IVF period
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I had the exact same issue! My period started on Day 9 like yours and it was soooo heavy and painful. I've been told by the clinic to still test on Saturday which is the 2WW day but highly doubt I'm pregnant - seems a bit silly that in still being asked to test I think. Do we think it's because the progesterone was not strong enough then?
Sorry to hear this - ivf is so emotional. My clinic (London private) like progesterone levels to be over 100. Mine has been around 200 and both transfers (first fresh and second frozen were successful first time) Until 12 weeks i insert 3 cyclogest vaginally or anally and take 5 progonova tablets. It sounds like your progesterone levels have been too low to progress a pregnancy? I’m not on a doctor! Just sharing my understanding to date. My clinic said that if I got a negative pregnancy test at the end of my 2WW to come off all meds immediately and my period would come a couple of days later. It sounds like your embryo isn’t taking and your period is just arriving as if trying naturally to conceive? I also still take lubion injections 2 times a day until I’m 12 weeks. Cyclogest continues until week 16.
Maybe you need lubion adding in
I’ve just had exactly this. Came on my period at 9dp5dt. I was taking clovers twice daily and this was my third transfer. I’ve never had my progesterone tested (nhs funded) so will 100% be pushing this for next time.
Sounds to me quite normal because 9 days past transfer plus 5 days old embryo together is your 2WW (starting from the hypothetical ovulation, i.e. egg collection day). If you’re on progesterone supplement and never have small bleeds before period I wouldn’t worry too much. All the best to your next transfer!
@Wanyu thank you, I never have bleeds before my period. I guess we are just trying to find any reason as to why it’s not worked again!
@Katherine it might be an idea to call a private clinic and book a consultation. It’s about £250 but if you explain your situation they would possibly advise on meds if you were to go private based on your medical history to date. And you could compare it with your current protocols? Private clinics load you up with drugs (as you are paying!) so there is never a question of you not getting exactly what you need as it’s overkill. It’s incredibly expensive and I sometimes do think that the NHS have budgets and are unable to throw endless money at it :-( It totally sounds like something that can be addressed though so keep the faith :) The hard part is making the embryos which you have done :)
@Katherine I’ve had 3 egg collections and 7 transfers, and it’s just so difficult to know. In the end they found out i have immunological issues so gave me steroids and intralipids - that cycle it finally stuck. The thing is in the UK they don’t really test immunological problems unless you have recurrent miscarriages like i did, but these issues do also affect implantation! There are loads of other reason why ivf would fail though (embryo quality, implantation window, etc..) so I’d definitely suggest you do all possible tests to save the heartbreaks. Xx
@Francesca thanks Francesca. It is hard when the nhs is so restricted, I’m grateful we’ve had two egg collections for free but I feel like we need more now! Great idea to have a consultation with a private clinic, will definitely look into this!
@Wanyu oh wow, congratulations! There are so many reasons, and I am at the stage of wanting to test everything so I can rule it all out. We have one embryo transfer left on the NHS and then have 3 frozen that we will pay for, so hopefully we can get it sorted so one sticks!
@Katherine In my area only 1 cycle is nhs funded so my last 2 cycles were private. However we were so glad we went private though. We bought a two cycle package for 9K and it was totally worth it as i did 2 egg collection, 1 fresh transfer & 3 FETs all inclusive in the package. Also private clinic is so much more responsive & efficient! Happy to have a chat x
I came on my period very quickly after my egg collection which was unusual for me as they are usually very regular! My clinic said the egg collection often makes your period come early, usually upto a week early. We ended up having a freeze all cycle due to overstimulation so didn't have a transfer but it may be the egg collection that caused your early period. My period went back to normal length for the next month and had a frozen transfer which was successful
@Lauren oh that’s really interesting! They had to do a fresh because none of mine had reached blasto by day 5 so we’re hoping that it will develop once transferred, but then got 4 frozen on day 6 so maybe those will fare better! Thank you!
Same happened to me on my fresh transfer in April didn’t make it to 2WW I have the same thoughts I feel like not enough tests are done to know exactly what your individual progesterone levels are I have thought how do they know what I need specifically I may need oestrogen but I’m never tested I’m so greatful for NHS but it isn’t tailored which I do understand
I’ve had a few different type of progesterone. For my first transfer I had cyclogest 3 times a day with my first pregnancy. For my second they moved me to progesterone injections and this was because of my BMI, the suppositories aren’t as strong. The injections are oil based and quite brutal but they do work. I don’t know if on the NHS they would be free, but I would ask about them and see if you could top up. They are called prontogest. They do also do lubion injections but they aren’t as higher dose as prontogest.