recurrent implantation failure

[Lilly12255]

hi ladies, for the ones who had failed recurrent implantation failures and then success, what did you change? What lead to success?

[IVFat40]

For me I had my uterine natural killer cells tested, found they were high, and was prescribed steroids, and also suggested to have the endometrial scratch. This protocol was successful. Wishing you so much luck

[PinkPanther1234]

Hi, for me it was immune protocol (steroids, intralipids, hydroxychloroquine). Also had an ERA test which showed I needed to transfer 24 hours earlier than the usual x

[Fauzytt]

Great question! So interested in this

[LouCollier]

Had biopsy for NK cells with Tommys, took steriods also had progestrone by injection as well as pesseries the time I was sucessful. hope you find your answer xx

[LSandJ]

On my successful one I had steroids and hcg "clicks" for FET. I also have 6 days of progesterone instead of 5 (era did say this but I tried 6 days a few times without success) so not sure if that made a difference but this was the only one with steroids and hcg!

[Babyhope8 in reply to LSandJ]

Can you please explain little bit on Hcg clicks? Is it Hcg uterine wash or embryo glue or Hcg injection? When and how it was administrated?

[LSandJ in reply to Babyhope8]

It was an injection pen (ovitrelle 250), I used the same pen to just administer a little bit over a few days (2 days before FET, the day after and two days after that). The 'clicks' is just how the pen administers the medication. It was quite hard to do accurately, so I basically for a little bit of hcg before, during and after FET. The reason I did this was because I'd never had a positive until I did a fresh trabsfer (and therefore usual hcg trigger injection). That one worked (no steroids) but I miscarried at 6 weeks. So I was keen on trying hcg again and had heard of hcg wash. I asked about this and the clinic (finally) agreed to some hcg, but said these clicks were how they would do it (the clinic have a separate implantation clinic and they sometimes used to clicks there). It didn't seem common protocol and I had to suggest it and then push 3 times before they finally agreed.

You mention embryo glue. I did also have that, but it was standard at this clinic.

So on the two successful (after 6 previous fails) I had hcg injections and embryo glue. On the successful (currently 12 weeks) I also had the steroids.

Hope that helps! Defo suggest hcg (wash or clicks!) As I don't think enough places do it! Only specialised implantation failure clinics I think!!

[Babyhope8 in reply to LSandJ]

Yes I suggested in my new clinic , they say they don’t do it . I’m checking if I can get any other clinic to prescribe it for me

[LSandJ in reply to Babyhope8]

I wouldn't have thought they would without you being a patient! Have you started much with this clinic? How many fails have you had? Have you tried an implantation clinic? They possibly will even if you're a patient elsewhere! Although they will want to do the testing too!

[Babyhope8 in reply to LSandJ]

Totally I had 3 miscarriages, I live in Canada , my fertility clinic doesn’t believe in any research papers I show them . I checked with local doctor to refer me to recurrent pregnancy loss clinic , they refused to accept my referral for two reasons , between my second and third miscarriage, I had a tfmr due to renal a genesis had to terminate so I don’t qualify as I had one successful pregnancy although it was terminated for medical reasons plus they said since I’m already with a fertility clinic as well I don’t qualify for recurrent pregnancy loss clinic .

[LSandJ in reply to Babyhope8]

I'm sorry for your losses. Can I ask at what weeks you had your mcs? (Mine were all fail to implant at all rather than mc, apart from the one loss at 6 weeks), so perhaps quite different. Also with your need to tfmr, it could be more embryo issues than implantation issues? Has this been explored? It feels horrible to just "try again' until you qualify for enough losses nor fails... however, I've had practically everything tested and they never actually found any issues really. Maybe some immune things, but one clinic didn't agree with the results and to be honest they kept changing anyway. So we actually went back to basics. I think a lot of it is a numbers game and just luck. If you've had success without hcg shots (and it sounds like you have), then I can't see why you'd need them. If the losses are v early then maybe steroids would help if there is the possibility of am immune issue, but my clinic kept saying if you don't need them you can actually make things worse! And it's still controversial if they work! It does feel horrible to just keep going... it took 10 embryos for me, but we got there (we'll hopefully, we're still early days!) X

[Babyhope8 in reply to LSandJ]

All my 3 MC’s were under 10 weeks . In two incidents we initially saw a heartbeat at 6 week and 7 week mark and stopped . First one was anembryonic pregnancy . Most recent miscarriage last year was a pgta tested embryo. My my tfmr in 2021 at 20 weeks mark , they refused to test as it was first occurrence both kidneys were missing so had to terminate but they just did autopsy to confirm that both kidneys were indeed missing but they refused genetic testing saying that province government did not have funding . But in this pregnancy at 10 weeks I did nipt testing chromosomal ‘‘was normal . In this pregnancy I had steroids till 12 weeks . Also I had Hcg shot small dose after i did transfer by myself as my clinic did not believe in this ( but my first transfer in india my fertility doctor gave me , so I tried getting it myself and injected it myself ). After tfmr we decided to do pgta testing atleast as we could not narrow down on gene which caused our tfmr . Two months back I transferred two tested pgta embryos in the new clinic , old clinic closed for good ,which had one implanted and saw heart beat at 6 and 7 weeks but stopped when we went for scan at 10 weeks . Totally 4 ivf cycles , 7 transfers with 10 embryos done so far

[LSandJ in reply to Babyhope8]

Oh you've been through so much and actually get quite far sometimes, but yet obviously can't relax because if whatsoever been through! I wonder what can be going on and if your body is rejecting them in some way? Or if youve just been that unlucky? (A few of my fail to implant were pgta tested too). You said steroids to 12 weeks with one, did you taper off, and then when did it fail? In the end for me I don't know if it was just luck or the added steroids (I'm a bit scared to come off them!) Are your clinic saying "just try again?"

[Babyhope8 in reply to LSandJ]

In the most recent max two months back I was only give 5 days 20 mg steroids my bad I never pushed them for more , at the back of my I thought since I had a tfmr before I thought maybe that caused it . It was just my mind playing tricks . By the way for my steroids which I took till 12 weeks also my tfmr pregnancy , I did not taper I went cold turkey with it . Steroids was giving me lot of trouble it was too bitter and had sleep issues so I felt happy when they said I can stop . But I did continue progestrone till got over just to not waste meds lasted till 13 weeks I guess . It was at this time we noticed amniotic fluid wasn’t there , tried some ivs but later diagnosed with kidneys missing. We had to stop it otherwise pregnancy was going as normal . After this loss I did lot of reseatsome favoring steroids and some not . My sil had asthma issue , she was taking steroids for and when she got pregnant in her first attempt naturally, her doctor advised her going off steroids . But who knows I can never compare myself with a normal woman . Some papers saying it can do harm so I didn’t bother asking the new clinic for longer steroid dose , I thought 5 days would be sufficient. But your doctor may be right in saying for those who need it , it will benefit not all . I believe I indeed fall under steroid category

[Anoncasper]

Hi Lilly,

I’m sorry to hear of your implantation issues.

I had 2 rounds of FET which both failed to implant. On my 3rd, I took some baby aspirin as well as my prescribed progesterone and my little one took. I’m currently 23 weeks pregnant and that’s the only thing I changed.

Fingers crossed your next FET works. Sending lots of luck your way xxx

[lighthouse27]

Great question!! I've had 5 failed transfers, 1 miscarriage at 8 weeks. Currently waiting on date for haematology and immunology testing. Wishing you all the best of luck xx

[Trytryandtryagain84]

... donor eggs! I was also prescribed sitagliptin. Good luck with your journey. Dr Brosens is worth seeing at Tommy's/ Warwick university in Coventry for another independent opinion.

[Effie1988]

For our fifth attempt we tried sex the night before (there is a study that shows this greatly improves your chances) and I ate loads of milled seeds and lots of long walks. Our fertility clinic wanted us to do lots of tests (NK cells, ERA, Emma etc) so if we had done those I’m sure we would have thought that made the difference.

I should mention after 2 failed attempts we did do PGTA on the remaining but it still took us 3 more FETs. Strangely the 2 best PGTA graded embryos failed and the one that took was a day 6 5*B-B- (previously 3B+B on old scoring).

Good luck xxx

[Effie1988]

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl....

Think this was the study.

[40plusTTC]

I have the same issue so here for all the guidance and advice! ☺️ Hope you get some answers and whatever changes you decide to go with in future are helpful x

[Millbanks]

After 5 failed FETS we tried steroids and it worked xx

[Millbanks]

After 5 failed FETS we tried steroids and it worked xx

[Millbanks]

After 5 failed FETS we tried steroids and it worked xx