Anyone had disastrous first cycle ICSI and been successful later?

[Jessewalt]

Pretty heartbroken. Spotting began 7dp3dt of one embryo exacty like period. its not implantation. Nothing could be frozen. We are both 33 and had ICSI for "mild male factor".
I always thought that if we were not successful we would at least have a couple in the freezer. This was the worst possible outcome and we are 6K lighter for it.
Does anyone have any positive stories of good outcomes despite poor first cycles? I think I could have been stimulated more as we only got 7 eggs despite good AMH of 22.
Thanks for your thoughts x

Don't have anything useful to add as I'm in the middle of my ICSI cycle but I just wanted to say how sorry I was to hear this. You must be heartbroken. It's so unfair.

If considering doing it again would you go abroad? I think the prices can be significantly cheaper.

I can't offer any success stories Jesse but we did icsi in Jan for mfi. we actually split icsi ivf as dgs numbers were back in normal range but despite 11eggs, and 7 fertilised, we only had 2 good quality embryos on day2 and both put back. had a bfp and mc at 5wks. all this despite an amh of 40. it's such a lottery. sorry your in this boat too. x

Hi although it feels like it now, it is not the worse possible outcome. You had embryos to put back and the cycle went smoothly all be it unsuccessfully. I had no embryos to put back on my second cycle, none of the eggs fertilized. Had twins cycle four.
I feel for you it is very hard.
Good luck for future cycles

My first ICSI was a disaster, I only have one ovary but two eggs were still a rubbish outcome. Day 2 transfer resulted in a bfn. No frosties.
I changed clinics to a much better but no more expensive private one and my new doctor learned a lot from what he called my trial cycle. I was put on highest dose for short protocol instead of long protocol, got 5 eggs, one blast transferred and one blast in the freezer. Now 29 weeks pregnant.
Treat it as a very expensive learning process!

We had icsi for male factor, told our chances were good due to my age and test results etc.
first round we had 7 fertilised, on day 5 we were left with 3 slow growing morulas. They transferred 2 but neither stuck. At our consultant debrief we were told it was likely I had eggs which were older and poor quality. Consultant suggested we have a second go before considering donor eggs.
2nd round they upped my meds but I responded poorly and only produced 6 eggs, 3 fertilised and only 2 made it to day 3. They transferred both. I was sure it would fail and spent the dreaded 2 week wait researching clinics with egg donation abroad.
This time both stuck and we're now expecting twins!
It's so hard to keep positive after a failed round but it does work x

I would say if you only have a few embryos on day 3 get them to out 2 back.
Ive had
ivf 1 1 embryo and it was put back day 3 (plus 1 late fertiliser) = dd
Ivf 2 2 embryos both put back b and bc grades 8 cell and 6 cell =bfn
Ivf 3 2 embryos both put back a/b grade 10 cell and 8 cell =bfp i had a couple others that time but all stopped growing before day5
So ive never had a good cycle in terms of numbers fertilised and embryos (25% fert rate).
Whether they grow past day 3 or 5 is largely luck and embryo quality. Only 50% get from 3 to day 5 blast.
It sounds like you could increase your dose of stims.

But 7 eggs could have been ok, how was fertilisation?
A lot of people dont get frosties and lots do get pg from day 3 transfer.
But you are only day 10 so that is quite early to spot if youre on progesterone, so its worth saying about it at any review appt.

Thank you for all your replies.
My period started on Saturday, so we are definitely out for this cycle.
I feel calmer and clearer now and just have to wait for the rv appointment at the clinic to discuss next steps. We also have our first NHS appointment this month.
Naty - we got 7 egg, 6 fertilised but one looked "odd" on day 1 so was discarded. 4 made it to day 3 (2 high grade, 2 low grade), 1 put back and the other 3 did not make it to blastocyst.
I feel I could have had 225 of menopur as I was only on 150, but need to wait and see what clinic says.
X

I think you should treat your first couple of cycles as a learning process - that's what I was told. Cycle 1 I had 6 eggs, 4 fertilised, and on day 3 only 2 were good enough to transfer. I had them both put back, one stuck - identical twins, miscarried around 8 weeks.

Second cycle - changed from long protocol to short protocol. Only got 6 eggs I think. Didn't get pregnant.

Third cycle - short protocol again, upped dose of Menopur, got 8 eggs, 5 fertilised, had 2 embryos transferred on day 3 and now have a 2 year old DD plus an embryo in the freezer.

My DH has a sperm count of zero so have faith, it can be done! Good luck.