Update on me, and tell me about FETs
may2806
member
Somehow in all my years of IF I have never done a FET. I'm not sure when exactly it will be happening - I just had WTFs with RE and RI. RE did an SHG and sent me for an MRI to make sure nothing else uterine-wise is going on and I'm waiting for those results. I might also have a surgical consult. RI said it looks like IVIG didn't work (so glad I spent 12K on those treatments!) so he'd probably do Neup.ogen next time, but he also wants to run some more bloodwork. Basically no one can tell me why I miscarried - was it the T21 or not (I'm thinking not).
But anyway, it looks like we will go ahead with a FET. I could save the embryos and hope that someone volunteers to be a GC, but I think I'd rather give it one last shot and then pursue adoption. I don't think we could afford to pay a GC - adoption will be cheaper.It's so hard to figure out if the decisions I'm making now are ones I'll still be happy with years down the road; but I also can't hold on to these embies just hoping someone will come forward.
So now my question is - transfer one or two? If we separate them, I would have one more shot if this FET doesn't work (assuming they would both thaw). But that also means drawing out the time until I'm done with treatments. I do feel like mentally I want to move on to something that will work (ie adoption). But I also don't want to be regretting my decision down the line and thinking that I didn't give it the best shot possible. If you did a FET, how did you make the decision on how many to transfer?
Early loss 10/08
Lap 1/09
IVF #1 "natural IVF" - 1 egg retrieved, missed m/c
Tried several mini-stim cycles with no response
Switched clinics - dx'd as carrier for Fragile X
IVF #2 MDL protocol Jan/Feb converted to IUI, BFN
IVF #2 take 2: Antagonist, one embie, BFN
IVF #3: Antagonist, no fertilization
One last ditch effort at OE IVF (antagonist with Clomid) cancelled
DE cycle #1 Jan/Feb 2011, BFP, ectopic
DE cycle #2 June/July 2011 - BFP
10/28/11 Baby girl lost at 17 weeks due to pre-term labor. We love and miss you.
DE cycle #3 June/July 2012 - BFP, twins, both heartbeats stopped, D&C
2 frosties but don't know what's next
FET Dec 2012: BFP! Praying this one sticks for the long haul!
Re: Update on me, and tell me about FETs
I transferred two, but that was the standard protocol at my RE. They said that it can be risky to attempt to refreeze a leftover embryo and you most likely will want to thaw both in the event that one doesn't make it. I just thought it would be heartbreaking if both survived the thaw, you only transferred one, then the second didn't make it to refreeze or rethaw.
In my case, I was comfortable with twins, so I had no real apprehension about it.
TTC since March 2009 // Me and DH - 28
Testing Summer/Fall 2010 - Unexplained IF
IUIs #1-4 ~ Clomid/Ovidrel/TI/IUI ~ all BFNs
IUI #5 ~ Femara/Ovidrel/TI/IUI ~ BFN
IUIs #6-9 ~ Research Study Meds/Pregnyl/TI/IUI ~ all BFNs
IVF Consultation, More Testing
Diagnostic Cycle ~ Mucinex/Progesterone/TI ~ BFN
IVF #1 ~ Menopur/Bravelle/Ganirelix/Novarel/Progesterone/Lupron
7R, 6F // 2 transferred // 3 frosties ~ BFN
FET #1 ~ Estrace/PIO/Lupron
3 thawed // 2 transferred // 1 lost // no more frosties ~ BFP!!
Beta #1 - 456 // Beta #2 - 1176 // Beta #3 - 2933 // Beta #4 - 6753
EDD: May 16, 2013
Bedrest for SCH // 6w2d through 10w1d
Elevated TSH and Lazy Thyroid DX @ 10w - Started Synthroid
Finally released from RE at 13w
~~ My IF Blog ~~
So sorry to hear that you didn't get more answers and that the IVIG doesn't appear to have worked, May! And, I'm sorry that you're faced with such decisions. That's something that's currently bothering me most about IF...the second-guessing that comes with trying to determine what step to take next is exhausting.
As for the FET, I've got no experience or actual insight to share -- just wanted to wish you all the best as you proceed and I hope you come to a decision that really feels right for you and YH. GL!
Me: 39, Dx DOR (FSH = 10.5, AMH = 0.43, best AFC = 10), AMA
MH: 37, Dx Obstructive Azoospermia, multiple successful sperm retrieval procedures
2/2012: IVF/ICSI #2 MDLF (4R, 4M, 1F) = BFP, saw heartbeat, missed m/c 9w0d, D&E
8/2012: IVF/ICSI #3 EPP/MDLF (7R, 2M, 1F) = BFN
12/2012: (New RE) Operative hysteroscopy to remove scar tissue
1/2013: IVF/ICSI #4 Low-dose stim/Antagonist (AFC=6); ER=1/26 (5R-couldn't access rt ovary, 5M, 4F), ET=1/29 (trans 3) = BFP!; 2/11 beta#1(13dp3dt)=2127, 2/13=3367; twin girls due 10/19/13
PAIF/SAIF very welcome!
<a href="http://www.thebump.com/?utm_source=ticker&utm_medium=HTML&utm_campaign=tickers" title="Pregnancy"><img src="http://global.thebump.com/tickers/tt16bf7d.aspx" alt=" BabyFruit Ticker" border="0" /></a>
GL in what you decide and if I were in your shoes I would give it one last try too before GC or adoption were on the table.
Multiple ectopics, 2 failed IVF's
IVF #1: Did not get to ET, embies all failed PGD (major chromosomal defects)
IVF #2: We have 2 chromosomally perfect embies as a result of PGD (Boy/Girl) 1 failed the thaw (Girl) Transferred 1, yet ended as a c/p
Thought it was the end of our TTC Journey 6/20/2012
SHOCK BFP 9/28/2012: IT'S A BOY! and everything is normal !!!!!!
Little A born 38w 2d on 05/23/13 and is a true miracle for this IF Vet!
This exactly
TTC since 2008 dx PCOS & MFI
Clomid/Femara no "O"
IVF #1 BFN
FET #1 cancelled for biopsy
FET #1.2 c/p, July 2012 c/p
IUI #1 & 1.2 canceled
IVF #2 ER 12/1, Freeze all due to OHSS
FET #2.1 cancelled due to DVT risk, FET #2.2 Jan 2013
my blog
Thanks, and two more followup questions:
Is it possible to just thaw one, as opposed to thawing 2 and refreezing?
If you attempt to thaw one and it doesn't work, can't you just thaw the second one at that point? I don't know what the timeline is like for that or how that would affect the cycle?
Early loss 10/08
Lap 1/09
IVF #1 "natural IVF" - 1 egg retrieved, missed m/c
Tried several mini-stim cycles with no response
Switched clinics - dx'd as carrier for Fragile X
IVF #2 MDL protocol Jan/Feb converted to IUI, BFN
IVF #2 take 2: Antagonist, one embie, BFN
IVF #3: Antagonist, no fertilization
One last ditch effort at OE IVF (antagonist with Clomid) cancelled
DE cycle #1 Jan/Feb 2011, BFP, ectopic
DE cycle #2 June/July 2011 - BFP
10/28/11 Baby girl lost at 17 weeks due to pre-term labor. We love and miss you.
DE cycle #3 June/July 2012 - BFP, twins, both heartbeats stopped, D&C
2 frosties but don't know what's next
FET Dec 2012: BFP! Praying this one sticks for the long haul!
Sort of. My RE doesn't belive in immune stuff but she is humoring me
I usually just relay info - the IVIG didn't really affect the cycle, so I just told them I was doing it so they were aware, but they didn't need to be involved. I assume it would be the same this time...
Also the RI said that he's no longer working with outside REs, but that he will finish up with me since we're in the middle of treatment. He said it just got to be too difficult. Although in my case I'm not sure that they even spoke!
Early loss 10/08
Lap 1/09
IVF #1 "natural IVF" - 1 egg retrieved, missed m/c
Tried several mini-stim cycles with no response
Switched clinics - dx'd as carrier for Fragile X
IVF #2 MDL protocol Jan/Feb converted to IUI, BFN
IVF #2 take 2: Antagonist, one embie, BFN
IVF #3: Antagonist, no fertilization
One last ditch effort at OE IVF (antagonist with Clomid) cancelled
DE cycle #1 Jan/Feb 2011, BFP, ectopic
DE cycle #2 June/July 2011 - BFP
10/28/11 Baby girl lost at 17 weeks due to pre-term labor. We love and miss you.
DE cycle #3 June/July 2012 - BFP, twins, both heartbeats stopped, D&C
2 frosties but don't know what's next
FET Dec 2012: BFP! Praying this one sticks for the long haul!
I'm glad you're able to continue your RI treatment with your FET !!!!!
I'm seeing him too and grandfathered in for my FET but am SOL for any upcoming cycles. It would have been nice to have known this before we started the process...
I've done 3 FETs
#1 - Transferred 2, both stuck, lost both at 5w5d
#2 - Transferred 2, neigher stuck
#3 - Transferred 1, it stuck still pg at 6w0d right now
So far every 5AA hatching embie we've put back has stuck (4 total including the one transferred during our fresh IVF cycle). After I m/c the twins, I wanted to put back just one, but RE said no, 2, and the two we put back were 5AB and 4BB I think, but they were frozen together, so we left the awesome 5AA.
Positive for HLA-B27, I'm a mutant
Testing - Me ok, gluten issue? DH - borderline count, low motility
4/28/11 IUI#1 = BFP!(5/25), EDD 2/2/12 - m/c 5w3d
7/3, 7/31, 9/25 - IUI#2-4=BFN
IVF#1 - 1 blast = BFP!! (12/30), EDD 9/9/12, confirmed c/p 4w2d
FET#1 3/2/12 - 2 blasts =BFP!! EDD 11/18/12, us#1 = twins! Confirmed m/c 5w6d
4/20-surprise BFP and another c/p 4w2d
FET#2 7/16/12 - 2 blasts = BFN
FET#3 8/20/12 - 1 blast - BFP!! Beta #1-2=177, 354
1st u/s 5w6d, one beautiful little HB
baby girl born 5/10/13
TTC#2 since 12/17/2014, Cycle 8
Repeat Testing...FSH=12, AMH=3.8, AFC=28.
IUI#5 5/10/15- c/p?
IVF#2 8/19/15 - cancelled due to cysts
IVF#2 take two 10/2015 - 5 blasts frozen
FET#4 12/11/2015 - BFN - 4 blasts remaining
FET#5 2/18/16 - BFP!!! Beta1-3, 126, 250, 745!!
Tons of love and ((hugs)) to my IF sister NMscubagirl
I transferred one the first time based on its quality. It didn't work.
They second time we transferred two based on their quality and the fact the were frozen together and my RE doesn't like to thaw and refreeze. Both took but we lost one 10 weeks.
GL with everything hon! They are all such hard choices. I remember trying to decide if I should do the TAC, GC or adoption. It is so hard. ((hugs))
Me: PCOS, Blood/Immune Issues DH: Low all 3
Jun.- Sep. 2010 IUI#1-#3 = BFN
Oct. 2010 = IVF #1 = B/G Twins (passed away Feb. 2011)
May 2011 = Myomectomy and trans-abdominal cerclage (TAC)
Sep. 2011 = Surprise BFP = C/P
Feb. 2012 = sFET #1 = BFN
Feb.2012 = Hail Mary IUI #4 = BFN
April/May 2012 = FET #2 w/our last two embies = BFP (Please let this be it!)
Beta #1 8dp5/6dt = 234 Beta #2 10dp5/6dt = 695 Beta #3 12dp5/6dt = 1796 Beta #4 17dp5/6dt = 17,888 U/S #1 May 17, 2012 = Twins
Baby B's heart stop beating at 9 weeks 5 days
Our little miracle baby is a boy.
Baby Boy Owen and Baby Girl Avery were born too early on Feb. 13, 2011 due to a pedunculated fibroid, incompetent cervix and suspected placental abruption.
"What the heart has once owned and had, it shall never lose." - Henry Ward Beecher
SAIF/PAIF Welcome
Lots of love and luck to my PAIF/3T/IF Veteran ladies, especially my dear friend Zookie. Congrats to Papps, Teach84 and Starbuck on their little ones.
Oh that's unfortunate. We will be done after the FET(s), so that won't be an issue for me - he said he would see this through for me. But I would think that would be the case for fresh cycles too if you are already a patient of his? He told me to tell the nurses he said it was ok if they questioned it.
When I was looking around it didn't seem like there were many RIs that would work with outside clinics.
Early loss 10/08
Lap 1/09
IVF #1 "natural IVF" - 1 egg retrieved, missed m/c
Tried several mini-stim cycles with no response
Switched clinics - dx'd as carrier for Fragile X
IVF #2 MDL protocol Jan/Feb converted to IUI, BFN
IVF #2 take 2: Antagonist, one embie, BFN
IVF #3: Antagonist, no fertilization
One last ditch effort at OE IVF (antagonist with Clomid) cancelled
DE cycle #1 Jan/Feb 2011, BFP, ectopic
DE cycle #2 June/July 2011 - BFP
10/28/11 Baby girl lost at 17 weeks due to pre-term labor. We love and miss you.
DE cycle #3 June/July 2012 - BFP, twins, both heartbeats stopped, D&C
2 frosties but don't know what's next
FET Dec 2012: BFP! Praying this one sticks for the long haul!
Yes, but it depends on how they are frozen. My clinic freezes each embryo in its own straw so that would be possible for us. Sine clinics freeze 2 together so it may not be possible. GL doll!
Dx: DH - Azoo, Me - Mild PCOS
DH - sperm found! Seems to produce only for a few days every 70 days!
Over 1 million in cryo in 15 vials over 6 samples
IVF #1 - 1 beautiful expanded blast transferred, 4 snowbabies - beta #1 11/30/11 = BFFN
FET #1, transfered 2 embies 2/16/12 = BFFN; 1 snowbaby left in cryo
IVF #2 + CGH = 4 genetically normal embies on ice. FET September 26th
SAIF/PAIF always welcome
a special GL and prayers to my IF sister Gregermis
check out my blog!
I had two frozen, in different straws. One was a 5 day the other a 6 day. I wanted to do a eSET, because that's what we had done for my fresh cycle, but my RE highly recommended to transfer both. He said for my clinic they found that 6 days tended to not thaw as well.
My 5 day thawed with 0% fragmentation, the 6 day had 5% fragmentation - and on day of transfer RE said he thought there was a higher than average chance of twins - but that wasn't the case.
DX: 6/9/2011: Azoo ICSI/IVF only option for biological child
IVF #1: ER - 9/26 * ET - 10/1 * beta#1 10/13 - 140 * beta#2 10/17 - 477 * beta#3 10/20 - 1101
1st u/s at 6w6d - one hb * 2nd u/s at 8w3d - no hb detected 11/10/11 * natural m/c 11/13/11
FET #1 Jan/Feb 2012 - 3 delays - cancelled 2/13
FET #1.2 - May/June 2012 - ET 6/6/* beta#1 6/15 - 95 * beta #2 6/19 - 322 * beta #3 6/22 - 940
7/6 1st u/s @ 7 weeks - one beautiful hb - released from RE
EDD 2/22/2013
PAIF/SAIF/PGAL welcome
TTC #1 since 8/1/10; Me:41 and BRCA1+, DH:46
DOR (FSH 24.3)/ terrible egg quality ; homozygous MTHFR c677t
5 IUI's: 2/11 to 6/11 and 1/12= BFN
OE IVF#1-4 8/11-6/12= all BFN
DE IVF#1 11/12 bad embryos= BFN
DE IVF #2 2/13 BFP/Beta hell: m/c 5w6d
CFNBC 7 months, not doing well; decided on guarantee program at RBA w/frozen DE
DE IVF #3 1/14 ET 4BB; BFP;M/C 5w1d, incomplete m/c; MVA extraction in ER 7w1d
DE FET#1 ET 3/1714; BFP, beta 1 3/27= 197, beta 2 3/31= 1586, beta 3 4/7= 13879!!
First u/s= Twins with HBs at 6w2d! We are Team Pink x 2!!
K & K born 11/21/14 at 38wks 4 days
SAIF/PAIF Welcome
http://waitingforraintostop.wordpress.com
I transferred four. We had four in one straw, and they all fragmented during the thaw. Plus I have implantation failure and AMA. So my FET was a big longshot, and ended in a BFN.
The concern I have with only transferring one is, the second one will have to go through the thaw and be refrozen, correct? I would be worried about the quality of the embie being affected, having to go through all that. Definatley something to ask your RE.
Good luck with your decison and your cycle!!
2/06 - surprise pregnancy - twins
3/06 - m/c 1st baby at 6 weeks
5/06 -2nd baby had no heartbeat at 14 wks.
D&E - Bled out. Blood transfusions. Week in ICU - Cheated Death!
Diagnosis: Blood clotting and bleeding disorder, immune issues, & cervical stenosis
5/10 - 1st IVF cycle - BFN
FET - 10/12/10 - BFN
1/11 - IVF with PGD - BFN
IVF - May - BFN
6/11 New RE - fingers crossed!
9/11 - IVF - 4 transferred
10/13 - BFP!!
It's a boy! Clint Michael, Due in June!!!
I'm sorry that the expensive treatments you did didn't help with your cycle. I have been thinking of you! I'm sorry you are faced with such difficult and lifechanging decisions.
About your FET - If the embryos are frozen together, I would transfer both. I would not want to risk losing one to the refreezing process. If they are frozen separately, I would probably only transfer one (especially if the quality is high).
Best wishes with everything!
IVF#1 Oct 2009 (CCRM) - BFN
IVF#2 March 2010 - Poor response/cancelled
DE IVF#1 Aug 2010 - BFN
DE IVF#2 Dec 2010 - Transferred 1, 2 frozen - BFP!
TTC#2 FET Jan 2013 - Transferred 1 - BFP!
This! Big hugs, May. These are tough decisions and I don't think there is a wrong answer so long as you give yourself the best chance possible. Rooting for you.
Baby boy Henry born 2015.
Expecting our capstone baby (boy) early March 2018.