Last chance FET - any suggestions

[Hels1975]

Hi everyone, I’m finally reaching my final frozen egg transfer ( I only have 1 more embryo in the freezer) after 2 years of trying to get rid of fibroids inside my uterus which have caused all sorts of chaos and I’ll health and lots of waiting because of Covid.

I’m now 45 , but my egg younger , however it’s a grade c so the chance of it implanting along with a small fibroid in my muscle wall ( intramural) are pretty slim. Being in limbo for so long has been intense and heart breaking so I need this transfer to be done so I can move on.

My clinic don’t recommend any extra testing such immune testing/ NK cells but just to eat well and reduce stress. My previous 4 transfers were better graded eggs, but 2 didn’t implant and 2 transferred together ended in a miscarriage. My progesterone was low for my last transfer so would like this to be monitored this time.

So….. This is my last chance! I’m going to have acupuncture, taking omega, pregnancy vitamins, vitamin e and arginine for lining… with all your combined knowledge and experience would you recommend doing anything else? I’ll throw anything at this one…

Good luck with all you’re going through, it’s such a rollercoaster. Thanks in advance for reading xx

[GiantPanda]

Hi there. I have been in a similar position to you, except all of my transfers have been with DE. We had 6 embies. First transfer 2x, BFP with MMC at 6 weeks. No 2 was 1 embie = BFN. No 3 was 2 embies = BFN. We were almost ready to give up due to the heartache and financial cost but I couldn't leave the last embie.

I asked about testing and had ERA/EMMA/ALICE. I had to have a short course of probiotics. The consultant also agreed to put me on steroids. She didn't think there was enough evidence behind NK cells so we didn't do that, but I know some on here have found that and intralipids useful. They kept me on levothyroxine to keep my TSH levels where they wanted, as although in the normal range, they said it was too high for the ideal range for pregnancy.

I wasn't overweight, but heavier than what was normal for me, I think due to comfort eating and meds, but I'd lost almost a stone (due to work stress). I also had hypnotherapy and did positive affirmations in the run up to transfer, and drank loads more water and tried to keep away from stress as much as possible. This was the lowest quality embie (although still good, 3AB I think) and we got a BFP. It's still early but we're the furthest we've ever been. I'd also had to put treatment on hold as my first OE IVF round left me with a polyp with pre-cancerous cells, and once that was sorted, covid hit. I also have a few small intramural fibroids but have been told they won't interfere. I'm also 45.

I'm not sure if one thing in particular worked, or whether it was a combination, but I'm glad we did the tests. I went to the doctor with a list advised by people on here and she discussed every one and the pros and cons, so it might be worth opening up that conversation with your clinic again.

Best of luck to you. I know how much this last embie means. Xxx

[Hels1975 in reply to GiantPanda]

Hi GiantPanda, Thank you so much for your message of hope! And all for info and suggestions. I will definitely open up the conversation again and ask about the Emma/era/Alice testing. Did they do that at the clinic for you?

I had thought that my chances are so low she was sparing me the expense and hope with doing extra tests but I think I have to try anything then I won’t regret it.

Before having the long awaited fibroid journey she said my chances were 5% as the intramural fibroid was indenting the cavity slightly and the age of my egg. I hope it’s more now but I still have an intramural fibroid just not as big. They are absolutely horrid things.

I’m wishing you lots of luck ahead and thank you for sharing your experience. I hope all goes very smoothly for you. Xx

[GiantPanda in reply to Hels1975]

Thanks very much. Yes, my clinic did the tests. I used a clinic in Spain, so I'm not sure what the score is in the UK for those tests. If you search the posts on here, you'll probably find loads of more useful info from others.

The fact that you're using your own embies is wonderful though. We were told DE was our best chance from day 1, but I just had to try with my own first. It was a fool's errand, but I would have regretted not trying.

My clinic also advised against extra tests initially, saying the fact that I'd got pregnant on the first try was really positive. Then it was just trial and error with the others, which did kind of annoy me, but I get that they were trying to be as non-invasive as possible. The tests weren't cheap and I did find the biopsy painful - but that might just be me.

Good luck with your research and I hope you'll have a good chat with the clinic. X

[Hels1975 in reply to GiantPanda]

Thanks GiantPanda, you’ve really helped and I’ll speak to the clinic ASAP. The embryo is with a donor sperm as my partner has minimal sperm but I think I’d have also gone down the DE too if needed. It feels so pressured when it’s the last embryo… everything crossed and thanks again xx

[Hidden]

Hi, I’m afraid I don’t have any advice for you but I wanted to wish you all the best for your FET. I really hope that this little embryo is the one that sticks for you ❤️ x

[Hels1975 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you so much Muzick… let’s hope so, will give it my best shot. Thanks again for the wishes x

[Mrsshaker1]

Hello Hels1975,

Me too. I started my progynova yesterday for our final FET attempt. I eat a fair amount of pineapple and am also getting acupuncture. Do your clinic use embryo glue?

MrsS

[Hels1975 in reply to Mrsshaker1]

Hi Mrs s, so much luck to you… yep I ate a lot of pineapple during my other transfers,. I’ll be doing the same as you soon. Acupuncture is great isn’t it… yes they do and I’ll be using it! Will you do the same? I’ll throw anything I can at this attempt. So much luck with yours… When is your transfer? Xx

[HollyT7]

pom juice! ❤️

[Hels1975 in reply to HollyT7]

Ooh yes! Thanks for the reminder!

[MrsOrangejuice]

I'm sorry for your losses, and that you're under this pressure. It also sounds like your clinic hasn't given too much hope - my clinic were very cautious and pessimistic (I even started calling one nurse the nurse of doom for her negative language) and it didn't really help when it came to making decisions as it heaped on the pressure, but I suppose they have to manage expectations. I'm not in the same position but I had two early losses on fresh transfers and then wanted to explore absolutely every single option before FET as I didn't like the it's just a numbers game approach and not making any changes they were suggesting. I insisted on having several calls with my consultant to go through every option, test, everything I'd read about... We didn't come up with much in the end because of our situation and past tests but at least I felt I understood a bit better why. The only big thing I wanted was to change the form of and increase progesterone - apparently some women absorb progesterone differently and vaginal pessaries can be better. Went with that and also lubion. Plus got it checked on day of transfer and another lubion added. Also took aspirin (consultant said he wouldn't recommend or prescribe it but it wouldn't hurt). Took 'bioavailable' forms of vits in particular vit b (plus more bit c,d, and e) ubiquinol, folate instead of just folic acid, non-fish omegas (and no vit a after transfer). They used embryo glue for the FET. Could all have been chance and my clinic wouldn't tell me the embryo grading, but got a very early BFP and it was much stronger than the previous two. I think most of what I was on was in the 'couldn't hurt' territory and there are probably much bigger things to check first, just possibly worth trying x

[LoveToGive]

I am in the same age range and I understand the need for this one to work and stick. Wishing you all the good luck in the world.