Help for follow up appointment

[Kotick83]

Hi, I just had a call from my clinic to tell me our second round hasn't been susscessful. We are doing private treatment on an NHS clinic.Our first round was in May, they collected 10 eggs, 7 fertilised, and I had a double day 5 transfer. Unfortunately, it ended up in chemical.

The second cycle was in July. 12 eggs collected, 6 fertilised, double 5 day transfer and I have just been told is a negative. For this second cycle I had to convince my consultant to increase the progesterone in case that was the reason for the chemical.

They are booking a follow up appointment for Friday, and I want to ask for some help as to what to ask. After the first cycle, she just proposed to do the same thing, as things looked as if they had worked alright. I asked to look at what was the reason for a chemical, but she said they will only look into it after 3 loses.

I can already see, she is going to tell me to try again and do the same, which to me looks like a waste of time. If the problem is the implantation, we can't possibly do the same.

Any suggestions as to what to ask for?

[Football61]

So sorry to hear this. Would you consider carrying out PGT-A testing on your embryos if you do a third round?

[Kotick83 in reply to Football61]

I wasn't thinking about PGT-A testing to be fair, as our embrios deviding seem normal. I was more thinking about testing whether my uterus is ok or whether my body is reacting against the embrios (I am Rh negative and husband is positive...)

[TTC0011 in reply to Kotick83]

Dividing normally doesn’t always mean genetically normal which is why I suspect football61 has recommended considering PGT-A. I’m 5 embryos failed (one chemical) and my consultant has recommended PGT-A. I’ve also had NK cells and endometrial biopsy done for receptivity l, and a host of blood tests for my immune system so would recommend those also.

[Eloquentia]

I am sorry your first two cycles failed. Did your clinic test your progesterone on or before transfer day? You mention you asked for it to be increased. I would insist that they test two days before and on transfer day in case low progesterone is the issue. Might also be worth discussing the pros and cons of baby aspirin, which is supposed to help implantation but comes with its own side effects, such as early pregnancy hematomas. Very best of luck with the next round! Listen to your instinct and insist that they change the protocol.

[Kotick83 in reply to Eloquentia]

I asked...but as we are privately funding in an NHS clinic, is not on their protocoles to test for progesterone.

[Eloquentia in reply to Kotick83]

We are NHS funded in an NHS clinic and we had to insist but they did it in the end. They had to literally quadruple the original dose of progesterone I was on for our second FET and I think this is what really made the difference. If they absolutely won't do it, perhaps you can arrange for it privately?

[Kotick83 in reply to Eloquentia]

I guess I could, but if they won't take the results from an outside lab...I don't know, I kind of feel like I lost trust in my consultant, as she is just trying to make us fit into the box rather than trying to personalise something...

[Twiglet2]

it is likely they will say that the embryos might be best being tested as they could be the cause of both chemical and no implantation. At least this is what I have been told after my last 2 round were really similar to yours. I haven’t opted for testing though as I only get one or 2 embryos so just ‘test’ them by putting them back as a transfer. I take a chemical as a good sign that implantation started so the timing and conditions were right and I have upped progesterone too in case that was a cause of chemical! I also take clexane rather than pausing and testing for ‘sticky blood’ havent done any of the other tests though I have done a course of canesflor just in case. We are switching up the stims next time to try and get more eggs to blast but not sure if it will work (I’m 41 so apparently my 8-9 eggs to 2 blasts ratio is pretty normal) after that I’m going to move away form my own eggs xx

[Kotick83 in reply to Twiglet2]

I am in the same boat, we only get 2 embryos out of all the eggs collected, so not sure there is a point on testing them. I just turned 40, and was told the same than you, that for my age that ratio of embryos is normal. What did you use the canesflor for?

[Twiglet2 in reply to Kotick83]

It’s just a probiotic to balance the environment and prevents vaginal infections it’s sometimes prescribed in IVF but I just did it myself as anyone can and IVF or not I guess it’s good to have a balanced vagina 🤣 was my thinking 🙊 xx

[Kotick83 in reply to Twiglet2]

That makes sense. Both times with the vaginal gel and the pessaries I ended up having a thrush, so I guess it wouldn't do any harm...