Advice for FET success

LeFemmeViolette · January 2017

Hi everyone,

I've just gotten news today that our 2nd FET has failed. Luckilly, we have two more embryos on ice, ready to go. But I want to make some changes to improve our odds. Our FET protocol remained the same for both, so I feel like we need to change things up a bit.

For our next FET we're definitely putting in 2 embryos- which perhaps is the biggest change. But also considering an endometrial scratch. Maybe additional meds and/or supplements? Additional tests? What changes worked for you all?

All suggestions welcome.

Thanks, guys.

rmarble23 · January 2017

@LeFemmeViolette i am sorry this one didn't work for you. I say its really just luck of the draw. we didn't change anything with my protocols. The only thing different between the last cycle and previous cycles was that I put in 2 embryos. everything else was more superstitious type stuff, like my fun socks the day of transfer which I hadn't done before.

fx this next one will be the one for you

2legbaby · January 2017

So sorry @LeFemmeViolette.
I had an endometrial scratch before my first FET (failed) but not before my second (bfp). Our re office recommended baby dancing the night before transfer and the first fet we somehow missed that instruction but the second time we made sure to do it and success! Also, the first time around I was so stressed out and trying to eat perfectly and do everything right that I feel like my stress contributed to not being ready. The second time, I chilled out, ate whatever I wanted to and we got our bfp....hoping for success with your next transfer!

dragonfaerie · January 2017

I'm sorry to hear your news

Your doc may already use it, but apparently there's an embryo "glue" they can use. I had two days of modified bed rest (can get up but limit stairs and movement) after my FET, which my RE required. Also, I had pineapple and avocado (not together) everyday for the first five days. Not sure how true it is that they help, but it can't hurt.

AandDM2014 · January 2017

I had 1 failed, 1 semi successful and 1 successful transfer. For the fully successful one I decided to make a playlist that I started listening to when I got comfy on the table and had a specific song I listened to during the transfer and ones for after. I used the same meds, but I responded way better the final time. I'm not sure why, but I'm guessing it was from the semi successful transfer and D&C. I also had more time in between semi successful and fully successful than in between all the other transfers.

tvh1982 · January 2017

I started taking royal jelly capsules. I did when taking out the eggs as it apparently helps the quality, and thought it wouldn't harm taking them with the second FET.
My best friends wife asked what I did different as she was trying with hormones to get pregnant and used it for the cycle after and her baby boy is 4 weeks younger than Pia. I like to think it works.

I stopped taking them as soon as I found out it was a positive as one shouldn't take those if you are allergic to bees or your partner is.
As I'm pregnant with a donor I don't know if he is, so didn't want to risk it.

I was also more relaxed the second time. Mainly because the clinic hadn't booked me wrong the second time, which helped me relax.
And when feeling stressed I saw my acupuncturist, she got me de-stressed in no time!
Planned lots of fun stuff that made me happy, from walks to being a vegetable on the sofa and watching my favourite movie with snacks.

BlueEyedDreamer · January 2017

I am so sorry this cycle didn't work out, @LeFemmeViolette. I remember the exact feeling you have - wanting to change something up to improve your chances. I am hoping that this next cycle will be the one for you.

One thing I did differently for my successful FET was to choose a protocol that was shorter. I'm not sure if this is an option for you or not, but my RE would use either long lupron or antagon for suppression during a FET cycle. Long lupron was - well - long. Almost a month of daily injections before anything would happen. With antagon, you just have a few injections leading up to your usual O-tme to suppress. My RE let me choose antagon b/c I thought that fewer injections (and hence fewer daily reminders of the stress and anxiety of IF) would keep me calmer and less stressed. I even had a glass of wine here and there during the first couple of weeks of my cycle, which I wouldn't have normally done if I'd been on Lupron at the time. I really think that this choice helped me a lot during that last cycle. Something to think about if you have this sort of choice.

Wishing you the best of luck with your next cycle!

omarismyhomeboy · January 2017

I'm so sorry to hear about this @LeFemmeViolette. I know how hard it is. My situation is a weird one, but I did have my first PGS transfer fail. After that I took 2 months off to do ERA biopsies- I had also heard the scratch could be helpful and my RE thought the biopsy would be a "2 birds, 1 stone" type approach. I had confusing ERA results (pre and then post) but we were going to go with it when I unexpectedly got pregnant naturally the month after the biopsies. I am convinced they had something to do with it, because I had never ever seen 2 lines before, even with 4 big juicy follicles.

Best of luck to you. Sending you lots of good vibes.

yelllow22 · January 2017

@LeFemmeViolette After my first FET failed under what seemed like perfect conditions I really wanted to know if there was something that needed to be done differently. I had a phone consultation with an RE friends with my family who lives abroad and he recommended to ask mine about the ERA.
The ERA basically tries to find the perfect timing for the transfer because a big reason for implantation failure is not doing the transfer at the optimal time. You do a mock cycle with your regular meds and the day they were planning on doing the transfer all they do is take a biopsy of your uterine lining which will tell them if the uterus was receptive or if it was too early or too late, then the next real cycle the transfer date is chosen according to the results obtained.
When I talked to my RE about it he said he would definitely do it if the second transfer didn't work.
I truly wish you the best!

LeFemmeViolette · January 2017

@yelllow22 @omarismyhomeboy @BlueEyedDreamer @tvh1982 @AandDM2014 @dragonfaerie @2legbaby
@rmarble23

Thank you all for your input. After our first failed FET I did mention the ERA test to my RE but she kind of dismissed it. I think I'll try to push for it this time. It took a few days, but I think I'm finally in a good headspace that I've accepted the results (period has started so there's def no denying) and am ready to start planning our next move.

Thank you again!!

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