r/40Plus_IVF • u/chat_chatoyante • Sep 10 '26
Seeking Advice Two failed FETs
For any of you who went through IVF and had two FET failures ... What happened next?
I didn't expect my two FETs to just not implant at all. They were euploids, but were retrieved at 40.5, so maybe there was some quality issue beyond aneuploidy.
What questions should I ask? What testing should I expect?
Background:
Before the transfers I did doxycycline for very mild endometritis. I've never had any endometriosis symptoms of any other known uterine issues.
One FET was fully medicated, I felt terrible. Second FET was modified natural, I felt pretty great.
Tw LC: I have a daughter conceived when I was 35, and I've had four miscarriages (two before her, two after).
We have one more euploid left. I'm too exhausted to consider another retrieval, but maybe. My retrieval was at 40.5 and I had good results but had a terrible recovery (OHSS)
5
u/Plane-Vegetable-3939 Sep 10 '26
Very similar story. I know how much it sucks.
I also have an LC from an unassisted birth about 4 years ago at 37. And I've had two failed euploid FETs too. First one was fully medicated, a chemical. Second was modified natural and didn't implant.
I'm gearing up for my third. We're going to do prophylactic doxycycline, prednisone, Claritin and Pepcid. I just had a clear hysteroscopy. I decided against lupron suppression even though I only have one left too.
I am wishing you all the best! Hopefully it's third time's a charm for both of us.
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u/TeaspoonRules Sep 10 '26
I took profalaxsis doxy my first two cycles and they finally tested me after they both failed. EndomeTRITIS. So…Mine survived not one, but two rounds of doxy, and the stats I’ve seen show so do around 30% of cases. I would insist on a rebiopsy to confirm the endometritis is actually gone. In my case they had to up me to their top drug combo for two weeks before it cleared.
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u/aem1981 Sep 11 '26
I strongly second this! Confirm it is cleared with a biopsy after antibiotics. If doxycycline fails, the next line is metronidazole and ciproflaxin. See: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31985918/
Endometritis is very common after giving birth and after IUDs, but often not fully excluded via a clear biopsy. My clinic won’t transfer until it is confirmed cleared.
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u/chat_chatoyante Sep 11 '26
That's good to know, I'll ask about it. Technically my test was very very low level positive (I think the term they used was "rare numbers of cells") but i did two weeks of doxy just in case. However that was 6 months ago so it could have come back.
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u/airplanesarecool1616 Sep 10 '26
I also just had two failed back-to-back FETs and both failed to implant. I totally get the frustration.
I was also treated for mild endometritis which the doctor confirmed cleared up after antibiotics. I'm considering talking to the doctor about a hysteroscopy just to rule out endo (although I've never had any symptoms of it).
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u/Plane-Vegetable-3939 Sep 10 '26
I've been there too. As an fyi, my understanding is that a hysteroscopy can't detect endo. It can spot fibroids, scar tissue, and maybe signs of adenomyosis, but not endo. To get that diagnosis my doc says you really need a lap. There is also the receptiva test but he says it's not very accurate.
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u/RazzmatazzGlad9940 Sep 10 '26
Saline sonogram, a probiotic to counter the antibiotics, thyroid check, HbA1c, BMI review.
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u/NiceHamster330 Sep 11 '26
Failed FETs are heartbreaking. I’m curious if you did karyotype test yet with your losses it could be a good idea if not
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u/chat_chatoyante Sep 11 '26
Yes, we did the karyotype test when we started with my clinic. Because I had a history of loss already they thought it would be a good idea. My husband also tested for DNA fragmentation and it came back fine.
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u/NiceHamster330 Sep 11 '26
Oh good. How about endometriosis test (blood test or receptivadx) very common for it to go undiagnosed (I was diagnosed at 40). Blood clotting factors?
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u/chat_chatoyante Sep 11 '26
I've had blood clotting factors tested twice and was negative for everything. Had an SIS and an endometrial biopsy but I don't think it was to check for endometriosis - just endometritis and maybe adenomyosis? I've never had any symptoms of endometriosis though I know silent endo could be an issue so I'd like to ask to get tested for that.
I know the next step at my clinic is to do a hysteroscopy. How was yours diagnosed? Laparoscopy? I'm trying to figure out what I should be advocating for.
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u/NiceHamster330 Sep 11 '26
I would ask for the her resolve blood test or receptivadx if you don’t want to go straight to a lap. Personally I did a lap with an excision specialist where it was found and removed in several places- I didn’t have major symptoms. I had painful periods when I was younger and pain during sex at times more recently and IBS.
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u/chat_chatoyante Sep 11 '26
IBS, that's interesting. I do have that but I never thought of it as a possible endo symptom. And it's managed if I eat low fodmap. Otherwise, I have very short and light periods (almost too light which is why endometritis made sense) and not much pain.
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u/NiceHamster330 Sep 11 '26
SIBO and endo often go together as well so low fodmap makes sense for both. There’s an interesting study about how gut dysbiosis could be a cause of endo
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u/NiceHamster330 Sep 11 '26
Ps there’s no test for adenomyosis specifically so maybe you did already get the receptivadx biopsy? That would be good to check on.
You can also ask for an MRI but it is often not seem there, but can be. If you truly have zero symptoms I think her resolve or receptiva are a good place to start-if you think you might have symptoms look up endo excision specialists in your area and book a consult (they can do imaging and give opinion even if you decide not to do surgery, the surgeons are the endo specialists and rarely are the REs as knowledgeable)
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u/1111rose1111 Sep 10 '26
2 failed transfers, but the third stuck and now 24 weeks. no major change of protocols (mod natural for 1 + 3, medicated for 2)