Review appointment post failed FET. What to ask?

[thejourney]

My husband and i have now had 4 failed FETs, 2 medicated cycles and 2 natural cycles, all have been top quality blastocytes. I have infertility due to cervical cancer and bilateral salpingectomies but otherwise and fit and healthy and 33yrs old. We have one more frozen day 5 blast, and would be entitled to another egg collection on the NHS.

We have a meeting with our consultant next week, and im hoping for some advice on what questions to ask?

im very open to adoption, and dont want to persevere if its unlikely that this will work for us, but want to know ive given it a good shot, should i be requesting any further investigations or tests?

Thanks.

[Cinderella5]

I think I would ask the consultant what your chances of success are however it's not an exact science of course as they sometimes just don't know why it's not working. You could ask if they would do a hysteroscopy to have a look inside your uterus to check all is ok. However it may just be that there isnt reason that it hasn't worked. I feel that this is just a massive lottery, some of us win...some of us don't! I've had 6 blastocysts put back now and nothing and the last 3 were amazing quality! Perhaps if you message DianeArnold she could give you a list of questions that you could ask?!xx

[thejourney in reply to Cinderella5]

Thank you, i will ask about the chances, but as you say i suspect they wont know! i did wonder about a hysteroscopy. its just all so frustrating each time everything looks really promising and yet nothing!

[Cinderella5 in reply to thejourney]

They may not do it but if you don't ask then you don't get! I'm the same, it's very frustrating! Some ladies have had NK cell testing but not all clinics believe in this. Intralipids or steroids are given....you could even ask if you could try gentle steroids without testing.xx

[thejourney in reply to Cinderella5]

I knkw my clinic aaid last time that they dont recommend any add ons as there isnt enough supporting evidence, but i can ask about additional tests.

At our last appointment after our 2nd failed attemps they mentioned surrogacy, which we dont want, but it makes me think that maybe this isnt for us. x

[Cinderella5 in reply to thejourney]

I'm not being funny but I think that's well early and harsh for your clinic to mention surrogacy already!!! I'm not gonna lie, it has crossed my mind....not that we could afford It! A lot of girls haven't been tested for NK cells but they're clinic have let them try prednisone (steroid) Just in case!xx

[Cinderella5 in reply to thejourney]

Actually coagulation tests are a great about as Abaco said. That's one of the few things that showed up for me!xx

[Lizzielizzielizzie]

Maybe you need to go even further and ask for a laparoscopy plus hysteroscopy. There could be endometriosis/fibroids affecting things?

[thejourney in reply to Lizzielizzielizzie]

I did wonder about that, ive had a previous stenosis of my cervix post my original surgery, and i have an endometrioma on my ovary (identified on MRI, i have had no symptoms), but i guess there could be further damage!

[Lizzielizzielizzie in reply to thejourney]

Might be worth getting it removed if possible? There’s some Canadian research suggesting removal of even very slight endometriosis can improve natural pregnancy rates (and this was endo which was not blocking anything). I know it’s not natural pregnancy but worth considering. Did your stenosis get sorted out?

[Lizzielizzielizzie in reply to Lizzielizzielizzie]

endometriosis-uk.org/sites/...

[Cinderella5]

Oh advertising to take advantage of vulnerable people is so nice!!

[Cinderella5]

Amy, you'll find there are a few agencies trying to take advantage of our situation....namely in the Ukraine....please ignore their comments or report them for advertising! Others will join me in this advice!!xx

[Hidden in reply to Cinderella5]

I've reported too. xx

[Cinderella5 in reply to Hidden]

Make me so angry!! Picked the wrong person with me tonight!👊👊xxx

[hoping-for-the-best in reply to Cinderella5]

It’s disgusting isn’t it? Hopefully they will be blocked by admin. In the meantime, report, report, report! Xxx

[thejourney in reply to hoping-for-the-best]

i have no plans to go abroad, and dont worry i wont be drawn in by advertising, but will report as somebody might be! as if this isnt challenging enough!

[Cinderella5 in reply to thejourney]

They're gone!xx

[Lizzielizzielizzie in reply to Cinderella5]

Hurrah!

[Cinderella5 in reply to Lizzielizzielizzie]

Can you believe they had the brazen face to report me for abuse?! Hilarious!xx

[Lizzielizzielizzie in reply to Cinderella5]

I got blocked once after reporting lots of people- fertility UK realised the mistake and quickly reinstated me! They have a hard job! I do dislike these advertisers, it seems such a lowlife thing to do... to lie and take advantage of women in our position.

[Cinderella5 in reply to Lizzielizzielizzie]

I know, Diane knew it wasnt me that was the pest thankfully and yes they do have a hard job getting rid of these parasites, they always seem to come back!xx

[Abaco]

here are some of the tests my clinic have requested. I've had 2 fet's one resulted in a bfn the other in a chemical. Hysteroscopy(removed a fibroid) vitamin D test (I was deficient) immunology tests ( 2 results outside of perimeters) and the latest tests alloimmune, anticoagulability and kyrotype for husband. I second what Cinderella5 says though it is a massive lottery! All the very best to you x

[thejourney in reply to Abaco]

i take vitamin D so should be fine on that front, but will do some research into the other tests, i suspect a hysteroscopy may benefit as i do have an endometrioma on my ovary. Just need to decide how much more to put myself through!

[Abaco in reply to thejourney]

Yes that's the hard part, how much are we willing to put our bodies through. My doctor has told me I may need more aggressive immune meds next time, I already feel like Im rattling with the amount I'm taking each transfer cycle! All the very best to you x

[thejourney in reply to Abaco]

i know, the hormones are enough to deal with!

[Abaco in reply to thejourney]

And that's a completely different ball game!!

[Aleelilook]

Hi Amy, sorry to hear about your journey, it’s so tough. I’ve had 3 failed transfers and 2 miscarriages and like you wanted some kind of test to see what the hell is going on! I’m having an endometrial biopsy to test receptivity and implantation, I’ve put more info on my profile but might be worth asking them about it. Good luck to you and your partner xxx

[thejourney in reply to Aleelilook]

thank you, ive not heard of that- will do some research!

[DianeArnold Partner Nurse Fertility Network UK]

Hi amy_c. If you email me at [e-mail] in confidence, I can send you a couple of lists of questions for you to look through. Diane

[thejourney in reply to DianeArnold]

Thanks Diane, I have just emailed you.

[DianeArnold Partner Nurse Fertility Network UK in reply to thejourney]

Hi. Will sort it out on Friday for you. Diane