[Mose]

** PG and baby mentioned **

Hi guys,

I hope you won't mind me posting in here, as I haven't actually been currently TTC for 12 months plus, but I am hoping one of you will be willing to answer my question.

Brief history for me: TTC naturally for four years (circumstances lead to us being told to just try naturally for another 6 months a few times over before we started getting taken seriously, then massive ovarian cysts were discovered, then try again....), long, frustrating, heart-breaking process.

Anyway, when we finally got to doing IVF, we were incredibly, incredibly blessed, and our first cycle resulted in our beautiful son who is now 14mo, and two frosties.

So, now we are getting around to thinking about maybe having another baby. I'm not sure about it all, as I really don't think I can go through the TTC heartbreak all over again, but we're thinking about it.

The thing I don't know is what is involved in FET? What is actually involved in terms of preparation leading up to the transfer? Is medication required? Does it have similar side effects to a stimulated cycle? I know the medication is probably different for each person, but I'd love to have some idea of how different FET is from a stim cycle before I start getting too serious about whether we want to go down that path or just count our blessings.

Thank you

[AryaStar]

Our stories are pretty similar.

I weaned DS at 14 months because I knew that I wanted to go back and do a FET trying for number two. As in your case he took four years TTC so I felt a little bit of pressure to start trying again.

In our case the FET was an unmedicated cycle but this will depend on your specific situation. I ovulate regularly so all that was required was to start daily blood tests from around CD10 to track for the LH surge/ovulation. Once the surge was detected I had a frozen transfer a couple of days later. Same as the transfer process at the end of a stim cycle but I didn't require any progesterone support.

Very simple and no medications, hormones or injections were required in our case. It was just like a normal cycle with an embryo transfer post-ovulation so absolutely none of the side effects that come along with a stim cycle. Mentally and emotionally I found it way less stressful as well.

I guess a lot will depend on the reasons for your infertility as to whether or not your cycle would be medicated or unmedicated and only your FS will be able to answer that for you. Best of luck OP.

This post has been edited by Shady Lane: 22/03/2012, 05:00 PM

[HaleyW]

Hi there, Like Shady Lane I had a non medicated FET cycle after my first fresh IVF resulted in miscarriage. I'm now 3 months pregnant as a result! It was very easy & stress free (apart from the TWW of course!). So if you can take the non med cycle I'd highly recommend it! All that's required are a few blood tests/scans to ensure ovulation has occurred & timing for the transfer.
We have 4 frosties left so if all goes to plan Id also like to plan the next when this bub is about 14 mths. I know i should not even be thinking that far ahead, but ttc for years will do that! Lol! Good luck!

[libbylu]

As the other posters have said, if you ovulate regularly, you can probably do a 'natural thaw cycle' where no drugs are required. If you don't then you made need a 'medicated thaw cycle'. Good luck.

[leebec]

I do a medicated FET cycle as I have PCOS and have only ovulated once on my own, in December last year since my Diagnosis last March, the only time I ovulated before that in November 2010 I got preg but lost baby.

I have done 2 fresh & 2 FET cycles and all are medicated.

I am currently in the TWW of my current FET. For my medicated cycle my FS does Femara.

I know some people just do estrace, then progesterone but my FS has my ovulate so that I am not using progesterone as it is not needed. I have high enough progesterone levels without.

I take Femara cd 4 - 8. I then start bloods on cd12. This cycle, my first using Femara as I switched FS at my clinic and the other used clomid, I had bloods on cd12, 14 & 16. CD16 showed my surge but I already knew that I had surged as I have a Clear Blue Fertility Monitor and I had my peak that morning. I ovulated that afternoon and I had my transfer yesterday.

Most people I know do unmedicated cycles.

[Mose]

Thanks all for your replies! I really appreciate it.

I am a good regular ovulator, so hopefully that means I can do an un-medicated cycle when the time comes.

Next step is to decide at what point to go and visit the FS again...