4 out of 5 embryos did not survive thaw

[northernerinthesouth1]

Hi all,

I had my first FET today and went into it feeling positive as we had x5 5 day (grade AA/AB) blasocysts in the freezer. The first embryo did not survive the thaw...we were upset but knew this can happen. Then the same happened with the second...then third...and then fourth. The embryologists said this has never happened in the clinic before and they could not explain why it had happened (although I was told that some embryo's simply do not like to be frozen )

Our embryo (a Day 6 blasto which had been frozen separately to the others) was then thawed and survived the process and we've had that transferred. I'm trying hard to stay hopeful for this embie!

I'm wondering if anyone has been in a similar position and if I was naive about the chances of success in the thawing process? We had been told our clinic had a 70-85% success rate. We're considering asking for this to be investigated although I'm not sure to what end - the clinic made it very clear that no fault had been made at their end and that it was just rotten luck.

If anyone has had a similar experience I'd be interested to hear x

@northernerinthesouth1

So sorry to hear about your experience! I think I'd be asking more questions definitely - especially as the only one which survived the thaw was the one frozen separately? So what was different about it?
The clinic will try and cover is arse though and deny any blame x

@northernerinthesouth1 I am sorry to hear this has happened and it does sound very unusual. I asked my embryologist about thaw rates last week and he said only 3% or 4% don't survive the thaw. Ok that may vary a bit between clinics but I would definitely ask them to investigate what has happened

Thank you both. We were told that the odds going into it were favourable and so I'm just shocked and sad that we now have none left.
I'm guessing the clinic will continue to deny any wrong doing but I'd hope they'd at least investigate what happened since it's the first time its ever happened

I had 3 embryos not make the thawing process 3 excellent graded embryos the clinic has no answers only to say it was down to the embryos anyone have any experience with happening to them. ?

@northernerinthesouth1 it seems very strange that all the ones frozen on the same day didn't survive. I would question whether there was a lab error at some point and ask for this to be formally investigated, given the chance it happened at random this many times is very very low.

I lost my best embryo as it didn't survive the thaw to be biopsied, a hatching 1,1 with 10/10 on the embryoscope score. I was shocked, the higher the grade the better they are supposed to be at surviving the freezing process. I couldn't imagine being told what you've been told today.

I am really glad that you had this final embryo and hope it's the one that works for you.

@northernerinthesouth1
I’m really sorry to hear this. I’ve had ten embryos defrosted across eight transfers and only one did not survive the thaw. I was told that 95 % survive the thaw. I would definitely ask for an investigation into this to take place. Good news you have this final embryo and I wish you luck.

Apologies OP - just realised I told you the wrong info as three of my embryos were fresh transfers so only 7 got defrosted (too many ivf meds!). Either way my clinic said 95 % is the average. X

My clinic also said 95% is the standard. One of ours didn’t survive defrost but l think that was indicative of the poor quality of it. But l know how avoidant clinics can be about issues with what they’ve done.

@northernerinthesouth1
Firstly, I hope you had success with your day 6 blastocyst transfer.

I see this post is a year old but would be interested to know if any formal investigation was done at the lab with the 4 embryos that did not survive the thawing process and what the outcome was? I'm very sorry this happened to you. I can unfortunately relate - ALL of our 8 embryos (thawed on the same day to biopsy them for pgt) did not survived the thaw. We are shocked and confused.
Thanks in advance

I’m so sorry to hear you’ve had a similar experience @Annie8787 There was no formal investigation as such; all our clinic did was have a meeting online with my husband where they explained that they’d checked all of their processes etc but it wasn’t particularly reassuring.

We sent a letter explaining to PALS and to the HFEA outlining what had happened. The HFEA seemed genuinely surprised and they said our letter would be kept on file for the next inspection of the clinic.

I think the only way we’ll ever know if it was down to clinical error will be if it comes to light that this happened to other couples in clinic.

I’d encourage you to ask for a meeting and if you’re not satisfied then contact the HFEA.

Sadly my day 6 blasto did take but ended in a miscarriage at 8 weeks. It was such an upsetting time but by some absolute miracle we conceived purely by chance three weeks later.

I really hope your clinic give you some answers. It’s such a confusing and upsetting situation to be in

@northernerinthesouth1 thanks so much for your response and congratulations on your miracle

I'm in Australia (originally from the UK) and am trying to find the equivalent of HFEA in this country. We have also asked for a further investigation at the lab.

Other than your case, I cannot find any other similar stories of this happening. Thank goodness really, as i wouldn't wish this upon anyone.

Hopefully I get some answers soon. Thanks again

@northernerinthesouth1 that's a lovely update, especially after such an awful IVF experience. Congratulations!

We spoke on your thread @annie8787, but again, I hope you get your miracle too

Hello, just want to share my story as can’t find anyone with same situation, that makes me think I am just mad and all universe is agains me being pregnant… sooo mine only one embryo didn’t survived thaw on a day… I am just in bits as I have very low egg count and endo, had 2 surgeries prior transfer, and cervix issues at first transfer. Been on and off on prostap and all other stuff…suffered from anxiety and all that for nothing I even didn’t had embryo in…I am not sure if they supposed to call you on a day how embryo is doing ( I think they should it’s what I been told but now everything is soo blurry) but maybe someone from you could tell me ( on a day was so supper nervous as I had issues with transfer first time and they couldn’t get in, so I presumed that all is ok if nobody called) we went to clinic all was ok I got changed, checked, nurse told me all good as she called lab and they told her. Of a sudden after some time embryologist coming and saying get dressed. My husband ringing on the phone screaming that they told him to come up.. I understood that it is it… just in bits my husband was crying ( never saw him
crying like that… I guess he was in shock as minute before their call I texted him that all
Is good) we both was woozy and couldn’t ask for anything at that point all I saw pale embryologist sitting in corner and doctor trying to arrange another urgent meeting.. I guess it’s hard to see two people so devastated… just wandering if anyone knows anyone who lost embryo just before going on a table? We will have meeting with clinic and ask a lot of questions as it was very stressful experience with some extremely stressful mistakes before and as much as I want to believe that it was bad embryo (it was BB) the all situation just incredible strange.. so maybe if someone has similar experience it would give me some piece.

Hi I can relate. I had 6 embryos that were to be biopsied for pgta this week. Out of 6 only 2 survived . The clinic have been communicating with me to say they are investigating what happened but I am really not sure .I've never heard this before

I will also write to the HFEA

@ShareLove This thread is the one I mentioned on your post about embryos not surviving thaw that might be useful

Hey,
I know this post was few years ago but I just can’t find any info. Had 5 good grade embryos and four of them didn’t survive the thaw one did but didn’t fully expand just found out that fet was unsuccessful.

just wonder if you went on to have more rounds and if same thing happen my nhs funding is gone now so I want to make the right choices on what to do next.

thanks

Hi Brady93 - just wanted to reach out as I also have had a lot of embryos not survive the thaw. I’ve had three failed to survive and 3 failed FET’s with 4 embryos. Just wondering what you have done since your last FET? It’s the worst process to go through 😞