Bleeding before FET

[Eldouble]

I’m due to have my first FET in 2 days time.

In the last 24 hours I’ve had cramps and spotting.

I’ve been taking 2mg estradiol 3 times daily and started cyclogest pessaries 400mg 3 days ago. I contacted the consultant who advised me to increase the progesterone to 3 times daily. Also we’ll do a scan on the morning of the planned transfer day, before thawing the embryo.

Has anyone experienced anything similar and still managed to progress to FET? I feel like this cycle is going to end up being cancelled, which is frustrating because I’ve felt so sick with the estrogen tablets 😭 don’t desperately want to have to go through it again (although obviously I will!)

[Jay0]

Hi, I had bleeding just before I went for my final scan (before switching to progesterone and remaining on estrodiol). Whilst I was there it got worse but was more than spotting. They checked and said it was coming from my cervix and wasn’t sure why it happened. I’d been on suprecur which I hadn’t reacted to very well previously and I said to them before the start of this cycle, but they still continued. I had to come off all meds and they said it was a good thing it happened before the transfer rather than after, otherwise they’d think it just didn’t work. If yours is just spotting and you’re already on progesterone it’s probably fine, the progesterone can irritate if taking front rather than back. Sorry TMI! They’ll check in the morning scan to see where it’s coming from and would not proceed if in any doubt. I’m sure you will be fine, if not coming off and starting again is frustrating but ok. I had to do it after 5 start, stops! I’m glad I waited as it finally worked this time. Xx

[Eldouble in reply to Jay0]

Thank you for your reply. Unfortunately the spotting hasn’t stopped (it’s like brownish discharge). I’ve been mixing up where the progesterone goes (front and back) - it hasn’t seemed to make any difference. I’m just wondering if this maybe isn’t the right progesterone for me (not enough?)

As you say, we’ll find out at the scan tomorrow but I can’t imagine we’ll proceed with the transfer this time 😞 so frustrating!

Did they change your preparation protocol after that round?

[Jay0 in reply to Eldouble]

Still possible as brown is old, internal scans can also irritate and I remember now I had a little bit a couple of days after my scan.

I was just put on estrodial, no suprecur the last time, before then also taking progesterone (400g twice a day) once I finally got the go ahead before transfer. Some people just don’t take well to suprecur apparently. They booked in an extra scan day 2 of my cycle to check all was looking ok this time, before I even started medication. I also asked for my progesterone levels to be checked, they agreed to do this the morning before the transfer and levels were fine. I was worried they were low because I had a natural FET last time just with booster shot, so no estrodiol or progesterone. It failed 8 days after when my period was due. My cycles were typically early so I’m not sure why I was put on a natural FET. After the failed one, having a no go five times, it was frustrating but I got used to waiting as the environment needs to be perfect. Made sure we booked a couple of last minute holidays when I had to come off medication to keep me going. Really helped. Anyway, fingers crossed all goes well for you, DM me if you want at any point.

[JA-fnuk Partner Nurse Fertility Network UK]

Maybe bleeding due to medication and irritation from the pessaries Hope all goes well with your scan and your treatment continues

Thinking of you

Janet

[JammPot]

Hi, I also had light pink / brown spotting (after transfer however) with my FET back in May and very uncomfortable cramps with my pessaries. As well as all of the symptoms that came with Estradiol. The clinic advised that the spotting could be due to cervix irritation and to insert using a different method for ease - for example, put one leg on the toilet seat and insert. Which will allow a different angle, to not catch on the area irritated.

Hope all goes well with your scan!

[Eldouble]

Thank you all for the kind words and sharing your experiences. I went to the scan this morning with the mindset that “the transfer won’t be happening today”. It seemed like an age waiting for the sonographer to say anything, she was staring at the screen and clicking. Eventually she told me that the endometrium all looked intact and she couldn’t see any cause of the bleeding.

I then saw the doctor who did a speculum and confirmed that it seemed to have been coming from the cervix, likely due to effects of the estrogen. So we’re set to go ahead with the transfer this afternoon.

I honestly can’t describe how I feel. Numb maybe? You feel you’re constantly flip-flopping with your emotions from hope, to despair, to cautious excitement. It’s exhausting!

Fingers crossed that the defrost goes well