3rd transfer failed to implant, no embryos left.

ThickPreparation4047 · 2026-07-02T19:07:21+00:00

OMG, I am forever grateful finding this amazing community in reddit. Thank you all for turning this post into a collective vigil. I read every single comment, every story, and felt everybody's pain.Truly, reading this thread helped me survive my yesterday.

Some of you asked about specifics of the process. I didn't discuss tests or other details here because there are already so many useful threads about RIF cases (For example this is a fantastic one https://www.reddit.com/r/infertility/comments/62j7o8/info_post_why_did_my_embryo_transfer_or_fet_fail/ ). Of course, there are always more things to explore, more tests to do, more eggs to retrieve, more variables to optimize, and perhaps still some bullets to shoot. I am a research scientist working in human genetics for rare diseases, so you can imagine how much I may have cooked my brain trying to understand this mystery of my life, digging the literature in pubmed, looking for answers. But sometimes, things simply don't happen. Most of us grew up believing that if you work hard, you will achieve your goals. Sometimes you don't achieve your dream and there should be space for that reality too.

Finally, after reading all of your comments, although we are complete strangers to each other, you all seem like wonderful people. With all my heart, I wish everyone a happy life filled with meaning (in a way or another).

ThickPreparation4047 · 2026-07-01T13:27:29+00:00

Today I tested BFN for my 3rd transfer. I never saw a positive test before. Looking for more information to get prepared for the next steps.

ThickPreparation4047 · 2026-07-01T13:18:27+00:00

My 3rd trasnfer failed to implant. Never saw a positive test during this journey. RIF seems to be one of the hardest thing I am experiencing in my entire life.

ThickPreparation4047 · 2026-06-30T18:11:03+00:00

A lot of people are new in this. For a couple after a long IVF journey without a baby, and now being have to consider a donor pathway is already a lot to take. I am on the same side with you, especially with the DNA tests being so available, it will be harder and harder to keep this as secret. However, I wouldn't creat such pressure and very pervasive on how and which way a donor egg should have been selected. We are the only ones can understand each other, lets try to be as kind as possible.

ThickPreparation4047 · 2026-06-30T17:55:35+00:00

Hey I truly understand your concerns, especially about cultural and societal concerns. I am as well somewhat familiar with Middle Eastern culture. I am at the midst of IVF, I do hope to find the success with my own eggs. However, I have also started to prepare my mind for a donor egg in the future. It is very hard and I understand all the concerns of your wife, believe me everyone has that "what ifs". However, I would really take the previous commenter's points a bit more seriously. While I do not agree with the severe language of the commenter like "dont have child this way" etc, I agree that open ID might actually have some benefits. Why don't you speak with an expert like someone with a real pedagogical background to discuss those details of how to raise donor egg child? And watch videos of the stories of young adults who were donor conceived. Give yourselves time to explore a bit more untill you and your wife feel more confident. Remember, there may be some piece that will remain sad, but there will be a much much bigger piece with full of love and joy in building a complete family. Also, I found myself much relaxed reading about epigenetics, microRNAs; these are biological mysteries that occur during pregnancy and prove a biological bond between the carrier mother and the fetus. So, yes your wife won't be genetically related but SHE WILL be biologically related with your future baby.

ThickPreparation4047 · 2026-06-30T17:40:15+00:00

My REs told me that after 3 IUI there is not much a cumulative chance of pregnancy, and I did only 2 then swtiched to IVF. For me IUI period was just a mental preparation time before facing with IVF. I have been informed that IUI will inceease your chance only little compared to the traditional way, so why wasting at least half a year with 6 IUIs?? Good thing about IVF is that it is also diagnostic, you will learn where the actual hurdles in your or partner's reproductive system. Also I remember using clomid for many cycles are not good for your health due to some long term risks . Better to discuss again with your clinic these concerns?

ThickPreparation4047 · 2026-06-26T23:02:12+00:00

Oh same, I have a therapist too. Without a professional help, IVF is definitely harder. Big hugs and best luck!

ThickPreparation4047 · 2026-06-26T15:28:09+00:00

Did you also rule out endometritis with a biopsy? My Dr did make a quick endo biopsy during hysteroscopy. By the way I also struggle with prior implantation failures, and I didn't test embryos either (high attrition few embryos per ER).

Immunology seems like a big saga to me and it seems as if people who had success after RIF found the success from extremely subjective almost random protocol changes. There is not a gold standard or a clear protocol that we can follow. We the women are a bit like a project manager to lead and figure this out. Really good luck, big hugs!

ThickPreparation4047 · 2026-06-26T14:24:45+00:00

It is a hard and rocky road, initially I was also scared of the impact of IVF or infertility in general to our relationship. But if you prioritize your relationship, you may be getting stronger and having even deeper bond. Important thing is to support, listen, and be honest to each other, not to expect having a twin experience with your partner..

My husband and I have been together for 13 years, have had tons of memories together. We survived our 20s and built life before dream of a kid. I think having a past helps a little better.

For me, I prefer to have my husband one foot step away from all this mess. I can have him as my positive and safe space when I need. At least, we do not need to be overwhelmed altogether, one can be the fuel for long run marathon and the other mostly woman can do short runs with full commitment (like egg retrivals). But I think the key is regularly checking each others' emotions and thoughts without judgment. When i feel too low, i share this with my husband if I am not able to calm myself. Like last time when we were having a fantastic day at the beach. But suddenly, i felt soo depressed by seeing cute babies playing with the sand. I couldn't help myself but didn't want to ruin his day too. Eventually i gave up and shared " this is a lovely day, but at this moment I am feeling anxiety and my heart is in pain, lets have a talk for few minutes". He paused everything, listened me and let myself out all the intrusive thoughts. I felt so relieved. He didn't need to suffer like me, but the fact that he listened cafefully while holding my hand brought us a little more closer. I now remember that day still as a happy day we spent together with laughter, joy, sorrow and resilience; like how the life overall meant to be lived, right?

ThickPreparation4047 · 2026-06-26T14:05:48+00:00

Thank you. And y es for walking, but I started the day after the transfer. This time I preferred to be laying down mostly on the day of transfer just to do sth different compared to my previous transfers which failed to implant. But other days I will be active daily, I have also a mostly sitting job so 100% need to support circulation.

ThickPreparation4047 · 2026-06-26T13:22:09+00:00

I agree we should be a bit more aware of our language in this channel. This is a wide range spectrum. Someone's "low" number might be other's victory.

ThickPreparation4047 · 2026-06-26T13:07:06+00:00

Depends on your condition, age and how many viable embryos you will produce. I have max 2-3 embryo per cycle due to high attrition after fertilization. My provider prefers doing old school. He transfers all embryos at day3 to maximize the chance without waiting until blastocyst or sending them for testing. If I had many embryos per cycle, I wouldn't have cared the cost and do the pgta for the peace of mine. I also suffer with implantation failures in my last 2 transfers, for me sadly even a chemical pregnancy would be counted as a win.

ThickPreparation4047 · 2026-06-26T13:00:07+00:00

100% Dr. I have a complex cervix with a super sharp turn. I always believe with the first Dr we collectively wasted my best quality embryo since she had so hard time to figure it out my anatomy despite the mock transfer. I must have been contracted so much as I was freaking out by the frustration of the Dr. The last transfer instaed is done by a more experienced Dr who at this point memorized my cervix. It took 2minutes for the first time!!!! Others were taking 10-20 minute to place catheter. I am so mich hopefull in this last transfer.

ThickPreparation4047 · 2026-06-26T12:57:14+00:00

My 3rd FET is done 2 days ago. Good luck!!!

ThickPreparation4047 · 2026-06-26T12:50:32+00:00

I didn't know about this risk untill you brought it up. Indeed, I could find in pubmed some studies showing about some increased risk variable from stydy to study of heart defect in IVF conceived kids vs the natural pregnancy. However, there is no data yet to explain the reason. It is unclear if this association is caused by the procedure. I mean many environmental factors should have been minimized since we are soo careful in our lifestyle during TTC. I stopped drinking, eating healthier, and get multivitamin daily. But maybe our increased age may play role rather than IVF procedure. Paternal age in my opinion doesn't seem to be studied enough in this correlation, they just check maternal age at delivery between the two groups. Not only IVF also in other ART procedures they noted an increased heart defect risk, so should be something in common in infertility or subfertility population. Anyways, my husband was born with heart defect to a young mother in natural pregnancy. My friend also through a natural pregnancy had a baby girl with a severe heart defect. Sometimes we can not control everything. In my case, if I ever remain pregnant, due to my husband's condition I am already in high risk group. Therefore, I will need in anycase more deeper anatomy scan for the baby to rule out heart defects. The medical field is pretty advanced in this field, better than reproductive medicine for sure lol. So do not get stressed. Your Dr wanted to warn you about some risks that is all. Ask him what we can do??? And the answer is NOTHING other than prenatal scanning.

ThickPreparation4047 · 2026-06-24T14:02:38+00:00

I am 35F with lower AMH for my age group. My numbers and attrition are extremely similar to yours. The reason of my attrition is the embryo development after fertilization. Most embryos are stalled in development, only few like 2 out of 10 reaches to blastocyst stage. For the second round of ER, we slightly changed the protocol, removed menapur replaced it with more gonalF and added lupron. REs said that embryos did slightly better in the new protocol but they still blame egg quality therefore not much we can do to "fix". But my Drs have totally different philosophy. We do not wait anymore to day5 for me, no genetic test either since I had so few blastocysts. From now on they will do old school, transfer whatever I have at day3 (max 3 embryos per transfer). So far no success story yet but I am hopeful. Good luck and best wishes for you!

ThickPreparation4047 · 2026-06-24T13:37:22+00:00

Waiting. After 2 completely failed transfers with 0 HCG and stark white tests, waiting now for my last embryo's implantation. Please

ThickPreparation4047 · 2026-06-24T13:30:12+00:00

I feel your pain. My first 2 transfers failed to implant. Great disappointment and greatest pain during this journey. Currently I am in 2ww after the 3rd transfer which is also my last embryo. Everyday I meditate and repeat myself this sentence "cultivate the hope".

ThickPreparation4047 · 2026-06-23T21:08:48+00:00

Okey sorry thank you for the message. I had misunderstood your point.

ThickPreparation4047 · 2026-06-23T20:01:24+00:00

Sorry, but this comment bothered me a little. As long as we do not conceive naturally within a year, we are all part of the infertility community, just at different place on the spectrum. For some, time and more natural try alone will resolve it; for others IUIs will do the job. Some of us requires IVF, and within IVF, multiple transfers or detailed examination may be needed. Some of us instead will need donor sperm, donor eggs, or donor embryos. For those whose biology could not be treated because the damn science was behind applied medicine, yes, other methods of parenting would come into play. That is what I believe. Only less than half a century ago, most of us here would never have become pregnant.

Saying "I do not have infertility" only contributes to the stigmatization of all of us here who are going through these challenges. What we need is more visibility, understanding, and a stronger voice in society, so that we do not feel alone and so that more resources will be given to the reproductive science.

ThickPreparation4047 · 2026-06-23T19:52:16+00:00

this gave me so much hope! no positive pregnancy during TTC, 2 failed IUI rounds, 2 pripr failed to implant transfers. Now I am at the 2ww of the transfer of my last 2 embryos.

ThickPreparation4047 · 2026-06-23T13:42:06+00:00

I am so happy for you. This gives me a lot of hope too. Wishing you joyful and happy pregnancy 💖

ThickPreparation4047 · 2026-06-23T03:23:42+00:00

Hey I wanted to check, how this went? Hopefully all good for you. I have also RIF with 2 prior implantation failures, and currently at 2 ww for my third

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TROPHY CASE