Repeated implantation failure.

[Rainbowhope]

I just wanted to start off by saying sorŕy for all my recent posts. My 5th failure has really impacted me hard and I'm finding it hard to find a way forward.

My clinic emailed me and basically said have another go. That's it. They offered no other real options or insight.

I am now looking for alternatives clinic who people have achieved success with after suffering repeated implantation failure. Please respond if you can help. I am desperate to find a way forward and am praying you lovely people can help me.

Also if anyone has had success after repeated implantation failure (I had 4 implantation failure and 1 CP) PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE share your stories. I am desperate to know I'm still in with a chance.

Thanking you in advance and wishing everyone baby dust. X

[gemmy999]

Hi, I am so sorry to hear about your BFN’s from RIF 😢 I hope you have lots of support and love around you. I am currently 11 weeks pregnant from our 5th fresh IVF cycle. I’m nearly 41 so our egg numbers were never great. Before the last cycle I had a polyp removed. That was the only thing they could find. They kept telling me it’s probably my age and egg quality. I went on DHEA and Melatonin. We had our 5th cycle as our last go! And our little fighter is doing well so far 🤞🏻 Consultants advised me it was sometimes just perseverance. Unfortunately money doesn’t always allow that. DE would have been our next step as this would have increased our chances from 15% to 60%. We did change clinics after cycle 2 and had a better response due to the higher does drugs they offered. Have you had a scratch? It’s such a tough time. I hope you can come to a decision of what to do next that you feel happy with. Take time. Hopefully my story can give you some hope. Take care xx

[Rainbowhope in reply to gemmy999]

Thank you so much to responding. My last two attempts were with donor eggs. I am 37 and happy to admit my eggs are crappy. The first donor round resulted in CP and the last was BFN. I'm thinking of trying a fresh donor cycle next. I'm wondering if maybe my husband's sperm needs so work. I had a scratch once but it didn't help. I'm also considering embryo donation but husband isn't happy with this idea. Maybe I need a surrogate but I don't think I can afford this.

Congratulations on being pregnant. X

[gemmy999 in reply to Rainbowhope]

Sounds like you are looking at all the options available. It’s good to talk it all over. It will be your time soon. 🤗 x

[Rainbowhope in reply to gemmy999]

I'm really hoping do. My mind has wondered into such dark places recently. I am planning to leave the country if it doesn't work for us. I just want to live somewhere far away from everything and everyone.

[gemmy999 in reply to Rainbowhope]

I hope you can get some help through your clinic/counselling? X

[Cinderella5]

Its a really rough journey when you seem to be getting nowhere fast. We did the same as you and moved to DE after 2xBFN, not an easy decision in itself....wanted to give ourselves the best shot. We of course knew there are no guarantees but we were still fed up after having excellent quality embryos fail - even our consultant was shocked. So after 2 OE BFN and 2 DE BFNs (having tweaked things along the way) we eventually got a BFP. Sadly it still wasnt our baby and we lost it and got a CP on next but it did spur us on a little that it can be done. What meds have you tried already? I had a hysteroscopy to check all was well in my uterus. My clinic through time have put me on clexane (blood thinners), added in prednisolone at my request (clinic wasnt convinced this would help) and we also moved to having me on 6 full days of progesterone instead of 5 incase we were missing my implantation window. The last 2 changes were done with the BFP's so perhaps it was luck but I think it was down to both. We now think that my progesterone levels on pessaries are too low to sustain a pregnancy (this can also cause CP and implantation failure). The clinic have me on pessaries (cyclogest 400 twice a day) and lubion injection every second day for this cycle and we will test levels on transfer day if still not high enough. Im still in prep at the moment so no answers as of yet but something to think about. Hugs, its one hell of a shit journey doing this.xxx

[Rainbowhope in reply to Cinderella5]

Hi hun. Thanks for your detailed response of what you did. My clinic have been kind of stubborn in saying that they won't give me presnisolone or any blood thinner. They wouldn't even test my progestrone before transfer for some reason. I never did well with pesseries so I have lubion injections daily as well as Lentogest top ups ever 2 days. I haven't bleed while using this medication so I assume my progestrone levels are good. I have asked for a ERT test and I am also interested in having a laparoscopy because I have endometriosis and I wonder if this is impacting implantation.

[Scarlett13 in reply to Rainbowhope]

I thought I was ok on lubion because I didn’t bleed early on it like I did with pessaries...but when my levels were finally tested for transfer 7, my progesterone level on lubion was very low! I then switched to prontogest intra muscular injections straight after transfer and my levels increased hugely and I’m now 20 weeks pregnant. I keep banging on about progesterone don’t I but I’m sure it was the key for me x

[Rainbowhope in reply to Scarlett13]

Hi Scarlett13

In my first NHS round my levels of progestrone were checked on the day of transfer. I went home and they called me back one days later to say my progestrone was slightly low and I should increase pesseries. I bleed before OTD. Since reading your post I asked my clinic to test my levels but they flat out refused saying my progestrone levels were god because I hadn't bleed and because I was using progestrone intetamuscler injections every two days. I was made to feel slightly stupid and annoying for asking for my levels to be checked when there position was that simply can't be the issue. But I think I've always had a slight problem with progestrone absorption. If I haven't already asked please can u pm me your clinic because we feel we are ready to move on. I'm so happy that your pregnant I pray you have a successful journey to motherhood. It gets so hard when u have repeated implantation failure, even with DE. Your story gives me hope.

[Lavender96 in reply to Rainbowhope]

I’m in the same boat with my clinic at the moment. When I raised the issue of progesterone they refused to even review what I was took. I’ve asked if I can up my dose, take it for longer or just simply have my levels checked to see if they are ok on my next transfer, and they flat out refused to do any of those. Had the same exact response as you. It’s so frustrating, I really felt like I was being fobbed off. I’m considering asking if my doctor will check my levels for me next time x

[Cinderella5 in reply to Rainbowhope]

So annoying when the clinics wont just do a simple blood test. My NHS clinic made me feel stupid when I wanted my levels checked as I was bleeding 7dp5dt for the second cycle in a row - "it cant possibly be too low". Well it must have been as Ive been on a higher dose for my DE cycle and my last results were only 19nmol/l which is way low. Sometimes we just know our bodies! I didnt bleed until further down the line so I wouldnt take that as a given that your levels were ok. Endometriosis is definitely something to look into and an ERA is worth a bash although all of which cost. I had to almost beg for prednisolone....or at least push really hard for it. My consultant said there was no evidence that it helps but if I really wanted it then I could try it.....bingo thank you very much! I had seen so many ladies on here get BFP's after giving it a go and I got a BFPs after taking it, concidence....who knows but Im not changing now to find out. Are you in the UK as you can buy this over the counter in Europe and its not expensive.....that was my intention - not that I would tell you to self medicate of course but you know what I mean! Best of luck to you, I hope you find something to tweak.xx

[Rainbowhope in reply to Cinderella5]

Hi Cinders

Hope your doing okay with the 2ww. I'm really praying for you. I am going to insist on using presnisolone in my next cycle. Can I ask when u started taking it and what dose you took please. If the clinic refuses I will have to take matters in my own hands. Do you know of any research I can use to present to my clinic to get them to try this.

[Cinderella5 in reply to Rainbowhope]

Of course...so I'm on 20mg for 4 days before transfer (10mg morning and night) and drop down to 10mg in the morning daily. You must minimise salt and sugar whilst taking it. As I said my consultant said there isnt much evidence to support but loads of ladies here have had success. I can give you a fee named of ladies here if that helps?! Also see story below.xxx

bournhall.co.uk/your-storie...

[Hidden]

So sorry your last cycle was a BFN so heartbreaking.

Never be sorry for posting we all know just how difficult this journey is.

My own infertility was caused by endometriosis it made my uterus lining uneven & hostile environment for an embryo & implantation was impossible till I had it diagnosed & treated. I was 37 having my daughter so you are not too old!

Have you had a laparoscopy & hysteroscopy? The lap can check / treat endometriosis ( it’s the only way to rule out /diagnose endometriosis) & a hysteroscopy can look into your uterus in more detail & can treat any abnormalities at the same time.

Have you had your TSH checked? For general health under 5 is normal but for fertility it should be under 2. Most GPS don’t know this. It’s easily fixed.

Have you had NK cells tested? If you are check which one your clinic prefers as my FS preferred the biopsy & I had the blood test which showed raised NK cells so he allowed me to have prednisone from a BFP till 12 weeks. Some clinics will allow you to take prednisone without testing again enquire. The tests can be pretty expensive.

Did they check your progesterone during your cycles as some ladies require stronger progesterone medication.

Lots of clinics offer free open evenings you can attend so worth looking around.

I’m so glad I had a change of clinic ( LONG story!)

Anyway wishing you all the best & I hope you can get some answers xxx

[kitscat in reply to Hidden]

This is so useful. Thanks x

[Rainbowhope in reply to Hidden]

Hi jess1981

I have been told I have endometriosis but been provided with no information about how this could impact my implantation. I have a chocolate cyst on my right ovary. I am very interested in moving to a clinic which will do a lap and hyst. Please can you private message me which clinic you used. I think I've come to the end of the road with my clinic because they emailed me today and recommended that I just try again without making any changes.

I had my thyroid checked and it was below 2 for every cycle. For the last cycle I had to be on medication for this.

I had NK Cells tested by biopsy and they were both low. They told me they had no real recommendations for low and reassured me low is better than high.

My current clinic wouldn't check my progestrone before transfer. I also had to transfer when my lining was only 7. I think this had an impact.

Thanks so much for your advice. Please pm me the name of your clinic

[Scarlett13 in reply to Rainbowhope]

I got my laparoscopy done on the nhs and had mild endo ablated before starting ivf x

[Rainbowhope in reply to Scarlett13]

Hi Scarlett

So I've been thinking about your message all day and I now feel sure that I need to be on intramuscular injections instead of lubion. Pesseries never worked for me. Can you please tell me what research you used or know of which I can present to my clinic. I know i will have a batle wirh them but i only have one donor embryo ledt so i will give it my best. I have used intramuscular injections every two days. Did you have intramuscular daily for 12 weeks? What dose did you have?

[Scarlett13 in reply to Rainbowhope]

I didn’t do any research as the clinic suggested prontogest for me, so I did one injection every day until the scan at week 7, then introduced pessaries too, 2 in morning and 2 in evening, as well as the injections, and then weaned off everything slowly by week 13. Not sure of dosage? Think it just comes in one dose? Good luck! Fight for what you believe in xx

[Peony85]

Hi, have you had the EndomeTRIO test? I had this recently after my implantation failures and the EMMA test which is part of it and tests microbiome showed I had zero lactobacillus. There is data showing that lactobacillus dominated (>90%) have significantly better pregnancy outcomes - so I was really off! I also had a high percentage of a bacteria that is linked to inflammation which also isn’t good. So I am now on antibiotics followed by probiotics to sort it. Wishing you all the best xx

[Rainbowhope in reply to Peony85]

Thanks so much for this. I've only recent heard of ERT tests. I will ask for EMMA test too. I think I need a lap ad hyst to examine my endometrial lining. I have endometriosis but haven't been given any information or treatment about this.