Embryos arrested on day 5

[Tamtam123]

Hello, I would like to hear of others' experiences, we had 8 grade 1 embryos growing on day 3, and the lab froze one of the top quality ones (8 cells, grade 1), however, by day 5 all of the others arrested. I want to know if someone passed through something similar. We plan to try still doing a frozen embryo transfer, but this was unexpected and we do not have much hope now.

Hi,

I don’t anything to offer in terms of positive experience in the end, just solidarity of having similar happen.

My egg collection was mid January, 25 eggs collected (I have polycystic ovaries, so expected a high number). 17 mature, 11 fertilised by ICSI. At day 3 all we’re doing something - mix of strong 8 cell ones and a few slightly slower at 6 cells. They froze one at day 3. The remaining 10 embryos all arrested and didn’t develop beyond then.

We have had feedback so far that the lab were happy with everything - no sign of lab errors occurring etc. Eggs and sperm all looked ‘normal’. Waiting for an appointment with the consultant to discuss further.

We were initially really undecided about even trying a frozen round with the day3 frozen as don’t see how that will continue to develop when the others didn’t. But after a consult with the nurse last week we have decided to - partly as we feel we will always wonder ‘what if’, if we don’t transfer it. And the nurse reassured us that they generally freeze the ‘best’ one at day 3, so maybe it’ll do something else, and sometimes they develop better in utero.

We felt really lost with the whole thing, as whilst we didn’t expect to be successful on our first transfer, expected to have more to show from that many eggs/embryos. From talking to people on various IVF support groups etc though, there seems to have been lots of people with similar rounds and then totally different outcomes the next time. So we are trying to be positive and hopeful.

Sorry, I don’t have a happy ending to reassure you, but sending understanding and supportive hugs your way. X

Hi @cat234 thank you so much, I really appreciate that you took the time to share your experience. I wish you good luck in your transfer, I hope it will be the one who makes it. I would like to ask you once you transfer, if you could let me know your result, I will cheer for you in the distance. I need to pass through a myomectomy now because of a fibroid so I won’t be able to transfer mine until 6 months, but I am very hopeful that despite the initial bad round we can still make this dream come true.

I was in a mild IVF protocol, I am not sure if yours was similar or not.

Hello,

I have had two egg collections and have also seen a huge drop off in embryos from day 3 to day 5. One thing that is important to check is for male sperm dna fragmentation. They say the maternal genes are responsible for embryo growth up until day 3 and after that the sperm contributes. If there is a decline from day 3 onwards it points to a male issue. My husband had all the usual NHS tests and they were normal but we did DNA fragmentation test after such poor results and have found he had high fragmentation levels. The test cannot be done on the NHS but is worth doing privately. We are now making lifestyle changes etc as well as taking supplements to get his fragmentation levels down before trying again. There are studies which show a high level of sperm dna fragmentation can result in poor embryo quality, implantation issues and a higher chance of miscarriage. On both egg collections I managed to get one embryo to day 5 blastocyst but sadly miscarried both. We are hoping our next round will be more successful once this issue it sorted.

Also, just to day ICSI cannot identity sperm dna fragmentation, you need a specific test to show this.

Hope this helps x

Thanks a lot @Katty123 we will enquire about this test in the clinic and take it from there.

Hi @Tamtam123 ,
I'm really sorry this happened to you, and the other posters too. It's so disappointing..

Like @Katty123 we had 2 egg collections. The first time we went from 7 good embryos on Day 3 (some top quality) to just one early blast on Day 5, transferred unsuccessfully. We didn't do a DNA fragmentation test but I had heard that could be the problem, so we made some lifestyle changes I read could be useful to reduce fragmentation eg my partner had no coffee or alcohol for a few months, no soy, upped the supplements, ejaculated frequently, etc etc. We also did some things recommended in It Starts With The Egg...I don't know if it was just coincidence or luck, but second time round we went from 6 good embryos on Day 3, to 3 good blasts on Day 5/6, 1 transferred successfully and now my 8m old son, and 2 frozen. As @cat234 said, it could be totally different next time round and there's definitely hope!

Hugs all around and best of luck to all x

Hi @Tamtam123 @Katty123

How it went for you? I had two ER and both times 1 embryo arrested on day 5 but I had only 1 and 2 fertilized eggs.

Could it be DNA fragmentation issue?

Hi @Akan

I was successful after my last round and we did treat the sperm DNA fragmentation. I currently have a 4month old. If I am honest, I am not sure if the DNA fragmentation was the only thing that made the round successful. I was also treated for immune issues as I was miscarrying good quality embryos but I do think it doesn't hurt to have the test and check the sperm is OK.

One other thing to ask for is also a zymot test. Essentially, they run the sperm through a maze to see how strong it is and then use the best ones to fertilise the eggs.

Wishing you the very best of luck. X

Hi @Katty123

How you treated DNA fragmentation?