What worked for your BFP ? - Fertility Network UK

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What worked for your BFP ?

Forevertrying2 profile image
47 Replies

Hi all

I have had 4 failed transfers (3 fresh and 1 frozen) with the last two being donor eggs. I have been trying for a baby for 15 years and not once have I got pregnant.

All immunology came back ok and hysteroscopy results were absolutely fine. Just no explanation for my infertility it’s just so strange.

Despite the tests being fine this time my consultant is giving me steroids, blood thinning injections, extra progesterone pessaries and luibon. Just wondering what other things you have tried ?

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Forevertrying2 profile image
Forevertrying2
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47 Replies
Purpledoggy profile image
Purpledoggy

Hard to know what the magic bullet is but… 1) high dose vitamin D (ideally blood level should be 75-100 nmol/ml; I live on 5,000 iu a day as the paltry 400 iu the NHS recommends does naff all for me); 2) vitamin E (to help endometrial blood flow); 3) buscopan around the time of transfer; 4) vaginal progesterone-in some women (incl me) rectal and systemic just doesn’t get a good enough endometrial concentration. My clinic no longer use Cyclogest as they feel it doesn’t work as well as Utrogestan, which is vaginal only. Have a look on my profile for dose/timing for everything. Good luck! Xx

Keggles36 profile image
Keggles36 in reply toPurpledoggy

Hiya. I just wanted to echo the high dose vitamin D, i take 3000. I have a few friends who were struggling and conceived naturally/had a successful transfer following this change. It could have just been coincidence, but it doesn't harm, and I didn't get sick this winter so that's a bonus as well!

Prettypenny1 profile image
Prettypenny1 in reply toKeggles36

Hi sorry to butt in but do you take the vit d in a tablet or spray?xx

Forevertrying2 profile image
Forevertrying2 in reply toPrettypenny1

I take the tablets I checked they are 2000 iu, I had a look there is stronger so maybe I should get some. Is the spray better ? Xx

Prettypenny1 profile image
Prettypenny1 in reply toForevertrying2

I’m not too sure which form is better. I just take it in a multivitamin at the moment but thinking to purchase it separately in a higher dose but unsure whether to go tablet or spray xx

Purpledoggy profile image
Purpledoggy in reply toPrettypenny1

I take a capsule (containing liquid). ‘Now’ brand 5,000iu. I get them from iHerb as I have not seen them here xx

Forevertrying2 profile image
Forevertrying2 in reply toPurpledoggy

Thanks you for the response, I have been taking vit d but I’m not sure if the dose I will check xx

Forevertrying2 profile image
Forevertrying2 in reply toPurpledoggy

Hi there, I have cyclogest as my clinic won’t give anything else so hopefully the luibon helps increase this for me. Will get some higher vid d I take it religiously but I don’t think it’s a super strength one xx

Boo718 profile image
Boo718

hiya, I had 4 failed transfers then I did the era Emma and Alice tests. The result showed I needed an extra day of progesterone so we did that and transferred on day 6 instead of 5 and that transfer worked xxx

Kichwaa profile image
Kichwaa in reply toBoo718

What day of your cycle do you get to do ERA and Alice test?.

Boo718 profile image
Boo718 in reply toKichwaa

You follow the same protocol like you are going to do a transfer but on that day they do a biopsy instead. It’s not sore at all and is over super fast xxx

Kichwaa profile image
Kichwaa in reply toBoo718

Thank you

Goldgirl profile image
Goldgirl

I had 4 failed(no implantation) transfers. 1 OE and 3 DE.

My fifth transfer worked after I went Vegan and gluten free. I joined an auto immune group and followed some of their natural remedies diet, exercise etc

I assumed it was autoimmune and tried to handle it as such. Being vegan helped

Forevertrying2 profile image
Forevertrying2 in reply toGoldgirl

That’s interesting I have looked in to this as well

Nabsal profile image
Nabsal in reply toGoldgirl

Interesting I will try too

MontsJ profile image
MontsJ in reply toGoldgirl

Goldgirl Can you share details if the autoimmune group and wgat chanfes thy made, I’ve started an AIP diet but keen to understand any other changes I could make

Goldgirl profile image
Goldgirl in reply toMontsJ

lupus and autoimmune support group

I don’t have lupus but I tried to follow their lifestyle tips and adjust them to my individual needs

Goldgirl profile image
Goldgirl in reply toMontsJ

I also researched on google how to help autoimmune challenges, I went vegan basically, I rested more, drank lots of water, exercised moderately

MontsJ profile image
MontsJ in reply toGoldgirl

Thank you so much for responding 😊

Goldgirl profile image
Goldgirl in reply toMontsJ

I also took green tea regularly

Not after transfer though

Crazyrabbitlady13 profile image
Crazyrabbitlady13 in reply toGoldgirl

Hi Goldgirl, did you have any immune medication or just follow the diet?

Goldgirl profile image
Goldgirl in reply toCrazyrabbitlady13

I didn’t have any immune medications. I was only given baby aspirin, cyclogest, Pio and estradiol

Endofitall profile image
Endofitall

Main things if not done would be vaginal microbiome testing, sperm dna fragmentation test (not sure from what you’ve said if all same partner or sperm donor?), seeing Warwick/Tommy’s Prof Brosens’ recurrent implantation failure clinic for endometrial biopsy, considering if you have undiagnosed endometriosis.

Hope you finally have some luck 🍀

Forevertrying2 profile image
Forevertrying2 in reply toEndofitall

Hi Endiofitall, I have had a biopsy during my hysteroscopy all results came back ok. Over the last 15 years I had ivf with my ex partner who had 4 children but my current partner of 5 years has no children and sperm has test has come back ok. We haven’t tested dna fragmentation and we only have one embryo (our last go) so that options out. Thank you for the luck - I think I’m going to need it xx

Endofitall profile image
Endofitall in reply toForevertrying2

Sorry to hear this. Have you seen professor Brosens recurrent implantation clinic? If not that’s probably something to tick off. I might stand corrected but I think some of the RNA microbiome tests are more extensive than the biopsy culture results at hysteroscopy (I had both). You can order vaginal microbiome tests to do at home now eg fertilysis xx

MariaHdz profile image
MariaHdz

They say to continue doing nor al activity after FET, and so I did. I would excersise lightly, go to work, etc. I had 4 failled FET. On my 5th FET, a day after transference I broke my foot so I was not able to work and was lying down for 2 weeks... i was very unstressed. That one worked (I thought it would not because I also got covid at the same time and becaus eof the fall and not moving). Also my last three fet were natural instead of Artificial ones.

Goldgirl profile image
Goldgirl in reply toMariaHdz

Bed rest helps. Especially in cases of endometriosis where stress produces lactic acid which causes flares or inflammation. If there's endo, bed rest is compulsory sort of

MariaHdz profile image
MariaHdz in reply toGoldgirl

I have PCOS, no endometriosis diagnosed. Here they tell you basically that if you rest it will fail. To do everything normal and thatvit will be a success. But I guess with pcos it must also be a similar thing: stress raises cortisol, that raises insulin that makes pcos worse (I have insulin resistance)... some studies mention that high insulin can result in implantation failure. But the fertility specialist did not recognized that.

Vacaydreaming profile image
Vacaydreaming

Hi lovely I’m so sorry you are struggling so much it’s such a traumatic journey but it’s good that your consultant is trying new things.

For my successful transfer I also added in blood thinners (enoxaparin) X1 a day I believe this also helps with implantation, I had 3 Cyclogest vaginally instead of 2 and I also had issues with my lining so had quite a lot of estrogen, 2 patches and 6 tablets I also inserted 1 vaginally although this was something I did not the dr but it worked wonders and my lining shot up. I’m obviously not a medical person but just sharing my experience as I had heard of a lot of people doing the same and having success.

I also used Optibac tablets for gut health as I had read a lot of studies linking the gut to fertility.

High strength Vit D as others have said was also recommended by my clinic.

Sending you so much strength and positivity for this next cycle xx

Goldgirl profile image
Goldgirl in reply toVacaydreaming

Did you continue taking vitamin d during your 2ww?What other supplements were you on during 2ww

Vacaydreaming profile image
Vacaydreaming in reply toGoldgirl

Yes still take them now as well as the above just folic acid daily

RACMumm profile image
RACMumm

Have your transfers been medicated or natural? I had two failed medicated then swapped up to natural & got my first BFP. Sadly miscarried but went natural again & added steroids, blood thinners, lubion & immunosuppressant infusions & bingo! My 4th time lucky little miracle is blowing raspberries beside me. Lots of luck.

ElianaandOrsmum profile image
ElianaandOrsmum in reply toRACMumm

lol @ blowing raspberries. Not a care in the world as to how he/she came about! These non-rent-payers are just too cute!

RACMumm profile image
RACMumm in reply toElianaandOrsmum

😂 non rent payers i love it.

Ker-bear profile image
Ker-bear

Hi Foreverything2,

I had 5 failed IVF cycles, 1 fresh and 4 frozen - I wasn’t going to go again but after a break of nearly 2 years I researched a new clinic, albeit expensive I decided to give it one last go. The way I was treated there and the care provided was second to none - in the failed cycles they had trouble inserting the embryo on all them occasions and it was actually painful. I made my new clinic aware of this and they advised I be sedated for this cycle. We only had 2 eggs that made it to embryos so I wasn’t too hopeful but after the 2ww I couldn’t believe it when I seen the 2 lines, it was just a dream come true. My baby boy is now 3 months old.

I would say give your body and mind some rest, it will happen xx

I really pray your dreams come true xx

Tinkertinkerbell profile image
Tinkertinkerbell

Hi, I also had 4 failed transfers. Everything always looked good and good quality embryos but they just weren’t sticking. I thought it would never happen. Then I had the EMA, Alice and ERA and my results came back saying I had no good bacteria and most critically that all my embryos had been put back too soon - my lining was pre-receptive after the standard 120 hours of progesterone and the ERA recommended I had 150 hours of progesterone before my transfer. So I used LOADS of canesflor (3 a day) to fix my bacteria and my last frozen embryo was transferred after 150 hours of progesterone. I expected it to fail again because mine always do but I got the shock of my life and it was positive! I’m only 6 weeks so early days still. But I’m a huge advocate for the EMA, Alice and ERA. It worked for me. If I hadn’t have done it I wouldn’t have known that all my embryos were being put back too early when my body wasn’t ready for them. Good luck 😉 Honestly- I’ve been where you are and it’ can all suddenly turn around x

Eloquentia profile image
Eloquentia

Hi! Much has already been said. One additional thing I did in the run up to my BFP was to take probiotics. Vaginal ones (Canesfloor) at the recommendation of my clinic and oral ones (BioGaia) on my own initiative. Very best of luck!

leo1980 profile image
leo1980

gosh lovely you must be exhausted!

I had vitamin D injections for 3 months before my positive transfers. We swapped lubion for Prontogest and cyclogest pessaries instead. My thyroid was perfect (with no medication) I actually just upped my iron supplements instead.

I know you said donor eggs but have all issues with male factor been explored?

Best of luck.

Forevertrying2 profile image
Forevertrying2 in reply toleo1980

I have just been reading about Vit D injections ☺️

leo1980 profile image
leo1980 in reply toForevertrying2

It stings! I also cheated and took b12 (but I am a vegetarian) born as one so my levels are low. Worth a shot. I am on the fence with PGT had failures and success so can’t say one way or the other if it’s worth it but did you try this? (I know it’s expensive)

Forevertrying2 profile image
Forevertrying2

I was low in but D when I had my blood tests done and they told me to take supplements but I already do. I don’t want to PGT test as I only have the one frozen embryo left and that’s me done x

Forevertrying2 profile image
Forevertrying2

Thank you everyone you have all given me a lot to consider ❤️

happypupp profile image
happypupp

I had two transfers at 43 and got pregnant on the second:

1: Natural modified cycle - Day 6 euploid (grade 2)

2: HRT cycle - Day 5 euploid t (grade 1), with baby aspirin and Clexane

Difference between FET 1 and 2:

- Embryo grade and age were different - statistically they had different success rates

- I have a long cycle so natural cycle probably wasn't for me

- I had a hysteroscopy in between to make sure my uterus is free of inflammations.

- I had FET specific protocol acupuncture treatments before and after the transfer

- I added Chinese herbal syrup to my daily supplement regimen that helps with blood deficiency and stagnation

Before both cycles:

- I had ureaplasma and was treated with doxycycline

- I went gluten free to calm down an elevated thyroid antibody (anti-TPO)

- I was tested for thrombophilia gene mutations

- I started taking Bio.me femme (probiotics) from Invivo on top of other supplements, which I still take in my pregnancy

Someone I know from here had several failed transfers and recurrent miscarriages. She had a TEG blood clotting test to find a blood clotting disorder that was addressed for her successful pregnancy.

Hope-and-faith profile image
Hope-and-faith

4 years ago I was just like you. We’ve tried for 7 years and I kept on getting repeated implantation failure. It was so hard but don’t give up. I got my daughter on 9th transfer and on 10th I got my twins.

I had natural killer cells tested and those were all fine. However I read the book “is my body baby friendly” and on the back of that I had a Chicago test done. It showed my immune system was overactive. My transfer number 9 and 10 were completely different to previous ones.

i used steroids. I also took metformin. Prior to transfer I followed Mediterranean diet and did lots of walking as it all meant to be anti inflammatory. I also had a transfer on day 6 of projesterone, I had ERA test done which showed transfer needs to be on day 6. I am convinced that if I had this protocol earlier than I wouldn’t have had to wait so long for my babies.

I’m by no means an expert but if you’ve had unexplained failure and even with donor eggs it sounds to me that it’s your immune system rejecting embryos and it’s less likely to be the quality of the embryos. I’d suggest reading “is my body baby friendly”.

Good luck.

Forevertrying2 profile image
Forevertrying2 in reply toHope-and-faith

Thank you. I have just looked and will be buying it. When I was using my own eggs (years ago) I read ‘it starts with an egg’ and followed it to a T. My results were amazing I still don’t touch receipts, dye my hair, wear nail polish just out of habit so a book like this will give me good focus xx

Hope-and-faith profile image
Hope-and-faith in reply toForevertrying2

I read that book too. It was good but in my case it wasn’t enough. After repeat implantation failure I felt they can’t all be chromosomally abnormal embryos that my body rejects hence why I read the book “is my body baby friendly” I felt the approach I took following that is the reason why I now have 3 children.

Doodlebug23 profile image
Doodlebug23

I had clexane and prednisolone added for my 6th and 7th transfers. 7th was the one 💖

I ate pineapple and Brazil nuts and drank pomegranate juice. I also took CQ10 which I read can give energy to the embryo. X

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