IVF OTD faint positive chemical pregnancy

[Fox01]

Hi, I have I am looking to see if anyone has tested positive prior to their OTD and then had a fainter positive on OTD?

I am on progesterone and I have been pretty certain for the past 6 days that my tests have not been improving and I believe it to be a chemical pregnancy. The test today was barely visible and its FRER tests that have been positive.

If I tell the clinic that the test has the slightest positive they will have me continue with the progesterone until after 7wks when I get an early scan. I know that scan will show no viable pregnancy. Then I'd have to stop the progesterone.

Or do I tell the clinic I was positive but test is negative so I can stop the progesterone and let me body deal with it naturally?

Has anyone been in this situation? I believe that the progesterone is preventing my body from bleeding and I just want this to end so we can move on as I know it'll be months until FET.

How long did it take ivfers to bleed after their chemicals?

Hi, I’m so sorry to hear this has happened to you - I had a chemical after ivf last month - my FRER tests stayed at a medium darkness with no progression so I was getting very anxious and had the blood test at the clinic where they said HCG was present but low, and I could come back in 2 days for another blood test, I did one final pregnancy test at home the next day which had gotten lighter so I cancelled and stopped progesterone and my period came back about 4 days later. Hope your ok - CP’s are awful after after all the hard work of ivf.

@AM08 thank you so so so so much for this! This is very helpful! I have stopped my progesterone tonight. My line is more like an indent now so I guess it is just wait and see. How long was your cycle after the chemical and how did your next round(s) go?

@Fox01 My period came back about 4 days after stopping and was pretty normal - now I’m down regulating and near the point of waiting for a period and day 1, so fingers crossed but this time I’m a bit less hopeful (I think because we have no idea what went wrong last time) - will you go straight into another round or FET? Hope your feeling ok!

@AM08 i hope period arrives soon for you then! My clinic told me that they would be in touch in a month. That's it really so no idea when things will happen. As far as I remember I think I have to have this breakthrough bleed/cycle then a natural cycle then we can start FET the cycle after that (3rd cycle). I just want to go ASAP. Been waiting so long and it doesn't get any shorter or closer. They go on about getting older too. I was 30 when I started and I'm 34 in a few months. Can't wait until they call me geriatric 🙄😠

@Fox01 i get it, it’s so frustrating to feel like life is slipping by, I’m 33 in a few weeks and just dreading my birthday. Final night of provera tonight so hoping for my period soon but last time it took 7 days! Try and enjoy this month off - I really tried to enjoy having my body and energy level back, I think we forget with ivf how rough we feel so do try and enjoy that time in between. How many frosties do you have left? I feel a bit lost as I’m doing the exact same protocol as last time, but everything felt like it was perfect last time, embryo graded excellent, had hysteroscopy - no issues, triple layered womb lining at the right thickness but it still didn’t work so this time I’m just a lot less hopeful but need to just go through the process and hope for the best.

@AM08 im even more lost now as I did a cheapie test to see if it was the same but its more positive than ODT (ill add test - blue is today 17dp5dt and green is OTD at 15dp5dt). I then went out and bought another frer and it was the exact same strength of line that it has been since 9dp5dt. I'm still certain it's a chemical but now have emailed the clinic saying I'm still testing positive despite your test being negative. I presume it'll be wait until scan to confirm.

Did you get given anything for your miscarriage? I know this sounds awful but I just want it gone now. I want to move on. I feel bad saying that but I've been stuck in this limbo for over a week now and it'll be another 2 weeks til scan (if they give me).

I hope your period arrives slightly sooner than last time. Its like it knows too isn't it?! Takes it time!! I have 1 frostie left as they didn't stimulate me enough due to ohss risk.

I totally get your hopelessness but I guess you have done everything you can and it sounds like your body was in good condition too. I did read a few weeks ago that not all eggs will fertilise (naturally) and that not all embryos will make babies. We are just not programmed that way. It's very odd. There was someone on insta who had about 6 transfers and it got to a 2 day transfer of a 3BC and she had a healthy baby. It is mental how it all works (or doesn't on some or most occasions). It's heartbreaking.

@Fox01 do you think there is no possibility of it being a pregnancy? I took the risk to come off progesterone because I felt like HCG being so low are the starting wasn’t a good sign and likely would miscarry but it’s all difficult decisions to make. I completely understand just want to draw a line too. I wasn’t given anything to help but period did just come back 4 days after stopping meds - the clinic did say it can even be a week to 10 days.

Yeah it’s so weird that an embryo can look great but just might still have issues, I just of course worry the issue was me but these stories do give me hope - I don’t know why but I have it in my head because one didn’t work from this batch then none of them will but not sure where I’ve got that negative logic from lol

hope you feel better & period comes soon!

@AM08 what a hassle it's all been. Had to go in for bloods today and hcg is 141. I said that is low for 5+3 and they said it is lower but as long as there is progression on Friday then it's fine. So I will see on Friday. Is it sad that I hope it is lower so at least I know it is done as I am certain this is a chemical or not viable in some way. No idea what the next stages are.

How are you getting on?! I just wish there was more guarantee with things. I know a few people who have a diagnosis of what their cause of infertility is and ivf worked first time. I am happy for them but it's like come on!!

@Fox01 arent you at all hopeful that it could work out? 141 sounds lower than it should be but not massively, mine was 27, 12DP5T and then the next day my test went blank… I know you’ll be worried about miscarriage but I have heard of stories where things have worked out, and maybe the embryo just took longer to implant then it should have? I don’t know and I do get why you’d just want your period, I was very anxious waiting for mine in that wait time…

@AM08 no I haven't had a change in test lines for the past 11 days now. I am pretty sure whatever is there is not viable. I am now just hoping Fridays results are lower so I know it's not a pregnancy elsewhere. I have no symptoms at all now. I am not doing anything I shouldnt so if it does work out then everything should be fine but I have had this feeling for a while now that something is not right. I hate the constant limbo.

@Fox01 completely understand, hopefully tomorrow you’ll be out of
limbo! It does make sense that at some point your HCG will come down as you have no symptoms - when my period came last time I went out for a g&t that night!

I’m waiting for period but think it’s going to be probably early next week annoyingly!

@AM08 i know there is nothing you can do to bring it on too either! I remember one of my cycles before ivf was 46 or 48 days for no reason other than 'stress' apparently but I did so much every day from day 30 to bring it on. It was horrible. I wasn't even waiting for anything them but I know your pain! I'll keep you posted and likewise please ☺

@Fox01 best of luck for today, let me know you get on.

No sign of period today but telling myself it will be Monday or Tuesday to try and take it out of my head and relax…

@AM08 they corrected themselves so apparently I was 116 on Wed and I am only 121 today. They are hoping that I will bleed naturally within the next week. If not then test next week and if it is the same then I'll be in for a scan. I am hoping it comes soon 😔.

Let's both pray for blood after this weekend!! 😂

Relax is not a word associated with ttc at all 😂

@Fox01 great you have confirmation and hoping you have a bleed soon, how are you feeling about everything?

Still no period for me, hoping it comes soon but really trying not to worry. Just so want to get to the point of transfer asap

@AM08 i am in the same boat of just waiting to bleed. No meds for 4 days now and I've done everything I can to bring it on and nothing. I have a feeling I'll need meds to end it.

The wait never gets easier does it!

@Fox01 It’s just awful as you just want to bleed and move on, it will happen, my clinic said it can 7-10 days after coming off meds

I am day 7 now and nothing, starting to feel a bit annoyed, it’s just meaning taking more buserlin which is known for making me people grouchy and just making the whole process longer - will be really panicked if it doesn’t show in next few days now ☹️

@Fox01 it happened yesterday! So pleased to get started now, well as long as baseline scan is all good! How are you doing? Any updates?

@AM08 well it must be good luck then because my bleed started properly yesterday too. I had a small amount of spotting the day before. The clinic still wants me to take a test but I am sure this is it because the pain is worse and there's a lot more blood than usual.

How did your scan go?

We have a vid appt next month and may be good to go in May/May June for FET

@Fox01 scan was this morning, was all good so transfer on the 18th of April, can’t wait and just wish it could be test day already but going to try and find some moments of joy this month. How is everything now? When do you think you’ll do another transfer?

@AM08 ooh that's the same date as my follow up consultation!! Good luck for then! We might be able to start the next cycle but not sure how long that will be as the day I got my negative test I got a positive covid test! 🙄

@Fox01 I actually cant believe that, such crazy timing. Hope your feeling ok with covid and hope it doesn’t impact your timeline too much.

@AM08 how are you getting on?

@Fox01 I’m doing ok, thank you for checking in. Medication wise everything is ok as it’s just the same protocol as last time and I’m looking forward to having the long weekend to break up work and just to have a bit of time to rest but I keep stressing about being stressed, in my last round I was incredibly stressed with work (working in technology at a time where there is a lot of lay offs) and this time round all is ok work wise but I’m very busy and I’m kind of stressing about every little thing and then stressing about being stressed.

How are you doing covid wise? And what are you thinking about when you do another round? Are you feeling ok with everything now? I was very down a few weeks after my CP

What medication protocol are you on? Every protocol seems different and I'm always intrigued! Not sure what my FET protocol will be but I know there's progesterone pessaries and injections and estrogen injections too. Not sure when you take them all yet.

I wouldn't worry about stress. You can never stop it and it is not something that goes away for a day. It's always there and takes a long time for the effects to go away. It sounds like a slightly better position your in work wise which is good. I used to do intense shifts work which messed my body but now I've changed to a Mon-Fri 8 hr shifts and it's such a change. Stress is always there but that's situational.

I haven't tested to see if it's gone but I'm much better now so I'll test later to see if it's negative.

I have been OK. I think I knew from around 11/12dp5dt that something wasn't right. I am down because I don't think it will work now ever or I will not accept it or ever be excited but I don't know. I just want to move on. I'm 34 soon and I was the first to start and the last to have now. Everyones life is moving on and I've been stuck for years and no explanation for it. It's very hard. I have a lot of bad days but just have to pick myself up and keep going eagerly waiting for time to pass to get the next one.

I have a follow up in a few weeks and that's where they should say I'm OK to go on my next cycle as it'll be medicated. I hope they do anyway as they said I could on the phone and we are missing annual leave for it so I'll be annoyed that it's more life we can't live because they changed their mind. My app says that I will bleed last wk in April but I think it will be the start of may meaning transfer end of may/start of June but who knows. There's never a plan!