AF arriving mid TWW during first IVF

My best friend and her DH just went through their first IVF cycle and I believe have had a BFN... my friend is not contactable at the moment and I am not wanting to push the issue.

She had a FET around the 19th April 2010 and was due to have her BT on the 2nd May 2010 but on 6DPT she started bleeding - at first we thought she may have scratched herself with the gel applicator but it got heavier and she had some pain. She rang the clinic on Sunday and they asked her to go for a BT on Tuesday (which was yesterday) and I have not been able to contact her since.

I just don't understand what is going on :( - any advice or clarifications would be greatly appreciated.

What are the chances of a BT showing something at 8DPT?

Oh your poor friend :hug:
In theory a bfp could show up this early, but it doesn't sound too promising - she probably just needs some space at the moment.

If this is her first cycle (or FET?) then it may be that they need to change her meds/dosages for extra luteal support, or something like that.

Thank you Marcellus - yep this is their first IVF cycle and FET. Even though my logical brain knows that first IVF cycles are often the trial cycle and working out what works for the couple but my emotional brain can't help but wonder why it couldn't be the fairytale first cycle.

Thanks to the info on BB and the wonderful BBers... I feel better able to support her and understand what is going on.

was it an embryo transfer immediately after a stim cycle and egg pick up, or did she have her embryo's frozen and then have it transferred later

the reason i ask is that i've observed with a lot of the long termers that it is common for AF to arrive early immediately following a stim cycle. from what i can gather, the progesterone levels in the crinone gel just don't seem to be enough to help immediately following the stim cycle. there are many many positive results, but those that haven't work seem to get AF earlier - i know i got mine at 10dpo after the stim cycle in which i went for EPU

if her AF has arrived, she will be grieving and trying to pick up the pieces. when she makes contact, continue to be the amazing supportive friend you are being right now. if she goes back for an FET in a couple of months, the hormones used are different and they may increase progesterone during the TWW to help her

hugs to your friend, and to you - you're being a great support

BG

Just being pedantic, but FET means a frozen embryo transfer, so it wouldn't be their first cycle.

But yeah, what BW said.

that's why i asked marcellus - in case there was a miscommunication between what was happening with the friends and the terminology tk was using!

Just seconding everything BG has said ;)

I always had trouble with all of my cycles with AF arriving too early in the 2ww... it was all due to progesterone issues... my body just needed more than the average girl doing a cycle does.

Once my FS figured this out, he gave me the right dose & this cycle was our first successful one (being our 6th stim).

TK, you're being a wonderful friend right now, and speaking from experience as having been where your friend is right now - there's nothing more you can do right now, she just needs the time to grieve & pull herself back together :hug:

When she pulls herself back up again, she'll need you, she's very lucky to have a friend like you with so much empathy xxx

Hi, just in case, I thought I'd mention that I had an implantantion bleed on d6po. It was my 4th Ivf stim attempt and I stayed pregnant for 12 wks....it was such a great time. Can I just make a suggestion? Please maybe be more pushy than not with your friend if it is bad news...contact her regularly...as my friend called it on one of her sweet messages- 'Hi, it's just your friendly neighbourhood stalker!'...that's a friend that grits her teeth and helps her friend through grief! (my only friend that had that nerve and guts!)
Be brave, and sqeeeze her tight when you hug.
good luck

Seems I have been using the wrong terminology... it was an embryo transfer after a stim cycle and egg collection. They collected 12 eggs, 8 fertlised - 5 were "ok" (sorry I don't know the term but that is how my friend described it to me) and then on day of transfer only 1 was suitable - no frosties.

I had thought FET was the term for frosties but when I was discussing it with a couple who had done IVF a few years ago they corrected me and told me FET was 'fresh embryo transfer' and I believed them... oops - my bad. I knew I should have asked a BBer!

BG - what you have said would be correct re the levels as it was following a stim cycle. So because she has no frosties... does that mean another stim cycle? Do you know how they can differ the drugs in the instance of another stim and transfer? Thank you for your kind words

Marcellus - sorry I didn't mean to confuse :hug: I am still learning terminology

Hollybolly - thank you for sharing your story and for your kind words.

Sevie - :hug: thank you. I can't imagine what it is like from her side of the fence but I have learnt a lot from the wonderful BBers.

Ok, I have a few more questions in addition to my one above:

* How will they know if my friend has a progesterone issue? I don't want to be the friend that thinks they know the ins and outs of IVF but from what you guys have written... I feel I should suggest it now rather than wait until her FS realises - or will he/she be looking at that?

i would suggest to your friend to push her FS for reasons that AF arrived early. i know it's hard to do, esp when it's so early in her IVF journey...

or, suggest she joins BB and tells her story - many of us can jump in and offer suggestions of what to ask her FS...

Thanks BG - I will softly suggest to ask for reasons as to why AF arrived early.

Great minds etc etc... I've told her about BB and the support/info etc - she said she would keep it in mind. Not sure she is the forumy type but time will tell.

dont' mind me tk, I was just getting my head around it.

Hope she's doing ok and you hear from her soon.