FET process help?

Question

We learned today our fresh transfer is a chemical pregnancy.  Absolutely crushed and feel broken.
Waiting for my “WTF” debrief with my doctor next week, but trying to understand the process of a FET better.  I am fortunate we still have 6 embryos in ice. 
For those ladies who have done a frozen transfer, what did you have to take/do leading up to the transfer? When day on your cycle did you start the process?

Answer

Sorry for your loss 😔 There are different types of FETs that you can do - they can be artificial cycles (e.g. where you are taking estrogen), or ‘non-medicated’ where your natural ovulation is tracked for the timing (with or without a trigger shot). I have mostly done non-medicated so I had transfer of 5 day embryo at 5 days post natural ovulation. Protocols for artificial/medicated FETs seem to vary from what I’ve seen here, so it will depend on what your doc recommends for you. For example, I see some start on birth control pill first, which I’ve read is easier for clinic to control cycle timing.

Answer

I’m sorry for your loss. So difficult no matter what especially on top of this whole process though. For my FET I had to get my period (but used provera to start it because it wasn’t coming). So on day 2 or 3 of my cycle I went in for baseline bloodwork and ultrasound. Got a call that everything looked good. My protocol for my FET was two vagina estrace pills each day and estrogen patches. I started with two patches and worked my way up to four. We changed them every other day. I think after about 2.5 weeks I went in for a lining check and more blood work. That thankfully looked good so they called and told me when to start progesterone in oil shots. I continues all my estrogen medicine and added the shots. Went in for transfer. Continued meds until they told me to stop. So from period to transfer was maybe 3 weeks.  I never did a fresh transfer but it was a lot less stressful than being checked while on stims. I think I went in 9 days in a row at one point! Of course as I’m sure you know cycles can always be canceled which is hard. I had one canceled because my lining was too thin. Good luck! I hope your FET works!! 🤞🏼

Answer

I'm so sorry for your loss. This journey is so full of ups and downs! I had a medicated fet. Started on birth control and shortly after added lupron injections and baby aspirin. I was only on birth control briefly, then added estrace (estrogen). That was increased slowly. Lupron/baby aspirin continued. A week before transfer I started pio injections (progesterone), a steroid and an antibiotic (can't remember their names. Lupron, antibiotic and steroid stopped right before before transfer. Estrace, pio and aspirin continues until pregnancy test and even longer when positive. I've seen other fet protocols that don't include the steroids, antibiotic or aspirin... but every medicated one will have estrace and some sort of progesterone. Good luck going forward!

FET process help?

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