Failed IVF#1 because sperm didn't bind

[Janed12]

Hi. I hope I am posting in the right place. I feel so lost right now and wondered if anyone had been in the same or a similar situation?

I have a 3 year old son conceived naturally (9 months ttc). Started trying for #2 in Jan 2015 and nothing. Consultant thought he saw subtle endo on an internal scan but no other issues for me or hubby. Tried 3 months of Clomid. Nothing! Just tried IVF. 13 follicles. 10 eggs collected. All 10 mature. Hubbys sperm fine but nothing. No fertilisation at all. The lab think it's a binding issue but seemed totally amazed that this had happened as we have had a child naturally. Apparently this happens only once or twice a year and they are going to have a multidisciplinary meeting about it.

I just feel so deflated and like there is no point going on trying if it's never going to happen. We can't have any help on the NHS so there is cost to consider as well. I just don't want to be pouring money away if it will never happen. Time is not on our side, I have just turned 37 and my husband just turned 39.

The consultant has said it would need to be ICSI if we go again and the meeting might ID other things they can do to help.

I just feel soo tearful and sad.

Hi, I'm so sorry for your failed IVF.

My DH and I conceived naturally but unfortunately it ended in miscarriage. Fast forward through years of 'unexplained' and 2 IVF's with failed fertilisation, it was discovered my DH's sperm was lacking a protein PLC zeta which is necessary for fertilisation (otherwise his sperm looked fine in the basic nhs sperm test so a bit of a surprise).

The workaround is ICSI with artificial activation (AOA) and we have had really good fertilisation rates using this technique.

His sperm has recently been retested and his latest sample has come back in the 'normal' range which confirms this diagnosis is changeable over periods of time. Very baffling. I think we would still use the workaround for any future IVF's though (just in case!) as it's still in the research phase and a little understood condition.

I'm not suggesting your DH has the same thing but it might be worth a mention. I really just wanted to offer some hope that there could be a workaround for your particular issue and that you could have much better fertilisation in a future round. It sounds like your consultants are putting their heads together for you which is great. Best of luck to you

Me too. We have one child who is now 4, conceived after 2 years ttc, clomid and drilling. Now ttc 20 months for number 2. Conceived and mc last summer and then had first Ivf in April. Zero fertilisation.

We've not had any further tests and they have suggested icsi and we are starting dr end of the months.

Thank you both for your replies. I have been offline for a while trying to forget all things ttc related! I will certainly be asking for more tests etc before we invest anymore money in IVF/ICSI. It's just soo disheartening when you fail at the first major hurdle, makes me think its just never meant to be!