What was your protocol and timing for medicated FET?

[EliseMac]

Hi Everyone! I hope you are staying cool during this heatwave. 🥵

I am trying to get a better idea of what is involved in a medicated frozen embryo transfer cycle. How many days did you take medication before the procedure? Also, what kind of medications were you on before and after? Specifically, what was the timing from egg collection to FET? Did your doctor have you wait a full period in between? I know everyone is unique but I am trying to get a better sense of things as I head into it this Fall!

xo Elise Mac

[Libsie3103]

Hey, I’ve had various protocols but it will depend on how your body and specifically lining responds. I’ve always struggled with FET as I have a thin lining. My first attempt was 2mg estrogen 3 times a day, then patches were added towards the end. My 2nd attempt was 4mg three times a day with patches and 3rd attempt was Tamoxifen with 4mg 3 times a day and patches. The protocols I have had says that embryo transfer normally takes place between Day 17 and Day 21, starting medication on Day 1.

I’m not sure what you mean about timings from egg collection to FET? Did you have a freeze all cycle? In which case I think you need to have your withdrawal bleed after egg collection and another period before you go again. Hope this helps a bit? xx

[EliseMac in reply to Libsie3103]

Hi Libsie,

Great, thank you so much for this information. This sheds some light on things! We did one successful egg collection (2 PGT/PGD approved blastocysts in the freezer) and are heading into our second collection next week so we can hopefully bank enough to get pregnant a few times. We are aiming to do the transfer as soon as possible after our second egg collection using the one of blastocysts from the first egg collection.

I appreciate the insight on timing. We are trying to change some plans while I wait to hear back from my doctor. IVF is forever hard on planning!

xo Elise Mac

[KiboXX]

Hi EliseMac,

I had my egg collection in November and then my FET in January. I opted for a freeze all cycle as was doing PGS testing. Depending on why you aren’t doing a fresh transfer, your timings between could be different though.

I started on HRT tablets three times a day, had a scan after about 10 days to check my lining was thick enough, started Progesterone that same day and had my transfer 5 days later xx

[EliseMac in reply to KiboXX]

Hi KiboXX,

Thank you for sharing. We have an odd situation as we are doing a second egg collection immediately following our first in order to hopefully bank enough chromosomal and genetically okay blastocysts. We have two viable blastocysts for transfer right now and would like to transfer one of them asap after our second egg collection. Its too bad the medicated FET takes so long, but its of course so worth it if it works 😉

[Jols]

Hi Elise, I did PGT testing in both cycles so between egg collection and transfer it took a month. During this time I was put on the contraceptive pill for 2 weeks then started estrogen on the first day of my period. After that, once the scan showed my uterine lining was thick enough, I was started on the progesterone 5 days prior my 5 day ET (if you do a 3 days one they start your progesterone 3 days prior). Both estrogen and progesterone are continued until 3 months of pregnancy or stopped on OTD if test is negative. Good luck and wish you the best on your cycle

[EliseMac in reply to Jols]

Thank you so much Jols. This is helpful!