ve been super productive and done lots of testing. What about make factor issues - has this been explored?
sending you all of the luck for this next transfer x

I hope your filth transfer is a successful one. Iv done 3 transfers now. 1 embryo was from 2021 which ended in a chemical. We did one round of ivf which was a complete fertilisation failure, did another round and got 1 day 5 embryo and 1 day 6 embryo , did a fresh transfer with the day 5 5ab embryo which didnt stick then transferred the day 6 4aa embryo which ended in a mc at 7 weeks. I wasnt going to do another round but my clinic are very informative and explained its trying to find the right embryo at my age .

@Sunnydaysahead1 it's just a blood test. My GP actually did it (one of the clinics wanted to test for it but I asked my GP first to save some money and they agreed to do it). There is mixed school of thought on whether or not it's really relevant but essentially if you have one one or both of the mutations twice you are homozygous and there are theories it increases your risk of clots. I think if you are heterozygous it is less of an issue (only one copy of the mutation). It also reduces your bodies ability to absorb folic acid so you have to take methylfolate and my clinic advised high strength (5mg). There's loads of info on reddit about it but my clinic took a 'can't hurt, might help approach' which is why they prescribed 75mg aspirin and clexane and high strength folate. My nhs consultant agreed to keep me on clexane the whole of my pregnancy too and increased my aspirin dose to 150mg.

Also if you're starting baby aspirin, there is some compelling evidence it's more effective taken at night 😊 good luck, it's so hard to keep keeping on when it feels so pointless but as others have said, it's likely a numbers game and a euploid embryo should increase your chances - really hope this is the one for you.

My 6th transfer was the one that worked. Good luck xxx

Thank you SO much everyone for your replies, I really appreciate it so much ❤️ still feeling pretty terrified about this cycle but I definitely feel a bit better having read your replies. Just waiting for my period to start now so we can get this cycle started.

Best of luck to those who are also still in the midst of it all! I really hope we all get there soon! ❤️

@FET2026 I’m so sorry to hear it’s been such a tough ride for you, I really hope things shift this year and start to look up. Let me know how you get on ❤️

@confused2025 thank you so much ❤️ we’re using donor sperm as we’re in a same sex couple, so the sperm is supposedly good quality. Between us we’ve done four egg collections and tried two different donors, so I think it’s been more likely egg quality or something within me that’s posing the problem (and my wife can’t carry sadly). But hopefully this time it works…

@FancyGoose thank you for the tip about baby aspirin at night time, I hadn’t heard that so that’s really helpful!

@Miraclemuma03 sorry to hear you’ve had such a difficult journey too, it’s so devastating at times isn’t it. Have you started on another round? Wishing you all the luck ❤️

Hoping to start a cycle at the end of February and hopefully have a fresh transfer in march. See how we go. But im 40, and in the midst of perimenopaus so not sure how successful il be. But il have everything xd that your last embryo gives you a miracle.

Thank you @Sunnydaysahead1 the only difference was a vaginal probiotic beforehand (my microbiome tests were fine it was more just throwing something else at it) so think it was most likely just the embryo. But they said fit wouldn’t hurt to add it in.

Have you tried embryo glue? It hasn’t always lead to an ongoing pregnancy for me (losses) but every time I’ve used it I’ve had implantation. I know the evidence of it isn’t definitive (and I’ve had implantation once without it) so it might’ve been coincidence but again was a ‘no harm in adding it’ decision.

Overall the verdict seems to be a numbers game in my case but those are the things we added in.

Wishing you lots of luck for this round ❤️

No success yet but just wanted to lend solidarity. We've also had 4 failed transfers and I'm just about to start down regulation for our next (and final) round. It'll be the first time we do PGT-A testing, if we get any embryos- like you, our previous transfers weren't tested.

I wish I could say something to help you feel more positive but I completely understand where you are. I've always struggled between researching things as much as possible to feel like we've done everything we can and getting overwhelmed because the more you look, the more there is to overthink and stress about! So absolutely get the lack of hope. DH asked how I was feeling about things starting again and I said it just feels like we're going through the motions, because how will it ever work?

I also wish I had a list of things that could help you get through the next few weeks but unfortunately not! But hopefully posting on here and being able to rant to people who understand will help a bit. Regarding EmbryoGlue, we didn't use it for our first two transfers but did for our third and fourth. Not a sausage of difference!! Wishing you the absolute best of luck for your FET.

I am on my 7th transfer I think I lost count, I’ve had 3 egg collections all fertilised and these transferred, I’ve jus had a positive test, early days as only 6dp5dt it’s crazy how much of a luck game it is, I had nothing changed this round apart from drinking bone broth(don’t think this made any difference but I like the taste and has goodness in it, oh I did have an endometrial scratch done before transfer

How are you doing OP?

I went through 5 years of infertility and in my experience the PGTA testing was the key. It's really good that you've done that this time.

After years of no luck with IVF/ IUI, we finally had 6 embryos tested from a round of IVF, and only 2 of them came back euploid (I was also a similar age to you and had good embryo grades etc.)

It honestly felt like we'd cracked some kind of code and it explained things, as I could easily see how I could have done lots of transfers without testing embryos and just not hit on a good one.

I really hope it works for you soon. One of the horrible truths about infertility is that no one can tell you if it will or it won't, and whether or not it works for other people doesn't really indicate whether or not it will work for you. But just keep going. If I could go back and tell myself one thing it would be that - keep going. It's hard as hell but keep going. You're still young in fertility terms and there's a good chance.

If you've been transferring without PGTA testing then there's every chance that you just didn't hit on a normal embryo, and that doesn't mean there's anything wrong with you, it's just sucky how biology works.

Rooting for you in every way because I've been there xx

@Miraclemuma03 wishing you all the luck with your cycle in Feb! How are you feeling about it starting? Thanks so much, and I hope you get your miracle this time too!

@Strawberrryfields thanks so much for the suggestion about embryo glue. Our clinic uses it as standard so we’ve used it in all our transfers so hasn’t made a difference for us yet sadly, but as you said it’s such a numbers game so I’m just hoping we’re finally on the right side of the numbers this time!

@WildForTheNight aww thank you so much and sending solidarity right back to you too! Have you started on the down regulation now? How are you feeling? I reallyyyy hope it works for you this time. Everything you’ve said there resonates with me so much - researching, getting overwhelmed, feeling like it’s almost impossible to believe it will ever work. I’m just trying to take it day by day at the mo, it’s just so hard isn’t it ❤️

@camelinastorm oh wow, congratulations on your positive test! And well done on getting through 7 transfers, that’s a lot to have gone through. How are you getting on?

@rockinrobins thank you SO much for your reply, it’s honestly so reassuring to hear how much of a difference PGT-A made for you, it really gives me hope. And I’m so glad you got there in the end! In all honestly I’m all over the place emotionally right now (I cried at a loaf of bread earlier!), but I’m on estrogen now so that’s probably playing a part too. I had my baseline scan last week and going in for my next scan to check my lining this week, and then hopefully all being well I’ll have the transfer next week. Thanks so much again, I’m so grateful for the support ❤️

@Sunnydaysahead1 You're very welcome, please update if you feel able!

Everything crossed for you and remember even if it doesn't work this time, it might be your first try with a euploid embryo that even stood a chance, so again, just keep going. It's a rough ride. I hope you get there.

It's totally normal to feel emotional too - it's one of those things where people who haven't been through it can't fully understand how deep it can cut, sometimes at the most random of times!

You are doing really, really well, even reaching out on here is great, and dealing with things that most people don't even have to think about. Remember that and let yourself feel what you need to feel.

My 5th transfer worked and my little girl is now 15 weeks.

I have had two egg collections -
1st at 33 (2 embryos, one failed to
implant and the second was a chemical) I didn’t have enough medication for that one so I only got 2 eggs and both became embryos.

2nd at 34 (8 embryos, 2 failed to implant and the 3rd is my baby girl and I have 5 in the freezer)

The transfer that worked for me was medicated (progesterone pessary each night and an oestrogen tablet of a morning, afternoon and evening) and I also added prednisolone for the first 12 weeks (my consultant said it couldn’t do any harm and coincidentally it did help with my psoriasis - not sure if it helped with the pregnancy but could have?).

I would also make sure that the transfer is ultrasound guided (my successful one was) - it apparently doesn’t make a difference with success rates but surely it does - they can see exactly where they are dropping the embryo!

We were male factor infertility and I was so disheartened with one chemical and 3 failures to implant and it was obviously such an amazing surprise that it worked 5th go as I was starting to lose the plot.

Keep at it and best of luck! My consultant said I had just been unlucky as they had been picking the wrong embryos first to put in me 🩷💙 xx

I had pgta and two of my best graded ones were complex abnormal plus another medium grade one was abnormal too. My euploid worked . Best of luck

Thanks so much @rockinrobins ❤️ @amkw @TheIceBear thats really encouraging to hear you both got there in the end. Do you remember feeling any different on your successful transfers?

I had my transfer yesterday, felt quite positive yesterday as the embryo was already starting to hatch, but I’ve woken up today just feeling like it’s totally impossible that this will work. I just feel like it’s all over already even though I can’t really know that, I guess it’s just so hard to believe it could go differently this time when all my experiences up til now have been failures. I’ll test next Saturday so I’ll let you know how it goes, although I already think I’m out!

It's totally normal to feel like that @Sunnydaysahead1, i felt the same after so much failure - just felt like I was going through the motions with IVF so I knew I had tried rather than actually thinking it would work. I think it's just a means of self protection - if you count yourself out, your mind thinks it might hurt a bit less (but of course it doesn't). Look after yourself, try and keep busy and remember there is nothing you can do to control the outcome from here. Really rooting for you.

I didn't feel any different really. My first one (that ended in m/c) I had a wave of tiredness that came from nowhere at about 6 or 7 dpt (but might have been totally unrelated anyway). This one, I had a friend staying who went outside for a smoke and when she came in the smell was really overwhelming and made me feel quite sick (this was 8 dpt) whereas I usually wouldn't notice that much. Then the next day we went to john lewis and the smell of all the perfume counters were really strong and made me feel sick - which had never happened before. But literally nothing else and both of those were after a positive test would have shown up anyway - I tend to hold off until the official test date.

Oh @Sunnydaysahead1 That is soo normal. I didn't feel any different after the successful one, I actually felt the same as you - hopeless and even a little depressed.

At my transfer I remember the nurse saying to me "Good luck with your pregnancy, we'll see you in a few years for baby number 2!"

It actually quite upset me because she had no idea if it would work or not, I'd been through 14 unsuccessful transfers, and I was convinced that she would see me a couple of months later for another transfer.

It's totally normal after everything you've been through to feel there's no way it can work. You have had so many times when it hasn't worked. It's utterly exhausting.

The truth is, no one can know if it will work or won't, but there's as good a chance as any other time (maybe better because of the PGTA testing, but we just can't know). I've got everything crossed for you lovely. The two week wait is so hard.

Just remember you are going through one of the hardest times of your life right now. Whatever the outcome of all this, this fertility journey is one of the most difficult things you will ever do, so be gentle with yourself, and if there is anything at all that you can enjoy, any little thing you can do or treat yourself to during these next two weeks, just do it. Do whatever it takes to keep yourself going xxx

Oh thank you both SO much for your replies, I honestly can’t even express how grateful I am, it makes the world of difference speaking to people who understand.

@FancyGoose I think you’re right, there’s definitely some self protection going on. I’ve been having quite a bit of cramping and every time I feel slightly hopeful that it’s implantation cramps I immediately remind myself that I’ve had cramps with every transfer so it probably means nothing, and then I get sad. And thanks for the reminder that I can’t control the outcome - I’m overthinking everything I do/don’t do so I need to try and remember anything I do probably won’t affect it.. it’s hard to always convince myself of that!

@rockinrobins oh I am so sorry you had 14 unsuccessful transfers, that must have been absolute hell. It really is so exhausting isn’t it. It must have been such a shock when you got your positive! Thank you so much for your kind words, I really hope the PGTA testing makes the difference this time.

Had a really big meltdown on my partner in the night last night, just so convinced it’s gonna be another negative test. But I’m trying to be a bit more neutral tonight… I keep reminding myself there’s genuinely no way of knowing right now. Just need to get through the week now, hopefully work will be a distraction.

Thank you both again, I really appreciate your support xxxx