Next steps after 3 failed PGS normal FETs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks, 11:47! It's definitely been the worst run of bad medical luck for our family. I don't have any history of immune issues, nor does anyone in my family. Luckily I am pretty healthy overall- I don't even take anything besides prenatal vitamins and the usual fish oil, Vit D, etc! The stress of the cancer fight has made me put on about 20 pounds, though. My husband has cancer and also Crohn's disease, so there could arguably be something "there" in the frozen sperm, but I don't know how that translates to arrested embryos once transferred to me. Our child is male, and I have read on this board and others about "anti-male" antibodies that your body can create... not sure if that's a real thing. I could not find anything on Dr. Braverman's site about local partners, but I have read that SIRM does do some immune testing/investigation, and they have a clinic location in Dallas, so I will call them.

New PP here. I'm in a similar situation, pregnant easily and right away with a son, then started TTC #2 right away, it's now been 35 cycles and I've never been pregnant a second time. I was also found to have "immune issues"--I have no health problems, no history of autoimmune issues in the family, etc. My RE said that I have the anti-Y chromosome antibodies from having a firstborn male, and that this is preventing implantation to the point where I've never even had a chemical pregnancy. At first it sounded crazy to me, but now it all makes sense why I haven't had a single BFP in 35 cycles (also did infertility treatments but not immune treatments). I was diagnosed as "unexplained" by 5 other REs.

Also, I've noticed that nearly everyone I've talked to experiencing unexplained, long-term secondary infertility has a son as their first child. Just an observation, but I find that interesting, I personally think this anti-Y chromosome antibody thing is way more common that we think and accounts for a lot of unexplained secondary infertility problems.

[Anonymous]

That's really interesting, PP. When you say "trying for 35 cycles" do you mean naturally or with any ART assistance? I wouldn't say that my first pregnancy happened quickly or easily, but now it is feeling like a miracle it ever did (I don't mean that flippantly, I really do know how lucky we are to have had a child.) What did your RE say about overcoming the Y chromosome antibodies? I really hope it's not one of those things where we are just SOL. On another board, a poster who had also had 3 failed PGS normal FETs said the things that eventually worked for her were Lovenox from day of transfer through first ultrasound; PIO shots instead of Crinone; and actually (oddly) a fresh transfer instead of frozen (which was successful for her twice). Just thought that was interesting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That's really interesting, PP. When you say "trying for 35 cycles" do you mean naturally or with any ART assistance? I wouldn't say that my first pregnancy happened quickly or easily, but now it is feeling like a miracle it ever did (I don't mean that flippantly, I really do know how lucky we are to have had a child.) What did your RE say about overcoming the Y chromosome antibodies? I really hope it's not one of those things where we are just SOL. On another board, a poster who had also had 3 failed PGS normal FETs said the things that eventually worked for her were Lovenox from day of transfer through first ultrasound; PIO shots instead of Crinone; and actually (oddly) a fresh transfer instead of frozen (which was successful for her twice). Just thought that was interesting.

PP here. Trying for 35 cycles means we never missed a cycle, and I've either been TTC naturally (with Clearblue) or doing infertility treatments that all failed.

I got pregnant on the first month trying with my son.

The RE told me to take 20 mg of Prednisone daily during pregnancy as well as IVIG infusions and possibly LIT.

We have decided to give up on infertility treatments. We will TTC naturally a few more months and then we will give up.

[Anonymous]

Uggh, I am so sorry PP. That is incredibly frustrating (and exhausting), especially after doing even the IVIG treatments and the prednisone. I can understand the decision to move on. Will hope for the best for you and the rest of your journey.

[Anonymous]

I am the OP of this thread, back for a really strange update... but I thought it could provide encouragement to others. What we thought was another chemical pregnancy when I posted this (HCG at 9 days post-6dt came back at only 28) somehow, miraculously, started to climb. My bloodwork two days later came back at 98, and then 232. I literally told the nurse, "What the f-k, you guys said this wasn't viable; what is going on?" I had already made appointments for three second opinions and had been researching all the immune issues that posters here had suggested! Plus my chemical from the first transfer was an HCG of 41 on day 9, so how could this be happening? But lo and behold, it kept going up for the next three weeks and then at 7 weeks the doctor found a healthy heartbeat. I asked for an explanation since everything I read and everything they told me said the embryo wasn't going to make it. And why would this one make it after 2 failures of other PGS normals? He said he didn't have an answer, but that maybe once every few years he sees success with an HCG that low, and that it can be either really late implantation or a problem with the HCG being metabolized-- or simply unexplained. We had the 13 week scan today and this stubborn little $50,000 peach was bouncing around, doing perfectly. Just goes to show this process can be a total, inexplicable and illogical roll of the dice. But I hope this is helpful for someone else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am the OP of this thread, back for a really strange update... but I thought it could provide encouragement to others. What we thought was another chemical pregnancy when I posted this (HCG at 9 days post-6dt came back at only 28) somehow, miraculously, started to climb. My bloodwork two days later came back at 98, and then 232. I literally told the nurse, "What the f-k, you guys said this wasn't viable; what is going on?" I had already made appointments for three second opinions and had been researching all the immune issues that posters here had suggested! Plus my chemical from the first transfer was an HCG of 41 on day 9, so how could this be happening? But lo and behold, it kept going up for the next three weeks and then at 7 weeks the doctor found a healthy heartbeat. I asked for an explanation since everything I read and everything they told me said the embryo wasn't going to make it. And why would this one make it after 2 failures of other PGS normals? He said he didn't have an answer, but that maybe once every few years he sees success with an HCG that low, and that it can be either really late implantation or a problem with the HCG being metabolized-- or simply unexplained. We had the 13 week scan today and this stubborn little $50,000 peach was bouncing around, doing perfectly. Just goes to show this process can be a total, inexplicable and illogical roll of the dice. But I hope this is helpful for someone else.

OP, that's great. So happy for you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am the OP of this thread, back for a really strange update... but I thought it could provide encouragement to others. What we thought was another chemical pregnancy when I posted this (HCG at 9 days post-6dt came back at only 28) somehow, miraculously, started to climb. My bloodwork two days later came back at 98, and then 232. I literally told the nurse, "What the f-k, you guys said this wasn't viable; what is going on?" I had already made appointments for three second opinions and had been researching all the immune issues that posters here had suggested! Plus my chemical from the first transfer was an HCG of 41 on day 9, so how could this be happening? But lo and behold, it kept going up for the next three weeks and then at 7 weeks the doctor found a healthy heartbeat. I asked for an explanation since everything I read and everything they told me said the embryo wasn't going to make it. And why would this one make it after 2 failures of other PGS normals? He said he didn't have an answer, but that maybe once every few years he sees success with an HCG that low, and that it can be either really late implantation or a problem with the HCG being metabolized-- or simply unexplained. We had the 13 week scan today and this stubborn little $50,000 peach was bouncing around, doing perfectly. Just goes to show this process can be a total, inexplicable and illogical roll of the dice. But I hope this is helpful for someone else.

I am genuinely happy for you! God bless the little one

[Anonymous]

Yay OP! So happy for you. Pls continue to update us.

[Anonymous]

Wow. This is an amazing update. Thanks so much for posting back and best wishes going forward. So happy for you!

[Anonymous]

Aww, thank you PPs! I hope to follow up with a happy outcome at the end of this.

[Anonymous]

Thanks, OP, for the great news.
And it does give me hope. I am 43 and just recently completed my 4th IVF cycle, where after changes to my diet and supplements, we ended up with 2 normal PGS embryos. In February we attempted a PGS tested FET from the first batch that successfully gave us our son, but which unfortunately failed. Hence, the 3 IVF cycles this year.

My RE wants me to run all the tests (blood clotting, thyroid, ERA biopsy this cycle, etc...). I literally had my consultation with her THIS morning and left feeling somewhat optimistic and then a bit concerned after reading your posts from October. BUT, after reading your update I am so happy for you and your family and hope that we have success as well.

Best of luck and keep us posted!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks, OP, for the great news.
And it does give me hope. I am 43 and just recently completed my 4th IVF cycle, where after changes to my diet and supplements, we ended up with 2 normal PGS embryos. In February we attempted a PGS tested FET from the first batch that successfully gave us our son, but which unfortunately failed. Hence, the 3 IVF cycles this year.

My RE wants me to run all the tests (blood clotting, thyroid, ERA biopsy this cycle, etc...). I literally had my consultation with her THIS morning and left feeling somewhat optimistic and then a bit concerned after reading your posts from October. BUT, after reading your update I am so happy for you and your family and hope that we have success as well.

Best of luck and keep us posted!

What were those changes? Thanks for sharing.

And congratulations, OP, wonderful news!

[Anonymous]

OP so glad to hear the good news! I too had three failed FET transfers and don’t have any immune issues. I just had a chemical pregnancy so I feel that’s a good sign. We talk to our doc next week but I’m nearing 40 and scared but you gotta keep hope alive, right?

[Anonymous]

oh my - this really made me smile... wow OP... what a strange journey!!

[Anonymous]

Hooray, hooray, OP! Thanks for sharing. HH9M!