PGT-M/poor quality embryos- Natural or Medicated FET?

[Tea-aholic]

Hello! First time poster (so apologies in advance if I make any faux pas with this post). We had our egg retrieval in early July and have 3 viable embryos on ice following PGT-M and A testing (testing for cystic fibrosis and PGT-A done as standard as part of that).

I am eligible for medicated or natural FET (which will be in October). I would prefer to go the natural route given that I have regular periods and have been pregnant before but our consultant has recommended medicated given that our embryos are not top quality - I think they are 5BC, 6CB and 6BB and all are euploid. It is ultimately our choice.

Has anyone had a similar experience or recommendation? Any advice, comments and thoughts welcome!

[Toffeepudding99]

hi - I don’t know your age -but I’m 40 and also have regular 28 day periods and a previous natural pregnancy- I was recommended a medicated FET to make sure I had optimal lining for transfer and the right level of hormone - estrogen prior and progesterone building from 5 days before transfer. Progesterone was tested on the day of my transfer to make sure it was high enough and then my the level of my meds decided on that (first cycle just Cyclogest (miss carried- second cycle Cyclogest and prontogest - successful 18 weeks now). As I understand it the meds also suppress your ovaries from doing what they do naturally and so they can work out the correct day/ optimal dat for transfer on a medicated transfer.

Best of luck with whatever you decide xx ❤️

[Mittenz]

I’ve been told that both medicated and natural FET have similar success rates but with natural there is more chance a transfer can be cancelled if all hormones / lining is not at optimal levels.

[LadyM2019]

I also have regular cycles and no gynae related health issues. I’ve always done medicated due to the advantages of it. Everything is optimised through the medications, including thickness of your womb lining and progesterone levels. An endometrial scratch may also help

[Doodlebug23]

I had 5 medicated and 1 modified natural transfers with 8 embryos graded all AA and AB.

Final transfer 7 was modified natural with an AB and a BB. I’m now 23 weeks with a single pregnancy - and convinced it’s my little BB that’s made it.

The logic behind natural transfer makes sense to me. I always had optimal lining and progesterone levels and regular periods. With modified natural you are letting your body do what it does naturally and just adding some extra progesterone support then doing the trigger for timing of the transfer.

I always went for medicated (after trying 1 medicated and 1 natural my clinic always gave me the choice), as it seemed more controlled and meant less scans.

Good luck 🍀

[Twiglet2]

Ive had both and had negatives with both so neither is a guarantee but I’ve also had two pregnancies with a medicated FET so I am slightly bias towards that way they are just a bit more certain of timings and hormones etc although I do t believe there is much difference in successs rate statistically. I dont see what the grading of the embryo has to do with it at all though? Even if you get the environment right the embryo has to be right too 🤷🏻‍♀️ it’s not like a good environment can correct an embryo? I’d ask what your consultant meant by that tbh xx

[Belldandy]

My successful FET was natural but I never had issues with lining or hormone levels. I will do another FET soon and will also be natural.

[Eternalwarrior]

I have PCOS and very irregular cycles but I found the medicated cycles very hard on my body and my lining was always very thin on medicated FET but good on a natural cycle. So, I insisted on a natural modified FET. Currently 11 weeks pregnant with a PGT-A tested embryo which was a C grade embryo and our very last one! None of our top "perfect" A grade embryos worked, so I personally don't think the quality of the embryos is that important, especially if they have been tested and they are chromosally normal. Good luck xx