Thickness of lining: Unfortunately my... - Fertility Network UK

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Thickness of lining

_Everglow_ profile image
27 Replies

Unfortunately my second IVF cycle failed recently with what our clinic graded as a 'top quality' embryo. I was worried that my lining was too thin at 7mm, but they weren't concerned and went ahead. I've read online that the optimal is 8-10mm, and I understand some clinics have a cut off of 8mm before transfer . Does anyone mind sharing what thickness their lining was and did that lead to a success? Did anyone do anything different to increase their lining thickness?

For my second cycle I had acupuncture which I didn't do for the first. I don't know if there is any benefit and if I should continue this.

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27 Replies
Daisy-Delilah profile image
Daisy-Delilah

Hello, sorry to hear you didn’t get the result you wanted.

I think 7mm is the minimum that clinics normally look for. I’ve had issues with thin lining and managed to have a successful transfer with a lining of 4.6mm and that is my 2 year old son.

Wishing you luck on your journey 🤞🏻💕 xxx

WillowPark profile image
WillowPark

Hi Everglow, sorry to hear about your negative round. I've had four failed transfers with my lining being above 10mm each time. One round they measured 13.8mm. Above 7mm is optimal but not a necessity, and a thicker lining doesn't guarantee success either unfortunately x

Fruitandflowers profile image
Fruitandflowers

My lining's always been fine, even borderline too thick but two transfers were early losses, one was a PUL, one was BFN and one was successful, all top quality. So although I think it can be a factor, it didn't seem to make any difference with mine, nor did the assessment of quality. My consultant said with unexplained infertility and no known issues, and age not a factor, he'd expect 1 in 3 transfers to work on average. There could be other things to explore but don't be too disheartened - I was certainly feeling like that after the first two losses and it was hard to keep going, but the third transfer worked and I didn't really ever get any answers why one worked and others hadn't x

Thom86 profile image
Thom86 in reply toFruitandflowers

Hi . Today my lining was 12mm . I started taking progynova when it was 3mm now they aren’t doing frozen transger for 6 days and I’m worried that it may be too thick ? , what was the thickest transger lining you had . Hope u don’t mind me asking and thanks for sharing your story x

Fruitandflowers profile image
Fruitandflowers in reply toThom86

I think the average lining on my successful FET was 11mm before they reduced my progynova dose (so it may have been more by transfer), but they said there was one area in particular that was much thicker - they didn't seem to be especially bothered about the average lining or thickness, it was the uneven bit which they weren't happy with as they said it could be a polyp. I was having a really bad reaction to the progynova so they said I could go down to 1 a day to see if this helped with the symptoms and uneveness and by the time I got to transfer the lining had all evened out. Once you start progesterone it tends to shrink a bit too.

Thom86 profile image
Thom86 in reply toFruitandflowers

Thanks so much for the reply . I spent all week dreading that the lining wouldn’t be thick enough but now I’m worrying the opposite . It’s such a journey . Now just need to hope they thaw fine . I had two 5AB blastos and a 3AB . My fresh cycle with the 5AB was unsuccessful so now I’m hoping they transfer they final two xx

Fruitandflowers profile image
Fruitandflowers in reply toThom86

I know - most of the threads on this subject were about it being too thin and no-one seemed to have the opposite issue. I think see it as a good thing (it was for me). They usually thaw fine too so chances are that bit will be ok too. It does just often take a few goes even when everything seems perfect, so don't be disheartened by the last time. Best of luck!

HollyT7 profile image
HollyT7

I can’t remember exactly what mine was but I think my first wasn’t real thick so I drank tonnes of Pomegranate juice for my two other successful pregnancies x

Asha82 profile image
Asha82

My lining was 8.2mm and I'm now 22 weeks and 6 days pregnant, sorry to hear it didn't work out for you

Kclaxton89 profile image
Kclaxton89

so I just had a transfer 12/13 and a few days before the checked my lining and it was at a 6.5 but the df weng ahead with the transfer and so I’m in the same boat as you and really want this baby to stick … I’ll be praying for you

Meliana profile image
Meliana

I'm sorry to hear that it didn't work. I've had 4 transfers fail with three PGT tested normal and my lining was always at 8 mm. My last transfer was at 7.1 mm with an untested 3AA embryo and my doctor said lining was "perfect," and it failed so also questioning if it was a mistake to process with thinner lining. I have one last embryo left and my doctor plans to see if I can do a stimulated FET transfer to get lining to 8 mm to see if it makes a difference

Padme777 profile image
Padme777

I’m really sorry it didn’t work for you. My clinic abroad wouldn’t go ahead and transfer if lining is too thin and they were looking for at least 10 mm, mine was 6 mm they did few rounds of medications and also PRP which did miracles for me. It did make a difference in my case. When I had IVF in UK my clinic didn’t seem to bother about the lining much and all transfers were unsuccessful.

Sbhalla profile image
Sbhalla in reply toPadme777

That is great news. Could you please share the details of clinic with me as my lining ia very thin and does not go beyond 4.5mm. Thank you

Flora_bah profile image
Flora_bah in reply toSbhalla

Hi

I have the same issue. I would like to know about PRP ?

Thanks !

Padme777 profile image
Padme777 in reply toSbhalla

Hi, the clinic I went to is in Sofia, Bulgaria, I’m Bulgarian living in UK so it was easy for me to organise it, not sure how and if they’re dealing with patients from abroad I assume they could advise if you contact them. Otherwise I read that there are clinics in UK offering PRP. Hope that helps

Yellowlove profile image
Yellowlove

I’m sorry to hear about your transfer. Was the 7mm on your 10 day scan? Mine was around 7.4 on my 10 day scan and when they said they were going ahead with transfer I was concerned too. But they said that by the time transfer day comes it will have gone to 8mm because of all the meds I was on. They also said the number isn’t always exact, as different sonographers take readings in different ways. I asked on transfer day what the lining was and they said they don’t measure it that day! I guess you just have to trust that they would not go ahead if they didn’t think the timing was right. Anyway I was doing acupuncture, pomegranate juice, walking, and Brazil nuts every day. There are so many factors involved in the success of a transfer. This transfer worked for me but my two previous transfers failed and they were better embryos and I had thicker lining. I hope you find some answers xx

Chowlady14 profile image
Chowlady14

hey Everglow: my transfer failed this cycle with a perfect 5AA hatching blastocyst which had been PGA tested. I too have had serious issues with my lining, I’ve had 5 cancelled cycles this year due to lining not getting thick enough and also slight fluid in there. This cycle they did a mild stimulation and my lining got to 7.1mm so they were happy to trigger (there was still slight fluid in but said would asses at transfer date) I had scan on transfer day and the fluid was gone and lining had gone to 14.4mm and the progesterone had dried the fluid up so they said they were happy but it failed so I’m worried I wasted that embryo. My consultant said that the lining was good though at both 7.1 and 14.6 for transfer and that the thickness on transfer day doesn’t really matter as the progesterone changes the density it’s the first measurement they care more about. He said even with perfect lining, perfect embryo and tested there is still only a 60% chance of success and that’s with everything perfect so I’m waiting to start my bleed to go again. It’s the hardest process. I have a 3 year old son though who was our 2nd attempt (first perfect embryo failed and he was 1 of 2 transferred embryos) so trying to stay positive xxx

Goldy23 profile image
Goldy23

my transfer was cancelled as they couldn’t get my lining thicker than 5.5mm.

I then had a hysteroscopy and then had a GIP procedure (instillations) blood was taken, platelets from my blood were isolated then injected into my lining to thicken it. This worked and they got my lining much thicker. It was an expensive procedure on top of the ivf cost. I am now 15 weeks pregnant.

I was also told that eating walnut helps thicken your lining. I had a handful of walnuts every morning with my breakfast cereal until I was 10 weeks.

I used a clinic in Spain, I’m not sure if the procedure I had is available in the uk. Worth checking it out though.

Good luck

Sbhalla profile image
Sbhalla in reply toGoldy23

Could you please email me details of the clinic as I had 5 miscarriages and my lining never goes beyond 4.5 mm. thank you

Goldy23 profile image
Goldy23 in reply toSbhalla

iVf life Alicante - they were amazing from start to finish x

Oopsieloopsy profile image
Oopsieloopsy

I think the quality of the lining is more important than the thickness they like a triple layer. Mine was 8.8mm I drank Pom juice , took vitamin E, ate loads of nuts and seeds and walked 30 mins every day, no idea if it had any effect but transfer was successful x

KAllenx profile image
KAllenx

Hi Everglow

Firstly sorry to hear your second transfer didn’t stick. I am in the exact same predicament as you! 2 failed transfers with top quality hatching blastocysts. My lining first time was borderline 7 and my second transfer had to be delayed slightly so I could up my estrogen tablets to get my lining thicker which on my second scan got to 8.5m so still not massively thick but above clinic benchmarks so went ahead. For my third transfer they are going to be starting me on a higher dosage of estrogen and patches potentially to hopefully reach a higher thickness. I don’t know what her I should be doing more tests at this point. My consultant advised to go ahead without and then re evaluate if the third transfer fails but as I’m paying this time I don’t know whether to do the extra now. It’s a rollercoaster for sure but keep going, you will get there one day!! They say third time lucky hey!… I also did acupuncture for my first transfer but not my second. Unsure whether it did anything it was more of a therapy for me but got too expensive in the end

Good luck 💕

MAPB profile image
MAPB

I have always had trouble with lining thickness. Managed to get to 7mm on one occasion which gave me my son so it’s not always a deal breaker. Wishing you all the best and a merry Christmas! x

Flare90 profile image
Flare90

Hi,

You are not alone, I had the same top-notch embryo and good lining but it didn't work out. Although the reasons for this failure are not clarified, don't give up and don't drain your energy on looking into why it failed cause it is different from one body to another and you will keep confusing yourself with a trillion failure reasons, think of what to do next, how to stay optimistic 💗

Don't Give up 💗

It will work out for you the less you think about it🌸

Nihal123 profile image
Nihal123

Hello

I had 6 transfers all with top grade embryos and a lining above 7, all ended either chemical or BFN. Until I had my 7th transfer with 2 lower grade embryos and lining thickness of less than 7mm. The 2 embryos stuck and we saw the heat beats then one stopped growing and now I have the most beautiful baby girl.

Nopeplz profile image
Nopeplz

9mm for me FET

_Everglow_ profile image
_Everglow_

Thank you all for your replies and wonderful support. The clinic now said they want to get my lining to 8mm for my third round, which is annoying that they've suddenly changed their mind, but hopefully I'll have a better outcome.

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