Implantation failure?

[Cridog]

Hello everyone,

This was my first attempt of IVF and it has been (as everyone knows!) the most stressful time of my life. We tried to conceive naturally for quite a long time (about 6 years) and after being checked, apparently nothing is wrong with either of us. However, we've been recommended IVF/ICSI as I am already 42.

I responded very well to ovarian stimulation and they collected 15 eggs, 13 of them were mature. We wanted only 8 to be fertilized (this is another story) and 5 of them were successfully fertilized and were developing on day 3. 3 of them reached day 5, one of them was fresh transfer and another one was frozen (one didn't reach the stage to be frozen).

For the trasnfer on day 5, I was told by the embryologist to have a full bladder, but wasn't explained why or that I had to drink something before. When they checked, the bladder wasn't full and they struggled to visualise the uterine wall (I wasn't given the option of waiting for 30 min more as they were in a rush). The senior doctor let a younger doctor start the procedure and the younger doctor didn't seem to have done it before (it was the worst pain I've ever experienced and the senior doctor kept giving instructions, but the younger didn't seem to do it properly). It took them a long time and in the end the more senior doctor intervened to do it herself. After the procedure, I was asked to dress and told I can leave (I didn't rest at all).

I'm due to take the test tomorrow, but I already had my period and I'm sure it will be negative. I'm absolutely heartbroken and feel that the team really left us down (there were other issues as well, which shows the team is really disorganised). We have another embryo waiting for us and we're thinking of having the transfer at a different clinic.

I'd appreciate hugely if anyone has been through something similar to let us know about their experience, especially if the failure can be because of poor transfer procedure.

Many thanks and hope you all are well and strong to go through this.

[CornflowerMoon]

Hi,

It sounds like you had a really stressful experience during your transfer and I'm sorry for that. I've had three transfers, the first two of which failed. If it puts your mind at ease any, this isn't uncommon.

I can't say that any of my experiences with the transfers were poor in any way but I thought it may help you if I describe how they worked (from best of my memory!) They used a speculum to thread the catheter through my cervix while also using an abdominal ultrasound. The end of the catheter could be seen within my uterus on the scan. The embryologist brought the embryo out from the lab in a tube, which was fed through the catheter and pushed into my uterus. The embryo was contained in a little fluid and when it reached the uterus I could see a little flash of white on the screen, indicating that the embryo was in. The embryologist then took the tube back into the lab to check that the embryo hadn't been left behind. In each of my transfers, they commented that my bladder was nicely full. Through trial and error, I've found that what works for me is to drink about 500ml about 50 minutes before the procedure.

I wouldn't necessarily think that the first doctor struggling to complete the procedure would have impacted on the outcome and hopefully the second doctor completed it properly - obviously I don't know all the details and I apologise if I'm misunderstanding the situation.

If you don't have confidence in your clinic, that might impact your stress levels with any future attempt so changing clinics may help you.

I don't know if this will help any but I hope it does.

[Cridog in reply to CornflowerMoon]

Thank you so much for your reply, lots to think about before we decide what to do next. Hope you are well and your treatment will be successful!

[Eloquentia]

Hi! I am really sorry you had such a horrible experience. If the senior doctor ended up during the procedure and if they checked afterwards that the embryo was no longer in the catheter, the implantation failure probably isn't due to the procedure itself. However, you do mention you had your period before test day. That shouldn't happen if you are on an appropriate dose of progesterone. Did they test your progesterone levels before or on the day of transfer? Low progesterone absorption is quite common and a very easy fix for helping implantation, so it is something I recommend asking about and insisting on with your new clinic. They had to literally quadruple my progesterone for my second transfer after it was on the low side during all tests and I think that really made the difference for us. Very best of luck with the FET! For what it's worth, I think FET is much easier on the body and lets it properly prepare.

[Cridog in reply to Eloquentia]

Thank you so much for your reply! Hmmm, no they haven't checked my progesterone levels (certainly not since I started on progesterone). I will certainly ask for this when discussing with the consultant what could have gone wrong. When I called the nurse to ask what I should do when I saw I started bleeding, she said that if this continue, that's the sign that the implantation wasn't successful, but didn't comment anything about the progesterone. Sometimes it seems to be some issues that they can so easily make sure they are right before there's a failure though

[JPxx in reply to Cridog]

FYI My period has come on test day, with the right amount of progesterone (it was checked) and I have read others have had the same as well. However for you next transfer always worth checking it for peace of mind.

[DianeArnold Partner Nurse Fertility Network UK]

Hi Cridog. The waiting is just so cruel. If it is that this cycle has failed, I would be inclined to speat to your embryologist. Thinking of you. Diane

[Cridog in reply to DianeArnold]

Thank you so much Diane. We'll probably have a consultation to see what we can do next. I've never expected this will be so hard and so heartbreaking.

[Me_and_Sparkle]

hi Cridog, it sounds like your clinic messed things up a little. They should have given you clearer instructions and definitely check your progesterone levels. Mine have been checked twice in 4 days. So sorry that you’re having a difficult time. I like you at waiting! I’m at day 5 post 5 day transfer. I hope you get a positive results x

[Cridog in reply to Me_and_Sparkle]

Thank you so much for your reply! Yes, the clinic has done quite a few wrong things and we decided to move to a different clinic after having the negative test. I'm not sure if the implantation failure is because of the clinic, but we just don't want to take the risk with them anymore. I really hope your test will come back positive - keep all my fingers crossed for you!!!

[Jomo27]

Hi Cridog,

It sounds that we are in similar situations I too have just had my first FET with the result being negative I’m sorry to hear your result was negative too, I too came on my period at the test day and i too was taking progesterone. My clinic experience wasn’t as yours though however I feel that they did everything they should have and are an experienced clinic.

I too am devastated and looking for why’s and how’s but I think sometimes it just happens this way no matter what we try and do, I of course will have all the same questions for my consultant as you I’m sure but I’m trying not to be so hard on myself as to why it didn’t happen for me although I’m not saying this is easy at all.

In terms of your clinic maybe you could ask that a better known surgeon does the procedure for peace of mind but if they are not good in practice it probably is best if you can look elsewhere as it doesn’t sound like the best experience you’ve had and that won’t help with stress levels. I wish you all the best if you want to chat further or reach out feel free 🤗 as with every journey wish you all the very best that you get the result that your after xxx

[Cridog in reply to Jomo27]

Thank you so much for your kind words and for sharing your experience with me. I'm very, very sorry to hear your test was negative too, I know how incredibly hard it is.

We've already spoke to another clinic which is rated quite high and they might be able to take us if we go self-funded (we had our first one funded through NHS). I had some doubts in the team at the current clinic even before we started the procedure; they seemed very disorganised and not well trained. For instance, I was meant to start on natural cycle in May and have been advised I should call on first day of my period, but been advised that if this happened on Saturday, they can't do anything as third day, Monday, when they return, would be too late. I called on Tuesday and the nurse said I should have called on Monday as third day to start on medication is still ok and that they have an emergency number for Saturday and Sunday - so obviously the first nurse didn't know correctly the information and we had to delay for 2 months again. Also, it was decided to go with my natural cycle, but when I called they said: Well, we need to put you on medication to stop your natural cycle. When I said that it was agreed to go with the natural, she looked a bit more and said: Ah, ok, fine then.

There are many other instances when they had this kind of giving me the wrong information or partial information, so it really made me feel they aren't very organised. Of course, this makes one wonder whether they are competent enough as well.

I really hope your journey will be easy on you from now on and your efforts successful. Sending you all my love and wishes of good luck xxx

[Jomo27 in reply to Cridog]

I really hope that you have future success with that clinic it’s a shame you have to self fund but I’m sure they will be better, it doesn’t sound good what you’ve experienced and I’m sorry for that as these types of places should be better and more empathetic and trained.

Thank you for your response and really wishing us both luck that this all ends with a positive 🤞🏻🌟 take care and keep us informed so much luck and care to you in your onward journey xx

[Cridog in reply to Jomo27]

Thank you so much, you too. Stay well and be kind with you. Sending you lots of love xxx