No fertilised embryos after egg collection - poor eggs

[stayinghopeful]

Hi, I was wondering if anyone else has been in a similar situation to me and gone on to have a baby?

I have just been through cycle 1 of IVF with really poor results. My AMH was 7 and pre-follicle count around 8 so i wasn’t expecting lots of eggs but I wasn’t prepared for what happened - 4 eggs collected, all immature so no successful embryos.

The doctor told us today that we could try a second cycle (I’m lucky to get 3 try’s in Scotland) but he has slashed our chances from around 30% to 10% and talked briefly about the fact we may have to consider other options, eg donor eggs.

I’m trying to stay positive for round 2 but feeling very worried now,

Thanks for any replies 😊

Hi Staying, sorry to hear of your recent experience.
I have had a cycle cancelled before egg collection before so I understand how horrible it feels for it to be over before you feel like you've had a chance.
I did go on to produce some eggs next time but haven't had a successful cycle (yet?)

In your shoes I'd be asking what they would do differently to try to get mature eggs if you did have another cycle.
Do they think that you didn't have stimulation for long enough or that there was a problem with the trigger shot.
They should give you a plan because even if it is 'free' it's a physical and emotional toll on you and they ought to explain their rationale.
If I thought I had a 10% chance and it were free I'd take it. At the moment though I'm weighing up spending on a final cycle with my own eggs or going straight to donor.

Good luck. 💐

Sorry you are going through this.

My first round we got 3 eggs. 2 fertilised which was amazing, both put back on day 3 but it failed. This was a short protocol.

Round 2 was a long protocol. They explained what they had learned from the first attempt and why they were adjusting things. First go is trial and error. Second time is refining the approach based on what they now know. We got 6 eggs, 5 fertilised. 2 looked strongest in day 3, the others were not of good enough quality to freeze. We had 2 put back again and this was successful! DS is almost 7 now and every day is brighter because we have him. We're truly blessed.

Use the 2nd attempt to ask as many questions as you can and educate yourself on why donor eggs. Not just the basics around egg quality/age/blah blah but the specifics for you. You will then be in a good position to make an informed decision about donor eggs in the future, should it come to that. Best of luck.

I would do as much research as you can yourself before your next cycle, join fertility friends forum and ask same question there. Think about supplements to help egg quality DHEA, CQ10 etc. Ask what they will do differently next time. Not every cycle has the same response in number or quality of eggs. Finally if you have used up all your 3 cycles in Scotland consider a cycle in Europe with a clinic who are experts in difficult cases (start saving now).

Hey! So sorry to hear your cycle hasn't gone s planned. After all you've been through too. My wife and I have just had a failed FET after a failed fresh and I am really not coping. What protocol were you on? were you on FLARE or long down reg? (If you know). Don't worry about the statistics, there are plenty of people who go on to have babies. My friend had 1 or 2 immature eggs on her first go. Her second go (you used to only get 2 in Scotland) she had loads but only had 1 blast that survived (I think), or maybe none fertilised. I know her IVF's failed and she accepted her life without kids then fell pregnant! As we are a same sex couple we had to use donor sperm. I mourned for the biological baby we couldn't have but take some time to consider this option too. Look into supplements that help improve egg quality. Speak to your consultant and make sure they change some things for you this time. We paid £8K and can't afford anymore treatment as we aren't eligible for our treatment of NHS (reciprocal IVF). Maybe start saving (just incase) but try not to give up hope. Look after yourself and your OH, make sure you're both okay because it is a really hard journey.

@stayinghopeful
I have just had a first successful round of ivf on Nhs in June my amh was low at 3.4, I only had 6 follicles visible before stimulation started. I was put on highest dose of medication for 11days. All 7 eggs they collected were mature and 6 fertilised, 4 made it to Blastocyst stage, 2 were transferred back in. One took I'm now pregnant. None suitable for freezing.

Before you start your next round, firstly i wouldn't panic and do it right away. Take time to prepare your body for the next cycle. 90 days is optimum for preparing the eggs you will use. Follow a really good diet and take supplements. Order the book 'it all starts with the egg' from Amazon. (I ordered it for incase of a failed first cycle although Iv not picked it up yet!)

I followed a really strict diet and was very healthy 6 months prior to ivf and did have all my eggs mature, not sure if it was that but you never know!

Good luck and you still have time so don't be disheartened i have a good feeling for you

So sorry to hear this, I do know how you feel, I had 5 IVF cycles 1 of which was cancelled, I work in an IVF clinic too, I second joining FF if you haven't already I used to volunteer on there and you will get some great advice.

Your AMH is on the low side and AFC average but both are reasonable depending on your age and it may have just had bad luck, usually (but not always) a subsequent cycle can bring better results, obviously as you know there's different protocols, different stims at difference doses plus different triggers and someone women just aren't suited to some protocols so with a change you may do better.

If you do consider donor eggs let me know if you have any questions as I had a son in January from donor eggs but my AMH was

I have been in your shoes and now have three kids and one on way. I had seven cycles before success. In my case it took moving to another clinic in lindon from Ireland as the standard protocols they used in Ireland weren't good enough. My clinic in London took blood tests every day, loads of scans and they adjusted the drugs and timing every day. With this personalized protocol I got loads of healthy eggs and eight frozen embryos. I had twins from them and then I have conceived naturally twice.

Hi @stayinghopeful

Sorry this has happened. I haven't been in your exact situation. But we had lots of fertilised embryos (14) and none make it to day 5 good quality blasts. The consultant then put our chance of success per cycle at 5-10%. It was heartbreaking. Consultant however did suggest lots of changes for the second cycle but he wasn't sure they'd work and said we could end up in the same situation again.

We signed up for access fertility spending a small fortune as our chances were low per cycle. I'm sat here 15/40 after that second cycle with two Frosties in the freezer. So the changes we made really helped - cycle one really is a tester cycle and there's a reason NICE recommends 3 cycles - fortunately you get them without paying in Scotland!!

Hope my story helps you have faith that what they learn in one cycle helps in the next.

Good luck

Thanks for taking the time to reply. I’m really sorry to hear you haven’t had a successful cycle (yet). It’s such an emotional roller coaster. Thanks for the advice. I did question the length of stimulation but I had such a spread of large and small follicles, they didn’t want the large ones to over mature, it turned out they found no eggs in the larger ones! I will make sure I ask lots of questions before the next round, every appointment seems a bit rushed though, although the staff have been great. Take care and I hope it works out for you.

Sorry, this reply was for Jenebaguetterien! I thought by hitting reply against your message, it would link to your individual message - apparently not!

Hi sorry to hear this it must be devastating. How old are you?? I had an afc of 10 at 35 and told this was low.
I researched improving egg quality and discovered coq10.

I also used royal jelly vit d and a fish quality fish oil.

Also acupuncture which I swore by, if only to relax me.
I ate a healthy diet of lots of organic fruit and veg, good fats and nothing processed, a holiday in the sun month before ivf cycle and had a wonderful result.
Hope you have much better luck in the future.
It's really hard to stay positive but many women in your situation do get there.

Thanks for replying Shoelaces! Wonderful to hear you were successful and thanks for the advice!

Thanks for the reply Faroutbrussel. I have only been taking Pregnacare preconception supplements but may try others. I have also read about pregnacare messing up cycles so a bit dubious about it! I’ll also look into the fertility friends site, thanks!

So sorry to hear your story Elisabella01 - it speaks volumes about you as a person that you can still be hopeful for others and give advice even when you are devastated. Give yourself time to grieve and try to keep talking, letting the tears out etc. I keep feeling angry which I know is not healthy! There is also a whole world of wonderful opportunities out their for those of us who aren’t successful. Seems to be lots of advice online if you search “coping after failed IVF” - maybe someone else’s story with inspire you both and help you to cope.

Congratulations Itonlytakesone! That’s is lovely to hear and thanks for your advice. I wasn’t started on as high a does of stims as they changed to half way through so maybe upping them from start will help. I will definitely buy this book - did you follow a specific diet?

Thanks Lauren83, lovely to hear you’ve gone on to have a baby! Thanks for the advice, I’m 38 so getting more and more worrying!

Wow kenandbarbie!! Can’t believe you had 7 cycles, you’re a stronger woman than me. Lovely to hear your success stories and amazing you conceived naturally after all that time! My clinic is NHS with a good reputation but does not give the level of attention of clinics like this unfortunately.

That’s great news hoping2018! I am very lucky to live here but my believe is that we all pay a tonne of national insurance every year and all parts of the UK should be entitled to 3 cycles. The government are too interested in creaming off the profits and making us feel as if we shouldn’t have healthcare that we pay thousands a year for it out of our wages! Good luck with everything!

Thanks stressedtiredbuthappy, great to hear of your success! I’ve been going to accupunture for 7 months, not sure if it helps but definitely helps to destress me! I’ve been eating well but I could be stricter - all of these things add up to more and more expense as well!

Try the coq10 if you can honestly I believe it's a great supplement and you can get it quite cheaply in Asda.
It was a few years ago now but I think it's a Canadian dr Robert something who has researched its effectiveness.
He has some really positive things to say about it!

@stayinghopeful
I just did my own diet really, plenty of fresh and not processed foods like North Atlantic salmon, broccoli, tomatoes, avocado, olive oil, green vegetables, eggs, chicken, homemade soups ect made all my meals from scratch drank mostly water cut down almost completely on alcohol and took some vitamins daily like Royal jelly, folic acid, cold liver oil.

Apparently i looked healthier to my friends and my skin was great i just thought if my body is in tip top shape then the embryo will want to live here! 9 weeks pregnant now so still 'at risk' but I'm doing ok and do believe my 90 day pre ivf preparations massively helped the egg quality and implantation, so would definitely recommend it.

How are you getting on?

CoQ10 is great! Check with your doctor first. A CoQ10 supplement that is both water and fat-soluble is a better option as it absorbs better.

Do not take DHEA if u have PCOS but Ubiquinol and Glutathione will help with egg quality

We got 6 eggs, 4 mature, 2 fertilized with grade a embies at day 3 but didn't make it to day 5.

Our next cycle starts next month with slightly higher meds.

It sounds like they mistimed collection if all eggs were immature. Hopefully the team can learn from this and time it better next time.

Thanks for all your comments. I’ve bought and have been reading “it starts with the egg” and am trying to eliminate plastic and chemicals around my house as much as possible. Will also try the coQ10 and try to have an even better diet than last time. Hopefully it will all be worth it xx