Natural or Medicated FET ? Advice please ladies ..

[Amelia1984]

Hello 👋

We’re currently needing to make the decision whether to go for a natural or medicated FET and finding it really difficult to know what’s best.

Had 6 failed IUIs, first IVF 1 fresh AA embryo transferred ended in a cervical ectopic, second IVF 1 fresh AA & second (not fully expanded) embryos transferred, resulted in negative test. Devastating.

Picked ourselves back up again and got a BA frozen embryo waiting to hopefully make our baby 👶🏻 🤞🏻I’m just so unsure which route to go down, I feel my body deserves a natural cycle. I have regular periods and ovulate. But then I know having a mediated gives full control. This will be my first FET.

Any advice please ladies would be greatly appreciated. Did you struggle with this decision?

Wishing you all luck 💫 on your baby journeys...

[London1978]

I did a natural one the first time and then a medicated one the next time as my period went awol. I think if you are regular then my clinic suggests you use your natural cycle. They monitor you in exactly the same way, also I do not think there is any medical evidence to suggest one is better than the other. Medicated helps those who periods are irregular.

[Amelia1984 in reply to London1978]

Thank you 🙏 for your message.

Yes our clinic also said there was no evidence to suggest one is better than the other. Did you trigger on your medicated FET?

[London1978 in reply to Amelia1984]

I can’t remember clearly but I don’t t think I did- the only time I’ve triggered is when I was doing a cycle. Good luck with whatever you choose and go for what feels right for you at the time.

[Amelia1984 in reply to London1978]

Thank you 🙏 🙂

[Olivia11]

My first cycle I had one fresh transfer which resulted in bfn followed by natural FET which was also negative. I used to have regular periods but do remember feeling at the time of the natural FET that I had missed the boat. I remember feeling that my period was about to arrived and so I called my doctor before the transfer asking if it was a good idea to transfer. With the second cycle, my doctor said he wants to do a medicated fet and I am now 7 weeks pregnant. My scan is on Monday so fingers crossed. I guess I feel like it's more controlled. Plus I should add that since the second cycle, my period has been a bit all over the place so for me medicated was the way forward. Good luck!!

[Amelia1984 in reply to Olivia11]

Thank you for sharing you experience with me and a big congratulations on your pregnancy! Good luck on your scan, I’m sure it will go well 🙂

[HanRum]

After having multiple failed IVF fresh and frozen transfers I tried a natural round and this is the one that worked. I liked the idea of using as little drugs as possible. So I would now always opt for natural, it just just mean you have to be more flexible on scam dates and visits to the clinic as I had to go in more often. Wishing you the best of luck xxx

[Amelia1984 in reply to HanRum]

Thank you 🙏 Did you have a 3 or 5 day embryo transferred? I’m so glad to hear it finally worked for you 🙂

I’m really unsure what to do and feel that it’s one of those crossroad decisions, where my decision will be the difference between it working or not. 🤦🏻‍♀️ Its never easy is it.

Thanks again for sharing x

[HanRum]

*scan

Also forgot to same I have regular periods which does make a difference as easier to track. Xx

[Rachie-baby]

I think with so much of this there is no right answer, just a decision to be made. Our second attempt was a FET with 2 embryos in a natural cycle because my cycles were regular. Was nice not to have to take all the drugs, gave my body a break. We were successful and baby is due in 2 weeks.

So much good luck to you xx

[Amelia1984 in reply to Rachie-baby]

Congratulations! And not long to wait now until you meet your baby, so exciting 🙂

I agree it’s like there is no right or wrong answer here, but I feel it’s a crossroad moment and the decision I make could impact a positive or negative outcome 🤦🏻‍♀️

We’re your embryos 5 day ones, and did they go back in 5 days after ovulation?

Thank you for the luck, I feel I need all the luck we can get 🙂

All the best with the arrival of your little one 👶🏻 xx

[Rachie-baby in reply to Amelia1984]

Whatever decision you make will be right for you, you just have to believe you’re making the best choices based on the info you have at the time. It’s all you can do. Our bigger decision was actually whether to go frozen or have another fresh cycle. We agonised over that. The clinic basically recommended a natural cycle for popping them back in so this decision was easy for us.

Yes, our embryos were day 5, put back in 5 days after. Hard to believe after all of this that we’ll finally have a little baby. Miracles do happen!

Keeping everything crossed for you xx

[Amelia1984 in reply to Rachie-baby]

Thank you 🙏

Indeed miracles do happen and thank you for sharing with me.

All the very best for your new arrival soon 👶🏻💫 xx

[Jojo1812]

I've had 1 medicated FET which resulted in a BFN and 1 natural FET, currently in the 2ww. I can't help but feel that it was too late in my cycle when they put it in, but they're the experts I guess. I tracked my ovulation and had transfer 6 days after ovulation had happened.

Sorry not really much help but thought I'd share with you. Good luck whatever you choose x

[Amelia1984 in reply to Jojo1812]

Thank you for sharing with me. May I ask why you opted for a natural this time, was it because the medicated FET hadn’t worked for you so you’d thought you’d try a natural?

Try not too worry, I’m sure they put your embryo in at the right time for you. May I ask how many scans you had during this cycle?

I hope you’re 2WW is going as well as they can and really hope you get your positive! 💫

[Jojo1812 in reply to Amelia1984]

I didn't ask for the natural cycle, the Dr at the clinic suggested I had it due to having 2 unsuccessful fresh rounds and 1 unsuccessful medicated FET. This round is our last chance i have no more frosties left.

I didn't have any scans or blood tests at all this time. The clinic I'm with don't seem to scan on natural cycle, or it could possibly be so that they reduce the amount of people who are going to the clinic while the pandemic is about. He just scanned the lining on the day of transfer and said it was thick and healthy.

I did have an endometrial scratch, which I did last time too. But there isn't much evidence of it helping, but thought seen as its my last go I may as well try x

[Amelia1984 in reply to Jojo1812]

Awe okay thank you for explaining. That’s good that they checked your lining before the transfer and it was thick and healthy.

Very best of luck to you! Really hope this one has stuck for you x

[rainbow_123]

We've just had to make this decision and it's really difficult since there are pros and cons to both. Our clinic pushed for medicated over natural even though I have regular periods. They said natural requires more scans and blood tests to track ovulation and there's a chance that transfer day could fall on a weekend which would mean we need to wait another cycle as they don't open on Sundays. They're also unable to scan over a weekend due to staffing because of covid so makes it more difficult to track. Medicated gives them a window of a few days to transfer as they have control of the cycle, less scans and blood tests involved. We agreed to try medicated this time but I still don't feel certain it was the right choice. I'm just hoping for the best.

Good luck with your transfer whichever decision you make. X

[Amelia1984 in reply to rainbow_123]

Thanks for sharing your decision, it’s really tricky isn’t it and ultimately there’s no right or wrong answer, it’s just what feels best. That’s the part I’m really unsure about. I know our clinic do transfers 7 days a week, so we don’t have that obstacle. I would flip a coin but we’ve done that in the past (5 flips, tails each time 😂) but we still didn’t get our positive. So not leaving it to the coin again ☺️

I wish you the very best and hope you get your positive this time, keep believing 💫 x

[Donita33]

Hi Amelia1984, sorry you had to go through these but I believe God will open doors and make it happen for you. My experience is that I had first natural fresh FET which resulted to ectopic pregnancy second one failed .

After failing I had my tubes checked as the Doctor suspected they r damage he open them through Dye then now third one was frozen embryo which he suggested to be medicated though I have my period regularly but think with medicated he was able to be in control and now am 9 weeks and 6 days pregnant.

Maybe you give it a trial to medicated one has they will be able to monitor your body and your given medication for your lining. Have got three different medication both for lining.

Lubion injections, cyclogest and progonova.

Also have faith and listen to your spirit as you make choices and believe this time it will work.

Love and hugs to you.

[Amelia1984 in reply to Donita33]

Thank you for your lovely message and a big congratulations on your pregnancy 🙂 Each time I put a lot of believing and positivity into our treatment, I’m an optimistic person. Sadly this time after our 8th treatment I feel my belief fade.. dramatically. Slowly starting to feel stronger again and determined again, not to give up yet. We so long for our baby.

I wish you a wonderful pregnancy x

[Claire_1]

Hi Amelia, I’ve had 7 medicated transfers and on my 8th they suggested natural. I wasn’t hopeful but agreed as felt I had tried everything and I’m now pregnant with twins. So for me natural worked but it could also have been luck after so many attempts! Good luck x

[Amelia1984 in reply to Claire_1]

What fantastic news! That’s wonderful 🙂 and so happy it worked for you finally, you deserve it!

What main differences did you notice from doing your medicated FET to then your natural? Did you have a 5 day embryo transferred? And was this put in 5 days after your second day surge?

(Sorry for all the questions!)

Very best of luck to you on a wonderful pregnancy x

[Claire_1 in reply to Amelia1984]

Just how much easier natural was, no injections/tablets etc and it was so much quicker than medicated. I had 2 x 5 day embryos transferred. I only had 2 scans to check my lining and had to take ovulation tests from day 13 of my cycle, I ovulated day 14 and the transfer was done 5 days after. I’ve been taking 1 progesterone a day since the transfer but that’s it. For me It was a much less stressful process than the medicated, mentally and physically. It’s a tough decision especially when you’ve spent every other transfer taking more and more medication to try and make it work. The thought of taking nothing and doing it naturally, I didn’t expect it to work but I’d tried everything else and felt I had nothing to lose. Wishing you all the luck in the world xx

[Amelia1984 in reply to Claire_1]

Thank you, yes the idea of no drugs does seem very appealing, especially as I have had so many stimulated treatments in such a short space of time really. No drugs I hope would be a relief on my body. I feel my body wants a baby, having fallen pregnant with our first IVF, and my progesterone levels are always good, as is my lining on all my scans each treatment. So feel I’m possibly suited to a natural FET, but then I always doubt myself .. if only there was a magic wand to tell us the right way.

Everyone’s response to this post has massively helped me and learning individual cases gives me a better understanding of it all really. I thank you all massively !!

All the very best to you and your twins 👶🏻👶🏻 xx

[EL7815]

I’m just about to start my 1st natural FET (my first ICSI fresh failed). I was given the option of fresh and medicated and it was up to me to decide. I went for natural because a) it was cheaper! and b) I prefer to take as little medicine as possible. Obviously meds are inevitable with IVF but I have regular cycles so thought I would give it a go. We also have 4 embryos in the freezer so that did help me decide to do a natural because if it doesn’t stick, I have another opportunity & could try a medicated if I wanted/needed to. It’s not an easy decision to make, but just do whatever you feel most comfortable with. I have all my fingers crossed for you that your embaby sticks whichever way you decide! 💕

[Amelia1984 in reply to EL7815]

Thank you for your lovely message and good luck with your natural FET . That’s good that you have more frozen embryos as back up, but hopefully you don’t need them this time and you have a successful cycle 💫

It is a tricky decision, I feel I’m leaning slightly more towards a natural FET at the moment and as we can’t go until my October period (due to the clinic being booked) I’m thinking that will give me two more cycles to check everything as normal as possible for me. I’ve only had one bleed since our negative IVF, due my next in a few days. I’m contemplating doing the ovulation sticks both cycles too so I’m in practise (as never had to do these except one time I tired a natural IUI).

All the very best for you and I hope everything goes to plan and smoothly for you x

[Gueritarubia]

You already got some really good input here so will keep my reply brief. I just did my fifth FET, previous four all medicated, this natural.

The variation I see with the above, is that my clinic monitored me with scans, but then did let me take a trigger shot (the only drug involved) so they could pick the perfect timing. So they triggered me just before I would’ve naturally ovulated. Sorry to make your head spin, but maybe something to investigate with your clinic...

[Amelia1984 in reply to Gueritarubia]

Yes I’ve had such a positive and greatly appreciated response from everyone 🙂 Thank you 🙏 for adding your experience too, that’s very interesting and definitely something I shall query with my clinic. Is this a common process your clinic recommend or was it specifically for you? Has the cycle been successful for you or you in your 2WW? I hope it’s been successful for you 💫

[Gueritarubia in reply to Amelia1984]

I just had the transfer a few hours ago so too early to tell. Ask me 4 September! 😉

It is my clinic’s way of doing natural cycles. So standard in that regard.

[Amelia1984 in reply to Gueritarubia]

Awe Wow 🤩 that’s exciting ! Sending you lots of positive vibes and I hope to hear the good news on the 4th! 🙂 x

[Gueritarubia in reply to Amelia1984]

Thank you! I’ve become weirdly blasé about these transfers now it’s the fifth attempt. We do celebrate each with cake but somehow I don’t let myself get too excited. I guess a protection mechanism! X

[IvfStruggler]

Hi! It's such a difficult decision. My clinic really pushed me to have a natural FET which I didn't want at all. I must admit it was so easy, quick and cheap (as you don't have to pay for the drugs) in comparison and if you have regular cycles, no problems with spotting, painful or heavy periods then I think a natural cycle is great. But for someone like me who is much happier on the pill and has lots of symptoms of hormonal imbalances or even endometriosis- medicated makes much more sense. The problem with me was that my cycles were relatively regular before starting IVF (although when I stopped the pill for a couple of years 7 years earlier they were a complete mess) and that I only spot when extremely anxious. So on paper natural seemed like a good idea but it was a disaster as I started bleeding just 4 days after transfer. I'm now going to do a medicated cycle with down-regulation. I hope you find the right way for you- good luck! X

[Amelia1984 in reply to IvfStruggler]

It is such a difficult decision and I’m sorry the natural FET didn’t work for you. I hope that your next treatment is a success. Thanks for sharing your story, it’s always good to hear all different experiences women have gone through, it definitely helps in making your own decision I’m finding. Knowing things is better than not knowing I always think ..

Very best of luck to you next time 💫 x