DNA fragmentation - ICSI failure

[Wishingforamiracle19]

We had our first round of ICSI in January and it failed with zero fertilisation. There were 9 mature eggs. My DP has azoospermia, most likely due to missing vas with my partner having asymptomatic CF.

We were told by the embryologist all the eggs looked normal and they thought the sperm was the issue. She said only occasional twitching sperm were seen once thawed. We therefore went to see Dr Ramsay and he recommended the sperm comet test to check the level of DNA fragmentation. This test has come back at 20% which is normal parameters.

So what do we do next?! This suggests to me that there is an egg issue too? Is it possible the freezing of the sperm could have affected their ability to fertilise the eggs? We have decided that we will do a completely fresh round next where the sperm is retrieved at the same time as my eggs, but is it now worth looking at a different protocol in which we concentrate on getting less eggs but potentially higher quality?

Any advice would be much appreciated as feeling confused and anxious

I thought CF pretty much meant blanket infertility in men?

I swapped on to Lower drug IVF protocols and 2 out of 3 cycles my egg quality was loads better. I did a round last week though and my egg quality was awful. You really can't predict how it will go. Currently you KNOW the issue is with him so I'd deal with that issue before moving onto looking at egg quality?

@ivfgottostaypositive sorry to hear your last round didn’t go as well. Did you get anything from it?

So did we! Basically he has 2 genes that carry CF abnormalities, we only found out when his sperm sample showed no sperm at all as he had no symptoms prior to that.so they did some tests and found these 2 genes which suggest absence of the vas. But if the DNA fragmentation level is ok then does that suggest the quality is too? I just wonder if there’s more to it than just DNA.

We’re paying for the next round and I don’t think we can afford any more after so I just don’t know whether to go ahead with Care and do long protocol again, or look at somewhere like Create with lower drugs.

I'm with Create and really like them. I did natural
Modified cycles this year - a 3 cycle package - the first 2 I got a total of 4 top quality blastocysts (loads better than when I did short protocol last year) but the final cycle I only got 2 eggs and none made it to blastocysts so I really do think it's a combination of drugs and what your hormones are doing that month that equals more success

There is an expensive clinic Oxford way which does daily blood tests and scans and constantly changing medication - they get amazing results but the cost is horrendous - think £20k a cycle and you've pretty much got to live there for 6 weeks. After 5 rounds I don't think that a one size fits all approach to IVF works for people with more complicated conditions or poor egg quality x

Oo I’ve heard about them! They sound great but 20k 😩

So I take it Create are working again at the minute? I had looked at them before all of this just because I had heard they were slightly cheaper but when I add in DPs SSR plus ICSI the price didn’t work out much different. I think I might book a consultation with them and see what they suggest. Do you know if there’s a waiting list? I’m keen to start on my next cycle in around 4 weeks as I’m a teacher and this would then fall throughout the summer holidays. Really don’t want to be taking time off at the beginning of the school year with the children having been out of education for so long if I can help it!

Create was the only clinic which actively and very vocally campaigned for the clinics to be reopened so they reopened within a couple of days of the ban being lifted. I think there is a bit of a waiting list for new patients as I know they've also been picking up scans etc for ABC patients (which is the cheaper no frills sister clinic) but the waiting list is certainly a LOT less than most other clinics

@ivfgottostaypositive we’ve got another appointment with Dr Ramsay on Tuesday so I’ll see what he suggests. We’ve had our consultation with Care so we can start straight away now but I think I’ll properly look into Create now too. Thank you for your advice

Seen on another thread you’ve just had a transfer (I think), good luck!! X