
Bleeding in early IVF/FET pregnancy
#1
Posted 31 January 2020 - 06:44 PM
My partner is telling me he is sure everything is fine as he has read that bleeding in early pregnancy is common and especially true in ivf pregnancies. But I'm understandably scared. Should I go to an emergency - if I did what can they even do for me?
Has anyone else experienced bleeding in ivf pregnancy and did you miscarry or was it okay?
Thanks for taking the time to read this and for your responses, dont really know what to do with myself right now
Me: 27 DH: 27 Diagnosis: Unexplained
- Started TTC: Jan. 2017
- First medicated IUI: July 2019= BFN
- Second medicated IUI: August 2019 = BFN
- IVF/ICSI: Dec 2019 = 4 conventional IVF blastocysts + 3 ICSI blastocysts, frozen at 5 days. No fresh transfer due to OHSS
- First FET: Jan. 2020 = BFP resulting in a pregnancy loss at 7 weeks
#2
Posted 31 January 2020 - 07:35 PM
You may have a small sub-chorionic hemorrhage (which is what I had) and my doctor said she sees them in almost all IVF/FET pregnancies as the embryos are artificially shot up into the uterus...not a gentle connection like a natural pregnancy implanting.
I know its hard not to worry. My doctor said as long as it wasnt as heavy as my period and I wasnt filling up a pad in an hour to try and relax. Try to put yourself on pelvic rest until you can talk to your doctor. Feet up, no lifting/straining.
If you start bleeding like a period or get severe cramps and/or fever...obviously head to the ER.
My doctor told me when I bled the first time and they found the SCH that I would probably bleed again.
Good luck!
Editing to add that the ER really cant do anything to stop a miscarriage, but I dont think thats what is going on with you.
#3
Posted 31 January 2020 - 07:48 PM
#4
Posted 01 February 2020 - 05:34 AM

Twin girls born December 2017 after 7 years of TTC
See 'About Me' for full details
#5
Posted 01 February 2020 - 09:39 AM
As title says, I am bleeding after concieiving via a FET and am really worried. I had light pinkish spotting and cramping at 5 weeks, doctor said this was normal and I had more bloodwork that showed hcg levels were rising and good (just over 6000). So I was told dont worry about it and that they would see me in person at week 9 for first check up and ultrasound. Now, a week later I am bleeding again with cramping, heavier this time with some clots and cramps. Colour is bright red. My clinic does not take calls over the weekend so I could only leave them a message. I have no fever and the cramping is only minor (less than period cramps). I'm really scared and I really wish I could speak with a nurse or doctor at my clinic, but will have to wait a few days until they open again.
My partner is telling me he is sure everything is fine as he has read that bleeding in early pregnancy is common and especially true in ivf pregnancies. But I'm understandably scared. Should I go to an emergency - if I did what can they even do for me?
Has anyone else experienced bleeding in ivf pregnancy and did you miscarry or was it okay?
Thanks for taking the time to read this and for your responses, dont really know what to do with myself right now
I also had a very similar experience. I think maybe even around week 10 or 12 I lost so much blood; woke up with the bed soaked and passed fist sized clumps in the toilet that we were sure we lost the baby. I mean how can someone lose so much blood and the baby be okay? But like others have said I had a subchorionic hematoma (SCH). This baby is now almost a year old.
Even if you go to emerg there is NOTHING they can do for you and from my experience you are the lowest priority there so you will wait a very very long time. The only thing is that they can do an ultrasound when they eventually get to you to see the baby. There is nothing you can do with SCH, and if you are to miscarry, there is also nothing they can do to prevent it. After 20 weeks of pregnancy if this happens you can go to labour and delivery emergency and THEN they can possibly do something. Until then, it's unfortunately out of your hands. Oh and rest doesn't help SCH.
#6
Posted 01 February 2020 - 09:50 AM
I didnt suggest pelvic rest merely from reading or a wives tale...it was from a medical doctor.
#7
Posted 01 February 2020 - 10:35 AM
I was actually told pelvic rest by my doctor for my SCH, so apparently there are differing opinions in the medical community. My friend had an SCH and was told pelvic rest by her OB as well who is a completely different doctor to mine.
I didnt suggest pelvic rest merely from reading or a wives tale...it was from a medical doctor.
Sorry had't seen that comment from you and wasn't trying to critique. I just made the comment from what I had been told last year.
#8
Posted 01 February 2020 - 11:12 AM
I had a SCH that never bled and was told "modified bedrest" and "pelvic rest" by the RE. I think the point of pelvic rest is to protect your heart in case you lose the pregnancy so you won't be left wondering if you could have done something to prevent it.
https://www.aafp.org...0215/p1080.html
This says you should be able to see an intrauterine pregnancy at your beta.
#9
Posted 01 February 2020 - 11:45 AM
Me: 40 DH: 52
Dx: Mild Endo, Immune Related Issues, Unexplained
TTC #1 since 2003... 3 years ending in heartbreaking divorce...
Lap #1 in 2005 (mild endo), Lap #2 in 2013 (confirmed no regrowth)
6 IUIs 2013-2014 @ RCC
IVF #1 (March 2018) - 4 eggs retrieved, 1 blast - 3BC (not tested), fresh transfer, BFN
Changed clinics - now @ MFC / Dr Virro - referred for immune testing, Dr wants to first get 2-3 PGS normal embryos before doing immune testing
May 2018-May 2019: 6 more IVF cycles.. 12 embryos, 3 PGS normal (5AB, 3AB, 4BC), 1 mosaic (4BB), 1 too small to test (3BC), 7 abnormal
Immune testing revealed low leukocyte antibodies (1%)
May-June 2019: LIT #1 (x2 treatments) with DH - minor improvement
July-Sept 2019: LIT #2 with donor (x3 treatments) - again minor improvement
Oct-Nov 2019: LIT #3 with new donor (x2 treatments) - not going to wait for the results, proceeding with transfer in December 2019
Dec 20, 2019 - first ever BFP!
#10
Posted 01 February 2020 - 03:34 PM
At work yesterday when I saw a large amount of bright red blood and clots I was so shocked and immediately thought "oh my god I'm having a miscarriage" and was devastated but now after hearing from you all and because it has stopped, I have a lot of hope that things are alright.
- DorothyandToto likes this
Me: 27 DH: 27 Diagnosis: Unexplained
- Started TTC: Jan. 2017
- First medicated IUI: July 2019= BFN
- Second medicated IUI: August 2019 = BFN
- IVF/ICSI: Dec 2019 = 4 conventional IVF blastocysts + 3 ICSI blastocysts, frozen at 5 days. No fresh transfer due to OHSS
- First FET: Jan. 2020 = BFP resulting in a pregnancy loss at 7 weeks
#11
Posted 01 February 2020 - 04:28 PM
Prairie_Faerie - first of all, I am SO excited to hear your FET was a success!
I have had bleeding twice now, with pregnancies following a FET. I can't sugarcoat the first instance - I did miscarry eventually. But the bleeding the signified the miscarriage was about to happen wasn't bright red, or pink - it was really deep red (kind of like day 1 or 2 of your period, when there is a heavy flow). I should also add that they discovered I had a high risk condition with my 7 week ultrasound, so I think that makes that particular experience a little difference - and my betas, while acceptable, were on the lower end of acceptable. There were many signs for that miscarriage, other than spotting or bleeding.
This pregnancy I had bleeding again. Mostly pinkish, but there was an instance of bright red (bright, but not deep or dark). The spotting was pretty frequent, and I had an extra beta done (which still wasn't as high as yours!), as well as an additional ultrasound (did them at 7, 9 and 11 weeks). I am still very happily pregnant this time at 13.5 weeks, and all of the spotting has stopped. I am assuming you are still on the progesterone supplements? That seems to have been the cause this time around, as they found no evidence of a SCH. I found that Endometrin irritated my cervix, causing the spotting and bleeding, and often I had a little cramping with it. It was after I stopped taking it (at about 9 1/2 weeks) that my bleeding stopped.
I did start trying to rest more, whenever the spotting began. It was often also after long periods on my feet, or after lifting too much. So if I started to spot, I sat down. I don't know that it did anything to help, since it kept coming back, but mentally it did a lot for me, feeling like I was listening to my body more.
Me: 38
DH: 43
June, July, Aug, Sep 2016: IUI. All BFN.
January 2017: IVF #1. 7 eggs retrieved, 6 fertilized. 1 transferred on day 5 - BFP! DD born 10/08/17. (2 embryos frozen)
Nov 2018: FET #1. 1 transferred. Chemical pregnancy.
Dect 2018: FET #2. Last embryo transferred. BFN.
April 2019: IVF #2. 16 eggs retrieved, 11 fertilized. 1 transferred on day 5 (5 frozen). Chemical pregnancy again.
Aug 2019: FET #3. 1 transferred - BFP! Lost HB at 9 week U/S. MMC.
Nov 2019: FET #4. 1 transferred - BFP again! DD due Aug 6/20
#12
Posted 01 February 2020 - 06:32 PM
Thanks and congrats to you too! Yes, still on progesterone but the bleeding happened after I had missed one of my daily doses so I thought I had caused myself to miscarry for sure. Wish at this point I could rest more as my cramping seems to come back whenever I'm very active or doing heavy lifting which is required of my job.
Unfortunately I am bleeding again bright red tonight with much worse cramps. Still no word back from my clinic

Me: 27 DH: 27 Diagnosis: Unexplained
- Started TTC: Jan. 2017
- First medicated IUI: July 2019= BFN
- Second medicated IUI: August 2019 = BFN
- IVF/ICSI: Dec 2019 = 4 conventional IVF blastocysts + 3 ICSI blastocysts, frozen at 5 days. No fresh transfer due to OHSS
- First FET: Jan. 2020 = BFP resulting in a pregnancy loss at 7 weeks
#13
Posted 01 February 2020 - 10:17 PM
Prairie_Faerie - did you mention you had missed the dose of progesterone? I know I missed a dose of estrogen with this one, and then almost missed another and ended up taking two about 90 minutes apart. I have heard that missing doses can cause some spotting or bleeding, but please don't think you are causing yourself to miscarry! Cramping can be a result of overexertion, and from stress too - so being worried about the bleeding could definitely be contributing to the cramping.
I really hope they get back to you tomorrow! And better yet, that you can get in on Monday for an ultrasound. How far along are you now? 6 weeks? They should definitely be able to do one at this point (I was just over 6 1/2 when I had my "7 week" one, because of the spotting). I'm a little confused as to why they would make you wait until week 9 to begin with, but maybe it's a case of different doctors, different protocols.
Me: 38
DH: 43
June, July, Aug, Sep 2016: IUI. All BFN.
January 2017: IVF #1. 7 eggs retrieved, 6 fertilized. 1 transferred on day 5 - BFP! DD born 10/08/17. (2 embryos frozen)
Nov 2018: FET #1. 1 transferred. Chemical pregnancy.
Dect 2018: FET #2. Last embryo transferred. BFN.
April 2019: IVF #2. 16 eggs retrieved, 11 fertilized. 1 transferred on day 5 (5 frozen). Chemical pregnancy again.
Aug 2019: FET #3. 1 transferred - BFP! Lost HB at 9 week U/S. MMC.
Nov 2019: FET #4. 1 transferred - BFP again! DD due Aug 6/20
#14
Posted 02 February 2020 - 03:00 PM
Wishing you all health and to have more luck than me xxxx
Thank you again for support, I really appreciate it especially without feeling very supported by my clinic
Me: 27 DH: 27 Diagnosis: Unexplained
- Started TTC: Jan. 2017
- First medicated IUI: July 2019= BFN
- Second medicated IUI: August 2019 = BFN
- IVF/ICSI: Dec 2019 = 4 conventional IVF blastocysts + 3 ICSI blastocysts, frozen at 5 days. No fresh transfer due to OHSS
- First FET: Jan. 2020 = BFP resulting in a pregnancy loss at 7 weeks
#15
Posted 02 February 2020 - 03:32 PM
#16
Posted 02 February 2020 - 04:02 PM
Twin girls born December 2017 after 7 years of TTC
See 'About Me' for full details
#17
Posted 02 February 2020 - 05:26 PM
Oh Prairie - I am so sorry. I was hoping for a very different outcome for you.
As for what next - my experience was, they might bring you in for an appointment (just to go over things), but where you went to an ER they might not, as it might all have been covered there. (Speaking of - I really hope your ER experience was an positive as possible, under the circumstances.) Then they will send you for repeat blood work, until your hcg drops back down below 5.
I was cleared to try again as soon as my hcg had dropped and a natural period returned (which typically takes 4-6 weeks from the start of the bleeding - it was about 5 in my case).
I totally understand what you're saying about feeling connected - that was your baby Miscarriages are really devastating, but I promise some of the sting eventually goes away. Not all - you will always remember that little spark of potential and what it meant to you. If you are interested, I know a local counselor who is UNREAL - she helped me through my experiences this past year and was a lifesaver. She also went through 7 years of infertility treatments and outcomes herself, so she understands on such a deep level. If you're interested, shoot me a message and I will send you her name.
Me: 38
DH: 43
June, July, Aug, Sep 2016: IUI. All BFN.
January 2017: IVF #1. 7 eggs retrieved, 6 fertilized. 1 transferred on day 5 - BFP! DD born 10/08/17. (2 embryos frozen)
Nov 2018: FET #1. 1 transferred. Chemical pregnancy.
Dect 2018: FET #2. Last embryo transferred. BFN.
April 2019: IVF #2. 16 eggs retrieved, 11 fertilized. 1 transferred on day 5 (5 frozen). Chemical pregnancy again.
Aug 2019: FET #3. 1 transferred - BFP! Lost HB at 9 week U/S. MMC.
Nov 2019: FET #4. 1 transferred - BFP again! DD due Aug 6/20
#18
Posted 02 February 2020 - 08:27 PM
I am so sorry for your outcome. Be good to yourself and know that there is nothing you did wrong and nothing you could have done to change the outcome.
#19
Posted 21 February 2020 - 09:45 AM
Me: 27 DH: 27 Diagnosis: Unexplained
- Started TTC: Jan. 2017
- First medicated IUI: July 2019= BFN
- Second medicated IUI: August 2019 = BFN
- IVF/ICSI: Dec 2019 = 4 conventional IVF blastocysts + 3 ICSI blastocysts, frozen at 5 days. No fresh transfer due to OHSS
- First FET: Jan. 2020 = BFP resulting in a pregnancy loss at 7 weeks
#20
Posted 25 February 2020 - 03:16 PM
Hey Prairie - I didn't have any ultrasounds at all, after the one just before I miscarried (when they saw the heartbeat had stopped). I was asked a few questions about the "materials" (such an awful word) that I passed. After that, just the bloodwork. So long as there is a consistent drop in your hcg levels, it is a good sign. (I think I needed about 3 weeks or a little more to get under 5 - I was around 15 at the 2 week mark as well). I did have some off and on cramps, and I continued spotting until my hcg had dropped completely, which I was told was normal.
I just went on the theory that so long as I wasn't showing signs of infection (fever, nausea, vomiting) things were probably ok. The body really goes through hell after a miscarriage, and I have heard cramps can be pretty severe. BUT, I also think calling the clinic was smart, and if Tylenol and a warm bath doesn't ease them, you should definitely follow up.
(Also, I really think it is awesome you know yourself well enough to take time off before starting again. Taking care of ourselves is so important in this journey.)
Me: 38
DH: 43
June, July, Aug, Sep 2016: IUI. All BFN.
January 2017: IVF #1. 7 eggs retrieved, 6 fertilized. 1 transferred on day 5 - BFP! DD born 10/08/17. (2 embryos frozen)
Nov 2018: FET #1. 1 transferred. Chemical pregnancy.
Dect 2018: FET #2. Last embryo transferred. BFN.
April 2019: IVF #2. 16 eggs retrieved, 11 fertilized. 1 transferred on day 5 (5 frozen). Chemical pregnancy again.
Aug 2019: FET #3. 1 transferred - BFP! Lost HB at 9 week U/S. MMC.
Nov 2019: FET #4. 1 transferred - BFP again! DD due Aug 6/20