Use of Prednisone for IVF FET implantation

[karen910]

HI all,
I am going to have FET this cycle. I have done 4 IVFs and SO many IUI, no luck at all. According to my RE there is nothing wrong with my Uterus cavity. While checking on internet I saw so many blogs about Prednisone being used to increase implantation. I was wondering if :

someone has used it,
what was the outcome
What dose
when to start
for how long did you use it
any precautions when you were on it

I'll appreciate all the experiences, opinions advises becoz I am very desperate now...

Thanks

[Ellen038]

I have been on prednisone with most of my ivf cycles. It's supposed to help your body accept the pregnancy and not fight it off as if it were a foreign body or infection. Out of 9 IVFs I've had 5 pregnancies, 4 of which were losses. I'm also on Lovenox, meds for thyroid and MTHFR along with supplements. Have you been tested for thyroid, NK cells, antibodies, MTHFR? These can sometimes be reasons that ivf isn't working out. I know you said your uterus is normal but did you have a hysteroscopy to make sure fibroids, polyps or a septum isn't stopping implantation from happening? Wishing you the best of luck on your upcoming FET.

[karen910]

Thanks Ellen, yes I had Hystrosono last oct and yes I have small fibroids 4mm and 6 mm and according to my ER those are not any issue.
I take meds for hypothyroidism and levels are okay.
I never have any  immunology done becoz my RE does not think that is the problem.
I have 4 frozen embies, I am going to do one this time,
when you did prednisone what time of cycle did you start, what was the dose and for how long did you take it.
I'll Greatly appreciate if you can answer all these questions.
So you must have a baby now as you said 4 out of 5 preg were losses
Thanks

[Ellen038]

I started the prednisone on day 2 of my cycle, 5mg twice a day and am still on it at 7.1 weeks.  I'm not sure how long I will be on it. Ive been on prednisone 8 out of 9 fresh cycles. What is your TSH? You said it's ok. It should be between 1-2 ttc. I know a lot of opinions vary on this greatly. Your tsh will go up once your pregnant and needs to be monitored closely. Why is your RE suggesting prednisone? It's normally prescribed for immune issues. It suppresses your immune system giving the embryo a chance to implant.
Good luck on your next transfer.

[karen910]

My TSH is 2.00.
My RE has not suggested prednisone, but as i said in my last post, I was searching for possible reasons for implantation failure and found some blogs where some ladies used prednisone though they didn't have any immune issues and had successful pregnancies.
so i was wondering should I take that too becoz I have not have any successful cycle at all so far...and I am so desperate that I want to try anything that can help.
How is you pregnancy going
LOTS OF BABY DUST and prayer for you

[Ellen038]

My personal opinion based on my experience would be yes, I would see if prednisone could be prescribed. I would also look into taking metholated folate in case you carry the MTHFR gene mutation that can causes recurrent losses. The metholated folate is sold at a health food store, amazon or a natural wellness center. Sometimes blood clots can cause losses and its treatment is Lovenox or Heprin. These things would help implantation. I know some fibroids can cause implantation to fail but you mentioned your RE said yours aren't causing any problems. If you haven't had a chemical or mc I would wonder if there may be an issue with the embryos or eggs. Are you transferring 5 day blasts? Since you had several to freeze has your RE mentioned possibly sending your embryos out for PGD? I know I had really good looking blasts that were abnormal in the last 3 cycles I did. Before we started doing PGD I had a mc at almost 10 weeks and we chose to have genetic testing done. We found out that we had a Down's syndrome baby and that was the reason the pregnancy didn't make it. Embryos can look good to the naked eye but you do not know for certain they are genetically normal until PGD is preformed. I'm just trying to think of other reasons you may not of been successful yet. Oh, I know this isn't a sure remedy for implantation but some people eat pineapple core the first 5 days after transfer. It can't hurt anything to try it. Just don't eat the rest of the pineapple because of the acidity. If you have any other questions feel free to message me.  I would be happy to help any way I can. Best of luck!
Ps my pregnancy is going great so far minus over stimulating and having cysts rupture. I'm having some spotting but that can be from the Lovenox or my enlarged ovaries my RE said. We had a scan at 5 weeks which showed a gestation sac and an ultrasound at 6.4 weeks showing a heartbeat. We go back 8/27 @8.2 weeks for another scan. Thank you for asking :)

[mhv]

I used prednislone on my last transfer.  I was the only one I took it on, and it was successful.  

[karen910]

Hi Ellen,
thanks for such an informative reply.  I am so glad that your baby is doing good with great heart beat and all.
Yes I have 5 days blasts, When you had PGD done did they transfer the embryo that passed this test?
I'll try pineapple core and Methylated folate.
pl keep in touch
Lots of prayers and baby dust your way

[karen910]

Hi mhv,
Did you have immune issues that's why you had Prednisone?
I would like to ask you same questions:
what day of the cycle did you start prednisone, for how long did you take it and what was the dose.
Thanks

[Ellen038]

I had 4 normal this time. 3 were transferred, 2 girls and a boy. The fourth one didn't make it.  Doing PGD they will only consider transferring the normal ones. They take biopsy of the placental cells on day three and send them out for genetic testing. Depending what clinic your at and who they use for PGD will determine if you get to transfer on day 5 or if they are frozen and transferred on a subsequent cycle.

[karen910]

thanks Ellen. I have 5 days blasts, can I still do PGD?
what's the cost?
So are you pregnant with triplets then?

[mhv]

No immune issues that I know of.  Just one of those can't hurt might help things. Although, my doc was resistant.  I started taking it 2 or 3 days before transfer, and took up until heartbeats were detected.   Is your doctor suggesting it??

[Ellen038]

Only one took out of the three embryos transferred. If your embryos are already day 5 then no, you cannot do PGD with these embryos. You would have to do PGD with another fresh cycle. My clinic charges 5k on top of the normal IVF charges.

[karen910]

Yes Ellen I have 5 days blasts. I had my last ultrasound today lining is 9.3 mm. Transfer is on sunday. we are going to transfer 1 blast only (that was my RE's advise I am not sure it's a good advise or 2 blasts transfer would have had more chances)
All the best for rest of your pregnancy....

[karen910]

No my RE didn't suggest prednisone, I just read some blogs so was curious. What dose of prednisone did you take?

[Ellen038]

Thank you for the wishes on my pregnancy :)
If you are ok with the possibility of twins I would def ask for 2 to be transferred (especially if your over 35) the most I have had transferred was 4 blasts that were tested genetically. I had a very good chance of twins and slight chance of triplets but things didn't work out and I had a chemical pregnancy. This isn't your first IVF either so that could justify transferring one more. You are paying good money and there is really no reason that I know of that you should only have 1 transferred unless you have extreme health issues or a lot of multiples in your family. Good luck on your transfer!! Your lining sounds nice and thick! You can check out the AMA standard on how many is a acceptable to transfer on their website.

[mhv]

I agree with Ellen, if you can get them to transfer 2, I would.  Unless you are highly against twins.  I dnt know your age though, and maybe you have high quality blasts  which is wonderful!  I was on a low dose, like 5mg a day?   Good luck on your transfer tomorrow!  Sending baby dust!!!!

[karen910]

Hi Ellen and mhv,
so I took your advise and have 2 embryos transferred. Today is my day 2 after transfer. Should I have any signs, any cramps...anything to make me feel embryos are implanting. I am off from my work for a week. I didn't do much for the last two days except for a little walk and shopping in stores  .......LOL. Do you think I can at least cook now?
Ellen I also had Pineapple core day of my transfer, yesterday and today and I think I should not take it any more, what do you suggest? Any other advise to help?.....
Prayers and best wishes for both of you

[Ellen038]

Congrats on the transfer!! my clinic normally instructs us to bedrest for the first 24 hrs and then its ok to resume normal activities minus heavy lifting. Every clinic is different tho. I think its good your off work for a week! make sure to eat simple foods to digest, avoiding spicy and greasy foods which cause your body to focus on digestion instead of implantation. The pineapple core is supposed to be eaten for the first five days after transfer starting on the day of transfer. You can find the directions on how to cut a pineapple . Com. Every pregnancy has been different for me, some with early symptoms some without. Please let us know how everything goes.... Sending you truck loads of baby dust.

[karen910]

Thanks Ellen for all your support and help. You are a God sent to me...
I was only scheduled to work for coming thursday and friday ,I requested off for both and now free for a week...LOL
Lots of prayers for your pregnancy

[karen910]

Correction... GOD sent adviser to me.
Ellen did you have implantation bleeding, some ladies experience that too.

[karen910]

I am injecting HCG every three days, did you do that too?

[mhv]

Congrats on transferring 2 :). I honestly sat around and watched lifetime movies for like 3 days after my transfer.  I only got upto goto the bathroom.  Lol.  I figured I had the time off work, so why not do it.  Couldn't hurt, might have helped.  

I had NO symptoms after my transfer.  I actually had no symptoms until week 10 of my pregnany.  I had 2 5 day embryos implanted, and both took.  
In hindsight, I did have a tiny amount of spotting (implantation bleeding) on day 6 and 7 or 7 and 8.

I am going to post a breakdown for you on exactly what is happening.

I did the pineapple core for 5 days then stopped.

Good luck :).vwhen is your beta???

Is your injection progesteone?  I did that once a day till week 10 of my pregnancy.

[mhv]

5-DAY TRANSFER:
-1dpt ..embryo is growing and developing
0dpt... Embryo is now a blastocyst
1dpt....Blastocyst hatches out of shell on this day
2dpt.. Blastocyst attaches to a site on the uterine lining
3dpt.. Implantation begins,as the blastocyst begins to bury in the lining
4dpt.. Implantation process continues and morula buries deeper in the lining
5dpt.. Morula is completely inmplanted in the lining and has placenta cells & fetal cells
6dpt...Placenta cells begin to secret HCG in the blood
7dpt...More HCG is produced as fetus develops
8dpt...More HCG is produced as fetus develops
9dpt...HCG levels are now high enough to be immediately detected on HPT

[karen910]

Thanks for that break down. Today is my 4dpt. No signs not even constipation...hmmmm
My injection is HCG, for progesterone I use vaginal Suppositories and again I am so scared to push them too far in as I don't know whether that can touch embryo
My Beta is on Spet 07.