Prednisone for FET - any experience

[Booda21]

Good evening ☀️,

Hope everyone is well. Last minute question as usual from me, as my follow up is tomorrow morning 😬. Think I like to ignore it for as long as possible.

Basically I have now had 9 embryo transfers of 10 embryos (one double). I had one early miscarriage March 2021 (pre 7 weeks) and a chemical pregnancy August 2022 (ended up with sepsis and seriously ill a week after transfer)

This cycle I have had 3 embryos sent off for PGT-a testing. One has come back euploid, one no results and one aneuploid. I am getting the no results one re biopsied (obviously this happens to me although it only happens in less than 5% of cases 😵‍💫)

I had hoped for many more embryos as they told me I had 19 follicles and were preparing me for OHSS and when I had my egg collection they only collected 6 eggs. I still had 5 on day 5 but they said only 3 were good enough to biopsy. I am obviously extremely grateful I got 3 and also the one normal one so far. But I can’t help feeling this has given me no more information. Out of 2 that got results I have a 50/50 scenario. And I can’t help but feel out of 10 previous embryos, some of these must have been euploid. I always feel the problem lies within my own body. I have endometriosis and have had 3 surgeries to try and remove some of this but I have DIE through my bowels etc. my ovaries end up stuck down every time, I now how one tube and my womb is stuck to my bowel.

My question is, has anyone had multiple embryo transfers and gone on to have success because they used prednisone? I’m really anxious about putting my one embryo back in and changing nothing. Which I know full well my clinic will suggest tomorrow. Whenever I ask about steroids or NK cells I get told there’s not enough research or the evidence suggests there’s no link between using these and success. But I read so many stories on here. And hardly ever the number of embryos I’ve had transferred. I’ve basically had every test under the sun. Emma Alice & ERA, thyroid, Karyotype, care unity, blood clotting. And everything comes back normal.

Obviously this is the first time testing my embryos after 2 previous unsuccessful rounds from the collections I had. I feel my clinic (NHS) just do a one size fits all and I’m just super concerned about this going in to this transfer. Any advice or previous experience is really welcome.

sorry this is so long. If you’ve read all the way down thank you! And I can only apologise for how poor I am at responding to people. I have been TTC for 8 years without success. 5 years on ivf, 6 if you include the clomid. I’m 36 and very very worn down by the whole thing and often find myself in intense feelings of overwhelm and often really down by feeling that there is literally never a single person who has been at it as long as me who has gone on to have success. Most end up having to accept the inevitable, that it’s never going to happen for them. Which is nearly where I am at. And it scares me so much. Hence leaving this so last minute. I really do appreciate any help I get and commend every single one of you in this awful situation.

Thank you so much for any response 🫶

[Skittles11]

Hello 🙂 i hope you're doing okay in the circumstances. I wondered if you would consider moving your embryos as you've mentioned your clinic appears to be doing a one - fit - all approach which is never going to instil confidence? I understand what you mean about steroids etc too, plenty of stories where they appear to have helped people who have struggled although the jury seems to be out with evidence. I know it must be frustrating to have tried so much, you have clearly done a bunch of tests. Have you sought advice from a recurrent implantation failure specialist? This is probably the route I would look at next if I were in your shoes. My personal experience with steroids is not enough to guide either way unfortunately, personally I would push to use them though but it helped that my doctors were mainly in favour anyway x x

[Booda21 in reply to Skittles11]

Thanks so much for replying. I have tried to go for consultations at other clinics prior to starting this final funded round. But they told me it could affect the NHS funding so I didn’t go through with it. I didn’t understand how a consultation could do that, or how they’d know I’d been for one either. But who knows! I have looked in to other clinics before and also since as I obviously had so few I thought if it doesn’t work about going to a new clinic. There’s none near me that stand out, but I’m happy to travel so would go to one of the ones I think seems to tick the boxes for my next steps. But maybe you’re right and I need to take this one precious embryo and move on before that point. I think I just hate the idea of delays as I honestly can’t tell you how many I have experienced. But I also agree this clinic has been failing me for some time. And I’m definitely willing to pay for one more full round if necessary. Thanks for the advice skittles. Hope you are ok and doing well 🤍

[Millbanks]

Hi lovely,

I was in a similar situation to you. I had 9 embryos transferred with no luck at all. All BFN over 5 transfers.

I then had 9 frosties biopsied for PGT-A and 6 came back euploid so it also occurred to me that this likely wasn’t the issue.

For my 6th FET I had prednisolone (which I think is the same) and it was successful. I fully put it down to the steroids.

Wishing you lots of luck xxx

[Booda21 in reply to Millbanks]

Thanks so much for your reply Millbanks. My consultant agreed to put me on steroids for my next transfer which I’m really pleased about. How did you find being on them? I’m hoping it’s the answer. And if not I’m going to look in to further investigations. Congratulations on your previous success. Hope you are keeping well xxx

[Millbanks in reply to Booda21]

Thanks lovely - all ok here ❤️

The main thing that I found was that I was ravenous the whole time - I just craved food so much! But other than that all was good. I think they possibly masked any pregnancy symptoms that I had too (they can do this) so that was good in a way, but also made me worry the whole first trimester.

I am sure this is the answer for you my lovely xxx

[Rxyfxyldy]

What a journey you’ve been on! I really admire your strength and perseverance. That’s all we can do in this situation.

Yes, the NHS does tend to do a one size fits all approach. Glad you were able to at least get your embryos tested!

I don’t have endometriosis, but I did have 5 transfers. On the 5th transfer, I was on prednisolone, intralipid infusions and thyroxine. It worked and I’m now 24+6.

Definitely push for what you want. Be your biggest advocate.

Wishing you the best of luck!

[Booda21 in reply to Rxyfxyldy]

Congratulations on your successful transfer! Over half way now. Hope you’re feeling ok. Thankfully my consultant agreed to try low dose steroids for my next transfer. So I’m really hoping it might help me after all my unsuccessful attempts. How did you find the steroid? Thanks so much for the response xxx

[Kmcdon]

I didn’t take prednisone when I had IVF here (which resulted in one chemical and the rest BFN} . I only took it when I moved to a clinic in Spain (although this was using DE and eventually a donor embryo) but I had two miscarriages and finally success with 9th or 10th transfer. I know what you mean as I had my first round on the NHS and didn’t find it a particularly positive experience. Hope your appointment today goes well and they consider it. Xx

[Booda21 in reply to Kmcdon]

Thanks so much for your reply. And I’m so glad you finally had some success. Thankfully my consultant agreed to give it a go. So will hope and pray it helps and I end up with some success 🤞 xxx

[Kmcdon in reply to Booda21]

That’s great news! Good luck. Xx

[IVFat40]

Hello hun, very glad you're getting the chance to be prescribed steroids, I had 5 failed transfers of 7 embryos, first transfer with Prednisolone (20 mg) gave me my son. I'd say push for the 20 mg or at the very least 10mg. I'd had testing for uterine natural cells (high) with Dr Brosens (Tommy's/Coventry hospital) as part of their research project, then took their recommendation to my NHS clinic who then agreed (Dr Brosens actually works within the NHS so hard for them not to at that point). The side effects are very manageable, make sure you eat a good breakfast before taking them (to protect your tummy). Wishing all the absolute best.

[Booda21 in reply to IVFat40]

Ah congratulations to you! So glad you had success in the end. My consultant did suggest to go and see prof Brosens which I rang and no consultations til November and the whole thing will probably take 6 months. I was just going to go ahead with the transfer and use the steroid first but would you suggest to see him before transfer? After having gone yourself? I just don’t want to have a 6 month minimum wait and then potentially only be in the same position. If that makes sense. But obviously if people who have seen him think it’s a good idea then maybe I should put the transfer on hold. Sorry I know this is my decision but just looking for what you’d do based upon having seen him if this makes sense. Thanks so much xxx

[IVFat40 in reply to Booda21]

It's so hard isn't it, always weighing up these decisions, there was a wait/delay for me too in order to see Dr Brosens. I did really like him and found it a positive helpful experience, but equally if I'd had the option of just taking the steroids straight away and avoiding the delay I might have taken it (my clinic definitely wouldn't have prescribed steroids without his recommendation, they're quite 'old fashioned'). As well as steroids, the main thing, he also suggested the endometrial scratch as a possible extra (which I did have). I guess the up side of having had the testing is that I know there definitely was a problem, and it very likely wasn't just coincidence I was successful when taking the steroids.

[HedgehogMad]

Hello lovely, I'm so sorry to read this, I understand the pain and grief that comes with a journey like this 💔 I have a history of RIF - 6 untested and 3 euploids all BFNs apart from one brief chemical. I sought opinions from different specialists - Prof Brosens (didn't really find anything on biopsy, low NK cells so tried sitagliptin which didn't make a difference), Prof Tim Childs from Oxford who talked through the evidence and said there is not really any good evidence that any of the add ons for RIF really work other than transferring euploids, and also a RIF specialist in Spain who said the same thing and that it would work eventually if we kept transferring embryos.

I did try steroids for two transfers but it didn't make a difference. I kept being told by our consultant and all the specialists that it's a numbers game and to keep transferring, so I think it's a matter of how long you can keep putting yourself through this. I have subsequently been diagnosed with endometriosis due to severe pelvic pains that only started after our first egg collection (the specialist said often the hormones can drive it, who knew?!) and I knew I couldn't put myself through a fourth egg collection. Also looking at the stats for euploid transfers, 95% of women will have a live birth after 3 transfers and 98% after 5, so maybe that could help you with your decision making - it certainly helped me to decide to move on as we had almost certainly transferred more than 5 euploids.

So we are now pursuing surrogacy with our amazing friend ❤️ the first transfer worked and we are 6 weeks along (obviously really early still and I'm terrified that things will go wrong) but it's further than we've ever gotten before. Of course surrogacy is not for everyone but thought it would be worth sharing my story.

It's such a shitty journey and I feel for you 💔 I really wish you success on your tough journey, you are so strong even if you don't feel it. For me I had to transfer at least 3 confirmed euploids to accept that it wasn't going to work for us xxx

[Booda21 in reply to HedgehogMad]

Thank you so much for your response. I have these reservations that nothing will come back. And that it is the endometriosis for me that is causing the issues. But who the hell knows. This is the first time testing so I don’t know how many euploid I have had. I know I have one more egg collection left in me after this. And then if it didn’t work would have to admit defeat. How amazing for you that you have a friend who has done that for you. Congratulations that’s wonderful news on your little one. Wishing you a happy and healthy 9 months 💞

[HedgehogMad in reply to Booda21]

It's so hard and they can't give any answers! Even the endo specialist told us he couldn't say for certain it was the endo causing our implantation failures. Have all my fingers crossed for you for your next transfer 🤞🤞🙏And thank you, to be honest I'm struggling to accept that this might be happening and keep expecting the worst - infertility really messes you up doesn't it xxx

[Doodlebug23]

I had 5 failed transfers of 6 embryos (one double) untested, and then my clinic put me on Bondi protocol, which is clexane and prednisolone. I’m now 23 weeks from transfer 7 💖