Anyone out there having or going to have Frozen Embryo Transfer??

[SarahKateP]

Hi everyone,

I am relatively new here, my Hubby and I have just completed our first go at IVF treatment, which sadly failed :o(  We are absolutely heartbroken. We have been TTC our first baby for the last two and a half years. We have suffered 2 early miscarriages and 2 horrific ectopic pregnancies (which resulted in the loss of both tubes and need for IVF). We really thought that IVF would work for us, treatment went better than we ever hoped, all the way through (they had originally estimated a low-normal response to the drugs with maybe 6 eggs at best) we ended up with 13 eggs, then 11 fertilised for us and we then ended up with 9 grade 1, 8 cell embryo's which was fantastic. But even after all this our embie didn't stay with us :o( I am so gutted and upset.

On a positive note, our clinic are very very keen that we go straight ahead with a Frozen Embryo Transfer, which we will be doing after my next period, so around the end of July / beginning August. They seemed quite positive about this and they will be having a review meeting to discuss our failed cycle and see what can be done differently next time - so fingers crossed. I am hoping that with FET, my body will cope better as I will not be having all the stimlulation drugs, poking around and of course the trauma of egg collection to deal with - as the FET will be done within a natural cycle and leutal phase / implantation support given. Just have to keep our fingers crossed that FET will work for us, I am determined to get my precious baby and with 8 beautiful frozen embryo's waiting for us, I am not about to give up!!!!

I was just wondering if there was anyone out there I could chat to about Frozen Embryo Transfer??? Would love to get to know a few of you and find out a bit more about things and your stories, success, advice and everything...

I look forward to getting to know you all, take care

SarahKate xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[SarahKateP]

Bump :o) xxxxxxxxx

[cwolf1006]

I will be doing a FET at the end of July, I too have had a miscarriage as well as a few failed transfers, we will be using the last of our frozen embies and am really hoping this last shot works!! Super good luck to you!!! Keep me posted on your progress!! I will be away from the computer for a few days, but hope to be cycle buddies with you!! :)

[SarahKateP]

Hi hun,

I am really sorry to hear all that you have been through huge (((((((((((hugs))))))))) I would love to get to know you hun and hear more about your story and go through this together - it sounds like we will be having FET around the same time!! Would love to hear any advice or tips or anything atall you have hun....

Our review meeting came back really good, they were very positive and encouraging and said that we were just "unlucky" - I hate that word!!! But I am staying strong and determined, have to keep going and keep trying.

Hope to chat very soon and keep this thread going and be FET buddies :o) Hop eyou are having a good weekend

Lots of love xxxxxxxxxxxxx

[stefanie1976]

I had a FET on June 9 - and I am 6 weeks prego.  It is still early - but do not give up hope.  I did 2 IVF's with regular embys.  Both times they stuck and I immediately miscarried.  This time, I had 34 eggs retrieved, 22 fertilized and 6 made it to blasto stage.  Since I hyperstimulated, they froze my embies for one cycle and on June 9th, we did the transfer and we are looking good at 6 weeks.  

Stay positive.  GOOD LUCK!!

[cwolf1006]

SarahKateP-"Unlucky"-Urgh, I hate that word too, don't Dr.s know by now we don't want to hear stuff like that, LOL! Hang in there, my only advice at this point is to stay strong and know it can and will happen!! We deserve it!!

Stefanie-Thank you for the encouragement! I love to hear positive results, it is so reassuring! Good luck and heres to a Happy Healthy Nine Months!

Hugs to you both!!

[mysty2001]

Hi
I have had 6 FETs
All protocols were a little different
Doc said one would be natural - but nurse went ahead and prescribed meds anyway
BOTH times I tool the steroids I miscarried! ( a singleton and twins)

I did not get preggo twice (one bad protocol , one bad lining I think)

I had a singleton and two sets of twins - using estrace and progesterone

[cwolf1006]

Thank you for your post. It sure helps to know that the frozen transfers really work, I have only had one implant so far, which ended in m/c. However, it is so reassuring to hear positive outcomes from people. I am currently on Vivelle Dots/Patches for the Estrogen and this time (my last) I will be using the Crinone instead of PIO. Hoping that makes all the difference! I have never been prescribed steroids, but have been on the baby aspirin, which since I have taken that I can't get any to implant, so I am hoping this time they decide to forego the aspirin. This is our last vial of frozen embies so I pray this is it! One happy healty baby is all I am hoping for :)!! They are lower grade embies but I have heard that these work just as well. Were all your embies that took higher grade?

[SarahKateP]

Hi everyone,

Sorry I haven't been on much, had a lot going on. Great to see all your posts and advice and wonderful to hear good news too, congratulations Stefanie ****baby glue*** hope the pregnancy goes wonderfully well for you hun. cwolf how are you hun? xxx

I am concerned that you Mysty hun miscarried both times you were on steroids?? As I was prescribed Prednisilone after last embryo transfer and will be taking it after natural FET - which is a steroid - it's supposed to aid implantation and stave off killer cells, as I have had 2 early mc's before (when TTC naturally before I lost my second tube to ectopic) and they have told me I will be taking this again after FET. I am a bit worried now that if i did get pregnant the steroids could cause me to miscarry? I also will be taking Clexane by injection - which is a blood thinner too and is supposed to help things along but I am a bit worried about this as it's similar to aspirin I think? Has anyone taken Clexane aswell??

Also, for support instead of them giving me progesterone - I will be having an injection of HCG - they told me this is exactly the same as giving progesterone and is actually better in some ways because it makes your body produce the progesterone on it's own as progesterone given sometimes isn't absorbed into the body very well.

Just wondered about your thoughts on all of this girls?

Hope you are all well, take care,

Sarah xxxxxxxxxxx

[mysty2001]

I was not a fan of aspirine after the miscarriages
SO, I only used it before transfer to get lining thick
I stopped it about 4 days before transfer

I have never heard of crinone - but good luck

(yes my boy boy twins from frozen were not good quality at all!)

[cwolf1006]

SarahKateP-Hey I'm doing good, how are you? It's such a crazy mix of emotions during this time huh? I have never had the Clexane, but it does sound very similar to the baby aspirin, it's used as a blood thinner, I think to help with clotting factors. There's so much to understand!! I just keep hoping that the Dr. knows best and that eventually it will work, no matter what meds I'm taking :) If it's meant to be, right?

Mysty-Thanks for the comment about your twin boys :) I bet they are a joy!!

[SarahKateP]

Hi everyone how are you all today?

Thanks for your replies girls I really appreciate it :o) I think I am going to talk to my clinic again and voice my concerns about the prednisilone and clexane - I mean they did advise it so you'd think they know what they are doing eh!? Like you cwolf (how are you hun??)  - I put a lot of trust in them and they have been amazing, but they are always telling me I shouldn't hesitate to contact them with any concerns or questions, so I will...!

I am doing okay ladies, just plodding along waiting for next period, on CD14 at the moment and have just ovulated (i know bang on when I do, can feel it and just kind of "know"!) so I am expecting period around CD27/28 - which is a little longer than usual but not bad atall. I have to call the clinic on Cycle Day 1 and they will sort me out with blood tests - although the clinic is quite far away from us - about an hour and a half drive, it's in Glasgow and we are on the other side of Edinburgh, and there's no way I could drive myself in a strange and busy city (Hubby always drives us there!) - major stress head and get panicky driving places I don't know lol!!! So as far as I know (a lady on another forum I use did this with natural cycle FET) instead of going to the clinic every day for bloods, the other option is to do ovulation tests myself at home and call them when I get my positive ovulation test and then into the clinic to confirm with bloods and ET arranged - man I hope it's that simple lol!? It almost sounds too simple if that makes sense lol!? I just hope that maybe my body will cope better and accept the embie with a natural FET, without all the stimulation drugs and stress of egg retrieval etc. Fingers crossed!

How is everyone doing? Stefenie hun how are you feeling? Have been thinking about you so much hun and really hope you are feeling loads better and bubs is getting lovely and comfy in there!! ***********BABY GLUE**********

Mysty lovely to hear about your twin boys huge congrats again :o) I have heard many many ladies getting pregnant with not great quality embryo's, I really don't think it matters atall and a lot of it is down to "luck" and embie implanting! I had a grade 1 - 8 cell embie transferred and it didn't take, so you can never tell!

I have been feeling really rough the last week or so, very lethargic and wiped out and constantly feeling very sick and nauseous (haven't been sick or anything just feeling sicky if you know what I mean!?) :o( I am not sleeping great either - I don't have a bug or anything I am sure - I just wondered did any of you feel this was after a fresh IVF cycle - as I am wondering if it could be the after effects of all the drugs and things during treatment???

Lots of love to you all ladies, hope you are well, where is everyone at now??

SarahKate :o) xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[mysty2001]

I know what you mean - I often have told my RE something another RE had done and he looked like I wasnuts "hey I am the Doctor"  look
BUT I didn't argue when they prescribed streoids - I just did not take

Also, with this last RE, he wanted an u/s more than once before I was six weeks - I am totally against that and I did not do it (same with blood work before HCG count) - I just felt I had had success before and knew my body! - Let him be mad!

But each of our situations is different.  best of luck!!

[SarahKateP]

I totally understand Mysty hun, we do know our own bodies, I am just really not sure now, I hate to think that if I get pregnant I could be harming my baby by taking the steroids and even worse cause a miscarriage, it makes me so nervous. I will talk to my clinic about this and if they still insist on the steroids I will ask my GP about it aswell. I'm thinking I may just take them for the 2ww and if pregnant then stop them myself - they did tell me I would be on them til' around 16 weeks if I get pregnant and the clexane injections would be right up until I was 37 weeks pregnant! Eak! I am going to air my concerns and see what they say, if they know I have done a bit of research myself and found cause for concern about the steroids they may say, "well if you aren't happy then don't take them" ,,, I will talk to them and let you guys know what they say about it. It's all just so confusing isn't it lol!? I did ask when IVF failed if the prednisilone and clexane could have had anything to do with that and she say no way, absolutely not - and I trust that, but the worry would be if I did get pregnant!

Anyway, I hope that it all works out, fingers crossed.

Hope everyone is well, take care xxxxxxxxxxx

[mbeliza]

Hi SarahKate-

It is looking like we'll be doing a Frozen Embryo Transfer too.  I just completed my first IVF.  We got 27 eggs and 22 fertilized.  In the end, we had 5 grade 2 blastocysts (and they implanted 2).  We got a positive pregnancy test, but unfortunately my HCG levels did not double every day as they should.  That said, my RE has me scheduled for an ultrasound tomorrow and we're going to discuss next options - which most likely will be the FET.  Please keep me posted on how your cycle goes.  Also, will they transfer blastocysts or earlier embryos?  And do you know why they decided to transfer the 8 cells for you as opposted to wait for the blastocysts?

Best wishes to you!

[anetski]

hi girls

I have just finished my first IVF this year and it failed. I had one done last year which gave us a son.

This time we got 19 eggs, 14 fertilized but after 5 days we only had 2 blastycyst left. They transfered one which didn't take and now we wait a month and then on to FET.
I hope this one works.

I will be following you guys to see how you go.

Good luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[SarahKateP]

Hi girls,

Thanks for posting :o)

mbeliza - Hi hun sorry to hear that your HCG hasn't risen as it should, but I will still keep my fingers crossed for your scan and hope that everything could still be okay hun, you never know - it could have been a glitch or something and I really hope that the scan reveals some good news for you and if not then huge (((((hugs)))))) Stay strong and wishing you gentle days hun. Wow what an amazing amount of eggs and embies! Ouch your poor ovaries lol you must have been in a lot of discomfort! I know I was really uncomfortable and I had 19 follicles and 13 eggs retrieved!! Did you have a good few embies frozen? In answer to your question hun, my clinic do do blasto transfers but they explained to us that this isn't ideal in every case, they said that if the embryo is healthy enough at day 2-3 then there is no real benefit to leave them to go to blasto stage, as if they are good and healthy enough at day 2-3 the best place for them in back inside your body where they can grow. They also said that the risk of leaving them to go to blasto stage is that when put back in, they may not develop any further as they have been left outside your body too long. That's what my clinic told me anyway - but I have heard a lot of success with blasto transfers, so I do plan to talk to my clinic about maybe trying this next time since a day 3 transfer didn't work last time. I wish you all the best hun please let me know how your scan and meeting goes *******BABY DUST********

Hi anetski, so sorry to hear that IVF didn't work out for you hun (((((((hugs))))))) I hope your Hubby is looking after you, stay strong. Congratulations though on the birth of your son, that must have been wonderful hun, I am so happy to hear of success stories :o) I really hope FET works for you too, when are you roughly due to be having this done?? I am due my next period around the 24th July then will be having FET when I ovulate about two weeks later - so should roughly be around the 5-8th August if my body plays nice lol. Are you having a natural FET like me or are you having any drugs with it hun?? Hope you are okay *********BABY DUST*********

I am doing okay girls, haven't been feeling very well the last couple of weeks :o( Feel soooooo tired and very run down, not sleeping well and emotionally wiped out really, I think it is just the after effects of IVF stuff, but I am very wary about feeling down or depressed as I have had problems in the past. Seeing my GP (Doctor) today so will have a chat with her about it all. I am really trying to stay determined and positive about FET but finding it quite hard at the moment and really feeling quite useless and hating my body at the minute :o(

Hope everyone is okay - lots of love to all xxxxxxxxxxxx ******BABY DUST*******

[jobygirl]

Hi I am waitng for my second go they collected 13 eggs of me and husband sperm firtilized all my eggs which was fantastic.  But our first ivf failed and were very upset and now have to have this months cycle and next months cycle but at the moment i am three days late.  Can i ask you Sarahkatep after your failed IVF after your first bleed when you lost your embros the next period you had after that was you a few days late at all, I dont think i am preganant as we havent had sex at all this month but i am not sure if one embro is still in there its crazy thinking but anything can happen when your not expecting it.  Any way you take care and keep in toutch as your frozen embros will be before me as i am haveing two frozen ones put in in september so good luck and keep smiling.

From Jobygirl. ( United Kingdom).    :-)

[SarahKateP]

Hi hun sorry to hear that IVF didn't work for you either hun (((((hugs)))) I know how upsetting it is, having just gone through it. That's great news about the fertilisation rate though, well done you and Hubby lol!!! I really wish you all the best for FET and really hope it works out for you and you get your bfp, please keep me posted!!

In answer to your question hun, I haven't had my next period after IVf yet, had the period after transfer of course, which was "normal" but I am waiting for my next period to come, and with this cycle I will be having FET. My period is due around the 24th July, and I know that I ovulated on cycle day 14 (I know bang on and feel it!) So I expect my period to come on cycle day 28/29. (14-15dpo) I have to say though, my cycle is usually only 25-26 days, so yes, I guess you could say it will be a little later than normal by a couple of days. But not late with respect to when I ovulated if you know what I mean? Perhaps this is a common thing after IVF and it's not surprising after all our bodies have just gone through! Wishing you all the best hun, let me know how you get on ********BABY DUST*********

SarahKate xxx

[SarahKateP]

Just bumping up xxxx hope everyone is well xxxxx

[jobygirl]

Hi Sarahkatep,

I have just started my period today i was six days late thought i might of been pregnant but i am not, so after this period we will try on our own and fingers crossed it might happen lets hope :-)  My second lot of eight embros will be due september but there frozen at the moment so for now till then i hope and pray we get our first baby which ever way but it is harder for me as i have a blocked left tube and right ovarie is a bit slower than the left this why we are IVF.  but i will keep everything crossed for you and your hubby/partner.

Its nice to know i have you and maybe others to talk to and thats great for me thankyou.  I live near liverpool Merseyside and my hospital for my IFV is in liverpool too, and its called the womens liverpool hospital.  I dont know if you live in england or abroad but either way i will keep in toutch with you and let know how i am and where we are upto and you keep in toutch to i am always here to chat after tea, around 9pm i come on the internet so you take care and look after each other and i will pray you will get the little joy of life you have been waiting for.  Form jobygirl. xx :-)

[SarahKateP]

Hi hun,

I am sorry that you didn't get that bfp hun, but atleast your period arrived and you now know where you are if you know what i mean? I really wish you all the very best for FET in September hun and in the meantime it would be just wonderful for you to fall naturally!!! They do say that this can happen when you least excpect it! I have heard of so many couple who have been trying for so long with no luck and then when they go onto the next step of fertility treatment, they suddenly fall pregnant naturally and end up completely surprised! So don't give up hope hun, it can happen and stay strong and positive and you neve ever know!!!! *********baby dust****** Sadly that's not an option for us as I have lost both my tubes, so can't get pregnant naturally anymore (I think there is a 0.1% chance of it lol it would be a miracle!) so IVF is our only option, but I am trying to stay determined and strong and I don't plan on giving up until I get my precious little baby we have tried so long for and are so desperate for, the only thing I have is hope and I hang onto that with all my strength and it's the only thing that keeps me going. Some days are so hard and I do suffer with depression, severe stress and anxiety because of all we have been through, so much so that I had to give up work and I barely leave the house :o( It's very hard some days and I just feel like a useless lump, my body has failed me so terribly and sometimes I just hate my body so much for letting me down so badly. I got pregnant 4 times which ended in 2 early miscarriages and 2 ectopics and now IVF has failed too, sometimes I feel it's all my fault and my stupid body just won't work :o( It's almost like now I have nothing in my life except this gaping big hole ready for a baby and it's all I can think about, it's almost like an obsession now. I feel so guilty sometimes too, because I have such a wonderful husband, he is amazing and he would make a wonderful daddy, he is so desperate to be a daddy and it just breaks my heart that so far I just can't do that for him. It's horrible, I am sure you understand where I am coming from hun. I just hope so much that we both can get there, and soon! ******baby dust*****

I would love to keep in touch with you sweetie! I have found this site wonderful and the girls are amazing - I wish I had found this site years ago! I am in Scotland hun, I live in a wee town just outside Edinburgh, so still in the UK lol. Our clinic is in Glasgow though so is a bit of a drive away, but it's a wonderful clinic and I don't mind the travelling atall. Keep in touch hun and let me know how you are doing, would love to get to know you better. If you are on Facebook go ahead and add me, you'll find me under SarahKate Paterson and the profile pic is hubby and me cutting our wedding cake with a blue background! (Same goes for any of you other ladies, go ahead and add me if any of you are on Facebook, just leave me a wee message so I know who you are lol!!! )

Sending **********baby dust********** and luck to all

SarahKate xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[SarahKateP]

Hi hun I was just wondering how you are??? I have been thinking about you loads and wondering how your scan went the other day?? Keeping everything crossed for you, let me know how you are hun xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[mbeliza]

Hey There-

So sorry for the late response.  Last week was a very emotional week for my husband and myself and I was off of the internet.  We ended up going in for our ultrasound and they confirmed that we did loose the preganancy.  They ordered me off the meds and they are waiting to see if my HCG levels go down on their own.  If not, they are going to give me some (methotroxine - sp?) this afternoon to help that happen.  The FET will most likely be in September.  The good news is that we have 3 more grade 2 blastocysts.  We'll probably end up doing two rounds of the FET to cover the remaining 3 blastocysts and we'll do a second fresh cycle if those don't take.  Luckily, we purchased an all-inclusive plan which will cover all of these attempts within a one year time period - so this takes a good amount of pressure off of us financially.

Good luck to you (and everyone else on this site) on your FET.  I will pray for you that it works out.  But it's great that you have so many frozen embryos!  You should also consider asking them if they will transfer more than one next time, it may help your odds.

Please let me know how the rest of your journey works out and we'll do the same.  I appreciate you starting this discussion group.

Lots of love and baby dust,
Michelle

[SarahKateP]

Awwww hunnie I am so sorry it was bad news at your scan (((((((HUGS)))))))) I really had everything crossed that there would be good news for you and your Hubby, it must have been just heartbreaking for you. Thank you for posting a message hun, I was thinking of you so much. Bless your little angel ******baby dust******

I am really glad though, to hear you planning ahead and that you have your frozen embryo's and a plan for what's happening, it's also great that there is no pressure financially too, as we all know the financial costs can be horrendous and crippling :o( So that is great hun, I truly wish you all the very best for FET in September hun and I will be thinking of you and keeping everything crossed. I'd love to keep in touch hun and keep this discussion thread going throughout, as kind of a diary for us all experiencng IVF and FET. Thank you so much for your wishes of good luck, I am getting really nervous for upcoming FET. Our clinic are still going to do a single embryo transfer this time, but dh and I have decided if this doesn't work we will push to have two embies transferred on our 3rd try. I am clinging onto the fact that the average success of IVF is 1 in 3, so fingers crossed our time is coming soon.

Thinking of you always hun *******baby dust******

Hope everyone else is really well, luck and *****baby dust***** to all of you

SarahKate xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx