What makes an embie stick?

Hi girls,

Was sitting there pondering about life in general, and then I started to think about my upcoming FET in early July. Then a question popped into my head. What makes an embie stick???????? I did my first stim. IVF cycle in May 2008 which resulted in a pg, but then a loss. So I have had one embie stick nicely (thank you God).
But what makes an embie stick? What can one do to give it the best chance to stick? Is that even possible, I mean to increase your chances? I can't help but think that I was just extremely lucky in my previous go (although I do remember being somewhat relaxed, not expecting it to stick the first time), but what if that was really just luck, and I won't be so lucky next time? Anyway, enough of my rambling, it's probably a silly post, but I thought I'd put the question out there anyway and see what people think. TIA.

Beata.

Hello,
For us, this was a critical question (we had 5 failed transfers) - and all I really know is that there is a complex, and not fully understood chemical reaction between the lining and the embie...for us this was prevented by some nasty little antibodies (but again 'they' dont really know how this happens, or why the treatment provided works).

So for me it is just a little bit of magic that happens when your little one is ready to join you in this world. Wish we knew more as we could then reduce the journey we go through, but maybe somethings will just never be known!

Wishing you all the best with your upcoming FET!

FG

Hi Farmgirl,

Thanks so much for your reply. I guess what I am struggling with ATM is that my little embie won't want to stick for some reason. I was just thinking, what makes it float for some time and then decide, oh, that's a good spot to sink into haha. The whole implantation process is just so fascinating I think.

I'm so sorry you've had to go through so much to get to where you are today. You should be so very proud hun! I wish you all the very best in your pg.

You gave me goose bumps when you said that our little ones will come and join us when they are ready. I also believe this too.

All the best hun, and again, thanks very much for your reply.

Beata xxx

Hi Beata70,

Just before Dh and I did our FET in Jan 2008, my IVF nurse gave me 2 pieces of advice...

1) have sex the night before. The extra 'fluids' in the uteris can help the embies to stick

2) after implant stay lying down or fully reclined in the recliner chair for 30 mins .. minimum.

I followed both these pieces of advice, plus did not move off the couch for the day, drinking bucket loads of water for a week.

We were lucky enought to get a BFP and now have a beautiful boy.

Good luck...I hope it all goes well and you get that BFP.

CHeers... Fi

Hi Fiona,

Congratulations on your beautiful son Joshua (I just love that name!!), he must be very loved and very precious.

It's so good to hear that you've finally got your BFP and that all went well!

Thanks heaps for the tips. I actually asked my FS about what to do immediately following a transfer, and he said to carry on as normal but to take it easy that day, and no heavy lifting. I will definitely put my feet up ALL day after my FET! And I'll also DTD the night before, great tip. Thanks hun!

All the best to you and thanks for your reply!

B xxx

I spoke to my FS about this and we had a discussion that it is still a mystery. It's not like they can get an image and follow the process. I think we forget how new IVF is - it all happened in the generation before us. I sometimes wonder what the process will be like in 80 years. After all the statistics we're creating for them and the research that continues to be compiled. I wonder how much easier the process will be for our future women. I do hope - for their sake - that it is not so much of an emotional roller coaster and that there is an element of certainty for them.

Turner, thanx hun. I know there is so much to IVF which is out of our control. Once we place our faith in the docs hands, we just have to hope for the best, do all the right things, and pray.

I wish you all the best in TTC hun.

B xxx

sweetie a book called spirit babies was a god send for me. but it is magic and timing

Hi Linda,

Thanks so much for the book suggestion hun, sound like it's right up my alley!

Congratulations to you on the birth of your beautiful little girl, enjoy every moment with her. And good luck with your next cycle hun!

Beata xxx

Hi Beata

I am so glad you asked this question, as I have been thinking about this myself for the last 6 months - after 3 failed transfers.

This is what my FS information booklet says:

You may go straight home or back to work and all normal activity including sexual intercourse is OK, in fact there is evidence that seminal fluid contains several growth factors that help embryos implant, so intercourse after the day of transfer could be helpful in terms of pregnancy. It is important, however, to avoid activities that may push water up through the cervix, such as douching, water skiing and diving or spa baths.

It also suggested you refrain from strenuous exercise that could significantly raise your heart rate and core body temperature. For example Distance Running, Spin or RPM cycle classes, team sports and competitive squash until pregnancy test is done.


After each transfer I have gone shopping, banking etc and one on occasion I ran around like a crazy chook doing all the things that had to be done.
So on my next FET I am going to take Princes Fiona?s advice.
The only problem is that after transfer they want you out of the room as soon as transfer is finished then I have a 40 mins drive back home, so there is no way I can lay down for 30 mins, any suggestions ???

Is there something else we can be doing to help the process. ??? Any suggestion would be greatly appreciated :D

I also have another question, After transfer how long does it take before embryo implants, is it hours or days ????????

All the best with your upcoming FET !

Hi Danyelle,

Thanks so much for sharing the FS information booklet with me. There are so many different bits of information, isn't there? Oh, the joys of IVF!!
I would highly recommend taking it easy after the transfer hun. When I got my BFP last year, I took it really easy for the rest of the day after my transfer, and aslo took the next day off. I just remember taking it really easy. My clinic here in Melbourne also didn't give me the option to rest for a while after the transfer, so I will just ask this time and if they say no, I will make a big fuss. I have a friend who went through a different clinic, and they fully had her lie down on a reclining chair for about 45 minutes! And she got her BFP too!

As for the time the embie takes to stick, with 5 day old embies, they already have most of the work done for them, so they implant fairly quickly (I'd say within a day or two). In a natural conception, it takes about 5 days for the fertilized egg to reach the uterus via the fallopian tube. If the embie is a 3 day old embie, it might take a couple of days for implantation. This is why they tell you to take it easy.

Are you having another FET or a stimulated cycle soon?

All the best to you hun, I hope you get your BFP very soon. I have also heard a lot of good things about acupuncture which works very well with IVF and women have had a lot of success with it. Very much worth looking into. That friend I was talking about who got her BFP, also did a few sessions of AP around her EPU and transfer and it obviously worked for her.

B xxx

Hi Beata,

Sorry for the delay in getting back to you.

My Next FET is this Wednesday, I'm excited but also a little hesitant as I am worried I will get another BFN. Its very depressed when I keep getting the BFN.
I never thought that it would be so hard to conceive through IVF, I thought it would be easier than IUI.

I know I should think myself lucky as I have two beautiful children already, (conceived through IUI) but I had my heart set on one more. Am I being selfish ?
OMG I'm sitting here crying again. I am so emotional. :(

Well I am taking your advice, and have done all the running around that I need to do. And have just about finished all the house work. I plan to come home straight after transfer and put my feet up. As for S** before and after transfer, well that isn't possible this time as my husband has gone away to QLD for conference and is not due back till Friday night.

With regards to when a embie sticks, have I got it right, I have a 3 day embie which is being transfered on Wednesday, so it doesn't try to stick until Sunday. Is that right ????

I've being reading some of your threads and I see that you are going for FET early this month as well. I do hope that we both get a BFP this month :D

Was wondering do you or anyone else know the percentage/cycles rate for a positive pregnant doing IVF. Just wondering !

Thanks for all your help, you have been a great support for me.

Sending you heaps of :stickyvibesgirl:

Hi Danyelle,

Hun, don't be upset, there is nothing wrong wanting another child. Yes, you are lucky to have two beautiful children, but that doesn't mean you don't deserve another one or two (or three!lol) if that's what your heart desires. It's often the journey we have to take to get there and that makes us a bit sad sometimes especially when it's not as easy to get there as one would think!!

Is there a reason you can't still try IUI? Whatever the reason, IVF definitely takes a lot out of a person. We didn't have that option as my DP had a vesectomy a long time ago, and because it's been so long, the chance for a successful reversal was average. It didn't work and hence the need for IVF and also ICSI as they didn't want to leave the swimmers in the dish and leave everything to chance considering my age :rolleyes:

I'm really glad you're going to take it easy after the transfer, I know I will be doing the same. And I think I've read somewhere that an embryo inplants a week after fertilization so with a day 3 embie, that would be on or around day 7?????? I wish you so much luck hun, I :pray: this cycle is successful for you sweets.

As for the % of sussess, it depends on age. For my age group I've heard it's about 20% per cycle...??? Not very high but then again it's not 100% for natural conception either :rolleyes:

I tested positive for the LH surge yesterday and went for my BT this morning, but out of curiosity I tested again this morning and tested negative for the surge :wall: Not sure what is going on, but if I O'd very early in this cycle, I might have caught the tail end of the surge yeasterday which could mean I might miss the 'ideal' time for transfer this month. I really hope I haven't missed it.....:pray:

GL again and let me know how everyhthing goes for you on Wednesday, how exciting!!!!!!!! Will be thinking of you hun.

B xxxx

Hi Beata, ( sorry its a long one )

All went well yesterday considering, when I got there they had a black out, (Thank God for generators) I was busting to go to the toilet but can't go until after transfer. Then Dr C was still in surgery and we had to wait 1 hour. Power finally came back on 20 minutes before procedure.
I had a really nice nurse yesterday, she told me all the information regarding my embryo's. I had 2 transferred, one 7 and one 8 cell and when they showed them on the screen for me they were still dividing and she said that they are looking more than a 9 cells now. So I'm pretty happy with that.
After transfer I went straight home had lunch and crashed on the couch for 2 hours.
Today did absolutely nothing but watch Movies and that's what I have planned to do until 21 July.

I asked Dr C regarding my chances of falling pregnant at my age 39. I have a 30% chance of falling pregnant doing IVF ICSI, only 15% if trying to fall naturally.

Switching from IUI to IVF ICSI. When we decided to try again, we went back to the FS and we did the Semen Analysis, they also requested that we did the Tunel Assey for DNA fragmentation. Dh little swimmer weren't doing to well. DH DNA Fragmentation was just above 20%, they like it well under 20%. Shape 4% (Clinics would like it around 15%) and Motility 12% (Clinics would like it 25%) SO you can understand why we jumped onto IVF.
(Increased DNA Fragmentation has been found to be a contributing factor in cases of recurrent early pregnancy loss and trebles the chance of miscarriage in general.)

I have also been thinking a lot about doing more blood test ( Immunology Tests). Just to be on the safe side. I like to cover all my bases.
Have you done any test like this ??
I know FS's don't do implantation test until 8 failed transfer but I am seriosly thinking of requesting them to do it, if this transfer doesn't work. I just can't go through what my sister has. I watched her go through 6 years of IVF with no success. It was so heartbreaking for her. She is going to give it one more try again in a few months.
(She has implantation then gets past due date then off to blood test the next day, blood test come back with levels just not quite high enough then she has to go back to have a blood test in 4 days time. When she has the blood test again all the levels have dropped and she gets AF in 2 - 6 days time.) After reading a couple of threads on bloods test and ladies in the similar position as my sister, I have highly recommend her doing extra test before she starts again.

Just read your post, I can't believe that your clinic might have missed your ovulation. How is that possible !
At My clinic we go there every 2nd day for blood test then when we are not at the clinic we have to do LH surge test.
You mentioned the second test came up negative. Did you wait 2-3 hour before you went to do the second urine test ? Apparently that makes a difference.

Please let me know how you go with your transfer.
Take care
♥
Danyelle

Hi Danyelle,

Woo hoo hun!! You did it!!!! I am so glad your transfer went well, despite the loss of power and having a full bladder for so long! Big ouch! Your embies sound so nice, the fact that you saw them still dividing is a great sign. I pray that they stick hun :pray:
It's great that you took it easy after the transfer and rested hun. I read somewhere that it's good to have up to 2 days of bed rest after the transfer.

I'm so sorry your sister is going through such a difficult journey with IVF :hug: I really feel for her. I have a friend who has a friend who has gone through countless rounds of IVF and she gets heaps of grade A embies, a lot of them make it to the blast stage, but as soon as they are transferred her body rejects them. She is only 30 years old, and she had PCOS. I really feel for her too, as they have done every test under the sun and they still can't work out why this is happening....It is such a difficult journey for some women, and my heart goes out to them. I haven't been in that situation myself, and I pray I don't have those extra struggles :pray:
I haven't been tested for any immunology issues or other things like that, as when I had my first transfer last year it took, so in my FS 's eyes, I have little problem conceiving through IVF. Mind you, I'm having the FET still from the first cycle, so if there any probs somewhere along the line, I'm sure he'll recommend some sort of tersting maybe??? Just hope it doesn't come to that!

I ended up catching that eggie, it turned out I caught my surge in time on Monday, so I actually ovulated on Tuesday. I opted to do the clearblue ovulation test only, as I didn't feel the need for BTs. But looking at my last two cycles (the second last one was 34 days - very long for me, and the current cycle only 24 days) I almost missed the boat as if I hadn't tested earlier than the nurse suggested, I would have missed my go this cycle. Anyway, the transfer is booked in for tomorrow morning. Wish me luck hun!

Please take it easy now hun, just remember that the more rest you have the better it is for your embies to stick. I wish with all my heart for you to get your BFP hun, I'm praying very hard for you :pray: :pray: :pray:


B xxx

Hi Beata,

Thats Excellent news that you didn't miss out on ovulation :dance:

Good luck for tommorrow, sending you lots of :stickyvibesgirl:
You will be in my thoughts tommorrow.
Here's hopeing and :pray: that we both get a :bfp:

Take care and I'll chat with you real soon.
♥
Danyelle

Thanks hun, I am about to go and am a little bit nervous! Thanks so much for your wishes and prayers, stick little embie!! :pray::pray::pray:

B xxx

Hi beata,

I have Fingers and Toes Crossed for you. Lots of prayers sent your way.
How are you feeling ? Any good signs. ?

afm, well once again I am sick, I have now caught the flu again.
On every transfer I have come down sick or something else has gone wrong.
1st Flu, had to go on antibiotics
2nd Infection in the sinus, had to go on antibiotics
3rd Hurt my back lifting a toy box and couldn't walk and couldn't take any pain relief. I was in tears for days.
4th Throat infection and enlarged glands. Dr has given me a script for antibotics but told me just to wait one more day before taking them.
Is God trying to tell me something.
So I'm thinking that I have probably blown this transfer getting sick again.

I have done a lot of research on BellyBelly forums about Immunology Tests. I just have a gut feeling that something isn't just quite right. When I started seeing FS I fell pregnant straight away with my daughter the 1st try on IUI. WIth my son it took 3 tries doing IUI but during my pregnancy in last 2 weeks I got pluracy then 2 weeks later I got pre-eclampsia. Was raced straight to hospital and I had my son the next day.
Since the birth 2007 I just haven't felt right so in 2008 I went to my Gp and I was told I have No Alcholic Fatty Liver Disease. And after some research found out that pre-eclampsia can cause NAFLD. I just wondering what else might be wrong.
So today while getting my antibiotics script, I also got a referral for Dr Sacks IVF Australia at Kogarah. Going to ring them up later on to make a appointment.
The way I look at it, it doesn't hurt to have a second oppinion.

You take care, rest up and I'll chat with you again soon
♥ Danyelle