Steps involved in a natural transfer questions

[Bed12]

Hi ladies, hope everyone is keeping strong 💪🏼 ☺️

I’m considering a natural fet and as I’ve only ever had medicated ones, I can’t seem to get my head around how it works. I spoke to a clinic who said that I would basically inform them when I’ve ovulated based on a home test and then 6 days later have the transfer. They do offer a progesterone blood test to check levels beforehand to see if any additional progesterone is needed.

But is that it? No other monitoring scans or anything? How do they know whether the lining is thick enough? Is a home kit like clear blue adequate enough? I mean…how do they know I’ve ovulated for sure? Maybe I’m not understanding this so would really appreciate some insight if anyone else has done this?

Thanks so much! X

[Twiglet2]

Hi 👋🏼 I found the natural FEat so much less invasive! at mine you dont even get the progesterone test however once you get solid smiley on the clearblue ovulation test they get you in for a blood test to confirm ovulation so they know for sure and then book the transfer but yeah if fully natural no other scans etc they are going by what your body would do ‘naturally’ but with the helping hand of the embryo already created. My clinic only offer it for people with regular cycles and would also look at if any other known issues normally with lining etc. to check if a good candidate to try it xx

[Bed12 in reply to Twiglet2]

thank you!

[soccerkt6]

Hey lovely, at my clinic they bring you in for a scan on day 10 of your cycle to make sure your lining is thick enough, but after that they just told me to ring when I got a solid smiley on Clearblue and then the transfer is scheduled for 6 days later. Easy peasy! I loved it xx

[Bed12 in reply to soccerkt6]

thank you!

[Ladycoco20]

hey , I’m trying to get my head round this also ! Iv had 3 failed deivf fets & always down regulated.. iv had a consultation with a new clinic & they said it wasn’t a mistake but they don’t feel I need to be down regulated as my periods are regular… I was wondering about scans & bloods too ?

Xx

[Bed12 in reply to Ladycoco20]

my clinic have never mentioned natural to me, I had no idea this was a possibility and so have been doing some research on it and speaking to a different clinic

[DreamingOfTwo79]

Hello! I am scheduled for a modified natural cycle at my clinic and though the process is slightly different, I thought I'd share regardless as it's a kind of halfway house and it might be a future option for you. My clinic calls this the superovulation regime where the aim is to grow a low number of follicles that will trick the body into producing more progesterone naturally and also support the thickening of your lining. I will be taking a very low dose of stims medication (Meriofert in my case) every other day from baseline scan day until I get an LH rise, upon which they will trigger me with Gonasi (hCG trigger shot). They will monitor my lining and follicle growth via scans from Day 7 and I will have to monitor ovulation test strips at home. They'd confirm the LH rise with a blood test and once ovulation is confirmed via scan you'd be put on progesterone. They would typically schedule transfer as trigger day plus 7 days. It's still considered to be gentler on the body than a medicated cycle as you follow your natural cycle. Wishing you the best of luck for your cycle! X

[Bed12 in reply to DreamingOfTwo79]

thank you! Really helpful to know a different way of doing this .

[Esb27]

Hey!

When I went through my natural FET cycle I had a lining check scan on day 14 and once I got my peak on my ovulation test I let them know and they did one more scan to confirm I had ovulated then booked in my transfer 5/6 days later. So yeah very light tough and simple!!

Good luck! x

[Esb27 in reply to Esb27]

sorry I meant to say, they can confirm you have ovulated through the scan!

[Bed12 in reply to Esb27]

this is what I was wondering I.e. whether they confirm you ovulate in another way as well the clear blue option…maybe I’ve been ivf ‘institutionalised’ I.e. expecting monitoring and bloods etc ha but feel like I would like a double check.

[Esb27 in reply to Bed12]

You can ask them maybe just for piece of mind? I was lucky as my day 14 lining scan was the same day I got my clear blue peak so they could check then and there that I was about to ovulate. But they should know what they are doing, and clearblue digital ovulation tests are usually pretty accurate so you should be okay! You’re probs just so used to loads of appointments with the medicated cycles as you say.

No harm in asking for the extra scan if you are worried though. Wait just re-read your message, do they not even do one scan to check your lining?? They should do minimum one otherwise what if your lining isn’t thickening properly? Ovulation is one thing but you need a lining check. Well that’s what I was always told.

[Bed12 in reply to Esb27]

yes no scans at all. That’s what I also think re checking lining is thickening correctly. They said I can do it if I want but they don’t usually offer it.

[Esb27 in reply to Bed12]

Ohhh right, how weird! Yeah i'd deffo get one scan to check lining at least! Good luck

[Bed12 in reply to Esb27]

thank you! You too

[Habibi87]

Hi Bed12, I think it varies by clinic. At mine they did a scan around day 8 and then they scanned me every other day to check how things were going. I was also asked to do an ovulation test every morning and share the result. Towards the end they scanned me three days in a row as I was getting closer. Once they confirmed ovulation (test strip + scan), they put me on progesterone from the day after. I think the transfer was 5 days after the day they confirmed ovulation. X

[Bed12 in reply to Habibi87]

thanks so much for your reply!

[Corchi]

I just did one a few weeks ago. They monitored me closely every two three days then gave me clear blue ovulation sticks and I started them on a Sunday eve. Was negative up until Monday eve. Then went in again for a scan checked lining, was 9 so perfect for them. Then I think went in one more time to see if egg had cracked that was already in there , did a progesterone blood test and then a few days later they put in embryo. Zero meds until after embryo transfer where they put me on one cyclacur (white pill) and progesterone. Hope that helps xxx I’d like to point out with medicated get my lining for completeley ruined and went from a 9 3 days before ET to a 4,5 and subsequently got cancelled 😞

[Bed12 in reply to Corchi]

thanks so much. There is so much variation in how much a clinic monitors. I think I would prefer the additional monitoring. I think having more information as you’re in a cycle helps with any tweaks or changes for next time if it’s unsuccessful. Where is your clinic based?

[Corchi in reply to Bed12]

athens greece!! Pm me if you need more info happy to refer and help xx