Where to turn next? 4th transfer - BFN

[strawberriesandcream]

Hi ladies, I’ve been absent on here whilst I went through for my fourth transfer. I’ve learnt today that this transfer has failed. Can anyone offer any additional advice on what to try next as I don’t feel I can keep going?

1st transfer - 5AB - BFN - spotting and period before OTD - added in Lubion

2nd transfer - 4BB - BFP - missed miscarriage at 9 weeks after seeing heartbeat

3rd transfer - 3AB - BFN - no spotting but BFN

4th transfer - 4BB/C - BFN - spotting and period before test day

I have taken antibiotics without Alice test as consultant wanted to treat rather than make me pay for the test. I’ve started Metformin this time for PCOS. I am also on blood thinners.

From research all there is left is the Era test but my consultant already puts me on 6 days progesterone. He ruled out immune issues due to previous pregnancy achieving 9 weeks.

I feel lost for options and completely despondent. My eggs were collected at age 34 so for my age, my outcomes have been terrible. If anyone can offer any advice or info on any solutions from here, that would be great.

Thanks

[Millbanks]

Hi lovely, I’m so sorry to see this 💔 it’s heartbreaking I know.

Have you tried PGS testing? Often reasons for miscarrying are genetic issues so perhaps that was what happened to your little bean?

Also immune issues can begin after a pregnancy so it might be worth testing anyway 🤷🏼‍♀️

Your consultant puts you on 6 days of progesterone but you may be post-receptive and actually need less time on it to find the right window…

Have you had your progesterone levels measured? I was on 2 cyclogest and 1 lubion for my 2nd FET and it was still to low. My last one I had 3 cyclogest and 2 lubion. Worth a discussion.

Have you had a look at The Duff website (ivf) - it is an amazing source for all treatments and add ons etc.

Really hope you get some answers soon.

Much love xxx

[strawberriesandcream in reply to Millbanks]

Thanks so much for your reply. We did karotype testing of baby after my miscarriage and it was found to be chromosomally normal which makes me think it’s not the embryos. Will definitely look into testing next them though I think. Also, that’s so helpful about immune issues, I didn’t know that could be the case if you’d have a pregancies! I’ve also achieved a natural pregnancy which was ectopic. It feels more confusing when you can get pregnant.

That’s great advice on the progesterone - I thought I shouldn’t be spotting / bleeding. I bled all through my pregnancy as well.

Sounds like I still have a few things to look into so that’s so helpful thanks xx

[Millbanks in reply to strawberriesandcream]

If you're on Instagram there is a woman called Rachel and her page is called Oxted Acupuncture. She talks a lot about immune issues with fertility - in fact she is the reason I got tested in the first place. Apparently your body can create higher levels of immunity after a pregnancy so it might be worth having a look.Yes it does seem unlikely that it's chromosomal issues then.

Definitely get a higher dose of progesterone - it can make all the difference.

Really hope you get some answers soon my lovely xx

[XOXO13]

I’m really sorry to read of all you’ve been through 💔 sending you big cuddles.

I had a missed miscarriage at 13 weeks in March 2020 after achieving a natural pregnancy, and then a CP with my third transfer. I went on to have immune testing and my NK cells came back very elevated so just because you’ve achieved a pregnancy, doesn’t mean you don’t necessarily need your immunes checking. Miscarriage and recurrent implantation failure are two of the qualifying markers for the immune tests too (it’s a reason I pushed for them).

If my fourth round wasn’t successful, I was going to do PGS testing as like you, I’m young so majority of my embryos should be healthy. It may be worth asking about that?

And I agree with Millbanks about having your progesterone checked too if you haven’t already.

Big hugs xx

[strawberriesandcream in reply to XOXO13]

I didn’t realise that you could have immune issues if you had achieved pregnancy! That’s so helpful to know. Will defo look into progesterone and ask about testing the next batch. All mine had been frozen before so he didn’t want to unfreeze, test and freeze again. We did test the baby following miscarriage and it was chromosonally normal so that one was ok. Thanks so much for the advice xxxx

[Fertilityjourney]

I'm so sorry. Sending you so much love. 💕 xx

[strawberriesandcream in reply to Fertilityjourney]

Thank you lovely ❤️❤️❤️

[Faith103]

This just hit me right in the gut. I am ever so sorry.

I’ve just had a failed attempt with my 4AA. I keep questioning why?! It was a good embryo 🤷‍♀️ sometimes I think there just is no explanation. Just the roll of the dice. All I would say is your body can get pregnant because it’s done it before. Unfortunately this didn’t end well but your body is capable. Which is a huge advantage. Try not to put so much pressure on yourself. I’ve know people not get successful pregnancies until 6/7 attempts even longer.

Thinking off you. I am going to do some shopping today to make myself feel better xxx sending you hugs 🤗

[strawberriesandcream in reply to Faith103]

Yeah I do keep thinking that and I am grateful that I’ve achieved pregnancy. It’s so hard at the same time as it is making this so frustrating. I feel annoyed/angry more than upset now and so confused. I think with this we are always hoping we have found all the answers and there just always seems to be something else. My consultant felt after failure 3 that there was a reason and we found slight insulin resistance and I thought we’d finally cracked it! But then now I’m thinking there must be something else. Yes I’ve seen that for people too, it’s so hard to keep going after so long. I am fortunate to be younger but then that also leaves me feeling really annoyed that my whole 30s so far has had a cloud hanging over. Sorry moan over! So sorry you’ve had failures too, I hope the retail therapy cheered you up! Sending lots of love xxx

[Chel91]

Hi lovely, so sorry to hear you had another BFN 😔 It's so so hard.

I'm at my 5th failed transfer recently and this is where I'm at in terms of learning everything I should / could do. Done ERA, also on metformin (1500mg a day), myo-inositol (4000mg a day). Injectable progesterone in oil during treatments plus pessaries. Done immune testing, they found I'm strongly ANA+ and other things, so very likely an immune component (I had a natural MC pregnancy years ago). Taking prednisone, hydroxychloroquine, intralipids, blood thinners for that.

Now I'm also looking at doing an investigative laproscopy and Hysteroscopy to remove suspected endometriosis, septum check / removal, check for fibroids, scar tissue, adhesions etc. that isn't always seen on scans (my new doctor claims this is where he finds most answers to "unexplained infertility" at this stage). Also going to PGS test this time too.

Hopefully this helps. I was feeling very hopeless also, but I feel much better with the new plan 🤞🏻Best of luck to you with yours, stay strong 💕 xx

[strawberriesandcream in reply to Chel91]

It really seems at this point that immune plays a part from the messages I’ve had today. I am defo going to speak to them about that. With the investigative surgery are you doing this privately or NHS? I feel they need to have a proper look inside as well. I have a unicornuate uterus and only one Fallopian tube and I’ve also wanted them to see how blocked the other one is.

Really helpful advice, thank you so much xxx

[Chel91 in reply to strawberriesandcream]

I'm doing it privately. I live abroad so I don't have the NHS option at the moment. I have a heart-shaped uterus and I feel like mine was assumed to be a minor issue and never investigated properly from what I know now. Good luck to you xx

[MrsOrangejuice]

I'm sorry it hasn't worked. If you've spotted it would be worth getting your progesterone checked on transfer and after to make sure it's high enough. And even if it is, the way you're using it can make a difference - mine was sky high on cyclogest pessaries rectally and still had two early losses and I spotted on one which the consultant was confused about. From advice on here I switched to Ultrogestan vaginally as it's better as getting to the womb than just in the blood, and lubion (twice a day a one point) and that worked for me. The NICE guidance that came out this week if for vaginal progesterone for miscarriage risk, and my doctors said it couldn't hurt so something to check. I also added aspirin and folate (not folic) but I suspect it was the progesterone that did it. May not be relevant for you and I didn't have any other issues so it's the only thing I can point to bar it just being chance x

[Bozo_the_pumpkin]

Hi strawberriesandcream, have your had your thyroid checked? I think the upper lever is 2.7.. mine was 4.8 so I am taking eutirox for that. I’ve had a previous natural pregnancy which ended in mmc… I haven’t yet achieved a pregnancy via IVF.. but I shave my OTD for my 4th transfer tomorrow.. we shall see . I’ve done an ERA, and I agree that you might be post receptive so moving to transfer on 6th day might not automatically be the solution. I’ve also had a biopsy for a histology check for chronic infection. Good luck .. and I wish you all the best. 🤗🤗