2 failed cycles - What next?

[jm2020]

Hi,

We had our first cycle in September - 10 egss collected only 2 mature. - BFN. Second cycle same meds but added in progynova and changed the trigger med - 16 eggs collected but only 1 mature! Had to have a FET due to OHSS. Today should have been the day of transfer but had a phone call to say it hadn't survived the thaw :(.

I have no idea where to go from here or what to do next :(

Anyone had immature eggs and improved on further cycles? xx

I haven't had this happen personally but just wanted to say I'm thinking of you and I'm so sorry. This process is so unfair. Have you got a consultant review booked? Is it worth considering a change of protocol or a change in the dose of stims meds? Some clinics also do a double trigger but I don't have personal experience of this.
Take some time before making a decision about if you want to do another round or take a break. Look after yourself too as it's a horrible thing to be going through.
Thinking of you xx

The clinic may also suggest donor eggs but that isn't necessarily going to be a quick decision to make as there is a lot to think about with that and if it's something you would want xx

Plenty of people do need more than 2 cycles to be successful which is also worth bearing in mind, but I know at the moment it will be difficult to think about that. Just look after yourself these next few days/weeks and consider discussing some of the above at your review xx

I'm sorry it hasn't worked for you

It took me 5 rounds to get the protocol which worked best for me. In my case it was reducing the drugs right down - my eggs were mature but rubbish quality so I changed to natural modified IVF focussing on 1 or 2 eggs only and that worked for me x

Hi @Roo45 Thank you for replying. This second round was meant to be a double trigger but my estrogen levels were too high so I triggered with Buserelin. First round I triggered with Ovitrelle. None of the docs or nurses have phoned me today. Just the embryologist to say the embryo didn't survive the thaw.

@ivfbeenbusy Thank you for replying :) I just don't seem to be getting mature eggs :( xx

@jm2020 can you request a telephone call with your consultant to discuss why you're not getting many mature eggs per cycle?xx

Hi @jm2020 - sorry to hear you've been through this. I have a similar issue, I've had three cycles -
1st - 8 eggs, 1 mature
2nd - 7 eggs, 1 mature
3rd - 5 eggs, 2 mature

After my first round, the Dr thought my follicles may have not been big enough, hence the immaturity, so for the second round she let them get bigger (ie 22-23 for the leading two) but that didn't do anything.

They then thought that I was probably a bit resistant to the trigger (apparently about 5% of women need more than the standard one dose to mature eggs property). So third round I had double trigger (Ovitrelle and Buserlin). That helped a bit - 2 mature instead of one!
Next round we're going for 2 doses of Ovitrelle as well as Buserlin (only can do both types if you're on short cycle). My doctor said she'd given someone 3 doses of Ovitrelle to trigger someone with a similar problem in the past.

It's important to note that more HCG trigger (so Ovitrelle) the higher the risk of OHSS, which obviously you know from your original post. The only way they'd let me do double Ovitrelle next round is because my AMH is low and they will keep me on a lowish dose of stimms, so am very low risk for OHSS, so they are unlikely to offer you the same. I think it may be worth speaking to your doctor about lowering your stim dose to reduce OHSS risk and increasing your trigger (either double doses or two types, or even both like I'm having next time).
Good luck xxx