Frozen embryo transfer - down regulation or not?

[CheeseFriend]

Hi everyone, I should be having a frozen embryo transfer in a few months and am unsure of the pros and cons between having a medicated FET with prior down regulation or a medicated FET without down regulation.

I've tried to do some research, but just got very confused! Does anyone have some advice on this?

[Keepondreaming]

hi

I had a frozen embryo transfer with down reg. I had Prostap and it was a fairly long process as in total it was almost three months from point of down reg starting to transfer. Unfortunately it wasn’t successful. Looking at the research i found for Prostap ot was quite poor but did indicate there maybe be a slightly better chance. Part of me thinks it’s just a gamble either way!

Hope this helps a bit and wishing you lots of luck xx

[Norregirl in reply to Keepondreaming]

Doing downregulation with zorodex due to adenomyosis and endometriosis. There seems to be some research I found indicating pregnancy rates when undergoing it for 3-6 months if implantation was an issue. google.com/url?sa=t&source=...

Also look up 'downregulation advice' here on the board and you'll find some helpful information from people's experiences.

[Twiglet2]

I detest the down reg, hate the way the prostrap makes me feel and how long the process is so I preferred not to down reg. However when my clinic opened back up during covid it’s the only FET they would do as they needed to time everyone specifically as their capacity was very reduced so I did it, instead of the natural FET with my own cycle that had been originally planned. This FET brought me my little boy so I am now a biased fan of down reg FET😂 the research I done was the same as you pretty even in terms of stats etc. so I don’t think there is a right or wrong way just what works for you xx

[Tnthketnf]

I had unsuccessful medicated FETs with down regulation twice, and a couple of abandoned attempts where my lining didn'tthicken. I also had a mock cycle without downregulation straight to estrogen tablets and I still ovulated. So for me a medicated cycle has to have the prostap. I think with the downregulation I start the week before my period with the prostap and transfer about 20 days after my period. So about a week extra if you start with prostap.I don't know about success rates. My old clinic wouldn't do medicated without prostap whilst for my new clinic they only do it because I ovulated in the mock cycle. Their standard is straight to estrogen tablets. Could you do a mock cycle to try how it will work? I appreciate a mock cycle is going to delay things for the actual transfer.

[Glaedy]

When I asked my Dr during consultation about pros and cons and difference between natural FET, medicated FET or downregulation + medicated FET and difference is (what she told me) Natural FET - you are just going along your cycle they are just scanning you on cd 8-10 to see how is your lining and getting FET date if all is good

Medicated FET - option for people who are not so good growing good endometrium and need some support with meds -starting meds on cd2 scan on cd8-10 to see lining and when to start progesteron and getting FET date if all is good

Downregulation FET - best for people who have very unregular cycles or there is big hormonal imbalance or other medical predisposition but then they should let you know

I had downregulation twice - after 1st egg collection I had high chance of OHSS and 2nd time because I stopped breastfeeding my son with not as big gap my clinic would like before getting ready for FET trying for sibling.

[CheeseFriend]

Thanks so much everyone!

[Purplehedgehog87]

I'll be having oestradiol from cd1-2 with fyremadel for 7 days, scan d12 (I have longer cycles) then progesterone and oestradiol after that. First FET so bit clueless and terrified, have 3 euplpid frozen and another one which is mosaic. We're waiting for my next period end April to start. I get bogged down with research but this clinic is best response we've ever had so for now we're going with our consultants suggestions