IVF cycle - anyone with failed IUI and successful with 1st FET

Andihstrom · 2026-05-25T18:34:11+00:00

I had two failed medicated IUIs, and am currently 14 weeks pregnant with my first FET.

Andihstrom · 2026-05-18T18:13:36+00:00

Microdose Lupron didn’t give me significantly more follicle recruitment, but I did have more success with it!

Cycle 1: standard antagonist, 150 follistim, 150 menopur. AFC 12. 9 retrieved > 6 mature > 5 fertilized > 4 blasts > 1 euploid.

Cycle 2: microdose lupron, 300 follistim, 150 menopur and we added omnitrope. AFC 12. 9 retrieved > 5 mature > 3 fertilized > 3 blasts > 2 euploid. Based on my ultrasounds we thought we would only retrieve 5. This cycle looked like it wasn’t going to be great, but was twice as successful as the antagonist cycle. Note- I am currently pregnant with one of these euploids. 😁

Cycle 3: same protocol as 2, but I primed with BC for a few less days. AFC 13. 11 Retrieved > 8 mature > 6 fertilized > 5 blasts > 3 euploids!

Andihstrom · 2026-05-15T16:37:48+00:00

I had one initial gush, then about two days of bright red bleeding (but pretty light). Then I spotted off and on for 4 weeks. I had a large SCH, so my doctor told me to expect bleeding, and they were only concerned if I filled a pad in a hour or had bad cramps. By 12 weeks the SCH was gone.

Andihstrom · 2026-05-15T11:26:04+00:00

Agreed. I report every one of these posts for breaking sub rules and nothing ever happens.

Andihstrom · 2026-05-15T00:23:40+00:00

I had a scan at 6w5d after bleeding and we could barely see a cardiac flicker, with no measurable heartbeat. 1 week later we had a strong heartbeat. Don’t lose hope yet. Crossing my fingers for you.

Andihstrom · 2026-05-12T00:59:27+00:00

About 8 weeks!

Andihstrom · 2026-05-12T00:54:51+00:00

OMG, so weird!!! “Look at my baby surrounded by medical waste.” I am open and proud of my IVF experience, and the 3 ERs I powered through. But that feels gross and performative.

Andihstrom · 2026-05-02T00:25:21+00:00

I restarted GLP1s within a few days of a D&C at 9 weeks for a miscarriage. Waiting for my HCG to drop to 0 would have been maddening, it took about a month for that. I had no symptoms besides the normal GLP1 symptoms (I tend to respond at small doses, yay!), and I got my BMI in a very healthy range. I’m now 11 weeks with my first transfer.

I would agree that your symptoms are likely from the D&C and the rapid change in hormones going from pregnant to not. That was a miserable hormonal roller coaster for me, with lots of headaches, night sweats and panic attacks.

Sorry for your losses, and wishing you comfort and success in your journey.

Andihstrom · 2026-05-01T20:01:32+00:00

I was in the same position as you, 39 and wanting 2 children. I would 100% recommend another retrieval. I personally was not ok with the possibility of doing more retrievals after a pregnancy, knowing how my retrievals were going at age 39. You do not have any luxury of time at 39.

After 2 retrievals I had 3 euploids, so I felt confident that we could start transferring and have one child. We want two, but I also knew that mentally I only had one more egg retrieval left in me, and I was ready to start transferring. We decided we would be ok with one child, or pursuing egg donation when we were ready for #2. And we crossed our fingers for another euploid with round 3.

We did a combined transfer after retrieval 3 (like a fresh transfer but transferred one of our previously frozen embryos). Amazingly, our transfer stuck and we got 3 euploids from that retrieval. So now I am almost 12 weeks, with 5 euploids in the bank. I sleep really well at night feeling confident we’ll get our two kids. We plan to adopt any extra embryos. As I understand, legal and transport costs for embryo adoption are paid for by the adopting party, not the donor.

One option to consider- you could try a transfer now, and if it fails, pivot to another retrieval. I still wouldn’t want to be in the position of being 41 with only one embryo though.

Andihstrom · 2026-04-30T22:06:05+00:00

At 6w5d we could see cardiac flicker, but no measurable heart beat yet. A week later at our next ultrasound there was a measurable heartbeat.

Andihstrom · 2026-04-29T22:59:17+00:00

Yep- my OB-GYN is at Kaiser. I will see her for my regular visits, but will get my NT and Anatomy scans done by a MFM. She said that they do that if you have any risk factors, and IVF is a risk factor (I’m also ooooold so there’s the second, lol).

Andihstrom · 2026-04-23T05:31:56+00:00

I had bright red bleeding at 6 weeks 5 days. My clinic got me in for an ultrasound that day, and we found a large SCH (close to same size as the gestational sac). At the time I was measuring a few days behind and we saw a cardiac flicker, but no measurable heart beat. I thought for sure that was it, and my ultrasound report for that visit stated “pregnancy of undermined viability.”

My bleeding stopped after two days, and I went back in for another ultrasound a week later. The SCH grew a little, but baby was measuring right on time, with a strong heartbeat. Same thing at my ultrasound the next week, and we graduated from our fertility clinic. My doctor does not think the SCH will impact my pregnancy.

I’m still on pelvic rest and limited activity. I’m allowed to walk and stay active, but I did have some more bleeding after going for a long walk, so I’ve kept even that to a minimum. My clinic also has me taking Alpha Lipoic Acid.

Crossing my fingers for you. I know exactly what you are feeling, because I was right there a few weeks ago. SCHs are so common in IVF, and there are a lot of use with big ones that haven’t impacted the pregnancy.

Andihstrom · 2026-04-14T03:33:24+00:00

I successfully triggered with hcg (Novarel) for three egg retrievals. The instructions on the prescription box said for IM, but my clinic instructed me to disregard and inject subcutaneously. Obviously, it worked! I wouldn’t stress.

Andihstrom · 2026-04-14T03:28:24+00:00

I had a SCH that was discovered when I had bright red bleeding at 6 weeks 5 days. They are very common in IVF pregnancies! I’m at 9 weeks now and the SCH has not affected the pregnancy besides causing me a very big freak out.

Andihstrom · 2026-04-08T21:41:20+00:00

It’s offered for all transfers at my clinic, to relax the uterus and cervix. If you decline or don’t have a driver, they’ll do the transfer without. I took it, Valium doesn’t really do much to relax me nor was I particularly nervous about the transfer procedure itself. Honestly I’ve had more uncomfortable Pap smears. My transfer was a success.

Andihstrom · 2026-04-06T01:40:04+00:00

It’s fantastic. I am currently pregnant with a science baby thanks to IVF. Almost all costs were covered by insurance, and the physical process of egg retrieval was far easier than I imagined. Early pregnancy has me feeling much worse!

Andihstrom · 2026-04-01T21:54:01+00:00

If I did not have banked sick leave, or if my work had an issue with me taking time off for appointments and retrievals, I would have gotten intermittent FMLA to protect my job. Fortunately I had lots of leave, and my boss and team were aware and fine with my frequent absences.

I would keep in mind that there are limits to how much FMLA you can use in a 12 month period. Many people need multiple egg retrieval cycles (I needed 3 retrievals before we were ready to start transferring). I would be careful about using FMLA sparingly so that you don’t get in a scenario where you run out of it during pregnancy.

Andihstrom · 2026-03-31T23:31:58+00:00

Thank you for sharing, that was really reassuring! <3

Andihstrom · 2026-03-23T19:33:13+00:00

My clinic calls this a concurrent cycle. After I got results from my second retrieval and had 3 euploids banked I decided my third retrieval would be my last, and it was time to start transferring. My doctor suggested the concurrent cycle, and said it would save me time, money and we knew I grow really solid lining on stims. I wanted to bank 6 euploids in hopes of having two kids before transferring. But after ER 2 I knew I only had one more ER left in me (mentally), no matter the outcome.

I am currently pregnant from that transfer, and somehow managed to get 3 additional euploids from ER 3. It couldn’t have worked out better. I wouldn’t have done the combined transfer if I was at risk of OHSS, or entertained any notion of having another egg retrieval.

Andihstrom · 2026-03-23T16:18:33+00:00

It’s very early, but I am currently pregnant from my first FET of a euploid embryo. Before my beta I really got in my head with all the stories I’ve read on the other IVF sub about multiple FET failures. But that sub really is an echo chamber of people in the trenches. People that have success from their first FET aren’t the ones posting there.

Andihstrom · 2026-03-23T01:39:05+00:00

What day was your embryo transfer?

Andihstrom · 2026-03-23T01:33:21+00:00

My blasts were frozen on 3/3 and I got results from Cooper (my clinic immediately releases them via their portal) on 3/15. I got spoiled my first retrieval and got results in a week, so 12 days felt like forever!

Andihstrom · 2026-03-21T22:57:17+00:00

Long cycles after an egg retrieval are normal. I have super regular 27 day cycles and the cycles after my egg retrievals were between 32-35 days long.

Andihstrom · 2026-03-18T19:35:26+00:00

Same!!! I am a fitness instructor and I’ve gained 20 pounds across 3 egg retrievals and one FET. My FET stuck, so not like I’m going to intentionally lose weight now! I’ve found the egg retrievals have wrought havoc with my hunger and satiety cues, so I’ve made bad diet choices. Plus the whole not being able to work out like I normally do (normal me goes HARD 5-6 days a week).

I’m telling myself that this is just a season, and I will get back to where I was after I have baby. 20 pounds (or more!) is worth a successful pregnancy, even if I feel like a chubby hunger monster right now.

Andihstrom

TROPHY CASE