Donor Embryo natural transfer protocol

[Axel131]

Hi ladies,

I just want to see if anyone has done a natural modified transfer when they used donor eggs (it's actually double donation, egg and sperm)?

I've done this protocol before for my own embryo transfers and they went without a hitch but now that I've moved on to donor eggs they are suggesting a change in protocol which I really would prefer not to do. By natural modified, I mean trigger injection to time ovulation and then progesterone suppositories afterwards.

Thanks

Alison

[Doodlebug23]

You have just described my last transfer to a tee!! Literally every single detail! I am now 8 weeks pregnant ☺️💖

[Axel131 in reply to Doodlebug23]

Brilliant Doodlebug, thanks for letting me know. The overthinking is kicking in now and I just wanted to make sure that I'm not completely going against the standard protocol. Many congrats and may it be smooth sailing for you from now on!

[Doodlebug23 in reply to Axel131]

5 failed medicated and 2nd try at natural worked with Bondi protocol.

[Axel131 in reply to Doodlebug23]

Oh I'll have to have a look up the Bondi protocol, I just mentally and physically prefer the natural, it's easier on my body. I don't do too well on oestrogen and the thought of taking it for 14 weeks is not good so hopefully I can convince them!

[Doodlebug23 in reply to Axel131]

Tbh I was fine on oestrogen but the first natural I did my clinic did it by scans not ovulation tests and as they are abroad I had to pay and arrange them in uk. This time it was the ovulation tests so much easier and cheaper! The other bonus is my clinic say as it’s natural the need for progesterone supplementation is less although I’m on pessaries still till 10 weeks.

Bondi protocol is basically prednisolone and clexane. I did that transfer 6 which was medicated but BFN.

Obviously now I’m a big advocate for both!! 💖

[Axel131 in reply to Doodlebug23]

My clinic have always done it through scans not ovulation strips interestingly. Yes I really prefer that if you ovulate and have a corpus luteum it's much more like a natural pregnancy as your body is producing hormones too as well as the supplemental progesterone too. The clinic have reluctantly agreed to do it but said as they don't have much experience with it, they couldn't guarantee any success, which I thought was highly amusing as they can't guarantee success no matter what protocol I use! I did ask do they do any more immune suppression other than 4 days of steroid tablets and they said no so who knows, I'll have to see how it all goes.

[Doodlebug23 in reply to Axel131]

My clinic didn’t offer with strips previously.

What an odd thing to say! Like you said it’s not as if they can guarantee success period!

[BenjitheG]

Interesting thread as heading into my first DE cycle at some point this summer. My body hates oestrogen and last time I took it it gave me insane insomnia for months so I would really like to avoid if I possibly can. My problem is I’m not sure I can do modified natural as I have an erratic cycle due to PCOS and ovulation sticks have never worked for me. I’ve heard that patches can be better than oestrogen tablets but have no experience of that myself. Sorry I don’t have any experience I can pass on to you at the moment but wanted to wish you all the very best in the upcoming cycle! x

[Axel131 in reply to BenjitheG]

Thank you so much for your reply. The clinic have agreed to do natural and what they do is a baseline scan before period or day 1 or 2 and then take me back in at day 9 or 10 because I have a short follicular phase to monitor follicle growth and when it reaches around 18mm and my lining is about 7 which is as thick as it gets, it's always on the thin side, they trigger. So I don't actually use ovulation sticks so I wonder can they monitor you like this.

[BenjitheG in reply to Axel131]

Thanks for sharing. My problem is knowing when the start of my cycle will be as my cycle can vary hugely from 32- 72 day cycle. I’m fortunate not to have other PCOS symptoms or even cysts but a cycle like this has made this journey really hard. Got a discussion about my treatment plan in a few weeks so hoping we can have some alternative options to the oestrogen tablets. Glad the clinic listened to you and you could do the natural protocol. x

[Axel131 in reply to BenjitheG]

I can only imagine, trying to plan or schedule anything must be so hard when you don't have predictable cycles. Hopefully your clinic can come up with a plan. I know for some PCOS transfers, they might even give you very small stims just to promote growth of a follicle and then trigger but have a chat with them and hopefully there'll be some options. xx

[BenjitheG in reply to Axel131]

Thanks for the suggestion as I wasn’t aware of this option before. I have a consultant appointment in a weeks time and hopefully then can come up with a plan of the best treatment options to give my body and the DE the best chance

[Axel131 in reply to BenjitheG]

Absolutely there's always different options, just whatever your clinic prefers seems to be the one presented at the time. Really hoping they come up with a plan that works well for you.

[Natasha2012]

I wasn’t donor eggs but massive advocate for natural cycles if you can . I didn’t get on with the oestrogen either , my body hated it . I didn’t trigger I just tracked my own ovulation and then had progesterone support . Saying that ovulation tests don’t work for some women . Do whatever you feel is best for you - you know your body. Good luck ❤️ xxxx

[Axel131 in reply to Natasha2012]

Thanks so much Natasha, I'm also a massive advocate for natural cycles and have done 3 with my OE and it worked well in terms that the follicle grew like it should and my lining was always trilaminar and just reached the desired thickness, so it all went to plan. Now I didn't achieve pregnancy with them but that was more likely age of the embryos. So I was just confused that they were so against it for donor eggs and I just wondered was there something I was missing that it was so different with donor. The clinic have very reluctantly agreed to do it but I had to push hard so I'm hoping my body cooperates this time too! xx