2nd failed FET

[Catlover89]

hi all, feeling deflated again after just finding out our 2nd FET has failed again 😢

I was so sure this time was more positive as I haven’t had any bleeding and last time I started bleeding a few days before my test date. I really thought that maybe me not bleeding was a good sign, but I just don’t know anymore. I just don’t understand what’s wrong. Our embryo they said was of excellent quality, my lining was perfect, I had Increased my progesterone pessaries to 3 times a day despite them saying i probably didn’t need to.

I think maybe we need to ask for some more tests, they have just said it’s unexplained infertility from all the tests we had done initially. They haven’t done any progesterone tests though. My partner’s sperm was 1% morphology and he’s worrying that’s it’s something to do with that and wants more testing, although the clinic hasn’t suggested that we don’t need to. Has anyone else had a similar situation with sperm and not required further testing and it’s worked?

Naturally we want answers as to why it’s so difficult but something tells me that we probably won’t get them. I guess we just need to keep trying and hopefully next time will be our time 😢

Hope your all doing ok xxx

[DianeArnold Partner Nurse Fertility Network UK]

Hi. So sorry to hear this and hope you have plenty of support just now. Your husband could possibly have a DNA fragmentation test to check the sperm condition. Perhaps check Fallopian tubes for blockages so no excess lubrication leaks into the womb and prevent implantation.Perhaps a hysteroscopy to look around the womb and biopsy the lining. Wait until you are recovered and try again. Thinking of you Diane

[Catlover89 in reply to DianeArnold]

Thanks so much Diane ❤️

[Endofitall]

so sorry to hear this. It’s so heartbreaking. Do you have any embryos left or will you need to start again? As that will slightly influence the advice we give xx

[Catlover89 in reply to Endofitall]

Thank you xx yes we do have a couple of embryos left and they are of good quality. We will be having a follow up with the consultant next week, but I just have this feeling they will say they don’t recommend changing anything and just try again doing it the same xx

[Endofitall in reply to Catlover89]

It’s so gutting I remember when I first had no bleeding in 2WW and got my hopes up then the heartbreak.

That’s good you have a couple in the freezer. Did you have any fresh transfer?

As that’s the case then maybe less value in doing the sperm dna fragmentation right now - but definitely something to consider - I guess it’s just a case of what would you do with that info right now given you already have two embryos waiting and how it would make you both feel at this stage. There does appear a correlation between morphology on the standard semen analysis and dna fragmentation issues though. However I have friends who needed ICSI for some borderline issues on standard semen analysis and had no male tests done besides the standard and they are due any day now - it did take a few goes but it worked eventually. So certainly it can work.

I think if you’ve had two failed transfers with good quality embryos it is right to look at a few things at this stage. I had the EMMA/ALICE endometrial biopsy (I did ERA too but not sure I really believe in that now though some people really swear its what made a difference, I know others who ignored their result in the end and still had success ). There are less invasive ways to check microbiome now vs the EMMA/ALICE which means a whole mock cycle and lots of money - like via fertilysis or DAYE where you do vaginal at home tests. And much cheaper too!

As Diane said have you had your tubes looked at eg Hycosy or HSG? Have you had a 3D Ultrasound to check the shape of your womb and try and rule out any structural issues like a septum? Hysteroscopy is quite expensive, but gold standard to look inside the womb, but I did have it after my 3rd failed transfer and because my lining wasn’t responding well to meds. You’d particularly want to consider hysteroscopy if you’ve had any work on your womb before like a D&C that might have created adhesions.

I’d get some bloods too - make sure thyroid okay and thyroid antibodies, vitamin D, also Antiphospholipid antibodies (basically type of tests they’d do for recurrent miscarriage). You might then benefit from prednisolone and clexane with next transfer.

Also did you have progesterone tested before the transfer? Many have additional progesterone prescribed.

I really hope you can grieve and regroup and wish you best of luck next time xx

[Catlover89 in reply to Endofitall]

Thanks so much for the detailed reply. That’s really helpful.

We didn’t have any fresh transfers as they were worried about OHSS so had to do a freeze all.

Ok that’s helpful to know. We also had ICSI. I think it’s just my partner is starting to get worried that it is because of his sperm and it’s more piece of mind for him, so unless we get the embryos tested which they didn’t recommend we do at this stage as we asked after the 1st failed. They did do a hycosy before we started the IVF and they didn’t find any problems, and didn’t recommend anything further. I definitely will ask to do more blood tests as they haven’t checked my progesterone prior to doing the transfer, they have just said that the amount they have given me is more than my body produces naturally, but they haven’t actually checked my levels. I guess they just do the basic tests prior to starting IVF on the NHS and then look into more if continue to have problems.

Thanks so much again, I will be looking into everything you have advised xx

[Hopeful_88]

Hi, I'm so sorry to read this. I hope you're coping OK. I have also just found out my 2nd failed transfer failed and am devastated. This is such a cruel and terrible journey and I hope you have lots of nice things to pick you up and look forward to. Wishing you lots of luck for next time X

[Catlover89 in reply to Hopeful_88]

So sorry to hear that you are going through the same. It really is cruel and what makes it worse is not having any answers. It’s like a guessing game and lottery each month. Thinking of you and sending some love xx

[Hopeful_88 in reply to Catlover89]

Thank you lovely, I agree, it seems like a complete lottery. I don't know how many attempts you're supposed to have until getting additional tests done but I reckon after the 3rd one I will be asking about this. Thinking of you and sending love to you too xxx

[Lana89]

Hi lovely so sorry things didn’t work out wishing you loads of luck for next time . I agree with the ladies comments above maybe try a Lubion injection aswell aday steroids a blood thinner injection and aspirin take care of your self lovely xx

[Catlover89 in reply to Lana89]

Thank you for your reply will look into this xx

[ApricotPeaches]

Hello, test this morning showed BFN after 2nd FET. It is truly devastating. We had ICSI because of male factor infertility. I begged my clinic to genetically test embryos and to have investigations into my uterus & lining e.g hysteroscopy, Emma & Alice etc. but I was told that if I was to have these investigations it would stop my NHS funding. Is this true? Has anyone else been told this?

We have 1 X embryo left. We are not in a position financially to pay privately for fertility treatment. I just want to give our last embryo the best chance of survival.

Never finding out why FETs fail is very difficult to accept, I want to know why.

I feel like my clinic are just going to say let's try next month with the same protocol.

I'm so devastated.

[Catlover89 in reply to ApricotPeaches]

Hi there, I am so sorry to hear of this. I really can empathise with how you’re feeling, but please know that you are not alone xx

I also understand the frustration of being told to stick to the same protocol on nhs funding. From my experience they would only do certain procedures and standard protocol on nhs funding and would only do further investigations once we paid private for it.

For us, the first two transfers were nhs funded, the only thing that they changed between 1st and 2nd transfer was increased progesterone pessaries from 2 a day to 3, and this was only because I asked and they said yes this could help because I was bleeding before test date. Otherwise they weren’t concerned as we had good quality embryos. After the 2nd failed, they were really surprised by this. For my 3rd try it would have to be private as nhs funding ran out. At this point they asked me to get my thyroid checked (it was normal) said there were further tests we could do like testing embryos but at this stage they didn’t feel it was necessary but this could have been because we had 3 more embryos at this stage, and my lining was good each time. For us, they suggested trying a double embryo transfer for the 3rd try and if this failed, then we should test the remaining embryo but of course for your last embryo you want to give it the best chance so this could be an idea you before doing your 3rd although i have heard it is expensive. I also asked to have a blood test prior to transfer to check my progesterone and it turned out to be low despite increasing the pessaries and them saying what I had should be enough, and so I also needed lubion injections sent out urgently. They didn’t suggest doing this test at all before, I think because my meds were standard prescription on nhs funding. I did get a positive test after this (one baby, one didn’t stick). Maybe it was a genetically normal embryo this time and the others weren’t, or maybe it was the added progesterone I will never know but I’m just sharing my experience in case any of this can help you going forwards.

Have a chat with them and see what they say but I totally understand you wanting to try something different and having extra tests, but also understand your struggle financially. It is so frustrating not knowing why it’s not working and it can be for many reasons. It might be that your last embryo is the one that sticks 🤞 I really hope they are able to offer you some options, and im Sending you some love and hope, and look after yourselves during this difficult time. Xx

[ApricotPeaches in reply to Catlover89]

Thank you Catlover89, your response has really helped me especially to not feel alone. Huge congratulations on your pregnancy, I hope you are feeling good. X