A story of hope for those suffering recurrent implantation failure

[EllaBC]

I wanted to share my story in case it gives a ray of hope to those suffering from recurrent implantation failure.

I am currently 14 weeks pregnant so still early days but it's a huge step forward for us. This is the result of the 11th embryo transferred (over 9 transfers as did a couple of double transfers), and prior to this we had always got negative results. Before this transfer I'd been thinking about giving up and looking at adoption but I'm so pleased I kept going.

A bit more of our story: we were initially treated in our local NHS clinic. We were both 34 when treatment started and although my husband's sperm was sub optimal, we were told we had unexplained infertility. We had one egg collection which resulted in 9 high quality day 5 and 6 embryos.

We had one fresh embryo transferred and then proceeded to transfer the remaining 8 frozen embryos. On two transfers we did double transfers.

Before our 6th transfer, we had NK cell testing done privately and found I had a slightly raised level. We therefore were prescribed steroids for the final two transfers but it didn't make a difference.

Once we'd used up all of our NHS embryos, we moved to a private clinic which we chose by looking at the rates of success of FETs for my age group.

The new clinic was very thorough and did so many tests. My AMH levels came back much lower than they had been for our first collection and so we were prescribed a pretty intense protocol for egg collection. Collection went pretty well and they used PIMSI to combat my husband's sub optimal sperm quality. We got 7 good blastocysts and after PGTA testing, 3 were said to be viable.

We then went through lots of more testing including repeated NK cell testing, ERA, Alice and Emma. Other than slightly raised NK cell counts everything was normal and the timing of the mock transfer was good.

I was prescribed steroids and intralipids to address the raised NK cell count.

Our first FET failed which was a massive blow. On the second transfer (which worked), they kept everything the same other than prescribing me buserilin in my prep and then they used an embryo glue and an HCG wash at the time of transfer.

Who knows what made the difference and whether the positive result would have happened regardless but I wanted to share this for anyone who is in the place I was before this most recent transfer.

Happy to share more details if helpful

[JB124]

thank you for sharing this, gives me a lot of hope to keep going x many congrats on finally getting the positive and wishing you all the best in your pregnancy xx

[EllaBC in reply to JB124]

Thank you. Best of luck with your journey x

[Millbanks]

oh wow! What a journey - congratulations ♥️♥️

[Doodlebug23]

Hi, your story sounds very familiar. Except i’m using DE. I’m on transfer 6 with embryos 7&8 after last 2 transfers being double.

I had HCG wash last time (BFN) and this time HCG wash, and added steroids, and embryo glue, and had a uterine contractions scan which showed all ok. I didn’t down reg this time and no intralipids.

Not sure what I’m even asking! 🙈 But you said you could share more details? X

[EllaBC in reply to Doodlebug23]

Hi Doodlebug23. Sounds like you've been on a tough journey. Really sending you all the best vibes for your current transfer. In terms of more details, I guess I was thinking that someone might have a specific question about drug regimes or tests I did. Don't think there is much more to add to the general narrative. X

[Doodlebug23 in reply to EllaBC]

Think I’m just clutching at straws for a miracle 😓

[Booda21]

congratulations on finally getting a happy ending 🩷

[hoping_for_our_time]

Thank you, this gives me hope.....about to do my 8th transfer. Steroids and intraplids this time and first time with a PGTA tested embryo.Would you mind telling me what was your steroid dose and how long did you stay on these?

Also how many intralipid infusions did you do and at what stages?

Thanks! x

[EllaBC in reply to hoping_for_our_time]

Hi hoping_for_our_time. I was on 20mcg of prednisolone which I stayed on until (I think) 9 weeks and then started down regulating by 5mcg each week. For intralipids, I had one about a week before transfer and then two after my positive result. I'm away so can't check dates but think they were each about a month apart. Best of luck. Xx

[hoping_for_our_time in reply to EllaBC]

Thank you for replying, really helpful Wishing you all the very best with the rest of your pregnancy x

[Mikki100]

Congratulations and thanks for sharing, this definitely gives me hope. I will be doing cycle #5 1st March, embryo #6 with DE. After extensive tests, they've decided to include steroids and intralipids. I've used embryo glue before but wasn't sure what a HCG wash was?

[EllaBC in reply to Mikki100]

Hi Mikki100. My uterus was flushed with HCG hormone just before the blastocyst was transferred. My clinic said it was something they were only just starting to use / consider so it may be a fairly new concept. No idea whether it made a difference! Best of luck with your treatment. Xx

[Brie889]

thank you for sharing, I’m sure this will give hope to lots of us out here praying to get our babies xxx

[Mismas]

congratulations xx

Can you explain more about the Hcg wash?

[EllaBC in reply to Mismas]

Hi Mismas. My uterus was flushed with HCG hormone just before the blastocyst was transferred. My clinic said it was something they were only just starting to use / consider so it may be a fairly new concept. No idea whether it made a difference! X

[Mismas in reply to EllaBC]

Thank you for sharing! How long before the FET you got the Hcg flush?

[EllaBC in reply to Mismas]

Pretty much immediately before (i.e. like 30 mins).

[Doodlebug23 in reply to EllaBC]

I’ve had 2 HCG washes. First 2 days before and second the day before. And my prednisolone was only 10mg a day. So confusing how different clinics have different approaches. Though yours worked!!

[Weegran20]

congratulations and thank you for sharing such valuable info Good luck for a trouble free pregnancy 🩷

[gianna83]

Congatulations! Well done on sharing your story and all this extremely useful information.

[CarlottaD27]

This is fantastic news! You’ve been through a lot ❤️ do you mind sharing the name of your clinic ? They sound very proactive x

[Living4Love]

Thank you for sharing your story. Just wanted to let you know that your post has given me a lot of hope during an especially difficult time in my journey. Wishing you the best of luck and happiness!

[EllaBC in reply to Living4Love]

I'm so pleased to hear it's been helpful to you. Best of luck and strength in your journey x

[Ukulele_unicorn36]

Just had my 5th failed transfer this week so this is great to read. Thanks for sharing and best of luck with the rest of your pregnancy.

[Bookbroad]

It is so good to hear stories like this and congratulations. I’m just about to approach my 9th transfer, my last ended in a MMC at 7 weeks, I had one chemical and the rest all BFNs. I’m so low at the moment but this has made me marginally better and reminds me to keep going. Wishing you all the best moving forward.

[EllaBC in reply to Bookbroad]

Stay strong Bookbroad - it is such a tough journey. I hope you have people around you to support you xx

[Keepondreaming]

hi

It’s really nice to hear your success story 🙂 please can I ask about the ibtrqlipids? What are these given for/why did they give you them? Do you know how they work? After 5 rounds of ivf which have resulted in two embryos for transfer which have both been unsuccessful they have advised me to have steroids and blood thinners. Just wondering if I need to ask about the intripids. I did have a biopsy and all came back normal but the clinic advised they find the steroids help - I’m happy to try anything. Thanks xx

[EllaBC in reply to Keepondreaming]

Hi. Intralipids were part of my treatment in response to high NK cell counts. They are basically a fatty liquid which is given intravenously. Beat of luck with your treatment. Xx

[Keepondreaming in reply to EllaBC]

Thank you - did u so for these? Or did the clinic suggest them!

Congrats on ur BFP! X

[EllaBC in reply to Keepondreaming]

It was part of the clinic's recommendation based on my test results. X

[Natasha2012]

huge congratulations to you ❤️ thank you for the words of encouragement. I have only had two failed transfers but the disappointment is incredibly difficult and it is easy to slip into a dark place on this journey … especially when everything is apparently ok and there’s no reason for it . But that feeling , of hope and the thought of your baby coming home keeps I’m sure every woman battling on . Lots of luck and best wishes to you xxx