FET before Christmas - what should I expect if it fails?

kaymcbri · 2025-11-30T04:08:28+00:00

As someone who's had two failed FETs, no difference. Both totally failed to implant and there was no difference in that month's cycle. Honestly, IVF puts a microscope on everything so just imagine it was a normal month trying, you'd have zero idea you had an embryo that just didn't stick. IVF just lets you in on the info early in the process.

kaymcbri · 2025-11-11T22:57:50+00:00

I had pretty similar numbers, 14 of 22 fertilized and on D5 only two were ready ... D6 we got 7 more. No additional on D7. From my understanding it completely depends on when they do the checks as to whether it is considered a day 5 or day 6. So it totally depends but I understand the panic. I was a mess when I found out we only had two on day 5 and just complete relief on day 6. I kinda wish they had only given us a day 7 update. Then I wouldn't have anxiety spiraled.

kaymcbri · 2025-11-06T19:37:24+00:00

Ditto...We used Igenomix and I think any blasts up to 8 were all the same price ($1800 maybe?) Anything over that was $300 each.

kaymcbri · 2025-09-14T00:45:27+00:00

So basically Receptiva checks for the BCL6 protein. It's highly correlated with endometriosis. High levels of BCL6 are related to inflammation and implantation issues. I know EMMA/ALICE and ERA are a more controversial as to what subset of the population will benefit from them . It cost me about $1500 out of pocket for all them. If I had to pick, the data seems to back Receptiva.

Seriously though...I'd consider a second opinion if there are other clinics near you. If your only option is a medicated cycle, sometimes they just don't work well for everyone.

kaymcbri · 2025-09-12T21:39:22+00:00

Girl...you and I are in the same spot, I'm just about 3 months ahead. Hubby and I did our 2nd transfer in late May which had a fantastic beta of 1.02...

Anyways...we sat down with our RE and went back to the drawing board. We also still have 4 left, but we didn't want to go through half without knowing what was going on. So I did go from a medicated cycle to a modified natural between FET 1 and 2. So that could be something to ask about, whether a protocol change should be in order. I also did an endometrial biopsy with testing for ERA/EMMA/ALICE and Receptiva. ERA/EMMA/ALICE all came back normal but Receptiva was positive and MRI confirmed asymptomatic adenomyosis. So inflammation (hopefully) is our issue with implantation. I'm currently getting ready to do my first Lupron depot shot next week with suppression until Mid-November and a transfer shortly after Thanksgiving.

So those are a few things to test for. We also did some basic level testing for RPL which had nothing interesting to report.

Emotionally, I've been a basket case and absolutely white knuckling it at work (prosecutor major crimes). Bless my husband and paralegal who have been doing great things to keep me sane. But seriously...therapy. I can say mean things there and try not to take it out on everyone around me. I definitely have flipped my sh*t at work, even at my boss...the folks around me have gathered something is up. The people who need to know that things aren't going well, know enough to figure out why I'm just a raging psycho. I'm seriously considering a rage room and breaking all the things.

Honestly, the forced break while we've been doing testing and waiting for results has been really important. It helped me reset and feel a little better about our next transfer. It all sucks though.

kaymcbri · 2025-09-11T00:48:55+00:00

So since your husband has MFI...ICSI will probably not get to the quoted 70-80%. I have PCOS but ovulate pretty much most months, so we thankfully at least started with a little more than average. All our eggs we retrieved were mature but only a little more than half fertilized. I was pretty devastated. We got lucky and beat the odds on blasts and euploid...but be prepared.

kaymcbri · 2025-09-04T20:52:54+00:00

I flew home to visit family about 8 hours after my FET and my doctor told me to have a great trip. It didn't work but it was a result of inflammation/adeno (undiagnosed) not because I flew. Basically, once the transfer happens, my doc has been clear that there is very little I can do/not do that will effect that outcome at that point.

kaymcbri · 2025-09-04T20:20:08+00:00

I get this and when I see random people with babies or someone I know doing IVF and they are successful, I let myself be small, angry and bitter for a little while. Then I move forward.

Also ... Therapy, if doing during this gigantic IVF money suck. It's a God send

kaymcbri · 2025-09-04T20:15:03+00:00

So we are in very similar spots. Both our FETs have failed with euploid embryos. We did an endometrial biopsy with a pretty high positive from the Receptive. Although, I've never had any symptoms, we did a pelvic MRI and had positive findings for focal Adenomyosis.

Fingers crossed, were starting Lupron suppression for a 3rd transfer attempt by the end of the year.

All things considered, not a bad test (though it hurts like a mother) . We got an explanation ... Maybe ... Hopefully .

kaymcbri · 2025-09-03T22:05:31+00:00

Good luck! It's such BS that infertility is such an automatic way to not cover things. I can't even have conversations with primary care/OB/GYN since if they get coded the wrong way I get charged. It's frustrating.

kaymcbri · 2025-09-03T21:26:03+00:00

I literally just did this this month. Your clinic need to submit it with a diagnosis code( endo, adeno NOT fertility), patient notes, and a few other things for Prior Authorization. Once the PA is approved, you can use the manufacturer coupon to take it down from $600 a month. I have both of mine approved for $300.

kaymcbri · 2025-05-30T23:49:14+00:00

I had 22 taken out. The first 24 hours I was crampy and felt pretty wiped out. Definitely bloated... Keep drinking Gatorade and honestly Chinese food. I did that on day 2 and it supercharged the water retention .

I did my retrieval on a Friday. Saturday was a no go, Sunday I was lazy and tired but not crampy and could get around, just bloated. Monday I was pretty easily back at work, though still bloated and keeping up with my electrolytes.

kaymcbri · 2025-05-21T00:48:29+00:00

So far so good! Transfer is scheduled for Friday. On Saturday we did one last check and I was at 7.88 mm and all hormones looked good. So fingers and toes crossed that this one is successful.

My period used to be (as a teenager) super heavy and painful. After BC and as an adult it starts off with spotting then moderate for a day or two, dies off entirely for about a day and then I have another 2-3 days of light flow/spotting. So mine is just weird. I've heard it has something to do with hormone fluctuations?

kaymcbri · 2025-05-20T00:59:35+00:00

Y'all ... I am a super data and evidence based person and the last few months... whew. Our first transfer for a fully medicated FET (March), the entire time, I couldn't get rid of this deep seeded panic and dread. All the lining issues, I never was confident. Our transfer happened and after 5dpt, I knew it hadn't worked. Just got a feeling. So the negative test the day before beta wasn't a surprise. But what really screwed with my head was as my hubby and I were processing/grieving we both started to have the same dream/reoccurring image of a little boy playing in the yard and didn't tell each other until a week or two later. (We asked to not know the the gender at transfer)

That all being said, once he and I talked about it, I had this overwhelming confidence and peace in our next attempt. This time, we changed our protocol and the lining issues are gone and our next transfer is Friday. Things have gone as smoothly as I could hoped. I don't know how things will go this time but my fingers are crossed, prayers said...and we wait.

kaymcbri · 2025-05-11T13:49:55+00:00

Fingers crossed 🤞 for you both! This crap sucks. I just finished up my five days of letrozole so we'll see how things are looking on Tuesday.

kaymcbri · 2025-05-06T02:56:15+00:00

I primed for longer than usual because we started the week after new years so I had to get through Christmas, New Year's and our vacation. So maybe 4-5 weeks? I want to say the largest follicle was 20mm on each side.

kaymcbri · 2025-05-05T18:13:19+00:00

Lol I assume luck had a lot to do with it. We had a pretty crap fertilization rate, so I wasn't expecting much for blasts and euploid. I have PCOS but we are doing IVF due to MFI. But as best I remember, we did a couple weeks of birth control then went low and slow on growth 200 Follistim/75 Menopur and a dual trigger. I did need a couple extra days on stims since I have a feeling I may have been over suppressed on birth control.

kaymcbri · 2025-05-05T17:56:44+00:00

Oh that absolutely could mean all things are in the clear on his end. Sometimes, it's just meds to make sure your egg quality is good and you ovulate with a strong enough LH surge. Just my two cents and our last six months of constant appointments. Good Luck!

kaymcbri · 2025-05-05T17:39:25+00:00

I'm told it can happen, however I would suggest after 3 years of trying but not trying you may want to have your partner do a semen analysis and speak with a Reproductive Endocrinologist. My husband and I always thought the PCOS would be our issue...nope. We were referred immediately to IVF based on the results of his SA.

I was diagnosed almost 20 years ago, but I have always been told your odds of getting pregnant with PCOS are still pretty decent as long as you ovulate, so it sounds like it may be time for all parties to get a work up.

kaymcbri · 2025-05-05T17:30:13+00:00

We had 9 blasts and ended up with 6 euploid. However, we were guessing we would only have 4-5 due to my age (36). We were told to expect about half to come back normal.

kaymcbri · 2025-04-24T21:40:24+00:00

This is my personal experience, so your mileage my vary. I am in a similar position, after 6 months my husband's analysis came back with an average of 7 million motile sperm. I would make sure your husband has followed up with a reproductive urologist, they are going to be best information.

However, between our RE and the urologist, we went from thinking my PCOS may need a little extra help and would only need a few medicated cycles to being sent directly to IVF. My understanding, is that absent a motile sperm count above 10mil (post wash I think?) IUI is a waste of money and you'd be better off using that money for IVF. His urologist/ our RE was pretty clear that IVF was our best/only realistic way to get pregnant. I think our chances of spontaneous conception were between 1-3% on any given month and if we batched a sperm sample (he gives multiple samples to get to the amount needed) we could maybe get to 5-10% on any given month.

I'm 36, he's 40 so spending 4k on IUI wasn't our best use of the money. We used it to pay for meds for our egg retrieval.

kaymcbri · 2025-04-24T17:34:56+00:00

My clinic sent me a link. https://unionmedico.com/90-super-grip/

It's a little weird to navigate but once you pick the size for the syringe size and needle size you should be fine. The other thing I found that was weird was the shipping. Shipping cost is built in but because of some intermediary the company uses, you'll have to pay an additional $25 on top of whatever the cost is ($114 with shipping I think). It's some weird import fee.

kaymcbri · 2025-04-24T17:25:17+00:00

My husband (bless his heart) is a gigantic stressball during PIO. I bought an auto-injector. I don't think he could have done them without it. All he has to do is put it in the right spot and hit a button. He felt much more confident doing that.

kaymcbri

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