Light periods and FET success?

[MiniCeeCee]

Morning all, hope your Mondays are treating you well. Has anyone suffered with light periods (1-2 day max) yet seen success with fresh or frozen transfers? I’ve started on meds for my first frozen transfer (after a failed fresh transfer in Nov). My periods have always been light after coming off the pill a couple of years ago. They seem to only be 1 day long now. I know the meds help build up a good lining for IVF, but I worry about the long tail of keeping a pregnancy if my body doesn’t naturally produce a lining very well itself. Any thoughts welcome!

[Millbanks]

Hello lovely,

I used to have fairly normal periods before I started IV - but now they are so light - lucky if I get 1 full day of heavy bleed then they just tail off.

But I had my successful transfer after one of those - the lining always builds up fine afterwards with the meds.

I asked my consultant about it and she said that even one day heavy bleed can be enough to get rid of a very thick lining so not to worry.

Also, even after all the meds, a thick lining and a failed transfer, I still only have a very short bleed.

In terms of sustaining a pregnancy, you would be on estrogen for the first 12 weeks anyway so plenty of time for your lining to thicken for the embryo.

You should be fine xx

[MiniCeeCee in reply to Millbanks]

Amazing thanks so much for your reply Millbanks , just helps put my mind at ease a bit as it’s just been playing on my mind! Super helpful and congrats on your successful round! X

[Millbanks in reply to MiniCeeCee]

Gosh yes, there are so many variables for each cycle aren't they - the stars really need to align! It'll be fine xx

[MiniCeeCee in reply to Millbanks]

do you mind me asking what protocol you were on for your successful transfer? x

[Millbanks in reply to MiniCeeCee]

Not at all. I did short protocol with Fyremadel / Progynova / cyclogest + Lubion (as always have low progesterone + inhixa for blood thinning. I also had the ERA test so transfer was 138 hours exactly after starting progesterone, plus steroids (20mg prednisolone) & intralipids to lower my immune system.

I also used a PGT-A tested embryo.

Phew! Sounds a lot when I write it down xx

[MiniCeeCee in reply to Millbanks]

Really good to know thank you so much! I'm on an Oestrogen pill called Elleste Solo + aspirin. Then move to adding cyclogest pesseries in a week or so. Feels like so little meds compared to fresh transfer! x

[Millbanks in reply to MiniCeeCee]

Yes the egg collection process is definitely more labourious than a frozen transfer. Best of luck to you! xx

[Kari55]

my periods were light and my FET was successful

[MiniCeeCee in reply to Kari55]

Amazing to hear and congrats!!

[Kari55 in reply to MiniCeeCee]

Best of luck. My twins are now 4 and I barely remember my fertility journey, it’s so full on! X

[Ltry]

I used to have light periods (3 days ish) then randomly about 6 months before we started TTC they got even lighter and were 1-2 days. I still don't know if that had anything to do with the problems we had as we were always just told unexplained infertility. Anyway my first FET was successful and my little boy is now 7 months old 😊

As others have said the meds will thicken up the lining and you should stay on them for a while if you are pregnant.

[MiniCeeCee in reply to Ltry]

amazing news Ltry so happy for you and gives me hope! thank you so much for responding! x

[Hopewhite]

Hi MiniCeeCee , i hope you're well. I also have noticed this side effect, since starting IVF a year ago, my periods became much lighter, the nurses said it should take 3 months for body to normalise after medicines, but there's always a little worry as I can see the noticeable change.

It shouldn't impact your transfer though, if you're on a medicated FET, the oestrogen they give you will thicken your lining, and you carry on taking that if you get a positive until week 12 so it all holds in place. Wishing you all the best of luck for your next transfer xx

[MiniCeeCee in reply to Hopewhite]

thanks so much Hopewhite , really appreciate it! Yeh the light periods just always feel like a worry, as it just feels like they don't equate to a thick enough lining. But doctors just seem to say 'its lucky' and thats that! x

[ButtercupGarden]

I always worried about my light periods (they are usually pretty light and maybe 2 days long) but the doctors confirmed that I was ovulating and we did have success with our FET who is now a bouncing 7 month old. Good luck, wishing you all the best! Xxx

[MiniCeeCee in reply to ButtercupGarden]

Huge congrats and so good to know, thanks so much for replying xx

[V3ra]

I was the same after coming off the pill. Very light 2 day period. They should monitor your lining to make sure it thickens up sufficiently for transfer. The first place I used didn’t adapt my meds when my lining dropped prior to transfer (and I didn’t know any better at the time) which is why I think that one failed as I was only 6mm at transfer. I changed to a different clinic for later rounds of ivf and they were much better. I needed to add in extra estradiol so was on patches and spray but lining thickened up nicely and currently 22 weeks. I stayed on Cyclogest pessaries until 12 weeks and have been using bio identical progesterone since then and will use through the rest of the pregnancy. Good luck!

[MiniCeeCee in reply to V3ra]

Huge congrats on your pregnancy! And thanks so much for your response. I have a scan next week so 🤞 the lining is tracking ok. I haven’t heard of bio identical progesterone, will take a look into. I’m due to start Cyclocest too soon, took it for my failed fresh transfer, and tempted to ask the clinic about adding progesterone injections too if poss, just to ensure levels are ok xx

[AshleyJB]

Hi there. For my FET in November the period I had before was only 2 days long the first day was light the second day was pretty normal and then nothing. I told the clinic and she said as long as one day was a pretty normal flow it was fine.

The transfer worked and I'm now 18 weeks pregnant after my 4th embryo transfer. So for me personally that short period didn't affect the transfer.

Lots and lots of luck to you. Xx

[MiniCeeCee in reply to AshleyJB]

That’s amazing news, congrats on your pregnancy! It’s great to hear similar stories re. Light periods, just helps put my mind at ease ahead of transfer 😊 thanks so much for your message xx

[BeeRainbow]

I have crazy light periods (1day) since the coil taken out 3 years ago. Have unexplained infertility and 3 x failed transfers so far. 1 in the freezer. I’ve been really worried about the lightness of my periods too but the doctors never seem concerned and say my lining is nice and thick on scans. Following to see what others say as I have an FET coming up with our last frostie!

[MiniCeeCee in reply to BeeRainbow]

So sorry to hear about your previous transfers and rooting for you with your last frostie! A friend of mine had success with her 4th (and lowest quality) frostie recently, so got my fingers crossed for you! Sounds like we’re in a similar boat on the light periods - not sure if it’s the same for you, but it just doesn’t feel like it adds up in my head - ie how can a good lining at IVF, then translate to a light period - taking lots of comfort from the messages above though (hope it’s the same for you!) xx

[BeeRainbow in reply to MiniCeeCee]

Thank you! Yes, same it has always made me wonder if that is the problem all along. But seeing some success stories on here helps. And as I said the doctors never seem bothered!

[AmyG18 in reply to MiniCeeCee]

I feel EXACTLY the same as you both. I've had 3 x transfers and no joy yet. My periods are so very light. I have "unexplained" infertility, everything apparently looks ok but I've had 3 failed transfers and am having to go into a second cycle. It's so hard not to focus on the thing that I can see which is dark/light/short periods which to me feel like an indicator of fertility. Wishing you all lots of luck moving forward x

[MiniCeeCee in reply to AmyG18]

Same to you, hope your next cycle goes ok! Have your clinic changed your protocol at tour transfers have gone on? I had my consultation with my clinic yesterday, and for my 3rd round in a couple of months they’re suggesting a few new tests / meds which I hope might help lead to success 🤞 x

[AmyG18 in reply to MiniCeeCee]

Hi MiniCeeCee, yeah, as we go things are getting tweaked, I've got additional estrogen patches, Viagra and additional progesterone injections. I've had a hysteroscopy which appeared clear, biopsy was ok. We are going into our second full round so will see what they suggest this time x x

[Whatever_her_name_is]

My periods were about 2 days of bleeding, although I had period pains from days -1 to 3 of the cycle. Had an unsuccessful fresh transfer and frozen transfer. Second frozen transfer worked and I am now a new mum to twin boys. C

[MiniCeeCee in reply to Whatever_her_name_is]

That’s amazing news, huge congrats! And twins too!! ❤️ Do you mind me asking if you think there was anything specific that helped with the 2nd successfully frozen transfer? xx

[Whatever_her_name_is in reply to MiniCeeCee]

Thank you 😊 crazy thing is that we did double transfer but only one of the embryos implanted but spontaneously split into two identical twins! There wasn’t much that I changed between the transfers that didn’t work and the successful one- I had acupuncture, quit alcohol, coffee and ate well during all. But I had a lot more progesterone meds in the last cycle after transfer. But you know what, it might just be down to numbers game, none of my embryos were tested so maybe this one was finally the right one. Best of luck to you, keep positive xxxx

[MiniCeeCee in reply to Whatever_her_name_is]

Wow that’s amazing! And great to know thank you so much x

[Tnthketnf]

In a medicated FET your period flow isn't an issue. The drugs are doing all the work. For a natural transfer if the doctor has checked that you are ovulating then that should be OK.