Although the recent FET was natural and it failed, with spotting starting from 7dp5dt and heavy flow at 8dp5dt, in the past cycles I have always had my periods before the test day even while given HCG shot after transfer and taking daily progesterone
I wanted some advice from you all if this is normal or there is something to be checked?
I have regular 30 day cycle with ovulation on day 16 or 17.
This time Ovulation was on day 18, still the period started on day 30 🥺
Sorry if the question or observation is silly but just wanted if you can help me with some experience, guidance!
Ps I told this to my clinic doctor but she responded- there is not explanation as my cycle is regular and hormones levels are all as it should be. Endometrium was at 12. something before transfer 🥺
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Et88
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This always happened to me too. I asked my consultant if it meant my progesterone wasn't high enough but he said no, he said basically my body knew I wasn't pregnant so all hormone levels dropped and the drugs weren't enough to prevent the bleed. He said if I was pregnant (obviously) the levels wouldn't drop. I did have a baby eventually so it can be done! Good luck!
Thank you so much for your reply! Congratulations on your dream coming true. May I ask if there was any change in the treatment that lead you to success or just the try again you luck theory worked 😊?
Do you get spotting before your proper period/flow on your natural periods? I always did and it can be from the drop in progesterone but it's possibly still an issue as it means the lining can start to shed before implantation is established. This is even if the hormone levels themselves are ok. I also got spotting before OTD when on cyclogest and my consultant said that shouldn't happen if the progesterone is working as it should. He changed me to utrogestan vaginally (as there's some evidence it can be better absorbed) and also lubion injections. My next transfer on that combination worked and I didn't get spotting on any transfers on that since. May have been chance but sometimes progesterone isn't taken as seriously as it should and it's something than may be possible to fix with trying different forms.
No actually I almost never spot . The occasional spotting only happens with embryo transfers ( all 3 of them I spotted for a day or 2 before the period started) and very few times with cycles when we tried naturally.
That's a good sign it doesn't happen naturally. It may still be worth asking about extra progesterone or trying different sorts on your transfers as I was told it can't do any harm and it seemed to make a difference for my successful transfer.
I had problems with oestrogen, kept having spotting and never got a good endometrial line, I even had some bleeding in my endometrial line on my scans before I started bleeding, it all happened with progynova.So they changed to evopad patches.
Of course the main thing is progesterone. But as you see my problems spotting were mainly cuz of oestrogen.
Thank you so much for the response. My clinic never checks any hormonal level during FET and if you know the Dutch health care, it is JUST following the protocol and no personalization what so ever..
However this time I am gonna be really difficult with them and will not agree for one more transfer with same protocol. let’s see what happens!
For me, my first 2 transfers I bled before OTD. 1 fresh medicated and 1 natural FET. Followed by 1 fresh medicated, 3 medicated 1 natural FET (I’m 8dp5dt) and I haven’t bled till I stopped all meds. I’ve always been in 2 cyclogest per day and progesterone “optimal” at transfer. My clinic have never suggested changing or adding anything. In my natural periods, both before and during IVF I spot for a couple of days before full flow.
Not sure if any of that is helpful at all 🙈 But as a comparison that’s my experience. X
Hey, my first fresh transfer I was on 2 x cyclogest and got my period day before OTD. On my next FET, they wanted to proceed with the same cyclogest but I practically begged to add lubion which we did do, I didn't get my period this time but unfortunately it still didn't work. xx
I haven't done a natural FET yet but thinking about it because all others, fresh and medicated fet, have failed. I too have the spotting/light days before period properly starts, frustratingly it goes away for a day before the full flow comes in. They said it won't make a difference to the start of the natural FET cycle but we'll see. I want them to check my progesterone again on a normal cycle but they say the original day 21 tested levels 2 years ago won't have changed that much. Sorry I can't be more help, just wanted to add my observations and experiences.
Hi Et88, I had bleeding before the testing date in my first two transfers, despite taking cyclogest pessaries. This stopped when they added in 1 Lubion injection per day on top of the cyclogest. I think in my case, my progesterone levels weren’t high enough before. Best of luck.
Hi. This happened to me on my first unsuccessful attempt. I mentioned it to my consultant at my follow up appointment - how my period started full flow day 8. She kindly prescribed me with progesterone injections - lubion. One a day and pessaries twice a day which I felt really made a difference on my successful round.
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