First FET : Very low beta

[BabyJoaquin]

So got my first beta 12dp5dt and I am not surprised to get a very low number of 6.9 since I had no symptoms and I've never, ever got any BFP with any hpts. But what surprised me is when my clinic told me to continue medications. I am in utter disbelief. Why prolong something when the chance of it being viable is next to zero for a 12dp5dt? My apologies for being pessimistic, i don't want to defy medical advices, i have been following instructions to a tee but this for me is just very questionable.

On the positive note, I am very thankful I still have 4 frosties waiting, may I ask how soon can I safely start the next cycle? I am emotionally ready, to be honest, i have prepared myself mentally that it won't work the first time, so this is just a matter of whether there is any physical contraindication of starting as soon as possible or not.

When did you amazing ladies tried for your second transfer? 😊

[Hidden]

Hi! My clinic asks as well to continue medication if you're taking meds if the hcg is between 5-49 and repeat the test in a few days. About when you can start again I really don't know because you're taking meds. I know only about natural FETs, if it failed you could start a new one when period would show up.

But try and see the good side. You can get pregnant, sadly the embryo tried to implant but didn't had the strength to develop. It happened to me on my first FET and the nurse told me this and made me feel a lot better.

[BabyJoaquin in reply to Hidden]

True, that's what I thought as well. That at least the embryo tried to implant. It just wasn't meant to be, i guess. Hard to stay positive, i am 36 and have preexisting cardiac conditions, but I will keep trying and just trust the clinic. Thanks for your reply, really appreciate it. 💕

[Hidden in reply to BabyJoaquin]

It's hard, I know! But the only thing we can do is only pray and hope that someday we'll be holding our babies.

[MakingbabyNM]

I’m in a similar position with results of 19 14dpt. Still have 5 Frosties left so like u lucky for that. And very fortunate to have a little girl too. The thought of the meds!! But I’ve said I’ll test until Thursday then I’d like another blood test if still positive then. It’s so torturous! I hope your okay! xx

[BabyJoaquin in reply to MakingbabyNM]

I have never tested postive for any hpt so I am not really keeping my hopes up. But i will still get that second beta done to ease my thoughts and plan our next move. Thanks for replying, Im praying for a positive outcome for you this Thursday as well. 😊

[Fruitandflowers]

I hadn't ever had a BFP until my fresh transfers - did them back to back and sadly they both ended before 6 weeks and it turned out that the HCG had stopped rising/doubling. My NHS clinic (first transfer) were ok for me to stop meds just on the basis of fading lines and weren't too interested in HCG but my private clinic (second transfer) and my GP were more reliant on HCG and said anything above 5 is technically viable so they wanted me to keep up meds until it was <5, ideally 0. I think it's so there's certainty and to make sure it's not ectopic.

On starting again, I did my second collection and transfer on my next natural period after the withdrawal bleed from coming off the meds, then after the second early loss, I started my FET meds on day 1 of my next period. So both times I had pretty much a month in between. But then my cycles went back to normal straight away and I didn't have any complications, whereas I think it can vary a lot. Also, the NHS seems to want you to wait for two natural periods before next transfer.

If it helps, that first FET worked so don't lose hope because of what's happened this time.

🍀

[BabyJoaquin in reply to Fruitandflowers]

Hi,

I had my second beta today, its just 10. Iv been told to stop my meds today, which I am relieved. I wanted to start as soon as I can but clinic told me to wait for my regular period before I can start again... I was told that I would be on the same protocol. Just wondering, shouldn't it be tweaked a little bit if it failed the first time? I don't know.. I still have trust with my clinic but I am just wondering if I need to speak up or just go with whatever they decide.

[Fruitandflowers in reply to BabyJoaquin]

If it was 6.9 and now 10, assume the clinic said that's not sufficient doubling in the time between tests - just worth confirming if that's not clear. If so sorry to hear that though. At least you can get a bit of closure.

That's when I restarted - so had the withdrawal bleed after stopping meds and then started again on day 1 of my next natural period. Meant roughly 5 weeks from stopping meds I think, but it depends if your cycles go back to normal as sometimes they can take a bit of time - if that happens, your clinic may be able to put you on the pill to induce a period.

I made my consultant go through every possible option after my second early loss just so I could understand that we had tried everything. It probably annoyed him but it brought me and him to the conclusion that I should be on extra and different progesterone (vaginal pessaries and lubion) and that I should be getting this monitored. Also, even if it was just numbers, I felt like I hadn't missed anything and I understood why I was on a particular protocol. It also let me decide whether or not to go with some extra investigations that were being mentioned (which would have meant delaying my FET and they were quite expensive). It's not necessary to question especially after one as it could just be numbers but I felt better having asked. x

[Positivechangeplease]

Well assuming you’re not positive, I was told to stop the meds, and then wait for the bleed. I was then told I could actually go again on the start of the next period but I wanted to wait a month and start the following to give myself time to get to normal. I went kind of keto to try and lose a bit of weight, I exercise and had acupuncture. Switched from pregnacare to fertility bud for the natural folate and cut out alcohol and caffeine. The more I read about caffeine it’s a really fertility offender. And this time I did a naturally modified cycle. I felt a lot better for not stuffing my body with oestrogen and I was able to grow my womb lining fine. This ended in a BFP for me so I’d do that again if it comes to it.

[BabyJoaquin in reply to Positivechangeplease]

Oh. Whats your protocol like for a naturally modified one? I want to try that, but it seems my clinic wants me to have the exact same protocol for my second transfer.

[Positivechangeplease in reply to BabyJoaquin]

Basically it’s good if you ovulate - which the clinic already knew I did every time they scanned me they could see. So you start your period then they baseline scan you - around day 10 I think to check the lining is growing. Then you use ovulation tests 12 hours apart to locate the surge. I called up when I got the surge and had a scan booked the next day (on day 13) so went for that as normal. They said it was all good and sent me home to trigger ovulation that night and two days later I took progesterone pessaries and transfer happened 5 days later (5 day embryo). So mostly the same except tracking real ovulation and only taking progesterone for support