Symptoms before BFP (especially with FET)!

[SeeImSmiling]

Hi everyone! Long-time lurker, first-time account creator and poster. I'm so sorry in advance for the long post!

Prefacing with I know everyone is different and experiences different symptoms, but I don't know who to talk to this time as all of my IVF friends have gone on to have their babies and I'm a bit left behind. (My wife is an amazing shoulder to lean on but hasn't experienced any of this herself.)

For context, my wife and I have been trying to have a baby with donor sperm for almost two years now (with my eggs and me carrying). So far we've had 3.5 (one was a double) failed IUIs and we're on our third IVF FET. The first two unfortunately just failed to implant. I've had lots of testing and everything is apparently fine with me (and donor) so it's all very frustrating! I had a community to go through it with to begin with, but as I said they've all moved onto raising their babies now.

Onto my actual question! For those who have had a BFP (particularly after FET, and after unsuccessful attempts but will gladly take responses from anybody!!) how were your symptoms different in the early stages to failed rounds? Or, if you never had a failed round, what were your symptoms? I've had a lot of different sensations in my body this time that I've never felt throughout any of our other attempts, the most recent of which is a dull ache in my lower stomach/upper vagina area. It doesn't feel like period pains, however my period was due a couple of days ago, but I'm on lots of medication for the IVF so it won't come until I stop taking it. Usually, at this point in my unsuccessful cycles, my breasts are hurting so badly and I have horrendous migraines, both distinct signs of AF for me (I get these even when on the medication, just no bleeding until the meds stop). None of that this time though. I am concerned by the dull ache I mentioned though, it's been consistent since yesterday. Last night I had a horrible cramping sensation that I've never experienced before, and since then the persistent dull ache. Has anyone else experienced this?

I'm currently 8DP5DT, but was 7DP when this particular feeling started! Haven't yet tested, we don't let ourselves test until OTD which for us is this coming Monday (the day before my birthday, so hoping for a VERY happy birthday but very scared nonetheless).

Thank you so much in advance and if you read this far you are wonderful!!

hi I am 8 weeks after a fet. I had very few symptoms. I did have tiredness but this may have been due to the medications . I also had sore boobs the day I did the beta test. I do think there is no way of knowing when you are on so many medications. I have quite bad nausea now in the evenings. On my last pregnancies I had no nausea whatsoever. The clinic think it may be due to the estrogen tablets I’m on … I think almost every symptom can be put down to the fet medications so there is no point torturing yourself. I did have a bit of old blood discharge after the fet but the dr who did the get warned me it was a bit traumatic getting the catheter in so it may have been from that as opposed to implantation bleeding. Who knows ? Anyway best of luck with your transfer !

I have everything crossed for you! My first indication with my second FET was that I could smell literally everything. I could tell what people had for breakfast!
My first FET, which was also a success, was literally absolutely nothing. I felt nothing.. except the weird ache you describe! I was sure my period was coming. I didn't get any pregnancy symptoms with herbl until I was 7 weeks and throwing up randomly one morning.

The second I also had that aching, but got the smell first.

Good luck, and well done for waiting for OTD. You're more patient than me. 😂

Also to note, no implantation bleeding here at all. Though a large bleed around 6 weeks with both pregnancies. Due to an SCH.

Ho OP, keeping everything crossed for you.
With both my pregnancies (not FET), I experienced no symptoms at all before I got a BFP. Both times it was just the normal pre-AF feelings that I get every other month but then I missed a period.

Good luck

Sorry, I'm not sure if this is how to reply so hopefully it's right!! This is all super reassuring though, thank you! The aching is just throwing me off sooo much, but I'm glad to hear someone else experienced it and it turned out to be a good sign! Waiting for OTD is such torture isn't it? I think we're just scared from seeing so many not-positives (trying not to put the dreaded other word out into the universe!!) that at this point it's easier for us because we get to live in our bubble of "maybe" that bit longer.

I'm so happy to hear you've had success!! :D

That's the thing, the medications just make it so torturous and confusing! I normally don't symptom spot because I have the same symptoms every time so I know it's the medication, but it's just so different this time it's hard not to!

So excited for you being 8 weeks in though! You'll be holding your baby before you know it 😍

I think a lot of the symptoms with IVF do come down to the medication unfortunately, so it's hard to know if I'd have these kind of feelings if it was a natural pregnancy, although I know even natural ones are so different too! My friend is currently pregnant with her second natural, and she said all of the symptoms I'm having, she's also experiencing, except hers are without medication. So confusing!

Thank you so so much!

It did me, too, especially as I got my positive quite early so had that horrible time of "but what if this is a bad sign!"
It really is, it's all a bit of waiting torture with IVF in general I feel!
I'm waiting for my period to start for a transfer and it's already a nerve wracking process. I hope you get your wonderful birthday! Will be thinking of you.