Recurrent implantation failure - please give me hope

[Joeysjourney]

Hello my lovely support team. I'll try and keep this rotten history of mine very very brief.......43 years old, all embryos created between 40-42. Trying since I was 36. Just one natural chemical at 41yo.

So far, 5 failed transfers of 6 good-decent embryos. All bfn, no chemicals or anything else. 4 collections, numbers dwindling each time.

I've had icsi, scratches, SiS scan, 20mg steroids, lubion added, era (need day 4 tfr), Emma, Alice (taking probiitics for lactobacillus) and mix of fresh and frozen transfers but all medicated. Also had reflexology and acupuncture. Haven't done pga, not convinced by it but even if I was, haven't got enough blasts per cycle to justify it.

Having my review soon after my last failure which has hit me like a truck. I desperately want him to throw everything at me, but there are so many options my head is spinning. Aspirin, hysteroscopy, ivig, pga, natural tfr etc etc. All is see is time and money.. ....

I've one embryo left and then I need to decide on donor or another chance at my own eggs. But I'm worried that even donor won't ever work cause there's just something wrong with me. I can't get anything to implant never mind stick around.

Recurrent implantation failure is gut wrenching. Not even getting out of the starting blocks is so hopeless and heartbreaking. It's such a lonely place.

I'd love to hear your success stories and tell me what you think helped please!

And also views on if I'm too old and too broken to try again with my own eggs

Full history in my bio

Thanks everyone. Id be lost without this support group. Please give me hope Xxxx

[Millbanks]

Hello lovely one,

I'm so sorry - RIF truly is shitty.

I've sent you a PM

xx

[Football61]

Hi, I’m so sorry to hear about your difficult journey. Completely appreciate your views on PGT-A, but I would personally take that avenue if you choose to do another cycle with your own eggs. It would be good to find out if your struggles are due to chromosomally abnormal embryos, rather than implantation failure as such? Wishing you the very best of luck x

[Skittles11 in reply to Football61]

I'm of this opinion too. X x

[Joeysjourney in reply to Football61]

It just doesn't seem worth it when I'm only getting 1 embryo? Xx

[Football61 in reply to Joeysjourney]

Can completely see your point, but considering all the efforts/money you have expended so far - at least it would reveal whether the problem might be with the embryos rather than something else? x

[Skittles11 in reply to Joeysjourney]

I guess it may possibly just provide more information which could enable you to rule something out. But of course with not many embryos it is a risk. For me I was testing embryos when there was only 2 to test. Many in my position would not have bothered and this decision was based on personal history and circumstance. For me I feel it saved me the potential trauma of more failed implantation and potential miscarriages / chromosomal issues of embryos. But I know it's not an easy decision at all x

[Chel91]

Have you tried DHEA priming and optimizing hormone levels prior to egg retrieval? I believe it can help increase the number of viable embryos when this is an issue. I don't think anyone needs to give up on their own eggs if they don't want to, but there is a high-ish chance of abnormals at this stage. Personally I'd bank some more embryos quickly (after DHEA priming) if that's the road you want to go down, and then maybe consider throwing everything at it xx

[Joeysjourney in reply to Chel91]

I had dhea before last two collections but only for a matter of weeks to get my levels up. I thought I would have needed it for 3 months at least but Dr said no? X

[Chel91 in reply to Joeysjourney]

Yes for 3 months at least. I would get your blood levels checked every month or more to maintain it on the higher end of normal.

Did you ever try a dual trigger? (Hcg + GnRH agonist)? That may also help xx

[Chel91]

I've never seen a study where they used DHEA for less than 6 weeks, most are 12 weeks or longer, but I'd love to see these if you know of any. Hopefully this "renowned" doctor is basing it on something concrete and not just their opinion. I'd potentially do 3 months just to be safe, as I don't believe there is much drawback to this (apart from time being of the essence of course) xx

[MariaHdz]

Between 32 and 35 I had 6 failled Fet and 6 failled iui (not even 1 positive).I followed every instruction, including light exercise. The one that worked was when I broke my foot and I just had to stay in bed watching a comedy, forgetting over work.

[Doodlebug23]

You said have all been medicated transfers. The one that worked for me was natural. Worth a shot?

[RACMumm in reply to Doodlebug23]

This was going to be my question as I had 3 failed medicated and then 2 successful modified natural transfers both ended in a positive although the first I lost at 6 weeks. The second is currently lying beside me feeding. I was 46 when she was transferred and 47 when she was born although I used pga tested double donor embryos.

[Doodlebug23 in reply to RACMumm]

Love your story! Similar to mine. 5 failed( 4 medicated), 1 chemical before my BFP - which was modified natural. Double donor though not PGA tested. Just turned 48 at transfer 💖 Can I ask how many euploid/ aneuploid did you have? Curios as it took me 10 embryos to get my BFP X

[RACMumm in reply to Doodlebug23]

Hey Doodle I love how similar our stories are too 😍. All the embryos I had transferred were PGA tested. Mine were double donor and were banked embryos donated to the clinic as opposed to my selecting the donors if that makes sense. The first transfer was in northern Cyprus but I’m dubious as to whether anything was actually transferred on that occasion but I will never know and will never be able to prove it so I disregard that cycle. I then went to a new clinic in Ukraine and had a set of two embryos for the first two transfers and then different donors for the the last two transfers (another set of two embryos if that makes sense). I had single transfers each time and the last two were modified naturals and the only two that worked. Not sure about euploid/aneuploid to be honest.

[Doodlebug23 in reply to RACMumm]

Ahhhhhh ok. Mine were fresh transfers from double donor with any excess frozen butter not tested. Donors are anonymous in Spain so all I know are their ages and blood type.

That sounds very concerning your experience in N Cyprus. Another post on here regarding there but different issue the other day 🥺

[Lenley81]

I’m also 43. I’ve had 3 rounds of standard IVF & each time, only one embryo has been good enough to transfer (none for freezing).

I had a telephone consultation with the consultant last week who suggested loads of different sperm tests, hysteroscopy, biopsy & different blood tests , all which are going to cost a fortune on top of what we’re already paying. I asked her, given my age & the costs, which of these are going to be most worthwhile as I’m beginning to feel like I’m flogging a dead horse. In the end, we’ve decided to change from long protocol to short, we’re going to do ICSI & I’m going to have the biopsy beforehand. I don’t know whether any of this will make a difference but it’s our last shot.

[Nenad]

Hello, really sorry. All I can say is you’re not alone - 7 failed transfers here too (2 chemicals and 5 bfns). I also didn’t do PGTA by choice, I feel there’s no right or wrong answer. We would’ve spent the same amount more or less whether transferring them all or testing then transferring. Same outcome and heartache I would say, because it’s still a failure whether they fail the PGTA test or the transfer fails.

Here if you ever need to chat xx

[MontsJ]

I’m so sorry this is happening. I’m 43 and so can understand your worry about time running out. If it were me I would have full repro immunology testing (including the NK cell testing) and consider a hysteroscopy. Aspirin costs pennies so you can just add that but essentially it’s more helpful for reducing risk if preeclampsia once pregnant. PGT-A - it will just reduce the time loss with potential implantation failure and miscarriage that would come with a chromosomally abnormal embryo. If you aren’t keen to test this embryo maybe consider it for if you decide to have another cycle if the next transfer weren’t to work out. I would only be looking at 1-2 embryos each cycle tops and I think I would be having PGT- as I also know time isn’t in my side. Opinions on this varies a lot between clinics and even doctors. PGT-A may just mean less lost time at our age. Have you had a full thyroid panel with thyroid antibodies? I’ve also just listened to a podcast with a lady who helps patients tweak their protocol and she discussed that medicated cycles just don’t suit all women. Perhaps is a a natural cycle is best to consider. Her name is Tasha Bkadi if wanted to check her out, she’s had IVF herself and had heavily delved into the science behind different protocols.

[Tinkertinkerbell]

Hi, I’m also 43. I had 4 failed transfers and thought nothing was going to work but my 5th transfer was my BFP. I did two cycles with my own eggs and didn’t get much other than a couple of morulas and one ‘average’ blastocyst. Then the consultant suggested donor eggs. I did a cycle with donor eggs and got 3 ‘outstanding’ blastocysts. I thought this was going to be the ticket so I was very upset to get a BFN and transferred again and another BFN. I thought there was something wrong with me that they weren’t working out. Then I did EMA, Alice and ERA and needed an extra 30 hours of progesterone and LOADS of probiotics. I also added aspirin for the first time. It worked for me. I’m now 10 weeks pregnant at 43. Good luck to you x

[Megrumpy]

We had recurrent implantation failure. Had 3 fresh and 2 frozen transfers. It was fresh transfer number 6 with 2 embryos that worked. We did have one chemical somewhere inbetween.

My consultant thought that what worked was that they put the embryos back in under sedation. Apparently my cervix is awkwardly shaped. BUT none of the transfers that they found tricky, actually caused me any discomfort or cramping afterwards, so I never believed that made any difference.

Long story short on the last transfer we had two consultants as mine was on holiday when we decided to try again. And I convinced the new consultant to let me change my Levothryoxine dose as I have an underactive thyroid. All my blood test kept coming back fine, so my old consultant was very reluctant to try it. I cannot quite explain it, but once I changed my dose I did actually feel more fertile. And we had the best quality blastocysts we ever had.

In terms of age, I had better quality blastocysts when I was 38 than when we started with IVF and I was 35. So age is not everything. I had my twins when I was 39. I believe that it was all because I changed by medication. BUT it could have just been pot luck.

Not sure if any if this helps, but it might give you some hope.

[Banana77]

Just wanted to say I hope you remain positive, having 3 failed implantations it is hard but hopefully you will persevere xx

[Snow345]

Have you tested for Nk cells? I had 3 failed transfers and then they found Nk cells so put me on a protocol with intralipids and steroids and then I started getting pregnant with ivf.. Unfortunately 4 miscarriages all between 7 and 8 weeks. Youve done all the other tests so maybe now try the Nk Cells and immunology tests in case it's that. Perhaps do another retreiva as well. Good luck xx

[Natasha2012]

I’m sorry you are going through all of this . I was told on my journey that it’s often to do with the embryos if ivf doesn’t work. What I will also say , like has been mentioned , to try natural . My successful transfer was a natural one . My body just didn’t like the hormones and I do think my system was overloaded and that’s why implantation didn’t happen . Good luck to you - I know how soul destroying it is xxx

[Citizenerased83]

I'm so sorry to hear about your experience. Have you heard of this clinic? warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/med/r... It might be helpful. I had two miscarriages and then three failed implantations in a row and if my next FET doesn't work I think I might go to this clinic.

Sending you lots of baby dust x