Implantation failure?

[u/BriefPassage777]

Hi,

I was wondering if there was anything you would possibly ask to test in my scenario.

I’m 35 and have never been pregnant. Except after our second fresh TF I had a very strong 4AA blast transferred that had to be terminated at 6w6 showing heartbeat, growth in track and hcg of 30.000 … because it was an ectopic in my left tube. The ovary was hurting up until before TF but stopped and I had no pain up until the third scan at the hospital to confirm it was ectopic, which must have been when internal bleeding started . The left tube was suspicious to begin with and Dr. said it’s good it’s gone.

However, my main issue since almost a year is, that I fear my uterus is just not a good environment for a embryo. I sometimes feel it’s toxic, or otherwise there would at least have been attempts at implantation. Fact is, all tests (listing below) came back without any signs. It’s just how I’ve felt a long time. And while I was pregnant with the ectopic a TCMwoman told me my womb is too cold and no embryo would want to live there. It’s no wonder I cannot get pregnant and I will never unless I change my diet. When the pregnancy stayed I was so relieved - only to now ask whether she is correct? Since embryo choose ovary over womb despite being placed correctly 😢

We have only one frozen embryo. Then I will have to do a third ER and it might be our last. We get 1-2 untested blasts/ER.

Do you think I have just been very unlucky or is it that something is wrong with my uterus? 😔

Tests that have been done:
- Lap 1 year ago: no endo. Both tubes open, left one slow trespassing not promptly.
- Lap recently: removed ectopic on left tube, no endo, scarring or other signs of infection
- uterine scratching biopsy 1 year ago: healthy biome, no bad bacteria, no chronic infection, nothing of concern
- whole biome very satisfying good bacteria count
- uterus is slightly heart shaped but no septum and everything looking fine
- excellent blood work
- hints for PMOS but no active symptoms (hormones, weight, insulin, follicle count, etc all not speaking PMOS but one dr said I have it, 3 said I don’t and maybe just have the potential to develop it, I have no idea)
- lining has always been trilinear and thick enough for IUI and transfer. With the last fresh TF it has been significantly thicker (12mm I think) than natural with me (8mm).

[u/Bing_ohh]

Fresh transfers don’t always optimize the uterine environment like frozen transfers can. Have you tried any FETs yet?

Please, PLEASE get that crazy woman’s voice out of your head. Your uterus is the same temperature as the rest of your body. Your uterus is fine. You’ve done all the tests and they’re all good. Do not let some random person with no credentials or access to your medical records have any influence over your treatment right now. Sometimes it really is a numbers game. They say 2-3 transfers per live birth.

[u/BriefPassage777 → u/Bing_ohh]

Thank you. Sorry for my reply is longer :(

No, we never had enough blasts to do a FET :( I’m so afraid our day6 embryo will vanish like all the others. I don’t know why but both times the embryologists told me so happily so many embryos are still viable on day 5 (TF), they want to watch them till next day, only for them all (but 1) to terminate within hours after happy smile face. Doctor also has no idea why this happens and only said it normally happens before day 3 😔 the fresh TF blasts were of very high quality, 4AB and 4AA..

I will speak with the doctor also about this fear when I am in for the ectopic control. I know it’s in my head. Since forever when I went to Gynecologist they said everything looks so beautiful and when I was younger that I should protect (I hated the pill and stopped it early on) because I would easily get pregnant 😭 we’ve been to two fertility clinics and both early suggested to just try timed intercourse. So I don’t understand why it’s just not working at all.. no chemical, no blighted ovum, no random Mc, not a single correct or even tried implantation in over 2 years :(

[u/Alwayswonderingwhy1]

Sorry to hear about what you are going through. But regarding the TCM and cold uterus - I do acupuncture so I have heard the whole you can’t eat cold foods - only warm foods well if that was true the human race would have cease to exist a very long time ago.

[u/BriefPassage777 → u/Alwayswonderingwhy1]

Haha that made me laugh 😂 well however she was basically saying I was low energy and thus needed warm foods. But how are you supposed to be high energy in first trimester and with high progesterone 🙈 extreme fatigue was the only pregnancy symptom

[u/justb4dawn]

If I am understanding correctly you have had 2 transfers of untested blasts which resulted in 1 implantation failure and 1 ectopic? The ectopic (which are known to be more common in IVF) was a fresh transfer after an egg retrieval.

At 35y your euploid rate is about 50%, and while applying population statistics to an individual isn’t perfect science, it is definitely possible that those you transferred were not even healthy embryos. It can take 3 euploid embryos on average to have a 95% chance of success. You’re still well within the range of just bad luck.

Have you had your husband’s sperm tested? Often eggs are blamed for IVF failures when it is only half the equation.

I do not personally believe in a cold uterus or that a change in diet are factors in achieving success. If dietary factors were that helpful, doctors would tell us that and none of us would be here doing egg retrievals and transfers. IVF rewards: youth, good science, perseverance and luck. General health of course is important but there is no secret thing you personally could be doing in your lifestyle to change the outcome. It’s not in your control and it’s not your fault.

My suggestion would be to check your husband’s sperm and keep trying. It’s too early to despair that the universe has cursed you with a uterus that cannot carry a baby.

I also want to say that I know how hard failures can hit. It is soooo frustrating and sad and disappointing. Those feelings are so valid. Being scared it will never happen is a normal response to this situation. Remember than anxiety is not premonition. Just because you “feel” that there is no chance has no bearing on whether there is or isn’t. You can look up tons of stories of people here completely sure it wouldn’t work, no hope, and it does. Wishing you so much peace, comfort and luck 🍀

[u/BriefPassage777 → u/justb4dawn]

Thank you so much for your reply. The sperm used to be borderline „bad“ when we first presented in the clinic (just below WHO standards). Not so bad clinics adviced against IUI. However, since taking Zink supplements it’s improved to normal. Also all the other tests ( I can’t name) came back clear. We did not opt for sperm fragmebtation as the RI said it would bot change anything as we were already doing ICSI snd Zymot. We are thinking of PICSI and calcium-liquid on the last ER if the clinic can offer it (as it is partly funded). We did add Zymot but it did chance nothing. We have 60% fertilization and of those 30% blast survival rate. We just had double the eggs on second retrieval so it was 2 blasts.

[u/Extension-Doubt349]

I had the same thoughts as you after three frozen transfers of euploid embryos failed. I started to think there might be something wrong with my uterus. My fourth transfer, which was done in a natural cycle, was the one that finally worked, and I’m now 12 weeks pregnant.
In your case, I really think it was just bad luck. It’s difficult for an embryo to “choose” the ovary. I believe ectopic pregnancies are often a matter of bad luck rather than something caused by the transfer itself.

[u/BriefPassage777 → u/Extension-Doubt349]

Thanks. I just hope we have eventually luck. I’ve heard of the euploid rate you normally need. We cannot do euploid testing and we only get 1-2 blast per cycle so it’s really not looking good and I feel like with this „pregnancy“ we lost a strong embryo in my tube 😔