Follicle numbers worry - average numbers / experiences? (IVF/egg freezing)

[StartingAgain33]

I'm an egg freezer, but I guess that's very similar to IVFers!

Had my six day scan today, they could see 15 follicles but only one that was over 1cm. I'm starting to think that's quite bad results for this stage - any idea what's average?

Annoying as the last cycle I was scanned on I had 22 follicles!

Don’t worry. The issue is that your meds aren’t strong enough have they upped your dose? Once they find the correct dose they will all start growing nicely. Every woman is different so it’s a bit of a guessing game at the beginning and they need to take a cautious approach at fist do your ovaries don’t go crazy. Good luck!

Hi there, yes they've upped dose from 150 iu Gonal F to 250, plus asked me to start taking Fyremadel.

Is it normal to only have one or two big follicles at the six day scan, or is this low? Difficult to find info!

They've also discovered my platelets are high so asked me to start taking aspirin....wonder if that's affecting things at all!

I had ivf they collected 14 eggs but by the time it come to implantation I only had one, that one egg is now a healthy 6 year old.. point is it only takes one healthy egg 😊 good luck x

Thanks @Ann87 that's good to hear! Can I ask (you don't have to share!) what bought you to IVF in the first place? Did you know what the issue was or was it unexplained infertility?

Its was a sperm problem with us decided to get tested after 5 years of trying with no luck,luckily got pregnant on are first ivf try x

Oh wow, amazing! Congratulations @ann87 :)

Your number of follicles is absolutely perfect! (the optimum is around 15 with more not improving the live birth rate but dramatically increasing your risk of OHSS)

You have been on a modest dosage, probably your consultant wanted to grow them slow and controlled. It doesn’t matter how long you stim for, just how many mature eggs you get 👍 x

@Sirchompsalot, thank you! That's such a relief to hear. I've been talking to someone who just finished on her egg freezing cycle and she got 22 - from one ovary, as the other one wasn't working! So compared to that it felt very low.

Do you think that sometimes the higher numbers mean lower quality? Not sure if there's been any studies done on that?

Higher numbers increase the risk of ohss, which in its most extreme, is a medical emergency.

Starting again I had 11 follicles in total in my last cycle (5 one side six the other), ended up 9 eggs retrieved, all fertilised and 6 good grade blastos. Someone else said high numbers don't equal good quality, and can lead to OHSS, I've had it you don't want it!!!

@StartingAgain33

No problem 😊
Live birth rates (which is ultimately all that matters here) vs number of eggs collected plateaus at ~15. That in itself suggests that when there are more quality/maturity might be compromised.

You hear lots and lots of people on the FB groups collecting 25+ (and subsequently being treated for OHSS). E.g: they collect 34 eggs, 24 are mature, 12 fertilise normally, 6 make it to day 3 and they end up with 3-4 day5 blastocysts 🤷‍♀️

The more you have the less likely it is that you’ll manage to get them to batch into the short window of optimum follicle size at trigger and therefore end up with much fewer that are actually mature anyway.

I had 4 follicles (severe DOR), 3 responded to stims, 3 mature eggs collected, 2 fertilised normally, 2 made it to day 5 blast.
I had my positive beta test yesterday!

Focus on quality over quantity 💖 x

Thank you!!! This is super helpful. Amazing stats on your side!

I went for my EC yesterday and ended up with 64 eggs being taken 😱
The clinic called this morning and confirmed 34 fertilised using ICSI

I'm in extreme discomfort and don't actually know how to numb the aches and pains in my belly 😭

Does anyone have any tips please?

@WarriorSmith have they scanned you for possible OHSS?! No wonder you're sore you poor thing!

(PS congrats on all the embryos!)

@spacegirl123
I'm due in for another scan on Thursday next week. I'm feeling better as each day passes thankfully.
Thank you, I'm shocked as to how many there are! X

@WarriorSmith Wow, i'm surprised you didn't burst - that's incredible!!

Yes sounds very likely you have OHSS! If you do feel any worse definitely call the clinic!

Went for a scan this morning - there's one annoying dominant follicle which is about 16mm I think, a couple at 13mm and then maybe 7 others that are above 10mm. Not hopeful they'll get many next week.... going in for another scan on Monday.

@WarriorSmith glad you're feeling better, drink loads of water and as @StartingAgain33 says, if you suddenly feel worse, call your clinic!

@StartingAgain33 good luck for next week xx try not to stress too much xx

@spacegirl123
I'm feeling much better and trying to keep my fluids up, my husband is always on at me to drink more.

@startingagain33
I wasn't uncomfortable when I was injecting, only after EG. My boobs were so tender though, is that normal?
Good luck next week 🤞🏼 x

@warriorsmith I've heard that's pretty normal, yes.

Hm, my boobs are now really sore and nipples different to usual.... something is definitely happening. Come on eggies, grow!

Any news for you this week? @StartingAgain33 x

Hi @WarriorSmith thanks so much for checking in!

ER yesterday - got 11 mature eggs! Very pleased. It's not heaps, but I feel like maybe slightly better than average, and also seems like a good number for quality?

As everyone often says, the retrieval was surprisingly smooth.

I have two more cycles paid for, so going to do those over the coming months. Do you reckon I should leave space in between for my ovaries to recover? There seems to be mixed messages about that. Have just started taking pregnancy vitamins etc so want to give them some time to kick in, as well as my new healthy regime which the egg freezing process has helped me get into (for the first time ever - was helpful to have that deadline and also the daily discipline of the morning and nightly injections)

All in all, a really positive experience! Even if none of those eggs are viable, it does alleviate some anxiety about the future. Especially if I can get a good 30 over three cycles. Fingers crossed. And thank you for your support!

@StartingAgain33
That's fab news! 11 is a good number!!
Will you get an update today on the number fertilised?

Why do they want to do the freeze all process? Do you not want a fresh embryo transfer if the clinic will allow it?

After my ER they wanted to wait a week to do another scan to ensure my ovaries had recovered before they'll do the ET.
Maybe they'll want to scan you before you start treatment again?

Sorry for all the questions, I'm still learning new things
Xx

Hi @warriorsmith - I'm actually doing egg freezing, not IVF (well, I'll do IVF if I have issues conceiving and when I'm in the right life position). i'm 35, so wanted to have a bit of an insurance policy. Will be doing again twice this year. But yes, understanding is that frozen embryos are often better than fresh in that they give your uterus a chance to recover!

If I get enough eggs I might also freeze some embryos with sperm donor, to prepare for the event I don't find the right man before I want to have a child. But thinking 40 is my cut off so I have some time left.