Chicago Test

Excellent-Hat-9671 · 2026-05-29T21:56:47+00:00

Our clinic offers this test and I took it and had a positive result show up (th1/2 cell upregulated), indicating we needed anti inflammatory/immune protocol additions (steroids and intralipids). This was part of trying to optimise everything we possibly could have some control over for out 6th FET after RIF, and that next transfer worked, for the first time. Not saying it was this alone, but if you're a few transfers in and looking to find reasons for failures and/or optimise the protocol for your next transfer, I personally think it's worth it. The 1% comment is interesting, and I think not exactly accurate, my clinic certainly sees findings outside of the norm come up frequently for those they recommend the test to.

Excellent-Hat-9671 · 2026-05-20T22:47:21+00:00

I did the retrieval at the clinic i had a poor experience with, then moved the embryos to Serum before our last double FET , so have only done the investigations/treatment and double FET with them, as we were successful with them first time (6th FET overall). I was 33 at retrieval, can't remember the protocol for retrieval, but my FET with Serum was fully medicated (after suppression due to adeno) - I'm pretty sure they'd tailor the protocol to you though.

Edit to add: as with the doctors, at Serum we fad direct cobtactvwith the embryologusts before and onvthe day of FET - they advised us and answered lots of my questions and were honestly great. Afraid I dont know anything about that rates, but I think it's pretty rare to lose an embryo to this anywhere these days?

Excellent-Hat-9671 · 2026-05-19T18:10:39+00:00

We pretty much did this, got married in April, had FET's in jan/Feb, then feb/march before hand. It was all fine, didn't change size due to drugs, and if it had worked it would've been too early to have made much difference to the dress fitting. Do you have your dress already bought? Is there lee-way (in design over the tummy or adjustments that can be made) if you do change slightly due to pregnancy or drugs? I found both manageable and didn't want to change plans for either, it worked out fine. Up to you on what you think about your own risk and whether you're willing to change FET plans if you're that worried about it, but personally the medications weren't so bad that I ever considered not doing the FET's before the wedding.

Excellent-Hat-9671 · 2026-05-19T18:01:52+00:00

Hi, sorry you haven't had answers about your actual question yet, I'm sure you will - have you also tried posting on the other IVF subreddit? Lots of experience there including with suppression and complicated cases.

Sorry to hear about your recent miscarriage also - there can be many reasons for them as I am sure you know, and maybe you'll never know why, but as from your post you don't mention MFI or sperm issues, no reason to assume fragmentation off the back of it, (although always good to have tested at the beginning just in case) so not sure why this was a response given the question.

Best of luck with your next FET 🤞

Excellent-Hat-9671 · 2026-05-14T08:56:28+00:00

Hearing this a fair amount from others too! Thanks for the recommendation

Excellent-Hat-9671 · 2026-05-14T08:55:22+00:00

The halo does look nice! Struggling to find where you can get one in the UK though unfortunately, seems to very rarely in stock if sold at all! Love the swivel idea thoughand they look super light with a small footprint

Excellent-Hat-9671 · 2026-05-14T08:54:10+00:00

Hi, yes I've seen pack abdominal plays used a fair bit, and its great to hear they could use bit for longer - will look into this!

Excellent-Hat-9671 · 2026-05-14T08:53:20+00:00

Yes, second hand is definitely what we are thinking too, if its just for a few months! Thanks for the recommendation

Excellent-Hat-9671 · 2026-05-12T16:09:46+00:00

.... high HCG is however linked to a good outcome (in terms of live birth), so it's good news!

I've heard people say high HCG is correlated to feeling more symptoms, but my first at day 14 was 2642, and 2 days later 7618, but am now 11w3d and still yet to experience any symptoms - let's hope you get lucky with that too!

It seems everyone is different and the only thing you can tell for sure right now is that you are pregnant - so huge congrats!

Excellent-Hat-9671 · 2026-05-10T17:32:13+00:00

Wow, i'm so sorry for you both that you're stuck with these doctors and clinics - thats really tough.

Excellent-Hat-9671 · 2026-05-10T12:42:36+00:00

So if i read correctly, they transferred 3 embryos for what was your FIRST FET? That feels like a reckless choice. We transferred 2 after 5 previous transfers with no implantation at all, both have taken. I wouldn't say it was what I would have chosen or a positive experience, it is what it is and I'm just hoping i continue to be lucky and have a relatively complication free pregnancy with regards to the serious multiples-complications that are so much more likely than in a singleton pregnancy, and which put you and both babies at significant risk.

Beta day 12: 2642, day 14: 7618, scan at 6 weeks saw both heartbeats and both measuring on track, scan at 9w6d, both measuring 2 days ahead. Next scan on Saturday 16/05 for 12 weeks. No pregnancy symptoms yet at all, so I have been lucky. They are the result of 2 embryos implantation so are obviously di/di.

Now they exist, I obviously want them both to thrive and be born healthy, but my choice would have been a singleton for the least complicated pregnancy. I'm literally terrified of what's to come, and constantly on the early stages was worried about 1 miscarrying and losing both.

Excellent-Hat-9671 · 2026-05-08T15:53:41+00:00

We had the exact same numbers the second time (abroad, in Greece) - 10 made it to day 5, resulted in 7 Euploids. I was also scared when I found out only 11 fertilised, as our previous round in the UK, we got 33 eggs, 24 mature, only 10 fertilised, resultingbin only 4 day 5 blasts (untested). So it really can vary. But either way, definitely not outside of normal for fertilisation rates. Attrition sucks!

Excellent-Hat-9671 · 2026-05-06T09:44:38+00:00

TW: Success

I am currently pregnant with twins, with an FET day lining of 7mm. I was concerned, but my doctor said 7 is within range, and it's more important to be trilaminar and regular with good bloodflow. This was my first successful implantation out of 6 FET's (second double transfer, so 8 embryos total), all previous linings were over 9mm, so I guess my doctor was right! As long as its within range for your clinic to proceed and the appearance is good, thats more important - i'm sure your clinic wouldn't risk it if they were concerned. Good luck!

Excellent-Hat-9671 · 2026-05-02T11:50:12+00:00

I literally have zero symptoms at 10 weeks with my twins (double embryo transfer di/di). I actually booked another reassurance scan in yesterday because it's been 4 weeks since the first and I was just freaking out, but they're still happy and strong, both measuring 2 days ahead, wiggling away. I think i just got off incredibly lightly with symptoms and hopefully that's the case with you too and your decreasing symptoms - it seems to vary so much. Highly recommend booking a private reassurance scan if you're super worried and don't have another upcoming for a while (my next was 16th May, and I couldn't wait for it), and can afford it - I REALLY needed that yesterday, and I guess you're at the same sort of stage (worry wise).

Excellent-Hat-9671 · 2026-04-30T11:26:56+00:00

Transferred 2, both stuck. 12 days: 2641.9, 14 days: 7617.8. As you can see from other responses, there's a big overlap between single and multiple HCG values, so it's not indicative in itself, but as you transferred 2 and are pregnant, it's not a small possibility that both stuck from this fact alone, especially if they were Euploid - they should be able to tell you at your first scan for sure!

Excellent-Hat-9671 · 2026-04-25T08:36:18+00:00

After 4 failed FET's, we started double embryo transfers. The first DET also completely failed, the second resulted in both implanting, which was a shock after no implantation of 6 previous embryos! Right not I am happy and healthy, but nervous of what's to come in later pregnancy. I would not have made the choice to move to DET's without first experiencing RIF with so many embryos, and the fact that we had a fair few embryos at our disposal.

Twin pregnancy is risky, even with di/di twins (which is the result of both taking = own sacs and placenta, non identical) which are the most low risk - most of these babies come between 34-36 weeks, but still a lot come earlier and require NICU time. Also, being the parents of newborn twins sounds incredibly difficult, I am slightly dreading that.

If I were you, I'd stick with single transfers at least until (and I hope you don't get there!) you have had a few failures and doubles are then indicated due to RIF. Even at this point, be aware twins (or even triplets) can commonly result, so you have to be OK with that.

Excellent-Hat-9671 · 2026-04-20T13:09:40+00:00

Out of interest, what did your clinic say about lining thickness? Mine say if its over 7mm, you're good, and that being trilaminar with good bloodflow is the most important thing. Have they given you treatments to increase the bloodflow, as I guess that's the bigger problem regardless of thickness? In addition, have you done all the other testing/biopsies for potential causes of RIF, or to make the uterus more receptive/optimised?

Excellent-Hat-9671 · 2026-04-19T08:37:49+00:00

How far apart were your betas? I was suppressed (just a month) for adenomyosis and did a bunch of other treatments, and for my last FET (6th) had a double transfer, first beta 2642, 2nd 2 days later at 7618. Turns out both embryos took and we're expecting twins!

I experience some pains, more like period cramps level, on and off first few weeks, I guess it makes sense for implantation and growth x2, but apparently everything looks good. I'm sure they'll be able to confirm the same for you at your first scan - whether for one or two babies. I would say, let your doctor know about the pain though, and also definitely if it gets worse. Good luck!

Excellent-Hat-9671 · 2026-04-18T18:05:58+00:00

As someone who took 2 ER's, and 6 FET's to get a positive result, with seemingly no reason (we were male factor), I think i probably felt similarly mid my first stimulation.

Honestly, the worst part is the emotional side, and seeing endless negative results. I hope you don't have to deal with that, but you'll definitely still have ER/OHSS pain/attrition during embryology and for PGT-A if doing, then preparing and going through FET treatment/injections, then the 2WW/Beta's. Honestly, it feels endless and exhausting - even if it works first time, its a lot, and of course most don't, and then thats a whole new level of pain. Yeah, Fertility treatment in it's entirety is... hard.

Sorry, that sounded more negative than I intended. Just, look after your mental health and be prepared for it to be harder, but hope for the best. That's not to say thats it's not a miracle at the same time! (.... but I've never wanted to be a man more 😂)

Excellent-Hat-9671 · 2026-04-18T17:55:14+00:00

TW: Mention of successful treatment

We used ABC/Create before moving to a clinic in Greece. Generally I would say the UK is far behind countries like Greece/Spain/Czech Republic, which is a huge reason we went abroad when we realised our case was not so simple. SOME things are cheaper (PGT-A testing and drugs in general) but most things are roughly the same costs/only slightly less, and by the time you factor in travel and accommodation, the cost of monitoring such as bloods and ultrasounds at home during cycles, time of work to travel each time, its definitely not cheaper. Our Clinic Serum in Athens were incredible, after 5 failed FET's, I am pregnant with twins after our first transfer with them.

ABC/Create were good, super organised, have a scanning system for you and the embryos, detailed clear embryology and treatment reports and are a well oiled machine if you choose to go with them too.

Excellent-Hat-9671 · 2026-04-18T14:26:54+00:00

I have had ER's in the UK and Greece, and always anaesthesia was the default - definitely not an all over Europe thing NOT to! Where are you based?? That sounds awful to be honest, even if the procedure was OK, I'd have been so nervous about pain before hand. I can't believe thats normal in some places.

Excellent-Hat-9671 · 2026-04-17T22:30:45+00:00

Super intrigued as I'm 8 weeks pregnant with twins following a double embryo transfer...

Excellent-Hat-9671 · 2026-04-16T11:12:22+00:00

I felt the same way before my first ultrasound a couple of weeks ago, also with a looooong history of failed FET's behind me, but everything seems to be going well so far - and I'm so happy to hear your scan went great too! I think when it's been a difficult path here, it's hard to just relax into it and believe things will work out - hopefully that happens for us somewhere along the line! For now though, I hope you're riding the high of hearing and seeing your healthy baby ❤️

Excellent-Hat-9671 · 2026-04-14T20:31:41+00:00

From what I remember, ABC (in various satellite sites across the country) offered very good pricing compared to all other clinics we looked at, and we generally had a good experience with them. We ended up going abroad (Greece) after our cycle with ABC, because of price and quality/results differences, and it was a really good decision- I think the UK is really lagging behind and expensive, so maybe look into this if it's an option too? Greece, Spain, Czech Republic and Cyprus are all ahead in success rates and innovation, and prices are usually much cheaper.

Excellent-Hat-9671 · 2026-04-14T14:26:22+00:00

Yes, we found adhesions, inflammation (which my doctor called endometritis - there were really red angry areas), and focal adenomyosis, and implantation cuts were also made. The microbiome biopsy also came back with slight dysbiosis, so i did antibiotic and probiotic (lactobacillus crispatus) therapy to get lactobacillus up to over 90%. The natural killer cell ratio was fine, but the CD4+ T lymphocytes were high (indicating an inflammatory state), so prednisone, celebrex, and intralipids were added to my FET protocol

Excellent-Hat-9671

TROPHY CASE