I know it's hard, but I always felt that chemicals were a sign that your body is at least trying!
As it was a PGS tested embryo, there are a couple of things I would ask about checking;
1) the timing - if you're transferring to early or too late and missing the window of implantation then it may try to implant but just not be able to carry on. You can do an ERA test to check this (I did and mine was out by 24 hours).
2) Your immune response. Your body has to lower it's own immune system in order to accept 50% foreign DNA (your OH sperm) and it does that naturally normally. However for us IVF-ers, sometimes our levels are raised or they don't lower enough - and a low dose steroid can help your body do that.
3) Check progesterone levels - it's important that they are high enough during your 2WW
4) Blood clotting - you can test for Thrombophilia which means that your blood flow to your uterus isn't good enough. Blood thinners can help with this.
Thank you, I’ve been trying to jot down as much as I can think of. I had progesterone checked before transfer but not in the 2ww maybe they should check that next time incase it needs increased. I’m going to look up the era just now. I am on prednisolone and clexane but maybe not enough. This process is nuts xxx hope you are good xxx
It sure is nuts! I think for us, combining a PGS tested embryo, with prednisolone (and clexane) plus the correct ERA timing was the winning formula. It's a process of elimination I think... xx
Can I ask how much clexane and prednisolone were you on? I’m on clexane 40 once a day and prednisolone 10mg ( it was 4 tablets for 4 days before transfer then down to 1 tablet) Then 800 cyclogest and 25 prolutex xxx
Yes, the same clexane dose (although it was Inhixa brand), but I was on 20mg prednisolone 6 days before transfer, then up to 11 weeks (then tapered off). I also had an intralipid infusion the day before transfer. I was on 1200 cyclogest (3 a day) & 2 x lubion injections too. Was like a pin cushion!! xx
Wow that’s heaps. How did they know to put you on soo much progesterone? I do wonder if mine isn’t quite high enough. Thank you for your help. What’s an intralipid infusion? We live in Scotland which is a nightmare to get tests but doing ivf in Spain xxx even trying to get a blood test at home is a pain so trying to do everything we can before going home xxx
Yes it is a lot! Historically I've always had low progesterone during transfers (and I used to have spotting before my periods which also indicated that my body didn't make it well enough either on it's own). But each transfer I'd have a blood test and each time it would be low. So they always gave me a high dose, then upped it on the day after transfer when invariably the results would be low again....
They were initally created for immunotherapy in cancer but a side affect was the lowering of the immune system - so began using it in fertility treatment.
The jury is very much out on whether it makes a difference or not but it was £250 for the one, so thought might as well throw everything at it!
Hi Millbanks, did you continue with intralipids after a positive pregnancy test? I’d heard you’re supposed to have one before transfer and then at 8,12 and 16 weeks xx
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