First FET What to expect????

Hi everyone

I have my first blood test next wednesday to get the ball rolling for my first FET. I was just wondering what the process is and what happens when... Any info would be greatly appreciated....


Thanks:D

Hi Collo04, we are just about to start our first FET cycle as well. We arent really sure what to expect either, all that i really know at this moment is that i am having a blood test tomorrow- and thats round about day 8 of my cycle. My last period was very light and not usual at all (period post d&c) and im just hoping everything will be good to go ahead. Very nervous... Guess i can ask the nurses some questions tomorrow, but ooo it just all seems to be coming uo really quickly, and i have got no idea if even the blast is going to thaw. Good luck with everything, fingers crossed :)

Hi collo

Awww you will be ok.

Good luck with it all and will be waiting to hear how you go

Hi Collo and Happymel,

Good luck with the FET. My twins were Frozen ones and I am sure you will both be fine. Keep positive.

Hi guys.

Happy MEL _ let me know what they tell you tomorrow, My blood test is on day 11 of my cycle so we will be going through the two week wait together. So cross our fingers and say our prayers.

Missy - Thanks sweet cheeks Im feeling a better today it just gets hard sometimes. How are you going ? I hope you are ok Ive been thinking of you. Are you going to have FET soon??

Leemar - thanks for your support we decided to put two emmbies in this time around to see if at last one takes. If both take we would have an instant family now that would be the best. Ah well I dont want to be too greedy 1 will do nicely....

Good luck with the FETs everyone!

Just wanted to stop by and let you know that the process is relatively painless, and it's nothing on the drama of the full cycle...

My clinic called me in on day 12 for a blood test. They have everything written up as daily blood tests, but they can judge from your hormone levels how long they think they can leave you. I was called in again three days later, and the third and final blood test two days after that.

As soon as they see the hormone changes they need to see to know you are about to ovulate, they'll book you in for the transfer at the appropriate time.

I thought the process of thawing an embryo would be complex - but I'm told they literally just take it out of the freezer and stick it back in the incubator.

The actual transfer itself is a little like a pap smear - only nowhere near as painful, and over much quicker. You should get to see your embryo before it goes back in, too. Make sure you have a liner with you on transfer day - you may get a little bleeding, but I was told that it's nothing to worry about and doesn't seem to have affected our outcome.

Of course, all this is for a natural cycle - a medicated cycle may be slightly different - I've not experienced one of those!

Hope all this helps!

BW

Thanks for that info it really helps hearing other peoples story. I hope everything goes well for you fingers and toes crossed. Do they transfer after you ovulate or before?? oh and another question, I start spotting around day 21 each month( 28 day cylce) do you know if this will effect the transfer and implanation process If my lining starts to shed this early???? Sorry for all the questions just feel a little confused about the whole thing


Thanks heaps

Transfer takes place after ovulation. For a blastocyst transfer - it will be on day 5, others take place on day 2 or 3. Whatever stage the embryo is at, it goes back in that many days after ovulation.

Have you talked about the spotting with your FS? I'm no expert, but it doesn't sound like a good thing to me! I actually recall my FS asking me about spotting before AF, but I don't have any more than one day, really.

BW

Yeah I did ask but all I got told was "ah yes that is a sign of decreased fertility" I wish someone would listen to me because it started over 2 years ago just before we started to TTC. Do you think I can bring that up with the nurses before FET ????

It certainly wouldn't hurt... I don't know that the nurses can do much, though. Different clinics do things in different ways. I know if I go to my nurses with a problem, they'll go to my FS - but I've also come to trust my FS (even if his psychobabble can drive me batty some days!), and he takes things seriously when I'm worried about something. Can you talk to another doctor at your clinic if yours isn't giving you answers?

I'm sorry, I wish I had more answers for you. :( This is beyond my experience, though.

BW

Thats okay It helps to bounce ideas off different people. I see clinic next wednesday so Im going to ask what my options are if Im not happy with current FS . he seems lovely but disinterested and this frustrates me because nearly every doctor Ive seen has disregarded this problem. I had a refferal once to see a gyno for cervical problems when I went back for a follow up I tried to bring this up to him when it first started and he said I would need another referal to talk about other matters. I just feel ive been pushed from pillar to post so I get a little anxious when doctors dont explain things or explore my concerns... Ill let you know how I go....

Thanks for all the hints and chats guys. Leemar- were your twins from one or two embryos?? Collo04- how many snowbubs do you have waiting??? Im bit nervous because i only have the one, and if it doesnt thaw ok, thats it, and that would suck :( Have you got day 2-3 or day 5 embryos?? How exciting, but also nerve wracking... Will def let you know what they say tomorrow, im just unsure of where i am in my cycle because last period so up and down and all over the place. If my bloods dont look ok this month they said they would wait until next month because they dont want to waste our little bub. Oh yeah and i think you should def talk to the nurse about the spotting on Day 21, that's what they are there for!! To answer ALL our questions, and if your worried about something, best to ask than to worry about it the whole transfer and 2ww!!
BW- oh how exciting for you, im so happy. My blood test came back at 73 i think it was (feels like ages ago), and they said congrats your preg, so anyway have everything crossed for you :)

Collo04- hey just read your other post. Hmm, if they arent answering your questions or wont, for some reason then thats not really fair. We pay so much money for IVF, its only fair to address your concerns and worries. I hope that you get the answers you need at your appt next week. Ive been to lots of docs about lots of things, and luckily have had an absolutely awesome gynae and an awesome FS so i guess i have been lucky in that respect. I think you should be able to trust your FS, and i hope he listens to you next week. You dont want to waste your snowbub!!
mel

Urgh! It's getting so frustrating! It appears that anywhere but my clinic my levels are high enough to be pregnant! I guess I can't complain too much - it's our first transfer and I feel incredibly blessed to have had it work, and I've found the people at my clinic are quite good... and it's a small clinic, so you get to know them pretty well...

I do have to say - I'm a huge fan of FETs now! :)

BW- FET's do sound way way better than full stim cycle, i kept an eye on your posts when you had your last cycle, sounds like you had a really tough time! Im so happy for you, how awesome. Fingers crossed for Friday.
mel

Just thought I'd tell you how my FET happened, as it sounds a little different to the ones mentioned. On day 1 i started the Progynova (which is apparently similar to the Pill), with the dosage increasing every few days. On day 11 I had a scan, which confirmed the my lining is good and that there was no egg. From there they determined that the FET would occur on my day 17 (which was last Wednesday).

So from that day 11, I have started the Progesterone Pessaries, morning and night from now on. The transfer was just the usual (same as ICSI transfer and similar to the AIH transfers). From here I am also required to use the Progesterone Gel, at lunch time (very awkward when I work full time, but hey hopefully it will be all worth it). So I continue to take the tablets, gel and pessaries, right up until preg test (Monday 25 June - fingers crossed for me).

I feel this was the most simple procedure, compared to the AIH and ICSI. As this time there was no blood tests and only took 2 visits to the FS. Obviously the journey to the point was more involved, but I felt less stressed in this one. Except for the phone call late Tuesday, where the FS said they would call if the egg didn't thaw good. However when I listened to the message (after a slight panic), it was just the scientist calling to say it had thawed beautifully and was confirming transfer.

And this has been rather cheap to do. From the $1746 we paid, I got back from Medicare $1548 (as i have well and truely reached the safety net after doing the ICSI in April 07).

So thats my version. Fingers crossed for me next Monday. And I just wanted to say Congratulations to Butterfly Warrior, I've read a few of your stories and complications you've had. It gives me hope that it can and will happen.

hi girls!

im waiting for AF to arrive so i can start my natural FET... it all sounds so simple and relativley worry free compared to a full stimulated cycle. i have been told the same as what our pregnant BW went through. ring on first day of AF. go in on day 12 for BT (fs slready filled in a bloods form for me) then they montior when you are about to ovulate or have that LH surge. for me 5 days later i will have a blastie put back in. then i am gonna cross my fingers, toes (and legs!) and endure the TWW..... good luck everybody. Collo i agree with the other girls, this is emotional enough without feeling you dont have support from your FS. have you asked any of the other girls near you who they would recommend? or maybe just be blunt with FS and tell him 'could you elaborate, because i am feeling left in the dark" or something to that effect. my FS is fantastic, but others have had bad experiences with him. you need to feel that trust with him. best wishes hun

Hi Ladies

Just thought i would share my experience was a little different. For my FET, i took clomid day 2-6, scanned day 8 & 11 to check there werent to many eggs and to time ovulation, and the pregnyl trigger injection 36 hours before ovulation was due to make me ovulate on time, and then 2 lower dose pregnyl injections with the last one at day 5 transfer. We thawed 2 blastys, lost one and transferred a hatching basty.

I think each FS and clinic does it differently, i know my FS prefers to scan over blood tests. Hope this helps and good luck for both of you,