Period after cancelled FET cycle?

[Esb27]

Hi guys

Yesterday was day 17 of buserelin and progynova ahead of a FET l was supposed to have this weekend/next week, sadly because I had a random bleed a week after my period (thank you covid) my lining wasn’t playing ball and thickening up like they wanted (despite upping my progynova) so they’ve cancelled it and I’ve stopped my meds. They said I can start again on my next bleed by I’m a bit confused when that will be.

I was told by my nurse that when I stop the meds it will take a few days or a week for a bleed to happen. Just for reference my lining went from 6.5mm to 5.6mm in 4 days so I do have something to shed (they think that maybe covid messing with my cycles and causing a random 2nd period a week into the FET cycle was potentially what caused my lining to go down). But then my doctor said it could take 4-5 weeks as I need to ovulate etc?

If it follows a normal cycle I should be about to ovulate (I usually ovulate around day 18-19 in a natural cycle as they are usually about 31/32 ish days long), though I know my ovaries have been ‘turned off’ by the meds but how quickly do they turn back on? Surely it won’t take 4-5 weeks?

I know everyone will be different and there’s no hard and fast rule but what has everyone else experienced when stopped progynova and buserelin? I don’t mind waiting a week or two but the thought of waiting 4-5 is a bit depressing tbh

[Twiglet2]

Ah it’s pants when your lining doesn’t play ball! Sorry it got cancelled 😞 for your question about bleeding in my experience it depends if they mean you can start after your withdrawal bleed or your next actual period. My clinic is always next period (after withdrawal bleed). If you were only on burselin and not prostrap for down reg now that you are off it it does usually take a few days to a week for your bleeding to happen. If you then need to have an actual period before they want you to start then it can range because the hormones can mess with your cycle I’ve had from exactly when it was due to not coming months later and having to take tablets to induce it! Might be worth clarifying which bleed they mean as sounds like the nurse was talking about your withdrawal bleed and the doctor your next period after that perhaps 🤔 xxx

[Esb27 in reply to Twiglet2]

Thanks for replying Twiglet2!

It most certainly does, am hoping I don’t have a lining issue and that it was just the random bleed I had that caused it to decrease.

Hmm that’s interesting. I did ask the doctor so if I started bleeding say a week later I could start then and she said yes so I think I’m okay to start on the withdrawal bleed. It’s just knowing how long that will take that’s frustrating as the doctor did make it sound like I wouldn’t bleed for a while. V confusing.

I had to wait for my period after a withdrawal bleed when I cancelled my fresh cycle but with this one I think they don’t bother waiting longer again.

[Twiglet2 in reply to Esb27]

Aww that good news ☺️ My clinic even tried to make me wait until after a ‘withdrawal’ bleed after a completely natural FET! I was like withdraw form what all you did was take my blood 😂 so they agreed to go with the bleed after my BFN think they just like to make you wait sometimes 😂 yeah the first bleed after has always been about a week after I’ve stopped meds so fingers crossed for you xx

[Esb27 in reply to Twiglet2]

That’s crazy!!! There’s no way you’d need to wait after a natural one 😂

I think they like to wait so you don’t put pressure on your body but most people going through it just want to get going.

Ah right thank you! Fingers crossed xx

[Riri88]

It is soo disappointing isn’t it? I had my first FET cancelled (after the fresh was cancelled as well due to OHSS) and so disappointed in my body it wasn’t playing ball. But my experience both times with cancelling a cycle actually is wait for a withdrawal bleed when stopping the meds (they don’t call it an actual period…) which came on within a week for me and then start the new cycle on the next bleed/real period. My natural cycles have always been all over the place and always longer than 30 days so I feel you and the wait is frustrating but you will get there! Thankfully the meds didn’t seem to prolong my cycles in between even more though so generally 5-6 weeks after the cancelled cycle we would start again. Gives you some time to get over the disappointment and again maybe prep and get ready for the next one.

Sorry, I know this is maybe not want you want to hear but definitely check with your clinic as you don’t want confusion about when to start the meds again… I hope the next one will work out better!

[Esb27 in reply to Riri88]

Thanks for the response Riri88!

I had my fresh cycle cancelled due to OHSS too!! Well I actually cancelled it as I felt soooo bad (but the docs agreed with me). You just feel like your body is letting you down.

That’s interesting you had to wait for your withdrawal bleed then period inbetween FETs. I did in between my cancelled fresh and starting a frozen transfer cycle but this time inbetween FETs they don’t seem as bothered by waiting longer, not sure why. Obviously I could bleed in 4 weeks which is basically like waiting for a period or in a week or two.

I did ask the doctor if I started bleeding a week after could I start and she said yes but I got the impression from her she didn’t think it would come that soon.

Do you mind me asking if you’ve been successful with your FETs yet?

[Riri88 in reply to Esb27]

Definitely go by your clinic advice of course! If you can start earlier that will be only much better! I just know I always found it confusing as they said ‘yes we can start with your next period’ which I always confirmed was the one after the withdrawal bleed as terminology and how you interpreted things can differ. I hope you can start again soon though! I was always really inpatient 🙈

And yes, currently 22 weeks pregnant! 🥰 so after the cancelled fresh and FET (lining not thick enough) I had 3 more FET’s (had 3 5-day embryo’s to freeze thankfully) 1st BFN, 2nd chemical and 3rd our lucky one 🥰 been on a higher dose of estrogen after the first FET didn’t produce thick enough lining and been fine since for all 3 FET’s. I guess sometimes they just need to find the right dose. And the last successful cycle alongside 2weeks of estrogen I was also on buselerin injections for 2 weeks to help calm everything down which I then stopped when I started the progesteron 5 days before transfer. Not sure if that made the difference but who knows… do think though that even though cancelling a cycle is disappointing, you definitely don’t want to waste an embryo if things are not looking perfect to go ahead.

Good luck! Fingers crossed your next FET will be a positive one!

[Esb27 in reply to Riri88]

Yeah I’m super impatient too!

On congrats!! Third time lucky ey.

My clinic have said they are just going to up my dose of progynova to 4x a day for the next one but not do the buserilin. Hope that helps. When you upped your Estrogen what did they up it to?

[Riri88 in reply to Esb27]

Thank you! Over the moon and finally starting to become more confident and enjoying it with every week that passes!

And all the ‘go ahead’ FET cycles were 3x 2mg tablets first 6 days and then 4x2mg estrogen tablets (2 in the AM and 2 in PM) plus slow release patches 50mg first 6 days and then 100mg after… if I remember correctly.

[Esb27 in reply to Riri88]

Aww that’s great! Enjoy it

Oh cool, was that NHS funded or private? I’ve not been offered patches etc yet, but I guess we’ll have to see what the lining is like when I start again, hopefully without covid messes with my cycle this time.

[Riri88 in reply to Esb27]

Hopefully indeed! Now you had it, hopefully the next few months the chances are much less likely of catching it again

And I was NHS funded but at a private clinic.

[Esb27 in reply to Riri88]

Yeah hope so!

That’s what I’ve got too.

Hope you’re coping in this heat okay whilst pregnant!

[JadeH92]

Hi Esb27, I had to cancel my most recent cycle (this was for the ERA not a transfer though) for similar reasons my lining wasn't cooperating and I had, had some bleeding on the Estrogen as well.Its the second time I've had to do this, the first time I needed to have the withdrawal bleed and then on the second bleed which would have been my period I was to start the meds for the second FET. This bleed came within 9 days of stopping the meds.

This time around my period didn't arrive at all. The clinic stated it would happen within 2 weeks of atopping the meds. So after 2 weeks I contacted the clinic who stated this was very unusual and should have come within 10 - 14 days. So I had to start norethisterone to bring on a bleed. This time I am starting Prostap on day one of my cycle to shut everything down to see if I respond better to the Estrogen, so I think that's why I haven't been told I need to start the meds on the second period.

Fingers crossed your bleed will come sooner rather than later xx

[Esb27 in reply to JadeH92]

Hi JadeH92, thanks for the reply!

Ahh that’s annoying, I’ve heard of people needing drugs to kick start a bleed so hoping I don’t fall into that category.

So you’ve never started your FET on the withdrawal bleed? Am I understand that right?

Thanks, hoping it comes soon!! Good luck for your next FET xx

[JadeH92 in reply to Esb27]

No, I was alway under the impression it needed to be the bleed after to make sure the lining was fresh if that makes sense.

However, I won't be having another bleed before I start the Estrogen this time around because on day 1 which will essentially be my withdrawal bleed I will have the Prostap then 2 weeks after I'll go in for a scan and if all is okay I'll start the Estrogen. So technically it will be starting after the withdrawal bleed but I'm not sure if it's different because the prostap shuts everything down.

It's very confusing because I have found every clinic does things slightly differently.

Thank you, wishing you lots of luck too 🤞

[Esb27]

Yeah it does seem that way, there’s no one size fits all, every woman is different but so is every clinic! I guess really it’s not bad thing but when you’re confused and you need help it’s strange hearing all the different avenues everyone’s gone down.

Ahh good luck with the prostrap this time round, fingers crossed for you!!