It's been a while...💖 Back on the rollercoaster! 🎢Any FET advice for returning to IVF please 🍀🤞 x

[Kat9lives]

Hello ladies

I was first here in 2014, TTC for a while before turning too IVF.

I have PCOS and risk of OHSS and hub low sperm count. TTC naturally didn't happen for us.

Our 1st cycle in 2015 was unsuccessful so we tried ICSI on our 2nd cycle in 2016 and were so lucky to get a BFP. Our beautiful daughter was born in early 2017 and is now 16 months old.

We have 3 blastocysts on ice from cycle 2, and are now thinking about whether we might be able to have a sibling for our daughter. I still have the same fertility issues, and daren't dream that it might be possible to have another child. (We are paying this time for IVF).

We have a consultation at the end of July to go through the next steps, but I would imagine this will be a FET cycle, and that I'll still need to inject hormones/take pills for the womb lining before transfer. My periods are currently bimonthly which is the most frequent they've ever been, and have been for 6 months at least, and are fairly predictable which is amazing.

Thanks to those of you who have read this far! This forum is such a brilliant place for supporting each other and giving useful tips that you might not know from the IVF appointments.

If any of you have any advice on either a FET cycle, returning to IVF or preparing your body/mentally for IVF please do let me know, it'd be much appreciated. 😁

And likewise, if I can help anyone with the process of non FET IVF then please message me. Thanks ladies, baby dust to all 🍀🍀🍀xxx

[Jojo84]

Hi

I also have pcos and Hubby low sperm count. We had to have ivf back in 2013 we were very blessed to have our beautiful baby girl who has just turned 4!

We went for a consultation meeting at our clinic last year about doing FET we still haven’t as im freaking out about it so much this time. I think I buried my head in the sand and as soon as I had my baby I just through myself into motherhood and blocked out how I got there.

Best of luck xxx

[Kat9lives in reply to Jojo84]

Thankyou lovely, it is very daunting isn't it, but we have to keep the hope that it is possible! It sounds like we've done things in a similar way!

I worry that I'm getting older and it will make it harder next time around... But we're very lucky to have a girl each already. Here if you want to talk it through! Xx

[Lizzielizzielizzie]

Fet is much easier than fresh! Ask your clinic what types of fet cycles they offer. There seems to be a natural option (probably not suitable for you as your periods aren’t 28 day regulars), a fully medicated with down regulation and a medicated without down regulation.

I did my fet without down regulation which I was really glad about as it was no injections! However, if your cycles aren’t 28 days they may say that down regulating first is more reliable. I took oestrogen tablets from day 21 then started progesterone pessaries from five days prior to transfer. I then stayed on the oestrogen and progesterone at the same dose until ten weeks after transfer. I am now nearly 17 weeks pregnant. The ten days on just oestrogen was hard, I had side effects, but in the long run, no harder than the sickness and tiredness of early pregnancy!

[Kat9lives in reply to Lizzielizzielizzie]

Thanks Lizzie, that's really helpful.

Congratulations!! I remember the side effects of oestrogen well, and also had sickness during pregnancy from week 12 until week 32... All worth it though! I hope you're not having too much of a rough time of it.

I think I'd be put on the down regs as I was the previous times, and then have a fet cycle... But no idea yet! Hopefully they'll go through it with us at the 1st consultation. Xx

[lianm8]

Just wanted to say welcome back, congratulations on your little girl and wishing you luck for your next round!

I have a little girl from a fet who is now 15 months old and I am currently pregnant again (21+2) from a fresh round!

FET is so much easier - I did a natural fet so just took ovulation tests and when I got my peak called the clinic, went for a scan and transfer was about a week later! I didn’t take any injections or medications etc but that depends on if you are doing natural or medicated.

Have everything crossed for you xx

[Kat9lives in reply to lianm8]

Thanks Lianm8. Wow that's fantastic!! Congratulations!! I hope you're pregnancy is going well xx

[Lynnr54]

Hi, I’m similar to you. I was incredibly lucky to get a BFP from my first fresh round, also with 3 blastos on ice. It’s taken all 3 of those blastos but I’m now 8 weeks pregnant with no. 2. Whilst I think the physical process has been easier with the FET I personally have found the mental process harder. I initially got a BFP from my first FET but unfortunately it was a chemical pregnancy and it really knocked me and my outlook. In theory they use your best embryos first so when the first 2 failed at one point I was convinced the third one had no chance as in theory it was a worse quality than the ones that had failed. But thankfully I was wrong. So even if you’re not successful first time, keep hope that one of those lovely Frosties can make it x

[Kat9lives in reply to Lynnr54]

Thanks for the advice Lynn, it sounds like you've had a tough time of it. Huge congratulations on your pregnancy!

We had our daughter on the 2nd cycle of IVF so we're very lucky but the feeling of disappointment when the first didn't work was immense. I think that's what I'm worried about most, we have 3 frosties but that we won't necessarily be as lucky this time around. Got to keep positive 😁 xx

[Lynnr54 in reply to Kat9lives]

One thing which really has been apparent to me - pregnancy symptoms this time round are completely different to last time. I keep/kept comparing to last time and saying this did/didn’t happen during my successful cycle - it must be a good/bad sign. Totally wrong so don’t read anything into any signs or symptoms. Massive luck! x

[Macca13]

Welcome back and congratulations on your little lady. Best of luck for your next round xx

[Kat9lives in reply to Macca13]

Thankyou lovely. Xx