First failed IVF with Shady Grove

[Anonymous]

I'm so sorry for your loss, OP. That's really hard, especially after the ultrasound the day before, and I am sending you lots of sympathy and good wishes. I really hope your forthcoming cycle is successful!

I have been at SG for several years now and have also always liked it, and never felt it was impersonal. Doctors, nurses, and staff have almost without exception been very friendly and caring. Anyway, I was able to get my protocol changed in my most recent cycles to be no BCPs; in my case it was because I was increasingly noticing the BCPs were making me into, frankly, a crazy person and I was genuinely starting to worry I'd have a complete meltdown at work or possibly kill my DH and bury him in the backyard if I had to take another cycle (and he is not an irritating person!). So I finally asked if we could cut them out and they let me. My current cycle, the second I've done BCP-free, is shaping up to be one of my best.

[Anonymous]

Thank you for your support ladies!

I forgot to ask...if I'm lucky enough to have 2 PGS normal embies next cycle, I may ask if I can transfer 2. Prior to my MC, I would have NEVER considered transferring 2. But this was such an unexpected heartbreak. The waiting to start again is the worst part. I think I would rather take my chances with 2, which I know Dr. Khan was initially against. I will have to ask him about that, too...just wonder what everyone else's experience with SG and 2 embies was.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Sorry, one more question. I asked Dr. Khan about a uterine biopsy prior to the FET and he said no, they don't do them unless the patient has had multiple failed implantation. I guess I don't have an implantation problem??? But maybe a sticking problem or god knows what else. Any thoughts on this or other tests? Of course I'll also ask the doc again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thank you for your support ladies!

I forgot to ask...if I'm lucky enough to have 2 PGS normal embies next cycle, I may ask if I can transfer 2. Prior to my MC, I would have NEVER considered transferring 2. But this was such an unexpected heartbreak. The waiting to start again is the worst part. I think I would rather take my chances with 2, which I know Dr. Khan was initially against. I will have to ask him about that, too...just wonder what everyone else's experience with SG and 2 embies was.

It has been a long time since I had three pregnancies at SG. Fortunately, I responded very well to stims and had many frozen embryos (we did not do PGS testing) to work with. First pregnancy we transferred two and got pregnant with twins, who I lost at 20 weeks. Went through two more cycles months later, transferring one at a time with neither resulting in pg. Finally, on the third try, went on antibiotics and did acupuncture--transferred one embryo and now have a healthy teenager. Two years later, antibiotics, acunpuncture and one embryo turned into another successful pregnancy and now have healthy tween. I am no expert, especially since it's been a long time, but I would really recommend transferring one. Twins are just higher risk. I would push for the antibiotics and do acupuncture. I am convinced that was an important piece of the puzzle to keep my uterus relaxed, happy, and ready for implantation. Best of luck. Though it's been a long time, I remember quite well how sad and frustrating this process is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you for your support ladies!

I forgot to ask...if I'm lucky enough to have 2 PGS normal embies next cycle, I may ask if I can transfer 2. Prior to my MC, I would have NEVER considered transferring 2. But this was such an unexpected heartbreak. The waiting to start again is the worst part. I think I would rather take my chances with 2, which I know Dr. Khan was initially against. I will have to ask him about that, too...just wonder what everyone else's experience with SG and 2 embies was.

It has been a long time since I had three pregnancies at SG. Fortunately, I responded very well to stims and had many frozen embryos (we did not do PGS testing) to work with. First pregnancy we transferred two and got pregnant with twins, who I lost at 20 weeks. Went through two more cycles months later, transferring one at a time with neither resulting in pg. Finally, on the third try, went on antibiotics and did acupuncture--transferred one embryo and now have a healthy teenager. Two years later, antibiotics, acunpuncture and one embryo turned into another successful pregnancy and now have healthy tween. I am no expert, especially since it's been a long time, but I would really recommend transferring one. Twins are just higher risk. I would push for the antibiotics and do acupuncture. I am convinced that was an important piece of the puzzle to keep my uterus relaxed, happy, and ready for implantation. Best of luck. Though it's been a long time, I remember quite well how sad and frustrating this process is.

I also got pg with two PGS-normal embryos at SG and lost them just shy of 20 weeks. Following that late miscarriage I had to have a D&C that wrecked my lining so completely we've now had to move to using a GC. I completely understand wanting to implant two and obviously this was an unusual experience and a lot of women have very successful twin pregnancies...just to say, the risks are real. The couple months' time between FETs if the first one doesn't stick would have been far worth it, in my case at least. In the ensuing 2.5 years I've only gotten one more good embryo so we're now having to look at the distinct possibility of adding DE to the mix as well.

[Anonymous]

You lost them both at 20 weeks?? Omg I'm so so sorry. Did the doctor know what might have caused the MC?

[Anonymous]

I've been doing acupuncture since July. Thanks. I'll push for the meds.

[Anonymous]

Give it another chance. I know this is hard and you feel like it "failed" but you did get pregnant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You lost them both at 20 weeks?? Omg I'm so so sorry. Did the doctor know what might have caused the MC?

I was the second poster (the one with the D&C) and the only thing they could come up with was "incompetent cervix, maybe?" (a nice non-diagnosis to go with my "unexplained infertility" diagnosis - I guess I am just a medical mystery!). We had the fetuses tested again after the miscarriage and they were perfectly healthy so whatever it was, it was me, but there was no infection or anything. It is not something I would ever want anyone else to ever, ever go through, that's for sure.

[Anonymous]

^^Also, sorry, didn't mean to go OT on the thread! I know a lot of people who have been successful on their second try, and getting pregnant in the first place is definitely a really good sign, OP!

[Anonymous]

Yes, I agree. I feel like I could get preg again, I just want something added to my FET. And of course I'm petrified I won't have any good embies. This process is so hard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You lost them both at 20 weeks?? Omg I'm so so sorry. Did the doctor know what might have caused the MC?

My OB could not have cared less what caused the MC. So I consulted with a high risk specialist, who suspected blood clot, which was confirmed by placental pathologist. I was tested for factors and found to have several. So, I would add for the OP, I was on Lovenox for following, successful births. This may be something to consider as well. It is good news that you got pregnant so now you do just want to take whatever steps you can take to keep it that way the next time.

[Anonymous]

Omg, I'm so so sorry. I cannot imagine the absolute hell you went through. Thank you very much for the suggestions. I just read about Lovenox. Any idea how I can go about getting tested for blood clots? Should I go to a high risk OB and ask for tests, assuming SG won't do them?

Thank you again, everyone, for your support and help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You lost them both at 20 weeks?? Omg I'm so so sorry. Did the doctor know what might have caused the MC?

My OB could not have cared less what caused the MC. So I consulted with a high risk specialist, who suspected blood clot, which was confirmed by placental pathologist. I was tested for factors and found to have several. So, I would add for the OP, I was on Lovenox for following, successful births. This may be something to consider as well. It is good news that you got pregnant so now you do just want to take whatever steps you can take to keep it that way the next time.

I'm so sorry to hear that. Glad you have successes after that. Can you share more about the blood clot? How would we know if we have it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I did my first IVF cycle at SG with Dr. Khan. I had a poor response to the stims, which is odd, and only had 6 retrieved with 1 PGS normal embie. It was AA quality, but I miscarried on Tuesday at 6 weeks. So much for the 10% MC rate with PGS embies. I had my first US on Monday...everything looked great and my blood work was fine. The next day, I started bleeding and cramping at work and knew it was over.

I have a consult with Dr. Khan, who I like very much, next month to discuss my next IVF cycle. However, the clinic seems very stubborn and set in their ways at trying new things.

I feel the birth control may have oversupressed me prior to the stims cycle . I did IUIs with another clinic in NY (we recently moved down to VA) and always had a good response to stims. I also don't like how the clinic is so against giving patients steroids or antibiotics before the FET. If anything, I would like to change it up next time for peace of mind.

Any SG patients out there think the doc will change up my protocol or are they too damn stubborn? I would really at least like to try a cycle without using BC, but I have a feeling that's not an option. Thank goodness I did shared risk.

if you got pregnant it doesn't seem like the problem was being oversupressed - it sounds like you just need to try again even though that is tough to hear. But if you push back against BCPs my guess is that SG will go along with it - that is really more just for their scheduling convenience I think.