What happens with an FET?

[{sarah}]

We have three frozen embryos (all blasts) & we're planning on doing an FET early next year, but I have no idea what it involves. Can someone give me a rundown? Also will they thaw only one at a time? What happens if it doesn't thaw?

[Megan]

Sarah, at my clinic they just tracked ovulation with blood tests. Once you O, you will have transfer 5 days after ovulation if you have blasts. The day before transfer they thaw the embryo. If it doesn't thaw they will thaw another until they get one that thaws successfully. You then have a BT to check your progesterone levels to determine whether you need any extra support during the TWW.

[butterfly_warrior]

I can really only tell you about what happens with a natural FET, but if you have a regular cycle there's a fair chance you can talk your clinic into doing it that way, rather than doing a HRT FET.

With a natural cycle, they will do blood tests to track your ovulation - they'll be looking for the LH surge that says you're about to ovulate. Once they can confirm that ovulation is about to, or has happened, you'll be scheduled for transfer 5-6 days (because you have blasts) after that. Transfer is just like for a fresh one.

If you are only transferring one embryo, they will only thaw one at a time. If the first doesn't survive, they'll thaw another... up until the point you run out of frozen embryos. I've only ever had one FET where we haven't had to thaw multiple embryos, but my thaw rates are unusally and abysmally sucky.

I vaguely recall that with HRT FETs, you will take various drugs and have a scan to determine when the uterine lining is thick enough for transfer and then things go from there.

BW

[Cuddlepie]

Seems the ladies have pretty much answered the questions, for TTW prog. support usually is daily prog pessaries till beta. All in all, natural FET is just a breeze, minimal intervention. Good luck Sarah...

[CeCe]

For my FET's I've been taken Clomid on days 2 to 5 (or along those lines). From there it's the blood tests and ultrasounds to confirm when ovulation occurs. The rest is as the other ladies have stated.

[nanananny]

I vaguely recall that with HRT FETs, you will take various drugs and have a scan to determine when the uterine lining is thick enough for transfer and then things go from there.

BW

Yep I'm doing my first FET I'm on the pill then I stop that for 3 days and they've given me progynova tablets (I think it's 3 a day) then I have to have a scan to see if the linings thick enough then progesterone pressaries

[{sarah}]

Hey CeCe why clomid? Isn't it for ovulation induction? Wouldn't there be the possibility of twins then, naturally conceived & also from the ET?

[butterfly_warrior]

Sarah, my FETs were done similar to CeCe's with ovulation induction drugs as I just don't ovulate naturally. With any natural FET there's a chance of conceiving naturally as well as with the embryo that was transferred. I believe Mon's twins came about this way, and I've heard of at least one other case. I kind of dream of this happening, but I know that we've got way too many obstacles to overcome!

BW

[barney]

oh hun very exciting news .
ive just done a completly natural fet with 2 little embies on board rite now.
just had daily bt from day 10 and 1 scan to check lineing thats it .
good luk hun

[Meo]

Thanks for starting this thread, Sarah, and to all who've applied. We're having a break this month but will be up for FET (3DPO transfer) towards the end of June. What do they do if you're aiming for a natural FET but you don't ovulate? Do they "induce" ovulation later than "normal" and you can still go ahead with the transfer?

[butterfly_warrior]

Meo, they will likely use clomid or similar drugs to induce ovulation. Some use low dose FSH injections... while still other clinics flat out refuse and insist you go with a HRT FET.

BW

[Mindhugs]

I agree - great thread!

I am doing a FET this month. My first one. We need to decide on 1 or 2 to put back. So long as we have this luxury with thaw rates etc.

I'm currently on day one of my cycle. Scan next Tues to kick it all off.

Fingers crossed fellow FETers!!!

[CeCe]

I guess with our male factor issues chances of natural conception is very remote, so clomid's probably not a big risk for us. Apart from that I guess it just helps stimulate ovulation for me, possibly making it easier to track.

[esperan]

Thanks girls for opening this thread. I'm planning to have a FET by the end of this month as well!!...

I will have an app. with FS on Thursday to plan the FET. I know I'm going to do a pill cycle and at the moment I'm on Synarel.

to all of you! GL