Fisft FET - BFN 😭 Need some next steps advice as will be switching the clinic

[lena-k]

I just completed my first FET with a 4BB embryo. Unfortunately it resulted in BFN 😭💔

Our NHS-funded round is now over: we only managed to produce 2 blastocysts out of 10 eggs collected. Fresh transfer resulted in chemical 😢, and now failed FET.

We will be switching the clinic for a private treatment. Although our NHS round was in a private centre too, I am not very happy with their approach. I truly feel like they just used one-size-fits-all protocols on me not even measuring progesterone levels ahead of the transfer.

I want to run more tests before jumping into a next collection / transfer. I know there are some really experienced warriors here, and hoping for some advice on the next tests that we should look into.

For the context, we are unexplained. I am nearly 36 with AMH 14.5 pmol/L (=2.03 ng/ml) as of last year's test. Otherwise fit and healthy; all standard fertility tests are normal.

Any recomendations highly appriciated! 🙏

[Millbanks]

hello lovley,

Sorry to hear you’ve not had success so far.

2 embryos from 10 eggs is fairly normal so I wouldn’t be put off too much by those numbers.

But I do agree that the NHS has a very “one size fits all” approach. Party due to the funding costs.

I did ask for progesterone testing too as they said they don’t do it. Even if I pay for it..

I ended up at a private clinic and basically did a massive amount of research myself and pushed them to do what I wanted. I’m sure they hated me by then end!

Tests I would recommend are ERA / ALICE / EMMA and immune bloods testing for natural killer cells.

Happy to chat more on pm if you want xx

[lena-k in reply to Millbanks]

Thanks so much for your response! I will DM for more info xx

[MontsJ in reply to Millbanks]

Millbanks can I ask did you take this list if things to your new clinic and ask them to do them all and did you know they offered all of them then before going to them?

[Millbanks in reply to MontsJ]

Hi lovely, So I didn't check in advance because I think most private clinics offer these "add-ons". Most of them don't have masses of scientific backing to say they do / don't work which is why they are "add-ons" rather than standard treatment - but lots of people tend to find if the standard treatment hasn't worked so far, then it can help to try other tests. It was definitely needed for me.

I did a lot of research after every failed FET to see what I could possibly try for the next one - so it wasn't that I took a list as such, but I kept looking in to other options and new things to try - it helped me stay positive too.

xx

[MontsJ in reply to Millbanks]

Thank you. It’s great your clinic did all the tests you asked for. Not all clinics have NK testing as they don’t all believe in the science. Did the results of your additional testing mean you made meaningful changes that made a difference?

[GreenSummer]

hi lena-k I feel like we are in sort or similar position. I found out yesterday my first FET had failed can I ask how you knew it was a chemical pregnancy? Did you get a positive test on test day.

This is year 10 of TTC for me 5 previous miscarriages 1 a MMC at 12 weeks. My first round of ivf on the NHS and they did manage to freeze one more egg for me too.

Me and my husband are fit and healthy according to all the tests. Although I do have endometriosis but everyone keeps telling me (dr’s) this is isn’t why I’m not staying pregnant apparently although now on my 6th failure I’m finding it more and more hard to believe.

I just wanted to say so sorry I know how hard this journey is and no one deserves this much heartache in one lifetime. Sending you lots of love x

[lena-k in reply to GreenSummer]

Hi there! Thank you for your kind message and for sharing your story. 🙏 I am really sorry you're going through such a hard time. Did you try switching the clinics to find a doctor who will look into potential underlining issues further?

With my chemical, yes, I had a BFP on 9dpt and it was a solid second line all the way to the OTD on 14dpt. Then I did the HCG beta and it was low-ish, repeated the blood work on 16dpt and it dropped to minimal instead of doubling. So that was it.

[GreenSummer in reply to lena-k]

My test looks negative but if I hold it up in the light I can see the faintest second line I feel like it could possibly just be a chemical pregnancy but I have stoped the progesterone yesterday and they told me to re test in 7 days. We have agreed to try the last frozen embryo with the nhs and then see how I feel, as at the moment I feel like we should bring an end to the years of “trying” and move on with our life but I also know I’ll probably end up regretting that decision later down the line. But yeah if we do go again with ivf I’ll find a clinic to do al of the testing on the embryos definitely.

[lena-k in reply to GreenSummer]

In my case, after I stopped the drugs, they also asked me to re-test later just to exclude ectopic pregnancy, which also can show up on a test. I hope the next round is a success for you xx

[Goldy23]

Hi,

Clinics in the UK don’t test progesterone levels as standard whereas the clinic I used in Spain does.

My progesterone level was fine pre transfer but it dropped dramatically after transfer and I was out straight on to Lubion injections straight away when it was discovered. I also had a hysteroscopy and then a procedure to help thicken my endometrial lining as the clinic couldn’t get my lining thicker than 5.5. Again not a procedure carried out in the UK to my knowledge!! I’m 44 with low AMH and IVF thankfully worked first time for us. I firmly believe it was down to the above! Happy to chat more if you want to PM me.

Goldie

[lena-k in reply to Goldy23]

Hi Goldie, Thanks so much for sharing! How wonderful you achieved the desired results!🙏

I am not sure I am ready for abroad treatment at the moment, but a lot of people here seem to have much better (and perhaps more affordable) experience with the clinics outside of the UK.

I actually was on Lubion right away (had to beg for it) and my lining was at 8.1 before starting progesterone but I have no clue what was my actual progesterone level. The reason I am picking up on this one is because when I had my chemical pregnancy (which obviously managed to implant to some level) I had skin rash all over the body from the progesterone until my HCG started to drop. That's why it makes me think my levels were off this time because I had none of that even with added Lubion. But I won't know now... Just a shame, that there's not so much information for me to work with in my next rounds.