Experiences of successful pregnancy after failed attempts with a scratch/glue

Hi all,

I have a FET planned for end of Aug, as it's my 6th attempt after a MMC and 2 chemical pregnancies. I'm considering all of my options this time around and as part of my plan are having additional progesterone and clexane and I already take steroids and have intralipids.

I am considering having a scratch and glue,however as I'm on furlough I'm weighing up with the additional financial cost is worth it?

I would welcome your views xx

[FrancyItaly]

I’m so sorry to hear about your loss, I had a missed miscarriage too and it was heartbreaking. Sorry I can’t help with your question but would you mind telling what are the steroid and intralipids for? I wish you a successful 6th round! x

[Hidden in reply to FrancyItaly]

Thankyou for your response, I had a chicago blood test about 2 years ago which highlighted potential immune issues which is why my clinic suggested intralipids and steroids, I've since changed my diet and have been exercising more to try and improve my immune system xx

[FrancyItaly in reply to Hidden]

I had those tests too and some levels are higher than usual. They said I could take 2 doses of Humira but I’m not very keen on that. They said I can always Have intralipids when I get pregnant. Is your clinic in London? x

[Hidden in reply to FrancyItaly]

What does Humira do? My clinic recommend intralipid 1 week before transfer and another a week afterwards and then more up until 12 weeks but not sure if I will be able to have it in Sept, will depend on government guidance. My clinic is in Czech Republic

[FrancyItaly in reply to Hidden]

Apparently is meant to lower the level of my cytokines that is a bit higher compared to the normal range. My clinic is a big supporter of these immune treatments apparently. All the best for your next round and I hope to hear good news from you! x

[Hidden in reply to FrancyItaly]

Oh ok, I might look into that aswell,do you mind me asking if it's expensive and do you get in on prescription? My clinic are to which is good as I know some clinics aren't but I've done a lot of research on it and it makes sense.

Thankyou for your best wishes x

[Ivfgotadream]

My clinic doesn’t offer them - they are pretty upfront About not offering extras they don’t think are worth the money or have much evidence of making a difference (what does the HFEA website say about them - I know they code extras red/amber/green depending on if studies suggest they work?)

To be honest I’m currently 8 weeks with twins on my 4th transfer and this was the transfer I did the least - only doing clexane and progesterone- nothing else as clinic strict about giving any immune system protocols due to covid. Also no acupuncture etc. And it worked? So who knows?

[Hidden in reply to Ivfgotadream]

It's hard to know isn't it what works and what doesn't?? Congrats on your pregnancy with twins, amazing news.

I'm having accupuncture beforehand and also going to try hypnosis/cbt and have changed my diet so hopefully this will help. I did look on the HFEA website a few wks ago and it was amber and intralipids was a red so who knows? Xx

[KiboXX]

Hi Clairenix,

I think the majority of clinics now say that scratches aren’t worthwhile and more recent research shows they don’t increase success rates so I would personally avoid those.

My new clinic doesn’t offer many add ons. If they think something is worth doing, they include it as standard in all cycles. Glue is one of those things so I had it on my successful FET. I think clinics that do charge for it, it’s normally one of the less costly things so I’d be inclined to give it a go!

Good luck ❤️ xxx

[Hidden in reply to KiboXX]

Thankyou for your message, I know there have been mixed reviews,my clinic don't usually recommend it but they said it may work because of my repeated failures so I might be inclined just to give the glue a go, I am waiting for an appointment through NHS for a hysteroscopy but due to COVID they haven't been doing them so may not have in time for this cycle.

Congratulations on your successful FET xx

[Cinderella5]

Hi Claire, I know we had a chat about this before...however the results from a big study performed in the UK by Sheffield was recently published/shared at the ESHRE conference and it shows no improvement to the birth rate after having a scratch. I know this is re first timers but I would think that if no benefit for first timers then it probably doesnt help with us veterans! xx

nihr.ac.uk/news/new-researc...

[Hidden in reply to Cinderella5]

Hello lovely thankyou so much for sharing the link with me,I will have a read through. Hope your ok and will drop you a message tomorrow to see how your getting on xxx

[Kitty230515]

Hi, I’ve had the scratch and glue on all three of my IVF treatments.

The consultant did only recommend the scratch because of my endometriosis and adenomyosis, If it wasn’t for the fact that I have them then he wouldn’t have recommended it.

The glue came as standard with my access packages, so we went with that.

I’ve had two positive pregnancy tests, but both ended in MMC.

Now on the TWW after our third and final attempt xx

[Hidden in reply to Kitty230515]

Thankyou for your response and sorry to hear about your MMC's it really is heartbreaking and I wish you all the best for this transfer, hope your not going too crazy on the 2ww xx

[Florencenightingale]

I've only had one round (private) had a scratch and been successful....but studies suggest theres little evidence of the scratch being beneficial. However, I had to give it my all..mine was about £200 extra I think xx

[Hidden in reply to Florencenightingale]

Thank you for messaging me, I've also read various studies that don't show a huge amount of success. Great news that you have been successful xx

[Lavender96]

Hi Claire, I can’t comment on a scratch, however I did have a successful transfer using embryo glue. Unfortunately I did miscarry, but this was at 11 weeks and therefore I don’t think any reflection on the use of the glue. My clinic used it as standard so they must believe it has some benefit. I’ll def be checking they use again on my next FET xx

[Hidden in reply to Lavender96]

I am so sorry that you had to go through a miscarriage,its one of the most difficult experiences of my life. Have you got another FET booked in? Xx

[Lavender96 in reply to Hidden]

Aww thank you, I’m so sorry you’ve had such a difficult journey and had to go through it as well. It’s an such an awful experience, focusing on my next cycle is what got me through it really. I’ve started my meds for my FET but my scan this week showed my lining wasn’t thick enough. It’s a recurring problem for me, never made it to a frozen transfer yet, had my all my attempts cancelled. They’re letting me stay on the meds for another week so hoping it will improve🤞🏼 xx

[Hidden in reply to Lavender96]

That must be really frustrating, hopefully the extended meds will do the trick and I wish you all the very best of luck xx