Success stories please

[Cahoots]

Hi

I'm about to have my 4th transfer and am feeling really anxious. I've had one fresh and 2 frozen transfers so far and all unfortunately ended in early miscarriage. 😞

I'm so convinced this one will be the same and can't get excited at all. Even if I get a BFP I'm not going to get excited because I've been there 3 times before, but each time at the 6 week scan I've been told the embryo stopped developing. 😪

Has anyone had success from the same batch of embryos after multiple miscarriages? I just think if 3 out of the 5 embryos we have all miscarried, perhaps there's something wrong with the whole batch? Is it possible that one will work even though the others didn't stick?

[DianeArnold Partner Nurse Fertility Network UK]

Hi Cahoots. I’m sure lots of ladies will be here with their success stories. On a medical note, have you ever had a hysteroscopy and lining biopsy? Are your tubes ok and patent. Apologies if you have all checked and ok. Fingers crossed for your next precious transfer. Diane

[Cahoots in reply to DianeArnold]

I haven't had any of these tests done, unfortunately. Is this something the IVF clinic should do? They haven't offered any investigations as to why I keep miscarrying to be honest. They tell me I need to go to a miscarriage clinic and I'm waiting for a referral on the NHS.

[DianeArnold Partner Nurse Fertility Network UK in reply to Cahoots]

Hi. Fxcess lubrication leaking from bl?ocked Fallopian tube can prevent a developing embryo from implanting/developing. Checked with HSG or HyCoSy scan.the hysteroscopy looks for defects and polyps etc in the womb. Just a thought, but maybe no need if you have never has an infection. Diane

[Cahoots in reply to DianeArnold]

Thanks Diane, if it doesn't work out this time, I'll ask my clinic about these.

I've never had an infection and have regular periods. My infertility is unexplained, but perhaps I need to get these things checked!

Anyway, here's hoping this transfer works out and I don't need to worry about any of that! 🤞

[Millbanks]

Hi lovely,

I'm sorry to hear of your story so far. I wouldn't say that you have a "bad batch". Depending on your age you are likely to have a percentage of normal embryos from each cycle - maybe you have already used up your abnormal ones and the next one will be fine.

Its so hard to know what the issue is as there are so many different variables each time. I don't know much about miscarriages as I've only ever had BFNs until our 6th transfer, but we included steroids which helped our little one stick. Might be talking to your doctor to see if this is something they might check before your next transfer.

I know it's really hard to be positive after several bad experiences, so I would just try and be neutral - have some hope but not too much. Ugh this journey is so hard.

Sending love xx

[Cahoots in reply to Millbanks]

Thank you. Fingers crossed this one will be the one that sticks! 🤞 Transfer day is tomorrow, so I just have to wait it out and hope for the best I guess. It's going to be a long, anxiety inducing wait for the scan if I do get a BFP!

The clinic is pretty useless tbh. They don't do any miscarriage investigations. They've upped my progesterone pessaries to 3 this time, but haven't ever checked my progesterone levels 🤷‍♀️ Other than that, no change to previous protocols.

I can imagine BFN are just as upsetting too, so sorry you had to try so many times, but I'm pleased you had success eventually! Gives me some hope ☺️

[Millbanks in reply to Cahoots]

Everything crossed for you this time.

If it helps even a tiny bit - my friend has just had 3 miscarriages and her 4th pregnancy is all good so far, she's 13 weeks. Just because it has happened before doesn't mean it will again.

Easy to say that but you'll still worry all the way.....

xxx

[Cahoots in reply to Millbanks]

Thank you! 😊 It does help to know that actually, thank you Xx

[fdafda]

Hi Cahoots,

This sounds quite similar to me. We were lucky enough to have a successful round in 2021 where I had my daughter, but after that I had a retrieval which resulted in 5 blastocysts - the first two were missed miscarriages spotted at 8 week scan and my third was a chemical. My clinic were also useless so I went to see another consultant who did recommend miscarriage investigations including blood tests and a 3d and saline scan to make sure there wasn't another reason for the losses - like scarring from previous miscarriages. I haven't had these done yet so I can't shed light on whether they've helped but they do sound like they make sense - they're not cheap though (although nothing in IVF is...) and I got told the wait to do these on my local NHS was 53 weeks!!

I also thought perhaps it was a whole bad batch and I should go for another retrieval, but they did say it's mostly just chance and one of the last 2 might just be a lucky one... That said if I do another retrieval I think I will be testing the embryos just for that extra peace of mind. I know exactly what you mean about not getting excited about BFP, but I think you have to remember that every transfer / every pregnancy is different and just because the last ones didn't work it definitely doesn't mean this one wont.

Good luck in the next transfer, I've got my fingers crossed for you!

[Cahoots in reply to fdafda]

Thank you so much. Yes, that's very similar to me! I had 5 blastocysts too. Are you going to try again with your last 2?

I was also thinking if I do another retrieval I'll get them tested as well. I'll probably go to a different clinic too.

I actually had a referral through from the NHS to a miscarriage clinic a few days ago, but we'd already planned to do another FET, so I'll leave it for now. At least if it goes badly again this time I have the referral already. I have had some blood tests done, but they all came back 'normal'. It's so frustrating not knowing the reason why it didn't stick isn't it!

[fdafda]

Yes, I’m just waiting on doing some blood tests first although consultant thinks they’re also likely to come back normal - so hoping to transfer again in May / June. I also think I will move clinics if these 2 don’t work - so I’ve asked if I can transfer them both together… it’s so frustrating being constantly told it’s just a numbers game; so I completely get where you’re coming from. It’s good when tests come back normal but it’s also annoying to not have anything to ‘fix’!

[Cahoots in reply to fdafda]

Yes, my thoughts exactly! I was thinking perhaps I should transfer the last 2 together, but then I never asked in the end and it's too late now as it's transfer day today! 😄

Good luck with everything, and I hope everything works out with your next transfer 🤞 x

[CyclingAddict]

I'm sorry to hear you're feeling anxious. Rather than it being a bad batch, you may have been unlucky with the order the embryos have been put back. I did an egg collection in October and opted for PGT-A testing. Out of the 11 embryos that had made it to blastocysts, 4 were chromosomally abnormal and wouldn't have resulted in a live birth. One of the abnormal embryos was graded top quality while some of the embryos with poorer ratings came out as normal. So I wouldn't lose faith.

What also helped me was having Alice, Emma and ERA tests done before transfer. It helped my consultant work out how much meditation and for how long right down to the hour. It turned out I needed an extra day of progesterone prior to transfer.

I'm now almost 14 weeks pregnant, and that was my 6th transfer! Sending you luck and baby dust x

[Cahoots in reply to CyclingAddict]

Thank you! Someone else suggested Emma and Alice to me, but my clinic doesn't do them. Perhaps if this one doesn't work out I'll go to another clinic and ask to have these done.

Congratulations on your pregnancy 🥰 It is encouraging to hear that it does work out, even if it sometimes takes a while to get there! X

[Doodlebug23]

I had 7 embryos from my second cycle. All BFN (1 early chemical) until the last 2, so the lowest graded, were transferred. They weren’t tested.

[Sparklylife]

I am sorry about your previous miscarriages! This path is such a difficult one. 😢🧡

It does not mean the whole batch have to be the same however. Could just be 3 out of 5 were abnormal, but that does not mean your last two are! Of course you can’t know without testing the embryos, but even with testing it sometimes just does not work! So other factors too to consider!

We had two blastocysts from our first stimulation round, one was successful and the other was a BFP, but stopped developing at 7 week scan. So it is possible! 🤞

I really do hope this transfer is successful for you and I got everything crossed 🧡💫

[Cahoots in reply to Sparklylife]

Thank you! If I do have another egg collection I am definitely going to get them tested.

[Goldy23]

I had a hysteroscopy and then a procedure to isolate platelets in my blood. This blood was then injected into my endometrial lining to thicken it for transfer. I had all my treatment in Spain.

I was also told by a nurse to eat walnuts, she swore by this to help implantation during her pregnancy. I ate them daily up until 12 weeks. I am now nearly 32 weeks.

Dont give up hope try different things to make ur dreams come true xx

[Cahoots in reply to Goldy23]

Interesting! Maybe I'll get a pack of walnuts today!

Thank you! And congratulations 🥰

[Batsford]

Hi Cahoots, I had two chemical pregnancies and 1 early miscarriage, prior to this pregnancy. I decided to see a private miscarriage clinic for testing and was put on an immune protocol, as my immune system was very overactive. I also PGS tested the remaining embryos to ensure I was transferring a genetically normal one. It seems to have made a difference this time as I’m just under 13 weeks pregnant and I’ve never got to this point before. We are hoping and praying it continues developing. Best of luck to you.

[Cahoots in reply to Batsford]

Thank you! And congratulations! 🥰

[Mercury363]

It's such a difficult path. I had three transfers. All with pgta tested eggs of good quality. First was chemical pregnancy, they then carried out prp treatment as per the previous poster and my lining improved with this and it resulted in my son. Third transfer same protocol and it failed after very light positive result. No reasons why, sometimes it just doesn't work and comes down to luck. I have to redo my ermap if we go again as this might have moved due to my pregnancyI also had a hysteroscopy and am on immuno medication. Hope that helps and good luck today! X

[Cahoots in reply to Mercury363]

Thank you! When you were having scans at the clinic did the lining look good? My clinic keep saying it looks perfect, so I'm wondering whether there's something they can't see on the scan?I assumed that because I had BFP each time that it wasn't a problem with implantation and perhaps more to do with embryo quality (I was 38 when they were collected)

I'm Googling all the tests people have suggested above and I think perhaps this isn't the case and I should get it checked if this one doesn't work out x

[Mercury363 in reply to Cahoots]

My linings were perfect on both my second and third transfers. I had prp treatments which gave me a perfect lining. I did my ivf in Spain and I know most UK clinics don't offer it. My body kills all my embryos so I take meds to counteract it. I would definitely test the eggs, look into ermaps, imaps and Alice and Emma ( I didn't have the last two). My imap showed them I was killing all material including my own eggs as I don't recognise them as my own until 12 weeks. Try not to think about it now!! Just relax and try and enjoy your tww. You can only look after yourself for the next while, the rest is in the hands of the gods!