IVF - No egg at collection, can anyone help me?

[Wishingandhoping21]

Hi ladies,

I have just went through a cycle of IVF, had a prostrap injection and then topped it up with nasal spray.
I was on Gonal-F (375) and Luveris (75) injections. I took them both for 10 days and then was going for scans and bloods every two days.

There was only one follicle on the right ovary and some ‘plusses’ they called it on the left.
My one follicle and lining were growing but they said my hormone levels in my bloods were low.

One nurse said, they would look at putting a pause on this, as I was on a long protocol and perhaps change me to a short protocol.
I was then told at next appointment, that they were going to go ahead with egg collection and told when to take my booster shot.

All I kept being told is that the one egg they collect, may very well be “a good one” and we could be successful. I was never prepared for what would happen.

I was in for egg collection yesterday, and when I came round all groggy from the sedation, the consultant came in and said there was no egg to retrieve. I asked what the next steps were, and he said, that I was on the maximum dose and had shown a poor response and with only one follicle growing to a decent size and no egg, he would be recommending that no further treatment would be offered, and that he thought it was more than likely, this would never happen for me.

I just feel completely broken and very emotional and need to try and find some comfort with you ladies who are the only ones who will know how I’m feeling.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Natalie x

Hi Natalie, I'm so, so sorry this happened.

I have no advice other than to maybe push for another try with a different protocol, and maybe think of some holistic support like acupuncture or similar, but I really just wanted to offer my support and send you lots of love and a big hug. It's such an emotional process, and obviously all the more so when things don't go to plan.

I hope there'll be others who might have ideas based on their experiences but, in the meantime, take your time to grieve this cycle and take good care of yourself xx

I’m sorry, that’s so tough.

What was your AFC and AMH like before the cycle started, were they expecting more of a response?

I know some clinics like Create offer natural modified IVF which involves very low doses of drugs to stimulate just one or two eggs. That might be something to look into.

Take care of yourself today x

I am so sorry ❤️ that's pretty awful of the doctor to tell you there's no hope for further treatment as you were coming round.

I have low amh and am with Create, so did mild ivf. I only had 2-3 follicles growing (took 225 bemfola) and ended up with 3 good blasts. So I would look into mild ivf / explore other protocols. I'm not an expert, but it doesn't sound like the protocol was right for you. Sometimes less is more and being on the maximum dose of meds hasn't worked, so maybe trying a lower dose with different meds could help.

Sending love xx

So sorry to hear this, I certainly wouldn’t accept someone saying it won’t happen after only 1 cycle are they crazy (doctor or anyone else)
I would defo go straight into another cycle right away ( after 1 period ) with short protocol
The first cycle is always the practice one sort of speak as u don’t know how u will react
My 1st long protocol failed but my second short protocol resulted in my 2 year old daughter
Good luck x

Oh you poor girl, I'm not surprised you're feeling as you are.

Would you look at donor eggs? It absolutely isn't for everyone, and now is not the time to make that decision, but in the next few months can you and your other half sit down and have a conversation about it? The fact that you've not produced any eggs of your own does not mean that you can't carry a pregnancy from a donor egg.

@Wishingandhoping21 I'm sorry to hear that this happened. I am very surprised at the doctor's comment though. There are so many different protocols and other drugs to try that I would definitely seek a second opinion from elsewhere

Hi, sorry to hear of your situation. So, I am 32 normal AMH and everything and in both IVF collections I have good sized follicules that don't result in an egg being collected. My consultant says he doesn't believe in empty follicule syndrome - he's convinced we have eggs in those follicules, but they don't cone away from the follicule wall. Biggest reason for this is then not being mature and if your estradiol level was low it would support this too. For my second cycle (egg collection earlier today) they pushed my.for.longer so my.folocules were bigger than they normally.do.colection at, and left me 37 hours between trigger and collection rather than 36. We've had a slightly better percentage of follicules giving an egg today than last time.but will need to see if they are mature or not.

I'd say they another cycle with a different protocol. Of your clinic is saying no, move clinics and get.a second opinion

@Wishingandhoping21, so sorry to hear this!
I am certainly with the other ladies about trying again and not making conclusions from 1 round. Definitely adjustments! I was told at the first clinic that the 1st round is "a trial" to understand what works for you. Of course ideally we would want it to work from the first time, but in reality there are so many influencing factors, and unfortunately reproductology is not an exact science...

Give yourself time to feel what you are feeling, and when you are ready perhaps see a different specialist/ get a second opinion on what protocol to have the next time.

Btw in the Netherlands they normally start with only 150 (in the first cycle) and 225 is the max dose they prescribe in the protocols. Still amazed at how different approaches are per country/clinic...

I also think that the dr should maybe go back to the empathy school! He seems to be lacking in that department.

@beachbum85 Thank you so much for replying, I really appreciate your kindness and support.
Acupuncture? I haven’t even thought about that. Will look into it, thanks x

I'm really sorry you've gone through this.

I definitely wouldn't accept a verdict of "no further treatment" at this stage. There are a variety of treatment protocols and medications, and it sounds like you've only had one go at one protocol? There are short protocols, mild ones, natural modified... My recommendation would be to try to have a consultation elsewhere to see if a different clinic thinks a different protocol would be worth a try. They could also review any investigations you've had so far and maybe see if there's anything else they'd recommend doing.

@CP26 I’m not sure what they were before as they never told me levels. I haven’t heard of Create so will have a look at that. Thanks for replying, I really appreciate it.x

@VenusStarr Yeah, I agree with you. My husband was annoyed that the doctor was just so abrupt.
Create? What and where is that? Definitely will look into it. I am worried with him saying that, it means I have no eggs? How will I ever know? How are you getting on? Thanks for replying, I really appreciate it.x

@shazzz1xx Aww that’s so lovely to hear that you have a wonderful daughter. Life can be so cruel at times with this stuff.
I hope I have the opportunity to try with a different cycle. Thanks for replying, I really appreciate it.x

@Diditreallylookawful I honestly don’t know. I’ve always wanted to have our own biological child, a mix of me and my husband. You just never think that it’s not going to happen,ever. I’m just so confused about the egg situation, I’ve never been told I don’t have any so I’m really lost right now. Thanks for replying, I really appreciate it.x

@MabelG Thanks. Supposedly they are having a full team meeting to discuss on Friday and I will be sent a letter. It’s just so impersonal. I really need to have some hope, for my own sanity. You girls on here are lovely and are really helping me. Thanks for replying, I really appreciate it.x

@2mumlife It’s so strange isn’t it? That’s good that your clinic have been adjusting things to you and I really hope that you have some good news after egg collection, please let me know how you get on. Thanks for replying, I really appreciate it.x

@TheDutchess3 Wow, you’re right. That’s a big change from clinic to clinic and country. There really is no “one size fits all” here. Like any other medical treatment, what works for one, might not work for the other. How you getting on? Thanks for replying, I really appreciate it.x

@Scirocco This is my first try with IVF and first protocol and they said it was a long one. It will definitely be worth looking into other clinics, if anything to give me some hope. How are you doing? I really appreciate your reply, thanks.x

Wishing you all the luck in the world. Keep that hope burning - how dare this man be so dismissive. If you have ££ to spend and can get to Harley Street this guy is AMAZING his nickname is the baby maker
www.geradkite.com/fertility/

Oh, I am so sorry for what happened, the way it happened and I would like to offer you my support.

Call me stubborn, but I would get a second opinion or even a third one, before going to the acceptance phase. Also, I agree with pp that says that the doctor has to learn how to have empathy and how to break news to patients... that def was not the way to do it.

@Wishingandhoping21 Just been told of the 6 collected this time, all the eggs were mature and they've all fertilised, which is fantastic for us given first cycle. Incase this helps, our first cycle I did a agonist long protocol (like you have). I had Prostap for downregulation (again like you) but Menapur for stimulation (200iu). I stimmed for only 8 days that cycle before they triggered me (Ovitrelle), with 7 big follicules but an estradiol level that indicated only 2-3 mature eggs. We got the 4 eggs collected, only 2 mature (both made it to excellent day 5 blasts, 1 fresh tranfer BFN after bleeding very early, 1 FET transfer, chemical pregnancy).

This cycle we did an antagonist short protocol. No down regulation. I took Ovaleap for stimmulation (225iu this time) and fyremadel from third day of stims up until trigger day to prevent premamture ovulation. They stimmed me for 10 days this time, letting my lead follicules over-mature (they were both above 20mm at day 8 scan, so goodness knows how big they got in the end!) to let others catch up. Buserelin trigger this time, which was taken to leave 37 hours (instead of the typical 36 hours) between trigger and egg retrieval. I had 8 follicules at egg collection the consultant hoped would give us a mature egg, got 6, which as above all mature.

What I would say is fight for giving another egg collection a go, as indiviudalising the protocol to your situation can lead to better outcomes next time. If your clinic won't listen to you are work with you to find a different approach, find a clinic that will.

@Wishingandhoping21 Should have said me estradiol level this cycle was still lower than expected. Estradiol level on day 8 of stims suggested 3-4 mature eggs.

@Wishingandhoping21 Other things we did different this cycle: I improved my diet (cut out artifical sweetners, refined sugar, ate a meditteranean diet for several months, and ate high protein/low carbs throughout stimulation period), and also went to accupunture. I took Coenzyme in my first cycle, which I did again in my second cycle. I also started taking inisotol supplements before and during this cycle

I had twins via create following a 3 cycle natural modified ivf package to embryo bank just targeting 1 or 2 eggs each time

I would also look at natural or natural modified IVF but you'd need a multi cycle package I think

@Wishingandhoping21 it's called Create Fertility, I'm with the Birmingham one but they have a few all over. With your eggs, I think trying an alternative protocol will give you an idea. It's upsetting that this cycle has ended this way, but generally the first ivf cycle is a trial to see how you respond and this protocol wasn't the right one, there's every chance that a different approach will have a completely different outcome ❤️
We transferred a blastocyst in May but had a chemical pregnancy. Planning a FET with one of our frozen embryos, hopefully in about a month.

Sorry to hijack but great news @2mumlife fingers crossed for you 🤞

Hi @Wishingandhoping21 this happened to me a few weeks ago.

I’m hopeful I’ll have better luck next time. My AMH is low (not crazy low) and FSH borderline though haven’t changed too much since we had a successful cycle with my son two and a half years ago.

The fact that you’re not aware of your AMH / FSH levels is ringing warning bells that you haven’t had a decent level of service.

We followed the same short protocol as with my son. I had 7 follicles, took the trigger on time and no eggs at all! Dr was shocked… said next time will add another stims med and add another trigger. I am of course worried that it will happen again but more confident than not that we’ll have some luck next time.

I would make sure you can take all the info from your clinic (AMH / FSH, anything else they’ve tested for) and take your time to have a few consultations with different clinics.

Hope you get some more info from your clinic and find something better!

Best of luck to you 🌸

@Wishingandhoping21 Hi there, I hope you are ok, and I am sorry you had to go through this. I have just had an egg collection this morning and the one follicle has not produced an egg. I need to speak to the consultant next week but as I understand it from the embryologist, when they emptied the follicle this morning, it drained ok, and they recorded one egg collected. Then I got a call to say it had been stripped and there was actually no egg inside. I am very sad, and confused. If you don't mind, please could you share how things moved forward for you since then.