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 ❤️

@Sunnydaysahead1 It's totally normal to have meltdowns like that... I had soo many. It is a kind of self protection as the other poster said. Your brain is trying to prepare itself because you've been disappointed so many times, just trying to find ways to deal, as if anticipating the disappointment might help.

Just remember it's all normal. It doesn't mean anything one way or the other - you really really can't know at this stage. You're likely to get cramping from the fertility treatments anyway. I didn't feel any physically different at all on my successful round to any of the others - which is a bit of a bugger because you really want there to be a sign - but there wasn't.

Hope work helps take your mind off things at least for a short time.

So I’m 8dp5dt today… and did my first test this morning. And for the first time ever it showed two lines, but it is very very faint! I then did another test and it’s even fainter (won’t even show up on a photo) but I have been drinking a lot of water as I’m so thirsty. Part of me is worried as I would have thought the line would be darker by this point? But the other part of me has a tiny bit of hope as I’ve never seen this before… what do you think?
(Please be gentle as I’m very wobbly right now) ❤️

That’s positive ❤️ Wouldn’t worry about the strength of the line at this point as it’s still early and hydration can make a difference. Good luck for the next few days 🤞

@Strawberrryfields really? Thank you that is such a huge relief to read. I think I’m just not sure what to expect at this point! Really scared it will have disappeared again tomorrow, but I’m still going to take it as a positive for now. Honestly can’t believe it!
Thanks so much ❤️

Yes ❤️ Mine started like that with my eldest (didn’t test till otd with this pregnancy). The stronger lines can take a bit longer, sometimes it’s more gradual and sometimes you test one day and it just is a big difference. And depends on the test too. It’s hard to believe your eyes when it’s not just stark white! But it’s there. Keeping everything crossed for you 🤞🤞

I am currently 20 weeks pregnant from my 7th transfer .. please don’t give up ! ✨💛

Tests can vary so much in how strong s line there is, I got my positive on 9dp5dt and a digital clear blue said pregnant, and i liked the clarity! But there was only there merest suggestion of a 2nd line on another kind of test. I repeated it a couple of days later on another clear blue and left it at that as I knew analysing lines would send me mad. Congrats and best of luck!

That looks positive to me. How did you go testing again? When is OTD? Are you getting a hcg beta bloods done at all?

@Strawberrryfields oh that gives me some hope that’s how your successful pregnancy started. And yeah such a shock! I had been expecting the dreaded stark white as that’s what we’d always seen, so we were both definitely in disbelief!

@AmberRose26 oh wow congratulations on your pregnancy, that’s wonderful! And well done you for getting through 7 transfers, it’s so tough. Thank you for giving me hope 💛

@Orangewillow thats really helpful to know - I can definitely feel myself getting caught up on strength of line, I think I’m just finding it impossible to believe this could really be happening! I’ve bought a digital to do on OTD, and after that I will try and step away as I don’t want to drive myself too crazy (anymore than I already am..! 😂)

@Miraclemuma03 oh I’m so glad you think so, thank you so much. OTD is in two days time on Wednesday, and yeah clinic will do one blood test as far as I understand. I’m hoping that will give me some reassurance!

I’ve done some more tests yesterday and today, they are a little bit darker than the first one but not by a huge amount and they are still fainter than I would have hoped, but I’m going to take everyone’s advice that strength of line doesn’t mean much, a line is a line! We are over the moon about it, currently swinging between elation to real fear that our happiness could be taken away again, but will try and take it a day at a time. Today there is a line so I will take that as joy 🥰
Thank you so much everyone 💕💕

@Sunnydaysahead1 Omg, this is absolutely incredible. I'm almost crying for you because I remember that feeling when I saw a positive test.

A faint line is nothing to worry about. Try not to obsess over it (easier said than done I know) - there are lots of threads here of people worrying about how dark the line is, but it really doesn't matter. You're not even 14 days post transfer yet.

Just so, so happy for you. Wishing you a wonderful healthy pregnancy!

How are you getting on @Sunnydaysahead1? Hope you're doing ok and your tests have continued to get darker 💜 we had our egg collection today, 6 mature eggs and now the seemingly endless wait for the next 5-6 days to find out how many blasts and then PGT-A testing results after that. It's such a slog isn't it. Sending you lots of good vibes.

@rockinrobins thank you sooo much for your lovely comment, it actually brings tears to my eyes ❤️ I had a blood test with my clinic last week and they were happy with the result, so next thing now is a scan in March. Still can’t quite believe we have got this far! I’m still anxious every day, especially when I don’t feel much symptom-wise, but I’m trying to take it a day at a time and trying to be as positive as I can 😊 thank you so much for your support, it honestly has made such a difference!

@WildForTheNight oh well done on getting through your egg collection, how are you feeling?? It can be so tough on your body so I hope you’re resting and looking after yourself. 6 mature eggs is a really good start, I really hope the next updates go well too. It is such a slog! Feels like time goes so slowly and goes on forever while you’re waiting! Please keep me updated on how you get on ❤️
And thank you so much, yes the lines continued to get dark which felt quite unbelievable to see! Sending you lots of good vibes too x

Really happy to see your BFP! Totally understand the anxiety, 35 weeks in and sorry to say I am still struggling with it every day but wishing you a smooth and healthy pregnancy!!

@Sunnydaysahead1 It's totally normal to feel anxious, especially after all you've been through!

You will love seeing the little embryo on the first scan (just a tiny dot but so sweet) and it will hopefully help you feel more settled🙂

Everyone is different but for me, as time went on I became less anxious, especially as the pregnancy develops and it becomes less likely that anything will happen. 12 weeks felt like a big milestone - after that point I felt a lot better as the risk drops dramatically.

My little one is almost 7 months old now and sometimes I look at him and can't believe he was that tiny little dot we saw on a screen last year, or that it took so much to get him here. It was hell, but honestly, I would do it a thousand times over.

I'm sure you will be OK, and remember even at this point it is SO much more likely that everything will be fine than not. No symptoms is not a bad thing at this stage, either - it's so tiny that honestly it's unlikely to cause any big symptoms that you can feel at the moment. I didn't have any until much later in the first trimester, and then when the morning sickness hit, I wished I didn't long for those symptoms 😂

And when the baby is here you will be such a fantastic mum. I really believe that the fact that we tried so hard and for so long to get our son makes us appreciate his existence every day, perhaps in a way that people who have not been through fertility treatment can't really understand. I'm not saying it makes us better parents than anyone else, but I think it makes us look at the whole thing differently and appreciate every day, even when it's hard.

Your baby will be so very lucky to have you :) I hope it's everything you wanted and more! xx

@Sunnydaysahead1 amazing, so pleased that it finally happened for you! Can imagine you've got a whole roller coaster of emotions and thoughts going on but I hope you're finding time to be kind to yourself. You've been through a lot to get here!

Feeling fine post egg collection, a bit sore and sleepy but not too bad. I was a bit disappointed with our numbers- I had 16 follicles on the first scan, then 10 which is loads for me (slightly low AMH). But got everything crossed that we manage to get at least one embryo.

Keep us updated with how you're doing and how the scan goes!

@FancyGoose @rockinrobins thank you both 💕 unfortunately I had a really big bleed on Thursday (5w4d) with bad cramps, which was absolutely terrifying. I went to the EPU but they said it was too early to scan so I have a scan booked with them for next Thursday. So I’m now in a horrible limbo where I don’t know what’s happening. The bleeding has slowed down to just spotting brown blood now, but still having some cramping and pain. I’m really hoping it’s a subchorionic hematoma as I know they can cause bleeding. My clinic did a beta hcg blood test yesterday and it’s still at a good level and worked out to have been doubling every 47.3 hours, so I hope that’s a good sign, but also worried it could have dropped since yesterday. Will just have to wait and see… god this journey is such a rollercoaster 😩

@WildForTheNight how are you getting on? ❤️

Oh how awful and terrifying for you. Keeping everything crossed. I had a fair bit of bleeding with clots for the first few weeks too - it was heavy enough that I was convinced I was miscarrying. I didn't get cramps but had backache which is my sign of a period usually. The clinic said it was a hematoma although the EPU said they couldn't see one so who knows but the pregnancy stuck.

I know the waiting is a special form of torture though but try not to lose hope. I did an exercise that a friend taught me from therapy which was 'write what you know' so I had a list along the lines of 'my hcg levels were good', 'bleeding is common in early pregnancy', 'the embryo was chromsomally normal', 'i am on progesterone to support the pregnancy' etc. A bit woo but it did help me to stay a bit calmer. And chatgpt also told me that a chemical with a beta result at my level that had been rising well was very unlikely so you could perhaps try inputting yours and asking it similar - although I am conscious chatgpt can be unreliable and isn't for everyone.

Best of luck - really hoping it works out for you xx

I'm sorry @Sunnydaysahead1, how scary for you. If it's any consolation, I've looked after so many women who've had bleeding in early pregnancy and their pregnancies have progressed with no other hiccups. I'm sure the wait until the scan will feel like torture but keeping everything crossed for you. Really excellent advice from Fancy Goose too. And it's very reassuring that the bleeding has has slowed.

Not very news from my end. We got 6 eggs, 5 fertilised but found out today that we only got 1 5bb embryo. It's gone for PGT-A testing so we'll have the results in 3 weeks. Not feeling especially hopeful really so have been frantically Googling other clinics and hoping we can stretch to one more round.

This must be so worrying for you. Im sorry your going through this. I hope the bleeding is just from a haematoma and not for any other reason. Has the bleeding stopped now

I had a SCH bleeed as well, so worrying but they’re more common with IVF apparently.
mine was a small amount at around your point and the bigger bleed at 11 weeks.
Mine lasted 1 day, then 1-2days, but my friend (non-IVF) bled for weeks with hers so honestly uou just don’t know xx

@Sunnydaysahead1 Oh I'm sorry to hear this :( I really hope it all works out OK, that's so hard on top of everything you've been through already, you must be so worried. Sending good thoughts for Thursday. Do update if you feel able xx

Sorry to read that @Sunnydaysahead1 that’s a long wait and I’m sure your mind is in overdrive. Really hope it goes ok for you tomorrow 🤞🤞❤️

Good luck for you and your little embryo tomorrow 🥰🥰

Hi everyone, thank you so much for your lovely support. Last week was a really scary one so I really appreciated reading your messages 🩷

The good news is it is a hematoma causing the bleeding and pain, and we got to see our tiny blob with a heartbeat! We honestly couldn’t believe it, I think I’m still in disbelief! I was so certain I was losing it, but it’s still there so we are just so happy. We have a scan with our clinic next week and then one more at the EPU in two week’s time to check the hematoma. I’m of course still anxious but tentatively starting to let myself believe we can get there 🥰

@WildForTheNight I’m so sorry to hear you only got the one embryo and that you’re not feeling hopeful, the wait for PGTA results is so long and excruciating. I really hope the embryo surprises you with being a euploid ❤️ how long do you have left to wait now? And have you found another clinic? I always found it helpful to plan my next steps when things weren’t going well. I’ll be thinking of you, please let me know how you get on!

And best of luck to everyone else too if you’re still on this journey, you are all so strong but I hope you don’t have to dig deep to be strong for too much longer ❤️❤️❤️

Thats great news about the scan. Im glad your little one is progressing well and hopefully the haematoma clearance up relatively quickly.