Frozen DE treatment cycle different to FET with OE

[Kitkat10]

Hello All,

I think I’m missing something obvious but can anyone explain why a frozen DE treatment cycle plans the transfer for day 22-24 while both my FETs have been transferred on day 17 ish?

I’m anxious because after a mmc with my last FET, I hope this was a sign of receptivity at 17 day mark and now I feel like the timings have changed and it won’t work.

My clinic told me

Day 1-7 Ganirelix and oestrogen

Day 8 increase oestrogen

Day 12 scan then 5-7 days later egg and sperm thaw) (this is the bit I don’t understand)

Then progesterone blood test check day 15 ish within 3 days starting progesterone - around day 12 I assume.

Then transfer 3-5 days after thaw.

So, does this mean transfer at day 22 at the earliest??

Does the ganirelix delay ovulation for a week essentially delaying my cycle for a week so uterus should still be receptive 7 days after it would be expected to be naturally? 🤷🏻‍♀️

I’m sure the clinic have done this a few times before 🙈 I just feel a bit confused

Thanks all 🥰

[Orangeflowers]

Hello, so just to reassure, my frozen transfer was on day 22 and that's what I'm planning for this time. I think the main thing is that they'll monitor your lining and start you on progesterone when appropriate, 5 or 6 days before transfer. It sounds like you're using frozen donor eggs in Greece? Fingers crossed for you x🤞

[Kitkat10 in reply to Orangeflowers]

Thankyou Orangeflowers , are you using OE?

Sadly not Greece, but Leeds 😂

So is it because they manipulate the cycle rather than simulate nature? Anyway, thank you for the reassurance, I guess I just have to have faith in this 🤞 x

[Orangeflowers in reply to Kitkat10]

Ah ok, I thought you were using the Greek names for the meds 😂 Hey so my clinic is in Leeds too. It could be the same one!?? I have used OE, but may have to move to DE.

I thought maybe the timing is different with DE as they are syncing with the donors cycle but I see you're using frozen egg and sperm. It would be worth getting the clinic to explain, but it sounds to me like they're using the standard FET protocol for my clinic. Were your transfers on day 17 with a different clinic?

In any case, they will monitor your lining and start you on progesterone for 5 or 6 days when it is thick enough. As it is a artificial cycle the transfer day isn't so important, only the timing of when you start progesterone. There is scope to lengthen or shorten the process to fit with clinic timings, avoid Sundays for FETs etc, if your lining is thick enough to start you on the progesterone.

[JA-fnuk Partner Nurse Fertility Network UK]

Maybe you should ask your clinic to explain the bit you do not understand - that should help put your mind at ease

Wishing you good luck with your treatment

Janet - Partner

[Millbanks]

hi lovely,

It doesn’t matter exactly what cycle day they transfer, what matters is how long after progesterone they transfer (your window of receptivity in a natural cycle would be 5 days after ovulation as that’s when your body starts producing progesterone)

So in a medicated cycle they mimic that with supplemented progesterone - it doesn’t have to be in line with your natural cycle xx

[Kitkat10 in reply to Millbanks]

Thank you, that makes sense. During my last FET it was day 19 and implantation occurred and for this cycle despite the same medications, they say it will be day 22 so I’m worried the receptivity window will be wrong. I’ll ask them again but it’s so hard to speak to anyone x

[Millbanks in reply to Kitkat10]

I've just re-read your post - and do you mean that you have eggs / sperm frozen - rather than embryos? If so, they will need to thaw both, then combine to fertilise and 3 - 5 days of growth - so you will probably start progesterone at the same time as fertilisation in order to be ready for transfer when they are grown to embryos...

[Kitkat10 in reply to Millbanks]

Hi, thanks for your message, yes I agree with you but they won’t even start the thaw at the 12 day scan which is usually when egg retrieval would be, they said they start the thaw a week after day 12, then another 3-5 days for embryo development. I don’t understand the longer wait compared to the FET cycle when the medication prep of my body is the same.

If the lining is fine, then why not thaw on that day? I guess that’s my question? Who knows? 🤷🏻‍♀️ I’m sure it all makes sense 🤞

[Millbanks in reply to Kitkat10]

Yes that is a good question! I would flag it to them if you can - otherwise unfortunately you just have to trust what they are doing.

I wonder if it's because they don't know how long they will culture them for?

x

[Debsdex11]

Hi kitkat, I was in exactly the same position, it was my first frozen DE transfer and they put it in for day 21, I said to them “why is it so much later than with the fresh transfers?” I thought the window was important and I had positives on the 2 previous transfers (unfortunately I miscarried both but the transfer process had been successful). They only said to me this is a normal timeline for the medicated route you’re taking. If you go non-medicated it’s different and they need to monitor you closely for the right timing, but with medicated the only thing that triggers the window is the drugs.. I started to take the progesterone 5 days before transfer, although I see your protocol is a little different I guess this is their usual protocol at your clinic. I was doubtful but went along with it and I’m now 12 weeks pregnant, this frozen embryo is the only one to make it so far, so I guess it worked well! Fingers crossed yours will also be successful xx